The town was bustling. Yes, the new year was nigh so there were more and more villagers here. Xue Dongting and Song Yuming walked among the crowd. They happened by a couple of frequent customers of Cloudgem Lodge and they smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt when they saw Xue Dongting returning home after marrying.

Xue Dongting naturally turned them a blind eye. Song Yuming reached out and grasped her hand tightly as he stared ahead. “When we come back we can stroll around a bit and get some things for back home.”

“Mm,” she said absently. Song Yuming suddenly turned and looked at her hair. “That hairpin is too plain, you should get a different one.”

“What"s the big deal, it"s just for putting my hair up. Don"t waste money on that.” She was smiling, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

They crossed the main road and turned down a secluded lane and stopped before a white-walled compound with green roof tiles. Xue Dongting stepped up and knocked on the wooden doors. From within came the sound of footsteps and then a creak as the doors were pushed open and a pretty little face emerged.

The girl flinched and then called out happily, “Second Sister, you"re back!”

Xue Dongting shook her head and laughed. “Yuansheng, you still have no manners! This is your… second brother-in-law.”

Yuansheng blinked her s.h.i.+mmering eyes and gave a sly smile. “Of course I know it"s Second Brother-in-law. Come on in. Mama Qiao knew a special guest was coming over. She"s been busy in the kitchen all morning.”

Song Yuming laughed. “You must be Third Sister. Greetings.”

Yuansheng pursed her lips in a smile and eyed Xue Dongting. She giggled. “I"ll go tell Mama Qiao!” And she ran off.

Xue Dongting gazed at Song Yuming and laughed. “Yuansheng has always been innocent and flighty. Don"t take offense.”

He nodded. “A girl her age naturally has no worries weighing her down. That"s good!”

Xue Dongting glanced at him sideways, then looked down with a smile. “So you"re saying I have a lot of worries and am not pure and innocent enough?”

He couldn"t help but laugh. He squeezed her hand. “Every time I say something you have to find fault with it. I never knew you had such a glib tongue.”

She scoffed and made to pull her hand away, but he held it tight. She pouted, “Maybe so, but I"m not about to get jealous of Yuansheng. Why don"t you tell me instead what"s going on with that widow from the west end!”

Song Yuming smiled and whispered into her ear, “The past few days I haven"t done anything since you were sick, but now I see you"re really all better. If you want to know, I"ll tell you this evening.”

She blanched, suddenly all fl.u.s.tered. She bit her lip and glared at him. She saw Mama Qiao coming toward them though, so she flare up.

Song Yuming let go of her little hand and paid his respects to Mama Qiao. “This son-in-law greets Mother-in-law.”

Xue Dongting didn"t know what to think. She didn"t get how this man could turn so serious all of a sudden after the way he had spoken to her just now!

Mama Qiao said happily, “Hurry on inside and have some tea.”

Song Yuming looked up and saw a misty lake and several bamboo buildings along the bank. It all looked very refined. They went with Mama Qiao into the parlor and he spoke with her at length. At noon tshe went to the kitchen to get ready to serve lunch. Xue Dongting went with her to help out, leaving Song Yuming alone sipping tea in the parlor.

Mother and daughter in the kitchen were all alone so Mama Qiao whispered, “How does he treat you?”

Xue Dongting was still sulking over what he had said to her earlier, so she just curled her lips and huffed, “Not well.”

Mama Qiao saw the look on her face and didn"t believe a word of it. She laughed. “Well even if it"s not good, you"ve married him so you"ll just have to make do.”

Xue Dongting stamped her foot and grumped, “He hasn"t done anything yet, I can always come back.”

Mama Qiao frowned. “Hasn"t done anything yet?”