The Beautiful Brother of the Orion’s Family (Wearing Book) - 339

 

| TBBOTOF | 339

After Wei Dong finished butchering the pig and dividing up the meat, he had just washed his hands and was about to change clothes when Tang Xu called out to him.

“Ah Dong, Grandpa and Grandma haven’t come over yet. You should take the mule cart to pick them up. Put on the new cotton-padded jacket—it’s cold outside.”

Wei Dong raised an eyebrow and motioned for Tang Xu to look at the sweat on his forehead. “I’m warm, not cold.”

“No way, you have to wear it.” After saying this, Tang Xu simply went inside, fetched the cotton-padded jacket, and signaled for Wei Dong to put it on.

Wei Dong dodged slightly to the side. “Let me change into clean clothes first. Where did the kids go?”

When they were butchering the pig in the backyard earlier, the kids had been crowding around to watch the excitement. But later, fearing they might get scared, they were sent away. 

Now, after all this time, there was still no sign of them.

“They’re inside gnawing on bones. I’ve been simmering the big marrow bones, and there’s not much meat left on them—so it’s just right for them to chew on. Hurry up and get changed to pick up my grandparents. By the time you’re back, the food should be ready.” 

Tang Xu thought of the kids happily gnawing on the big bones, their mouths covered in grease, and his eyes filled with laughter.

Wei Dong felt a warmth in his heart. He leaned over to kiss Tang Xu and said, “Okay.”

After changing clothes and taking the mule cart to pick up the elders, Tang Xu went back to the kitchen to continue cooking.

In the large stove in the courtyard, fragrant broth was simmering with sauerkraut. Half-cooked blood sausages were coiled in a big basin, their dark red color showing through the translucent casing. When eating, just blanch it in the boiling sauerkraut soup, and it will be tender and smooth.

Tang Xu stepped into the kitchen and glanced at the steaming basket, which was releasing thick white vapor. He then turned to ask Tang Yang, who was sitting by the stove with a book in his hands, “How long has it been steaming?”

“Not long, I’ve only read two pages,” Tang Yang said, shaking the booklet in his hand with a grin. “Don’t worry, brother, the pot won’t burn. I’m watching the fire.”

Tang Xu found it odd that his younger brother was suddenly so engrossed in reading. He leaned in for a look, raised an eyebrow, and immediately smacked the back of Tang Yang’s neck. “What kind of nonsense are you reading? Where did you get this?”

Tang Yang shrank his neck and laughed sheepishly. “Brother-in-law brought it.”

Tang Xu narrowed his eyes. “Liu Yao brought it? He can’t even read—how could he have gone out of his way to buy a romance book?”

From a modern perspective, Tang Xu would have thought of it as just an ordinary romance novel. But in their current time, such books were seen as a corrupting influence on students. 

Anyone known to enjoy reading such material would be gossiped about by others.

Tang Yang was ten years old this year and had perfectly inherited the tall and sturdy genes of the Tang family. Though still young, he was already quite tall—standing next to Wei Xi, who was older than him, they were about the same height.

In fact, both of them were already half a head taller than Tang Xu.

“It was really brother-in-law. When he bought it, there was even a picture book. I wanted to look at the picture book, but he wouldn’t let me. He said I’m too young to read it.” Tang Yang tilted his head up, looking at his brother with puppy-like eyes.

Tang Xu immediately figured out what had happened. He reached over, snatched the booklet away, and tapped Tang Yang’s forehead. “I’m confiscating this. You’re too young to be reading this kind of nonsense.”

Tang Yang nodded obediently. “Got it, big brother.”

Tang Xu shot him another warning glance before taking the booklet to the backyard.

Upon spotting Liu Yao, he directly slapped the booklet onto his chest. “Ah Yang is still a kid—stop letting him read  this stuff.”

Liu Yao froze for a moment, then glanced down at the booklet. His face turned red, and he let out an awkward chuckle. “Got it, brother Xu. I’ll put it away and let him read it when he is older.”

Tang Xu felt a bit helpless—teenage curiosity was something he couldn’t control too much. 

However, Tang Yang was still young, and he couldn’t let him get too absorbed in these romance booklets.

“Brother, what are you two talking about?” Tang Li walked over, seeing them in discussion. She was confused and said, “I was just about to go to the kitchen to help you, but you weren’t there. Ah Yang said you came outside.”

Not wanting to discuss household matters in front of his younger sister, Tang Xu quickly changed the subject. “I was telling him to scrub the floor properly. Make sure to clean out the gaps between the bricks.”

Tang Li instinctively felt that her brother wasn’t telling the whole truth, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she suspiciously glanced at her husband.

Liu Yao grinned at her and quickly said, “Don’t worry, Brother Xu, I’ll make sure everything is spotless!”

Tang Xu shot him a warning look before pulling Tang Li toward the kitchen. “Come help me steam the buns. This batch is almost ready.”

As she was leaving, Tang Li turned her head and caught sight of her husband looking both awkward and embarrassed. She grew even more puzzled.

What did that look mean? She became even more curious.

But curiosity aside, now wasn’t the time to ask. Tang Li followed her brother into the kitchen and started kneading dough for the steamed buns. As soon as one batch was done, another was placed in the steamer.

“Brother, what did Dad say last night?”

Tang Xu placed the steaming basket onto the pot and turned to look at her. Seeing the unease in his sister’s eyes, he chuckled softly to reassure her. “Dad didn’t say much. I’ll talk to him after we eat. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you two can go.”

Tang Li sighed, rubbing the flour off her fingers, and whispered, “If… if he doesn’t agree, maybe we shouldn’t go.”

She didn’t want to anger their father with her insistence.

“If Dad really doesn’t allow it, then we’ll think of another way.” Tang Xu looked at her dry, chapped lips and the way she lowered her head in disappointment. “But you can’t just give up without trying.”

“Even if Dad doesn’t want you to go, you and Liu Yao are already married. You have the right to make decisions together.”

Tang Li pursed her lips, hanging her head even lower, looking utterly dejected. “Ah Yao will definitely listen to me. If Dad doesn’t approve, then we just won’t go.”

Tang Xu reached out and lightly tapped her forehead. Tang Li was startled and looked up at him. “Brother?”

“I just have one question—do you want to go or not?”

Tang Li licked her lips, hesitating for a long moment before nodding firmly. “I want to go!”

“Brother, I really want to go. Although, Ah Yao and I help out at the shop, our cousin can handle most of the work herself. She has two kids to raise and needs money. If we stay, our small shop really doesn’t need five people. And honestly, we just want to go out and see the world. If we can make some money before the new year and save up a little, we won’t be a burden when we have kids in the future.”

Both Tang Li and Liu Yao were grateful people. It’s not as if they would give their future earnings to Tang Xu, but they also knew they couldn’t always rely on him and his husband. They needed to stand on their own.

Tang Xu waved his hand dismissively. “That’s a problem for later. Since you both want to go, then go. Dad isn’t really an issue—he’s just been spoiled by us these past few years.”

Tang Li pursed her lips into a smile when she heard that. “If he’s spoiled, it’s because of you, Brother. I never sweet-talk him like you do.”

Before Tang Xu could respond, a voice called out from outside.

“Brother Xu! The pig’s head is done cooking!”

“I’m coming!” Tang Xu called back loudly.

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