I'll Raise Pigs to Support You - Chapter 29

The two were eating when Aunt Li called loudly from outside, “Xizhi, Xizhi, are you there?”

Shen Xizhi set down her chopsticks but first glanced at her wife, her eyes seemingly asking, Can I go out?

Song Yugui: “…”

It wasn’t like she was that domineering.

“She’s calling you. Go see what she wants. You can finish eating when you come back. There’s still plenty of time.”

Shen Xizhi nodded slightly and quickly went out, lifting the hem of her skirt.

She returned after just a few words and calmly resumed her meal.

Seeing that she hadn’t volunteered any information, Song Yugui asked casually, “Who was looking for you? What did they want?”

Shen Xizhi replied calmly, “Don’t worry, it wasn’t a man. It was Aunt Li.”

Song Yugui: Am I deaf? Did I need you to specify it wasn’t a man?

What do you mean ‘don’t worry’? I wasn’t worried in the first place!

How absurd.

She stared at Shen Xizhi for a long moment, her expression strange, until the latter could barely eat under her gaze.

Shen Xizhi hesitantly looked up, as if asking, Did I do something wrong again?

Of course, Song Yugui couldn’t say her little wife was wrong, so she pretended not to hear that remark and asked instead, “What did Aunt Li say to you?”

“She asked if I wanted to go to the market in town with her. I told her you’d take me, so she left.”

“Today’s market day?”

“Mm.”

Shen Xizhi nodded slightly.

“Oh, do you want to go shopping in the morning and buy some snacks?”

The girl across from her shook her head obediently, her long lashes lowering, her expression docile. “No need. You work so hard to earn money. I’m fine with just a little rice.”

Song Yugui was taken aback. Seeing her so restrained and well-behaved, deliberately acting sensible, her heart grew inexplicably restless.

Why is she like this again?

Her tone grew more serious. “A little rice isn’t enough. You don’t have much meat on you. You need to eat more. Don’t worry about money—that’s my job. You’re my wife. Do you really think I’d be stingy with you?”

Shen Xizhi gripped her chopsticks, suddenly looking up with a resentful glance. But she said nothing, lowering her head again, her voice muffled. “I won’t buy anything. I don’t want to eat.”

She was a very stingy person, hmph!

She’d been stingy before, generous for two months—who knew if she’d suddenly become stingy again one day?

This big villain was…

So hard to please!!!

Song Yugui glared at her but could only sulk inwardly. Fine, I’ll buy her some snacks after work. Seeing how reluctant she was to spend money, clearly afraid of upsetting her, but when had Song Yugui ever been upset about her spending too much?

But Xizhi wouldn’t act like this for no reason. Thinking about the shock she’d suffered yesterday, it was probably the original host’s fault.

Bullying her again.

Song Yugui blamed all the bad things on the original host, finished her meal in a few bites, and waited for her wife to finish eating.

Shen Xizhi, seeing her waiting, couldn’t make out her expression clearly in the dim light and didn’t know if she was impatient. Her grip on the chopsticks tightened, and she hurriedly stuffed a large bite of food into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out.

Song Yugui noticed her haste and frowned. “Eat slowly. There’s plenty of time. I’m not in a hurry. Don’t choke.”

Only after being scolded did Shen Xizhi slow down. It took her another half-quarter of an hour to finish every last grain of rice and vegetable, leaving nothing wasted.

The young girl stood up and walked over to Song Yugui, suppressing her shyness as she reached out to take her hand.

Her voice was soft and timid. “Let’s go, Sister Yugui.”

Seeing her like this again, Song Yugui felt inexplicably awkward. She firmly grasped the five slender, jade-like fingers in her hand and said gently, “Xizhi, you don’t have to be like this.”

Shen Xizhi let herself be led outside, her body leaning against Song Yugui’s. But whenever someone passed by in the distance, she would stiffen and straighten up, embarrassed.

So shy, yet still clinging to her, even deliberately… pressing her soft chest against Song Yugui’s shoulder.

This was going too far.

Song Yugui suddenly spoke. “You don’t have to do this.”

The girl beside her made a confused sound, “Huh?” What did I do?

She was just obediently following her wife to town! She hadn’t done anything.

