After lunch, everyone returned home for a midday rest. Lu Liu told them to take the candied hawthorns along, so they could enjoy a sweet treat, then went to tell his mother about his plan.
Chen Guizhi said, “Since you’re in charge, whatever you decide is fine.”
Lu Liu looked up at her with hopeful eyes.
Chen Guizhi could only smile and added, “Wait until you and Li Feng run the stall tomorrow. If it’s convenient, we’ll help. When everyone’s busy, thinking about daily expenses can be stressful. Better to be doing something than sit at home stewing.”
She praised Lu Liu further: “You’re considerate, thinking everything through. I was worried they’d get restless and bored, and you’ve come up with a plan.”
Lu Liu beamed with pride and went off for his nap, cheerful.
By late afternoon, when the sun began to set, the alley came alive again.
Xie Yan returned home early, hurrying into the kitchen.
Today, he had stewed Red Date Black-bone Chicken Soup, simmering gently on the stove since morning—just right for the evening. Upon entering the alley, the aroma hit him. Inside the kitchen, the fresh, savory scent was irresistible. It was a fine soup.
Zhao Peilan fetched water for him to wash his hands and face. Xie Yan chuckled, “I’ll take a bowl over to my father-in-law first. When Jingzhi returns, we can enjoy it together.”
Zhao Peilan nodded in agreement.
Coincidentally, Lu Liu had also made soup today.
He first delivered a bowl to his two fathers, then waited for Lu Yang to come home so he could give a bowl to his brother as well.
Lu Yang returned with the Li family brothers, still pondering a gift for Little Hong the steward.
Li Feng suggested, “You could give him a protective heart mirror. There’s been a lot going on at the docks; he’ll surely like one.”
Lu Yang hadn’t thought of it at first, but his eyes lit up, and he praised, “Good idea! Let’s get it tomorrow.”
Li Feng, however, didn’t follow up. Instead, he proudly said, “This wasn’t my idea. It was Lu Liu’s. He gave me two protective heart mirrors. Do you know why?”
Lu Yang: “……”
It made sense why the top scholar frowned at him.
At home, they all had soup.
Lu Yang had just washed his hands and picked up the Black-bone Chicken Soup that Xie Yan had stewed all day. Lu Liu brought over a bowl of trotters-and-tripe soup.
Lu Yang’s eyelids twitched—any spark of mischief or dispute in him was immediately snuffed out.
He waved at Lu Liu, “What delicious thing have you brought me? Let me taste it! I’m starving—two big bowls, no holding back!”
Lu Liu came forward, grinning.
In a few steps, Lu Yang, under Xie Yan’s slightly aggrieved but small-eyed gaze, gulped down a bowl of chicken soup, then ladled two scoops of trotters-and-tripe soup, drinking half a bowl more.
Xie Yan and Lu Liu watched, satisfied, then exchanged a glance, huffing with noses raised.
After delivering the soup, Lu Liu returned home.
At the alley entrance, Lu Erbao and Wang Fengnian peeked out. Seeing Lu Liu smiling as he left Lu Yang’s home, they relaxed, closed the door, and went inside to drink their soup.
They had watched Lu Liu and Xie Yan deliver the soups back-to-back and sensed trouble brewing.
Thankfully, Yang Ge’er was clever enough not to let a quarrel start.
Two bowls of soup—what a delight and dilemma all at once.
His younger brother was going to run a stall selling fish soup, and Lu Yang had to go support him.
This was their first real step into life in the city. If it went smoothly, they would integrate into city life instead of being confined to the small courtyards of three families.
Lu Yang got up in the morning, took two undergarments from under his pillow, and spread them out. Xie Yan’s eyes went wide.
Still sleepy, he opened his eyes briefly, then they stung, tears flowing. Even so, he sat up squinting, moved the pillow, and only then asked, “Where did these come from? How did they get under my pillow? Why didn’t I notice?”
