Chapter 2926: One Lifetime 04

The terrain was complex, and they didn't flee far.

Jin Chen had a place to stay outside the city, an abandoned woodcutter's hut he had discovered when he occasionally came here to chop firewood.

The hut leaked wind from all sides, but it could keep out the rain and allow a fire to be lit.

Jin Chen helped Chenshu inside, had him sit down, then started a fire; the firewood had been prepared beforehand, and the tinder caught with just a blow.

Chenshu leaned against the wall, watching his back in the firelight; he had already grown much taller than him.

Jin Chen brought over a bowl of congee, not knowing where he had gotten it from, with a few grains of coarse salt floating on top, and said, "Eat."

Chenshu took the congee and slowly ate a mouthful.

Outside, the wind picked up; Jin Chen stuffed the door crack with a torn cloth, added a few more sticks of firewood to the stove, returned to Chenshu's side, and sat down.

The two sat very close, leaning on each other for warmth, just as they had when they had nothing before.

Chenshu said Jin Chen shouldn't have come; hearing this, Jin Chen felt a bit annoyed and retorted, "Are you tired?"

Chenshu stared for a moment, "What?"

"Are you tired." Jin Chen said, "These past years, you've been holding up on your own, and you never told me."

"Your parents died early, your clan rejected you, you copied books, repaired houses, saved money, you took me in, yet I never asked if you were tired."

The fire in the stove warmed this place nicely.

Jin Chen grasped Chenshu's hand, which was also warm, and said, "You can be tired."

Chenshu slowly lowered his gaze, looked at their intertwined hands, bowed his head, and buried his face in that palm for a long, long time.

Jin Chen gently stroked Chenshu's head, just as he used to do.

——

Those few days, Jin Chen took very good care of Chenshu.

Every day he went out to find food, came back to cook, dug wild vegetables nearby, fished in the river, and went to distant villages to trade for rice and salt.

He repaired the hut over and over, sealing every drafty gap, and laid a thick, soft bed of dry grass.

Imitating how Chenshu had once cared for him, he brought hot water to the bedside, blew on the congee to warm it before handing it over, and occasionally checked Chenshu's forehead temperature at night.

But Jin Chen was really clumsy at it.

Sometimes the congee would scorch, the fish would fall apart when boiled, and the wild vegetables would sometimes be too tough to chew.

But he never got discouraged; if it scorched, he re-cooked it; if it fell apart, he re-stewed it; if it was too old, he just chewed and swallowed it himself.

Chenshu watched his busy figure going in and out, and sometimes wondered, "Is this the same child who used to curl up in the firewood pile, unable to speak?"

He now knew how to do many things, and could bear everything.

After a few more days, Chenshu came down with a fever, a weak reaction from days of exhaustion and mental strain.

Jin Chen felt that Chenshu's forehead was hot, and without a word got up, went outside to fetch water, placed a wet cloth on Chenshu's forehead, changing it over and over, and periodically checked his temperature.

In his dazed state, Chenshu saw Jin Chen sitting by the bedside, head lowered, not knowing what he was thinking, but he was far more composed than before, with sharpness in his brow; only his eyes remained the same, always fixed on him, continually gazing at him.

"Jin Chen." Chenshu's voice hoarse, he called out softly with a cough.

Jin Chen lifted his head, his eyes filled with red bloodshot lines, and reached out his hand.

Chenshu gripped his wrist, "I'm fine."

"Come up and sleep, the bed is wide enough, come up."

Jin Chen thought for a moment, nodded, and lay down beside him still fully clothed.

The two lay side by side, gazing at the pitch-black beams overhead.

"Jin Chen."

"Mm."

"Have you ever thought about what to do in the future?"

"None." Jin Chen's answer was blunt and utterly justified.

Chenshu turned his head to look at him.

Jin Chen also turned his head, met his eyes, and pondered for a moment.

"From now on, it's just you." Jin Chen said, "Wherever you are, I will be there."

In the darkness, Chenshu slowly reached out and grasped Jin Chen's hand, closed his eyes, and slept very deeply.

For many days, it was the first time.

