Chen Guizhi knew his temperament well—he needed to stay busy and interact with people more often.
She had gathered a large amount of wild mushrooms and bamboo shoots this time. Since she hadn’t sent any mushrooms last time, she planned to take them to the county seat along with the bamboo shoots.
The family she partnered with to make fermented sauce produced three batches reliably each day. Over half a month, they’d accumulated over 180 pounds, enough to send to the county again.
The family mule had been borrowed by Er Tian for plowing and hadn’t been returned yet. She planned to borrow a mule from Yao Fulang.
With the fields getting busy, few livestock in the mountain village were idle—all were needed for farm work.
Li Feng had already arranged with Sanmiao that she’d need to make a trip to the county seat in half a month to deliver goods, and Sanmiao would assist her.
Two carts would be a bit of a strain. Chen Guizhi figured they might not manage everything in one trip, so she’d focus on the mountain produce and take fewer jars of sauce.
She’d make another trip to the county town the next day, which would be perfect timing to discuss selling sauces with the shop owners.
Earlier, Lu Liu had mentioned wanting to accompany her.
As luck would have it, Li Feng had just brought back the woodblocks, paper, and ink. This task was beyond Shun’s capabilities, so this time Lu Liu wouldn’t be taken along. He’d stay home to mind the shop, collect mountain goods, and find time to print and bind books.
With only him at home, he had rabbits and chickens to tend in the back yard. When customers came to the front yard, he’d be too busy to think of anything else.
Chen Guizhi explained all this to him, saying, “Shun’er is too inexperienced. When others haggle or mention connections, he gets embarrassed—he’s too shy. I feel more at ease having you mind the shop.”
Lu Liu detected the praise in her words. Feeling useful, he instantly forgot the unease he’d felt when his mother called him inside. He readily agreed.
After delivering the goods, Chen Guizhi would need to make several trips to the county town over the next few days. She aimed to secure a cooperative shopfront as soon as possible so she could sell more sauces.
Counting the days, Qingming Festival was just around the corner. There were no major events at home, just a lot of small chores. Heavy or exhausting work was rare. Chen Guizhi told him, “If you get too busy, let me know when I get back. I’ll leave Shunge to help you.”
Lu Liu agreed, but for the moment, he didn’t ask for help.
Yao Fulang often came to play with him and could watch the shop. When he needed to eat or use the outhouse, someone could take his place.
After giving clear instructions, Chen Guizhi had him help pack things, mainly bagging the mountain mushrooms.
Previous deliveries had used bamboo baskets. Though these protected the mushrooms from crushing and preserved their appearance better, they limited the quantity that could be transported.
Living far from the county seat, fewer items meant multiple trips. This time, they’d try burlap sacks.
The mushrooms weren’t heavy, so stacking two sacks on top of each other would suffice.
Having not driven a cart in years, she first took the mushrooms out to familiarize herself with the mountain roads. Next time, she’d bring a small batch of sauces along.
Their sun-dried mushrooms were temporarily stored in the small shop, stacked in bamboo baskets—thirteen in total. After filling twelve sacks, they left the remaining mushrooms behind.
After finishing here, it was lunchtime. Lu Liu washed his hands and went to the kitchen to prepare the meal.
Even with the men of the house absent, meals weren’t skimped on. He’d previously suggested eating more sparingly, but Chen Guizhi insisted he cut meat and beat eggs for their meals.
Their household was fairly well-off—meat, eggs, rice, and flour were all available, and vegetables were never in short supply.
With everyone busy, there was no need to be overly frugal at mealtimes.
Lu Liu’s stingy habits had softened considerably. After finishing the fried meatballs and tofu Lu Yang had sent them, they fried another batch themselves. It was a rare occasion—using only about a quarter pound of oil. The meatballs and tofu barely floated, half-fried and half-pan-fried, soaking up the oil until their flavor became utterly addictive.
For lunch, she made a pot of stewed vegetables—mushrooms simmered with cabbage, the taste fresh and sweet.
With just the two of them before—Lu Liu and Li Feng—Lu Liu ate little, so cabbage consumption fell solely to Li Feng. Back then, they had radishes to go with it. Once the radishes were gone, plenty of cabbage remained.
With fresh spring greens now available, they needed to finish the cabbage stored in the cellar quickly.
She also stir-fried a side dish to accompany the rice. This side dish was simply pickled vegetables stir-fried with diced pork.
None of the three ate much. With plenty of stew and a plate of pickled vegetables, it was sufficient.
