Yi Yefeng had dark skin, and in contrast, the sole of Xueya’s foot in his palm looked even more tender and fair, though the bruises on the top of the foot ruined the aesthetic. Xueya, startled by his foot being grabbed, instinctively tried to pull it back, but the harder he pulled, the tighter Yi Yefeng held it.
“You…” Xueya paused, his face showing anger. “I told you I don’t want to apply any more medicine!”
“Tomorrow, I’m heading to the docks. You’re coming with me. If you don’t apply the medicine, you won’t be able to walk tomorrow,” Yi Yefeng said sternly, looking at Xueya.
Still trying to avoid the medicine, Xueya protested, “I already applied it once today. I’ll do it again tomorrow.”
He tried pulling his foot back again but failed, as Yi Yefeng tightened his grip even more. Xueya’s feet were always sensitive, especially after being with He Xulan, and now, being held by Yi Yefeng, he felt quite uncomfortable.
Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Xueya reluctantly gave in. “Fine, I’ll apply it.” He took the ointment from Yi Yefeng, opened the lid, and blinked in confusion when he realized Yi Yefeng was still holding his foot. He struggled a bit more. “Let go of my foot.”
Only then did Yi Yefeng release him.
Disliking the strong smell of the ointment, Xueya only dabbed a small amount with his finger and applied a thin layer on the top of his foot. Once finished, he prepared to put the ointment away, but Yi Yefeng grabbed it from him again.
Without saying much, Yi Yefeng grabbed Xueya’s foot and applied a thick layer of the ointment. The strong smell almost overwhelmed Xueya, making him feel faint.
Frustrated, Xueya fumed, especially since he couldn’t retrieve his foot no matter how hard he tried. When Yi Yefeng finally let go, Xueya angrily flopped onto the bed, turned his back to him, and stared at the wall, not wanting to look at him at all.
Not long after, the blanket was lifted. Xueya, still upset, turned his head to find Yi Yefeng holding a damp cloth.
Ignoring Xueya’s anger, Yi Yefeng carefully wiped the hand that had just applied the ointment, then tucked it back under the blanket. His actions left Xueya too embarrassed to stay mad, so he quietly endured the smell of the medicine and tried to sleep.
The next morning, Yi Yefeng pawned his own dagger to get some coins at the clinic. On the way, he spotted a stall selling meat pies and inquired about the price.
“Two coppers each, and they’re delicious,” the vendor replied enthusiastically.
Yi Yefeng pulled out five coppers. “I have five coppers. Can I buy two and have them made a bit bigger?”
The vendor, though surprised by the unusual request, readily agreed, so Xueya ended up with a meat pie bigger than his face. Yi Yefeng ate quickly, and by the time Xueya had only taken a few bites, Yi Yefeng had already finished his. Not wanting to waste time, Xueya stood up and said, “They’re hiring at the docks. Let’s go early before they’re full. I’ll finish eating later.”
He wrapped the meat pie in oiled paper.
***
At the docks, Yi Yefeng first inquired about the pay for carrying goods. The rate was per item—the more you carried, the more you earned. Thanks to his strong build, Yi Yefeng was immediately chosen.
Xueya had hoped to help, but seeing that everyone else was much bigger than him, he awkwardly gave up. Before starting work, Yi Yefeng borrowed a small stool and spoke to the overseer, arranging for Xueya to rest in a workers’ break room where he could stay out of the wind.
“Don’t talk to anyone, and don’t leave with anyone. If anything happens, blow the whistle,” Yi Yefeng instructed before heading off to work.
As Yi Yefeng’s figure disappeared into the distance, Xueya took out the half-eaten meat pie and began munching on it again.
This routine went on for three days. Each morning, Xueya received a meat pie bigger than his face, and thanks to Yi Yefeng’s unusual request, the vendor quickly recognized them and would start making larger pies as soon as they arrived.
Now that Yi Yefeng had earned some wages, he began buying Xueya goat’s milk along with the meat pies. On the fourth morning, Xueya, tired of the meat pies, said to Yi Yefeng as soon as he woke up, “Can we eat something else today?”
“Alright,” Yi Yefeng agreed, getting dressed. He then walked over, lifted the blanket covering Xueya’s feet, and grabbed his foot. Over the past few days, every time Xueya applied medicine himself, Yi Yefeng would reapply it afterward. Xueya had given up resisting and let him inspect his foot.
He had even learned how to twist his waist to reach his clothes on the nearby stool while Yi Yefeng held his foot.
As Yi Yefeng shifted his gaze from the foot in his hand, he noticed Xueya’s slender waist. Since Xueya had just woken up, he was only wearing his inner garments, which were usually loose, but the waist-twisting movement accentuated his slim figure.
Unaware of this, Xueya grabbed his clothes, shook them out, and began to put them on. Halfway through, he frowned, unhappy that Yi Yefeng still had his foot. “Haven’t you finished checking?”
