Exile. Exile Chapter 33-35

Thinking that he had stayed in the county for two days, it would be impossible for him to go back there again as soon as he came home. Needless to say, he left in such a hurry last time, and if he suddenly left, his Lao Zi probably wouldn't believe Zhang Su's lie. If Su Qingbai had just returned and left again, he could not guarantee that his Lao Zi would let him go as simply as before.

It had been five days since Su Qingbai made arrangement with Jiang Mao. Jiang Mao had no objection. He was in the county town recovering from injuries and was idle all day and not anxious.

Jiang Mao's mouth said not anxious but his heart was a little perturbed. He wanted to ask Su Qingbai about that person's characteristic, but Su Qingbai didn't say any and just said wait for a few days.

At that moment, Jiang Mao thought about a large number of concubines in ancient times, whether Su Qingbai would have them, but then he recalled Su Qingbai's inexperienced performance in bed, and he denied this conjecture because Su Qingbai was not that kind of person.

He also couldn't ask any more questions. After all, Su Qingbai said that he would tell him later and it was not like he was hiding it from him.

In the meantime, Su Qingbai was dressing up Su Caicai. He cleaned Caicai's whole body, and paid a villager's wife to make him a beautiful new dress, made of red cloth. The hair on Caicai's head was combed smoothly.

The first time meeting, Caicai had to try to make a good impression on his Dad.

Everything was fine these days. On the third day, his Lao Zi suddenly asked him to go out and talk.

“Now that you're older, you have your own ideas about what you want to do. I can't manage some of your affairs…”

Su Qingbai stiffened. His Lao Zi was going to turn over his old debts a few days ago?

So he began to explain, “Dad, I…”

Before he said anything, Su Lingchuan interrupted him by waving his hand. “No explanation.” Then he went on to say, “You have grown, there is not much room I can manage, you can only rely on yourself when you are outside. Be more careful when you are outside, don't let anyone else…”

Su Qingbai nodded vigorously.

Finally, Su Lingchuan talked about proper business. “A few days ago, your second elder uncle's only son worked outside and broke his leg carelessly. Your second elder uncle fell ill because of worry, and so the corn in the field was neglected.”

Su Qingbai listened with a blank on his face. He had many uncles. The most familiar one was the great uncle. The second uncle and the third uncle….. He was not at home very often, he only knew how many people there were, but he couldn't figure out which was the second and the third…..

Su Lingchuan continued, “Your second elder uncle's family has helped us a lot. The day after tomorrow, I'll take you with your brothers and some of the villagers who have good relations with your second elder uncle to help harvest the corn. There are only two people in your second uncle's home and their household also has less land. We'll try to harvest it in two days, and by then our corn will be almost ready to harvest.” Su Lingchuan planned to wait a few more days because his maize was planted a few days later than others, and the corn cobs were still a little green.

Su Qingbai felt very helpless. After he was done being busy with his second uncle's family, he still need to be busy with his family. He didn't know how long it would take to be free.

It didn't matter. The key was that the day after tomorrow he would bring Su Caicai to Jiang Mao.

After some thinking, Su Qingbai decided to take Su Caicai to Jiang Mao one day earlier.

The night before he went to Jiang Mao, the whole family member which rarely sat down together, had a meal together.

After dinner, Xu Qian left and his family was there, except for Su Qingtong.

At the dinner table, Su Lingchuan talked about family affairs.

Su Dsao felt embarra.s.sed. She bit her lip, “Dad, my husband and I made an appointment with the mother of the girl that Su Huai likes the day after tomorrow, to meet face to face and talk about them.”

If it was anything else, she would have pushed it, but it's a matter of Su Huai's great event in his life that she even made proper appointment. If they didn't go suddenly, she's afraid that the woman would think they didn't take her daughter seriously.

Su Lingchuan nodded. Der had told him about Su Huai and Su Ni, and he nodded again, “That's a big deal.”

Looking at Su Er-sao, before Su Lingchuan could say anything, Su Er-sao hastily said, “Father-in-law, my husband has no time, and he still need to go to work tomorrow. Our son is about to be born, exactly the time to need money. It can't be tarried.”

