I'll Raise Pigs to Support You - Chapter 34

It was unclear how much time had passed, but the noodles in the pot had swollen into a mushy mess. Finally, Shen Xizhi emerged from her overwhelming grief.

The torrential tears had stopped, though her eyes remained red, her nose kept sniffling, and her petite frame trembled with occasional shudders. Song Yugui was genuinely worried she might hyperventilate.

Her headache grew worse.

She wrapped her arms around Shen Xizhi’s slender waist, her tone exasperated yet helpless. “What exactly did I say to make you cry for so long?”

She truly couldn’t figure it out. She didn’t recall saying anything particularly harsh—so why the tears?

Though inwardly displeased, her long, pale fingers unconsciously stroked the girl’s dark hair, gently ruffling it in a soothing motion.

Shen Xizhi bit her lip lightly, her eyes welling up again—she was on the verge of another breakdown.

But she didn’t dare cry. If she kept weeping uncontrollably, her wife might grow impatient with her.

She didn’t want to test that possibility. The thought of seeing Song Yugui’s irritation terrified her.

Wuwu…

Seeing the girl’s spirits sink even lower, Song Yugui scrambled to comfort her. By the time Shen Xizhi’s eyes were swollen and red, the noodles had turned soggy and unappetizing.

Ugh.

“Go sit at the table. I’ll serve the noodles myself.”

Utterly unreliable. Who bursts into tears like a floodgate right before a meal? Unheard of!

If she’d known earlier, she wouldn’t have needed to add water to the noodles—Shen Xizhi’s tears alone would’ve been enough.

Two bowls of hand-pulled noodles, simmered with minced meat and topped with a golden, crispy fried egg. Song Yugui split the egg in half—one portion for Shen Xizhi, the other for herself.

Staring at the egg in her bowl, Shen Xizhi’s eyes brimmed with tears again. She treats me so well… yet she doesn’t love me…

Wuwu…

“Stop crying!!!”

Song Yugui looked up just in time to see another string of pearls fall from Shen Xizhi’s eyes. Infuriated, she snapped.

Shen Xizhi bit her lip hard, leaving deep marks. She knew she was in the wrong—she couldn’t help crying—so she quickly lowered her head, not daring to provoke her further.

Rarely did Song Yugui regret something so intensely. Aside from staying up late reading novels that one night, her biggest regret today was seeking out Shen Xizhi. Initially, she’d gone to help her wash clothes in the cold weather, only to end up in this mess. Her little wife didn’t trust her and had cried herself into a pitiful state.

Her murderous glare could kill as she alternated between staring at Shen Xizhi and slurping her noodles.

The noodles had turned too soft to pick up with chopsticks, so she drank them straight from the bowl to finish faster.

Shen Xizhi squirmed under her gaze, too uneasy to cry anymore—it seemed her tears had finally run dry.

And no wonder. A cold gust of wind blew past, chilling Song Yugui’s damp chest and making her shiver.

Ugh. So much water—all wiped on my clothes.

“Eat up. They’ll get even worse if you wait.”

She preferred chewy noodles, but today’s batch had turned into mush. Fine, I’ll endure it. The noodles were tolerable, but if Shen Xizhi cried again, she wouldn’t be able to hold back. What’s there to cry about anyway? Is it really that serious?

Sometimes, Song Yugui wondered if some earth-shattering event had occurred without her knowledge. Otherwise, why did she always feel so out of the loop?

Damn it.

After finishing her bowl, she sat stiffly, silently waiting for Shen Xizhi to finish hers.

Shen Xizhi pressed her lips together, fully aware of how furious Song Yugui was. Initially, her wife had only been pretending to be cold—Shen Xizhi had seen through it. But now… the anger was real.

Even the slowest eater couldn’t drag out a bowl of noodles forever.

Once done, the girl clutched her bowl, her large, dewy eyes peering up hesitantly.

Song Yugui eyed her warily. “Still want to cry?”

