Lu Liu couldn’t manage it. They’d been married less than a year, and with this trip, they’d only parted from Li Feng twice—far from enough to grow accustomed. Since becoming pregnant, he had grown even more sensitive and contemplative.
Lu Liu’s nature was gentle and resilient, like a drooping willow—swaying wherever the wind blew, yet never uprooted.
He could be reluctant, could worry to the point of tears. When reasoned with, he would listen and obey. It was precisely this obedience that tugged at the heart. He had thought that by hiding his tears, he could smile and see someone off easily.
Li Feng saw everything.
It felt as if a rope had tied itself to his heart, normally unnoticed, seemingly grown into him as a part of his body. But the rope had length; the farther he went, the tighter it pulled, squeezing his chest, making it ache.
Li Feng said, “Don’t listen to the old folks in the village saying it’s a loss of face to care about your husband. Worrying for him doesn’t mean fear—that makes no sense. Living together as a family means family first. Between family, there’s no ‘inside’ or ‘outside.’ Caring for parents is right, worrying for brothers is natural, so why hesitate with your husband? I’ve told you before—you could learn from Wang Meng. You didn’t want to listen, thinking I sided with my cousin. Now I’m married, I feel the same. A man must stand tall outside; if he still fusses about face at home, he lacks true ability. If others don’t give him face, only then will he seek it from his husband.”
Er Jun said, “I understand. My husband wanted to raise ducks. My father objected, but he went ahead. Once the ducks were alive, my father constantly demanded the eggs—never fresh, only salted. My husband felt so wronged. When you came to collect the eggs recently, he earned some money and finally smiled a little.
“I also thought: my father reaches out, it’s just a few eggs—how could I refuse? Since they’re to be given, how to give them without discomfort? My father’s used to being domineering and treating me like a child. What could I do? I saw him counting copper coins, smiling, and said I’d make up the money when he took the eggs. He refused. I couldn’t understand. After a few days of thought, I realized—he just wanted me to show some attitude. So this time, I brought silver to exchange for copper coins, let him count all night.”
San Miao and Wang Meng chuckled. “Er Jun, you’re usually so firm, yet your husband asks something outside and you say he must check with you—didn’t expect that!”
Si Hou widened his eyes. “Sneaky Er Jun! No wonder you’ve been glowing lately—just married, right?”
Everyone laughed.
Speaking of newlyweds, it was time to tease San Miao and Wang Meng.
San Miao and Li Feng had married back-to-back; not yet a year—definitely newlyweds. Li Feng was about to become a father; San Miao wasn’t yet.
They teased San Miao: “Saving twenty-three years of money is different from eighteen years. You’re still green!”
Wang Meng had been married just over a year, similar to San Miao—one year ahead. Big Qiang’s husband was already expecting, yet Wang Meng hadn’t heard anything.
They teased Wang Meng: “Heard you sneaked out at midnight to look at Li Feng’s painting book? Got it all figured out? While in the prefecture city, maybe check your pulse with the doctor—don’t be slacking!”
San Miao and Wang Meng jumped up to chase Er Jun and Si Hou, jokingly.
Li Feng warned, “Careful not to bump into anything!”
They immediately quieted down. Yes—outside, they needed to play submissive.
Everyone squatted back by the wall. Li Feng collected three drawings; the shopkeeper, eager for them to leave, didn’t even charge. Free—perfect for Li Feng.
The patterned fabrics were checked the next day. The house had plenty of scraps, many sent over earlier by Lu Yang—enough to patch dozens of quilts. Li Feng didn’t buy fabric; Wang Meng selected two types of patterned cloth, San Miao added a few feet.
Finished there, they left the city for home.
On the day they departed the prefecture city, the second volume of The Imperial Examination Answer Manual went on sale. Lu Yang saw children running among the crowd, shouting and waving the book, calling out “Xie Kuishou’s new work,” and suddenly laughed.
Li Feng asked if he wanted a copy. Lu Yang refused. “I have manuscripts.”
On the way out, they traveled fast. Roads were still rough, but without much cargo, they weren’t afraid of overturning.
The first time, the road had been unfamiliar; now it was familiar.
Li Feng stopped several times, marking spots. To Lu Yang, these marks seemed like nothing more than a few scattered stones. Li Feng explained, “These spots are good for hiding people. Next time, slow down as you approach—avoid ambushes.”
Lu Yang said, “You shouldn’t be a hunter—you should be a general.”
Li Feng had no such ambition.
“Some from our village went to serve in the military—none ended well. Lives can be lost for nothing, fighting for survival alone. Military merit isn’t as fair as the imperial exams. My family needs me. This isn’t the right path.”
Lu Yang nodded, silent.
The road was dusty; even a single trip left them grimy. Speaking too much filled their mouths with dust.
Lu Yang wanted to lie down in the empty cart—but couldn’t. He remembered the first time he went to the prefecture city: he had leaned on Xie Yan, using his body as a pillow, sleeping comfortably the whole way. He missed Xie Yan.
During breaks, Lu Yang tested the bow and arrow. His strength was good; he could draw it fully. Arrows flew fast.
He taught them the idiom “归心似箭”—my heart is like an arrow.
Chapter 107: Going Home
Rain’s power should not be underestimated.
They set off on June 24. Even without cargo, it wasn’t until July that they returned—a journey almost as long as taking the imperial exams, about a month.
They entered through the east gate, moving west. At a rest stop, Lu Yang divided the earnings. Anyone needing copper coins could exchange them at the shop. His shop normally dealt in copper.
After expenses, Lu Yang received twenty-eight taels of silver; Li Feng thirty-seven. Wang Meng and three others shared twenty-eight, seven each.
For joint business, each would contribute half for purchasing goods, then divide profits afterward. Having previously partnered in making rice cakes, they understood the system.
It was noon by the time they entered town. Lu Yang checked the shop, worried no one was home. He left the cart for Zhang Tie to clean and feed the horses.
They came in through the back; Zhang Tie called out, “The master is back!” Lu Lin, seeing Lu Yang, immediately had red eyes.
“Back? All well? Sold the goods?”
Lu Yang reassured him and handed over money to exchange for copper coins.
“Once exchanged, they’ll count it all night!”
Lu Lin invited them to sit inside, but Lu Yang and the others declined.
He asked Lu Lin to keep a distance. “We’re dusty. You’ll be making buns later; don’t want to get dirt everywhere. We’ll gather another day.”
They sat on benches in the yard. Lu Lin fetched money and called for some fruits—mainly cucumbers and local eggs. Cucumbers could be eaten raw; eggs needed peeling.
While biting into cucumbers, eggs were peeled and cut. Hungry and thirsty, they devoured the food in moments.
Lu Yang still avoided overly hard food. His stomach churned after the trip. A bite of cucumber, a bite of egg, then tea—he couldn’t handle buns or greasy, rich food.
