The Fool I Married

The years had been lean, and famine clawed at the land. My parents, for a few bushels of grain and a handful of copper coins, were about to sell me off as a concubine to that old squire in town.

I refused to accept my fate.

So I tricked the hunter’s simpleton son into going home and telling his father to bring ten bushels of grain and five strings of coins—and I would marry him.

1

The Great Feng Kingdom had suffered three straight years of drought. Famine was everywhere, and the dead lay scattered across the land.

My family lived near the mountains and by the water, so we could always find some wild game and野菜. It wasn’t so bad at first. But after three years of drought, the crops in the fields were completely ruined. Many families could only afford one meal a day, their stomachs never full.

I was fifteen that year, fair and delicate—a rare beauty for miles around.

A few days ago, Mother and I went to town to sell the embroidered handkerchiefs we’d made. Old Master Chen, who was over sixty, spotted me and got ideas.

He asked Mother which village we were from.

In just two days, he sent men carrying ten bushels of grain and five strings of coins, along with a matchmaker, straight to our door. He said it was a betrothal gift—he wanted me as his thirteenth concubine.

My parents were blinded by the wealth and actually agreed to the match.

When I said I wouldn’t go along with it, my father slapped me across the face.

“You have seven brothers and sisters! The youngest is only two! If you don’t marry out, do you want to watch them starve to death?”

Was the eldest daughter always supposed to sacrifice her entire life for her younger siblings? To marry some lecherous old man with one foot in the grave?

I was furious and heartbroken. I ran out the door and hid in the bamboo grove at the edge of the village, where I cried my eyes out.

Before long, I heard a rustling sound behind me.

I slowly turned around and looked up.

Through the gaps in the bamboo fence, I saw a young man in a blue cloth tunic, holding a skinned rabbit in his hand. He tilted his head slightly, watching me.

2

The young man stood tall and straight as a pine, his features so handsome he looked like he’d stepped out of a painting—refined and elegant.

In this rural backwater, it was rare to see someone with skin as fair and smooth as cream.

How did the old poems put it?

*A gentleman on the path, fair as jade; a son of the world, unmatched in grace.*

Too bad this gentleman was a fool!

His name was Dorian, the son of Mr. Ashford, the hunter who had moved to the village three years ago.

When they first arrived, they’d been generous, hosting a feast for the whole village. They said their hometown had been raided by bandits, and the two of them had escaped by chance.

And so the Ashfords settled here.

I didn’t look down on Dorian for being simple. On the contrary, in this village, he only recognized me.

It was because, when the village kids bullied him, I had stepped in, scolded them, and taught him how to talk back.

After that, whenever someone called him an idiot, he would stand his ground and retort in all seriousness: “You’re the idiot! You’re all idiots! Your whole family are idiots!”

A jade-like, handsome young man acting so simple—it was oddly endearing.

I never mocked him for being a fool. After all, he really was one.

“Claire, why are you crying?” he asked.

See? He remembered me.

“I’ll cry if I want to. What’s it to you, little fool?” I sniffled, turned around, and kept crying.

Dorian didn’t bother me.

I cried my tears, and he built his fire and roasted his rabbit.

3

I cried until I was tired. I didn’t want to cry anymore.

Mostly because I was too hungry to have the energy.

The last time I’d eaten was yesterday morning.

Behind me, I heard the rustling sound again, along with the growing aroma of roasting meat.

I didn’t turn around. I just stood up to leave.

“Claire,” Dorian called out.

“What?” I turned.

He was standing on the other side of the bamboo fence, holding a freshly roasted rabbit leg. He offered it to me.

I hesitated and didn’t take it.

He said, “Father gave it. Dorian can’t finish it all.”

I was starving. I swallowed my saliva, reached out, and took the rabbit leg. “...Thank you.”

He smiled at me.

That smile was beautiful, innocent and carefree.

We stood there, facing each other across the old bamboo stump, eating the roasted rabbit.

I knew he hadn’t killed the rabbit himself. His father had done that and let him roast it for fun.

His father doted on him.

How did I know?

When they first arrived, Dorian was always getting picked on.

Once, a village boy threw a stone that cut Dorian’s forehead and made it bleed.

Mr. Ashford grabbed his knife and went straight to the boy’s house.

The man had real skill. Within days of settling in, he’d gone up the mountain alone and killed a tiger.

