How could someone be unhappy living in a matriarchal society?

Chapter 10: Entering the City

Chu Ci ignored their business, packed her things, and hurried home.

She had promised Shi An that she wouldn't come home too late anymore, and she should keep that promise.

When she returned, Shi An had almost finished embroidering a woman's outer garment.

Upon seeing the person through the window, he put down his needlework and went out to greet them.

"My lady, you're back."

"Well, how was it? You got back early today, didn't you?"

Shi An smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's very early, it's just getting dark. I'll go make dinner now."

"Wait a minute," Chu Ci said, taking some red berries out of his pocket and handing them over.

"This is a hawthorn. If you don't have much of an appetite in the future, eat one. It should help."

The man carefully accepted it, feeling touched. "Thank you, my wife."

Unexpectedly, Chu Ci kept in mind the casual remark he made that morning.

He really felt...very happy.

So that evening, I specially made braised pork and cured meat for Chu Ci.

The woman's lips always look shiny after eating, which makes her seem to be in a good mood.

After the meal, Shi An obediently cleared away the dishes and went to wash them.

The Chu Ci (Songs of Chu) describes cutting up wild boar meat, smoking some and pickling the rest.

I plan to make meat congee with the tenderest pork tenderloin left tomorrow.

After finishing tidying up, Chu Ci rested for a while and then went to the back mountain to cut down trees.

She also wanted to build a shed for the firewood piled outside.

It rains most often in May and June in Sanyuan Village.

She needs to hurry.

Fortunately, the awning is simple, unlike the bed which is more complicated.

By the moonlight, Chu Ci worked for a long time and had already completed half of the project.

Shi An even brought her water once along the way.

After being praised by Chu Ci, he left with his ears turning red.

Before going to bed, Chu Ci felt sticky on her body, so she went to the kitchen to boil water and wiped her body thoroughly with a towel.

But she was a little dissatisfied, "It's really inconvenient to take a bath without a wooden tub."

I wonder how Shi'an has been taking a bath these past few days.

After thinking for a while, the woman decided to go to the county town tomorrow to buy a wooden bucket and also stock up on some soapberries.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter; I can't go without taking a shower.

The next morning, Chu Ci got up to fetch water and cook.

They also prepared hot water for Shi An to wash up.

After finishing her housework, she began practicing her knife skills in the yard.

Her daily routine of swinging the knife 3,000 times, combined with strength training, has made her increasingly strong and capable.

After waking up, Shi An washed up as usual.

After I had tidied myself up, I opened the window.

The woman in the courtyard wielded her sword with the grace of a dragon, displaying exceptional skill.

Even from this distance, Shi An could hear the whistling sound of the blade cutting through the air.

This terrified him.

This was the first time he had ever so directly sensed the danger emanating from Chu Ci.

It was so dangerous that he didn't even dare to step out of the door.

Only after Chu Ci sheathed her sword, calmed her breathing, and began meditating did the man dare to go out to the kitchen.

He poured a bowl of warm water, placed it in front of Chu Ci, and gestured for her to drink it.

Chu Ci didn't stand on ceremony with him and finished the water in two gulps. She then looked up and gave the man a bright smile.

"Thank you."

Faced with the woman's radiant smile, Shi An stammered again, "No, you're welcome."

He took the empty bowl into the kitchen, composed himself, and then ladled out two bowls of the warm meat porridge from the pot.

Chu Ci sat down at the table and waited for his meal.

She turned to look at her husband's busy figure and suddenly felt that having another person by her side was quite nice.

I used to roam the world alone, only caring about myself.

I've never experienced being taken care of before.

In this new world, she is quite fortunate, with everything done for her.

Chu Ci drank two large bowls of porridge in the morning and then continued working on the tasks he hadn't finished the night before.

By the time the awning was finished, it was almost noon.

Shi An stayed in her bedroom sewing clothes, occasionally glancing through the window at Chu Ci, who was working outside.

Chu Ci would usually go up the mountain at this time, but she didn't today.

Having someone at home versus having no one at home really feels like two different things.

Shi An clearly preferred the former.

Chu Ci set up the awning, and after confirming that there were no problems, moved the exposed firewood inside.

Before long, she smelled the aroma of food.

Chu Ci went to the kitchen and found Shi An cooking.

The man's hands were beautiful, with long, slender fingers, distinct knuckles, and fair skin.

