Jinbao Marries a Wife

Xiao Hu Wang Erhu had really suffered that time.

That damn dog hole, with his thin frame and ribs barely covered by skin, had made it extremely difficult for him to move. He was practically wriggling inch by inch with both hands and feet. The hole hadn’t been used in who knows how long; the stench inside had nearly knocked him out a few times. Overcome with frustration, he had lied flat to catch his breath, then struggled to turn around and crawl forward again.

He had mentally given up several times already, but being an honest child who never lied or schemed, he didn’t know how to explain to his eagerly waiting friends outside if he turned back without reaching the end. Moreover, if Dawei had found out he had lied, he would have received a severe beating; Dawei’s fists were heavy, and just thinking about it made him shiver.

So he kept crawling despite the discomfort.

The process felt less like crawling through a dog hole and more like navigating a tunnel with twists and turns. Who had a dog smart enough to dig such a thing? After crawling for what felt like forever, making little progress, he felt trapped in endless darkness, unable to see any light.

He wasn’t usually scared of things—cockroaches and mice were just toys to him, and while other kids cried at tales of mountain demons, he listened with interest. Normally, he would never admit to being scared.

But this never-ending tunnel with no visible end had made him increasingly fearful. He started to think irrationally, fearing he might never find his way back, that even if he turned around, he couldn’t return to where he was. Moving forward seemed impossible, and he might die trapped there forever.

As his fear escalated, Xiao Hu Wang Erhu had started crying and crawling, cursing Dawei’s ancestors. Just when he was on the brink of despair, light had finally appeared ahead. His eyes, unaccustomed to the light, had hesitated for a moment before realizing it was indeed light. Overjoyed, he had hurried towards it.

Taking in the first breath of fresh air, he had been moved to tears, amazed by how beautiful his world could be.

He had remembered Dawei’s words and cautiously poked his head out, looking around.

Wow, was this the General’s Mansion?

Before him was a garden so vast it seemed endless, filled with beautiful flowers he had never seen, in colors so vivid they were dazzling. His eyes could hardly keep up.

Looking further, he had noticed there was no gold on the eaves of the mansion, and the ground wasn’t paved with silver. Disappointed that it didn’t match his imagination, he was still excited to have discovered something others didn’t know about and looked forward to boasting about it.

Seeing no one around, he had grown bolder and forgotten where he was. He crawled around for a while, thinking of finding something to prove he had been there, feeling that if he could bring back something, he would really be able to show off.

Just as he was inching his way out, a shadow had appeared before him. He looked up in shock and saw a pair of exquisitely crafted little shoes with golden threads, and above them, a black skirt with cloud patterns. Further up was a… beautiful child who looked like a little fairy.

The little fairy, hands on hips, had a fierce expression and held a thick black wooden stick. Looking down from above, she had asked, “Who are you?”

Xiao Hu Wang Erhu had been stunned, his mind going blank.

The pretty little fairy, with a frosty face, had raised the stick and, before he could call out, he had felt a sharp pain in his head and blacked out.

Wang Erhu had been drenched in a bucket of cold water and had shivered uncontrollably. As he slowly opened his eyes, he had immediately tried to get up, only to find himself dragged out of the hole, bound tightly with his feet tied to a large rock and his hands bound together, unable to move.

Terrified, he had turned his head and seen the little fairy sitting on a polished rock nearby, holding the stick that had knocked him out.

Screaming in fear, he had begged, “Help, please, mom, Avalokiteshvara—”

“Shut up!!” The little fairy had yelled, striking his head with the stick and threatening, “If you dare make another sound, I’ll feed you to my big wolf.”

Wang Erhu had immediately shut his mouth, slowly lifting his head with tearful eyes to look at the fierce little fairy.

The little fairy, still with her hands on her hips and holding the stick, had commanded, “Sit up.”

Wang Erhu had obediently sat up straight, his fear evident. He had been intimidated not only by the stick but also by a natural fear of those from the General’s Mansion.

“I asked you, who are you, where did you come from, and why did you sneak into my house?”

“I-I-I-I’m Wang Erhu from Wangjia Village. I live in the seventh house from the north and the third house from the east. There’s a big yellow cloth hanging at the door with…”

“Cut the crap!”

Wang Erhu was so frightened he froze up and couldn’t speak. His mother had made him memorize that information countless times, hoping that if he ever got lost, a kind person could help him get back.

The little fairy frowned. “Tell me why you sneaked into my house, who sent you, and are you here to steal something?”

“Huh? Steal… No, no, I’m wronged. I didn’t do it on purpose. They called me here. I didn’t want to come. If I didn’t come, they’d ignore me.”

The little fairy was frustrated and struck the ground with the stick. “Can you speak properly? You’re useless!”

Wang Erhu, with a sad face, pleaded, “Please don’t feed me to the big wolf. I’m not tasty.”

The little fairy pouted and, with a shift in her eyes, said, “Fine, I won’t feed you to the big wolf, but you need to speak properly.”

Wang Erhu nodded vigorously.