Without a word, Yi Yefeng released his foot and left the room. Xueya, happy that he wouldn’t have to eat another meat pie, was surprised when they reached the street and Yi Yefeng headed straight to the meat pie stall again. Before Xueya could stop him, the vendor had already started frying the pie.
When the pie, as big as his face, was handed over once again, Yi Yefeng seemed to remember his earlier promise. Seeing Xueya’s displeased and resentful expression, he thought for a moment before handing his pouch of coins to Xueya. “Go buy something else. I’ll take this one.”
“Forget it. We still need to save for a horse,” Xueya said, not taking the pouch. He lowered his head and took a bite of the meat pie.
Since Xueya spent every day sitting in the break room, munching on his oversized meat pie, someone eventually struck up a conversation out of curiosity. “Why do you eat that every day? Don’t you get sick of it?”
Xueya remembered what Yi Yefeng had told him, so he didn’t respond and simply turned slightly to continue gnawing on his meat pie. After eating meat pies for four days straight, he was particularly slow with it today.
Seeing that Xueya was ignoring him, the man moved closer and squatted in front of him. “You eat this every day, it must be really good, huh? Let me have a bite.”
Hearing this, Xueya quickly hid the meat pie behind his back and stared at the man warily. He was already so poor, and now someone wanted to steal his food. The thought alone made him furious, and in his anger, he forgot that Yi Yefeng had told him not to talk to others.
“No way! If you want one, buy it yourself.”
The man grinned when he heard Xueya talk. “I don’t have any money. All my money is going to that big fool who does all the work. That guy you come with every morning—what’s he to you? You don’t seem like brothers, so why do you never work, and he works every day? Is he supporting you?”
His tone was rude, and the way he leaned in closer to Xueya made him even more uncomfortable. Scared, Xueya quickly stood up and tried to run, but the man blocked his way.
“Where are you rushing off to? We’re just talking… hey, why are you blowing a whistle?”
Not long after the whistle sounded, Yi Yefeng strode in, still carrying goods on both shoulders, and threw them to the ground as soon as he entered. The man talking to Xueya looked panicked for a moment when he saw Yi Yefeng, but quickly recovered and smiled. “I was just getting some water, chatting with him a bit, nothing else.”
Yi Yefeng ignored the man and asked Xueya, “Did he bully you?”
Xueya hesitated for a moment but then shook his head, preferring to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Seeing Xueya’s response, Yi Yefeng stepped aside from the door. As the man left, he muttered one last thing with a smirk, “You’re really protective, aren’t you? I don’t even guard my wife that closely.”
He let out a crude laugh, making his lewd intent clear.
Yi Yefeng immediately grabbed the man’s shoulder and twisted him around. “What did you just say?”
With his immense strength, Yi Yefeng’s simple movement made the man’s face turn pale. Wincing in pain, the man yelped, pleading for Yi Yefeng to let him go. The noise drew the attention of the other workers, who gathered around, each with their own reactions. Feeling embarrassed in front of the crowd, the man’s mouth only became filthier.
“Ow, I was just speaking the truth! What’s your problem? Aren’t you two sworn brothers? What’s wrong with people saying so? Everyone at the dock already knows! It’s been the talk for days!”
As the man’s words echoed, a few people in the crowd began laughing, loud enough for both Yi Yefeng and Xueya to hear them whispering.
“Li San, you’re too blunt! Saying it outright like that doesn’t give them any face!”
Another person chimed in, “Are they really sworn brothers?”
“You can’t tell? Look at the younger one, even though he’s a bit pale, his features are prettier than those of Miss Peony at the Spring House! And that waist—didn’t you see how it sways when he walks? Slim waist, small hips—hey!”
Before the man could finish his sentence, he was knocked flat on his back.
Yi Yefeng picked up a cup. “Who’s next?”
The man on the ground had blood all over his face, and no one else dared to gossip anymore. The crowd scattered like frightened animals.
The man Yi Yefeng was still holding, Li San, had seen enough to know Yi Yefeng was not to be trifled with. His face turned ashen, and he quickly smiled apologetically. “Brother, I was just talking nonsense earlier. I was wrong. Let me apologize, okay?” He turned to Xueya. “I’ll apologize to you too. Can you ask him to let me go?”
Xueya had initially planned to let it go, but after being slandered like that, he couldn’t hold back anymore. He immediately complained, “He called you a big fool, and… and he tried to steal my meat pie!”
As soon as Xueya finished speaking, Li San let out a scream.
Yi Yefeng had dislocated his arm.
After that, Yi Yefeng was fired for fighting.
Standing in the middle of the street, Xueya looked around helplessly, then down at the half-eaten meat pie in his hand, his face full of worry. “Do you think this pie will still be good to eat tomorrow?”
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