Xie Yan said he wanted to learn how to make stir-fried sauces, planning to cook fresh condiments for Elder Cui. His culinary skills were improving; once he learned a technique, he rarely forgot it. Lu Yang taught him, he memorized the proportions, and when cooking, he wasn’t afraid of oil splatters—he could handle stir-frying sauces.
Lu Yang said, “Since you’re making the sauce for him and not to sell, don’t worry about the cost. Buy good ingredients; the sauce will taste even better.”
Xie Yan noted everything carefully.
This time, he didn’t want to bring his attendant along—too cold, and the attendant would have to sleep on the floor, which was uncomfortable.
Wu Pingzhi made a special trip to their home to say, “I’ll take care of him during the day; if you need anything, send him. At night, let him go early—he stays at my place. You can also stay there if it’s too cold at home. There’s a carriage; you can read along the way. Carry a book—doesn’t take much effort.”
Xie Yan thought back to his daily life at the prefectural school. Having someone to help made things easier, so he nodded in agreement.
At home, only Fulang and his mother remained, leaving Wu Pingzhi to watch over them. Wu Pingzhi had no objections.
The night before departure, Lu Yang handed him fifty taels of silver notes.
Li Feng had sold ginseng to Wu Pingzhi at fifty taels per root—this sum was enough.
Xie Yan accepted it. That night, instead of reading, he chattered to Lu Yang.
“I know I’ve been keeping you home. Once I leave, you’ll be busy like a spinning top. I’m staying longer in the prefecture city so your time is freer—you can go slower, take care of yourself.”
Lu Yang stubbornly refused to admit anything. “There’s nothing to do. Once you leave, I’ll tidy up and go live in the mountain village. There’s not much to do at the shop; Brother Lin can handle it. I don’t need to manage it.”
Xie Yan reached over and touched his lips. “Soft, yet your words are so hard.”
Lu Yang smiled and revealed something.
“I’ll check the fields, visit the tenants, consult a geomancer for an auspicious date, and prepare to move Father’s grave. That’s my only task for the year-end.”
He didn’t say more; Xie Yan wasn’t sure how to respond.
“I can’t control you. Just keep it in mind. Next time I come home, if I see you exhausted or too thin, I won’t go to the prefecture school—I’ll keep you home and pamper you.”
Lu Yang truly had few things to do. He pressed Xie Yan’s hand to his chest.
“Your tone… makes it seem like I’ve been lying to you all along. I truly can’t stay idle, yet today you speak as if you want me to bare my heart?”
Xie Yan replied, “I thought you were keeping something from me.”
He was slowly learning to notice life’s details, observe people, and think ahead. Already sharp, he could sense subtle differences that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Lu Yang said, “There’s something, but I haven’t figured out how to handle it. Not this year. My plans only include buying land and moving Father’s grave, wishing for your safe return and my brother’s safe delivery. That’s all.”
When Xie Yan asked what it was, Lu Yang mentioned a business matter.
“At year-end, Master Jin will deliver the profit distribution. I’ll need to decide how to spend it.”
That was indeed for the next year.
When Lu Yang brought up opening a study, Xie Yan relaxed. “Next year’s concerns are for next year. Once the farming season is over, get Brother Da Song to help you buy the land. Leave calculating the grave’s date for my return. Finish that, then go stay in the mountain village. Li Feng says life there is leisurely—no pests at this time. Go have some fun.”
Even after saying this, Xie Yan muttered a little more.
As usual, Lu Yang had arranged everything in detail. He thought through clothing for the cold mountain village—more layers were necessary.
Living there might be inconvenient for laundry, so bring extra clothes. Winter garments aren’t changed often, so pack enough. After returning to the city, they could have someone wash them, sparing themselves from hardship and cold.
Though Lu Yang couldn’t entirely leave business matters unattended, Xie Yan wanted him to worry less. Li Feng was decisive; for the village trade, Lu Yang only needed to manage social contacts externally. Handling village matters personally might cause resentment.
Xie Yan also noted that several households expected children by year-end, advising Lu Yang not to worry too much—they could plan for kids next year. Delays weren’t a problem; all would happen in due time.
Lu Yang sat by the desk, glancing sideways at Xie Yan.
This long string of instructions and advice—concerns, reminders, careful planning—wasn’t unpleasant. Surprisingly, he realized the one he’d always protected had matured mentally and was learning how to be a man, to hold up an umbrella for him.
Xie Yan had studies and couldn’t prioritize home like other men, yet he contributed in his own way.
As he said, he couldn’t control Lu Yang but knew Lu Yang would take care of the household. He could only nag to ensure Lu Yang cared for himself—work less, don’t worry, postpone what could wait, and handle it together upon his return.
Just as he was about to say more, Lu Yang stood, leaned down, and kissed him.
Xie Yan blinked, returned the kiss, wrapped his arms around Lu Yang’s waist, gradually standing, pressing him against the table, kissing for a long while.
Xie Yan had grown taller. Previously, he’d only had to adjust clothing lengths twice. Normally, it hadn’t mattered, but standing and kissing Lu Yang now highlighted their height difference.
He remembered their wedding days—Lu Yang had stood on tiptoe to kiss his face. Now, Xie Yan had to bend slightly so Lu Yang wouldn’t strain.
He lifted Lu Yang onto the table, undid his belt, kissing everywhere he could reach.
“Jingzhi, I can now carry you around several times,” Xie Yan said.
Lu Yang, wild by nature, asked, “While walking, can we…?”
Xie Yan didn’t know; he was willing to try.
The attempt left Lu Yang like a crumpled scroll, waiting for Fulang to pat him before straightening again.
Lu Yang said he would fetch water. Xie Yan, preserving his dignity, flailed a few times; Lu Yang teased him, then brought water to wash, and the couple went to sleep.
The next day was the first day of winter.
They slept in a little longer. After rising, Xie Yan washed, ate, and talked with his mother in the kitchen, while Lu Yang packed.
Lu Yang placed a notebook in Xie Yan’s case, recording recent reflections.
He didn’t draw; his artwork was still crude, so he didn’t keep visual records like Xie Yan. Living in the city, daily meals weren’t noteworthy. If something new happened, he told Xie Yan. After thought, he focused on essays, not private life.
Reading was a spiritual exchange, an experience hard to express in words. Lu Yang couldn’t fully understand Xie Yan’s notes but could see his heart and spirit through them—like Xie Yan expressing himself through drawings, Lu Yang did so through words.
Their luggage was light. Wu Pingzhi advised Xie Yan to travel lightly: carry only cotton boots and ear covers from his mother, the newly made fur vest and knee protectors, hand braziers, and his books and bag.
Lu Yang looked at the items, thought briefly, and added a tin of lip balm—used once—to Xie Yan’s pack.
The writing alone felt cold; adding the lip balm made it intimate, like the two of them together.
With the luggage ready, Lu Yang moved it to the main room, waiting for Li Feng to pick them up. The family of three sat in the kitchen.
Xie Yan took a liking to Weimeng that day. Puppies were life, unpredictable yet interactive—throw a paper ball, and it would play for half a day, chase it, retrieve it, and engage with its owner, bringing vitality to the courtyard.
Zhao Peilan asked Xie Yan, “Anything else you think you’ve forgotten?”
Xie Yan said, “I want to take you all with me.”
Zhao Peilan, scolding playfully, said, “Think carefully.”
Indeed, that was Xie Yan’s only thought.
