Wheat Seedlings - Chapter 4

The moment Mai Miao stirred, Chen Li woke up.

Having carried a gun for over a decade, he had only known a few days of peace, so his nights were naturally restless.

He was enveloped by the rich fragrance of wheat—the same scent he remembered from his childhood, running through the fields.

It was Mai Miao.

Chen Li relaxed.

Tonight, no moonlight seeped in, leaving the room pitch black.

With Chen Li around, Mai Miao wasn't afraid of the dark anymore. He moved furtively, making small rustling noises like a mouse burrowing through a hole.

Chen Li stayed silent, curious to see what his little mouse was up to.

Mai Miao was naive.

He didn't mingle with the village men, and no girls would come near him.

After his mother died, no one had seen his body—except his brother.

Ever since Mai Miao had caught sight of the thick, fleshy rod between his brother's legs during the day, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. When he relieved himself, he even glanced at his own—it wasn't the same.

Chen Li's was long and red, swollen like a thick club.

He had seen Chen Li stroking it, gripping it so hard the veins on his forehead bulged. Thinking back on it now, it was kind of terrifying.

Mai Miao didn't want anything else —he just wanted to give his brother a hand.

Mai Miao reached out, then pulled back, inching closer and hesitating for a long while as usual.

Chen Li grew sleepier, nearly unable to wait any longer for his little brother's mischief.

Then, suddenly—a hand, as if guided by ghosts, slipped into Chen Li's loose pants.

Mai Miao touched a man's most vital part so easily. In the darkness, he couldn't see a thing, but he could feel how hot Chen Li's flesh was, nestled in thick, curly hair.

It was heavy—too much for one hand to grasp.

Mai Miao swallowed hard, wanting to explore further.

Then—a sudden, overwhelming force.

“...!”

Mai Miao was pinned beneath the man.

Chen Li seized Mai Miao's wrist with one hand, pressing it against his chest.

In the dark, Mai Miao could feel the gaze from above—burning like twin flames.

He could hear the man's ragged breathing, the air exhaled onto his face scalding hot. Mai Miao felt inexplicably afraid.

But he didn't get the beating he expected.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Li flipped over, threw aside the mosquito net, slipped on his shoes, and stormed out.

Mai Miao sat up, his face still full of unease.

Chen Li was gone for nearly half an hour. When he returned, his body carried the chill of damp night air.

The light flicked on.

Mai Miao was still curled up on the bed, hugging the pillow Chen Li had slept on probably afraid of the dark alone.

His eyes were watery, staring innocently at the man who had just walked in.

Chen Li looked disheveled, his eyes bloodshot.

He was bare-chested, having changed into a fresh pair of pants.

His gaze was dark, unfathomable as he looked at Mai Miao.

Mai Miao instinctively clutched the pillow tighter, shrinking back in fear.

He was still naive he didn't understand anything.

Chen Li exhaled sharply. No point.

He climbed back into bed and asked Mai Miao, "Where'd you see that?"

Chen Li didn't suspect Mai Miao had been watching him. He thought it must've been someone else in the crowded, chaotic compound.

Within these walls, if any household was up to something, even slightly louder movements would be heard by everyone.

Mai Miao didn't answer. He just shook his head slightly.

Chen Li knew his little brother's stubbornness.

Don't underestimate Mai Miao—he was a tough nut to crack, his lips sealed tight unless he wanted to speak.

Chen Li felt he needed to teach his younger brother a lesson, to make him understand what men were truly like.

He looked at the slender boy shrinking in the corner of the bed.

Mai Miao was delicate, with a small, pointed face. Prettier and more delicate than any girl.

Pursing his lips, his misty eyes looked up at his elder brother as if he'd suffered some great injustice for no reason. And so, Chen Li's words changed.

"Mai Miao," he said sternly, "from now on, no more touching, understand?"

Mai Miao looked at his elder brother and hesitantly asked, "Then tomorrow, can I touch Brother Quan's..."

Brother Quan was the third son of Aunt Liu's family.

Before Mai Miao could finish asking "Can I—," Chen Li raised his eyes.

Mai Miao trembled, holding his breath.

Chen Li stared at Mai Miao, his gaze darker than when he first entered the room.

