Regular partners require consistent labor and effort at home.
When it comes time to build the workshop, we’ll need silver too.
This matter requires careful discussion.
Lu Liu blinked, saw him off, then lowered her gaze in thought, sensing something was off.
He headed outside, found Li Feng in the small shop, and pulled him aside for a private chat.
“Da Feng, I messed up big time. I’m too scared to tell Mother. What should I do?”
He often asked “What should I do?” but Li Feng never found it annoying. Each time, it made him feel adorable, like kissing him.
“How did you mess up?”
Lu Liu speculated, “Probably because I talked too much.”
Li Feng, unaware of the details, urged him to explain.
Lu Liu mumbled through the story, concluding, “Yeah, I just talked too much. I should’ve only mentioned the current money-making partnership, not the future workshop.”
They’d already braced for some people backing out—why scare them off at the start?
Before tasting any sweetness, seeing the big investment needed later would surely make them lose heart. How could their family possibly handle all that sauce?
Li Feng chuckled upon hearing this: “This isn’t a setback. It’s actually good they backed out early. Mother hasn’t taught you everything yet, and I was worried you’d get overwhelmed trying to learn too much at once. Since you brought it up today, I’ll teach you.”
Lu Liu’s eyes lit up: “Huh? You’ll teach me too? Great! Let’s go back inside to talk.”
Li Feng needed to fetch the wine first. “Wait until tonight. We’ll talk on the heated bed.”
Someone in the village was celebrating their birthday. In past years, few brought wine—most cut meat or bought sugar instead. But during this year’s New Year visits, more people carried wine, and by the birthday celebration, some came specifically to buy it.
Birthday wishes came from household to household. The wine jars they’d collected earlier hadn’t been filled with much sauce yet, so they were all used to hold the wine.
They calculated the price for these jars. If returned, the money would be refunded; if not returned, the same price would apply when collected next time.
Otherwise, each household would have to prepare their own jars, and he wouldn’t have to wash and dry them.
Here, they sold ten jars of liquor altogether—twenty pounds worth.
Peanuts and melon seeds were sold alongside, over three pounds in total. Birthday celebrations were lively affairs. After drinking, the younger generations would linger to chat and gossip. With their mouths idle, cracking melon seeds was perfect. The peanuts were bought as a side dish for the liquor—one plate of peanuts lasted a long time.
Lu Liu helped seal the wine jars, then wrapped them in straw rope to prevent breakage during transport.
As the appointed hour approached, Lu Liu prepared lunch first. After eating, Li Feng delivered the goods and resumed stir-frying sauce in the afternoon.
When work ended for the day, the couple soaked their feet while studying characters. Afterward, they sat on the kang to talk.
Seeing Lu Liu’s eyes light up at the mention of learning, Li Feng said enthusiastically, “With that kind of drive, you could even pass the imperial exams.”
Lu Liu asked him, “Are you craving chicken?”
Li Feng admitted his craving: “Once we finish stir-frying the sauce, we’ll have chicken for several good meals.”
Lu Liu nodded in agreement. “My cooking skills have been neglected lately. I haven’t looked at the cookbook in days and haven’t had time to study. Teach me again how to manage the communal kitchen. Once I have someone to help, I’ll have the energy to eat chicken with you.”
Li Feng chuckled. “Little Liu, you’re even bargaining now.”
Lu Liu lowered his eyes to think, then smiled too. “Well, if you don’t teach me, I’ll still eat chicken with you.”
His words were so sweet they coaxed Li Feng into opening his heart completely.
Li Feng hadn’t read many books and couldn’t explain grand principles, so he spoke of this land, these mountains.
Lu Liu had participated in two rice cake profit-sharing sessions. Li Feng asked him, “Do you remember how much silver you held in your hands?”
Lu Liu remembered clearly. Before the split, it was a huge pile. After the split, just a few strings.
Li Feng continued, “Remember when we sold game before—that time we sold sheep? Do you recall the silver?”
Lu Liu remembered that too. Just like the rice cake division, before the split, there was a lot of money. After the split, well…
During those days, Li Feng often muttered about how silver was most afraid of being divided.
