When this idea came up, they all wanted to split up and go their own ways.
Li Feng and the others, however, forcibly shepherded Er Jun and Si Hou along, taking them to see cosmetics, fancy fabrics for clothes, and jewelry.
It was awkward—Li Feng had been to a cosmetics shop with Lu Liu before and hadn’t thought much of it. Now, with his burly companions, he felt embarrassed just stepping inside. It showed how important it was to have trusted people around.
San Miao had previously bought cosmetics for Miao Xiaohe, helping Li Feng at the time. Since the two had just married, he had let Xiaohe take a box of rouge.
This time, Li Feng, having more experience, suggested buying lip balm. When asked which kind, he said to buy good ones—quality lip balm was even edible. The other brothers gave him impressed looks.
They cheerfully asked if it tasted good, but Li Feng remained silent.
“You’ll find out once you buy it,” he said.
The shop clerk was startled when five burly men crowded into the store, thinking perhaps their boss had offended someone and they’d come to trash the place.
After a brief exchange, the clerk realized they were buying lip balm for their husbands and relaxed, sneaking glances at the group. He was impressed—despite their rough appearance, they clearly cared for their loved ones.
Lu Liu bought rouge and lip balm, while Li Feng merely accompanied him, standing aside. Observing the shop, Li Feng noted that dressing up was truly an art.
Face powders, eyebrow pencils, eye makeup, lip color—there was no shortage of items. They had grown up in a poor mountain village, where men didn’t wear much makeup. Li Feng’s purchases for Lu Liu were subtle, meant to accent, not to dazzle—unlike women’s jewelry.
He asked the clerk, “Can my husband buy these things without it looking strange?”
The clerk, recognizing their status, hurried to explain to Li Feng: “Of course. Our boss is a man who’s studied many kinds of makeup. Many young masters in the capital like this style; he even studied there himself.”
Li Feng thought of the flashy men at the docks—indeed, makeup was a thing. He didn’t buy the eyebrow pencil, which looked like a stick of charcoal, but did buy a small box of eyebrow powder. Wang Meng followed suit, and San Miao purchased the lip balm as planned.
Er Jun and Si Hou firmly guarded their money, refusing to buy anything else.
Next, they went to a jewelry shop. As soon as they entered, the shopkeeper rushed out, greeting them nervously, “Where do the heroes come from?”
Li Feng said, “I’m checking gold prices for my husband. If it’s too expensive, I’ll leave. You can just tell me outside.”
The shopkeeper hesitated, then stepped outside to explain. Li Feng noticed the clerks were closing up—he felt awkward. Did they really look like thugs?
The jewelry shop didn’t have much on display. Pictures lined the walls, a small catalog rested on the counter, and a few common items were on the shelves: hairpins, rings, bracelets, earrings. The largest piece was a headdress, shaped like an inverted blooming lotus, petals lifelike, with delicate stamens—fine craftsmanship.
Gold was ten times the price of silver; ten taels of silver equaled one tael of gold. Ordinary small jewelry required only a few qian of gold.
Li Feng wanted a bracelet in a wheat-ear design. The shopkeeper explained three options:
- Hairpin—solid and sturdy, with a wheat-ear motif at the top, grains full, stalks at the end. Price: ~8 taels of silver.
- Bracelet—wheat-ear design in a loop, symbolizing reunion and harvest. Solid, 10–12 taels depending on hand size; hollow ones ~5 taels.
- Ring—similar design, smaller, roughly half the price of a bracelet.
Li Feng chose the bracelet. A hairpin would be too conspicuous on their simple attire, and rings were impractical. A bracelet, like earrings, could be worn without fuss.
Noticing the clerk’s fear, Li Feng requested: “Draw all three options. I’ll take them back so my husband can choose.”
The clerk complied immediately. With nothing else pressing, they waited, sitting by the door. Pedestrians instinctively gave them space—an unusual sight.
Li Feng told Wang Meng, “As long as we have a backer, we can walk freely in the prefecture city.”
Even ordinary ruffians couldn’t match their strength; the only danger was if those ruffians had backing, possibly sending them off to labor camps.
Wang Meng continued examining eyebrow powder. A small box cost him thirty wen—gone in one puff.
He muttered, “What backer do we have? We’ll just have to wait for your husband to rise in fortune.”
Li Feng chuckled—it was the honest truth.
San Miao nudged him: “You really don’t mind? Gold jewelry too? Has your husband completely captivated you?”
Li Feng replied, “Of course the wheat-ear must be gold.”
Si Hou joked, “So must the yolk.”
Er Jun added, “Eggs and ducks are gold too.”
Li Feng said, “Even straw sandals could be gold.”
That day, they didn’t need to meet anyone formally, wandering casually in straw sandals. Li Feng alone flaunted good cloth shoes with socks.
Speaking of shoes, Wang Meng complained, “Why hasn’t Brother Jiu made me socks? I asked, and he only made shoes.”
Li Feng replied, “Do you think your husband is some servant? He handles cooking, collects mushrooms, manages household affairs—making shoes is already generous.”
Wang Meng chuckled, “Your husband really has time.”
Li Feng nodded: “My mother and brother help at home. Your household is quieter. If you’re often away, your husband does everything alone. Don’t think he’s idle.”
Wang Meng laughed shyly. After all, he was Li Feng’s own brother—of course he’d be protective.
They all sat together, chatting about their husbands. San Miao could compare notes with Li Feng and Wang Meng, while Er Jun and Si Hou whispered amongst themselves.
“Wasn’t it like this before? Did Li Feng change after marriage?” Er Jun asked.
Si Hou recalled, “Maybe San Miao’s marriage changed him. Back then, Li Feng didn’t get along with his husband?”
Li Feng raised an eyebrow: “Who said I didn’t get along with my husband?”
Si Hou shrugged, “Everyone said you beat him so he couldn’t get off the bed!”
Li Feng chuckled: “You don’t know the half of it.”
Er Jun teased, “Do you miss your husband, Li Feng?”
Li Feng nodded earnestly: “Yes.”
For these mountain hunters, concern for family was subtle but enduring. Even if absent, the memory lingered, echoing in their hearts like a call from home—a survival instinct, a light guiding them back.
Li Feng, now away from home, thought of Lu Liu the most.
His mother and younger brother, accustomed to seeing him head into the mountains, stayed busy but still worried just enough, carrying on with daily life without overthinking.
