Travel Through The countryside

Chapter 11

Mrs. Yang's steps paused, and with a slightly nervous smile, she said to her daughter-in-law, "Uh...daughter-in-law, Xi'er got drunk, and I helped him inside to lie down."

Song Jingwei stepped aside, allowing Mrs. Yang to help Shen Junxi, who wobbled as he sat down. Although Shen Junxi was said to be drunk, he was only slightly dizzy and not fully inebriated. His eyes were still open, soft and hazy, as he gestured to Mrs. Yang, indicating that she needn't worry—he was just a bit dizzy.

Mrs. Yang nodded and said, "Alright..." to the two of them. "I'll leave now. You two...remember to drink the wedding wine." With an awkward demeanor, she left her son's new room, feeling entirely out of place.

Before the feast began, the kitchen had sent a spread of food and wine to the newlyweds' room, laid out on the freshly made Eight Immortals table.

Shen Junxi glanced around, noticing his new bride sitting beside him. His face was indifferent, his eyes clear, and his tightly pursed lips were a vibrant red, full and beautifully shaped.

He stood, walked to the table, and picked up two cups of wine, slowly handing one to his bride. He looked at her intently, with an expression that feared rejection, waiting.

Song Jingwei looked up at him—a young man in red robes like himself. For a moment, he felt dazed, questioning if this decision to go along with the flow was a mistake. In his plans, if they were to have a child and he couldn't bear to part with it, he would take the child away. But would this family also be unwilling to let go?

He pondered for a while, long enough for the light in Shen Junxi's eyes to dim, his lips tightening stubbornly. Although he knew he was not liked, the lack of response from the person in front of him still made him feel a unique kind of sadness.

Just then, Song Jingwei came to his senses, raising his hand to take the wine cup from Shen Junxi, preparing to drink the wedding wine.

Shen Junxi slowly smiled, his eyes regaining their sparkle. He carefully linked arms with Song Jingwei and leaned in to drink the wine together...

Due to Song Jingwei's awkward movements, their foreheads ended up bumping into each other.

Shen Junxi looked at him tenderly, as if gazing at an endearingly clumsy wife, willing to indulge in every way.

Song Jingwei silently drank the wine, mentally noting its poor quality.

In ancient times, this was the typical wedding process. After drinking the wedding wine, it was time for the bridal chamber. Shen Junxi took the wine cup from Song Jingwei and put it back.

It was not yet the end of the Shen hour, and there was still a faint glow of sunlight outside.

Shen Junxi hesitated for a moment, gesturing to his wife: Do you want to bathe? I'll take you to the bathing room.

Noticing that Song Jingwei didn't understand his sign language, he seemed at a loss, as if back to the days five years ago when he first lost his speech.

"Do you have paper and a brush?" Song Jingwei finally spoke, his first words to Shen Junxi.

"Yes, yes..." Shen Junxi nodded repeatedly, gesturing as he made the only sound he could. Having been mute for so many years, he rarely made any noise, and hardly anyone knew he could still make sounds.

There were still writing materials at home; since he could no longer study, the unused brushes and ink remained untouched. Ink was expensive, and every bit used was less available for future use. Besides, communicating with the Shen family did not require writing.

Shen Junxi fetched the long-unseen writing tools from the cupboard. When he started to write, he felt a bit rusty, unsure of his penmanship. If the writing was poor, it would be embarrassing to show.