If the answer was yes, she’d keep her mouth shut.

Shen Xizhi shook her head. “N-no more crying.”

Even a tantrum had its limits. She was already beneath Song Yugui in status, never having been truly loved by her wife. If she acted spoiled and drove her further away… what then?

The thought made her bite her lip until it bled.

A stifling resentment bubbled in her chest.

Hearing her say she wouldn’t cry, Song Yugui relaxed slightly. Of course—after crying for so long, she must be exhausted. Who even has that much energy to sob endlessly?

Reassured, she straightened up. “You cried because you didn’t believe me?”

Shen Xizhi hesitated, then shook her head again. “Because you said I was being unreasonable.”

Song Yugui: “? Don’t twist my words. When did I ever—”

Before she could finish, Shen Xizhi cut in, puffing her cheeks indignantly, her teary eyes brimming with grievance. “You did. I heard you start to say it.”

Song Yugui: “…”

I only said two words! Fine, fine—she didn’t even let me finish before assuming the worst and getting angry. She’s even preemptively answering for me now, huh?

“But that’s the truth! What does Village Beauty’s confidence have to do with me? Maybe she’s just naturally self-assured. Just because she confidently claims I like her—despite me staying with you and never visiting her—does that automatically make it true? Isn’t that being unreasonable?”

So illogical!

Shen Xizhi bit her lip and stayed silent.

She’d been too emotional earlier. Only now did she realize Song Yugui’s words made perfect sense—she had no rebuttal.

But… but…

The girl opened her mouth slightly, dazed. “You… really don’t like Miss Song anymore?”

A vein throbbed at Song Yugui’s temple. “No, I don’t! What’s there to like? I stopped liking her ages ago! Two months ago! From the moment I decided to build a life with you!”

Damn the original host—why did she leave so many messes for me to clean up?

Infuriating.

The girl fell silent, her round eyes studying her cautiously, as if weighing the truth of her words.

After a long pause, Shen Xizhi pressed her lips together, her resolve firming. Fine, I’ll believe her this once. Even if it’s a lie… I won’t let go.

Song Yugui’s wife could only be her.

A shadow flickered in Shen Xizhi’s eyes, but the corners of her lips curled into a smile—though with her red nose and swollen eyes, it looked more pitiful than joyful.

“You don’t believe me?”

Song Yugui frowned.

Shen Xizhi shook her head, masking her earlier thoughts. Lifting her delicate, jade-like face, she forced a gentle smile. “No, I believe you. I trust that you don’t like her anymore. I was wrong earlier—I shouldn’t have listened to others and misunderstood you.”

“Hmph. Would’ve been nice if you’d believed me sooner. Do I seem like the kind of person who says one thing and does another?”

“Mhm, it was my fault. I misunderstood you, Sister Yugui.”

The villainess’s sudden change in attitude was too abrupt—Song Yugui wasn’t used to it.

She sat up straighter, frowning again. “Stay away from her in the future. She’s narcissistic, and you’re easily fooled. Seriously…”

If Village Beauty spouted nonsense again, Shen Xizhi would believe it, give her the cold shoulder, and make life unbearable.

Might as well die.

The thought of her wife trusting Village Beauty over her made Song Yugui deeply uncomfortable. In her heart, she and Shen Xizhi relied on each other. Even if they weren’t family, they were at least close friends. How could Shen Xizhi trust an outsider over her?

Shen Xizhi listened quietly, her fingers clenching beneath her long sleeves, nails nearly digging into her palms.

Then, the girl’s voice—soft, restrained, and slightly hoarse—drifted through the room again. “Sister Yugui… do you think Miss Song is very beautiful?”

Song Yugui blinked. Huh? Why are we back to this?

What does her looks have to do with anything?

Instinctively, she shook her head. “No? Why do you ask?”

Shen Xizhi’s gathered gloom dissipated slightly at her denial. She pursed her lips, glancing at Song Yugui before looking away, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction. “You keep calling her ‘Village Beauty.’ You must think she’s as lovely as a flower, unmatched by anyone.”

