Ch 55: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband (2024)

The next morning, Jing Li opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was the bright red bed curtains he had hung up himself the day before.

His entire body ached as if it had been taken apart and put back together wrong. He struggled to reach out and grab the corner of the bed curtain.

“Don’t move.” Qin Zhao caught his hand and gently pressed him back onto the bed. “What are you doing? Does your head hurt?”

Of course, it hurts.

Not only did his head hurt, but his waist and backside hurt as well.

Qin Zhao understood what he meant and chuckled. “If you’re mad, you can blame me, but why take it out on the curtain?”

Jing Li glared at him, pulling his hand back angrily, and let out a huff before turning over—

A sharp pain shot through his lower back, causing him to freeze in place.

“I told you not to move.” Qin Zhao sighed and placed his hand on Jing Li’s back, pressing down gently on his lower back. “Does it hurt here?”

Jing Li buried his face in the blanket, refusing to respond.

Qin Zhao always found new ways to push his limits. Using Doctor Xue’s advice about not overexerting himself as an excuse, he insisted on making Jing Li do all the work.

At first, it wasn’t too bad—embarrassing, yes, but manageable once he got the hang of it.

Besides, Jing Li had assumed that after being sick for so long and without any release for quite some time, Qin Zhao wouldn’t last long. But to his surprise…

It turned out that someone as exceptional as Qin Zhao was exceptional in every way.

By the end, Jing Li was so exhausted he could barely move, his lower back aching so much he couldn’t even lift it. He didn’t feel any relief and had to endure Qin Zhao’s constant coaxing in his ear.

The experience was, to put it mildly, indescribable.

“Ow—!” Jing Li yelped when Qin Zhao pressed a particularly sore spot.

Qin Zhao instinctively loosened his grip, and Jing Li quickly rolled to the other side of the bed, clutching the blanket and eyeing him warily.

“I was just trying to massage it to help you recover faster,” Qin Zhao explained.

“No, thanks,” Jing Li said, his eyes watery as he clung to the blanket. “I’m fine just like this…”

“As you wish.” Qin Zhao straightened up, his tone calm. “But for someone who works every day, your lower back strength is pretty weak. You should practice more.”

Jing Li: “Cough, cough, cough—!”

Who wants to practice that!?

Qin Zhao couldn’t help but laugh and asked, “Lunch is ready. Do you want to eat at the table, or would you prefer to eat here in bed?”

“Bring it over. I’ll eat here,” Jing Li demanded. “And you feed me.”

Qin Zhao knew he had pushed Jing Li too far the previous night, so he complied with his every request. After carefully feeding his little fish and reading a few pages from a storybook to soothe him, Qin Zhao finally picked up the wooden basin in the corner of the room.

“I’m going to do the laundry. You rest a bit longer,” Qin Zhao said.

Jing Li, with half his face buried in the blanket, nodded silently, not daring to look at the basin that held the tattered, crimson bed sheets they had ruined together.

Qin Zhao glanced at the young man on the bed one last time, shook his head with a smile, and carried the basin out the door.

He didn’t know what kind of person he had been in the past, but over the years, in order to prevent his illness from worsening, he had learned to control his emotions, becoming more and more composed.

He wasn’t supposed to lose control like he did last night.

But he just couldn’t help it.

How did he deserve to meet this little guy, who was not only so beautiful but also so obedient, so sincere, and pure in his affection for him, treating him so well?

How could anyone resist the urge to make him their own?

The bamboo courtyard wasn’t far from the place where they did laundry, and at this time of day, there were few people by the stream. Qin Zhao set down the wooden basin and bent over, catching a glimpse of his reflection in the water.

He didn’t know how old he was, but his face didn’t look like that of someone just in their early twenties. There were no fine lines on his face, but the toll of years of illness was evident in the weariness etched between his brows, showing the hardships he had endured.

No matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t compare to the youthful, fresh faces of younger men.

Qin Zhao scooped up some water to wash his face, staring at the reflection of his face in the water, and suddenly, he smiled.

He had never cared about his appearance before, but after last night, he found himself worrying about it for the first time.

How strange.

