Chapter 89: Restored to Full Strength

After a rapturous night of unbridled passion and repeated lovemaking, Xu Mo slept until midday.

When he awoke, he found himself alone in bed.

"Miaoyi... Miaoyi?"

He called out twice, but no answer came from Chen Miaoyi.

Just as Xu Mo was about to get up and dress, footsteps sounded outside the door.

A moment later, Chen Miaoyi pushed the door open and came in. "Husband, you're awake."

No sooner had she spoken than she saw Xu Mo, stark naked, preparing to climb out of bed.

"Ah!"

Chen Miaoyi was startled, crying out in shock as she turned her back on him at once.

Xu Mo looked at her in confusion. "Wife, why such a big reaction? It's not as though you've never seen me like this."

Last night, when Chen Miaoyi and Xu Mo had been so intimately joined that they became one flesh, she had not been nearly so shy. Yet by daybreak, it was as if she had become a different person entirely.

Chen Miaoyi glanced back at him and said softly, "Husband, it's broad daylight... I... I'm not used to this."

Xu Mo smiled faintly, then said, "All right, then bring my clothes over first."

As he spoke, he pointed to a stool nearby, where his garments had been laid out.

Chen Miaoyi hurriedly shut the door, then lowered her head and walked quickly over, handing the clothes to Xu Mo.

Unexpectedly, Xu Mo did not take them. Instead, he suddenly pulled her into his arms, turned over, and pinned her against the bed.

"Ah!" Chen Miaoyi cried out in surprise.

But the next instant, she clapped a hand over her mouth, alarmed that the sound had come out a little too loud.

"Husband, there are still people outside. Don't fool around yet," she said anxiously.

Xu Mo paused slightly. "People? Who?"

"Fifth Aunt and the others," Chen Miaoyi said. "They're all busy outside the courtyard."

Xu Mo immediately laughed. "I thought you meant someone else! They're so far away. It'll be fine."

"No, no, Husband, let go of me. It's really not possible right now!"

Chen Miaoyi struggled to break free, but Xu Mo refused to release her, and his hands had already begun to wander.

Though Chen Miaoyi had tasted the sweetness of union between man and woman and had long since known its allure, she had not yet reached the point of daring such wantonness in broad daylight.

Seeing Xu Mo grow ever more forceful, she hurriedly said, "Husband, you were exhausted last night. You should rest today, or your body won't be able to take it."

At that very moment, a voice from the front room suddenly rang out.

"Sister-in-law, are you in there? Sister-in-law!"

In that instant, Chen Miaoyi nearly lost her soul from fright.

"Husband, Huiting is here. Please let me up, I'm begging you, Husband!" Her voice had already taken on the edge of tears.

Xu Mo had no choice but to let her go. Shaking his head, he sighed, "What a letdown."

Then Xu Hui's voice called out again from outside.

Panicked, Chen Miaoyi got off the bed and answered loudly, "Huiting, I'm in the room. Wait a moment, I'll be out right away."

After replying, she quickly straightened her clothes and hurried out.

As Xu Mo dressed, he thought to himself that he really ought to build another room. Otherwise, with people coming and going through the house all the time, it was far too inconvenient to do anything at all.

Just after Xu Mo had finished dressing, Chen Miaoyi returned, her face still faintly flushed.

Xu Mo asked, "Why are you back again?"

Chen Miaoyi came up to him and said softly, "Huiting just came to ask me something. She asked and left."

"Oh." Xu Mo gave a brief reply and continued arranging his clothes.

Fearing that Xu Mo might be upset, Chen Miaoyi said quietly, "Husband, don't be angry. Let's wait until night. It's really too... too embarrassing during the day."

Xu Mo smiled and pinched her nose. "You little fool, do I get angry so easily?"

Seeing that he was not angry, Chen Miaoyi finally relaxed. She went to fetch a comb and helped him arrange his hair.

After everything was tidied, Xu Mo washed up and then went to the workshop.

In the soap workshop, everyone worked in good order, with no sign of confusion or disorder, which pleased Xu Mo greatly.

Just then, Xu Tieshu came over.

"Xu Mo, you're here at just the right time. There's something I want to talk to you about," Xu Tieshu said seriously.

"What is it, Uncle?" Xu Mo asked.

Xu Tieshu led Xu Mo outside the workshop and said, "Xu Mo, do you remember that Li Sanshui fellow?"

Xu Mo said, "I remember. He's the one who loafed around and tried to claim wages when we were building the workshop."

Xu Tieshu nodded, then asked, "Xu Mo, I... I want to let Li Sanshui work in our workshop. What do you think?"

Xu Mo was very puzzled. "Uncle, there are so many people in the village. Why do you want Li Sanshui to come work here?"

Xu Tieshu let out a soft sigh and then explained the reason.

It turned out that Li Sanshui had an aunt whose relationship with Xu Tieshu's late wife had been very good. Back when Xu Tieshu's wife's family had fallen into hardship, this aunt had helped them without reservation.

After learning of this connection, Li Sanshui had thickened his face and gone to plead with his aunt, hoping she would speak on his behalf and persuade Xu Tieshu to let him work in the workshop and earn a decent wage.

Xu Tieshu said, "Xu Mo, I should have turned him down outright, but his aunt's family truly helped your aunt's family a great deal in the past, so I couldn't bring myself to refuse him and came to you instead..."

He quickly added, "But don't worry, I didn't presumptuously promise her anything. I just said I'd come ask you first. If you think it's fine, then it's fine... if not, then there's nothing I can do."

Xu Mo thought for a moment and said, "Uncle, a lazy man like Li Sanshui, whose reputation for shirking work is known throughout the whole village, isn't suited to work in the workshop."

Xu Tieshu paused slightly, and a trace of disappointment flashed across his eyes.

Then he nodded firmly and said, "All right! I understand. I'll go tell his aunt right now and make Li Sanshui give up on the idea!"

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Xu Mo called out to stop him. "Uncle, I'm not finished yet."

Xu Tieshu turned back and looked at Xu Mo in some confusion.

Xu Mo said, "Uncle, although Li Sanshui can't work inside the workshop, there's still a job we can give him, and the pay won't be much less than in the workshop."

"What job?" Xu Tieshu asked quickly.

Xu Mo said, "Uncle, if he's willing, he can go with the others to the city to deliver goods. Loading and unloading the carts on the way there and back isn't difficult, and the pay is decent enough. What do you think, Uncle?"

For Xu Mo himself, he certainly would never hire a layabout like Li Sanshui.

But he could not ignore his uncle's standing in the village. After all, the request had come all the way to the uncle, and the other party was a close friend of the late aunt by marriage. So Xu Mo gave Li Sanshui a job delivering goods.

In this way, the uncle's face was preserved, and the soap workshop would not be affected.