Chen Jiu froze.
Lu Liu congratulated him: “From now on, you’re officially a county resident. You can raise your child here!”
Chen Jiu asked again, “And what about you two?”
Lu Liu hesitated, unsure if he should say it now, worried Chen Jiu might be upset.
Chen Jiu thought for a moment, then asked, “Are you going to the prefecture city?”
Lu Liu nodded lightly. “Not sure when yet.”
Da Feng said they would first rent a shop at the wharf, then slowly look for a house—probably around mid-next year.
Chen Jiu relaxed. “That’s good.”
Lu Liu looked at him, and Chen Jiu said, “I don’t want to take anything from you.”
Lu Liu stayed silent; he wasn’t used to talking with Chen Jiu, who had no sharp edges.
Chen Jiu rubbed his belly and apologized.
“The last time I saw you, I deliberately scolded you. That was my fault. Wang Meng told me a few times, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen. My father also said it a few times, but I was stubborn. These past few months, no one mentioned it, as if it never happened—but I couldn’t get past it. I didn’t know better back then, only thinking about feeling free. Don’t take it to heart.”
Lu Liu smiled. “It’s fine. Anyway, I didn’t like you either.”
Chen Jiu: “…”
Well, that was for the best.
At home, Lu Liu and Shun’er would make clothes for the child. His mother still had work at the drying field; Lu Liu hadn’t learned to make tiger-head shoes or hats yet.
Chen Jiu could make them. Today, seeing Lu Liu had already prepared everything, he taught him a bit.
He noticed Lu Liu had some bells and asked about them. That’s when he learned that Yao Fulang had sewn bells onto the child’s tiger-head shoes. Chen Jiu scolded Wang Meng a couple of times: “He’s going to the county with his cousin, and he didn’t even think to buy a few bells?”
Lu Liu, in a good mood, poked him playfully: “Because Wang Meng doesn’t care about you.”
Chen Jiu remembered that. “We’ll see when he returns.”
Lu Liu hoped for Li Feng’s return and for his brother to stay at the mountain stronghold, but first, two fathers arrived.
Lu Erbao and Wang Fengnian came loaded with parcels, borrowing a donkey cart from the eldest uncle’s house. The cart carried goods they’d saved from months of selling fried flour and eggs, intending to sell some more in the county. This year they hadn’t sold chickens; they planned to wait until New Year when the kids returned to slaughter some for soup.
It was the first time they visited since Lu Liu had been pregnant, which made him embarrassed.
“Our house has just the two of us. There’s work in the fields, chickens and pigs to tend. We don’t have spare cash or time, so we thought we’d save up. Now that it’s almost year-end, and you can’t travel easily, we came to see you.”
Seeing them, Lu Liu smiled but tears rolled down his face before he could speak.
Earlier, seeing Chen Jiu’s family visit, surrounded by attention, he’d been envious. He thought his fathers wouldn’t come, but here they were.
His crying made the two men feel heartbroken.
“We should have come earlier. Stop crying, or you’ll ruin your eyes.”
Lu Liu understood their difficulties, didn’t blame them, but still felt a sense of grievance.
Wang Fengnian prepared sugar water and sweetened eggs for him. “You always liked these. We even bought two pounds of brown sugar for you.”
They also brought two large bundles of cotton, ten pounds total, and a pack of diapers for the child. The rest were small snacks—plums, longans. That was all they could manage; they hadn’t sold grain, and the pigs weren’t ready for sale. Every coin was hard-earned.
They were true in-laws. Talking with them at home, Shun’er went to fetch his mother to meet them.
Lu Liu told them to keep the cotton: “I’ve finished the winter clothes and the child’s quilt. You haven’t had new cotton for years—it’s perfect for you to use and refill your quilt.”
Wang Fengnian said: “We still have a few pounds at home. Keep that. We rarely visit and can’t give you much. No reason to take it back.”
Lu Liu asked, “Did you buy anything for my brother?”
Wang Fengnian shook his head, eyes red.
Lu Erbao said: “No, we didn’t have much money. We told Yang’er we’d save some for when he has a child.”
Lu Liu cried again. They were grown, married, yet raising two children was still so difficult.
He said, “Then split the cotton—give half to my brother.”
Lu Erbao said, “The cotton comes in two five-pound bundles. We suggested each of you take one. He said to give all to you now, and save his for later.”
Wang Fengnian wiped his eyes: “Take it. We’ll save more. You’ll have enough.”
Lu Liu took it. He had some private savings, leftover from previous gifts. He gave it to his fathers to hold.
“I didn’t come home much this year or send anything. Keep this money. You’ll have a bit more comfort.”
Wang Fengnian refused, but Lu Liu pretended to fuss: “Ah, ah!” feigning discomfort, so his father had to accept the pouch, making him feel relieved.
Lunch was at home. Chen Guizhi had Shun’er help prepare a full table with mountain and field delicacies.
This year, the two fathers were a bit more lively, having relatives often visit, and could speak smoothly. Chen Guizhi chatted with them briefly and realized they were honest people—no need for flattery. They spoke of fields, livestock, and village life.
Unlike those who partnered for profit, Lu Erbao and Wang Fengnian worked for what they earned.
Chen Guizhi considered suggesting a business partnership, but seeing their honest faces, she said nothing. Their earnings were hard-won; transporting goods risked being cheated.
It was tough.
She let the in-laws rest a night, but they declined, saying they had chickens and pigs to tend, and the donkey needed returning. They would return at year-end when Lu Liu had the child.
Before leaving, Wang Fengnian wanted to speak with Lu Liu indoors. Lu Liu refused, speaking with them in the courtyard.
Now grown, he understood their intentions.
“Father, what I give you is yours. Don’t think you can secretly keep it. I remember what you taught me. I live with Da Feng—he knows everything about money. His savings for me were so I wouldn’t feel shy asking. He and mother know. Take it; I feel better if you do.”
Wang Fengnian, stumped by his words, smiled with tears in his eyes. “Good, good. As long as you live well, we’re at ease.”
They loaded the cart and left. Lu Liu saw them to the gate.
Before parting, he asked: “Would you rather live your life with me, or with my brother?”
Wang Fengnian and Lu Erbao explained that they hadn’t raised Lu Yang and had no expectation for him to care for them.
Regarding Lu Liu, they said, “Don’t be silly. Your father and I don’t rely on you. Life is fine in Lujia Tun. Just visit when you can.”
Lu Liu pressed, “If I had to choose?”
Even pressed, Wang Fengnian didn’t choose.
Lu Liu looked at his father. Lu Erbao said, “We’d feel guilty choosing Yang’er, but more guilty if we didn’t. Don’t ask. Your father and I can still work. The two of us live simply, and everything’s fine. Da Feng often visits; nothing’s bad. We’re leaving—don’t see us off.”