A few days ago, Qin Zhao had silently laughed at Jing Li for always clinging to him, but now he realized that he was just as bad, if not worse.

He felt as though he had truly turned into a newlywed boy, unable to keep his impatience in check, constantly wanting to be near Jing Li.

“…No way!” Jing Li had exclaimed for what seemed like the hundredth time, just as things were on the brink of escalating again. “Doctor Xue said you shouldn’t do it too often. Don’t you want to get better?”

Qin Zhao had Jing Li trapped between the chair and his body, their eyes locking in a silent exchange.

“But it’s been three days since the last time,” Qin Zhao murmured, planting soft kisses on the corner of Jing Li’s lips.

“Even so… no…”

Jing Li couldn’t handle Qin Zhao speaking to him in that tone, holding on by a thread of rationality. “We agreed on four or five times a month…”

Qin Zhao paused, then whispered, “But don’t you think I’ve been getting better faster than before?”

Jing Li hesitated.

It was true—Qin Zhao’s complexion had improved significantly.

Could doing that really have such benefits?

“I’ve been wondering if there’s something in your body that counters the effects of the poison,” Qin Zhao said. “Think about when you first turned into a human and saved me from the mountains, and then when I officially changed the medicine.”

The day Jing Li saved Qin Zhao from the mountains, he hadn’t taken any medication, yet the poison hadn’t flared up the next day.

And on the day the medicine was changed, it was Jing Li’s presence that helped him stabilize.

Jing Li’s voice lost some of its firmness. “But… but you don’t have any proof…”

“So we can test it,” Qin Zhao gently kissed him, coaxing him. “Little fish, just help me.”

Jing Li had never been particularly resolute in this matter.

While it was certainly exhausting, he had to admit that it felt incredibly good. Being with someone you loved in such an intimate way was the most pleasurable thing in the world.

His already wavering resolve was easily swayed by Qin Zhao’s words, and the grip Jing Li had on Qin Zhao’s sleeve gradually loosened. He allowed Qin Zhao to kiss him, feeling the gentle request to open up more…

“—Qin Zhao, are you home?!” A sudden knock on the door interrupted them, freezing them both in place.

Jing Li opened his eyes, meeting Qin Zhao’s gaze, and they both wore the same expression of exasperation.

The voice belonged to Chen Yanan.

Such interruptions had become quite common in recent days.

Qin Zhao had gained considerable fame after his performance at the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering. Soon, people learned his name and where he lived. Since then, there had been a steady stream of visitors—people wanting to befriend him, sending invitations to gatherings, and even those coming to request that he become their teacher.

In the village, few people could read or write, so outsiders seeking to meet Qin Zhao often approached Chen Yanan for an introduction. As a result, even the little chubby boy’s reputation had risen significantly.

“Ignore him.”

Qin Zhao made a move to continue what he was doing, but outside, Chen Yanan spoke again, “Qin Zhao, I know you’re pretending not to be home. Open the door; this time, it’s important!”

Qin Zhao: “…”

This little chubby boy just wouldn’t give up.

Qin Zhao’s fingers tightened on the back of the chair, knuckles turning white as he suppressed his irritation. “I swear, one of these days, I’m going to make a ‘No Visitors’ sign and hang it on the door.”

Jing Li, who had been just as annoyed, couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Qin Zhao’s frustration. “Alright, I’ll help you make it.”

Qin Zhao’s mood lifted a bit, and he leaned down to kiss Jing Li. “You go inside first, I’ll see what they want.”

Jing Li nodded. “Okay.”

Qin Zhao straightened his disheveled clothes and went to open the courtyard gate. Outside stood Chen Yanan and the village chief.

When the door opened, Chen Yanan turned to the village chief with a smug expression. “See? I told you he was just pretending not to be home. Who closes the door in broad daylight…”

Qin Zhao, with an expressionless face, retorted, “You might have forgotten that my husband is on very good terms with Ah Yi…”

Chen Yanan’s expression froze, and he quickly backed down. “Brother!! Big brother Qin, I was wrong!! Please don’t let sister-in-law speak ill of me!!!”

Qin Zhao ignored his groveling and led the two inside.

