By the next year, his health would be restored, silver earned, children in his arms, and Xie Yan returning with the title of juren…
Ah, ah!
Lu Yang felt his heart quiver at the thought of it.
He hugged Xie Yan and kissed him twice. “It’s perfect! It’s absolutely perfect!”
Xie Yan thought he was complimenting his looks and frowned. “Why would I be perfect?”
Lu Yang laughed for a while, then teased, “I like perfect things.”
Xie Yan sighed. Fine then—he was perfect.
Lu Yang laughed even more.
Their room was filled with laughter, the sounds drifting intermittently into the west wing.
Zhao Peilan first dusted the table with a small feather duster, then arranged Xie Yan’s father’s ancestral tablet, placed the incense burner, and offered incense. Amid the children’s playful laughter, she smiled too.
Some household items would remain in the shop for Lu Lin and his wife, who would add more later.
After staying inside for a while, the family went out into the courtyard. Lu Yang wanted to convert the empty room in the west wing, adding a large bathtub for convenience.
The east wing would remain as guest rooms.
The kitchen was sufficient for the three of them, without needing too many ingredients or firewood. When wood arrived, it would stay in the kitchen.
The bathing room didn’t need to be large; bamboo screens could divide the space, leaving room for miscellaneous items.
That was enough—their little home was ready; once the stove was lit, it would be fully livable.
After celebrating his birthday in early April, Lu Yang thought it over and decided to host another banquet for the Dragon Boat Festival.
This one would be just for relatives.
Xie Yan was three months pregnant and could get out for a walk to see if he would come to the county.
Lu Lin and his wife had been diligent, honest, and trouble-free from last year to this year—truly rare and hardworking. The three families would eat together.
With the plan in mind, Lu Yang could tell people at the shop.
Even a simple meal moved Lu Lin to tears.
They were technically relatives but had never been close.
Hearing about the twins, Lu Lin realized the man in front of him wasn’t Lu Liu. They hadn’t met in over ten years—there was no bond.
Lu Yang’s closeness to Lu Liu was natural—they were brothers; no comparison was possible.
Lu Lin didn’t expect much. Lu Yang treated him well. He was older and had learned accounting and business from Lu Yang. That was enough.
At the banquet, Lu Lin counted the guests and saw Lu Yang had invited him, his wife, and Lu Liu with his spouse. His heart felt warm—Lu Yang truly regarded him as a brother.
Seeing this, Lu Yang felt a pang of guilt.
“Brother Lin, did I neglect you somehow? You’re crying, and I don’t know what to do.”
Lu Lin wiped his eyes, smiling. “It’s fine. Learning from you and earning silver—what’s bad about that?”
Lu Yang said, “Of course, there’s something not perfect. Other shop assistants get two or three days off a month. Here, you never have free time—exhausting. Wait, after this banquet, I’ll see about hiring two more people—it’ll all be fine.”
Lu Lin shook his head. “We live at the shop. Why rest? We never had free time in the village anyway.”
Lu Yang said, “You still need rest. You can go back to the village to see family. People can’t live without tending to relationships. Without your help, all the favors I owe would be impossible to manage. I remember everything.”
Lu Lin almost cried again.
Lu Yang arrived in the city early, busy with the move, and it was past lunchtime.
After a quick meal, Xie Yan stayed with their mother to move smaller items and then go to the general store for daily necessities.
Lu Yang stayed behind at the shop, busy.
He and Lu Lin packed zongzi at the front, chatting while working.
Lu Yang’s bond with the Luo brothers was special—they were genuinely cared for as brothers, and their wives never refused help.
Unsold vegetables would go bad, so they sold whatever they could. Even if not fresh, they could still be sold. In this county, people would buy them. Prices weren’t great, but better than losing money.
They helped transport the produce to the East City District, protecting Lu Yang from loss.
It was laborious. The locations were far, and the brothers had business matters. Transporting the vegetables meant the wives had to help sell them.
Profits were small; only by calculating by ten or a hundred jin could they get a few copper coins.
Unsold goods were treated as if the Luo brothers had opened a branch for him.
Harvesting couldn’t stop; otherwise, it would be hard to resume. Any profits would be shared.
Lu Yang would calculate the silver earned here later, then send some to the two brothers along with some pork.
Connections were secured; Old Master Lu became his godfather. Festival gifts were necessary—realgar wine included.
The remaining concern was payment for goods from Li Feng.
His storage was small; he couldn’t keep many mushrooms.
Without delivery, weighing and payment were difficult.
Li’s family harvested mushrooms at their own expense, using accumulated credibility.
Even if they couldn’t store everything, they promised to buy.
Orders for the capital were confirmed, and all matters here fell into place.
All payments would be settled at once—they’d make a large profit.
They’d also send Xie Yan’s soup recipe book to his younger brother, who couldn’t practice cooking due to pregnancy.
Lu Yang paused and asked Lu Lin, “Brother Lin, do you read books? The kind about fighting and making little figurines on the kang?”
Lu Lin nearly spilled the glutinous rice in shock. “What?”
Lu Yang recommended it. “It’s useful. My brother studied for months and got pregnant. Last time I visited, another husband in the village also got pregnant. Want to try?”
Lu Lin was still stunned. “Uh?”
Lu Yang reassured, “Don’t be surprised. After marriage, it’s normal. We’re not young boys—you know, chicken soup isn’t what we talk about.”
Lu Lin: “Chicken soup?”
Lu Yang explained further, even teaching what it meant to become a top scholar.
When Xie Yan returned, Lu Lin’s gaze toward him seemed strange.
Xie Yan touched his face. “What? Is there dirt on my face?”
Lu Yang grinned. “Your face is shining—I just made you shine.”
Lu Lin turned, shocked. Lu Yang was unfazed, and his mind reeled.
Wait—this was about making someone shine?
Lu Yang pulled Xie Yan aside for a private chat and concluded, “We married later than Brother Lin and others, but we’re ahead in progress. I’ve spoiled you too much. From today, you can’t ask me to stew soup anymore.”
Xie Yan: ?!!
“This has nothing to do with us. We’ll stew our own soup!”
He grew flustered, reasoning with Lu Yang.
“Our life is good; we’ll have chicken soup. If others eat plain food, that’s their business.”
Lu Yang baited him, satisfied: “You said it. You crave the chicken soup—not me.”
Xie Yan: “…?”
He loved how clever his husband was.
By the end of April, Li Feng had gone to the county almost daily.
In early May, he went once more, but as the Dragon Boat Festival approached, he stopped.
Nothing urgent required him here—he just wanted to check on Lu Yang and Xie Yan after their long absence.
Once he left, Lu Liu felt relieved.
As the festival neared, certain things had to be avoided.
