Chapter 49 Days of Unknowing
After searching around for a while, Hua Qinci inquired about the prices of several houses, carefully selected a few, and finally settled on a courtyard with three entrances and three exits, following Qin Youtian’s suggestion. The courtyard wasn’t large, but it was ingeniously constructed. Though located on the outskirts of the county town, it was more than sufficient for Hua Qinci to open a pharmacy.
The outer rooms would serve for consulting and diagnosing patients, while the inner chambers would be her living quarters. Of all its features, she was most fond of the spacious main courtyard, where several pear trees stood. They already bore small fruit, and every year when their blossoms covered the branches, their fragrance would drift for miles, petals as pure as fresh snow.
On ordinary days, the trees provided shade for rest; she could also dry herbs there. Inside, there was a sitting room and three bedrooms—her favorite arrangement. This time, when she returned, she planned to make it clear to the Qin family: she would not be with Qin Youtian. Even if she stayed with the family, it was only to make use of the identity of their daughter-in-law; she would never share a room with Qin Youtian. This was her one inviolable boundary.
As she pondered, Hua Qinci began to mentally map out the layout of the house. Qin Youtian knew well he could not persuade her otherwise, so he kept silent.
They were so busy that afternoon slipped away before they realized it, and Hua Qinci forgot that today it was just the two of them. The weather was beautiful, the harsh sun had already sunk westward, and scattered golden light lay on the ground like layers of ripe grain, undisturbed by the breeze, each kernel plump, nourishing all living things in silence.
It was the beginning of life, its continuation, and its quiet decline.
Hua Qinci and Qin Youtian returned to Auspicious Inn, ordering a couple of simple dishes. Qin Youtian suggested, “It’s a rare and happy occasion—shouldn’t we have a couple of drinks to celebrate?”
Hua Qinci laughed, her bright eyes fixing on him until he dropped his gaze in embarrassment, as if he’d done something shameful behind her back.
Qin Youtian could never withstand Hua Qinci’s gaze; her eyes seemed to pierce through him, brimming with questions, and with a single look it felt as if she could see everything about him.
He dared not look at her. She seemed to possess a strange magic—the longer he looked, the harder it became to control himself.
He lowered his eyes, thankful for the mask he wore; without it, his awkwardness would surely be even more obvious.
“Waiter, bring us two jars of Daughter’s Red.”
Hua Qinci’s eyes sparkled with amusement, her lips curving into a smile. She planned to drink Qin Youtian, the country bumpkin, under the table so she could finally have peace tonight.
After those two previous incidents, she had grown wary of being alone with him. At night, this seemingly harmless, bashful, and gentle giant would change, his personality shifting in ways both unsettling and vexing.
She had been so busy today that she forgot, and just as she was wondering how to handle the evening, Qin Youtian proposed drinking.
“What a splendid idea.”
The waiter happily brought two jars of wine and withdrew.
“Do we really need to drink this much?” Qin Youtian asked, sounding like a shy bride. After these days spent with Hua Qinci, he found himself more and more content with her. Yet he didn’t know how to win her affection, and he wanted to fulfill his mother’s wishes. Hua Qinci was clearly the best choice—she was already his wife, and continuing the family line was her duty. She was clever, kind, brave, loyal, and principled.
If the day ever came when he was no longer here, he knew she could take good care of their child and his mother.
As he thought of this, Qin Youtian unconsciously touched the mask covering half his face, his heart uneasy, uncertain how many days he had left.