W Chapter 90
by VolareChapter 90: Bang, Bang, Bang
During the meal, Ling Xing felt Shen Hui’s gaze on him the whole time.
With the Shen family all present, he felt extremely self-conscious, so he ate quickly and left even faster.
After saying goodbye to Xu Youfang and Shen Chengshan, he couldn’t wait to leave.
Back in his room, Ling Xing propped his elbows on the table, his head a mess.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Shen Hui sat upright, his eyes sweeping over everyone before saying, “I want to marry Ling Xing.”
He no longer called him “older brother-in-law.” The name Ling Xing rolled off his tongue, filled with tender affection.
“Clang,” Shen Yan’s chopsticks fell.
Shen Gui, Cao Manyue, and Zhao Changming, still unaware of anything amiss, were even more dumbfounded, stiffly turning their heads to look at their parents’ expressions.
Xiao Chun and Xiao Xia didn’t fully grasp the implications of Shen Hui’s words, but they were silently wondering if they would have to call their oldest brother-in-law their second brother-in-law in the future.
Shen Chengshan knew this day would come soon, but he didn’t expect it to be so fast…
Xu Youfang had already anticipated Shen Hui’s words; no wonder she felt something was off about Ling Xing today. Of everyone present, her reaction was the calmest.
“Are you really giving up your career?” Xu Youfang asked calmly.
Shen Hui gave a simple “yes.” “I never really wanted it that much anyway.”
Everyone has different pursuits and desires. In his opinion, power required constant scheming and deceit. He didn’t like those things; they were mentally exhausting, draining, and offered no freedom.
If he hadn’t seen Li Huiyuan cross the threshold of the county office to pick someone up, he wouldn’t have even considered taking the imperial examinations.
What was the point of a prosperous family if one wrong step could cause everything to vanish into thin air?
He preferred the freedom of the mountains to a life of luxury.
This aligned with Shen Chengshan and Xu Youfang’s own thinking.
Yesterday, Shen Hui had fainted after saying only a few words, and the family hadn’t had a chance to ask him about the results of the provincial examination.
Shen Chengshan didn’t bring up Shen Hui and Ling Xing’s matter first, but instead asked Shen Hui if he had passed the examination.
“I passed, but I don’t plan to take any more,” Shen Hui said truthfully.
Shen Chengshan had a different perspective on this. “Have you considered that Xing’er’s business might grow bigger and bigger? What if he eventually leaves the county town and goes somewhere farther away? What would you do then?”
Shen Hui had thought about this.
If Ling Xing chose to leave because of business, he would resign from his position and follow him.
In the beginning, they had also started with a stall together, developing it step by step.
Now that he had the status of a provincial graduate, he was no longer a nobody who could be manipulated at will.
No matter where he went in the future, it wouldn’t be harder than before.
“Wherever he goes, I’ll go,” Shen Hui said resolutely.
Shen Chengshan had nothing more to say to this.
His son’s mind was made up; there was no point in saying more.
Shen Chengshan frowned and said sternly, “As for Xing’er, your mother and I won’t help you say good things. If Xing’er doesn’t want to marry you, I will prevent it, even if it means severing our relationship.”
Xu Youfang added, “Second Son, today you chose to abandon a better career and make this decision. In the future, you cannot resent Xing’er. No one forced you to make this decision, understand?”
“Your son understands, thank you for your blessing.”
Shen Hui replied solemnly, then got up and left the kitchen, leaving the space for his family to slowly digest the news.
After he left, Shen Gui, Cao Manyue, and Zhao Changming had recovered from the shock.
They slowly accepted the fact that their second brother was in love with their oldest brother-in-law, and that their parents had known about it for a long time.
“Father, Mother,” Shen Gui turned his head, feeling lost. “Big Brother-in-law’s household registration is still registered as Shen Hai’s spouse. You just agreed like that? How are we going to explain this to Big Brother?”
Mention of Shen Hai caused the old couple’s expressions to turn serious.
Xu Youfang recalled Shen Hui’s unruly behavior from before and felt a bit angry.
“Your second brother can even think about his spouse at your big brother’s grave, your mother really can’t do anything about it.”
As for explaining things, Shen Hui didn’t want to think about the consequences; his mind was just filled with wanting Ling Xing.
Shen Gui didn’t know about this incident, but after a moment’s thought, he felt that his second brother was capable of doing such a thing.
When they were little, the younger siblings preferred their oldest brother.
Because their second brother was too cold and fierce.
Unlike their oldest brother, who was gentle and kind, cared about everyone, and was always smiling.
In Shen Gui’s heart, he felt somewhat sorry for Shen Hai.