When Su Qingtong came back, he just randomly grabbed a few millet pancakes to nibble and then fell asleep. Since Su Er-sao was pregnant with child, she kept urging him to go out looking for a job. Su Qingtong went and found a job as a porter. Every day he came back tired and paralyzed in bed.

Su Lingchuan shut his mouth and said nothing. Although the sons each had their own reasons, they were also reasonable. But there was still a sense of sadness in his heart. When he separated the family properties, he could not command his sons, and only his once reckless youngest son would be willing to listen to him.

Su Qingbai sighed and said nothing. If placed in former days, Dge and Er-ge would never do such a tiring job, even he would not. But if he wasn't willing to go, could he let his old father go alone?

The next day, Su Qingbai woke up early and dug Su Caicai out of the quilt.

After changing Caicai's peed diaper, putting on his new clothes and combing his somewhat scarce hair, the pair of father and son washed their faces and gargled, they set off.

All along Su Caicai did not wake up. When he was being dressed up, he looked at the person who dressed him. When he found that it was his Dad, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

It would be very exhausting to go to the county town and back again when holding the heavy Su Caicai. Su Qingbai finally chose to pull him in the cart.

He put the small quilt and small cotton-padded mattress on cart, and then put Caicai on it.

After a while, Su Qingbai arrived at Jiang Mao's door.

Almost everyone here knew Su Qingbai, especially Hu Hong. When Su Qingbai came with the cart, he rushed up to take over Su Qingbai's cart. “Madam, let me do it. You go take a break.”

Su Qingbai was a little confused for a moment when he heard this call of Madam, but he didn't care too much about it. He declined gently, “No need, you are busy. I do this work often, let me do it.”

Hu Hong had something to say, but at this time, Jiang Mao came out. He went over and undisguisedly gave Su Qingbai a lingering kiss in front of Hu Hong.

Su Qingbai blushed and pushed him away.

Hu Hong made a meaningful glance to tell that he was going to withdraw. The past Gongzi had always been self-conscious and he had never touched the personal maids, concubines and the likes. He and Liu Yuqing once thought Gongzi was incapable of human affairs. They had not the slightest idea that Gongzi was fond of male h.o.m.os.e.xuality. Nowadays, he treated Su Gongzi in such sticky and intimate way, really unbelievable of him. What to do with this always happy Gongzi?

After Hu Hong left, Jiang Mao had no scruples and started to get fresh with Su Qingbai, even with lips. Su Qingbai didn't intend to allow him, but when he thought of what he was going to say, he had no reason to push him away.

When the intimacy was enough, only then Jiang Mao remembered to ask Su Qingbai, “Didn't you say to come tomorrow?”

Su Qingbo sighed, “Tomorrow I have something to do. Today I'm coming ahead of schedule.”

Hearing what was said, Jiang Mao was still a little nervous despite being unperturbed and control, “Don't you mean to bring a person? What about the person?”

Hearing that, Su Qingbai lowered his head and looked at the handcart. It happened that a pair of big eyes looked on, rolling between Jiang Mao and him in confusion.

Those big eyes were very clear and there was sleepiness bleary. Obviously, that person had been awake for some time and had seen what should and shouldn't be seen.

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Su Qingbai felt extremely shameful. He wanted to ask Su Caicai if he had just seen it. However, he recalled his baby only able to call Da, and he would not understand if ask a question.

“Da~~” When Su Qingbai came to look at him at last, Su Caicai called him softly and held out his hands for a hug.

On one side, Jiang Mao's face turned black.

Su Qingbai actually had such a big son!!!

He had been hiding it!!!

Su Qingbai watched Jiang Mao's reaction nervously, holding Su Caicai in his arms.

“You. Have. A. Son?” Jiang Mao's face was not looking good while he stared at Su Qingbai, saying word by word.

Before coming, Su Qingbai had antic.i.p.ated Jiang Mao's reaction, and he had thought about what to say, but now Jiang Mao was staring at him dead on, and he could not remember much of his prepared talk in nervous.

“Da~” His Dad did not look at him, so his soft hand went to pull at Su Qingbai clothes. From morning till now, he was a little hungry. He did not at all sense the tension between Su Qingbai and Jiang Mao.