Despite his irritation at being interrupted, he couldn’t neglect the proper courtesies to these two, who had always been kind to him and Jing Li.

Jing Li stayed in the bedroom, not coming out, while Qin Zhao served tea to his guests before asking, “To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Village Chief?”

The village chief spoke with a serious tone. “I’m here today to make a request.”

Since Qin Zhao had repaired the dike, many farmers wanted to send their children to school to learn how to read and write. However, children usually start school at the age of four or five, beginning with elementary education to open their minds, before they can pass the teacher’s exam to enter a formal school.

As autumn had already set in, and with the weather getting colder, parents were reluctant to send their young children to walk for one or two hours through the mountains to reach the town for schooling.

As a result, many farmers had recently suggested to the village chief that a basic school be established in the village.

In fact, many villages had their own elementary schools, but in Linxi Village, few people had been willing to send their children to learn to read in the past. Additionally, the village chief was getting on in years and couldn’t teach regularly.

This was why Linxi Village hadn’t yet established its own elementary school.

After hearing the village chief’s proposal, Qin Zhao quickly grasped the underlying intent. “You want me to be in charge of the elementary school?”

The village chief nodded. “Yes.”

Qin Zhao shook his head. “But I don’t have any academic titles; I’m afraid I’m not qualified for such a role.”

The village chief chuckled, “Your reputation has already spread to the county town, and you still think you need titles? The imperial exams happen every year, and countless people earn their titles, but not one of them could match that line of poetry. Besides, teaching in an elementary school is just basic literacy. I heard from Yanan that you’ve been teaching your husband to read, and now he can recognize characters, right?”

“Well…”

Qin Zhao hesitated. Jing Li’s situation was different from that of ordinary children who hadn’t yet begun their studies, but he didn’t want to elaborate on that.

Seeing his hesitation, the village chief continued to persuade him, “I’ve thought it through. If you agree, I’ll start organizing the villagers to raise funds for building the school right next to your courtyard. It’ll be convenient for you to manage.”

“I know you’re planning to take the entrance exams next year. We can take turns teaching, so it won’t take up too much of your time.”

“And as for finances, teaching a few children daily will earn you a stipend. Isn’t that better than copying books for the bookstore? Of course, if you don’t want money, you could trade your services for help with farming or other essentials. I’m sure the villagers wouldn’t refuse.”

Qin Zhao’s eyes flickered.

This arrangement would solve the problem that had been troubling him.

His health still didn’t allow for heavy labor, and he couldn’t bear to keep sending Jing Li out to do the work. If someone could take on those tasks, it would be ideal.

With that in mind, Qin Zhao no longer delayed his response. “I’ll follow the village chief’s plan.”

With Qin Zhao’s agreement, the village chief and Chen Yanan left in high spirits. Qin Zhao closed the door and returned to the bedroom.

His little fish was sitting obediently on the bed, waiting for him.

Jing Li’s clothes were still a bit disheveled, with his collar slightly open, revealing a sliver of pale skin. From there, one could see faint red marks trailing down his chest.

“My husband is going to be a schoolteacher,” Jing Li said with a tilt of his head, clearly pleased with the village chief’s decision.

Although the stipends from elementary education weren’t as high as those from formal academies, they provided a steady income, which was indeed better than copying books.

And with the school being built next to their home, it would save them a lot of effort.

This way, they wouldn’t have to worry about income during the exams next year.

Qin Zhao didn’t reply immediately.

He walked over to Jing Li and gently touched the corner of his reddened lips with his fingertip. “It’s just an elementary school, still far from being a proper teacher.”

“But you’re still a teacher,” Jing Li said, his eyes brightening. “Can I attend the school and be your first student?”

Qin Zhao smiled and leaned down, gently pressing Jing Li back into the bed, covering his lips with soft kisses. “That depends on how you plan to bribe me.”

Jing Li made a muffled sound, his protests swallowed by Qin Zhao’s lips, and soon, he forgot what he was trying to say under Qin Zhao’s persistent advances.

Just then, there was another knock at the door.

Qin Zhao: “…”

What kind of day is this? When will it end!?

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Ch 55: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband (2024)

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