A Room Filled with Fragrance (Era 1V2) - Chapter 8

“Shi Hai, are you okay?” Qin Guotao asked, noticing Shi Hai’s distraction.

He had been off all afternoon. Normally, he could eyeball the size of a component, but today he measured one part three or four times.

Shi Hai snapped back to reality. “I’m fine,” he muttered.

He wasn’t sure when his thoughts began to unravel. Was it the first time he heard Shi Ze and Juxiang making love in the darkness? Or was it when he glimpsed her pale face through the billowing curtains one morning? Or perhaps it was when he saw her exposed breasts as she nursed the baby? Or maybe it was the very first moment he laid eyes on her.

He didn’t know. But he knew he couldn’t suppress his feelings any longer.

“Hey, Shi Ze, you forgot your grain ticket!” Qin Guotao shouted as Shi Ze walked away from the cafeteria window.

“Huh? Oh…” Shi Ze turned back, fishing the ticket out of his pocket and handing it to the cafeteria lady.

“Young man, you’ve taken too much!” she scolded.

He realized his mistake, took back some of the food, and handed over the correct amount of tickets.

Qin Guotao slung an arm around Shi Ze’s neck. “What’s up with you two today? Both of you are out of it.”

Shi Ze looked at him. “Shi Hai too?”

Qin Guotao nodded, helping himself to a piece of braised pork rib from Shi Ze’s box. “Yeah. Is something going on at home?” he asked, gnawing on the rib.

Shi Ze gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “No, someone’s just feeling guilty.”

He had noticed his brother’s feelings for Juxiang. It wasn’t just women’s intuition; men had strong instincts too, especially between brothers.

Qin Guotao saw that smile and knew trouble was brewing. He didn’t want to get involved. “Well, I gotta go. My wife’s waiting for me,” he said, making a quick exit.

Shi Ze stormed home, his food box swinging in his hand. He bumped into Shi Hai, who looked equally distracted.

The brothers faced each other outside their apartment building. Shi Hai looked at Shi Ze’s scowling face and understood.

“Let’s talk over there,” Shi Hai suggested, pointing to a quiet corner.

Shi Ze agreed, and they walked over together.

Shi Hai instinctively reached for his pocket, then remembered he had quit smoking because of the baby. Shi Ze noticed and tossed him a piece of peppermint candy—a substitute Juxiang had given them to help with their cravings.

Shi Hai looked at the small candy, hesitating before unwrapping it and popping it into his mouth. The sweet, minty flavor filled his senses.

After a moment, he spoke. “Calm down.”

Shi Ze looked at him, waiting.

“I’ve applied for a separate dormitory. Once it’s approved, I’ll move out,” Shi Hai said.

Shi Ze was taken aback. They had shared a room their entire lives. He never thought Shi Hai would move out. But he realized it was the only solution.

He thought of Juxiang, her soft, white body nestled in his arms. He would share anything with his brother, but not Juxiang. She and the baby were more precious to him than his own life.

“Brother,” he muttered.

Shi Hai sighed and crunched down on the peppermint candy. “Let’s go,” he said.

Back at the dinner table, Juxiang was surprised to hear that Shi Hai had applied for a separate dormitory.

“Why the sudden decision to move out?” she asked.

Though she felt troubled by the nightly activities, she never considered splitting up the family. When she married Shi Ze, the apartment was bare and cold. The brothers worked tirelessly, saving every penny to give to her. She wanted to cook for them, decorate the home, and bring life back into the dreary apartment.

The brothers were close, despite their different personalities. Why would they suddenly want to separate?

Shi Ze glanced at Shi Hai. “Big Brother wants to start a family,” he explained.

Juxiang looked at Shi Hai, surprised. “You want to start a family, Big Brother?”

Shi Hai avoided her gaze, mumbling an affirmation.

Juxiang felt a pang of sadness. “That’s great. If you have someone in mind, bring her over to meet us,” she said.

Shi Hai remained silent.

Shi Ze served Juxiang a pork rib. “Eat up. I got these from the cafeteria. They’re delicious,” he said.

The three of them picked at their food, none of them very hungry.

Though she knew the day would come, Juxiang tried to stay positive. She cooked all of Shi Hai’s favorite dishes—sweet and sour pork ribs, candied sweet potatoes, pineapple-stuffed pork, and honey-glazed lotus root. Shi Ze complained that his teeth would fall out from all the sweetness, but Juxiang knew Shi Hai loved these dishes.

As the days passed, Juxiang began to suspect that Shi Hai’s talk of moving out was just a ploy to gain her sympathy. But she pushed the thought aside and focused on making the most of their remaining time together.