Xiao Qi, Wait! Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Official, Too Warmhearted

w.a.n.g Zhi had already came back riding a horse to search for Xiao Qi. Seeing Song Liang Zhuo carrying an unconscious Xiao Qi, his whole body soaked as he walked on the road caused w.a.n.g Zhi to be very shocked and he hurriedly gave them his horse so they could return first.

Song Liang Zhuo rushed back to the city with Xiao Qi. Just as they got to the city gates they encountered the deeply worried Old Man Qian and Mrs. Mei. Old Man Qian saw Song Liang Zhuo carrying Xiao Qi back and rushed up to block the horse while roaring: “What happened to my Qi er? You d.a.m.ned* Official Song……”

好你个宋知县 This is really hard to translate. He doesn’t actually swear. In literal terms it would be ‘alright, you’re a good one, you Official Song’, kind of like when you say “thank you so much” when someone does something you want to kill them for.
In addition, 钱老头 ‘Old Man Qian’, 老头 literally ‘Old Head’, is actually a word for husband.

Mrs. Mei gave Old Man Qian a pull, then stood on tiptoes to rub Xiao Qi’s forehead. She sighed in relief: “Son-in-law has worked hard. I will leave Xiao Qi to you, you should head back quickly.”

Song Liang Zhuo’s tightly knitted brows still did not relax. He nodded towards Old Man Qian and Mrs. Mei then urged the horse to rush forward again.

Old Man Qian was furious and roared at Mrs. Mei: “Xiao Qi’s already like that, yet you’re still leaving her to that b.a.s.t.a.r.d?”

“What b.a.s.t.a.r.d? That’s your son-in-law!” Mrs. Mei didn’t care that there were a lot of people on the streets and pointed at Old Man Qian’s head: “It was not easy for our daughter to win him over. Didn’t you see how panicked that Song Liang Zhuo was. It wasn’t easy to get him to fall in love with our Qi er, what more mess do you want to create?”

“I pei*!” Old Man Qian was angry to the point his beard rose up as he humphed: “What don’t I, Qian Bai Wan, want that I don’t have? My, Qian Bai Wan’s maiden daughter also doesn’t need to beg others to love her. Humph, useless thing that doesn’t understand his fortune!”

‘pei’ is spoken and it’s to signify I spit on him/disgust. It can also be used as an onomatopoeia for spitting at times.
And continuation of Qian family’s naming sense. Qian(money) Bai(hundred) Wan(thousand), aka ‘million’.

Mrs. Mei shot a glare at Old Man Qian, but after thinking for a while also gave a faint sigh.

Song Liang Zhuo had people prepare hot water and call for the doctor. Song Liang Zhuo couldn’t quite explain what he was thinking, he knew that Xiao Qi rejected him, yet he still sent Lu Liu away and personally helped Xiao Qi take off her clothes to soak in the hot water.

Song Liang Zhuo used a warm cloth to wipe Xiao Qi’s face while saying in a low voice: “No matter what, Xiao Qi, I won’t let go. Even if I’m being despicable it’s fine.”

Xiao Qi’s entire body was greenish blue. Being soaked in this hot water it turned a strange reddish purple and started to plump up as if swelling. Song Liang Zhuo held Xiao Qi’s ice-cold face and slowly rubbed, waiting for some red to return back to her lips before carrying her out of the bathtub, carefully wiping her dry with a towel then wrapping a quilt around her.

The doctor checked her pulse but only said some things about her catching cold and receiving a shock, wrote a prescription and left. Song Liang Zhuo had already changed clothes and sat next to the bed looking at the Xiao Qi that was still pitifully sniffing her nose even while unconscious, his feelings complicated.

Song Liang Zhuo held Xiao Qi’s hand and quietly sat, waiting for Lu Liu to finish heating the medicine and bring it in. Then, he lifted Xiao Qi into a sitting position and personally fed it to her. But probably because Xiao Qi didn’t know to swallow since she was unconscious, several spoonfuls dripped from the corner of her mouth and spilled onto the blanket.