He said that if anyone ever hurt his son again, he’d make their whole family pay with their lives!

After that, the villagers only dared to call Dorian an idiot behind Mr. Ashford’s back.

I was worried back then and followed Dorian home to check on his wound. But from outside the wall, I saw his father gently coaxing him and bandaging the cut.

Mr. Ashford loved his simple son dearly and indulged him in everything.

A bold idea suddenly popped into my head.

“Little fool,” I said, looking at Dorian.

“Hm?” He actually responded, looking up at me.

4

I remembered that whenever someone called him an idiot, he got really angry and argued with them!

“Don’t you hate being called an idiot?” I asked. “Why aren’t you mad when I call you ‘little fool’?”

He stared at me blankly for a while, then looked down and muttered, “But you’re Claire.”

“Yeah, it’s me. So?”

He didn’t answer.

I could tell he didn’t want to say more, but I wasn’t about to give up on the idea that had formed in my mind.

Maybe he could save me from this misery.

“Dorian?” I tested the name.

His hand, holding the rabbit, paused. He looked up at me, his low, youthful voice carrying a childlike innocence: “I’m here. What do you want now?”

I glanced at the rabbit in his hand and held out mine. “I want another rabbit leg.”

He made an “oh” sound and quickly tore off the remaining leg, handing it to me.

I ate as I spoke. “Do you know why I was crying earlier?”

He shook his head.

No follow-up.

*Little fool,* I thought.

“Aren’t you going to ask me?”

He took a bite of meat, swallowed, furrowed his handsome brow, and said with a hint of grievance, “Claire, I did ask!”

“Yes, you did.” I smiled and told him, “My parents want to marry me off to an old squire in town as a concubine. I don’t want to, so my father hit me.”

I pointed to the red, swollen spot on my face.

Dorian swallowed, reached out his greasy hand—but didn’t touch my face. He just pointed near it and asked, “Does it hurt?”

5

“Yes,” I nodded.

But I waited, and he just went back to eating his rabbit.

It seemed he didn’t understand what I’d said at all.

I thought for a moment and tried a different approach:

“If I marry someone else, you’ll never see me again.”

That got him. He froze, then immediately looked up at me.

“Why do you have to get married?” he asked.

“My parents want me to.” I kept it simple and cut to the chase. “Dorian, do you want to see me every day and play with me forever?”

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.

I leaned in closer. “Then go home and tell your father: bring ten bushels of grain and five strings of coins, and I can be your wife!”

Dorian blinked, thought for a moment, and said slowly, “I’ll go home and tell Father...” He paused.

“Bring ten bushels of grain and five strings of coins,” I coached.

“Bring ten bushels of grain and five strings of coins,” Dorian repeated.

“I can be your wife.”

“Claire can be my wife.”

I grinned. “Yes! Exactly!”

I almost praised him: *What a clever little fool!*

But that wasn’t enough.

Dorian might be simple, but his father wasn’t.

After I drilled the phrase “bring ten bushels of grain and five strings of coins” into his head, I added, “When the time comes, your father will probably ask you: ‘Is it you who wants Claire to be your wife?’”

Dorian looked at me.

“Just nod and say yes.”

Dorian nodded. “Yes.”

I thought it over and added one more thing. “And if your father asks you...”

I paused, my cheeks warming.

I steeled myself. “If he asks you, ‘Do you like her?’ you say, ‘Yes, I like her!’”

Dorian stared at me. “Like who?”

“Like me.”

Dorian: “Tell Father, like me!”

I: “...”

*You little fool!*

“It’s ‘like me’! Claire, understand?”

“Oh.” He nodded, finished gnawing on his rabbit leg, and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

6

Dorian glanced at me. His beautiful, deep eyes held a pure, innocent light.

“Home to find Father. To tell him.”

I was surprised. “Huh? Your father’s home today?”

Giving Dorian a rabbit to roast by himself—I thought Mr. Ashford had gone hunting for the day as usual.

Dorian nodded. “He’s home.”

Then he left.

He was such a simpleton. I was afraid he’d mess it up, so I quietly followed him home.

When he got there, he called out cheerfully, “Father!”

I crouched outside his wall and peered through a gap.

Mr. Ashford was turning over some animal hides to dry. When he saw his son, he turned and smiled. “Finished the rabbit?”

