Time Traveling: The Man and Wife Heads the House

Lu Zixiu took the two of them to rest.

Although Zhang Chi drank a few glasses of wine, his mind was very clear.As he walked, he looked around.There is no moon in the sky, and the sky full of stars does not illuminate the road in front of us.Except for the dim yellow light from the small lantern in Lu Zixiu's hand, Zhang Chi couldn't see anything clearly. The road on both sides was dark, and there seemed to be plants half the height of a person growing.

The two courtyards are said to be separated by half a mile, which sounds far away, but they are actually very close. Zhangchi felt that he only had to walk for a few minutes to get there.

The house where I stayed was similar to the academy in front, and it was also in the form of a courtyard. Two red lanterns were hung at the entrance of the main house, illuminating the dark and spacious courtyard.The other rooms are all dark, except for a little light in the first room of the east wing.

Lu Zixiu whispered: "The children are all asleep, Xihe, you can take Zhang Chi into the house! I'm going back."

"Okay. Brother, hurry up and go back to take care of the teacher!"

Watching Lu Zixiu leave, Gu Xihe pushed open the door and led Zhang Chi into the hut where he used to live.

An oil lamp illuminated the small room. Two single beds were placed against the wall, covered with dark blue sheets and neatly folded quilts.There are two desks by the window in the middle of the bed, two stools under the desk, and two cabinets standing by the door.Although the room is small, it is clean and well-regulated everywhere, like Zhangchi's dormitory during military training.

Gu Xihe asked Zhang Chi to sit down, and said with a smile, "Are you tired? Get a good night's sleep today, and I'll take you to climb the mountain tomorrow. Brother Chi, do you sleep on the bed on the left or the right?"

Zhang Chi embraced Gu Xihe, "I'll sleep wherever you sleep."

Gu Xihe blushed and pushed him away, "The bed is too narrow to sleep on."

"how come?"

Zhang Chi moved closer to his ear and said, "I'll sleep well if I hold you in my arms."

Gu Xihe turned around to stretch out the quilt and ignored him.

While making the bed, he said: "If you are dishonest, I won't take you to wash up."

Zhang Chi hugged him from behind disapprovingly, "It doesn't matter, as long as you don't think I stink."

Gu Xihe turned around and stared at him, "If you don't wash up, don't even think about going to bed!"

"Do you mean that I can hold you to sleep after I wash?"

Gu Xihe lightly gave him an elbow, "Good idea!"

"Ouch! You murdered your own husband!"

Gu Xihe quickly covered his mouth, "Don't scream, the children are all asleep."

Zhang Chi took the opportunity to lick his hand, Gu Xihe immediately withdrew his hand as if he had been scalded, and Zhang Chi got another supercilious look without any surprise.

That's what Zhang Chi said, but in the end he honestly slept on the bed near the door.He remembered that Gu Xihe vomited at night, so he didn't dare to make trouble with him.

Before going to bed, he asked worriedly: "Xihe, do you feel better? Are you still sick? Do you have a stomachache?"

Gu Xihe shook his head, only to remember that Zhang Chi couldn't see it, "I don't feel anything anymore."

"That's good, sleep well!"

The night on the mountain was very dark and quiet. Both of them were tired all day, lying on the bed, and soon fell asleep.

When Gu Xihe woke up, it was already dawn. He turned his head to look at the other bed, and there was no one there.

He sat up straight away and was about to call for someone when Zhang Chi walked in with a washbasin in his hand.

"Xihe, are you awake? Just in time to wash your face, I specially boiled hot water for you."

While putting on his clothes, Gu Xihe glared at him: "You didn't call me when you got up early."

"Didn't Teacher Lu say it last night? Let you sleep well and don't need to get up early. I just listened to what Teacher Lu said."

Gu Xihe always couldn't talk to him, so he said helplessly, "What time is it now?"

"No idea. All I know is that the kids are in school."

Zhang Chi wet the towel and handed it to Gu Xihe.

Gu Xihe took the towel, "It should be Chen Shi, right?"

Zhang Chi said indifferently: "Almost! Don't think about it, you don't go to class anyway."

"That's true. You got up so early, what did you do?"

"Walk around and visit around."

"How does it feel?"

“Picturesque, fresh air.”

Gu Xihe became excited, "Yes! If you go up the mountain, the scenery will be even better! When I first came to the academy, Zixiu and I would often get up before dawn and go to Yunding Peak on the top of Yunshan Mountain to watch the sunrise. The coastline here rises, not to mention how spectacular it is!"

Zhang Chi suppressed his sour feeling, "Really? Let's go and see tomorrow morning, shall we?"

"it is good."

Gu Xihe readily agreed, since he's here, of course he will take Brother Chi to see it.

Lu Kaiting said that he doesn't need to get up early, which means that he doesn't need to have dinner together.When he wakes up at this time, everyone must have eaten.I don't know if there is anything left in the kitchen?

