Chapter 506: My Husband has Returned

“I find myself drawn to your graceful bearing, and you, too, delight in my fair countenance.”

While Zhu Ping’an was escorting the county magistrate to the village entrance, inside the newly built residence across from his own home, Li Shu sat quietly within the bridal chamber, facing her mirror as she carefully applied her makeup.

Her vermilion lips were soft and full, her pearly teeth gleaming like polished jade. From her small, delicate earlobes hung a pair of lustrous pearl tassels, swaying gently with each subtle movement as she drew her brows. Every motion was unhurried, refined—yet carried a faint, almost playful charm.

On the dressing table beside her lay an open volume of the Book of Songs, turned to the famous poem “Peach Blossoms in Bloom”:

“Peach trees young and tender, radiant with blossoms bright.
The maiden goes to her home, bringing harmony to her household.
Peach trees heavy with fruit, abundant and full.
The maiden goes to her home, blessing her family with prosperity.
Peach leaves lush and thick, flourishing in green.
The maiden goes to her home, bringing peace to all within.”

Each time Li Shu’s eyes drifted over the lines while shaping her brows, the corners of her lips curved upward into a soft, rounded smile.

Behind her, the bun-faced little maid worked skillfully, her small hands deft as she arranged Li Shu’s hair. Golden and silver threads were woven together to form an elegant princess-style coiffure. Then, she selected a finely crafted phoenix hairpin—its artistry exquisite beyond compare. The twelve delicate phoenix tail-feathers secured the bun perfectly, while the phoenix’s head arched upward as though ready to take flight. From its beak dangled a string of Eastern pearls, translucent and luminous, their soft glow enhancing Li Shu’s already radiant beauty, making her seem even more captivating and graceful.

“Miss, does it look good?” the little maid asked, squinting with satisfaction, clearly eager for praise.

“Huà’er, lower the bun a little,” Li Shu said softly after glancing at her reflection, her lips parting just slightly.

“But it looks so pretty like this, Miss,” Huà’er replied, puzzled.

“Didn’t Mama Liu say? In Xiahe Village, ‘noble ladies favor high coiffures, but among common folk, low buns are preferred.’ Let’s keep it simpler. And change the hairpin too—something less ornate will do. I’m going to meet my in-laws, not to show off wealth. There’s no need to create distance unnecessarily.”

As she spoke, Li Shu gestured lightly toward Mama Liu, then continued, “Mama Liu, go on. Tell me more—what should I pay attention to in a farming household? And what kind of daughter-in-law do they prefer? Be detailed—I’m listening.”

“Oh, so there’s such a saying? I understand now, Miss.” The bun-faced maid nodded vigorously, then began redoing the hairstyle with care.

“In farming households,” Mama Liu began, “mothers-in-law favor diligent daughters-in-law. At meals, the new bride should serve the first bowl of rice to her parents-in-law to show filial respect. Your mother-in-law has a straightforward temperament and a soft heart—she likes to hear kind words and is easy to get along with…”

Mama Liu continued, sharing everything she knew and had carefully gathered about the customs and expectations for new brides. Before entering the Li household, she had been a farmer herself and had even married off her two sons in recent years. Her experience made her deeply familiar with rural customs and family etiquette. Over a month ago, at Li Shu’s request, the household steward had already tasked her with gathering such information. Now, she spoke fluently and thoroughly—not only about general customs, but even about Zhu Ping’an’s family in particular.

Li Shu listened attentively as she finished dressing, absorbing every word with quiet seriousness.

Meanwhile, Zhu Ping’an escorted the magistrate all the way to the village entrance before leisurely making his way back home.

Along the road, he encountered many villagers. He greeted each of them respectfully—uncles, elders, and aunts alike—exchanging pleasantries for quite some time before finally managing to extricate himself and return.

His family courtyard was larger than when he had left the previous year, and more imposing as well. Yet one thing remained unchanged—the warmth of everyday life.

