“Steam buns will be ready soon, don’t bother with breakfast!”
It happened that Lu Liu was at home and had just come over with some egg pancakes.
He figured the two fathers wouldn’t want to eat the egg pancakes themselves, so instead of just talking about it, he had made them and happened to run into Xie Yan.
Seeing the generous portion, Xie Yan said there was no need to deliver buns as well.
After delivering the breakfast, they were about to leave when Lu Liu asked, “Why are you the one bringing it? Where’s my brother?”
Xie Yan grinned proudly. “I’m considerate—I woke up early to make breakfast so he could sleep a bit longer. Unlike Li Feng, the lazybones.”
Lu Liu froze.
Why would he say that about his big Feng!
“I’m telling you,” Lu Liu insisted, “my big Feng is diligent! In the morning he fed the dog and horse, chopped lots of fodder, split firewood, filled all the water jars in the kitchen, and even washed the children’s diapers!”
Xie Yan didn’t know that in the morning, even during free time, so many chores could be done.
Since he was diligent, Lu Liu decided not to call him lazy.
“Oh,” Xie Yan replied casually.
Lu Liu: ??
Lu Liu grew anxious. “What do you mean ‘oh’? You understand now that my big Feng is not lazy, right?”
Xie Yan, ever the composed husband, didn’t argue and said, “I understand. Also, you need to call me ‘brother-in-law’ and speak more quietly. My husband doesn’t like loud voices.”
Flustered, Lu Liu went home.
A short while later, Xie Yan returned with white fungus soup. Seeing Lu Liu at the door, he suppressed his words.
Well, he’d report this to big brother later!
When Xie Yan returned home, the buns had already steamed.
The three families lived on the same alley, so his trips carrying meals gradually decreased. If someone cooked something tasty, he’d first send some to the other two families to try, then later bring it to school.
The pot was only so big; with so many mouths, the food had to be cooked in batches.
After two trips, he returned to find Lu Yang already awake, squatting on the steps, brushing his teeth.
Xie Yan, delighted, looked around. Seeing that their mother wasn’t there, he leaned over and kissed Lu Yang on the cheek, earning a glare.
“I haven’t washed my face yet, and you’re not grossed out?”
Xie Yan shook his head. “You’re fair and tender-skinned—not dirty at all.”
Lu Yang finished rinsing, then went inside to wash his face, seeing Zhao Peilan yawn as she came out. “Mother, didn’t sleep well last night?” he asked.
Zhao Peilan replied, “I don’t know how, but the mosquito net had a hole, and mosquitoes were flying inside. I barely slept all night.”
Lu Yang noted the urgency and said they would repair it together after breakfast, and fumigate the room lightly.
The three sat down for breakfast. Lu Yang placed the buns into a small bamboo basket and drank the sweet white fungus soup, eating the buns.
Since sweet soup didn’t pair with buns, he added a salted duck egg to balance the meal.
After breakfast, Xie Yan went to school.
Lu Yang tidied the kitchen, then went inside with their mother to mend the net.
Not long after, Lu Liu arrived carrying an embroidery basket, visibly flustered.
“Did Li Feng upset you?” Lu Yang asked.
Lu Liu’s eyes widened. “No! Big Feng treated me very well!”
Lu Yang chuckled. “Just asking.”
Seeing Zhao Peilan nearby, Lu Liu didn’t complain and, noticing no one needed his help, sat down to stitch protective covers for the heart mirrors.
The tear in Zhao Peilan’s net had happened during the move, following the crease—two identical holes. They worked together to sew it up, carefully inspecting to ensure no holes remained before hanging it back.
Zhao Peilan said she’d fumigate the room herself and let Lu Yang take his brother out to play.
Lu Liu hesitated. “I don’t need my brother to take me out…”
He was already a father of two; he was grown up.
Lu Yang took his hand and led him to the study.
Lu Liu clutched the embroidery basket, shy and reserved, holding back his words.
Seeing this, Lu Yang led him out through the moon gate to the bedroom, sitting together on the kang.
The kang still retained some residual scents. Lu Yang had applied aromatic balm in the morning to mask the smell.
Lu Liu noticed the mixture of warmth, cool mint, and other indescribable fragrances. His face flushed, even more than in the study.
Amused, Lu Yang leaned close, nudging him with his shoulder. “Wow, is this still our Liu’er? Who told you to study to be a top chef? Now you’re embarrassed?”
Lu Liu stammered, “It’s… different.”
Lu Yang brought the balm closer to his nose, fanning it so the scent enveloped him. “Feeling better? Can you speak now?”
Lu Liu nodded.
He took out two baby bellybands from the basket to show Lu Yang.
The designs differed. One had embroidered mandarin ducks—like little waterfowl. As expected, the clothes were made by Lu Liu himself. Lu Yang had nothing but praise; if it was called mandarin ducks, then mandarin ducks it was.
The other featured intertwined branches. Emulating a silk handkerchief, Lu Liu stitched branches along the edges, drawing them toward the center, leaving a circular opening. The center had an embroidered mandarin duck, but since his embroidery wasn’t precise, he replaced it with a “double happiness” character, reminiscent of wedding attire.
Lu Liu’s eyes sparkled. “Brother, do you like them?”
The bellybands were small but intricately embroidered—clearly made with care.
Lu Yang, unreserved, praised them and teased, “No wonder you didn’t want to bring them out in the study.”
Lu Liu chuckled.
The weather was warm, perfect for wearing bellybands. No need for additional patches inside.
“Cool and comfortable,” Lu Liu said.
Lu Yang examined them. Just one layer of fabric, open at the back—certainly airy.
He teased Lu Liu: “And now you’re shy?”
Lu Liu blushed again, but said, “You’d look good in this. If you both handle things well, you’ll have children sooner.”
Lu Yang laughed, exclaiming, “You’re pressuring us to have kids now?”
Lu Liu smiled. “I also brought the wool sleeping bags. Once I clean them, I’ll bring them over.”
This reminded Lu Yang to check on the children.
He was fond of his brother’s kids.
Lu Yang tucked the bellybands under the pillow and went with Lu Liu to see the children.
They had finished breakfast and were sitting on the kang, watched by Shun’ge.
The little ones could now sit, and some teeth had appeared. Red lips, fair cheeks, big round black eyes—they were adorable.
The brothers entered, and both children reached out, cooing.
They weren’t sure which was their father—or were simply unafraid of strangers.
Lu Yang picked up one child; the little one immediately bonded, laughing crisply.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed a small red mole on the child’s forehead and called out the nickname: “Xiao Mai, Xiao Mai, do you know who I am?”
Lu Liu held Zhuang Zhuang and asked Shun’ge, “What were you two playing?”
Shun’ge replied, “Nothing much. Mother said they should practice sitting, so I helped them sit. The little rascals played around—Xiao Mai fell when I helped Zhuang Zhuang, Zhuang Zhuang fell when I helped Xiao Mai, but they had fun. Just as they sat steadily, you came back.”
Lu Liu laughed. He had prepared a pair of shoes for Shun’ge, pulling them from the cabinet.
The shoes were embroidered with bright blue fabric, perfect for summer.
Shun’ge stared at them, unable to look away. He knew Lu Liu loved gifting beautiful shoes to Lu Yang and watched with admiration. He didn’t ask for them but sat close, wanting to learn how they were made.
Lu Liu teased, “When do you have time to learn? You’re busy learning skills from my brother—better not try.”
Shun’ge persisted, asking several times. Finally, he cautiously inquired, “Then could you make a pair for me? These are so pretty. I want a pair.”