Gu Xihe took Zhang Chi to the kitchen in the front yard to find something to eat. After dawn, Zhang Chi walked this distance, and found that although the academy was built in the middle of the mountain, the terrain was very flat, and there were low bushes on both sides of the road. Green crops are grown in small patches of farmland.

"Brother Chi, have you seen those farmlands? The land up and down the mountain belong to the Academy. Mr. Lu rented them out to nearby farmers and collected some rent at the end of the year. Because the rent is cheap, the nearby farmers are all Grabbing the seeds, I am also very grateful and respectful to Teacher Lu."

Zhang Chi nodded. He knew that such a large academy could not be supported by the tuition fees of a few children.

When we arrived at the kitchen of the academy, Master Zhang was preparing lunch. When he saw the two of them coming in, he smiled and said, "Xihe, Zhang Chi, I have prepared meals for you a long time ago. Come, this is what Mr. Lu specially asked to cook for you in the morning." Millet porridge, instead of making greasy fried dough stick pies and fried eggs, I made vegetarian stuffed steamed buns. Eat and see, how does it taste? This is a small pickle that I pickled myself. If you think the taste is bland, you can eat a little .”

Gu Xihe pulled Zhang Chi to sit beside the table, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Brother Zhang. I always think about the steamed buns you made at home!"

He said to Zhang Chi again, "Brother Chi, the steamed bun made by Brother Zhang has thin skin and big filling. Although it is vegetarian, it tastes better than meat buns! Try it quickly."

Zhang Chi also nodded his thanks, picked up the bun and took a bite.

"Hmm...the stuffing contains vegetables, tofu, eggs, and vermicelli. It's really delicious."

Gu Xihe stopped after eating three steamed buns and a bowl of rice porridge, no matter how much Zhang Chi tried to persuade him, he just shook his head.

Master Zhang sighed, "You child, you just eat too little! You've lost weight again these days when you're home!"

Gu Xihe quickly said: "I've been on the road this month, and I'm actually much fatter than before."

He pinched Zhang Chi's arm, and Zhang Chi smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, can you tell me the secret recipe of this bun? I think Xihe actually ate three of the buns I made on weekdays. He can eat two as long as he can eat." Not bad."

Master Zhang laughed loudly, "What secret recipe? It's just made indiscriminately. Do you want it? Come, I'll write it to you right now."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang."

Zhang Chi happily took the steamed stuffed bun recipe and put it in his arms.

After the two of them ate the buns, Master Zhang said, "Xihe, the old man told you to go to him after dinner, and he has something to tell you."

"it is good."

Gu Xihe reckoned that Lu Kaiting had finished his lecture, and it was time for the children to go for a run with Tan Shi, so it was a good time to find Lu Kaiting now.

Entering Lu Kaiting's room, the old man was the only one sitting on the chair, closing his eyes and meditating.

Gu Xihe called teacher, and Lu Kaiting opened his eyes.

He sat up straight and let Gu Xihe and Zhang Chi sit down.

Zhang Chi felt that although Lu Kaiting was still smiling, he looked at him with a little more scrutiny and doubt than yesterday, and there was a sense of sternness.

He touched his nose, very puzzled.

"Zhang Chi, did you sleep well last night?"

Zhang Chi hurriedly sat upright, and replied, "Very good."

"Can I go to the mountain in the morning? How's the view?"

"I haven't had time to go up the mountain yet, but I walked around the academy, it's beautiful."

Lu Kaiting touched his chin and smiled slightly: "If I keep Xihe here, can you rest assured?"

"..."

Zhang Chi opened his mouth, not understanding what he meant.

Lu Kaiting continued: "Since Xihe is going to the autumn exam, it is definitely better to study in the academy than at the foot of the mountain. And I think the food and living here are no worse than those at the foot of the mountain."

Zhang Chi nodded, "The teacher is right, but I believe that Xihe can also have a good learning environment at home, and I won't let him worry about things at home."

Lu Kaiting turned to Gu Xihe, "Xihe, what do you mean? Are you willing to stay?"

Gu Xihe was puzzled. When he left the academy last year, he made it clear that he would not come to the academy to study again, because Zhang Chi was too busy to open a shop and take care of his children by himself.Now, why would the teacher say that?

Although he had doubts in his heart, he answered honestly.

"Teacher, after the teahouse was renovated this year, it hasn't opened yet. I want to go back and help Brother Chi."

Lu Kaiting didn't speak for a long time, just lowered his head slightly, looking at the tea in front of him.

It took him a while to ask: "Xihe, are you 20 years old this year?"

Gu Xihe said: "Teacher, I am 21 this year."

"21..." Lu Kaiting read it twice softly, "Are you married to Zhang Chi?"

"Yes."

Lu Kaiting said with emotion: "You have been married for three years!"

"Yes."

"Xihe, you are only 21 this year, and you will only be 24 in three years. It's not too late."

Gu Xihe didn't understand, "Teacher, what exactly are you trying to say?"

He thinks today's teacher is too strange!

