Zhang Tieren was honest but overly dull. After working in the shop for so long, he only knew how much to do when given precise instructions. His quick-wittedness couldn’t hold a candle to Lu Lin’s.
The more Xie Yan interacted with him, the more his sharpness became apparent.
The good thing was, he knew his own limitations. He never argued or threw tantrums; whatever was asked of him, he did.
He slung his basket over his back, leaving his money pouch behind, and tucked a few loose copper coins into his bosom before heading out.
Zhao Peilan went to the front to help Lu Yang mind the shop, letting Lu Yang sit and rest for a while.
Lu Yang had been busy during the midday rush and was genuinely tired now. He didn’t resist, settling into a small-backed chair to doze off while chatting with her in fits and starts.
“Mother, have you eaten the spring rolls yet? You should eat them while they’re hot. I used a lot of oil; it’d be a waste not to eat them.”
Zhao Peilan had eaten some. “I took three and shared them with Father Xie,” she said.
She’d taken three to offer incense before the memorial tablet. She’d eaten hers only after Father Xie had finished his.
Lu Yang lowered his gaze, his heart heavy with sorrow.
Life and death parted them, separating the living from the dead.
One spring roll: the living savored its flavor, the dead received its incense.
Unconsciously, he rubbed his own wrist.
He’d grown so thin lately he was unrecognizable. Looking into the water mirror, he’d startled himself.
He didn’t know what awaited him after death, but he truly couldn’t bear to part.
Life was better kept. Though years were short and days long, they’d pass them slowly together.
…………………………………………..
Mid-February. Li Feng was heading into the mountains.
Before setting off, he settled all household affairs.
He tilled the vegetable plot, prepared the seedbed, sowed the seeds, and covered them with a thin layer of straw.
He’d wait for the seedlings to sprout before transplanting them.
In the village, everyone grew vegetables from their own saved seeds, planting as much as they could.
After sprouting, they assessed survival rates. Families with surplus seedlings would exchange or request extra from neighbors.
With the vegetable plots tended, he cleared manure once more. Firewood stocks were sufficient, and he filled the water jars.
He also needed to visit the county seat. After delivering the sauces, he intended to find Old Master Lu again to carve the portrait block.
Lu Liu stewed the pig stomach into soup. The family of four each had a bowl.
With the recent rush of sauce-making, he found time to prepare some dried meat.
Li Feng’s favorite dried meat was chicken jerky, made from pheasant.
They could hunt it in the mountains anytime, better than buying meat.
Lu Liu also made him some pheasant jerky, but not too much—just over half a pound. Any more, and Li Feng wouldn’t want it.
He also brought along some sulfur powder and salt packets. The salt came in two types. One had particularly coarse grains that took a while to dissolve even when stir-frying, leaving a bitter taste. This cheaper variety was carried for bait.
He recruited a few people to help with the sauce-making. From the new village, only Miao Xiaohuo came to learn the craft. The others, upon hearing the profit margin and realizing this season was prime for foraging mushrooms in the mountains, politely declined, their initial enthusiasm waning.
Yao Fulang and Chen Fulang were quite enthusiastic. Lu Liu observed them competing more than cooperating, as if whoever backed out first would lose face.
In total, four households joined the sauce-making effort. This batch delivered to the county weighed over 550 pounds.
The premium sauce accounted for over 150 pounds, while the standard sauce made up over 400 pounds. The actual weight per jar had slight variations, making precise measurement difficult.
Lu Yang estimated the shop could sell 400 to 600 catties of sauce monthly.
Once this batch sold out and the neighborhood became familiar with it, he’d seek partnerships with noodle shops. This sauce-tossed noodle dish was truly fragrant.
His shop carried goods from other suppliers. Could others use his sauce for their sales?
He could certainly make the rounds and discuss it. As long as there was some distance involved, finding agents to sell on their behalf wouldn’t be a problem.
Given the slim profit margins, even if partners sourced directly from Lizi Village, Lu Yang wouldn’t take a cut from this arrangement.
With that said, Chen Guizhi didn’t want Lu Yang to handle the negotiations. She said she’d make time to visit the county herself once this batch of sauce was ready. She’d approach the shops herself.
No argument there—Lu Liu insisted on tagging along.
Once the sauce was stir-fried, each household gathered their jars and braided straw ropes. They set a date to deliver the goods to the county together.
