Chapter 8: You Reap What You Sow

The sun was shining brightly. Ji Yun, dressed in a blue brocade robe, stood at the door with sharp brows and bright eyes, full of youthful vigor, looking up expectantly.

When he saw Bao Ning come out, his face lit up with joy. He hurried over, picked her up, and spun her around.

“Sister, are you doing well?”

Ji Yun was twelve years old but tall, almost the same height as Bao Ning. He examined her face, saw her eyes were red, and his expression darkened, asking, “Did he bully you?”

Bao Ning wrinkled her nose. “No.”

She wasn’t lying, but said it without much confidence, her gaze darting around nervously.

Ji Yun’s eyes were full of anger. Bao Ning feared he might really lose his temper, so she quickly changed the subject. “Why are you here? Did Aunt send you? Did you bring me any good food…”

“Enough!” Ji Yun interrupted.

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Bao Ning hurried to cover his mouth, “What are you saying…”

Ji Yun said, “I’m telling you, what can he do to me? Get up and hit me? My sister is so good—marrying him is a blessing she earned over many lifetimes. But he doesn’t cherish her and lets you suffer like this. I don’t know if he’s blind or just thick-headed. Sis, wait for me a few years. I’ll take you away and make him regret it to his guts!”

Bao Ning knew he was standing up for her and felt both sweet and bitter inside, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry. “Alright, stop talking. Let’s go inside quickly. I’ve made some good food for you.”

“I’m just saying it quietly to vent. Anyway, he can’t hear me, and I’m not causing trouble for you.”

Ji Yun frowned. Then he suddenly remembered he had brought a puppy with him. At first, it was in his arms, but it kept moving, so he put it down—and now it was missing.

Ji Yun hissed softly, bending down to search the ground. “Sis, where’s the dog? It was just here. Did you see it?”

Bao Ning shook her head. “No.”

Ji Yun grew anxious. “Quick, help me look. The puppy is only a month old. If it catches a cold, that would be trouble.”

Bao Ning hurried to help search. They were talking near the courtyard gate, and just outside was a small forest. Ji Yun was about to step out to look, but Bao Ning tugged on his sleeve.

“What’s wrong?” He straightened up and followed Bao Ning’s gaze to meet Pei Yuan’s eyes.

Pei Yuan was leaning against the doorframe with a blank expression. His robe fluttered in the breeze. Nobody knew how long he had been standing there or how much he had overheard.

At his feet, the little puppy was rolling and crawling, pawing at his trouser leg and licking him affectionately, looking utterly ingratiating.

Ji Yun was stunned for a moment but when he saw the puppy’s behavior, his anger flared. He strode forward, picked it up, shoved it into his arms, then shot Pei Yuan a cold glare and snorted before entering the west wing.

Pei Yuan looked at Bao Ning and hoarsely asked, “Your brother?”

It was the first time he had spoken proactively. Bao Ning recalled last night’s events and still felt upset inside, unsure how to face him. She just replied casually with a “Hmm,” lifted her skirt, and ran into the house.

Pei Yuan stared after her until she slammed the door shut, then shifted his gaze back.

She had never been this cold to him before. Somehow, he suddenly thought of the phrase “You reap what you sow.”

Pei Yuan lifted a brow, sneered mockingly, then turned and closed the door.

He didn’t even know why he came out this time — it was almost like madness.

…

The puppy was the one Bao Ning had saved before her wedding. It seemed to still remember her scent and affectionately tried to lick her face.

Bao Ning was tickled by it, holding it gently at its belly and moving it away a little.

The puppy wouldn’t let go and barked cutely twice. Bao Ning mimicked its sounds, melting with affection, quickly pulling it back, kissing its forehead twice, then laying down on the bed holding it, softly biting its ear to play.

While Bao Ning and the puppy were happily playing, Ji Yun couldn’t feel any joy. He paced around the small room, frowning deeply, and said to Bao Ning, “Sis, I’ll take you home. We shouldn’t live here.”

Bao Ning frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Ji Yun said, “I can’t bear to see you suffer like this. When I first came, I saw this courtyard and felt unhappy inside. What kind of place is this? Not even as good as our stable at home. I thought maybe the house inside was better, so I endured it. But now that I see, the inside is worse than outside. There’s not even decent furniture. How can people live like this?”
“Hardships in life are better than pain in the heart,” Bao Ning smiled. “You don’t know how comfortable I’ve been these days. I do whatever I want, no restrictions. Besides, I’m not short of money. What hardships could really bother me? If I’m missing something, I just buy it. Now that you’re here, we’ll go back to the city today, buy lots of food and supplies, and I’ll finally live the good life I dreamed of.”

Ji Yun reached out to pull her. “Then let’s go buy it now.”

Bao Ning said, “No rush. Eat first. I still need to make a list.”