Before the pursuers arrived, it was a document, submitted after an old imperial historian's memorial, that cleared Chenshu's name.

Jin Chen still managed to save Chenshu; this was the first time he had altered what had seemed an unavoidable deadly situation for Chenshu.

——

Several more years passed.

Life grew increasingly stable; Jin Chen's carpentry skills improved steadily, and several households in the southern part of the city hired him to make furniture.

Chenshu continued to teach at the school, copying books in his spare time, and occasionally helped others write letters.

That little courtyard they tended became quite respectable; the old locust tree's branches shaded half the yard, in summer thick shade covered the ground, and in autumn the leaves turned golden yellow.

The year Jin Chen came of age, Chenshu personally bound his hair for him.

The wooden comb was made by Jin Chen himself, using scrap pieces he brought back from the carpenter's shop, which he had polished for a long time.

In the bronze mirror, that face had completely shed the youthful immaturity of his boyhood; his brows and eyes were exquisitely formed, and the neighbors all agreed to call him a handsome young man.

After that, the number of people coming to propose marriage suddenly increased.

At first, they were speaking to Chenshu about it.

Chenshu was nearing thirty, and in this city he was already considered an old bachelor; the neighbors were enthusiastic, one said the daughter of the Li family to the west of the city was gentle, another said the maiden of the Wang family to the north of the city was virtuous, and yet another said the young lady from a certain household in a neighboring county was well-read and reasonable.

Chenshu politely declined them all, his refusals courteous and proper, leaving no fault to find and giving no room for further persuasion.

Later, those seeking marriage began to turn to Jin Chen instead.

Jin Chen is in his twenties, outstanding in looks—those young nobles can't compare to his handsomeness; his carpentry skills are famous far and wide, he's down-to-earth and hardworking; such a person is naturally sought after.

When the matchmaker came calling, Jin Chen was planing wood in the courtyard; the matchmaker stood at the gate, smiling with wrinkles, saying there was a good family in East City, the daughter had a good disposition, was skilled at needlework, and could cook a fine dish.

Jin Chen didn't even look up, planing the wood with vigor, he decided to make something for Chenshu as a birthday gift—'No.'

The matchmaker blinked, then smiled and urged, 'You have to meet to know if you want to—I've seen that girl, she really…'

'No meeting.'

Matchmaker: '……'

She left, annoyed.

Later a few more came; Jin Chen refused to see them all, and after being asked repeatedly he just said one word: 'No.'

That day, another matchmaker came calling.

This time she came to see Chenshu, and upon entering she praised Chenshu's good fortune.

'Mr. Chenshu, your young man Jin Chen is really promising.'

'The young lady from Assistant Magistrate Zhao's household in East City is truly from a respectable family, she's also well-formed, just came of age this year—many have sought her in vain. People have heard that Jin Chen is of good character and handsome looks, so they asked me to inquire.'

Chenshu stood under the corridor, his expression indifferent; his brows and eyes were naturally cool, making people dare not speak further.

'This matter probably ought to be asked of his own wishes.'

'Of course, of course.' The matchmaker nodded repeatedly, 'But for such a matter, the elders should decide—you're the head of the household; if you nod, could he still refuse?'

Chenshu: '……'

'Mr. Chenshu, if I may add, a man like Jin Chen can't go through life…'

'No need.' Chenshu cut her off, making people dare not continue, 'Thank you for making the trip.'

The matchmaker's smile froze for a moment, 'Then… you should at least let him meet her? If you don't even meet, how can you know if they're suitable?'

'Such a thing can't be left to chance; as his older brother, you ought to plan for him…'

'No meeting.'

A deeper, colder voice came from the gate.

'Why aren't you home yet?' Jin Chen approached, his gaze fixed only on Chenshu.

The matchmaker immediately put on a smile and went up to him, 'Young man of the Jin Family, we were just talking about you! The young lady from Assistant Magistrate Zhao's household in East City…'

'No.'

Jin Chen walked past her, not even glancing at her.

He went straight to the corridor, stood before Chenshu, and urged again, 'The meal is ready.'