Chapter 531: Once You’ve Tasted the Marrow, Remember Moderation

After sitting a while longer at the old residence, Zhu Ping’an finally rose and took Li Shu home. Along the way, they encountered quite a number of villagers who had heard that Zhu Ping’an had brought his new bride to the ancestral home and had deliberately come out to watch the excitement.

Villagers always loved a spectacle. The more people gathered, the livelier it became—and the livelier it became, the more people it drew.

Zhu Ping’an greeted them all along the road, calling out respectfully—“Uncle,” “Auntie,” “Elder Sister-in-law”—his tone warm and familiar. Every time he addressed someone, that person would puff up with pride, basking in reflected glory, and immediately turn to boast to those nearby, as though Zhu Ping’an’s greeting alone had elevated their status. Many of them would go home so pleased that they could eat an extra two bowls of rice at lunch.

Li Shu followed beside him, her demeanor gentle and reserved. With a shy smile, she also greeted the elders politely. At the same time, she did not forget to instruct the maids behind her to distribute sweets and melon seeds to the children who had trailed after the adults to watch the commotion.

“See that? That’s how a person of status should behave—not like his uncle, who became a mere tongsheng and forgot who he was!”

“And what about that eldest son of Old Wang’s family in the east of the village? Just because he became a steward in town, he acts like he’s all that—rides back in a carriage and doesn’t even get down, nose in the air, ignoring everyone!”

“Ping’an has good fortune—his new bride is truly beautiful. Even her maids look delicate and refined.”

“You little brat, stop stuffing your face and learn from Young Master Zhu! Don’t stand there like a block of wood all day—learn to greet people properly!”

As they watched, the villagers chatted endlessly—offering praise, making comparisons, or seizing the opportunity to lecture their children. By the time Zhu Ping’an and his group returned home, clusters of villagers still lingered, laughing and talking. Their topic had already drifted from the newlyweds to village gossip, rice planting, and all manner of daily concerns. It was the calm before the busy farming season, and everyone was savoring it.

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When they reached the gate, Li Shu dismissed the accompanying maids to the new residence and instead followed Zhu Ping’an into the house across from it.

“You’re back! Come in and rest a bit—the tea’s ready inside. Zhi’er, don’t forget to pour tea for Shu’er.”

Madam Chen was busy in the courtyard, but the moment she saw them enter, her face lit up with joy. She warmly ushered them inside while reminding her son to attend properly to his wife.

“Thank you, Mother,” Li Shu replied sweetly.

“No need for thanks—we’re all family now,” Madam Chen said with a smile, waving her hand dismissively. Then she turned sharply to Zhu Ping’an. “Why are you still standing there? Go pour tea for Shu’er!”

Watching the interaction between mother and daughter-in-law, Zhu Ping’an couldn’t help but feel like an outsider—or worse, like a child picked up off the street.

Under his mother’s watchful urging, he went inside and poured three cups of tea. He handed one to his mother, one to Li Shu, and kept one for himself.

“Mother, why are you drying so many mushrooms and wild fungi again?” Zhu Ping’an asked curiously after giving her the tea, noticing the large spread of mushrooms laid out in the courtyard.

“Tomorrow, you and Shu’er will return to her family home,” Madam Chen explained after taking a sip. “I’m preparing some things for you to bring. Her family lacks nothing, but these mountain goods are fresh and uncommon—take them along so your in-laws can have a taste.”

Return to her family…

Zhu Ping’an paused slightly, only now remembering. The return visit was an essential wedding custom: on the third day after marriage, the newlyweds would go together to the bride’s parents’ home to pay their respects.

“By evening, these mushrooms should be fully dried,” Madam Chen continued, turning them over and inspecting them with practiced hands. “I’ll pack them up for you to take tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Li Shu said sweetly again, already stepping forward to help turn the mushrooms, her movements attentive and considerate.

“Where’s Father and the others?” Zhu Ping’an asked as he joined in, noticing their absence.

“Your father took your elder brother and his wife into the mountains,” Madam Chen replied. “There’s plenty of wild produce this season. If they gather some today, it’ll still be fresh when you take it tomorrow.”

It seemed the family took this return visit very seriously—his father had even gone into the mountains himself.

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Zhu Ping’an couldn’t help but feel a flicker of longing. This was the perfect season—honeysuckle would soon bloom, and the rabbits and pheasants in the mountains would be plump. A trip into the hills now would surely yield a rich harvest.

After finishing the drying work, Zhu Ping’an chatted with his mother and, somewhat awkwardly, brought up the matter of her entering their bedroom early that morning—before he and Li Shu had even risen.

Ahem… part of it was guilt.

He had no intention, for now, of consummating the marriage. They were still young; he preferred to wait until he was more physically mature. Once might pass unnoticed, but if it happened again, his mother might start to suspect something.

And Madam Chen, eager for a grandchild, would never understand any modern reasoning. She would likely scold him—or worse, push them together more forcefully.

On the other hand, there was also the matter of privacy.

Of course, when he mentioned it, he did so tactfully, framing it from that angle.

“Privacy? You’re talking to me about privacy?” Madam Chen shot him a look, her tone sharp and domineering. “Then why weren’t you born wearing trousers?”

…Alright. You win.

Zhu Ping’an rubbed his forehead and retreated in defeat.

“Pfft—”

Li Shu couldn’t hold back her laughter, covering her mouth with her delicate hand as she giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Look at you—so useless,” Madam Chen snorted. “This morning was part of the custom. A mother brings egg noodles to the newlyweds before they wake—it’s for blessings of early children. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother going in. And don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

Her gaze lingered meaningfully on him, half teasing, half admonishing.

“Young people get carried away—it’s understandable. But you should still know moderation.”

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What… what does she think I’m thinking?

Zhu Ping’an froze for a moment, then quickly understood her implication.

She thought he was worried about being interrupted… that he was eager for marital intimacy.

Mother, you’ve misunderstood far too much!

His face flushed instantly.

Li Shu, perceptive as she was, understood as well. Her cheeks reddened, and she lowered her head so much it seemed she might bury it in the ground.

To Madam Chen, however, this only confirmed her suspicions. And truthfully, she didn’t mind at all. Young people, after all, were bound to be curious and passionate at first—it would settle in time.

And besides… the sooner, the better.

As the thought of holding a grandchild crossed her mind, a pleased smile slowly spread across her face.

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