“Alright, tell me, who sent you, what are you here for, and be honest.”

Wang Erhu swallowed hard, steadied his nerves, and reluctantly said, “I… I really am from Wangjia Village, not far from here. Dawei said he found something fun, so we came along, and then he made me crawl through that hole. When I crawled out, I ended up here…”

The little fairy’s eyes sparkled like peach blossoms. “You said you came from outside? Does that hole lead to the outside?”

“Yes, I crawled for a long time. I was exhausted.”

The little fairy stared at the hole for a moment and then turned back to him. “You… Wang Erhu, are you really not here to steal something?”

“Really not. My mother said I must never do sneaky things that make people look down on me. I didn’t know I could come in. I’m just here to see what’s inside. I was just opening the way for them,” Wang Erhu said, blinking his shiny eyes earnestly, and added emphatically, “Really!”

The little fairy circled around him and finally frowned. “You’re so dirty and smelly. I’ve already poured two buckets of water on you.”

The little boy sniffed his sleeve and said in confusion, “It doesn’t smell. I took a bath just the day before yesterday. My clothes are dirty from crawling through the hole.” He felt quite aggrieved. His current appearance was indeed quite appalling. His hair was full of mud and grass, his face covered in mud spots, making it nearly impossible to recognize his original features. The dirt and water mixed into a muddy mess, making him look as if he had been pulled out of a pit.

The little fairy looked at him with disdain for a moment and then said, “You should take a bath first.”

Wang Erhu was stunned. “How do I wash?”

The little fairy pulled out a small knife from her tiny boots and, with a swift and clean motion, cut through the ropes binding Wang Erhu’s hands and feet.

He immediately jumped up and backed away behind a rock, watching her from a distance.

The little fairy glared at him. “Come here. I’ll tell you, if you don’t listen, I’ll have my father chop off your head and turn you into minced meat.”

Wang Erhu was terrified, tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn’t understand why someone his age spoke so frighteningly. Even when Dawei was angry, he only threatened to beat him up, but never with such elaborate punishments like feeding him to dogs or turning him into meat.

The boy obediently walked over, though he was still wary. After taking a few steps, the little fairy screamed and stepped back several paces. “Don’t come near me, you’re disgusting. Yes, stay that far away, even further. Now follow me, but don’t make a sound. Move when I say, hide when I say. Be smart, or else someone will find us,” she threatened, making a slashing motion across her throat.

Wang Erhu nodded frantically.

The little fairy led him through several twists and turns, and they didn’t encounter anyone. They arrived at a very large house.

Wang Erhu was amazed by the decorations inside and out. He had never seen such a beautiful garden, such a grand house, and… though a bit frightening, such a beautiful person. It seemed the stories were true; there were indeed people in the General’s residence who looked like deities. Wang Erhu watched from behind, blushing as he admired the fairy’s exquisite face.

Once inside, Wang Erhu was ordered to stand in the corner and not move, which he did obediently.

The little fairy, not satisfied with his position, told him to squat, so Wang Erhu squatted down, hiding behind a table.

The little fairy then called for a servant.

Soon, a large round wooden tub was brought in. The tub was big but not very tall, obviously meant for children.

A maid in pink hesitated and asked, “Should we still have Hongyuan wash you?”

The little fairy impatiently said, “No, I said no. Hurry up and leave.”

The servants quickly left and shut the door behind them.

The little fairy waved at Wang Erhu. “Hurry up and wash yourself clean.”

Wang Erhu was excited by the sight of the large tub. He had never seen such a way of bathing before. At home, he stood in the yard, and his mother would pour water over him with a scoop. He had never seen a bath this luxurious and was thrilled by the idea.

When he heard the little fairy calling him, he rushed out, eager to undress, but suddenly hesitated and looked at her with his collar clutched.

The little fairy scornfully glared at him. “Who wants to see?!” She turned around with a huff.

Wang Erhu, still unsure, mustered up the courage to ask, “Um… are you… a boy or a girl?”

The little fairy slowly turned her head back, her eyes wide with anger. “What? Are you blind? How could you mistake me for a girl? Did the mud block your eyes, or are you naturally this clueless? How could your mother let you out like this without worrying you’d mistake a sow for your father?”

Wang Erhu was stunned by the continuous scolding, unable to retort, and could only stand there blushing red.

The little fairy pointed at the tub. “Get in there! Can’t you see where it is?”

Wang Erhu quickly stripped off his clothes and jumped into the tub, immersing himself in the water, feeling wronged but comforted.

The water was pleasantly warm, and flower petals floated on the surface, adding a lovely fragrance. The tub was large enough for him to lie down and roll around, which was incredibly comfortable.

His previous worries gradually faded, and he was blissfully immersed in the bath, forgetting all his fears. Those outside looked on in amazement, unable to understand how someone could enjoy a bath so much.

Relaxed, Wang Erhu’s mind also relaxed, and he started chatting with the little fairy from the edge of the tub.

“What’s your name?”

The little fairy rolled his eyes and hesitated before answering, “Yue Siming.”