Song Liang Zhuo sighed, waved his hand to have Lu Liu withdraw, then drank a large mouthful himself and fed it into Xiao Qi’s mouth. With each mouthful he waited until Xiao Qi swallowed before leaving her lips. After Song Liang Zhuo finished feeding her the medicine, he saw that it had started to rain outside again. Having no choice, he got up, ordered Lu Liu to carefully look after Xiao Qi, then headed out.

Some of the men from Concave Village already came out. Just as Song Liang Zhuo rushed to the city gates on the horse he saw that tiny group of people enter the city. Song Liang Zhuo jumped off the horse, asked about the situation, then led the governor along with several bailiffs to clearly explain the arrangements. When he turned around, he discovered Cai Yun was standing behind him once again.

Song Liang Zhuo let out a sigh, for some reason he felt a bit irritated.

Cai Yun’s slender brows slightly creased as she worriedly asked: “Da ren, how is Madam’s body? Why don’t Cai Yun go to attend to Madam?”

“No need!” Song Liang Zhuo’s words left his mouth with a bit of emotion.

Cai Yun looked uncertainly at Song Liang Zhuo and softly said: “Madam said, Cai Yun can live on the fu. Madam even allowed Cai Yun to serve da ren, Cai Yun……”

Song Liang Zhuo turned around to leave, Cai Yun hurriedly followed. Song Liang Zhuo actually turned around with a smile while warmly saying: “Xiao Qi has always been very friendly with people. Since she has allowed lady Cai Yun to stay on the fu, then lady should go to Qian fu. Father-in-law da ren will definitely receive lady Cai Yun kindly.”

Cai Yun was just about to speak again when a man’s voice inserted: “Exactly, that was precisely what Third Younger Sister meant. If this lady does not mind, then just stay at Qian fu. The people in the fu will definitely receive this lady kindly.”

Cai Yun looked towards that person, seeing that though his clothes were plain, it was of first-rate quality, though she could not be sure but it was still best not to say anymore.

The man said to the servant behind him: “Shan Zi, we should invite this lady back to the fu. Since she’s Third Miss’s friend, we must properly receive her.”

The man also didn’t wait for Cai Yun to express any objections and pulled Song Liang Zhuo to one side by his sleeve.

The man flung all the water on his umbrella onto Song Liang Zhuo and laughed ‘haha’, before speaking: “Younger Sister’s Husband is sure in good spirits. Currently facing a flood in front with your delicate wife bed-ridden in back, yet you can still flirt with a beautiful woman like this in the rain. Tsk, tsk, as expected you sure have a strong mind.”

By ‘strong mind’ he’s saying you must be mentally strong to be able to stay unfazed and flirt in this kind of situation.

Song Liang Zhuo cupped his fist and greeted him, apologetically saying: “Older Sister’s Husband is joking.”

“Ah, this Older Sister’s Husband sounds pretty pressuring.” The man extended a finger and flicked the shaft of the umbrella. Hooking his lips, he said: “If you don’t like, then send that Third Younger Sister of mine back home as soon as possible. Our entire family just guards that single silly little darling treasure, don’t let her become gra.s.s the moment she enters Song fu. Do you know why the Qian family used money and power to help you arrange places for the victims to stay?”

The man paused, the smile on his lips still stayed. Looking at the surrounding crowd he slightly sneered, then said: “The Qian family does not lack a single thing and would not care about the reputation of remarrying or not remarrying. I heard Lu Liu say that Third Younger Sister has lost her memories? This head also got knocked at a coincidental time, fortunately the old man doesn’t know. Official Song should make sure not to let me hear of anything like this again. If it happens again, haha, Official Song, Meng certainly can’t do much to you, but I do at least have the ability to bring my sister home.”

