He wanted to go to the high-rise restaurant for a good meal, and the whole family would go.
Lu Yang agreed.
Arriving at the dock market, they stopped by the shop to take a look.
After all the adjustments inside the shop, everything was bright and organized for selling.
The goods left over from Yu You’s previous batch, along with the new stock they had brought, had gradually all been sold.
Li Feng and the others packed up, ready to return.
This meant the shop would be closing soon.
Li Feng said, “The delivery men really don’t need to stay long. Deliver the goods, rest briefly, then head home and let another group take over. While they’re at home, they can handle other money-making tasks. We frequently have stock here anyway, so there’s no waste in the rent.”
Lu Yang nodded. That made sense—adjust things before the rainy season, and it would be fine.
He took Xie Yan to look at the straw mats hung in the shop, letting him see their size and how to paint the mushroom dishes.
Lu Yang said, “You don’t need to paint anything too large; that takes too much time and distracts from your studies. I’m thinking of one mushroom hotpot—it can be bigger and hung in the center. The rest can be smaller, staggered around. Then we’ll paint individual mushrooms—one mushroom per sheet. I’ll continue putting them up in empty spaces. No rush; when your mind needs a break from studying, you can paint a bit. The large mushroom hotpot can wait until after the provincial exam. For the rest, try to make three to five pieces when you have free time.”
Xie Yan was happy to help. Without hesitation, he agreed.
With nothing more to do there, they headed to the high-rise restaurant for the meal.
Li Feng assumed Xie Yan came to observe the mushroom dishes to sketch them later. But Xie Yan was actually celebrating Lu Yang’s birthday and immediately wanted to pay for a portion of the meal.
Li Feng: “……”
It was a familiar scene. Last year, Lu Yang had done the same for Xie Yan, even though Xie Yan hadn’t been in the prefectural city at the time.
During the meal, everyone contributed. Xie Yan collected the money, placed it in a small pouch, and presented it to the birthday boy, Lu Yang, who accepted it with a smiling face.
The dishes centered on mushrooms, with a few specialty dishes of the restaurant, including braised pork with preserved vegetables and stewed pork trotters with soybeans.
Li Feng took a bowl of mushroom soup and drifted into thought. The Lu brothers shared the same birthday—he wondered how Lu Liu’s family would celebrate at home.
Meanwhile, in the Li Village:
It was Lu Liu’s birthday today, celebrated quietly.
He hadn’t announced it outside. During the day, he kneaded dough for the steamed buns; at night, he ate a simple meal of vegetables and shredded pork noodles topped with a fried egg, along with longevity noodles with his mother. There were also steamed birthday buns in the pot. That was enough.
Chen Guizhi said, “With so few people at home, no need for a grand celebration—this will do.”
Lu Liu smiled. Life was truly improving: meat, eggs, noodles, and even steamed buns. He could contentedly say, “This is enough.”
He still had leftover dragon beard candy in his room. After finishing his noodles, he retrieved the wooden box from the cupboard to share candy with his mother.
They had to take care of the children, so evening meals were eaten inside.
The babies were curious, watching the adults eat and reaching out for candy, unable to have any yet.
Only when the evening meal was slightly delayed would the wet nurse arrive to feed them.
The children had grown, needing more milk. Lu Liu couldn’t compromise, so the wet nurse returned after dinner. He even gave her a piece of dragon beard candy. She hesitated to eat it, saying it looked precious and would rather take it home. Lu Liu didn’t argue, leaving it to her.
Once she left, Lu Liu and his mother each held a child, burping them and chatting.
The wool sleeping bags could be stored away now that the weather was warmer.
Children only slept like this for a few months. Other children, not born in winter, couldn’t even last a month in such bags, explaining why many didn’t make them.
Chen Guizhi said, “If you really tried, you could make them. Da Feng was almost one and still used a sleeping bag, sweating in winter but staying warm.”
The two babies were used to being swaddled, with small quilts for sleeping.