He could completely understand and accept Ling Xing remarrying, but he couldn’t accept without reservation that his second brother was taking his big brother’s spouse.
He had been harboring these thoughts for a long time, without restraint, and without wanting to repent.
The most taboo thing in a family was suspicion and resentment between brothers. Xu Youfang understood her children and saw that Shen Gui’s emotions were not right.
She sighed softly and reminded him, “Fourth Son, no matter what, your big brother has been gone for two years. Now, your brother-in-law’s choice is the most important.”
Shen Gui suddenly came to his senses.
That’s right, if his big brother-in-law really liked his second brother and chose his second brother, then that would be mutual affection.
He turned to look at Cao Manyue, just like how he loved his wife, not caring what others said, he just wanted his wife.
Emotions in this world cannot be controlled. But as long as they don’t violate good customs and laws, and don’t hurt others, it’s fine.
Big Brother had already passed away, and Brother-in-law had the right to choose anyone.
Although it wouldn’t sound very good, as long as Brother-in-law first left the Shen family’s registry and then married his second brother, it would completely comply with the law.
The problem was, his brother-in-law had no other relatives except for a younger brother.
And his younger brother hadn’t reached the age to establish his own household; he was still several years away.
The household registration simply couldn’t be moved out, there was nowhere to move it to.
Ling Yue would be eight years old in three months, unless his second brother could wait more than two years until Ling Yue was ten years old and could independently establish his own household.
Shen Gui was a little strange, could his second brother hold back?
At this time, Shen Hui was standing outside Ling Xing’s room, afraid of scaring him, he honestly called out, “Brother-in-law.”
Ling Xing, who was propping his head and spacing out in the room, shuddered. Hearing the title he was used to hearing in the past, he actually felt a bit ashamed and at a loss.
He, how, how could he still call him that after saying those words!
How could he still call me brother-in-law!
Ling Xing was both angry and annoyed, turning his head to shout at the door, “Stop calling me that!”
Shen Hui raised his eyebrows slightly, agreeing with a light smile.
“Okay, I won’t call you that. Do you want to go to the mountains with me to pick chestnuts?”
When chestnuts mature and fall, the chestnut trees on the outskirts of the mountains are already bare, and the villagers wouldn’t let a single chestnut go.
But there were still some in the deep mountains, Shen Hui knew the location.
Last year, he didn’t have time to go because he was too busy. In previous years, he would get some back, roast them, and the whole family would eat them together, which could be considered improving their meals.
Ling Xing hadn’t eaten chestnuts since he transmigrated. He wouldn’t have thought about it if it hadn’t been mentioned, but now he wanted to eat the sweet and soft chestnut meat.
It was a good time to eat chestnuts, and there was no reason not to eat them!
Shen Hui didn’t hear a response, but he saw a head peeking out from behind the door.
The smile on his face deepened. “Come out quickly, I’ll take you to get some chestnuts to eat.”
Ling Xing was stunned by Shen Hui’s smile. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to continue looking.
“But your injuries haven’t healed.”
Shen Hui really liked the feeling of being worried about and cared for by Ling Xing. Even his cold and hard voice became much gentler.
“My injuries are fine, it’s just that the surface wounds have torn a bit, making them look scary.”
Ling Xing still wanted Shen Hui to stay home and recuperate.
He rarely saw Shen Hui injured. This time, he went to the provincial examination and came back so late, with injuries, something must have happened.
Ling Xing was worried, but he didn’t dare to ask too much. After all, Shen Hui wouldn’t say it if he didn’t want to.
And Shen Hui knew Ling Xing, he could see that Ling Xing wanted to go.
His own injuries really weren’t a big deal.
Yesterday, most of it was him deliberately showing a weak side, and fainting was mostly because of the fatigue of traveling and rushing all night.
The reason for choosing to show weakness was naturally to make Ling Xing feel soft and sorry for him.
That way, Ling Xing wouldn’t be too repulsed when he later said those words expressing his feelings.
Although he used some tactics, it worked.
“I want to go.” Shen Hui’s voice slowed down. “Can Brother-in-law accompany me?”
Ling Xing couldn’t bear to hear the words “Brother-in-law” now. He came out of the room directly, scolding Shen Hui, “I told you not to call me that anymore!”
Shen Hui was scolded, and smiled even more, quickly following Ling Xing and leading the way.
In the kitchen, the other members of the Shen family also finished eating and came out. Xu Youfang saw Shen Hui with Ling Xing and asked with concern, “Where are you going?”
Shen Hui knew that his mother didn’t trust him and was worried that he would hurt Ling Xing.