The man was about to continue when his line of sight came across a carriage that had stopped to the side. He gave a light cough and said: “I will have people help with sorting out the structure, I promise not to let your people spent the night in the open. You should hurry back to look after my Third Younger Sister.”

Song Liang Zhuo cupped his hand and performed another salute, his lips pressed together, seeming not to know how to reply. The man smiled and pa.s.sed him to walk to the carriage and helped a beautiful lady down. This lady was precisely Qian Pan Di. The moment Pan Di got down she twisted Meng Yun Fei’s ear into a ball and said in a low voice between gritted teeth: “You lousy bookworm. What business do you have blindly running around? Just the day before yesterday you were still coughing!”

Pan Di loosed her hand, then covering Meng Yun Fei’s ear rubbed it again. Meng Yun Fei pulled down her hand while smiling, then turned his body to point at Song Liang Zhuo: “Fu ren, look. I just wanted to help Third Younger Sister’s Husband to look after some things, and also make it so Third Younger Sister’s Husband could go back and look after Third Younger Sister.”

Pan Di had already walked over smiling and urgently nodded: “Guye should hurry and go back, we’ll help look after this place. It couldn’t be that guye is worried we’ll throw these people out to sleep on the streets?”

Song Liang Zhuo cupped his hand and saluted while apologetically saying: “I’ll have to trouble Second Older Sister.”

“It’s no trouble, haha, no trouble. It’s fine as long as guye treats Xiao Qi well.” Pan Di’s laugh was clear and melodious, but after looking at Song Liang Zhuo for quite a while and still not seeing any reaction, she couldn’t quite keep the smile on her face.

Meng Yun Fei went over and seized her waist, saying: “Pan Di should return. It had just rained so it’s very humid, you shouldn’t run all over the place.”

Pan Di looked surprised at Song Liang Zhuo that didn’t really have any expression. Meng Yun Fei nodded towards Song Liang Zhuo while hugging Pan Di, then helped Pan Di up the carriage, exhorting: “I’ll be back around noon. Pan Di, don’t run around, stay home, and don’t worry.”

Pan Di glanced at Song Liang Zhuo again and whispered: “What’s with guye?”

“Haha, nothing much. He’s just pretending to be deep and profound.”

Pan Di stuck her head out of the carriage and worriedly reminded: “Don’t get drenched in rain, otherwise your cough will get worse.”

Meng Yun Fei followed Pan Di into the carriage. A moment later, a cry of alarm sounded from within the carriage followed by a bashful laugh.

Song Liang Zhuo looked at the carriage, took a deep breath, then headed to the city gates.

Even though the flood this time wasn’t like the one ten years ago which had engulfed a dozen villages in one night, it still probably won’t only submerge Concave Village. Song Liang Zhuo told the people guarding the city gates that if victims come they must file at the city gates, then briefed them on some other things before bidding farewell to Meng Yun Fei and riding back to the fu.

Xiao Qi still hasn’t woken up. Her eyes were puffy and swollen and her lips were also dry and chapped, her appearance seemed indescribably miserable. Lu Liu seemed to also hold some feelings against Song Liang Zhuo, she kept her head lowered and didn’t take initiative to say anything. Xiao Qi slept until the evening, but still didn’t wake. Song Liang Zhuo had someone call the doctor again, but the doctor said she was just sleeping and left again.

Xiao Qi had a bit of a fever, yet her body was not warm. Lu Liu heated two handwarming stoves, wrapped cloth around them and stuffed them into the blankets. With a drawn face, she said: “In a while Miss’s fever reducing medicine will be ready. Guye please help feed her, and guye, please don’t make Miss angry again. That short period of time when guye left Xiao Qi already had nightmares twice, she cried until she couldn’t even breathe.”

Chinese handwarming stove.

Song Liang Zhuo’s face was still expressionless. Lu Liu lightly humphed and left the room. A while later she came in carrying the medicine and unwillingly spoke: “Aunt Feng said to ask guye what time you’ll have supper?”

