The Frail Scholar's Strong Husband

A bout of chills left Fang Anjun in a daze for half a month. He missed the provincial examinations, and his health grew even worse. From then on, he had to drink medicine every few days.

It soon ate away at the family's savings.

When Fang Anjun turned eighteen, the scholar's mother made a decisive move and found him a strapping husband. A hunter, no less!

Fang Anjun looked at the young man, who stood a whole head taller than him. Huh?

Was this really a ge'er?

Fang Anjun turned to his mother, who was grinning from ear to ear. "Mother, he's sturdier than a man."

The scholar's mother clapped her hands. "Sturdy is good! If you marry a delicate ge'er, you'll have to look after him. Besides, Ye doesn't need a bride price. Isn't that great?"

Fang Anjun: "..."

As long as Mother was happy.

Before the wedding

Zhao Tingye kept bringing game to the scholar's house every few days.

Fang Anjun: You don't have to ingratiate yourself with me. You're a ge'er, and once we're married, I'll treat you with respect and care for you. Don't worry, I won't look down on you like the people in the village do.

Zhao Tingye said nothing, just huffing and puffing as he carried things to the scholar's house.

Well, at worst, he and this strapping ge'er could pretend to be a loving couple.

After the wedding

Fang Jun'an: Husband, I'm so delicate.

Fang Jun'an: Husband~ You're so amazing~

With stars in his eyes, Fang Jun'an stared adoringly as Zhao Tingye lifted a gigantic boulder.

Other families had delicate little husbands. In the Fang household, it was the little husband who was delicate and frail.

But with his husband's care, the delicate Fang husband sat for the imperial examinations and, before he knew it, came home as the top scholar.

A little scene

On their wedding night, Zhao Tingye was perfectly at ease. He took off his clothes and was about to pull his husband into bed. The sooner they slept, the sooner they could have a baby.

But after a long while, Fang Jun'an was still sitting motionless on a wooden chair.

Zhao Tingye simply blew out the candle. "It's late. Husband, let's get down to business."

Fang Jun'an: "..."

His husband was so forward.

"Ahem, you go to bed first. I'll join you after I finish my lessons."

Zhao Tingye frowned. "A wedding is a major occasion. You can do your lessons tomorrow."

As he spoke, he firmly pulled Fang Jun'an into bed.

They stared at each other.

After a long moment, Zhao Tingye finally found his voice. "You... can't perform?"

That made sense. If his husband didn't have some private difficulty, why would he have married him? After all, how could a rough ge'er like him become the principal wife of a scholar?

Fang Jun'an was nearly furious enough to faint.

"How could I possibly be unable to?"

Zhao Tingye said nothing, only glancing at him with a level gaze.

Fang Jun'an grew agitated. "The doctor said I only need six months of proper rest. I can't have sex during those six months."

"All right. Let's sleep, husband."

Zhao Tingye pulled the quilt over them both, wrapped his arms around Fang Jun'an, and fell into a deep sleep.

Before drifting off, he thought that if his husband couldn't perform, then so be it. It was enough that the two of them knew. He couldn't upset his husband's delicate pride.

They could always give up on having a baby. Sleeping with his husband in his arms was quite comfortable.

Fang Jun'an, held in his arms: "..."

What was he supposed to do if his husband didn't believe him?

Theme: I love you.