Her large, deer-like eyes sparkled with innocence.

Her cherry-red lips were also moist, glowing in the morning sun as if she were radiating light.

Song Yugui took a deep breath and calmly pointed out, “You don’t have to deliberately please me. Just act like you used to.”

The words “deliberately please” hit Shen Xizhi like a bolt from the blue. Her lips parted slightly, her pink tongue faintly visible. After processing the words, she was overwhelmed with humiliation.

This wasn’t the first time she’d tried to please Song Yugui. She’d done it before, but how had Song Yugui reacted then?

“Don’t think pleasing me will make me like you. You’re not even worth one of Xinyu’s fingers.”

Remembering her hopeful self when she’d first married, only to receive such an answer, Shen Xizhi couldn’t help but feel a chill run through her. So this time, now that Song Yugui had noticed her subtle attempts to please her again, what would she say?

Seeing her panic-stricken expression, like a delicate flower caught in a storm, Song Yugui’s heart softened. She pulled her into an embrace and said gently, “You don’t have to do this. I’ll treat you well regardless. Don’t force yourself to do things you don’t want to do just to please me. Doesn’t that feel stifling?”

Her voice was warm and tender, as if Shen Xizhi really could act freely around her, even be a little unreasonable…

Shen Xizhi’s eyes brightened slightly, and she was about to speak when—

“Cousin.”

Just as the two were having a heart-to-heart, someone called out from behind.

Judging by the voice, it was that unlikable male lead from the novel, Song Xingchuan.

But since he’d chopped firewood for her, she didn’t let her inner thoughts show.

She turned with a smile. “Cousin.”

The other party grinned sheepishly. “Are you heading to town too, Cousin?”

“Yes, I’m taking your sister-in-law with me.”

The moment these words left her mouth, both of them froze. Song Xingchuan finally looked at the woman he’d been too embarrassed to address as his sister-in-law.

She was fair-skinned and delicate, soft and beautiful. He…

“Cousin, why the hesitation? Call her sister-in-law.”

Song Yugui smiled without warmth, subtly pulling Shen Xizhi behind her.

Song Xingchuan clenched his fist and lowered his head. “Sister-in-law.”

Shen Xizhi looked at Song Yugui, her emotions in turmoil. After a long pause, she replied, “Mm.”

Just a single syllable, nothing more.

Song Yugui noticed Song Xingchuan’s odd expression and turned to see—damn it—her wife’s expression was off too. Standing between them, she suddenly felt like a tyrant forcibly separating two lovers.

Ugh, pissed off by my own imagination.

“We have things to do. We’ll go ahead.”

Song Yugui’s face darkened as she prepared to leave with her wife. But Song Xingchuan caught up. “Cousin, I’m going to town today too. Let’s go together. It’ll be safer on the road.”

The novel described the male lead as simple and honest, often unable to read the room.

Song Yugui: “…”

What kind of male lead clings this hard to a cannon fodder? Can’t you grow independently? Can’t you see the villain’s soul is about to be stolen by you?

Their heart-to-heart was interrupted, the male lead showed up, and the villain was distracted after seeing him—it was hard not to suspect something.

Please don’t fall for the male lead.

Such a delicate, charming little flower would wither if she fell for him.

Unwilling to let that happen, she tightened her grip on the girl’s hand.

Shen Xizhi lowered her eyes calmly, thinking, Do you really care this much?

But I’ve never even spoken to Song Xingchuan, never interacted with him. Even so, you still doubt me?

Her heart felt like it was being squeezed and pricked by needles, sharp pain spreading. A gentle voice in her ear said, She explained before—she’s not doubting you. You misunderstood. But another, sharper voice retorted, Nonsense! She suspects you! Making Song Xingchuan call you sister-in-law was a warning. She thinks you’re unfaithful. In her eyes, that’s the kind of person you are. Don’t be nice to her anymore!

“I’m taking the ox cart…”

“I was planning to take the ox cart too.”

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He was going to town to sell something today. He wasn’t feeling well, and his mother insisted he sell the items today.

Song Yugui: “…”

The ox cart wasn’t hers, so she couldn’t stop the male lead from riding it.