But Dorian didn’t answer. He walked straight over.

He stood ramrod straight, his back to me, facing his father, and announced loudly: “I have to tell Father: bring ten bushels of grain and five strings of coins... Claire can be my wife!”

He said it so loudly!

I had planned to use the little fool, but hearing that... my face burned with embarrassment!

Mr. Ashford was taken aback, then burst out laughing. “Haha, does Dorian want to get married?”

Dorian was silent for a moment, then replied, “Claire told me to say it.”

*You... you really are your father’s good boy!*

Mr. Ashford pulled him over to the eaves to cool down.

Just as I’d expected, he asked Dorian, “So, do you want Claire to be your wife?”

“Yes,” Dorian nodded.

My heart leaped with joy, and the corners of my mouth turned up.

*What a clever little fool...*

Mr. Ashford continued, “Oh? And do you like her?”

Without a second thought, Dorian declared loudly, “Like me!”

I: “?”

Mr. Ashford was puzzled. “What?”

Dorian: “It’s ‘like me,’ Claire! Understand?”

My smile froze...

What... what the hell?

“I see, I see!” Mr. Ashford laughed heartily. “Well, my son is so handsome, it’s no wonder she likes you.”

I don’t like him... that’s not true! It’s a misunderstanding!

*You little fool, Dorian!*

I should never have trusted him so much!

I take back my praise about him being a clever little fool!

7

Mr. Ashford shook his head. “But we can’t give ten bushels of grain.”

My heart sank.

But I understood.

In this famine, grain prices had multiplied several times over.

Mr. Ashford and Dorian were a father and son alone in the world. If the drought continued, even the animals would starve, and a hunter’s life would be hard.

They had to think about their own future food supply.

But without ten bushels of grain, given my parents’ temperament, they would never agree.

It was a dead end.

It seemed I couldn’t escape my fate.

I took one last look at Dorian and left.

When I got home, Mother and my second sister had just finished washing clothes and were hanging them up to dry.

When she saw me, Mother hurried over. “Claire, there’s porridge saved for you. It’s warming on the stove. Go eat.”

My eyes red, I looked at my mother and asked, “If there wasn’t a famine, would you still be willing to marry me off to that old lecher?”

Mother came up and wiped my tears. “Of course not.”

“So... my whole life is being traded so you all can survive this famine?”

Mother looked at me, her voice choked.

“Yes, yes,” she nodded, her eyes reddening. “But, Claire, when it comes to life and death, nothing else matters. It’s your father and I who have wronged you!”

My second sister walked over and said, “Mother, let me go in eldest sister’s place?”

Mother looked at her. “But you’re not the one he wants.”

8

The sun was setting.

Father and my third and fourth brothers came back from their work. They’d caught two catfish, picked a big bunch of wild greens, and dug up a few sweet potatoes of various sizes—a decent haul.

Seeing that I had accepted my fate, Father apologized and said he shouldn’t have hit me.

He also said that once I married Old Master Chen, I’d be wearing gold and silver and eating rich food.

I didn’t say a word. I just sat by the wicker fence and stared outside.

I hadn’t accepted anything.

I had fought back.

But no one had saved me.

Who wanted to wear gold and eat rich food with some lecherous old man?

If I had a choice, I... I’d rather be with that handsome little fool, Dorian, even if we had to eat chaff and swallow weeds!

Everyone had their own desires.

Suddenly, I remembered what Mr. Ashford had said earlier: *“My son is so handsome, it’s no wonder she likes you.”*

“Claire.” A familiar voice startled me back to reality.

I stood up and looked outside.

Dorian was standing by the fence, holding out a small bottle to me.

“What’s that?” I didn’t take it.

“Medicine.” He raised his hand and pointed at my face.

The swelling had already gone down, leaving only a faint red mark.

“No need. I’m fine.” I shook my head.

But the little fool was stubborn. He didn’t lower his hand. “Father bought it. For you!”

“You asked your father to buy it?”

“Mm.” He nodded.

“I don’t want it. Take it back!” I turned and went inside.

I stayed in the house for a long time, until it was dark.

My second sister came in. “Sis, why is that little fool from the Ashfords still standing outside our fence? What did he want to give you? Why didn’t you take it?”