“Now is fine.” Song Liang Zhuo took the medicine bowl and replied.

Lu Liu’s expression turned even darker and she walked out the door, fuming.

Song Liang Zhuo used the old method to feed Xiao Qi the medicine and ate a couple helpings of saliva again. Seeing Lu Liu had already carried in the food with an unfriendly expression, he silently sat next to the table and ate a couple mouthfuls of food. Seeing Lu Liu sitting next to the bed and helping Xiao Qi tuck in her blanket, Song Liang Zhuo said: “During the night, keep some soup warmed. If Xiao Qi wakes up she’ll probably be hungry.”

“Yes.” Lu Liu’s mood got a bit better.

“Add some more blankets. She has to sweat to get better.”

“Yes.” Lu Liu immediately went to the outer room to get some blankets to layer on her. Song Liang Zhuo had already finished eating and indicated for Lu Liu to clear the table.

Song Liang Zhuo stroked Xiao Qi’s forehead, took off his outer garments and laid down inside. Only after he drew Xiao Qi’s waist to him did he find out that Xiao Qi was still naked. Song Liang Zhuo was slightly 囧(surprised and embarra.s.sed) and knitted his brows. He felt for a handwarming stove and put it near Xiao Qi’s shoulder, tucked in the blanket, and closed his eyes. 

囧 this word is p.r.o.nounced jiong and it’s exactly what it looks like. It’s used as an emoticon and has a wide variety of meanings such as embarra.s.sed, sad, depressed, or frustrated.

Half asleep, Song Liang Zhuo felt the person in his embrace struggling to get out. Song Liang Zhuo opened his eyes, and borrowing the light from the candle left on the table, saw that Xiao Qi had not woken up but there was a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. Song Liang Zhuo was also hot to the point his whole body was covered with sweat, yet he tightly hugged the person in his arms and didn’t dare to lift open the blanket.

Xiao Qi bewilderingly struggled a couple times and mumbled some sleeptalk before settling down again. Song Liang Zhuo slightly lifted his hand to wipe the sweat on her forehead. Just as he closed his eyes again, enduring the heat, Xiao Qi tossed and turned again. This time, the words she spoke were clear.

Xiao Qi pushed Song Liang Zhuo’s chest with her eyes closed as she said: “Hot, Official Song, I’m hot.”

Song Liang Zhuo’s face which had been black for one day and one night finally faintly exposed a smile as he softly coaxed: “Endure it a bit. Once you sweat it out you’ll get better.”

Xiao Qi frowned as she tried to get her arm out, a leg also restlessly poked outwards trying to find cooler temperature but was hooked and bind down by Song Liang Zhuo’s leg.

Xiao Qi couldn’t endure it and twisted her waist, groaning. Song Liang Zhuo tightly hugged her and said: “Stop struggling, what if you get a chill again?”

Xiao Qi panted, gasping in heat. She opened her eyes in a daze, staring for a long time before being able to clearly see the person in front of her. Xiao Qi exhaustedly blinked and mumbled: “Why are you sleeping on my bed again?”

“Xiao Qi is awake? Are you hungry?”

Xiao Qi lowered her hand to rub her own stomach, sweeping her hand across her sticky stomach twice. Her whole body trembled, she took a deep breath and opened her mouth, about to shout when Song Liang Zhuo lowered his head and kissed her.

Xiao Qi lifted her leg to kick, but her legs which had all their strength used up were sore and painful, no matter how she struggled she couldn’t get free. Xiao Qi’s heart suddenly gave birth to a surge of despair. She stopped her struggling motion, but tears started to fall.

Xiao Qi sorrowfully thought, why did she decide to get married back then? She couldn’t find those feelings. Everyone said she loved him, that her heart could not help but wish for him and long for him. But in her heart is only pain, thras.h.i.+ng pain. It hurts and it’s scary. She doesn’t want this kind of feeling, that type of heaviness, pressing upon her to the point that she can’t even breathe.