Her voice was heavy with sullenness.

She was unhappy.

But—

“What? No! It’s because I can’t remember her name! It has nothing to do with thinking she’s pretty. Do you even remember what she’s called?”

Song Yugui’s eyes shone with genuine confusion—she truly couldn’t recall Village Beauty’s name.

Shen Xizhi froze. Her slightly swollen eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Song Yugui, her brows knitting together in puzzlement. “What did you say?”

Ugh, crying has made her dumb. She looks so silly.

Song Yugui took a deep breath and explained patiently, “I don’t think Village Beauty is some unparalleled beauty. I just don’t remember her name. All I know is she’s the village beauty. And—you’re prettier than her.”

Her words and expression were utterly sincere.

At least, by my standards.

Though the girl was thin, her curves were well-proportioned—plump where she should be, slender where it mattered. Her eyes always seemed veiled in a faint mist, glistening and pitiable. Her lips, naturally rosy and perfectly shaped, were also very… kissable. Ahem, I mean, very pretty.

Her skin was fair, too—far more attractive than Village Beauty’s.

With nicer clothes and hairpins, she’d look no different from a noble lady!

Shen Xizhi hadn’t expected to be called prettier. Stunned, her doe-like eyes brightened instantly.

Perched on the chair, she gazed at Song Yugui with quiet delight.

But after all this back-and-forth, Song Yugui was starting to feel disappointed. Waving a hand, she muttered, “Whatever. I doubt you believe me anyway. Suit yourself. Hmph, I’m going to cut pigweed. Stay home.”

She didn’t dare delve deeper, afraid of triggering another crying fit. But without resolving things properly, her frustration festered.

Might as well cool off outside.

Song Yugui’s displeasure was palpable. Only then did Shen Xizhi realize her earlier words had carried undertones of distrust again. Flustered, she stood and tugged lightly on Song Yugui’s pinky, her delicate face softening into a coaxing expression.

“I—I do believe you. I trust you. How could I not trust you, my wife…?”

For some reason, Shen Xizhi suddenly grew clingy, even reverting to a long-abandoned term of endearment. Her frail frame stood before Song Yugui, the picture of pitiable vulnerability.

“You didn’t believe me earlier. Why the sudden change?”

Song Yugui was skeptical but also reluctant to prolong the argument. Anger harmed the body, and when Shen Xizhi was upset, the whole house turned stifling—she hated that.

“Mhm, I was being foolish earlier. Now that I’ve cleared my head, I won’t act like that again. Wife, please forgive me. I’m your spouse… spouses are allowed to make mistakes sometimes, right?”

She swayed Song Yugui’s pinky gently, her eyes pleading as she asked if spouses could occasionally make mistakes.

…Kind of cute.

Fine.

Song Yugui’s irritation faded, though her face remained wary. “You really believe me now?”

“Mhm, mhm.”

Shen Xizhi nodded eagerly.

Relieved, Song Yugui grew solemn. “Then don’t bring up my past feelings for Village Beauty again. I stopped liking her long ago. It’s one thing if others believe it, but you—”

You can’t. Everyone else might, but not you.

Her gaze was piercing.

Shen Xizhi didn’t care whether Song Yugui truly no longer had feelings for Song Xinyu. There was no chance of them rekindling anything.

But if she kept throwing tantrums, Sister Yugui would grow distant—would come to resent her.

So she agreed without hesitation. “I know. I don’t believe it. I won’t trust others’ words anymore. From now on, I’ll only trust yours.”

The phrase sounded familiar—likely from their last argument. Yet at the first sign of trouble, she’d doubted Song Yugui again.

Whatever. As long as she’s pacified, as long as she stops crying.

“Mhm. Then I’ll go cut pigweed.”

“Okay. I’ll wait for you at home.”

Like any devoted wife awaiting her spouse’s return, she stood in the yard, watching Song Yugui leave, refusing to retreat indoors even as the cold wind whipped at her.

