Quick, Hubby, All Aboard

Song Yuming was worried about her being on her feet all day and was concerned for her health, so he didn’t want her to go. She tried to wear him down, but he would not relent, so she was forced to draw a picture of the root and tell him how to identify it by the smell. Then she let him go off on his own.

But as soon as he Song Yuming left, Old Zhang’s wife, Xu Ying, came over. Xue Dongting was delighted and she quickly invited her inside and treated her with some of the pastries. She and Xu Ying had become close over the past few days, dropping all formalities. They sat by the brazier on little stools and chatted about this and that. Xu Ying had her needlework with her and she sewed while talking of daily trifles. The afternoon passed quickly and Xue Dongting finished Song Yuming’s inner robe. She took out the cloud and mist pattern silk she had bought at the market and said she wanted to make something but didn’t know the best way to go about it.

Xu Ying looked at the silk and smiled mischievously. “You should make a dudou undergarment, one that shows a bit from the top. That would be sexy and I’m sure your Song Yuming would love it.”

Xue Dongting started and turned crimson. She tugged on Xu Ying’s playfully, saying she had never seen such an indecent woman.

Xu Ying recoiled, laughing, but she didn’t give it up. “Song Yuming is so big and strong, I bet he must torment you frequently in bed?”

Xue Dongting was embarrassed and peeved. She clenched her teeth and made to smack Xu Ying, who was full-figured and not as nimble as Xue Dongting, so she had to accept her punishment.

Xue Dongting was not yet satisfied and shouted that she was going to tell Old Zhang. Xu Ying giggled. “Go ahead and tell if you want.”

The new annoyed bride glared with her seductive eyes, but there was nothing she could do with this indecent woman.

There was a clop clop outside, Song Yuming returning. Xu Ying got up to leave, smiling. Song Yuming saw her and smiled. “Sister, what a rare visit, why not stay for a while longer? I’ll got get Old Zhang and we can all eat together before you go.”

Xu Ying shook her head. “No, I’m afraid your wife will eat me up first.”

Song Yuming didn’t know what that meant, but he saw the look on Xue Dongting’s face, still red from blushing, and he knew that Xu Ying had been teasing her. He laughed and said wearily, “Sister, it’s fine if you joke with me, but if you won’t even let my wife off then you can bet I will find Old Zhang tomorrow and tell him all about it.”

Xu Ying nodded, proud of herself. “Who’s stopping you? Go ahead and tell him. I don’t believe that guy will have much to say about it.”

Song Yuming knew that was true enough. Old Zhang had endured this wife for decades. Some Number-One in the Wulin!

Xu Ying turned to Xue Dongting, smiling. “Little Sis, hurry and make that garment, I really want to see it!”

Xue Dongting blushed again and gave her a shove. “Get on out of here and don’t come back.”

Xu Ying left, all smiles, leaving proud like a victor. Leaving an embarrassed little wife and a Song Yuming who pitied Old Zhang. They looked at each other, but neither said anything.

They ate supper in the evening. Song Yuming saw the cloud and mist silk on the bed and said, “An outer robe out of that would look nice, with a white jade-studded belt to go with it. That would look great on you.”

“Mm,” she said. She put away the silk and with some apprehension, said, “I still have a few brand new garments I haven’t worn yet. I can make something after the new year.”