Su Caicai's hand was going through his collar. Su Qingbai had to turn his attention to Su Caicai, “What's wrong? Darling.”

“Ah…” He opened his mouth wide.

Su Qingbai knew what he meant, but he was at a loss. At this key moment, Jiang Mao was burning with anger while this little thing was hungry.

However, Su Qingbai could not let such a small child to endure it, so he had to pitifully beg, “Jiang Mao, can you cook some porridge first? The child is hungry.”

Jiang Mao frowned at Su Caicai in Su Qingbai's arms, then called Hu Hong. He suddenly took Su Caicai in his arms, wanted to hand him to Hu Hong.

This child was in the way. He needed to talk to Su Qingbai alone.

The little child in his arms was too soft and too small. In a s.p.a.ce of moment, Jiang Mao regretted taking the child over because he had a great strength. The child was too small and too soft that he could crush him with a little effort.

Su Caicai had just been playing in Su Qingbai's arms, and when he was suddenly taken over, he had yet to respond. He was a little stunned with his fingers in his mouth and suddenly cried out.

Jiang Mao was taken aback and quickly shoved him into Hu Hong, who was called by him. “Take the child to eat.”

Su Caicai stopped crying when he heard the word “eat”.

Jiang Mao breathed a sigh of relief, regained his composure, and continued to pull Su Qingbai into the room while his face continued to blacken.

Su Qingbai followed in.

“Sorry…” Su Qingbai looked down. “I have a son… shouldn't hide it from you.”

Yes, Su Qingbai was not planning to talk about the birth of Su Caicai.

He was a man, and could only be a man. Su Caicai was born by him and it was enough that his family knew.

Looking up again, Su Qingbai was ready to bear Jiang Mao's anger.

“That's what I had to hide from you before. I have a son…” As Su Qingbai said it, he looked up at Jiang Mao and knew that he was angry when he saw Jiang Mao's expressionless face.

Jiang Mao didn't look at him. He put his hands on his temples. “I need to think about it…”

It was so sudden. Jiang Mao had thought he would become the closest person in the world to Su Qingbai, but he didn't expect that a child would suddenly be caught in between them.

Su Qingbai's face paled when he heard it, but that was what he expected.

He didn't regret it. Jiang Mao was very important. If there was no accident, he would like to be with Jiang Mao all his life and make any efforts for this relationship. But… Gave birth to a child as a man? If people knew, what other people would think, what would Jiang Mao think?

Jiang Mao would think that he was a monster. No matter who had a good or bad relationship with him, he could imagine what faces those people would have. They would treat his affairs as jokes and spread them all over the capital city as an after dinner chat.

After his father was dismissed from office and his family exiled, he had experienced this treatment once. If this was to be spread out, he was afraid it would be even worse.

Su Qingbai's face turned white when he thought of it.

“You, don't want me?”

Jiang Mao was a very rational person. At the courtyard, when he heard that Su Qingbai had a child, he was very angry. He got angry at Su Qingbai, but now he had slowly calmed down.

Jiang Mao didn't say anything, it was so sudden. He had thought a lot about their future. He had planned it out, but in all respects, there was no child.

He waved his hand, “I'll think about it again.”

Su Qingbai's eyes were a little red, and then he turned around and said, “I understand.”

Jiang Mao was still thinking about Su Caicai, and when he suddenly responded, Su Qingbai had turned and left the door.

Recalling that Su Qingbai said “I understand”, Jiang Mao still chased after him. “Do you know what you understand?”

Hu Hong, who had taken over Su Caicai and was rougher than Jiang Mao, was at a loss. Holding Su Caicai was like holding fragile articles. He dared not even move.

Hu Hong looked at Su Caicai, who was looking at him with a look of expectation and was stunned. To exaggerate a bit, this was simply a miniature version of Gongzi!

He excitedly approached Su Caicai. He had thought Gongzi exercised self-control so as to protect from immorality. He was afraid that Gongzi would never be able to reproduce being with a man. He didn't expect that Gongzi had a child long ago, even as old as this.

Gongzi wouldn't be the last of the bloodline. Yue w.a.n.g Residence had hope for the future.

After calming down, Hu Hong was more careful holding Su Caicai.