“He’s still there?” I was surprised, then glared at her. “Don’t call him a little fool. How smart are you?”

My sister gave a dry laugh and muttered under her breath, “But you call him that too...”

“I can. Others can’t!” I got up quickly and went outside.

The little fool was still standing there.

So stubborn. Truly foolish!

“Give it here!” I held out my hand to him.

He smiled at me and handed me the bottle.

I took it and shooed him away. “Go home now!”

Without a word, he turned obediently and left.

“Little fool!” I called out.

He stopped immediately and turned back. “Hm?”

I looked at him deeply, then forced a smile. “Thank you. And...”

He waited patiently, but when I didn’t speak for a long time, he took a few steps back toward me. “And what?”

“Nothing. Go on.” I turned and walked back inside.

If it wasn’t meant to be, there was no point in saying more.

9

I thought that was the end of my connection with Dorian.

But the next morning, while I was still half-asleep, my third sister came running in happily. “Eldest sister, get up! The Ashfords have come to propose to you!”

“Who?”

“Mr. Ashford from the end of the village, with his... Dorian! They’re here to ask for your hand for him!”

I jolted awake, fully alert!

In the yard, Mr. Ashford had brought Dorian, hired a matchmaker, and enlisted some villagers to help. They had come to my house to propose and present the betrothal gifts.

“Nine catties of nuptial wine, nine kinds of dried fruits, nine types of pastries, nine love knots, nine pairs of new shoes, nine bolts of new cloth, nine handkerchiefs, nine bushels of grain, and nine strings of coins.” The matchmaker waved her red handkerchief cheerfully. “Oh, Mr. Lin, Mr. Ashford has sincerely offered the nine-nine auspicious numbers! So, will your family agree to this blessed union?”

In the Great Feng Kingdom, the nine-nine auspicious numbers were the most favored for weddings, symbolizing a long and harmonious marriage.

Wealthy families even prepared a dowry stretching ten miles.

But in this poor, remote village, few could afford to gather all nine types of betrothal gifts.

So that was why Mr. Ashford had said he couldn’t give ten bushels of grain yesterday... I had misunderstood!

I looked up at Dorian, and saw that he was staring at me.

My heart skipped a beat. My cheeks felt hot. I quickly looked down, but I couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from turning up.

Meanwhile, my mother glanced at me and quickly nudged my father to entertain the guests.

But my father had his concerns. “Brother Ashford, we’ve already accepted Old Master Chen’s betrothal gifts...”

“They were only gifts, not a signed marriage contract. Just return them in full.” Mr. Ashford’s tone was reasonable. “Don’t worry. Old Master Chen won’t have any objections.”

My father looked skeptical.

Mr. Ashford also offered to help return the gifts to the Chen estate.

10

I asked Dorian about it later and learned that after he’d spoken to his father yesterday afternoon, Mr. Ashford had immediately hitched up the donkey cart, taken two villagers with him, and gone to town to prepare the full nine-nine gifts.

I looked at the innocent, carefree young man with his clear features and couldn’t help but sigh. “Your father really loves you!”

Dorian smiled at me.

I muttered to myself, “He probably spent his entire savings to arrange this marriage for you. He didn’t have to give so much...”

I scratched my head, unable to stop myself from already thinking like a member of his family.

I thought Dorian hadn’t heard me.

But he suddenly said, “Claire, don’t worry. Father says we have plenty of money!”

“Hah, so you do understand that I’m worried about that?” I laughed at his simple expression, then looked at him seriously. “Your father is a skilled hunter, and he’s still in his prime. But one day, he’ll grow old, and he’ll...” *Die.*

I didn’t say it.

But it was the truth.

One day, it would just be me and Dorian.

Having a simpleton for a husband was practically like raising a son!

“We need to think about our future too.”

Dorian looked at me blankly. “Oh.”

I couldn’t help but smile and scoff, “Little fool.”

11

We successfully returned the betrothal gifts to Old Master Chen.

My mother had our fortunes told, and the matchmaker said mine and Dorian’s were a match made in heaven, destined for great wealth and a smooth life.

The big day was set for half a month later, on the sixth of May.

Dorian came running to my house every day. I suppose he remembered what I’d said when I tricked him—that he would see me every day and play with me.

Everyone in the village knew we were engaged.

So every time they saw him heading to my house, they would tease him. “Oh, Dorian, going to see your wife again?”