“Where we eat doesn’t matter; it doesn’t have to be at home…” Ji Yun started, then suddenly realized, “Are you trying to leave food for him?”

Bao Ning said, “I can’t just watch him starve.”

Ji Yun angrily said, “Better if he starves to death!”

“That’s nonsense again,” Bao Ning tapped his forehead and told him to sit obediently on the kang while she went to knead dough and cook.

Since the food would get cold easily and Pei Yuan’s leg was bad, it was troublesome to light a fire and heat dishes. Bao Ning fried meatballs—meat, vegetable, and vermicelli ones.

She had thought about not making food for Pei Yuan to spite him, but then thought it was unnecessary. Pei Yuan’s excessive behavior was his own problem. She just needed to do her best, be clear in her conscience, and stop trying to warm someone who was cold toward her, without making things so tense.

Bao Ning worked quickly, soon finished, and told Ji Yun to start eating while she went to deliver a portion to Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan waited for her. When Bao Ning knocked on the door, he immediately looked over.

Bao Ning didn’t look at him, just placed the bowl on the small table nearby, said nothing, and was about to leave.

Pei Yuan felt very uneasy inside. Just a moment ago, he had heard Bao Ning and Ji Yun laughing and talking happily. She had been very joyful then. Now that she saw him, not a single smile remained.

Pei Yuan propped himself up on his arms and sat up. Seeing Bao Ning about to leave, he couldn’t help but call out, “You…”

Bao Ning turned back.

Pei Yuan swallowed hard but didn’t say more, waved his hand, “Never mind.”

Bao Ning nodded and left.

… Pei Yuan leaned back against the wall.
The house had poor sound insulation, so what was said in the west chamber was faintly audible to Pei Yuan. He knew very well that Ji Yun disliked him and held hostility towards him.

He heard Ji Yun say he wanted to take Bao Ning away.
That was the outcome Pei Yuan had longed to see all along, but now that it was really coming to this, he felt as if his heart was stuffed with cotton—heavy and uncomfortable.

Pei Yuan closed his eyes, his mind racing with chaotic thoughts. At one moment he saw Bao Ning smiling at him by the door; at another, he recalled her reddened eyes from yesterday when she was sad. These emotions mixed together, causing his head to ache unbearably.

The basin Bao Ning had just brought in gave off a faint aroma. Suddenly, Pei Yuan thought that this might be the last meal Bao Ning would ever make for him.

She was about to leave, wasn’t she?

Who else would endure his temper over and over like she did? If it had been someone else, they would have left the first time he lost his temper.

She was a young lady from a noble family, with a doting younger brother; she shouldn’t have to suffer with him here. To have her stay with him these three days was already a great kindness. What right did he have to ask for more?

While he was thinking this, the sound of horses neighing came from outside the courtyard. Pei Yuan suddenly looked up.

…

Ji Yun was astride a horse, reaching out his hand to Bao Ning, smiling and saying, “Sister, aren’t you scared? My horse is very gentle, come on up.”

Bao Ning glanced toward Pei Yuan’s room, hesitating whether to say goodbye to him. But then she thought, he wouldn’t care anyway, so why bother?

Ji Yun noticed her thoughts, cracked his whip and snorted coldly, “He deserves to feel this. Let him think you’re gone, see if he regrets it!”

Bao Ning shook her head. She didn’t believe Pei Yuan would regret it—he was so lonely and proud, as if there was nothing in his eyes.

“Let’s go.” Bao Ning grabbed Ji Yun’s hand and climbed up behind him. Ji Yun cracked his whip, the horse reared and neighed, then galloped away.

…

So they really left.

If they want to leave, let them go.

Pei Yuan sat expressionless for a long time, then suddenly got up, fetched two jars of wine from a corner, uncorked one, and took a big gulp.

…

By the time Bao Ning returned, night had already fallen. Ji Yun had sent her back and bought so many things that they had hired a carriage driver to bring the rest at dawn.

She was exhausted and still worried about the little puppy, so after bidding Ji Yun farewell, she hurried back to the west chamber.

When she entered, Bao Ning glanced at Pei Yuan’s window and saw the light was off, assuming he was asleep.

The faint smell of alcohol drifted from Pei Yuan’s room. Bao Ning frowned but thought he might be disinfecting his wound and didn’t dwell on it.
She boiled hot water to wash up, fed the puppy a bit, took off her clothes, and went to sleep.

Half asleep, she suddenly heard a sharp crash from the west chamber—something breaking.

Startled, Bao Ning sat up quickly.

Worried that Pei Yuan might have gotten hurt, she hesitated briefly but decided to check.

She knocked but got no response. The smell of alcohol was even stronger now. Biting her lip, Bao Ning pushed open the door and gasped in shock at what she saw.
Pei Yuan was drunk, slumped by the edge of the kang, his right leg resting on the ground, seemingly asleep.