Li Feng said, “The rule on the mountain is this: small game—like pheasants or rabbits—you keep what you hunt yourself. Big game—like sheep, wild boar, or deer—must be shared. Look at you. You already know silver hates being divided. The more people there are, the less each gets. That’s why you can’t have too many partners.”
But having too few partners wasn’t good either—they needed mutual support.
The most common hunting party size was three to five people. Li Feng’s current group had five members.
First, he lacked the strength to venture far into the mountains alone, so he teamed up with Wang Meng.
Later, wanting to scout deeper into the mountains, he found the Sanmiao hunting grounds nearby and partnered with them to venture further in.
Then, facing the dangers of the deep mountains, he gradually recruited more companions. Through repeated adjustments, he finally formed his current stable team.
Splitting earnings among five people was a bit of a strain for them.
For short trips, they usually split into groups of three, unless staying long-term in the mountains.
Look at the grain in the pot and the silver in your pouch. Do the math. After dividing it up, if they can scrape by and have a chance to earn more, then you can bring them in. Bringing in one person means one more pair of hands. After dividing the silver and grain, there should be more left over, not less. Expand the pie so everyone can eat their fill, drink their fill, and have some spare change. Only then should you bring in another person.”
Lu Liu grasped the gist.
The grain in the pot and the silver in the purse were fixed amounts. Everyone came seeking sustenance, and he himself needed to eat his fill. Sharing was only possible because he had surplus—not because others wanted to join.
Once he sorted out this principle, Lu Liu felt at ease about Yao Fulang possibly backing out.
The buns were small, and he had many people to share with.
One less person meant one more bite for the others.
When the time came, those willing to work would share the buns, while those lacking initiative would help with the labor.
The sauce could be made, and the bond of friendship would be upheld.
Lu Liu clapped his hands in approval. “Da Feng, you’re so clever!”
Li Feng asked him to praise him with different words.
Lu Liu racked his brain for ages but couldn’t think of anything new.
He didn’t know what was wrong with Da Feng—he was getting harder and harder to praise, always demanding new words. He hadn’t learned many characters; how could he keep coming up with different ways to compliment him?
His face flushed crimson. Li Feng couldn’t bear to watch him struggle and said, “Forget it. Clever is fine. Stop thinking about it—you’re sweating on your forehead.”
Lu Liu had already decided: he’d praise Li Feng’s large chicken.
Li Feng: “…Xiao Liu, now’s not the time for that kind of praise.”
Lu Liu thought now was the moment. Besides, they were on the kang bed—praising him there. When he’d mentioned it before, Li Feng had been pleased.
He remembered something else: “Has any young widower tried hitting on you?”
Li Feng shook his head. “Nope. With looks like mine, you’re the only one who isn’t scared.”
He was solidly built, sturdy enough to take on two Lu Lius.
His eyes were fierce, his voice booming when he spoke outside, and his demeanor was domineering.
Most young men feared him, but Lu Liu was the only one who circled around him, his eyes brimming with affection.
Hearing this, Lu Liu felt quite satisfied.
He admired Li Feng for being a man who could protect his family.
It was good that others feared him—they wouldn’t dare mess with his household or hit on his man.
Mm-hmm, good, good.
Lu Liu kissed him. “You’re so fierce. Do you like it when I compliment you like this?”
Li Feng took it as a hint to let him touch his big cock before bed.
The next day, they continued making soy sauce paste, with Li Feng wielding the ladle.
Shun Ge’er circled him, asking why. Li Feng replied, “Your eldest sister-in-law’s arms are sore.”
Shun Ge’er suddenly understood: “We still need someone to make the paste. I wonder if Brother An will come.”
Before Yao Fulang arrived, the first batch of soy sauce paste was finished.
With everyone free, they tied the sauce jars with straw ropes.
Li Feng called Wang Meng over to help load a cart of firewood to deliver to the county seat.
Lu Liu slung a small pack over his shoulder, his mind preoccupied with his brother’s health. He followed Chen Guizhi timidly, hesitating several times as if wanting to speak but holding back.
Chen Guizhi asked him, “What do you want to say?”
Lu Liu’s voice was faint and uncertain: “Mother, my brother is sick. I don’t know if he’s feeling any better. Since we’re taking the male rabbits to sell, could I keep one for him to eat?”
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