C7 You Are Worried about Me!

After Tang Jin left, Xia Churan lay in bed, tossing and turning, sleep eluding her. She wasn't sure if it was guilt over the misunderstanding with Tang Jin or something else, but her emotions were tangled. Her gaze lingered on the window, then drifted towards the door, where she watched for what seemed like an eternity. In the night's embrace, a figure limped slowly towards their home. Xia Churan bolted upright, recognizing the silhouette immediately—after five years of marriage, she knew Tang Jin's form all too well.

She threw on her clothes, grabbed a kerosene lamp, and opened the door just as Tang Jin was coming in. Xia Churan's eyes were immediately drawn to the bloody footprints he left in his wake. "Are you hurt?" she asked, squatting down to inspect his injury.

Tang Jin stepped back. "There's mud on my feet; I don't want you to get dirty," he protested.

"It's just a small cut from a clamshell. It's nothing to worry about," Tang Jin reassured her softly.

But as Xia Churan observed the trail of bloodied footprints, she knew it was more than a minor cut. With determination, she fetched a basin of water and a rag, scooped up some ash from the stove, and returned to Tang Jin's side. "Sit here; I'm going to treat your wound."

"No need..." Tang Jin began, reluctant to cause her concern.

However, Xia Churan's resolute expression told him she wouldn't be swayed once her mind was made up. With a resigned sigh, he sat down on the stool before her.

As Xia Churan knelt down, the faint glow from the lamp revealed the extent of Tang Jin's injury. Despite bracing herself, she couldn't help but gasp at the sight of the deep gash. He had walked all the way home with such a severe wound, carrying a heavy bucket of clams, barefoot. The thought of his pain made her frown.

Carefully, she cleaned the mud from his foot with water, applied the ash, and then wrapped the wound with the rag. Throughout the process, Tang Jin didn't utter a single sound.

"Keep the wound dry for the next couple of days! We must avoid any infection," she instructed firmly.

Xia Churan rose to her feet, her voice soft with caution.

Bathed in the silver moonlight, her face lost its usual aloofness, replaced by a touch of warmth.

Tang Jin's lips curled into a smile; it had been quite some time since he'd seen her this way.

"Are you worried about me?"

His tone was light, prompting a blush to spread across Xia Churan's cheeks.

She shot him a glare.

"Who's worried about you? I'm just concerned that your wound might get infected. You know, medical bills cost money!"

With that, she wrapped herself in her clothes and retreated to her room.

Tang Jin remained seated, watching Xia Churan's hasty departure, his smile deepening. He knew her tough exterior well, but he was confident that with enough care from him, she would eventually recognize the changes in him.

…

The following morning.

Tang Jin was up with the dawn, making the bed before stepping out of the inner room, only to discover Xia Churan had risen even earlier.

She had prepared breakfast, the bone soup rice from the previous night now steaming on the table. She cast a tentative glance at Tang Jin.

"Um, you're selling river clams today, right? I'll come with you."

"Ah?"

Tang Jin, mid-bite, nearly choked upon hearing her proposal.

Xia Churan had never accompanied him before, and given the dishonor of their premarital relations, she seldom ventured out.

What had changed today?

Before Tang Jin could voice his curiosity, Xia Churan, as if reading his mind, cleared her throat.

"Um, Tang Tang hasn't been to the city yet. She's curious to see it!"

Little Milk Bun, who had been quietly eating, was suddenly the center of attention and looked up with a puzzled expression.

Realizing Xia Churan's intentions, Tang Jin chose not to call her out. Instead, he smiled, his lips pressed together in amusement.

"Okay, we'll all go together!"

After breakfast, Tang Jin loaded the river clams onto a small cart and helped Little Milk Bun onto it as well.

He was about to offer Xia Churan a spot when he noticed she had already positioned herself at the front of the cart, ready to take hold of the handle.

"Let's get moving. You've got an injury on your foot – don't risk tearing it open, or it'll cost you later!"

She resorted to this excuse once more, yet Tang Jin merely smiled in response.

He stepped forward, took hold of the other handle, and the family of three made their way toward the county town.

Dawn had broken, and the villagers, early risers all, were not working on this second day of the Lunar New Year. Instead, they gathered at their doorsteps, chatting away.

Spotting the trio from a distance, they quickly found a new topic for gossip.

"Look, isn't that Old Tang's son, Tang Jin?"

"Indeed, that young rascal does nothing but loaf around all day. He's got a wife now, and they're nearly starving!"

"What's he up to with that cart? He's not planning to sell his wife and kid, is he?"

...

The chatter continued unabated, but Tang Jin was too far to hear any of it.

After pushing the cart for over an hour, the three finally reached the county town.

Xia Churan had assumed Tang Jin would find a spot to start selling, but he kept walking even after entering the town, prompting her curiosity.

"Where are you planning to sell these? Do you really think these clams will sell?"

Living in the countryside had altered Xia Churan's tastes and mindset. The clams, with their earthy smell and disproportionately small meat to shell ratio, seemed a tough sell.

"They'll sell. Trust me, they'll all be gone soon!"

Tang Jin turned back, flashed a toothy grin at Xia Churan, and pressed on.

Another ten minutes passed before they stopped at a small noodle stall.

"Come try our clam meat noodles! Delicious clam meat noodles here!"

The stall was run by a couple in their thirties, who sounded like they were from the north. They were new to the area, their clam meat noodles were delectably aromatic, and business was booming – they were just in need of more clams.

In a previous life, when Tang Jin was just starting out in business and hadn't yet made much money, he once went three days without food. Returning to his stall, hunger overcame him, and he fainted right there on the street.

The couple who owned the restaurant had once given him a bowl of noodles. Later, as Tang Jin's business flourished, he even helped them start their own restaurant!

Noticing Tang Jin had been standing to the side for quite some time, the restaurant owners approached him with welcoming smiles.

"Hey there, young man, are you looking to grab some noodles? Our clam noodles are incredibly aromatic!"

"No, boss, I'm actually here to sell clams!"

Tang Jin presented the river clams he had caught the previous night, laying them out for the boss to inspect.

"Caught fresh last night, have a look."

Each clam was sizable and bursting with freshness, still very much alive!

The boss was visibly impressed.

"These are excellent! How much are you selling them for, young man?"

Being a man of directness, the boss didn't hesitate to inquire about the price upon approving of the product.

Without any evasion, Tang Jin quoted a price.

"Three cents per pound."

Considering that meat was selling for around 180, and clams were harder to come by, three cents a pound was quite reasonable.

"Deal! You've got a knack for business. I'll take them at three cents a pound. And if you get your hands on more clams, bring them all to me—I'll buy as many as you've got!" the boss declared with a hearty laugh.

He then fetched a scale, hung the bucket of clams on it, and found it weighed over 82 pounds. At three cents a pound, the total came to $24.60.

The boss's wife carefully counted out the money and handed it to Tang Jin.

Upon noticing Little Milk Bun sitting quietly in the car, the boss's wife's face lit up with a smile. She reached into her purse, pulled out a piece of candy, and offered it to Little Milk Bun.

"Is this your little girl? She's absolutely adorable! Here, have some candy from your auntie!"

Little Milk Bun, who had never been offered candy by a stranger before, was initially unsure and looked to Tang Jin for guidance.

Tang Jin chuckled and gently stroked Little Milk Bun's head.

"Go ahead and take it, but remember to thank your auntie."

With Tang Jin's encouragement, Little Milk Bun timidly accepted the candy and spoke in a soft, sweet voice, "Thank you, auntie!"

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