"Chen Mai Miao." Chen Li's face darkened as he warned, "You watch yourself."

He snatched the straw pillow from Mai Miao's arms and gave it two hard punches—"thud, thud!"

The blows were shockingly forceful, stuffing bursting from the pillow.

Chen Li was usually amiable with neighbors and villagers, but this fierce demeanor made him seem like a different person.

"If you dare touch anyone else," Chen Li glanced at Mai Miao, seeing his face had indeed turned pale with fear, not daring to make a sound.

Gritting his teeth, he changed his words: "...I'll spank your bottom!"

Chen Li threw the torn pillow aside, stood up, and turned off the light.

In the darkness, Mai Miao pouted, shrinking into the corner as he turned his back to lie down.

Soon after, Chen Li heard Mai Miao sniffing.

Chen Li had been a soldier. Men like him, who had blood on their hands, had the hardest hearts.

His face remained stern as he stayed silent.

Mai Miao curled up, occasionally lifting his elbow to wipe his eyes.

Before long, Chen Li surrendered first.

He reached out an arm and pulled Mai Miao close.

Mai Miao couldn't even push him away, simply being dragged into Chen Li's chest.

Chen Li remained silent, while Mai Miao quietly sobbed until he grew drowsy. Resting his head on Chen Li's arm, he soon fell into a deep sleep.

Chen Li gazed at Mai Miao in the darkness.

That slender, pale neck was completely exposed, emitting a faint, alluring fragrance as if tempting someone to bite it.

Bite down hard.

Chen Li tightened his arms and kissed Mai Miao's head.

Tears still streaked Mai Miao's face as he whimpered softly in his sleep.

Chen Li gently wiped away the tear stains.

Then, bending down again, he kissed that soft, fair cheek.

That night, Chen Li's mind was preoccupied.

Once the wheat harvest was done, he'd clear the land behind the house and build a better one. He'd move out with Mai Miao to keep his brother from learning things he shouldn't.

He quietly looked at Mai Miao sleeping soundly in his arms. Then he thought—perhaps it was time to find himself a wife.

***

The moment Chen Li showed the slightest interest, families with daughters from all over the region began scheming.

Who was Chen Li, after all?

A man with military honors. Even if he never worked another day in his life, he'd still receive government rations.

Chen Li never spoke of his own achievements, so people went to the commune and government offices to inquire. The more they learned, the more they realized the Chen family's man might actually be someone extraordinary.

The gossip outside didn't affect Mai Miao's life.

Ever since Chen Li's terrifying warning, he hadn't dared to think about sticks or anything of the sort.

Moreover, Chen Li kept an increasingly watchful eye on Mai Miao, as if afraid someone might snatch his younger brother away. Every day, he only allowed Mai Miao to move about under his supervision—feeding the chickens or occasionally helping to dry the wheat in the sun. One afternoon, Chen Li returned early to the courtyard.

The gate was left open, and Chief Li from the village had arrived with a matchmaker.

The matchmaker, Wang Jinmei, knew every eligible girl in the village by heart.

At Chief Li's request, she had come specifically to discuss marriage prospects with Chen Li.

"Comrade Chen, speak freely—describe what you're looking for," Chief Li said. Unlike the other villagers, he knew Chen Li's background well and treated him with extra courtesy.

Wang Jinmei also took out a pen and notebook, clearly prepared. "Just tell me what you want, and I'll help you find the right match. I guarantee nothing less than the best."

Chen Li cooperated, answering whatever they asked.

But even as he sat on the stool, his eyes kept drifting outside.

Beyond the door, Mai Miao was playing with a stray dog.

It was an old black dog—whether it had an owner or had escaped someone's cooking pot was unclear and it limped on one leg.

Mai Miao broke pieces of steamed bread and scattered them like chicken feed, feeding the stray.

Chen Li couldn't help but watch, worried the dog might be rabid and bite Mai Miao.

"I don't have any special requirements. Someone who can live simply is enough," Chen Li answered absentmindedly. He craned his neck and called out, "Mai Miao!"

Mai Miao had just been about to reach out and pat the dog's head when Chen Li's voice stopped him.