What she was wondering was whether, as his cousin, she should pay his one-coin fare…

In modern times, given their relationship, she wouldn’t hesitate. But this was ancient times, and she wasn’t close to the male lead. Plus, she was… very poor.

Every coin had to be stretched as far as possible.

Before she could decide, the three reached the ox cart, and Song Xingchuan handed over the fare. “For the three of us.”

Oh, no need to pay. Peace at last.

“It’s not right for you to pay, Cousin.”

“Xizhi and I should pay for ourselves.”

She didn’t want to pay for the male lead, but she also didn’t want him paying for Shen Xizhi.

Her wife was her responsibility.

Song Yugui handed Song Xingchuan two coins. After a moment’s hesitation, he accepted them and scratched his head again. “Oh, my mother told me to be generous with relatives.”

So simple-minded. What does Xizhi even see in him?

Song Yugui was baffled. She turned to question Shen Xizhi’s judgment but met a pair of rabbit-like red eyes instead.

When Shen Xizhi noticed her gaze, she silently turned away, even releasing her hand.

Song Yugui was stunned. Does she not want the male lead to see them being affectionate? Is she saddened by the thought of being married now that she’s seen him?

Damn it!

Song Xingchuan, unaware of the situation, shivered as the cold wind blew. He sneezed.

Then he saw his cousin hugging her wife and both stepping back.

Under his puzzled gaze, Song Yugui coughed awkwardly but said bluntly, “Your sister-in-law is delicate. If you’re sick, stay farther away. Don’t pass it to her.”

“Oh.”

Song Xingchuan obediently stepped aside.

Shen Xizhi’s eyes flickered, a faint light appearing in them for just a moment.

Finally, they reached town. Song Yugui jumped off the cart first and reached out to help Shen Xizhi down.

Shen Xizhi’s eyes were still tinged with pink from unshed tears. She placed her hand in Song Yugui’s and hopped down gracefully, following closely behind.

Seeing her sullen and secretly crying earlier had pained Song Yugui.

She couldn’t even focus on work.

“Still not going to tell me?”

She asked again why Shen Xizhi had been upset and crying on the cart—was she still worried about being sold?

Shen Xizhi pressed her lips into a thin line and stubbornly denied it. “It’s nothing. I wasn’t crying.”

The girl was unyielding, refusing to show weakness.

Song Yugui had no choice. She had to clean the tavern soon, so she coaxed her to wait in the back room. She’d come talk to her during her break and cheer her up.

Shen Xizhi pinched her fingers until they turned red and muttered, “Go do your work. Don’t mind me. I’ll be fine.”

The back room was empty now. Master Wang’s wife was too heavily pregnant to walk and was resting at home.

Song Yugui was worried. Even while serving dishes, she kept peeking into the back room to check on her wife. Seeing her sitting quietly, she’d relax and return to work.

By noon, she’d visited the back room over ten times. The tavern staff teased her for being unable to leave her wife’s side.

Song Yugui didn’t argue. During her break, she asked Shen Cui to bring a meal to the back room while she stepped out briefly.

Shen Cui agreed without hesitation.

When the back room door opened, Shen Xizhi thought it was Song Yugui again. Having finally calmed her low, humiliated mood, she looked up with bright, clear eyes—only to see an unfamiliar woman.

Her body stiffened, and her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. The air grew heavy with silence. After a long pause, she lowered her gaze and murmured, “Miss Shen Cui.”

Her voice was pleasant, like a babbling mountain stream, Shen Cui thought.

“Uh, sis… sister-in-law?”

Unsure what to call her, sister-in-law seemed the safest, even though Song Yugui usually called her “sister.”

Shen Xizhi’s long lashes fluttered as she nodded. “Did you need something, Miss Shen Cui?”

“Oh, right. We’re not on break yet, but Song Yugui was worried you’d be hungry, so she asked me to bring you some food.”

Her gaze fell on the bowl of rice topped with meat and vegetables. She nodded. “Thank you, Miss Shen Cui. Where’s Sister Yugui?”

“She went out. Didn’t she tell you? I don’t know where.”

Shen Cui was utterly clueless.

Hearing that Song Yugui had left without telling her, Shen Xizhi’s eyes dimmed with disappointment.

Was I too difficult, always sulking and silent, so she got upset?