Hu Hong had never been with a child. He was afraid as him being rough and tough man would hurt Little Shizi if not careful. He said: “Little… Little Young Master, you go down and walk by yourself. This subordinate lead you, okay?” Hu Hong said softly. [Shizi = heir]

Looking at Little Shizi's appearance, which was white, plump and robust, he should be two years old!

Su Caicai couldn't understand what he was talking about, and he blinked in ignorance.

Hu Hong slowly put him on the ground.

The next moment Su Caicai b.u.t.t sat on the ground.

Without choice, Hu Hong had to give up….. held his waist and lifted him up. Su Caicai lay flat on Hu Hong's big hands. Just like that, he was taken to the kitchen.

Hu Hong beckoned his men to buy porridge. When Su Caicai had just had a few sips, Su Qingbai came in a hurry and thanked Hu Hong then left with Su Caicai in his arms.

Watching Su Qingbai leave, Jiang Mao did not catch up with him. It was only one day, even if he had strong acceptance ability, he could not accept it immediately. He had to think about it.

Jiang Mao was a little upset. He was so angry when he thought of the child just now that he didn't take a closer look at what the child looked like and how old he was.

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“How is it?” Jiang Mao frowned at Liu Yuqing coming in from outside.

Liu Yuqing knew who he was asking about. He cupped his hands respectfully, “Su Gongzi bought a bowl of porridge on the street, fed Little Young Master and then they left.”

Jiang Mao was relieved to hear that. He waved at Liu Yuqing and asked him to withdraw. After Liu Yuqing left, he sat there alone and did not speak any more.

Jiang Mao had a headache as he pinched his forehead. Through the period of time they spent together, he could see that the child had no mother and had only Su Qingbai as the father. So if Jiang Mao wanted to be with Su Qingbai, he had to accept him.

Jiang Mao felt in his heart. He could not let Su Qingbai go. He had been here for several years, but he had no sense of belonging in this strange world. What he had done here was like a game. Like the protagonists in many novels, after traversing, his golden finger opened wide and he made money and became the winner of life. The only difference was that he didn't have a harem because he liked men.

That night with Su Qingbai was an accident. After the event, they met again and fell in love unexpectedly until now. He really didn't want to lose Su Qingbai, the only person who stirred his heart in this strange world.

…

In the study, Liu Yuqing just sat down and received a letter from his subordinate.

“Urgent mail from the capital city.”

Liu Yuqing sat up straight and opened the letter. Suddenly, he stood up from his seat. Without paying attention at the still kneeling and waiting for a reply subordinate, he ran to Jiang Mao with the letter.

After reading the letter, Jiang Mao was in a worse mood.

The letter from the capital informed that he was unexpectedly a.s.sa.s.sinated, and Jiang Mao's mother, Consort Lou, suddenly stood up to take charge of the overall situation. With the son gone, Consort Lou, who was keeping watched at this piece of fat meat Yue w.a.n.g Residence, had immediately run out of her Buddhist temple to find another backer. Who knew how much of Jiang Mao's apparent properties had been scattered by her, but now she had no money, and her eyes were again secretly on Jiang Mao's a.s.sets.

Consort Lou, as Jiang Mao's biological mother was much more useful than the seal Lin Feng once took away. If he didn't appear, the things in his hands would be lost by Consort Lou.

“Now I'm afraid I can't continue to pretend to be dead.” Jiang Mao consulted his subordinates calmly.

In the first place, this Consort Lou woman had never even went out of the Buddhist temple when the original Jiang Mao was dying of illness. After the original died, Jiang Mao came and she did not even realize that her son's sh.e.l.l had been replaced with another soul. Now when the news of her son's death came to Yue w.a.n.g Residence, she immediately put down her former position. What about devoting herself to Buddha? What about placing herself above the common populace? She did not care anymore. In order to find a backer, it was necessary to scatter Yue w.a.n.g Residence's wealth.

He had been working hard for many years to acc.u.mulate Yue w.a.n.g Residence's a.s.sets. Who didn't covet today? Consort Lou was a woman who had been abstaining from eating meat and praying for Buddha for many years, definitely not be able to hold a place against her enemies. An ignorant man was innocent and yet an innocent man got into trouble because of his wealth. Obviously, Consort Lou knew it herself.