After lunch, Chen Guizhi first went to borrow a cart from Yao Fulang to haul away the mountain mushrooms. She stored them at Sanmiao’s place and also arranged with him the time to head to the county seat.
Leaving early meant navigating rough mountain roads. She’d head down empty tomorrow morning and load the goods at the new village.
Sanliang was expecting puppies—mated with Erhuang.
Lu Liu, concerned, packed some dried chicken for her to bring along.
Watching her disappear into the distance, Lu Liu sank into deep, sorrowful thought.
Sanliang was already expecting puppies, yet he hadn’t conceived one himself. Alas.
Not long after noon, Chen Fulang came by to visit.
Lu Liu’s rapport with Chen Fulang fluctuated wildly. When things were good, they could chat for hours. When they were bad, it was usually because he’d said something to upset her again.
Wang Meng had split from his family. His parents and brothers farmed in the new village, while he lived down the mountain as a hunter—much like Li Feng’s situation. But Li Feng had split later and brought his mother and younger brother to live with him, making their home livelier.
After Wang Meng went up the mountain, only Chen Jiu remained at home. He wasn’t shy. Knowing few in the village liked him, he often went out to chat. He even had a friend who’d married into the village, so loneliness rarely found him.
Lately, because of the stir-fried sauce business, he’d grown closer to Lu Liu.
It just so happened that Wang Meng had gone up the mountain with Li Feng. With both men gone, the two women found it easier to talk.
Chen Jiu saw his reddened eyes and frowned. “Looking like that, didn’t my aunt scold you?”
Chen Guizhi was his biological aunt.
Lu Liu shook his head. “Mother didn’t scold me. She even said I was capable and told me to take good care of the house.”
Chen Jiu pursed his lips, clearly unimpressed, but the words he had on the tip of his tongue stayed there.
The spring sun was warm and gentle. The air at the foot of the mountain was slightly cool, making sitting outside in the sunshine far more comfortable than staying indoors.
He knew his way around and pulled up a small stool to sit. He had brought his embroidery basket to do some needlework.
Lu Liu also had needlework to do.
Li Feng had gone to the county seat to buy paper, ink, and printing blocks. He entrusted Shun Ge’er with cutting the paper, while he and Chen Guizhi handled the printing whenever they had time. They printed a few sheets at a time, letting the ink dry before moving on to other tasks, then printing more when they returned.
Once the ink dried, they bound the sheets into volumes, stacked them crosswise, and weighted them down with an abacus. Whenever Lu Liu had free time, she would sew a few volumes together.
No one in their family had ever bound books before, though they knew how to glue shoe soles. Worried the pages might come apart and ruin their efforts, they decided to use hemp thread for the first batch since it wasn’t large. The stitching was sturdy and durable.
When Chenjiu watched him sewing, he would grumble incessantly.
Secrets never stayed hidden in the village, especially with the big-mouthed Yao Fulang having seen the illustrated books. Now pregnant, she was even more smug, telling her sister-in-law back home and then her friends. The news spread like wildfire throughout the village—everyone knew Lu Fulang had those illustrated books.
Then it came out that Miao Xiaohé had also joined them in viewing the books, exchanging many volumes—though exactly how many remained unclear.
Further chatter revealed others had borrowed books to read as well.
Chen Jiu hadn’t seen them.
Neither had Wang Meng from his household.
He was displeased.
He asked Lu Liu, “Do you have something against me?”
Lu Liu nodded. “What’s wrong?”
He actually nodded.
Chen Jiu choked, pretending nothing had happened.
After a while, Chen Jiu asked him, “Do you miss my cousin a lot?”
His cousin was Li Feng.
Lu Liu’s eyes reddened at the mention.
Chen Jiu set down her needlework and glanced toward the mountains.
“I miss Wang Meng too.”
Lu Liu looked up at him.
Chen Jiu grew irritable, tossing the embroidery basket aside. She didn’t feel like working anymore.
“These stinking men are so annoying.”
Lu Liu’s gaze returned to the embroidery basket. It lay on the ground, its open sides revealing its contents clearly.
Inside was a half-finished jacket. Judging by its size and style, it was meant for Wang Meng.
Lu Liu was curious about him. He knew Chen Jiu wasn’t one to speak kindly. With a mouth like that, didn’t he constantly bicker with Wang Meng?
He asked, “Do you fight with Wang Meng?”
Chen Jiu scoffed. “Would he dare fight me?”
Lu Liu’s eyes widened. “Huh? So he just lets you yell at him?”
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