The Pei Family’s Husband

Chang Xia arrived at the Pei household as a child bride. He had enough to eat and warm clothes to wear, and, most importantly, he was to learn how to look after his five-year-old “husband.” Five-year-old Pei Yao had stopped wearing split-crotch pants. He raised his double-chinned face and sized up Chang Xia, who was just a little taller than him, then pouted in displeasure. He couldn’t make heads or tails of words like “husband” or “child bride.” He just wanted to play. Chang Xia couldn’t keep Pei Yao in line. Though three years older, Pei Yao seemed to have the strength of an ox. He ran and jumped everywhere, and Chang Xia couldn’t even grab hold of him. When he got so frustrated that he cried, he could only go home in tears and tell his father. His father beat Pei Yao, and from then on Pei Yao took a dislike to Chang Xia. Chang Xia was slow-witted and tongue-tied. He knew Pei Yao didn’t like him, but the Pei family had bought him, so this was his home now. Besides looking after Pei Yao as his child bridegroom, he had to work hard and tend the fields and vegetable garden. All he wanted was good weather and a good harvest year after year. Pei Yao was a clever little rascal who had always liked pretty people and things. He sweetly called everyone big brother, big sister, little brother, or little sister, and he himself was chubby, fair-skinned, and adorable. By thirteen or fourteen, he had shot up, with long legs and arms, and become a handsome young man. Chang Xia kept his head down and worked. After so many years, his hands had inevitably grown a little rough. He wasn’t very clever or good-looking, either, and Pei Yao still didn’t like him. The Pei family’s father saw all this. Fate couldn’t be forced, and now that the family had saved up some money, perhaps they should each find a spouse of their own, before they ended up hating each other. He had just started discreetly asking around about a match when he happened to hear Pei Yao coaxing Chang Xia into kissing him. His vision went black. Note: 1. Historical setting. Pei Yao is sixteen and Chang Xia is nineteen when they kiss. 2. Pregnancy and childbirth. 3. Slice-of-life farming story with a slow-burn romance. 4. The protagonists aren’t perfect. Other completed farming stories of the same type: My Sweet Little Husband My Husband Is a Jinx A little extra clarification: [Child brides were a harmful custom that really existed in history. You can learn about their actual circumstances through documentaries and books. This novel is set in a fictional world, and the protagonists happen to end up with a decent, ordinary family. Such a lucky outcome was extremely rare in real life, so please don’t equate this story with reality.] 1. We firmly oppose human trafficking in any form in real life. 2. Child marriage was a harmful feudal custom that genuinely existed. We firmly oppose and reject it in real life. 3. Stories about parents selling their children have appeared in many works of fiction and period dramas set in ancient times. 4. The Pei family did not buy anyone from traffickers or contribute to the criminal trafficking network. 5. Human trafficking was also illegal in ancient times. This is mentioned in Chapter Five. 6. This novel is simply inspired by an ancient setting, and tells the story of a pair of boys’ innocent romance and joy. 7. Read if you like it, and drop it if you don’t. I hope everyone finds a story they love. Let’s not argue. I’m truly grateful. Theme: There is always hope in life.