As Hu Hong walked in, he saw several people who had worked with him. It was unexpected that people from the capital city or Yue w.a.n.g Residence should be here at this moment.

Hu Hong knocked at the door before entering. Once he saw Jiang Mao, his face was very excited. Only when Little Shizi had grown as such did Gongzi let them know about it.

When Hu Hong thought of how Little Shizi had stayed for a moment and was sent away, his look became grave. Little Shizi was Gongzi's only blood of n.o.ble status. It was time to bring him back and raise him up so that he could bear the heavy responsibility of Yue w.a.n.g Residence.

After Hu Hong saluted, he opened his mouth to say something, but Jiang Mao slapped the letter on the table and said, “Look at this.”

Hu Hong had some doubts, taking the letter and read it. When he saw the contents, his look became grave.

“You all know everything?” Jiang Mao scanned the circle of people in the room.

Despite Consort Lou being his mother in name, there were some things Jiang Mao couldn't say as a son.

“Master, although Lady Lou is Master's mother, but she is a married woman who lives in the inner house for a long time, and can be easily used by people with intentions. Beg Master to go to the capital to preside over the overall situation.”

After some discussion, Jiang Mao decided to rush back to capital as soon as possible.

After everyone left, Jiang Mao sat alone in the courtyard and lost in his thoughts. He had to go to the capital.

But… Jiang Mao thought of Su Qingbai, who he had just had a disagreement with and it had not yet been resolved.

If he went to the capital city, it would be four to five months at least, and a year or more at most.

…..

“Gongzi, when shall we set off?”

“Get up early tomorrow…” Su Qingbai's figure flashed through his mind. Only in one day, he couldn't eat his meal because of his headache with Su Qingbai. He didn't want to put it on hold for another year and a half. Jiang Mao thought about it and quickly changed his words. “Pack up and set off tomorrow evening.”

…

In the morning, Su Lingchuan, Su Qingbai and his son went to the field early.

Su Qingbai looked at a few waves of people who helped his second uncle's family with them. Almost all of them were from his other uncles' families. He had seen them all, only a few was new faces.

The second elder uncle's field was the kind of which it was divided into even rows, about ten rows. Ten rows, in fact, was not a lot, because each row was not long, a total of a few mu of land. [1 mu = 60 sq.ft]

“Now everybody is busy with the autumn harvest, and there are crops waiting to be harvested in everyone's home, so it's better like this… We have five families: one family takes two rows, and when you are done, go back to take care of your field. How is that?”

This proposal had won the approval of most people. This was a busy time and everyone was in a hurry.

Thereupon, it was settled just like that.

Su Qingbai wondered if it was his illusion that the sun was exceptionally big today.

After a sip of water, Su Qingbai continued to cut cornstalks with a sickle.

The water can was put aside on another cornstalk row; it was Su Lingchuan's.

In the morning, Su Qingbai, like everyone else, decided to pick the corn cobs first, and then cut the stalks.

The cornstalks were to be shipped back for firewood.

The corn cobs were harvested smoothly, with two rows and a short field, the father and son finished both in the morning.

Su Qingbai was satisfied with the efficiency, but only here. They had one last work.

The corn cobs were harvested at noon, and Su Qingbai and Su Lingchuan went back for a meal.

Everyone else did it very well. They did most of it at noon and were about to finish it. After having energized by lunch, they worked harder and finished it shortly after lunch.

Su Qingbai returned to the field, there were only their two rows remaining.

Fortunately, the corn cobs were harvested, only the cornstalks were left.

For Su Qingbai, cutting the cornstalks was tiring but he endured it. However, for Su Lingchuan, who had a grandchild nearly twenty years old, with his old arms, old legs, old waists, could not bear it.

Therefore Su Qingbai sent Su Lingchuan back.

Alone in the field, Su Qingbai had almost never done this, so he did it until the sun tilt westward.

It had been a day since he went out of Jiang Mao's house.

Remembering Jiang Mao's apparent inability to accept Su Caicai, Su Qingbai sighed and kept busy.

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> Chapter 36