He couldn’t help but worry about his pups.
Two children would be best—one a son, one a little brother.
The son should be like Li Feng, not like him. If he took after him, he wouldn’t be able to support a household and would face trouble when out in the world.
The little brother could also be like Li Feng—ideally in temperament, though not in appearance. If he were too wild, he might be endearing; if rough and reckless, it could be problematic.
If a child inherited both his and Li Feng’s flaws…
Lu Liu thought for a moment and decided it would probably be a “domineering crybaby.”
A domineering crybaby…
He couldn’t help laughing and whispered to Li Feng.
“Da Feng, what do you think a domineering crybaby would be like?”
Li Feng didn’t catch the twists in his mind and replied:
“Sees something it wants, demands it, cries when it doesn’t get it—useless stuff.”
Lu Liu: “…”
He thought further—what kind of personality would come from mixing their flaws?
He was stingy. Li Feng’s flaws? Didn’t like drinking water? So a stingy one who avoids water?
Hmm… Li Feng also liked to brag. Then it would be a bragging stingy one.
Lu Liu asked again: “A bragging stingy one?”
Li Feng laughed loudly: “That’s just Da Qiang! Hahaha!”
Lu Liu: “…No one wants a Da Qiang!”
Unable to continue, Lu Liu dropped the topic.
The doghouse was ready, just waiting for the pups to move in.
Erhuang clearly didn’t recognize his puppy and hadn’t yet realized he was a father. He tried to assert dominance, sniffing Sanliang, circling the two pups. Li Feng spoke to him, though it was unclear if he understood. A single howl later, he flopped back into the kennel.
For the next few days, Li Feng was busy helping in the new village.
After Ertian’s wheat was harvested, there were still relatives’ fields to attend.
He skipped Uncle’s fields but went to Uncle’s elder brother’s. Busy until mid-month, they first prepared a feast—considered the “joining” banquet for Da Qiang.
Da Qiang asked his husband, who agreed to let him join.
They didn’t have time to buy vegetables, so Da Qiang ran to the county, bringing firewood and picking up vegetables, also entrusted by Li Feng to buy a pig’s stomach and a small copper mirror.
The copper mirror was promised by Lu Liu—something simple for Shun’er. Compared to gold jewelry, it wasn’t expensive, so no need to save up. The pig’s stomach was for their mother, who didn’t care for much besides this delicacy. Filial duties had to be fulfilled.
This month was too rushed to gather medicinal herbs, so that could wait.
The next day, they packed up, took dried mushrooms, and set out again for the prefectural city.
They carried less cargo this time; Li Feng’s cart was empty, just Lu Liu, the puppies, and some luggage to send him to stay briefly with Lu Yang.
He left first; the loaders were a step behind.
Arriving at Lujiatun, the couple turned into the village. At home, they chatted. Wang Fengnian pulled Lu Liu aside, giving him many instructions.
It had been a long time since he’d been pregnant, and he remembered mostly the hardships. What discomfort could be endured, he noted. The good times were less memorable. His experiences reassured Lu Liu: pregnancy wasn’t so frightening.
Their wheat harvest was early, the quantity small, all dried and packed—a large bundle for Lu Yang to try the new grain.
Lu Liu was pleased they remembered his brother. “I brought a puppy for him to keep him company. Its name is Xie Weimeng!”
Both fathers approved.
They hadn’t raised dogs before; there was nothing else to say.
The couple didn’t stay for a meal—just a quick visit.
Lu Liu walked along the main road, gazing back at home.
He had never understood what it meant for a family to die out. Their family had people. He was young, would grow up, marry, and have children. How could they “die out”?
Seeing his aging parents, guarding the old house, he finally understood.
Young people leave; the elderly cannot last forever. Slowly, the number of people in the house dwindles until none remain.
The house may fall into neglect, be claimed by strangers, or occupied by people they didn’t know.
A twinge of sadness gripped him. Holding the little puppy, it seemed to sense his mood, licking his hand, nuzzling his arm, yipping softly.
He stroked its fur, from head to tail.
This little dog was unafraid, and after just a few days together, it exposed its soft belly, letting him play with it freely—warm and comforting.
He remembered, a few months ago, saying this was a new life.
Lu Liu smiled softly. The child in his womb would bring hope and new beginnings too.
He hadn’t expected to conceive so quickly. If not this year, he would return more next year, bringing the child along.
He would have two children then—it would be lively. He could also bring Erhuang and the little dog to play.
Looking at Li Feng’s back, he called out: “Da Feng, we haven’t named the puppy yet. My brother’s dog is Weimeng; ours should be Weifeng—sounds like a family.”
Li Feng had no objections. It was just a dog name.
Speaking of which, they hadn’t yet picked formal names for the children. Since he had started schooling, they would choose their own. Recently, Lu Liu had been neglecting studies; on this trip to the prefectural city, he intended to let the little scholar teach him some characters along the way.
He had no ideas for a formal name; Li Feng would need to handle it.
“It should sound grand and pleasant!”
Li Feng knew what to do.
Summer rains, unless continuous for days, didn’t affect road conditions much.
Wet ground dried quickly; the road was smooth.
When Lu Liu arrived in the county, he was in good shape, only gagging twice, smiling all the while.
Frequent departures didn’t make partings easier; he just learned how to handle them—what to pack, what to say, what expression to show.
Li Feng gave him a box of eyebrow powder, brought from the prefectural city, only handed to him before he left again.
Holding the small box, Lu Liu almost cried.
“I saw Jiu’er had some. He said Xiao He has some too. I thought I didn’t.”
Li Feng smiled gently. “I always intended to give it to you, but thought it’d be better to wait until now.”
“Why?”
“Because coming home makes you happy enough. This eyebrow powder is just a little gift—it wouldn’t matter before. Now, it’s different.”
It made Lu Liu smile.
Pouting, he wanted to claim he wasn’t easily pleased, but still grinned.
He reminded Li Feng: “I put some silver in your bag. Don’t feel wronged—stay in the guest room, not the big dormitory. I care about you.”
Li Feng touched his face. Before reaching Lu Yang’s house, he paused in a small alley to speak with Lu Liu. No words of reluctance, yet full of reluctance.