So silly.

Their quarrel ended abruptly. Song Yugui, now wary of Village Beauty, took a detour while cutting pigweed to avoid running into her. A longer walk was a small price to pay—if Village Beauty spotted her, she’d accuse her of stalking.

As a law-abiding citizen, how could I ever do something as shady as stalking?

Ridiculous.

She ventured far to forage, hauling back a hefty bundle of pigweed, which naturally delayed her return. As she approached home, she spotted Shen Xizhi leaning against the gate, craning her neck anxiously. The moment she saw Song Yugui, her face lit up, and she hurried over, lifting the hem of her skirt.

She eagerly took the basket, her voice laced with grievance. “Sister Yugui, you’re finally back. I thought you didn’t want to see me—that you were still angry.”

Her pout made her sound utterly wronged.

Song Yugui sighed. “I went farther today to cut pigweed, so it took longer. Where else would I go if not home? I’m not as petty as you.”

Getting upset over Village Beauty’s baseless accusations—giving her a headache. She wasn’t the petty one. As long as Shen Xizhi wasn’t mad at her, that was enough.

Seeing Song Yugui head to the backyard, Shen Xizhi trailed after her like a shadow. Hearing her dwell on the day’s events and call her petty, a fresh layer of mist veiled her beautiful eyes.

But I was jealous…

“Wife~”

With the basket slung over her shoulder, she clung to Song Yugui’s arm, cooing to divert her attention.

Song Yugui glanced at her. The soft, sticky tone was effective, but she still chided, “Stop calling me that. We’re not some wealthy family—it sounds strange.” If others found out she enforced such formalities at home, they’d laugh at her behind her back.

“Oh, but I’m used to it.”

Shen Xizhi wilted slightly, her fingers fiddling with her sleeves as if deeply wounded.

Song Yugui fidgeted guiltily. Did I upset the villainess again?

How am I so good at this? Always making her cry.

She rested a hand gently atop Shen Xizhi’s head, her lips pressed into a line. The girl’s eyes gleamed imperceptibly as she nuzzled into the touch.

Song Yugui softened her tone. “Alright, I wasn’t scolding you. Don’t be upset. What’s for dinner?”

She removed the pigweed basket while asking.

Shen Xizhi, comforted, perked up slightly. “I stewed meat. We’ll have meat tonight.”

“Good. Meat’s perfect.”

She hadn’t been a huge meat lover in her past life, but after three vegetarian meals a day in ancient times, meat had become her favorite food!

“Mhm.”

Shen Xizhi followed her like a shadow.

Song Yugui still felt uneasy. After a day of conflict ending so abruptly, something felt off.

Noticing Shen Xizhi’s constant shadowing, she asked again, “You do believe me, right?”

Shen Xizhi paused, then smiled sweetly, nodding obediently. “Mhm. Sister Yugui is my wife. Of course I trust my wife.”

Seeing Song Yugui open her mouth, she quickly added, “Not believing you earlier was my fault. I was stuck in my own head and didn’t think clearly. Are you still mad at me?”

Her anxious eyes glistened with unshed tears, red-rimmed and heartbreaking.

Fine. An apology’s enough.

She shook her head honestly. “Not mad. I wasn’t even angry to begin with—you were the one mad at me.”

She couldn’t resist grumbling.

Shen Xizhi pressed her rosy lips together before cautiously leaning into Song Yugui’s embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist. Her voice was feather-soft as she nuzzled closer. “I’m not angry anymore either. I’ve figured it out now. You wouldn’t lie to me… right?”

The girl lifted her sparkling eyes, her smile blooming like a flower when Song Yugui confirmed it.

“Then let’s not fight anymore. You can’t be harsh or cold with me again.”

Song Yugui agreed to the truce but protested, “When was I ever cold? I tried explaining so many times, but you shut me out and refused to listen. You never trusted me.”

“Okay, okay, it was my mistake.”