The porcelain-white wrists and the black iron pot formed a stark contrast. Chu Ci stared blankly at the man's glistening knuckles, and stood behind him for a long time without saying a word.

After the vegetables were cooked, Shi An scooped them onto a plate and was about to take it when Chu Ci intercepted him.

"It's hot, let me do it."

Shi An was startled when he saw the woman who suddenly appeared.

I wondered why this person walked so silently.

At noon, thanks to the presence of Chu Ci (Songs of Chu), the meal was very plentiful.

Almost every dish contained meat.

Halfway through the meal, Shi An finally couldn't help but ask, "My lady, aren't you going hunting today?"

"No, I plan to take you into town this afternoon to buy some daily necessities."

"Let's go to the city!" Shi An exclaimed excitedly. He had been staying at home for a while and was indeed getting a bit bored.

Chu Ci hummed in agreement. "I sold the deer I hunted. We'll go to town this afternoon, and you can pick whatever you like."

Shi An was very expectant. "Yes, my lady."

After dinner, the two went to their respective rooms for a short nap.

When the sun was no longer so strong, Chu Ci called Shi An, and together they set off for the county town.

Sanyuan Village is not far from the county seat, but the man was already weak, and Shi An was already a little tired after walking about a third of the way.

Upon seeing this, Chu Ci immediately squatted down, "I'll carry you on my back."

Shi An tried to sound tough, saying, "No need, I can still walk."

“Your face is all pale, how can you walk? I’ll carry you, get on.”

The man was a little embarrassed. "My lady, you'll get tired."

Chu Ci laughed directly, "You're only a few pounds, come on up."

She carried a deer and dragged a pig for so many miles yesterday without any problems, so a mere hour of peace is easy for her.

The man carefully leaned onto Chu Ci's shoulder, and the pleasant scent of soapberry instantly enveloped him, making him blush immediately.

To be honest, this was the first time he had been so close to Chu Ci, and he felt quite shy.

The woman walked her path steadily, one step at a time, with very few bumps along the way.

Gradually, Shi An calmed down and slowly rested her head on Chu Ci's back.

Finally, he even dozed off for a while with his eyes half-closed.

It feels so reassuring, like being in my father's arms when I was a child.

Before long, the two arrived in town. Chu Ci gently put the man down and let him walk on his own.

Shi An followed obediently behind Chu Ci, her eyes fixed on the shops along the roadside.

The shops on both sides of the street are lined up one after another, with all kinds of signs that are dazzling to the eye.

Shi An was very excited the whole way, looking at this and that, finding everything new and interesting.

Chu Ci, worried that Shi An would get tired, first took him to the west entrance of the county, rented an oxcart, and also bought wooden buckets and vegetables.

After buying the necessities, Chu Ci asked the oxcart owner to wait for her at the entrance of the county town, and then drove Shi An around town in her own car.

The two first went to a jewelry store, where many beautiful bracelets were displayed at the entrance.

Chu Ci looked at Shi An and asked, "Is there anything you like?"

Shi An shook her head sensibly, "Let's buy grain instead, I don't need it."

He'll be leaving sooner or later, so we can't let Chu Ci spend money on him.

Thinking about this, Shi An felt a little down.

After spending these past few days together, he realized that Chu Ci was a wonderful woman, and the thought of leaving her alone made him feel a little sour and swollen.

Chu Ci knew that Shi An wanted to save money, but she didn't want to.

She picked out a light blue one from the pile of bracelets and put it on Shi An's wrist.

The man's wrist was very slender and fair, and the pendant looked very good on him, making his skin appear as white as snow.

Chu Ci nodded in satisfaction, "Very good."

Seeing that she liked it, the shop owner took a light blue bracelet from the stall and handed it to her.

"My lady, you can buy a pair. It's very fashionable now for women and men to wear the same piece of jewelry, symbolizing that the two will always be together. What do you think...?"

Chu Ci thought what she said made sense, so he bought two skewers with a wave of his hand.

She is one, and Shi An is one.

Chu Ci's hands were also very white, with long, slender fingers, and wearing them would be equally beautiful.

She stretched out her wrist to Shi An, placing it next to his, and said with a smile, "Look, we're the same."

The man blushed upon hearing this and whispered, "My wife looks better wearing it than I do."

Chu Ci was taken aback. "It looks better on you. Do you like it?"

“Hmm…” Shi An nodded obediently, a hint of sadness appearing in her eyes.

He liked it, but when he thought about the meaning behind it, he felt a little sad.