Lu Yang held up each piece for him to examine, saying, “Pick whichever you like; that’s what you’ll wear.”
He added, “They arrived a few days ago. Lu Liu sent them, and I just tucked them under your pillow and forgot to put them away.”
Xie Yan, a stickler for order, kept everything tidy except for his beloved books, so he hadn’t noticed.
He studied them carefully, pausing on the embroidered duck design, and chose the one with entwined branches and the character for “happiness.”
Lu Yang quickly stripped off his inner garment, put on the chosen undergarment, and layered his clothes back over it. His pale skin flashed briefly before being fully covered—two layers wrapped snugly.
Xie Yan blinked, bewildered: “Weren’t you wearing this for me?”
Lu Yang said, “Just to give you something to look forward to. Tonight, we’ll play while I’m wearing it.”
He coaxed his younger brother in the morning, and his man at night—kept busy.
Talking, Lu Yang got down from the bed, grabbed a comb to fix his hair, glanced back, and saw Xie Yan grinning foolishly.
He shook his head. Today, they wouldn’t eat breakfast at home—he had to leave first.
Morning sales required an early start. Lu Yang washed up and left, just as Li Feng came out with the cart.
Lu Liu insisted on doing it himself. “I’ll handle it from now on.”
Li Feng said, “We’ll see about later.”
For business, they pushed a cart with two large soup basins, a bamboo basket of pancakes, a bowl of sauce, a bowl of diced salted duck eggs, and accompanying bowls, chopsticks, and ladles.
Lu Liu was neatly dressed in a rough tunic, trousers and sleeves tied up, hair in a Daoist-style topknot wrapped in cloth. He looked sharp and energetic.
Lu Yang exclaimed, “With that outfit, you look reliable. As a customer, I’ll buy your fish soup too!”
Lu Liu blushed, thinking it a joke, and said, “I just thought this would be more convenient.”
Lu Yang’s praise was sincere. He added, “Even customers are selective. You look like you work efficiently, your hands won’t fail, and I’ll buy from you for sure.”
Lu Liu was delighted, walking along the street with a spring in his step.
Shun’ge came along today too, agreed to act as a “spotter” with Li Feng.
Lu Yang couldn’t be a spotter—he looked too much like Lu Liu. Standing together, they looked like brothers, so any praise would be self-serving. He could only help shout out announcements.
Li Feng had chosen a spot near the entrance of Luming Academy. Most passersby were scholars or their families, with a few teachers and pedestrians.
Arriving, Li Feng and Shun’ge moved slightly away to wait for the right moment to step forward.
Lu Yang stood nearby, watching. Lu Liu moved expertly, hands nimble, busy but unhurried.
Stopping the cart, Lu Liu placed a wooden board across it. Lu Yang noticed the cart’s side grooves perfectly holding the board steady.
Lu Liu set out a bowl of mushroom-and-minced-meat sauce and a bowl of diced salted duck eggs, placing the bamboo basket of pancakes on the board. The fish soup and bowls remained in place. Then he began calling out.
Passing people were asked, “Would you like fish soup with pancakes?” He described them as savory meat pancakes and pure fish soup, with no bones.
“No bones” was attractive. A few scholars glanced back, but kept walking.
Lu Liu turned to Lu Yang, pouting in mock grievance, “Brother…”
Lu Yang teased, “What do you want me to do? Drag them back to buy fish soup?”
Lu Liu shook his head, “They just looked earlier. Why didn’t they buy?”
Lu Yang said, “Go down the street. Sell whatever comes your way.”
Lu Liu considered it and nodded. “Then I’ll call out a bit more.”
Lu Yang taught him how to shout, standing behind the cart with him. The brothers resembled each other—passersby gave them a second glance.
He advised, “The length of your call doesn’t matter. If you have more to say, say more. If not, just repeat. The key is tone—you need to sound cheerful, enthusiastic. That draws attention. Do this, and you’ll attract some customers.”