Probably… She doesn’t like petty girls.

Shen Xizhi poked at her rice absently, her mind clouded with worries until the door opened again. Song Yugui walked in, saw the untouched meal, and asked in surprise, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Hearing her voice, Shen Xizhi sat up straight, dazed. “I thought you weren’t coming?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I went to buy you snacks. Try them. Sweet treats will stop you from overthinking, okay?”

Song Yugui unwrapped the oiled paper, releasing a sweet aroma. She’d bought several kinds: water chestnut cake, hibiscus cake, snowflake crisps, and taro cake.

Apart from the water chestnut cake, Shen Xizhi had never seen the others. They must have been expensive. Her eyes widened slightly, and she instinctively gripped her chopsticks, feeling both nervous and guilty. “Why did you buy these? I don’t even like snacks. Why waste money?”

“You seemed to enjoy them last time. How come you don’t like them now?”

Song Yugui was confused.

The girl pursed her lips and whispered, “They’re so expensive… I don’t need them.”

She did like them—what girl didn’t enjoy something sweet? But none of the other village women indulged in such luxuries. How could she bear to spend money on them?

Song Yugui suddenly understood: she was worried about the cost again.

The novel portrayed the villain as materialistic, drawn to the male lead’s wealthy family and brick house in the village. But that wasn’t entirely true. She was a good girl who didn’t like spending money—she’d just suffered too much in the past.

She ruffled the girl’s soft, rabbit-like hair. “Just eat. I bought them because you were upset. Sweeten your mood, and no more giving me the cold shoulder when we get back, okay?”

Shen Xizhi froze, then suddenly pushed the snacks away. “Then I don’t want them.”

Song Yugui quickly backtracked. “Was that the wrong thing to say too? Fine, my little wife can give me the cold shoulder all she wants. I deserve it. I won’t say another word.”

She smiled, thinking Shen Xizhi was quite temperamental—but adorable when she was. When she bottled things up, silent and expressionless, insisting she wasn’t angry when asked, it was infuriating.

Shen Xizhi thought she was being sarcastic and glared at her indignantly, ready to argue—until she looked up and saw Song Yugui’s smiling eyes.

Her face instantly flushed.

Oh, she was joking. She wasn’t actually mocking me.

Shen Xizhi blinked, her mood lifting slightly at her wife’s bright smile. But most of her heart remained heavy with unease over Song Yugui’s suspicions.

Muttering, “I wasn’t giving you the cold shoulder. You’re the one who’s being difficult.”

Song Yugui, seeing her gloom return, grew anxious. She crouched down to peek at her face, checking for tears—only to be shoved away with a glare, nearly falling on her backside.

Realizing she’d upset her, she slowly stood up, coughing into her fist. “How am I being difficult? What do you think I did wrong?”

Shen Xizhi pressed her lips together, reluctant to speak. But if she didn’t, wouldn’t Song Yugui keep misunderstanding her, keep doubting her fidelity?

The thought made her fists clench.

Today, Song Yugui’s behavior had been too obvious. Enough was enough!

Shen Xizhi abruptly stood, her delicate face cold, startling the teasing Song Yugui into silence. Her hands nervously fidgeted at her sides.

Did I really mess up that badly?

As she panicked inwardly, Shen Xizhi glared at her, her expression deadly serious. Through gritted teeth, she demanded, “Do you still think I’m having an affair with your cousin?!”

Song Yugui: ?

Didn’t we already discuss this?

Shocked, she retorted, “So you’ve been giving me the cold shoulder all this time because of that?!”

Shen Xizhi pressed her lips together, but her eyes reddened again.

Song Yugui had briefly wondered if the villain had fallen for the male lead, but Shen Xizhi hadn’t so much as glanced at him afterward, putting her mind at ease. Faced with her wife’s accusation, she couldn’t admit her suspicions—that would be catastrophic.

So she feigned exasperation. “Didn’t I already tell you? I don’t think you’re having an affair with Song Xingchuan. Even if there were something, it’d be entirely one-sided on his part. You don’t even talk to him. How could there be anything between you?”