Wang Jinmei sighed in exasperation. "All the girls in my book are good catches. Who doesn't marry for a stable life? What else is there?" She pursed her lips. "Be more specific so I can see if there's a suitable match."

Chen Li grew impatient and listed a few basic preferences. Given his circumstances, he didn't demand a lavish dowry, but he suddenly added, "But you must make it clear to the girl—I have a younger brother who needs close watching."

Just then, a loud noise startled the stray dog, sending it running off.

Mai Miao let out an "Ah!" and chased after it.

"Mai Miao!" Seeing his brother about to dash out of the courtyard, Chen Li forgot about his guests, slipped on his shoes, and hurried after him.

Chief Li and the matchmaker were left behind in the house.

Chief Li puffed on his tobacco pipe, unfazed. "His real brother."

T/N: LOL, did they thought of another kind of lil bro?

From then on, an old watchdog took up residence outside the Chen family's shed.

Now, in addition to feeding the chickens, Mai Miao had the added responsibility of walking the dog, making his days even busier. Chen Li, too, had no time to idle. By day, he dried wheat in the sun and squeezed in moments to meet potential brides.

In those days, matchmaking meant stepping outside, chatting briefly just a few minutes at most.

Within a month, Chen Li had met three women, one of whom was even a school teacher.

Yet, despite their qualities, none of them worked out.

The men in the wheat fields began asking him just what kind of celestial beauty did he expect to step into the Chen family ancestral hall?

Chen Li tied up bundles of sun-dried wheat. Normally, such a large bundle required two people to secure it properly, but he gripped the rope with both hands, exerting no visible effort.

Under the sun, he worked shirtless, his muscles making him look strong and capable. Sweat soaked his pants, leaving little to the imagination.

When Aunt Liu's eldest son walked over carrying wheat, he teased him, "Brother Chen, we're good buddies, so let me be blunt—don't you have any needs?"

Chen Li's hands paused for a moment before he lowered his head and continued working.

Aunt Liu's son went on, "You must be something else in bed. What do they call it pleasure to the point of death." He was already in his twenties and still hadn't found a wife. "That young mistress from the Zhang family comes to the fields every day just to catch a glimpse of you."

He gestured with his eyes, and Chen Li glanced in that direction.

It was the Zhang family's daughter-in-law, who had recently been widowed. Well-maintained, she looked barely twenty.

"She told me to tell you tonight, she's leaving the door open for you." Aunt Liu's son had clearly taken some benefit from her. "Just go and give her a good time. Tonight, I'll keep an eye on Mai Miao for you... Brother Chen, Brother Chen."

Chen Li tossed the bundled wheat at him, rubbed his hands together, and walked off without another word.

He left early today to visit the commune's store.

Chen Li bought a tin of biscuits, some honey, and a box of nutritional supplements all meant to help Mai Miao grow strong.

Besides that, he also bought two popsicles. Clutching them, he returned to the courtyard and, like presenting a treasure, called out for Mai Miao before even stepping inside.

The heat was unbearable.

Mai Miao's eyes lit up at the sight of the popsicles, his joy written all over his face.

The popsicles had already started melting. Mai Miao fumbled to unwrap one, quickly taking a big bite—only to gasp from the cold.

The two brothers sat together outside the courtyard.

Chen Li unwrapped his popsicle but didn't eat it, instead watching Mai Miao.

Mai Miao focused intently on licking the ice, like a greedy little cat, not wasting a single drop that dripped onto his palm, licking it clean.

In just a few bites, Mai Miao finished his popsicle.

He glanced at Chen Li, already eyeing his brother's treat.

Chen Li had never had much of a sweet tooth since childhood. He extended his hand, offering the popsicle to Mai Miao.

Mai Miao didn't even take it with his hands he just leaned forward and started sucking on it right in front of Chen Li.

Mai Miao sucked at the melting syrup, his cheeks hollowing slightly as he took a few strong pulls before letting go with a satisfied smack of his lips.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the courtyard.

Chen Li's hand jerked, and the popsicle fell to the ground.

"Ah..." Mai Miao looked heartbroken.

Chen Li pulled him up, using his own sleeve to wipe Mai Miao's mouth.

But in his heart, he thought he really shouldn't buy popsicles for Mai Miao anymore.

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