Chapter Sixty-Four: Soothing My Wife

The four of them spent nearly two hours over dinner, and aside from the slight dampener caused by the Beijing native Xiao Mengchang passing out midway through the meal, the evening went smoothly.

Afterward, Chen Liang slung the already dead-drunk Li Yuanchao over the crossbar of his bicycle, took hold of another bike with one hand, and walked alongside Zhang Cheng, who was weaving unsteadily, back to the guesthouse. Only once he’d watched the two of them stagger into the building did Chen Liang swing his long leg over the saddle and, with a single powerful push, send his bike shooting off into the night.

With his left hand gripping the handlebars to steer, his right hand still pushing Li Yuanchao’s bicycle, and a man slumped across the crossbar, it was a true test of his riding skills. Still, Chen Liang managed to deliver Li Yuanchao safely to the entrance of the compound. He knew better than to try entering the compound himself; instead, he handed over the drunken, pig-like Li Yuanchao to the gate guard, left the bicycle, and turned away with a flourish.

By the time Chen Liang finally made it home, his family had already washed up and gone to bed. He staggered inside, pretending to be thoroughly drunk, swaying with every step.

Ah, this guy was afraid his darling Xiaoyu would be upset and refuse to let him into bed, so he was putting on quite the performance!

With wavering steps, Chen Liang made his way to the bedside, glancing at his wife Xiaoyu, who was quietly reading. Though he did crave her company, the amount of alcohol he’d consumed left him powerless, no matter how much he might want his wife.

People speak of drunken passion, but that only happens when you’re tipsy. Alcohol at that stage stimulates the nerves and keeps you excited, so it’s possible to lose control. But once you’ve blacked out? Be grateful if you don’t sleep like the dead—thinking of mischief is out of the question!

So, truly, the perfect state is to be gently tipsy—slightly inebriated beats being dead drunk every time.

“Who are you? Why are you in my bed? Where’s my wife?” Chen Liang pointed at Xiaoyu, firing off three existential questions.

Xiaoyu, who had been nursing a trace of annoyance, closed her book and looked at him, her frustration turning to exasperation. “Honestly! Why did you drink so much tonight? Didn’t I tell you at lunch to take it easy?”

She got up to help him, but the moment her hand touched him, Chen Liang brushed it away. “Who are you? Don’t come any closer! I’m a married man—don’t touch me!”

Hearing that, Xiaoyu couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “I am your wife! Come on, lie down and rest.”

“Nonsense! My wife is much prettier than you. I’m going to sleep—go away!” Chen Liang flopped onto the bed, rolled himself up in the blanket, and prepared to sleep.

Seeing him climb into bed without even taking off his clothes, Xiaoyu couldn’t help wanting to help him undress. But as soon as her hand reached for his clothes, he brushed her away again.

“Hands off! I’m a married man, and I love my wife more than anything. I’d never do anything to betray her!” Muttering these words, Chen Liang turned away, and soon the sound of his snoring filled the room.

Delighted by his antics, Xiaoyu’s earlier annoyance over his drinking melted away. Seeing him fast asleep, she turned off the bedside lamp.

In the darkness, she kissed his forehead gently. “Darling, I love you the most too.” Then she snuggled into his arms and closed her eyes.

Hearing her words, Chen Liang, even in his sleep, smiled subtly, feeling secretly triumphant. Was that all it took? He hadn’t even tried, and Xiaoyu had already surrendered. Being unbeatable was truly a lonely thing! (Though, as another claimed—Musashi Miyamoto had already been cut down more than eighty times, so perhaps a bit of modesty wouldn’t go amiss!)

The next morning, before Chen Liang even opened his eyes, he felt the soft warmth of his wife nestled in his arms and smirked with a hint of disdain. Not a one of them could put up a fight!

Love in those days was pure and simple. As the saying goes, marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog—once married, it was for life.

He planted a gentle kiss on the beautiful woman in his arms, then lay there lazily, enjoying the quiet, blissful moment with Xiaoyu.

This was both the best and worst era for scoundrels. The best, because if Chen Liang wished, he could deceive eight women in a single night. Alas, unlike women of later generations—shrewd and sharp—not easily fooled, and even if tricked, a scoundrel’s mask would soon be torn away.

“Darling!” Awakened by Chen Liang’s movements, Xiaoyu blinked sleepily, wormed her way out of his arms like a little caterpillar, threw her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips to his in a warm good-morning kiss.

After the kiss, the two got up and began to tidy the room. Watching Xiaoyu making the bed, Chen Liang put on an extra touch of charm.

“Wife, I had a dream last night. In the dream, you weren’t home, and another woman tried to take off my clothes. It was terrifying!”

Upon hearing that, Xiaoyu blushed. “Oh, darling, that wasn’t a dream. The one trying to undress you last night was me!”

“What! How could you do such a thing?” Chen Liang whispered something mischievous in her ear, earning a coquettish eye-roll from Xiaoyu.

Then, as was her habit, she grabbed the pillow she kept by the headboard, knelt down, and began searching for something under the bed. The item had rolled far beneath, and it took her a long time to retrieve it. Just then, Chen Liang’s mother called from outside that breakfast was ready.

Xiaoyu swallowed nervously, then, employing her “tiny fists pounding your chest” ultimate move, gave Chen Liang a couple of playful punches. Laughing, the two hurried off to wash up.

After breakfast, amid Chen Liang’s mother’s admonishments not to drink so much in the future, he escorted his wife to work.

By the time he pedaled leisurely to his own office, he saw Zhang Yi sitting in the security room with two large parcels at his feet.

“Brother Yi? What brings you here?” Chen Liang exclaimed in surprise.

“My brother asked me to bring you something. Look!” Zhang Yi opened the smaller bundle, revealing a full tiger pelt and a dozen tiger bones.

“You said you wanted these, so my brother had someone bring them overnight from the northeast! There’s nothing else special in the mountains, just these local products. Hope you don’t mind!”

“Brother Yi, how could I possibly mind? It’s the thought that counts, and your kindness means more than anything!”

As the old saying goes, a light gift carries deep affection—besides, these mountain treasures are the kind of things money can’t easily buy.