And every time, Dorian would nod very seriously and say, “Yes.”

Sometimes I saw it, and I felt so shy.

Only this little fool was happy-go-lucky all day long.

During this time, my mother worked day and night, using the cloth from the betrothal gifts to make three sets of new clothes for me and three for Dorian.

My mother was a renowned embroiderer.

The clothes she made were, of course, the finest.

She thought of Dorian, and my future father-in-law was quite pleased with that.

I admit, I had once resented my parents over the Old Master Chen affair.

But on my wedding day, my parents gave me a dowry of six-six gifts.

Even though they were taken from the nine-nine gifts the Ashfords had given, it showed they weren’t entirely greedy.

The six-six gifts returned were: six catties of nuptial wine, six sets of new clothes, six kinds of dried fruits, six love knots, six handkerchiefs, and six strings of coins.

Before I put on the bridal veil my mother had embroidered, she started to cry.

I comforted her, saying we were in the same village, just at opposite ends—so close.

But when I left the house, I secretly shed a few tears under the veil too.

Once I walked out that door, coming back would be called “returning to my parents’ home.”

There was a strange sadness in my heart...

12

The Ashford house had two side rooms separated by a large central hall. The rooms were quite far apart.

Dorian and I lived in the right side room.

After the wedding ceremony, my father-in-law entertained the guests who had come for the feast.

Dorian followed me into the room almost immediately.

“Father told me to lift your veil.” He used the weighing scale to lift the veil, then just stared at me.

Just as I was feeling shy, this simpleton blurted out, “Hey, why is your face so red today? It looks like a monkey’s butt!”

I: “...”

*So much for romance!*

Before I got married, my mother had pulled me aside and told me about some things between husband and wife in the bedchamber... I only half understood.

But Dorian definitely didn’t understand anything.

It was supposed to be our wedding night, but we just stood there staring at each other.

Then Dorian started to doze off.

He asked me, “Wife, aren’t you going to sleep?”

Then he climbed over me onto the kang bed. “If you’re not sleeping, I will.”

“Wait...” I was still too shy to make the first move, so I just called out to him and helped him take off his outer robe. “Aren’t you hot wearing that?”

“Hot,” Dorian nodded.

After I finished helping him, I thought he would go to sleep on the kang. But he reached out and started untying my wedding gown.

I was startled and a little shy.

I thought to myself, *So the little fool does know something...*

But after he untied my gown, leaving me in just my underclothes like him, he turned around, climbed onto the kang, and lay down.

I: “?”

That... that’s it?

After a while, he must have noticed I wasn’t moving. He turned his head, gave me a strange look, and asked, “Aren’t you tired yet?”

I had no choice but to lie down on the kang too.

Then Dorian suddenly got back up.

He blew out the candle on the table, fumbled his way back in the dark, took off his shoes, climbed onto the kang, and lay down.

After a moment, I tested the waters. “Dorian?”

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I turned on my side and moved closer to him.

I hesitated, then asked him, “Can I hug you?”

“Mm, go ahead.”

I reached out and put my arm around his narrow waist.

I asked again, “Can I kiss you?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I smiled. “You’re being so good?”

“Mm.” He really was being very good.

I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

“Little fool.”

“Father said I have to call you ‘wife,’ and you have to call me ‘husband.’”

“But can I call you ‘little fool’ in private?”

“Oh.”

I took his hand in mine and whispered, “Remember this. From now on, you’re my little fool and no one else’s. No other woman can get close to you or call you that, understand?”

“I understand.”

“Little fool.”

“Mm.”

“Little fool.”

“Hm?”

“Little fool...”

Dorian was my little fool, and mine alone.

At that moment, I truly believed he would be a little fool for the rest of his life.

13

On the second day of marriage, a new bride was supposed to serve tea to her husband’s elders.

Although the Ashford family only had my father-in-law as an elder, I still got up very early.

Dorian was still sound asleep.

Usually, his father doted on him and let him sleep in, but the new bride needed her husband to accompany her during the tea ceremony.

Besides, I wasn’t familiar with the Ashford household yet.

So I woke Dorian up.

“What’s wrong?” Dorian sat up groggily. His voice was low and soft, with no trace of morning grumpiness. He rubbed his eyes, looked at me, then at the window, and mumbled, “Wife, it’s still dark. Time to sleep!”

