Chapter 477: Chapter 477: The Way of a Married Couple
"It’s sweeter than honey, so you should have some more." Gu Jiaojiao thought her husband was joking, so she fed him one slice after another.
He ate with relish, not even flinching, but every time he opened his mouth, he would deliberately lick her fingers.
Gu Jiaojiao was certain the orange in her hand was very sour. She could still feel the astringent tartness spreading across the tip of her tongue.
She’d never eaten an orange this sour in her previous life. Seeing that she had fed him the whole orange, she asked, "Should I peel another one for you?"
"Let me do it," Su Shuochi said, picking an orange that was a bit more yellow. He peeled it and tasted a slice.
It was surprisingly sour, so much so that his brows furrowed and he couldn’t stop clicking his tongue. "So sour. I was trying to peel a sweet one for you."
At his words, Gu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but laugh. ’Are there even any sweet oranges in this era?’ she thought.
This was her first time eating an orange since she’d arrived here, so she wasn’t sure if any of them were sweet.
Su Shuochi laughed sheepishly along with her. "Hehe, honey, don’t laugh at me. The one I peeled is really sour. You try it."
With that, Su Shuochi brought a slice of orange to Gu Jiaojiao’s lips. "Jiaojiao, have a taste. See if it’s exceptionally sour."
It was only fair to reciprocate, so Gu Jiaojiao had no choice but to open her mouth and accept it. "Mm, this orange doesn’t seem as sour as the last one."
Su Shuochi froze. "How can that be? I thought it was much more sour than the one you peeled."
"It’s true." Gu Jiaojiao blinked, unable to believe it herself. So, she bit into the orange slice that was resting on the tip of her tongue.
Juice burst out, and a fragrant sweetness filled her mouth. Sure enough, it wasn’t that sour and even had a hint of sweetness.
Gu Jiaojiao sighed in satisfaction. "Mmm, I wonder if oranges are sweeter when someone else peels them for you?"
Su Shuochi was delighted to hear that. "Honey, if you like it, I’ll feed you."
Although he had never heard other women around call their husbands "hubby," he loved it when his wife called him that. It sent a thrill through him.
Gu Jiaojiao ate several more slices in a row. Then she picked another orange from the fruit bowl and peeled it. "Honey, you have some too."
"Mm, oranges fed to me by my wife are always sweet. The juice bursts out when I bite into it, and the fresh fragrance goes straight to my heart."
His words tempted her, so she also picked up a slice, placed it on her tongue, and bit down. "Oh god, it’s so sour! Horribly sour!"
She opened her mouth, about to spit it out, but Su Shuochi saw this and immediately covered her mouth with his, taking the horribly sour slice of orange from her.
He even swept away all the sourness from her mouth. ’Talk about a delicacy,’ he thought, ’this one is both sour and sweet.’
’His wife’s lips were cool and delectable, exquisite as jade, making him want to linger forever...’
Just as the couple was lost in a sweet, inseparable kiss, the phone in their living room rang.
"Who has such rotten timing to call right now?" Su Shuochi complained, irritated.
He scooped his wife into his arms and walked over to the phone. "Honey, you rest for a bit. I’ll get it."
"Hello, this is Su Shuochi. Who am I speaking with?"
The Si Family Master gripped the receiver, hearing a bone-chillingly cold voice from the other end of the line.
"This is the eldest son of the Si Family. May I ask when the Divine Doctor will have time to visit us?"
"Is there a problem with Elder Si’s health?" Su Shuochi’s voice grew a little calmer.
"No, my father’s condition is stable. It’s just that my mother is very worried, so I called to ask the Divine Doctor."
When Su Shuochi heard that the man was calling simply because he was worried, interrupting his time with his wife, his voice became tinged with anger again.
"Didn’t my wife say she would go over on the weekend? The acupuncture treatments need to be spaced out. She will be there at ten o’clock on Saturday morning, on time."
"Okay, thank you, Comrade Su." The Si Family Master was excited despite being rebuffed.
Because he had gotten a precise time for the Divine Doctor’s visit.
At the Si Family residence, the large family had just finished dinner. Afterward, Grandma Si asked her eldest son, "You said you managed to invite Divine Doctor Su Gu to treat your father?"
"Yes, Mom, please don’t worry. The Divine Doctor said Dad will make a full recovery soon," the Si Family Master said respectfully.
"That’s good. Your father and I have been married for over fifty years. I only hope that I can pass away before he does."
"My dear, I’m a tough old bird. We made a promise that we would enter the afterlife together, and I won’t break my word."
"I know you won’t. Come on, let’s take our after-dinner walk. ’A walk after a meal keeps you hale till ninety-nine.’"
"Alright," Old Sir Si said with a chuckle, taking her hand as they went for a walk in the courtyard.
The younger generation of the Si Family watched the backs of their parents (and grandparents), filled with incredible envy.
Old Sir Si and Grandma Si were childhood sweethearts who grew up as innocent playmates and had even been abroad together in their youth.
He looked at the old woman beside him, dressed in a luxurious, well-tailored qipao made of soft, smooth silk.
It rested against her wrinkled skin, from which wafted the scent of perfume and soap.
Having grown up coddled and privileged, she naturally possessed a fine beauty and an elegant demeanor.
The confidence and refinement from her wealthy upbringing made her stand out from the crowd; she had always been self-assured.
She was like a dazzling sunflower, gentle and elegant, like an oil painting he had seen while abroad.
In her youth, the soft lines of her body and her gentle, serene manner of speaking reminded him of clustered blossoms in spring and plum blossoms defying the harsh winter cold.
Love always has a beautiful beginning, and the start of their marriage was already far more fortunate than that of others.
A rich material foundation and ample intellectual refinement shrouded the beginning of their story in a dreamlike mist.
Outsiders could only gaze at that haze from afar, sighing that they were truly a perfect match—a gifted scholar and a beautiful lady from families of equal standing.
Old Sir Si recalled the several times he had danced on the edge of death, only to survive by clinging to their vow.
What he feared most was leaving her behind to meet King Yan first. Given the old woman’s temperament, she would refuse to see him for lifetimes to come.
"My dear, you can rest assured. Divine Doctor Su Gu said my heart condition will be completely cured. I will be with you until we’re ninety-nine."
"My love, it has been the honor of my life to marry you," Grandma Si said with deep affection.
So many women were jealous and envious of her, but only she knew of the joys and sorrows hidden behind this honor.
She helped him manage the Si Family and raise their children, and every time he was wounded on the battlefield, her heart would tremble with fear.
Their long separations during the war were like those of any lovers—absence made the heart grow fonder, and their reunions were all the more cherished.
Now he was retired, and the old couple was together day and night. Their affection had only grown, but his health was deteriorating day by day.
People always say that even pots and pans will clang against each other, so it’s only natural for people living together to have friction and disputes.
But this couple never seemed to clash. If the old man’s heart condition could be cured, then Grandma Si’s life would be even more complete.
"Dad, Mom, I just got off the phone with the Divine Doctor! She said she’ll come to our house at ten o’clock the day after tomorrow!" the Si Family Master shouted, running into the courtyard after hanging up.