Shen Xizhi conceded readily, her docile demeanor making it impossible to stay angry. Song Yugui relented, lifting her chin in forgiveness.

“I’ll check on the meat.”

Modern stews used pressure cookers, but she’d heard that firewood-braised meat tasted better.

This was Shen Xizhi’s first time stewing meat since arriving in ancient times—they’d only had stir-fries before.

Watching her wife hurry over, as if the meat was more appealing than her, Shen Xizhi’s chest tightened with irrational displeasure—though she quickly suppressed it.

She hadn’t realized how prone to jealousy she was.

Such possessiveness might scare Sister Yugui.

And she doesn’t love me.

Standing there, Shen Xizhi wallowed in self-pity until Song Yugui paused at the doorframe, glancing back curiously. “Aren’t you coming?”

Snapping out of her gloom, Shen Xizhi brightened, her skirt fluttering as she trotted over. “Coming, Sister Yugui.”

She stopped just short of Song Yugui, suddenly pulling her into a tight hug.

It was abrupt—over as quickly as it began.

Song Yugui blinked, unsure if it was just a spontaneous, meaningless gesture.

“I’ll go check the aroma.”

She didn’t comment. A hug was just a hug—it wasn’t like she’d lost a piece of flesh.

Unseen by Song Yugui, Shen Xizhi’s fingers curled slightly.

She doesn’t reject my touch. She holds me when we sleep. She likes embracing me. I’m the one by her side. She said I’m prettier than Miss Song. Maybe… she does like me—just not romantically. But my chances are high.

Lifting the lid released a cloud of steam that fogged Song Yugui’s face.

But oh—the rich scent of pork!

So fragrant.

Replacing the lid, Song Yugui felt revitalized. Life wasn’t so bitter after all.

Three pounds of meat wasn’t much—this pot held about a pound, plenty for two women.

“You’re so good to me, Xiaozhi. I can’t imagine life without you.”

Song Yugui’s praise was heartfelt.

Shen Xizhi snapped out of her thoughts, her cheeks flushing at the seemingly indispensable declaration. Shyly, she mumbled, “Then… reward me.”

Song Yugui: “Huh?”

A reward?

She’d only meant to compliment the villainess—she hadn’t planned on giving rewards.

Shen Xizhi’s damp eyes fixed on her as she slowly spread her arms. “A hug.”

Song Yugui: “…Huh?”

The reward is a hug?

Baffled but obliging, she pulled Shen Xizhi into her arms.

Afterward, she muttered, “Such low standards. I thought you’d ask for something big, but it’s just a hug.”

Too easy. The villainess is so easily satisfied.

Shen Xizhi smiled faintly, her eyes crinkling as she gazed at Song Yugui without a word.

Her wife wasn’t as cold and cruel as before—her heart had grown much softer.

And soft hearts were easiest to deceive.

“Just a hug from you makes me happy.”

She lowered her head, adding softly.

Song Yugui studied her, sensing an unusual vulnerability in Shen Xizhi—as if she feared abandonment at any moment. Perhaps her request for hugs stemmed from a need for reassurance?

Pursing her lips, she hugged Shen Xizhi again, magnanimously declaring, “It’s just a hug. Ask anytime. When have I ever refused you?”

Shen Xizhi’s eyes sparkled. “Really? You’ll hug me whenever I ask?”

What’s so hard about a hug? Song Yugui nodded. “Mhm.”

Shen Xizhi’s expression softened, her body leaning closer. “Sister Yugui, you’re so good to me.”

“Well, you’re my wife. We only have each other—who else would I treat well?”

Yes. We only have each other. She can only be good to me.

The thought sent honeyed warmth bubbling through Shen Xizhi’s chest.

“I’ll… check the fire. Should I add some taro?”

Too shy to meet Song Yugui’s eyes, she changed the subject.

“Sure! I love taro.”

Especially when stewed with meat until tender, the broth thick and rich. Merely imagining it made her mouth water.

Eagerly staring.jpg.