“It’s almost dawn!” I hurried over and pulled him up.

Just then, the rooster outside crowed loudly.

“I have to serve tea to Father today. Do you know where the tea leaves are? Go get them for me.”

“I know.” Dorian hopped off the kang quickly.

Both the new couple were supposed to serve tea to the elder. The daughter-in-law offered her future filial piety, and the son offered his gratitude for the past.

So, following the steps I remembered from when my grandmother used to make tea for my grandfather, I carefully brewed it.

When the two cups of tea were ready, my father-in-law had also finished washing up.

He was waiting for us in the main hall.

I carried one cup of tea and had Dorian carry the other.

I instructed him, “After I serve tea to Father, it’ll be your turn. Just do exactly what I do, understand?”

He nodded. “Mm.”

I went in, knelt before my father-in-law, and offered the tea. “Daughter-in-law serves tea to Father.”

Father-in-law took the tea I offered, took a symbolic sip, set it aside, and took a red envelope from his sleeve. He handed it to me. “A small red envelope for good luck. Get up.”

“Thank you, Father.” I stood up, took two steps to the side, and looked at Dorian.

Dorian understood. He carried the tea with proper form, walked forward, and knelt before his father.

“Daughter-in-law serves tea to Father.”

I: “...”

I was stunned.

Father-in-law was also taken aback.

14

“Husband, you should say, ‘Son serves tea to Father,’” I said with a smile, gently correcting him.

“Oh.” Dorian stood up with the tea.

He started over.

“Son serves tea to Father.”

Father-in-law, no longer stiff and serious, quickly took the cup and helped Dorian to his feet, as if he couldn’t bear to let his good boy kneel a moment longer.

But Dorian stared at his sleeve and urged, “Father, where’s the red envelope?”

“I’ll give it, I’ll give it!” Father-in-law couldn’t help but laugh.

The look he gave Dorian was full of undisguised affection.

Dorian took the red envelope, turned around, and walked over to me, presenting it like a treasure.

“Wife, for you!”

I instinctively looked at Father-in-law.

But he just lowered his head and drank his tea.

I knew that was his tacit approval.

“Then... I’ll keep it for my husband for now.”

Dorian’s handsome face broke into a bright, innocent smile. “Everything is for my wife.”

He looked at me and added, “Dorian is also for my wife!”

I: “...”

My face turned bright red!

I quickly lowered my head. “Father, I’ll go prepare breakfast!”

Dorian followed me anyway.

I cooked some thin porridge and reheated the leftovers from yesterday.

After we finished breakfast, I hesitated, then said to my father-in-law, “Father, about the dowry...”

According to custom, the dowry belonged to the daughter, so it had been brought over yesterday and was now in our room.

But it was all stuff the Ashfords had given.

“Since it’s your dowry, keep it all.” Father-in-law glanced at me. “I only have this one son. I just hope you will treat him with all your heart.”

I lowered my eyes slightly and replied seriously, “Father, don’t worry. Now that I’ve married into the Ashford family, there’s one more person in this house to protect him.”

“Wife, let’s go wash clothes in the river!” Dorian had put our clothes in a bucket and was cheerfully urging me on.

Before, his father wouldn’t let him go to the river to play alone.

Now, his father had agreed to let him go with me.

15

I gathered my father-in-law’s clothes to wash, but he refused.

He said, “You don’t need to do that for me. It’s not proper...”

Why wasn’t it proper? Every daughter-in-law in the village washed her father-in-law’s outer clothes. There weren’t such strict rules here.

But seeing how firm he was, and since I was a new bride, I didn’t argue.

The river where we could wash clothes was far from the village and quite deep.

Father-in-law told us to be careful and then went hunting in the mountains.

When I got to the river to wash the clothes, Dorian was very obedient and helped out. After a while, I stopped paying attention to him.

He ran into the river to play, slipped, and fell hard.

The river was deep, and the current was fast.

I heard the splash and turned to see him completely submerged, struggling and thrashing.

“Dorian...” I plunged in and swam toward him.

He grabbed onto me tightly, like a drowning man clutching at a lifeline.

But he was strong, and he pulled me down with him.

He didn’t know how to swim, and he didn’t know how to hold his breath. The more he couldn’t breathe, the more panicked he became.

