Chapter 231 The Menarche
"Thank you for the thoughtful gift," He said while pulling out an object from the front part of his clothes and handed it to her, "You should keep it."
Su Jiuyue looked down and saw something in her hand, wrapped neatly in cloth.
She took it over, opened it, and saw the neatly wrapped copper coins inside.
She was startled and looked up to ask Wu Xiyuan, "What is this?"
Wu Xiyuan scratched his head shyly, "This is what I earned from copying books. It was you and my mother who have been supporting me, so I also want to contribute to the family."
Su Jiuyue looked at the money in her hand and there were about a hundred coins. She was slightly moved.
Wu Xiyuan actually did not get a lot of money from the family, and he had even lent Zong Yuan eighty coins earlier. It was financially difficult for him so he must have done and suffered a lot to save so much money.
She took Wu Xiyuan's hand over while holding the cloth and looked him in the eye, admonishing him bitterly, "Xiyuan, you don't have to do this. You've worked hard enough. Copying books is tiring for your eyes, isn't it? You always told me to do less needlework so as not to damage my eyes, but why don't you take care of yourself?"
Wu Xiyuan felt warm in his heart and smiled kindly at her, "It's not that tiring. I learn a lot from copying books, so it's not all about making some pocket money."
Su Jiuyue put the money back into his hand, "Then let's have a deal. You can continue copying books, but don't tire yourself out. There are not a lot of expenses at home and what I earn should be more than enough. So, you should keep this money for yourself. Don't spare money for food. You've lost weight!"
But for the first time, Wu Xiyuan didn't listen to her and pushed the money back again, "Honey, I know you are capable, but this is different."
"Different how?" Su Jiuyue asked.
Wu Xiyuan looked away from her, embarrassed to look at her, and the top of his ears was slightly red, "This is the money I earned for the first time, and I want to give it to you."
Hearing his words and then looking down at the copper coins in her hands, she suddenly smiled, "Good, then I'll put it away now."
Wu Xiyuan turned his face back to meet her smiling face which also made him happy, "I will always give my money to you from now on. Once I have my salary, I will also give it to you ."
Su Jiuyue raised her eyes to look at him, "Don't you need money for yourself?"
"No. I have my wife to make clothes and shoes for me, so I don't need any money." Then, he smiled again, "If I need money, I will ask you for it."
Su Jiuyue liked being trusted by him and that they shared everything. What was hers was his and what was his was hers.
She smiled sweetly at him, her two eyes curved, "Ok!"
The next morning, Su Jiuyue woke up early.
It was still dark outside, and she felt uncomfortable all over her body. She felt sore in the back and weak in the legs. Her lower abdomen was aching.
She rolled over uncomfortably, but suddenly noticed something strange underneath her, so she was immediately wide awake.
Just as she sat up, Wu Xiyuan woke up.
"Honey, why are you awake so early today?"
Su Jiuyue gave a muffled sound, "Did I wake you up?"
Wu Xiyuan shook his head and opened his eyes, "Are you getting up?"
Su Jiuyue lit up the paraffin lamp placed aside the bed. Through the dim light, she took a look at the bed, and what she saw made her panic.
"It's..."
Wu Xiyuan sensed her panic and sat up with her, "Honey, what's wrong?"
Su Jiuyue shook her head, and she knew that she was having her first menses.
She had only read about it in medical books before but had never experienced it. She was inevitably shocked to see so much blood for the first time.
But once she understood what was going on, she calmed down.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
But Wu Xiyuan had good eyesight and saw the blood on the bed immediately.
He was not the same innocent and sweet little Wu Xiyuan who knew nothing about girls anymore. Inside, he had got married and done "that" in his last life, so how could he not know that girls would have a few special days every month...
He was stunned for a moment but quickly understood what was that.
His wife was still young now and would of course panic when faced with the menses for the first time.
He immediately grabbed his clothes from the bed and put them on. He tried to get off the bed, "I'll go get my mother."
Before he could put on his shoes, Su Jiuyue pulled him back, "No, it's still early. She isn't up yet."
But Wu Xiyuan said, "But you..."
While he was about to say something, Su Jiuyue felt her face heat up and she hurriedly went over to cover his mouth, "Stop talking. I'm fine. This is normal for girls."
Wu Xiyuan pushed her hand away, "Then I'll boil some hot water for you."
Su Jiuyue didn't stop him this time. Seeing him put on his shoes and go out of the door, she also got out of the bed.
She cut up her old clothes which do not fit her anymore and made two pads. She stuffed them with cotton. And then she went on to clean up her dirty clothes and bedsheet.
People in the village used plant ashes for menses, but the medical book she got from her teacher said that it could easily cause gynaecological diseases, so cotton was better.
She might have to use plant ashes if she were still poor like before. But now it was different. She could earn money and life was getting better and better, so she didn't have to save money for this.
She had just changed the clean sheets when Wu Xiyuan returned with a bowl of hot water in his hands. He carefully stepped over the threshold and blew on the water to make it cool before handing it to her.
"Honey, be careful. It's still a bit hot."
Su Jiuyue said ok and then also blew on it before taking a small sip.
Her eyes suddenly lit up after the sip.
It was sweet!
Wu Xiyuan saw that she had noticed it, so he smiled and explained, "I put some of the brown sugar that mother gave us last time. Is it good?"
Su Jiuyue nodded and took another small sip, the water flowing down her throat all the way to her stomach, warm and comforting.
She felt sweet in her heart just like her tone. It was not that she could not make the brown sugar water by herself. It was just the gesture he had made for her was precious.
She took two more sips before bringing the large bowl to him, "You can drink it, too."
But Wu Xiyuan shook his head, "You drink it."
However, Su Jiuyue insisted. She stubbornly held the big bowl and did not take it back.
Wu Xiyuan had no choice but to take a sip, "It's so sweet, as sweet as my little Jiuyue!"
Su Jiuyue shyly lowered her head, "Nonsense. You are as sweet as honey."
But Wu Xiyuan came closer and said, "It's not honey. It's my wife's leftover brown sugar water."
It was still early, but neither of them could sleep.
Wu Xiyuan put his arm around Su Jiuyue and placed his big hand on her abdomen. With only one layer of clothes between his hand and her skin, the warmth of his hand reached her soft little belly, relieving the tiredness in her body.