Lu Liu gradually thinned their quilts for comfort, barely touching any needlework now.
Chen Guizhi said the children were obedient. “Little ones can’t be left alone; they’d cry the moment you let go. But these two? As long as they see someone, they’re fine. Otherwise, my back would break.”
Having children made Lu Liu even more grateful for the gift of life. His family was small; any more fuss, and his father would have worried himself sick.
From pregnancy to childbirth, now well past the postpartum period, he was well cared for. Whenever he needed help, someone was there—though occasionally causing sore back or arms. He thought of the hardships his father endured—it was unimaginable.
Lu Liu asked Chen Guizhi about childcare, which child was easiest to manage.
She paused. “Er Tian is the easiest. I had Da Feng first. He was active, climbing and crawling—hard to manage. Walking and running age? Even harder. Er Tian was calm, didn’t wander, rarely cried. Da Feng, called him a coward, cried when bullied outside, couldn’t fight back. Da Feng would even punish him. Er Tian, after being hit, would come to us and cry.
“As parents, who doesn’t like children relying on them? Later, when their father passed, Da Feng and I thought Er Tian wasn’t reliable, didn’t let him shoulder responsibilities, handled everything ourselves, and had him help with Shun Ge’er. Shun Ge’er was lively, wanted to go out daily; if not, cried nonstop. One night, it was unbearable, so we took him outside in the dark—no one around—and he laughed.
“Da Feng and Shun Ge’er’s temperaments are similar, wanting to roam mountains and rivers, thinking of earning money. Er Tian doesn’t; he’s lazy, likes to boss Shun Ge’er around, brothers bickering constantly.”
Lu Liu couldn’t help glancing at his two children.
Good children—could they be raised like this?
Chen Guizhi, seeing his worried look, smiled. “You’re better than Er Tian, didn’t go astray. I just didn’t teach Er Tian properly.”
Lu Liu hadn’t been well-behaved as a child, often mischievous.
Feeling guilty, he reassured his mother: “Er Tian’s lazy. When the family struggled, if he had taken responsibility, he could have grown. Learned skills.”
Chen Guizhi often blamed herself for being too controlling, taking on everything, leaving Er Tian with little chance to grow, leaving household matters unresolved.
Lu Liu’s words made her reflect. Da Feng and Shun Ge’er had circled her legs as toddlers, wanting to help with chores. Er Tian did too, but mostly for treats.
She shook her head, dismissing the thought.
“We shouldn’t spoil the children too much—raise them carefully, teach them strictly, and let them do their duties.”
That was all they could do.
After a while, the children were settled. Lu Liu left his mother in the room to watch them and went to the kitchen to wash dishes.
With only two sets of dishes, cleaning was easy. Lu Liu also took out the birthday buns, bringing two each to Yao Fulang and Jiu Ge’er.
Yao Fulang remarked at the quiet birthday celebration, not even aware of it.
Lu Liu said, “At my age, can’t someone celebrate my birthday for me?”
Yao Fulang pointed inside the house. “I’ll have Yuan Yuan celebrate for you!”
Lu Liu laughed, went inside to play with Yuan Yuan before leaving.
At Chen Jiu’s, Chen Jiu was surprised.
“Why so quiet?”
Lu Liu said, “We farm folk, who cares about birthdays? Still, my mother cared enough to make birthday buns for me.”
Arriving unannounced, Chen Jiu wasn’t prepared, unsure how to return the gesture.
Lu Liu said no return gift was necessary—it was just a small joyful gesture.
“An Gege didn’t give me a gift either; let the child celebrate for me.”
Chen Jiu, hearing this, gently shook the sleeping child, treating it as a birthday salute for Lu Liu.
Lu Liu laughed at him. “You’re quite amusing sometimes.”
Chen Jiu told Lu Liu, “The household is packing up; Wang Meng ran to the county town several times. We’re moving to the workshop.”