Shen Xizhi’s grievances poured out, her red-rimmed eyes lifting to glance at her. Her lips quivered. “But every time you see him, you act like he’s a threat. You always push me behind you, as if you don’t want me near him. Isn’t that because you doubt me, afraid I’ll cheat?”

Ah…

Well, if you put it that way, it does seem a bit obvious.

Song Yugui opened her mouth but couldn’t explain. She didn’t want them interacting because she feared Shen Xizhi would fall for the male lead, just like in the novel, and do terrible things for him, leading to a tragic end.

But she couldn’t say that. Xizhi was already sensitive about this. If she brought it up now, she’d drown in salty tears. After a long pause, Song Yugui decided to shift the blame. Her expression turned grave. “Don’t you think Song Xingchuan treats you differently?”

Shen Xizhi froze, then shook her head obediently. Her heart belonged entirely to her wife. How could she notice anyone else?

Song Yugui sighed, her gaze pitying, as if looking at someone hopelessly naive. She shook her head. “I think Song Xingchuan has feelings for you.”

The girl gasped, her jade-like fingers covering her slightly parted lips, as if she’d heard something outrageous.

After a long moment, she hurriedly said, “Don’t say such things, Wife! I’ve barely spoken two words to your cousin. How could he possibly… have feelings for me?”

In her panic, she reverted to last night’s formal address.

Song Yugui thought, How couldn’t he? He does have feelings for you. Hmph! In the novel, even the author admitted he was moved by you—he was just too hesitant and cowardly.

“Every time we meet, he only greets me, not you. He doesn’t want to acknowledge your marriage.”

Song Yugui spouted nonsense, overwhelming the inexperienced girl. Her eyes filled with doubt. Really?

“Before, when we met, we wouldn’t even greet each other—like strangers. But now he’s delivering firewood to us, traveling with us, even paying for our ox cart fare. And during the ride, he kept sneaking glances at you. Of course I had to be cautious. You’re my wife. Even if one day you want to divorce me, I’d never let you be with someone who covets another’s wife and lacks moral character!”

Her words were solemn, her gaze sincere and righteous!!!

Shen Xizhi frowned, lost in thought. Song Yugui assumed she was pondering Song Xingchuan, but when the girl looked up again, she seemed even more upset, almost accusatory. “Why would I ever want to divorce you?”

She couldn’t understand. Why would she give up a good life for that?

Song Yugui might occasionally annoy her, but… compared to others, she treated her too well.

Her gaze softened as it fell on the package of snacks.

“Hypothetically. I’m not saying it’ll happen.”

The villain liked men, not women. Sooner or later, she’d meet a man she liked and leave her.

The thought was depressing.

Shen Xizhi stamped her foot lightly. Having heard the explanation, her last traces of anger faded. As long as she doesn’t suspect me, it’s fine. Her mood brightened, but she still protested, “Not even hypothetically. As long as you don’t sell me, I’ll never divorce you.”

With that, she buried herself in Song Yugui’s arms, nuzzling her affectionately.

Song Yugui wrapped an arm around her wife’s slender waist. Originally, she’d planned to divorce her once she’d saved enough money, but now… she couldn’t bear to. The wife the original host left behind was too adorable—soft, delicate, and quick to forgive, even when she got angry.

She rubbed the girl’s lower back and continued coaxing, “I’ve said it a hundred times—I won’t sell you. Stop bringing it up, okay?”

“Oh.”

Shen Xizhi agreed, then hugged her tighter.

The door creaked open. Shen Cui stood frozen in the doorway, stammering as the intimate couple turned to look at her. “I—I just wanted to see if sister-in-law was done eating so I could wash the bowl.”

Song Yugui replied warmly, “It’s fine. I’ll wash it during my break. Don’t worry. I’ll be out soon.”

“Oh, okay.”

Shen Cui, who’d never seen such an intimate scene between two women, quickly shut the door and fled. Shen Xizhi had buried her face in Song Yugui’s chest the moment she saw Shen Cui. Now, she peeked up with doe-like eyes, pouting. “Someone saw us again. It’s all your fault.”

Song Yugui thought, You’re the one who threw yourself at me. What does this have to do with me? But that didn’t stop her from taking the blame to appease her freshly soothed wife. “You’re right. My bad. I should’ve told her not to come in.”