Wheat Seedlings - Chapter 17

The moment he held the marriage certificate in his hands, Chen Li's long-suspended heart finally settled into place.

The two brothers sat together on the bus seat. Mai Miao held the marriage certificate, reading word by word: "Name, Chen Mai Miao... Gender...

Mai Miao actually knew quite a few characters—his mother had taught him slowly using a small dictionary, one character per day.

Their mother's ancestors had been scholars. Even after the family fell into poverty, all the children in the household had received some education and could read.

"Gender... mi..." Mai Miao stumbled at the gender section, unable to recognize those characters.

Chen Li taught him: "Omega."

Mai Miao frowned, not understanding: "Wr-written wrong!"

How could this be? They even got the gender wrong.

Don't underestimate Mai Miao—he knew this certificate was very important. How could they make such a mistake here?

But there was nothing Mai Miao could do. He continued reading: "Chen... Chen..."

"Chen Li."

Chen Li took his palm and used his finger to trace each stroke of the characters in Mai Miao's hand.

This teaching method was also learned from their mother.

Both brothers had been taught to read by their mother.

Mai Miao's palm twitched slightly from the tickling sensation.

Seeing that Mai Miao refused to continue reading, Chen Li took over and read aloud clearly in one breath.

"Chen Mai Miao, gender Omega, age nineteen."

"Chen Li, gender Alpha, age thirty-four."

"Voluntarily entering into marriage. After review, complies with the relevant provisions of the Special Populations Marriage Law of China. This certificate is hereby issued."

Chen Li, having served in the military, read with clear enunciation and cadence, his chest puffed out.

Apart from the two brothers, there were only two or three other people on the bus.

The other passengers glanced at them a few times before awkwardly turning away.

Chen Li carefully folded the marriage certificate and solemnly placed it in Mai Miao's hands: "Comrade Miaomiao must take good care of this certificate."

With a serious expression, Mai Miao accepted it and carefully tucked it into his satchel, placing it together with his pinwheel.

They got off the bus before reaching their stop.

Chen Li took Mai Miao into a photo studio.

Chen Li helped Mai Miao comb his hair. Mai Miao picked up a green military cap and had just curiously put it on when Chen Li took it off and placed it back on the dressing table.

Chen Li hastily smoothed his bangs with spit. At the photographer's urging, he pulled Mai Miao to sit on the chair in the middle of the set. Mai Miao had never had his photo taken in a studio before. Instinctively, he leaned closer to Chen Li.

The photographer looked up and pointed: "Sit apart for a while, don't stick together."

But Chen Li reached out and firmly grasped Mai Miao's hand. Without any concern for others' gazes, he glanced down at Mai Miao and smiled at the photographer: "We'll take it like this, master."

After the photo was taken, the photographer asked: "Color or black and white?"

"Color," Chen Li answered without hesitation, paying the fee and arranging to collect the photos the next day.

***

The next day, Chen Li first went to the train station to buy tickets back to the county town.

After purchasing the tickets, he took Mai Miao to the market.

The market they went to specialized in export goods, with many imported items of good quality.

Chen Li bought a flannel quilt for winter, two pairs of jeans for Mai Miao, and also brought back gifts for their neighbors in the compound and Chief Li.

He had a rough idea of how things were in the village back in the early days. It was only thanks to every household in the compound saving a portion of their food that his family's Mai Miao didn't starve.

Chen Li had always been grateful for that.

The two of them carried their bags back to the hotel, then went to the bathroom to shower and clean up before getting into bed. They left a bedside lamp on. The moment they climbed into bed, they wrapped their arms around each other and started kissing. Chen Li nuzzled Mai Miao's neck, tugged down his collar, and licked the mark beneath the nape of his neck.

"That tickles..." Mai Miao squirmed. He was more bashful now, easily flustered by Chen Li.

Chen Li took his time sniffing carefully, making sure his scent hadn't faded.

Maybe it was because of the mark—his mate's scent had blended with his own man's. It wasn't that it wasn't as fragrant as before, just that the scents had merged.

From now on, though others could still catch a whiff, they'd all know his mate was taken.