“Oh, that’s a nice name. Who gave it to you?”

“My father…”

“Is your father General Yue?”

Yue Siming nodded.

Wang Erhu gasped in awe, his voice trembling with excitement. “Your father is really General Yue? That’s amazing!”

Yue Siming sneered. “Are you an idiot? It’s not like I chose it.”

Wang Erhu laughed awkwardly. “Well, if I could choose, I’d also want to live in such a big house and bathe like this every day. It’s so comfortable. Don’t you bathe?”

Yue Siming glared at him. “Country bumpkin. What’s so special about it? The water you’ve bathed in would kill flowers. Are you trying to poison me?”

Wang Erhu was choked, a little embarrassed, but fortunately he was thick-skinned and didn’t care, his body fell back and the whole person was buried in the water, the water was warm, more comfortable than when he was swimming in the big river, it was so comfortable.

Yue Siming saw that he was enjoying it, and he didn’t feel good in his heart, and shouted at him domineeringly, “You give me a speed, I’m here to let you clean yourself, not for you to enjoy, quickly rub off the layer of mud on your body, and then come out for me.” ”

Wang Erhu didn’t dare to disobey him, and washed himself from head to toe in the bucket, and washed it with soap.

Yue Siming got him his own clothes again, the two of them were about the same age, and their bodies were about the same, Wang Erhu was wearing it just right, it was the first time he wore such good clothes, and he couldn’t help but be beautiful again.

Yue Siming checked back and forth three times before allowing Wang Erhu to enter his bedroom, and he sat cross-legged on the bed by himself, letting Wang Erhu stand far away on the ground.

Wang Erhu was attracted by the new and interesting valuables around him, and his eyes kept turning with his head from the moment he came in.

Yue Siming was unhappy, “What are you looking at, you dirt bun, have you never seen the world, turn your face to me.” ”

Wang Erhu turned his face to him with a smirk, “Young Master Yue, your home is so beautiful.” ”

Yue Siming was still full of disdain, “I’m tired of watching it every day, I’m tired of it everywhere, and I’m so annoyed.” ”

Wang Erhu asked stupidly, “What are you bothered about?” ”

Yue Siming glared at him, “I told you that you wouldn’t understand, let me ask you, what do you do at home?” ”

Wang Erhu scratched his head, “I play a lot at home, go up to the tree to dig out the bird’s nest and go down to the river to catch fish, we also go to the mountains to pick corn, roast sweet potatoes, and play horseback riding and fighting, and we can have snowball fights in winter.” ”

Yue Siming listened to Wang Erhu talk about things he had never heard before, his eyes lighting up with interest. But then he thought of something and his expression turned gloomy. “If there are so many fun things, why did you come to my house? It’s stuffy and boring here. It’s not fun at all.”

Wang Erhu looked surprised, as if pitying Yue Siming for not realizing his good fortune. “How could it be boring? This house is beautiful and big. The bath tub was huge and way more comfortable than bathing in the river. You must be eating good food every day.”

Yue Siming scowled. “I have to drink three bowls of extremely bitter medicine every day. Do you like that?”

Wang Erhu was shocked. Just thinking about the bitter medicine he had taken when he was sick made him shiver. He shook his head vigorously. “No, it’s awful. Even if I wanted to add sugar, my mom wouldn’t let me. It’s terrible. Why do you have to drink medicine every day?”

Yue Siming pouted. “If I don’t drink the medicine, I’ll die.”

Wang Erhu’s eyes widened in shock. To him, death was a distant and vague concept. He only knew that when someone died, they disappeared and could no longer be seen. But since Yue Siming was about his age, why would he die? So he asked.

Yue Siming, frustrated, scolded him angrily, “Calling you a pig is flattering. I have to drink medicine because I’m sick, and being sick can lead to death. How could there be someone as clueless as you? You’ll probably die from being dumb in the future.”

Wang Erhu felt disheartened and sad. Even though he usually had a tough skin, being repeatedly called dumb was hard to take.

Standing there with his legs going numb, he looked at Yue Siming pleadingly. “Can I sit down? I’m so tired.”

Yue Siming glared at him. “Sit on the ground.”

With no other choice, Wang Erhu sat down on the ground. Since the weather was warm and he was used to sitting in the dirt, it was fine as long as it wasn’t something uncomfortable like a cactus.

Yue Siming, with his hands behind his back, asked, “How old are you?”

Wang Erhu held up five short fingers. “Five years old…” Then he realized something and added one more finger. “Five and a half years old…” He then wondered how to show half a year with his fingers, since he didn’t have a half finger. He pulled his hand back, feeling puzzled, and stared at it with a frown.

Yue Siming was astonished. He had never seen someone so clueless. Although he was often praised as a child prodigy, Wang Erhu was the first peer he had met. He hadn’t realized that other five-year-olds could be so foolish, which made him understand why he was considered a prodigy.

Yue Siming felt a bit disappointed. Why couldn’t he find someone his age who was smarter and more interesting?

With someone so clueless and dirty, he wondered what they could possibly do together.