To reassure his mother, he lowered his eyes and replied, “Going to the mountains to pick chestnuts.”
“Oh, picking chestnuts is good.” Xu Youfang gave Shen Gui a look. “It just so happens that Fourth Son is also going, get more back, and Mom will make chestnut cakes for you to eat.”
Shen Gui understood and nodded solemnly to Xu Youfang.
He would definitely keep an eye on his second brother!
Shen Hui didn’t have a chance to refuse. Shen Gui shouted, and also brought along Black Snow.
The dog had become a lot stronger, and more stable than before.
Although he was excited to see Ling Xing and Shen Hui, he didn’t jump on them, just frantically wagging his powerful tail.
Bang, bang, bang, hitting Shen Gui’s leg.
Making Shen Gui’s calves start to hurt before he even walked on the mountain road.
Shen Gui endured the leg pain and went to carry the bamboo basket on his back, naturally inserting himself between Ling Xing and Shen Hui.
Shen Hui didn’t say anything about this, silently putting Black Snow between him and Shen Gui.
Black Snow happily wagged its tail.
There were undercurrents flowing between the brothers, and Shen Gui’s face was red, from holding back the pain.
Black Snow’s tail really hurt when it hit!
It hurt even more than before!
He even suspected that his second brother had given Black Snow some strange instructions without him noticing.
After walking a mile from home, Shen Gui had been hit by Black Snow’s tail for a mile.
Shen Hui asked Shen Gui in a timely manner, “Fourth Brother, do you want to change positions?”
The meaning of the words was to change positions to avoid being hit.
Shen Gui silently moved to Ling Xing’s side.
Seeing this, Shen Hui softly called out to Black Snow.
The dog seemed to understand human language. Without needing more words, it wiggled and walked to the other side of Shen Hui.
Ling Xing noticed that the distance between himself and Shen Hui was very close. While walking, their clothes would rub against each other.
Shen Hui handed out a branch, saying to Ling Xing, “The mountain road ahead is not easy to walk, hold on, I’ll guide you.”
The mountain road was indeed difficult to walk, and Ling Xing didn’t hesitate on these matters for too long, reaching out and holding the other end of the branch.
Shen Gui saw them holding a branch, looking like they were holding hands. He felt that the atmosphere was strange.
He interrupted in a timely manner, “Second Brother, what about me?”
Shen Hui glanced at him. “Second Brother will have Black Snow lead the way for you?”
Shen Gui became honest again. “That’s not necessary, I can walk on my own…”
The deeper they went into the mountains, the quieter it became. Shen Hui was always careful of his steps, afraid that Ling Xing would fall.
Black Snow sniffed the air back and forth, and would occasionally urinate to mark its territory.
Shen Hui had been to the chestnut forest in the deep mountains many times, and there were no wild beasts. Therefore, even though the injuries on his body hadn’t fully healed, he dared to bring people here.
Although there were no wild beasts here, there were cliffs.
Shen Hui reminded, “The forest is relatively small, the cliff is behind that thicket of trees, don’t lean against it, you’ll fall off.”
Ling Xing suddenly realized, no wonder the wind was a bit strong.
With Shen Hui’s reminder, Ling Xing and Shen Gui were very careful, even Black Snow kept a distance from the thicket.
The three of them and the dog picked chestnuts. Black Snow could bite several at a time, all of which were placed in the small basket on its back.
The small basket had a lid, and then it would be tied with hemp rope, so they weren’t afraid that Black Snow would leak them while carrying them.
Shen Hui originally wanted to call Ling Xing out so that the two of them could be alone, where he could once again clarify his feelings and tell Ling Xing that the family members were all aware.
As a result, there was one more person and one more dog. Black Snow was fine, but Shen Gui was really annoying.
During this time of picking chestnuts, this kid didn’t know how many times he stared at him.
Staring like he was a thief.
He insisted on pretending not to stare, and as soon as his gaze went over, he would shift his eyes guiltily, his eyes wandering.
Shen Hui turned around helplessly, not wanting to look anymore.
He was too lazy to expose him.
Only Fourth Sister-in-law, and Xiao Chun and Xiao Xia treated his fourth brother like a treasure, and would think he was incredibly smart.
Shen Hui bent down, picking round and plump chestnuts.
Suddenly, his movements stopped, his fingertips gently stroking a small patch of mud in front of him. There was less weeds on it, and more mud.
Therefore, the shape imprinted on the mud was very clear, and this shape seemed to be a human footprint.
Shen Hui was a little strange, this place was hidden, and in the deep mountains.
Besides him, could anyone else find it here?