A man who could leave such a strong scent on his mate was definitely not someone to mess with. Anyone thinking of trying anything would have to weigh their own abilities first.

Besides, this was a society governed by law now. Crime came at a high cost, and no one dared disrupt social order lightly.

Ever since being marked, Mai Miao felt enveloped by Chen Li's scent wherever he went. His nose could no longer pick up anyone else.

Chen Li was the same. He had long since imprinted on Mai Miao's scent, taking his time before finally leaving this mark. From now on, as a man, he was bound to this one mate for life.

They had to catch an early train the next morning, so Chen Li knew to keep things in check. He only slid his hand into Mai Miao's underwear, stroking his tender little bud.

After parting from Chen Li's lips, Mai Miao lifted his eyes to look at his man.

Chen Li lowered his voice. "Want me to lick it for you?"

Mai Miao's neck flushed red. He nodded. "...Yeah."

Chen Li started kissing from Mai Miao's chest, working his way down slowly. When he reached his lower abdomen, he yanked down his underwear, letting his stiff little cock push free from the fabric.

He took the whole length into his mouth and sucked hard.

Mai Miao trembled from the sensation, biting his own fingers as his entire body went weak.

Chen Li swallowed every drop of Mai Miao's release, then lifted the spent shaft. The little bud beneath it had darkened slightly, still swollen from recent overuse.

Their newlywed life had been too intense these past few days. Even though they were still in the "honeymoon" phase, no matter how strong their foundation, they had to exercise some restraint —otherwise, how would they manage in the long run?

Luckily, Chen Li wasn't new to holding back. He helped Mai Miao pull his pants back up, then held him close as he turned off the bedside lamp.

Early the next morning, Chen Li went alone to the photo studio to pick up their developed pictures before returning to the hotel. Then, he and Mai Miao gathered their things and took a bus to the train station.

Having ridden the train once before, Mai Miao was no longer easily startled.

In just a few days, he seemed to have matured a little. He actively helped Chen Li tidy the bedding, and when he saw his man sweating from lifting luggage for others, he secretly felt reluctant and distressed.

As the train pulled away, Mai Miao gazed out the window, humming softly as if reluctant to leave.

It was a revolutionary song he'd picked up in dance class. After just a few listens, he'd already memorized it.

"In the future... let's move to the city too, okay?" Chen Li ventured cautiously.

Mai Miao furrowed his brows and thought for a long time, but still couldn't come up with an answer.

Chen Li ruffled his hair and didn't say anything more.

They had taken a train for a full day and night, arriving at the county town, and stayed at the same inn they had lodged in before.

Chen Li went downstairs to fetch a basin of hot water and brought it back to the room.

The two wiped themselves down, and as they did, they ended up kissing again.

Chen Li pulled out his rod, letting Mai Miao sit on top of him, slowly pushing into him below. It had only been two or three days apart, yet it seemed like both of them had missed each other terribly. In the dim little room, they fumbled stealthily, clinging to each other, panting heavily as they moved together.

People occasionally passed by in the hallway outside, and Mai Miao, afraid of being heard, didn't dare be too unrestrained.

Chen Li slipped his fingers into Mai Miao's mouth, letting him bite down.

The two of them, as if sneaking around, found an extra thrill in it. They stayed intimate well into the night, unwilling to part.

Later, Chen Li found a bus heading back to the village.

The two delayed another day before finally packing their luggage and boarding the bus home.

The journey was still scorching hot, and Chen Li fanned Mai Miao to keep him cool.

Only when they could see the wheat fields on either side did Mai Miao perk up again. Excited, he leaned his head out the window, letting the evening breeze brush against his face.

The two brothers returned to the compound after dark, and everyone came out wrapped in their coats to greet them.

Chen Li handed out the things he'd brought back from the city, distributing them among the group.

Only Mai Miao was still preoccupied with the chickens and dogs they had raised at home. He ran to the backyard, spotting the old yellow dog, and happily hugged it—only to pause in confusion as he looked down.

After being away for so many days, how had the dog gotten even fatter?

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