At this rate, we were both in danger!

I decided to go with it. I pressed myself against him.

Then I put my lips to his and kissed him, using my other hand to pinch his cheeks and blow air into his mouth.

He seemed stunned, staring at me with wide, foolish eyes.

I took the opportunity to pull him up, using the water’s buoyancy to get us to the surface.

“Dorian, don’t be afraid, don’t move! I’ve got you!”

But then I realized... my feet touched the bottom. The water only came up to my armpits.

I turned to look at Dorian.

“Stand up! Stand up!”

Sure enough, the water barely reached his chest.

I stared at him and couldn’t help but laugh. “You scared me. I forgot this part of the river isn’t that deep.”

But just as I finished speaking, Dorian suddenly plunged back under the water.

“You...” I didn’t know what he was doing, so I quickly dove under.

He immediately reached out and wrapped his arms tightly around me.

Underwater, he kept his eyes open, staring at me.

When I tried to swim forward, he held me back.

What did he want?

Just then, he seemed to grow impatient. He frowned, brought his handsome face close to mine, and pressed his thin lips against mine...

16

When we burst out of the water, I was gasping for air. I raised my hand and hit Dorian. “You... what are you doing?”

My face felt like it was on fire.

Dorian stared at me seriously, then reached out and touched my cheek.

“Wife, your face is so red.”

I glared at him, but he just clutched his chest, frowning in confusion. “Wife, am I sick? My heart is beating so fast.”

I placed my hand over his heart.

“Little fool!”

I climbed out of the river first.

Now we were both soaking wet. We couldn’t go back to the village like this.

I pulled him to sit on the riverbank and said, “Your heart is beating fast because you like me.”

The little fool looked at me. “I like my wife?”

“Yes!” I felt shy, but I continued, “From now on, your heart can only beat this fast for me. Got it?”

I was greedy like that.

My husband could only belong to me.

The little fool nodded seriously.

17

The Ashfords didn’t farm, so I just cooked and did the housework.

Father-in-law was usually out in the mountains all day.

Dorian used to eat the cold rice his father had cooked in the morning.

Now that I was here, I could make sure he always had hot food.

In the afternoons, I would take Dorian out to forage for wild greens.

When I married in, there was no grain in my dowry, but the Ashfords weren’t short of it.

It was the first time I realized that being a hunter could be quite lucrative.

Or maybe it was because Father-in-law was so skilled, a master of the hunt, so he made a lot of money.

After dinner, Father-in-law went to the river to bathe.

I boiled some hot water, and Dorian and I each bathed and washed up.

But then Dorian suddenly gathered our dirty clothes and excitedly pulled me along. “Wife, let’s go wash clothes in the river!”

“Huh? Now?” I was puzzled. “It’s dark out. Let’s do it tomorrow.”

Dorian pouted, took my hand, and begged in a whiny voice, “Wife, I want to go now. Let’s go wash clothes, okay?”

My father-in-law was sitting nearby, organizing his bow and arrows. He turned to look at us and asked, “Dorian, why do you want to go wash clothes now?”

Dorian said happily, “So we can sink in the water and go mmmph—”

I finally realized what he was up to!

Oh!

You little fool! You’re a lecher at heart!

“Father, Dorian and I have something to talk about!” I dragged him back into our room!

Father-in-law didn’t bother with us.

When he was done, he went to his room to rest.

I, on the other hand, stayed in our room, trying every way I could to coax my simpleton husband.

I told him that “kissing” wasn’t only possible in the water!

I kissed him to show him what I meant.

For a moment, his eyes lit up like stars, burning bright as he stared at me.

He leaned in to kiss me, but I pushed him away.

I told him that from now on, what happened between us was not to be shared with Father-in-law or anyone else.

He nodded obediently and even pinky-swore with me, vowing a hundred years of secrecy, before I let him off.

I told him to blow out the candle and get on the kang.

At first, it was really just about kissing.

But somehow, things got out of hand...

Maybe it was because men have a natural instinct for these things.

I never expected it to happen so soon, by accident, but... we consummated our marriage smoothly.

18

The third day after a woman’s marriage was the day for her to return to her parents’ home.

When my mother learned that Dorian and I had consummated the marriage, she was quite relieved.

Especially when she saw how Dorian was always hovering around me, his whole world focused on me.