With his hands free, Lu Liu joined Yao Fulang and Chen Fulang to dig wild greens.
Honestly, he’d never seen so many wild greens in his life.
Back in Lujiatun, wild greens were snatched away the moment they sprouted.
But Li Village bordered the mountains, where wild greens grew in endless abundance. He’d venture out and return in no time with a basket full.
He made a meal of dumplings, stuffed with wild greens and pork.
The last time he’d eaten dumplings was during the New Year celebrations—over a month ago.
From the moment he started chopping the filling, Shun kept saying he was hungry. While kneading the dough, his eyes never left the bowl of stuffing.
Spring had arrived, and the village was preparing for a wedding feast.
By now, all the families who needed to host celebrations had done so. Everyone was waiting to attend the banquet.
This particular family was distantly related, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to bring the whole household.
Li Feng planned to take only Lu Liu along. Lu Liu was good at grabbing dishes, so she could bring some back for his mother and Shun Ge to eat.
Only then did Shun Ge stop fussing, his eyes glued to the dumpling filling while muttering about the banquet dishes. He’d just finished pork stomach soup—why was he so hungry?
Lu Liu watched him, reflecting on herself.
He asked Shun: “Am I usually greedy?”
Shun replied: “More than me.”
Lu Liu quickly shut his mouth, afraid his drool would spill out.
While they were wrapping dumplings, Chen Guizhi came in to help.
Lu Liu rolled the dough, she stuffed the dumplings, and sent Shun to boil water first.
With the banquet, the family sold a lot more liquor. Nearly three hundred pounds had gone in just this stretch—the rapid turnover astonished Lu Liu. Peanuts were selling fast too.
Chen Guizhi reminded Lu Liu, “Remember to tell Da Feng to bring back some liquor when he goes to the county seat. Don’t forget.”
Lu Liu took careful note.
Last time he was told to bring the tools for pounding rice cakes, he completely forgot.
After the New Year passed, the stockpiles families had stored during the twelfth lunar month were nearly depleted. Their household’s business in oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar picked up. Selling a pound here, two pounds there, piecing together orders, they managed to move over ten pounds daily.
Rice and flour were a bit slow to sell. Since taking up farming, the villagers would go to the new village to buy grain. With their shared kinship ties, they often visited each other’s homes and bought cheaper grain to eat.
Initially, they took small quantities, selling some to supplement their own needs. The surplus dwindled day by day, but they could restock along with the liquor deliveries.
Where wild vegetables could be dug, spring bamboo shoots were naturally abundant too.
Li Feng and Wang Meng gathered a group to harvest bamboo shoots.
It was a pity Lu Yang’s shop was so small; otherwise, he could have brought more to the county this time.
This time, Sanmiao didn’t join them on the mountain. Li Feng instructed Sanmiao to deliver another batch of bamboo shoots to the county in ten days or so.
After finishing the dumplings, it was time for the wedding feast. Li Feng took Lu Liu out to contribute their share.
Right within the mountain village, the couple walked hand in hand, easily reaching the venue.
People greeted them along the way, and Lu Liu recognized nearly everyone.
Their home was always bustling with visitors chatting daily. Seeing so many faces, he grew familiar with them and would call out greetings too.
Their closeness drew playful teasing from others.
Lu Liu’s cheeks flushed, yet she refused to let go of his hand, insisting on holding it all the way.
Today, Li Feng didn’t have to help with the wedding procession. Once they arrived, he took Lu Liu to watch the festivities. Using his imposing stature, he strode straight to the front.
Lu Liu watched the ceremony, clapping and cheering enthusiastically, showing great support.
At the banquet table, he and Li Feng sat at separate tables. The men wanted to drink and brag, so he sat with the other brides and grooms.
Today, Chen Fulang sat beside him. They’d been cooking together lately and had grown familiar.
Chen Fulang spoke awkwardly to Lu Liu, his words starting with “Hm hm hm,” the sharpness in his speech noticeably toned down.
This was a sign of willingness to engage amicably. Lu Liu made a conscious effort to maintain the rapport, asking, “What would you like to eat? I’ll serve you some later.”
Chen Jiu remembered Lu Liu’s prowess at the table, but he didn’t want Lu Liu to serve him. He wanted to serve himself.
So Lu Liu didn’t hesitate.
When the call to “begin the feast” came, he grabbed two bowls of food without a word.
Truthfully, today’s spread wasn’t anything to write home about.
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