Lu Kaiting didn't answer, but instead asked: "Xihe, if you can't take the exam this fall, what will you do?"

"Can't take the test, why?"

Lu Kaiting stared at him, and said again: "Don't ask why, just tell me what you will do."

"If you can't go this year... go for the next exam!"

Lu Kaiting sighed, "Xihe, stretch out your hand, and I'll take your pulse again."

Although Gu Xihe didn't understand the reason, he still stretched out his hand.

Zhang Chi subconsciously sat upright, looking at Lu Kaiting nervously.What happened to Gu Xihe?Is it really sick?Why didn't the old man talk anymore?

He wanted to ask, but seeing Lu Kaiting taking his pulse seriously, he didn't dare to interrupt.

After a long time, Lu Kaiting let out a long sigh of relief.Looking up at Zhang Chi, "Zhang Chi, aren't you Shuang'er?"

Zhang Chi nodded subconsciously.

Lu Kaiting leaned back on the chair and suddenly laughed, "Xihe, I'll test you, what kind of pulse I gave you just now."

"Teacher, please speak."

"The slippery pulse is like pearls, shallow and smooth, fluent but still moving forward."

After Lu Kaiting finished speaking, Gu Xihe was stunned.He looked at Lu Kaiting in disbelief.He opened his mouth, but couldn't speak.Naturally, he has also read medical books and knows the meaning of this pulse, but is it true?

Seeing the two people looking at each other but not speaking, Zhang Chi became anxious and said loudly, "Old man, what are you two doing? What happened to Xihe?"

Lu Kaiting sighed, and said softly: "Zhang Chi, congratulations, you two are going to be fathers."

Zhang Chi's expression also became dull.He looked at Lu Kaiting, at Gu Xihe, and then at Lu Kaiting. . .After a while, I finally understood, stood up abruptly from the chair, and stammered, "Mr. Teacher, what do you mean, yes..."

Lu Kaiting nodded at him, and slowly said: "Yes. It's exactly what you think. Xi and he are pregnant. So, this year's autumn exam, he can't go."

"Ah?" Zhang Chi opened his mouth wide, "How, how is it possible? Isn't Xihe a man?"

Lu Kaiting raised his eyebrows: "Do you not believe me?"

"I'm not, of course I am..." Zhang Chi slowly sat back on the chair, "I just can't believe it."

Lu Kaiting sighed again, "I can't believe it! Xihe has been very weak since he went up the mountain. I always thought he was born with a deficiency, but he turned out to be a double. No, he should be a dark double, right? If double Son, I've always seen it through the years."

"What is a dark double?"

Lu Kaiting shook his head, "Zhang Chi, you don't need to ask about this. You just need to remember that you found a baby. It's hard for An Shuang to conceive, and it's even harder to give birth. You have to take good care of him!"

Zhang Chi nodded again and again, "Yes, yes, I will."

Lu Kaiting said again: "Then do you still want to go down the mountain? You have to know that he has always lived as a man, and even took the imperial examination. If he gives birth to this child, he will not be able to become an official."

"What do you mean, teacher?"

"Xi and Han Chuang have studied hard for so many years, and have passed both the provincial and national examinations. Wouldn't it be a pity for you to let him give up? I want him to go to the mountain and give birth to a child before taking the exam. Without anyone noticing, aren't they two? Complete?"

Zhang Chi was silent for a long time, before he said: "Teacher, how is the law of the daimyo stipulated? Shuang'er really can't enter the court as an official?"

"Not all of them. In fact, the daimyo law stipulates that unmarried twins can study, but they can only take the entrance examination for tribute students. Shuang'er who marries a wife and has children can be an official, but a twin who is married and has a son cannot be an official."

"But Xihe has always been a man and married a wife. Then can he be an official?"

"But, he's pregnant!"

Zhang Chi was silent.That's right, Xihe is pregnant, and his belly will soon be big, and he can't hide it if he wants to.

Zhang Chi looked at Gu Xihe, who had been looking down at his stomach since just now.

Zhang Chi couldn't see the expression on his face, but he was a man, no one would give up the opportunity he had waited so hard for for a child, would he?And this opportunity is still a high probability event.

He stretched out his hand, took his hand lightly, and said in a low voice: "Xihe, why don't we want this child? Anyway..."

Gu Xihe raised his head, his eyes seemed to be confused, but because of this sentence, he became clear, he bit his lips, "No, I want this child!"

"But, if you want to keep this child, you won't be able to take the exam!"

Gu Xihe smiled lightly: "I'm not going. Didn't the teacher tell you? I'm only 21, and it won't be too late in three years."

"Xihe, listen to me, this is not a matter of you giving birth to a child and still taking the exam. If you are known as Shuang Er and have a child, all the books you have studied and the grades you have obtained will be gone! You have to think clearly!"

"But," Gu Xihe's voice was very low, but Zhang Chi could hear him clearly, "Brother Chi, this is your child and I want to keep him."