Xue Dongting knew what was coming next, and she knew that this was normal for a husband and wife to do, but she still flinched, biting her delicate lip, her eyes full of apprehension.

Song Yuming at the edge of the best said gently, “Dongting, anything else you"d like to ask me? Ask away.”

She thought about it. “Why did that woman from the west end make shoes for you?”

Song Yuming couldn"t help finding this funny. His little wife was stil hung up on this. “That lady was deprived of her husband at a young age, left to look after her baby son. She can"t do much manual labor, so I helped her out a bit, that"s all. Some days ago I carried some firewood for her down from the mountains. She was probably showing her grat.i.tude, that"s all.”

“Just because you don"t think there was anything else doesn"t mean she doesn"t,” Xue Dongting said softly. “Or else why did she come especially on the day of your wedding to give them to you?”

Song Yuming laughed and reached out and put a loose hair of hers back in place. “All that matters is I have a clear conscience.”

She thought about it and didn"t argue. She didn"t like the way that woman had acted, but she did pity the widow having to live all by her lonesome. She nodded, smiling. “Alright then. That"s all over and done with then.”

Song Yuming smiled. “Hang on a minute now. Didn"t you say that day that you were going to make me shoes? Well? I don"t see them.”

Xue Dongting"s heart froze. She cursed inwardly. She had forgotten all about it while at Mama Qiao"s place. She was going to ask Mama Qiao for help. She could only turn to him and say, “Not that quickly, I don"t have any material. Next time you go into town you can buy some matertial, then we"ll talk.”

Song Yuming nodded and took on a serious tone. “I will remember that you owe me a pair of shoes.”

Xue Dongting laughed. “You"re not only honest, you"re also petty, making a point of remembering a pair of shoes.”

He leaned closer, smiling. “How do you know I"m honest?”

She gave him the side-eye and went “Pooh” and that was it.

Song Yuming chuckled and simply took off his shos and got in under the covers and took her in his arms. “Anything else you want to ask?”

She thought carefully. “You came here all by yourself. What about you parents?”

“They"ve pa.s.sed on. All I have is a big brother and he can"t stand me. So I went far away and came here.” His voice was calm, as if he had no feelings about it.

But Xue Dongting knew that “all I have is a brother and he can"t stand me” contained a lot of helplessness and grief. “It"s nice here,” she said softly. “I"m here to pa.s.s the days with you.”

He held her tight. “Anything else?”

She put a finger to her lips, brows knit in thought. Song Yuming found this funny. “Well?”

She nodded. “So many. I just can"t think of any at the moment.”

“Then just ask whenever you remember them.”

His big hand around her waist at some point had undid her sash. He took off her outer robe and tossed it on the trunk at the end of the bed.

Wrapped in his arms, Xue Dongting"s stomach rumbled suddenly. She was so embarra.s.sed.

Song Yuming stopped what he was doing. “You really are hungry?”

She was too embarra.s.sed to say anything. Unlike the fisherman, she had not eaten much at lunch and after traveling so much her stomach had started growling some time ago.

He laughed. “How thoughtless of me. Of course my little wife is hungry.” He took an oiled paper package from his robe and opened it. Inside were steaming meat buns. They were flat from where had had pressed into her. He laughed. “They may not look that good, but they"re still edible.” He handed her the package.