Lu Yang casually reassured him, “Don’t worry. In the future, we’ll only buy more, and only better things.”
He returned to the shop, while Lu Liu wanted to go out for a walk. Li Feng reminded him to buy a few silver rings, which he still hadn’t done.
Lu Yang said, “We’ll go to the city jewelry stores another day. The dock’s gold and silver shops are just for exchanging money. They rarely sell jewelry, and what they do have are pawned pieces—sizes vary. It’s better to choose in a proper jewelry store.”
Lu Liu gave up and went with Shun Ge’er to pick out some jade fragments.
The pieces were small—one nearly round, the other curved. Shun Ge’er couldn’t tell quality and hadn’t decided what to pick, so he let Lu Liu choose first.
Lu Liu didn’t know what these fragments could be made into. He still had a smooth, rounded stone in his pocket, and after looking it over, preferred the round fragment. Shun Ge’er took the other one.
With a quiet moment in the shop, the three of them sipped tea and chatted idly.
Lu Liu asked Lu Yang, “Brother, why are you buying jade again? I haven’t seen you make jewelry before.”
Lu Yang explained it was for carving.
This was something he had mentioned before Lu Liu had children. At the time, Lu Liu hadn’t fully understood, and even now only grasped the general idea—that things would keep improving.
He said, “You and my brother-in-law have a fun life. Even something as simple as celebrating a birthday involves so much thought. Every year it’s jade, yet the meaning feels different. When I was with Big Feng, we’d just focus on food and drink. If we didn’t celebrate together this year, I’ll think of a good way next year to do something meaningful.”
Lu Yang smiled at him. “Your brother-in-law is a scholar. Being with him, I’ve read some too and become sentimental, fond of these little frivolities. Really, it’s neither meaningful nor meaningless. Busy or not, it’s all for good food and drink. You two live well, and seeing that makes me feel comfortable.”
Lu Liu laughed. “When I first married into the village, I was very greedy. Whatever Big Feng brought home, I wanted to eat. Often at night, just before sleep, I’d lie and say I was hungry, so he’d bring me something. I even competed with Er Huang—if he had a good meal, I had to have one too. When spring came and we could go up the mountains, I was so happy. Every day there was plenty of fresh food, tender and fragrant, and I could eat it for days without tiring. Later, my appetite lessened. Now, living in the city, with no shortage, always full, yet I’m greedy again, always thinking of what to eat or drink. Last time I bought wine for Big Feng, he drank happily. I tried some—it was spicy and sharp, I didn’t find it pleasant. I put down the bowl, but still craved it, drank myself a little drunk.”
Shun Ge’er asked, “When did this happen? Why don’t I know?”
Lu Yang rolled his eyes and replied bluntly, “Wait until you’re married, then you’ll know.”
Shun Ge’er blushed bright red, holding his tea cup and mumbling.
Lu Liu also turned red, exclaiming “Brother!” in mock indignation.
Lu Yang teased, “What’s this? Are these the faces you make before going to the entertainment houses?”
Lu Liu immediately giggled and said, “Big Feng is good! He told me to go; he said everyone inside is like my brother-in-law. I want to see.”
Lu Yang: …
Xie Yan had said everyone inside was like Li Feng. These two men were truly remarkable.
That afternoon, they handled two business matters and packed up to return home.
The three returned; Li Feng and Xie Yan were also home. Smoke from cooking rose in the alley.
Xie Yan went to the butcher to order pig hearts, trotters, and stomachs for pickup the next morning.
Lu Yang had been busy for several days, helping him replenish. In the heat, all this activity left him thin.
They prepared a medicinal soup: pig heart, lean meat, wheat, and lily bulbs, slow-cooked.
Lu Yang liked pork hocks, tender and soft, with plenty of broth to drink. He also added pork stomach.
The two families coordinated—the soup was made at Lu Yang’s, Lu Liu’s family would do theirs a few days later, sharing meals.
Li Feng noticed that Xie Yan still had the heart to cook for Lu Yang, glancing at him several times.
“You’re not mad? Didn’t you say scholars couldn’t stand this sort of thing?”
Xie Yan replied, “Not as much as you. I’ve long heard that men in Li Village are headstrong. Look at you.”
Li Feng pressed for clarification. “What do you mean?”
Xie Yan asked, “Did you send your husband to the entertainment houses?”
Li Feng nodded. “Yes, I let him go. What of it?”
Xie Yan hummed, “Stubborn.”
When their husbands returned home, Xie Yan ignored Li Feng, waiting for Lu Yang to amuse the children and chat with the two fathers before returning home.
On the way, Lu Liu bought some chilled jelly to try at home.
The two little ones, smelling food, reached out to grab some.
Chen Guizhi made them a porridge-like dish, cooked soft and watery—too much for adults but perfect for the children.
Dinner was simple: smashed cucumbers, lightly stir-fried lotus root slices, bitter melon with eggs, and stir-fried green beans with pork. Lu Liu served two bowls of lotus root, one to the two fathers and one to his brother, exchanging for a plate of fried small fish and a plate of cabbage and tofu.
He would not go to the dock the next day, returning to his stall instead.
“Mother, you’ve worked hard these days. Tomorrow I’ll come help!”
Chen Guizhi said it was fine; selling at the stall wasn’t too tiring with help.
After the family chatted, they took turns bathing, tidying up, and went to bed early.
Lu Liu wanted to wash his hair after days of running around and sweating. In the heat, it dried quickly after washing.
He cleaned up, dried his hair, and climbed into bed with the two little ones.
Shun Ge’er helped bathe them; they smelled fragrant and were expressive, babbling “ya ya ya” in response to Lu Liu.
He taught them to say “Daddy,” and they replied “ya ya.”
The children loved grabbing things, and with Lu Liu’s hair loose, they chased and tried to pull at it.
Li Feng reacted quickly, blocking their hands. The more he blocked, the more they tried, until Lu Liu had to sit behind Li Feng to avoid being tugged.
Eventually, the two kids grew sleepy, and Li Feng sent them to Shun Ge’er’s room to sleep.
Lu Liu, seeing them settled, assumed it was time for more intimacy, so he tied his hair up. Li Feng didn’t indulge—he grabbed a fan, fanning him while loosening the hair tie and brushing it dry.
Lu Liu tilted his face up, smiling sweetly.
“Big Feng, such a strong wind—it’s so cool.”
Lu Liu’s hair was fine, soft, and thick. Li Feng let him work it himself to avoid snagging and pain.
The two sat on the bed talking. Li Feng said that after subtracting transportation and rebate expenses, the recent business had made roughly four thousand to four thousand one hundred taels of silver.
Lu Yang wanted to open a shop in the city soon. This batch of business was good, and by September, more merchants would come for the fair. Their city shop would make business easier.
Having worked at the dock, Lu Liu understood these matters and tallied the accounts with them—roughly matching these numbers.
“Rebates are complicated. Shun Ge’er and I calculated several times and still got confused. You just glance and know instantly, never angry or anxious, patiently teaching us each time.”
Lu Liu wanted to tell Li Feng that he would no longer go to the shop, choosing to stay home.
With family to care for, he had decided it best to remain at home. This time he had given in to curiosity, claiming to be busy as an excuse to go out. Once experienced, it was enough.
Lu Liu stopped fussing with his hair, scooted closer to Li Feng, hugging his arm and pressing against him.
“Big Feng, I’m a bit slow, learning these things takes time. You and my brother work so hard, teaching us endlessly. Shun Ge’er isn’t married yet—just take him. I already have children; it’s better for me to stay home. We agreed before—I’ll take care of the household.”