Along the wall, a small vegetable patch had been cultivated, planted with seasonal fruits and greens. The crops grew lush and vibrant, their verdant color a delight to the eye. On either side stood trellises, where long vines climbed upward, winding gracefully until they covered the frames entirely. From them hung tender gourds, each about the size of a fist.

Nearby stood a chicken coop built from blue bricks. Several hens led a fluffy brood of chicks, pecking and playing among the plants. Not far off, two roosters—clearly at odds with each other—strutted and flared, venting their excess energy while vying for dominance.

In the corner, the “meritorious” black ox swished its tail as it chewed on fodder. Spotting Zhu Ping’an, it lifted its head and let out a familiar “moo,” as though greeting an old friend, before lowering its head to continue eating. Its glossy black coat shimmered under the sunlight.

In the courtyard, Zhu Ping’an’s father was busy slaughtering a chicken and cleaning fish. His elder brother and sister-in-law assisted him, plucking feathers and scraping scales. His mother, Madam Chen, sat nearby picking vegetables—

—and beside her, dressed in bright red bridal attire, sat Li Shu, obediently helping with the task like a well-behaved young bride.

“Ah—my husband has returned…”

Li Shu was the first to notice Zhu Ping’an entering the courtyard. She rose gracefully, bending her knees slightly as she placed her hands together at her waist and offered a delicate bow.

Her cheeks flushed with a soft peachy hue as she addressed him, her cherry lips tender and her expression shy—yet her bright, lively eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as they met his. The few green vegetables in her pale fingers only added to her charm.

Elegant, yet coquettish—gentle, yet faintly enchanting.

“…Miss Li…” Zhu Ping’an froze.

Hearing her call him “husband,” he felt utterly unaccustomed. He stood there blankly for a long moment, his lips twitching awkwardly before he finally managed to utter a single, hesitant form of address.

Miss Li?

At those words, Li Shu shot him a quick glare. But when she turned her head toward Madam Chen, that glare instantly melted into a pitiful, wounded expression. Lowering her gaze, she clutched the vegetables in her hands, appearing helpless and wronged—so fragile it seemed she might burst into tears at any moment.

And in the very next instant—

Zhu Ping’an saw his mother slam her hand down and rise to her feet, looking ready to uphold justice—even at the cost of family ties.

The moment after that, his ear was firmly seized.

“Miss Li, is it? ‘Miss Li,’ you say?!” Madam Chen scolded, tugging his ear painfully while delivering a sharp smack to his backside. “Can’t you call her ‘wife’? Can’t you call her ‘Shu’er’?!”

“Mother, Mother—gently! Gently! I was wrong, I was wrong!” Zhu Ping’an yelped, flailing like a headless fly under her relentless “education.”

“Mother, my husband knows his mistake now—please don’t hit him anymore,” Li Shu said softly, tugging at Madam Chen’s sleeve with lowered eyes, her voice shy and gentle.

But from Zhu Ping’an’s angle, he could clearly see it—those bright, cunning eyes slightly narrowed, like a little fox who had just gotten her way.

“Look at how sensible Shu’er is! And you—what a disgrace! Why aren’t you thanking her?” Madam Chen finally stopped, though she shot Zhu Ping’an a sharp, disapproving look.

“Thank you…” Zhu Ping’an muttered, rubbing his reddened ear as he looked at the girl before him—an actress worthy of the highest accolades. If she were in the modern world, she’d win an Oscar without question…

“Hmm?” Madam Chen narrowed her eyes, prompting him further.

“…Thank you, my wife,” Zhu Ping’an added reluctantly, completing his sentence.

“You’re too polite, husband,” Li Shu replied, casting him a sidelong glance before lowering her head shyly.

Yet from where Zhu Ping’an stood, he could still see it—that faint, teasing smile lingering in her eyes, brimming with cleverness and playful cunning.