Xie Yan, having no principles about such things, immediately abandoned the idea of keeping his stubble and only tidied his eyebrows, saying he’d finish shaving tomorrow. “Today, I just want to stick with you a little longer.”
He shared his longing with Lu Yang: “Lifeng’s house is too small. I thought we’d be able to sleep in one room at night, but it was a big dormitory instead. It’s my first time sleeping in a dorm. Father was snoring, but Lifeng wasn’t. I listened carefully—he couldn’t disturb your brother. I was woken by father’s snoring in the middle of the night, wanted to use the latrine, paced around the main hall a few times, and saw lights on in your room. I thought you were awake. I worried you might be fetching water or porridge for your brother, so I even went to the stove, sat behind the oven to warm myself while waiting, but never saw you come out. Later I realized your light stayed on all night, letting me wait like that.”
Lu Yang felt his heart soften. “We weren’t hiding from you. When I asked why your eyes were dark, you said it was from reading—you lied. Not a good person.”
Xie Yan lifted his palm, pressing it on the back of Lu Yang’s head, mimicking Lu Yang initiating a kiss, even trying to nip at his lips. He said, “I didn’t lie. I couldn’t just wait around. Didn’t you say I looked charming while reading? I deliberately took a book with me. It was so dark at night, my eyes were all blurry.”
Lu Yang felt both heartache and amusement. “I said so much, and all you remember is ‘charming’!”
Proudly, Xie Yan lifted his chin and said, “I left you all confused.”
Lu Yang leaned over him, his waist soft, so easy to hold. He listened to Xie Yan’s heartbeat. Though Xie Yan spoke nonchalantly of charm and confusion, his heart was practically jumping out of his chest!
Lu Yang chuckled softly, asking, “Then why didn’t you tell me during the day?”
Xie Yan, very serious, said, “I can’t embarrass you.”
Lu Yang touched his face, pretending to peel it off, and then said, “I checked—it won’t come off. No embarrassment possible.”
Xie Yan laughed foolishly at this, forgetting their serious matters for a moment. When Lu Yang began discussing their arrangements for the prefectural city, he gradually collected himself and listened attentively.
Their concern now was—what about the two fathers?
Lu Yang explained his prior plan to Xie Yan.
After the explanation, Xie Yan asked, “Why not bring them along to the prefectural city?”
Lu Yang said, “They don’t want my filial attention.”
Xie Yan hugged him tightly, pressing and patting his back firmly through the thick clothing.
Looking at Lu Yang, he always seemed like a little hedgehog. When uneasy, he would chatter endlessly—he had always been this way, and still was. He wasn’t trying to be spoiled; he just wanted to talk more.
Xie Yan translated his words into meaning: “But they didn’t refuse you.”
Lu Yang, resting his head on Xie Yan’s shoulder, voice muffled like it traveled through bone, said:
“I always felt sorry for them. By forty, they looked so worn, dry and thin like wheat stalks, a gust of wind could knock them down. Their home was shabby, they were honest people, truly unable to provide. I didn’t even know how to blame them. I just thought—they’re not easy either, so forget it. Now that I’m back, I can’t let them continue those past hardships. But suddenly they tell me they don’t need my filial duty… I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Lu Yang lifted his head, looking directly at Xie Yan, eyes dry, no tears slipping.
Seeing Xie Yan’s worried expression, he smiled. “These days my heart’s been heavy, thinking over so many things. I’m not greedy, I’m just afraid of being poor. I’m not a miser—see, I’m generous in life. But in many matters, I consider value, profit, what’s best or most suitable. After calculating everything, I still can’t figure out what I truly want.”
Xie Yan pinched the back of his neck, like handling a tiny hedgehog. “Have you figured it out?”
Lu Yang nodded. “I want to be loved by many.”
He gave generously to others, hoping in return for true sincerity. He believed in karma, and in genuine exchange of heart.
Xie Yan counted carefully: in the county he had his brother, his godfather, and Lin Ge in the shop. Gingko and Pomegranate admired him, seeing him as awe-inspiring yet lovable, like the moon in the sky.
In the mountains, he had a brother far away. Distance didn’t create estrangement; their hearts were connected. In Lujia Village, he had eldest uncle’s family, whom he hadn’t seen in eighteen years. Yet in a single year, family ties made them think of each other often.
He was naturally a good person, deserving of love.
He ran his business openly, neighbors like Ding the shopkeeper befriended him, treated him kindly. Wanting to support locals, Ding helped buy wheat. Selling wild mushrooms in the prefectural city? Ding wrote letters introducing buyers.
Even before they were familiar, Ding assisted him in supporting his brother, helping him secure good deals, allowing the small mountain shop to flourish.
In Lujia Village, his fathers were still alive. They were poor, struggling, doing what they could. Yet they longed for Lu Yang’s return—they loved him.
As for the Chen family…
Xie Yan said, “This lifetime, the only bad people you’ll meet are this one family. After that, you’ll meet only good people.”
Xie Yan didn’t have many friends—only Wu Pingzhi now—but even the Wu family liked Lu Yang. He added this to reassure him.
Lu Yang laughed while listening: “So you’re saying I’m loved by everyone?”
Xie Yan replied, “I can’t speak for others—at least I love you when I see you.”
Lu Yang teased, recalling the past: “When you bought chickens at my stall, you were so dazed—you didn’t fancy me then.”
Xie Yan: !!
He said, “When you came into the family, I loved you very much!”
Lu Yang snorted, “You loved the door god.”
Xie Yan: “No! First me, then the door god!”
Completely reversing the order.
“First the door god, then me.”
Xie Yan: “The mighty door god I painted is you. First you, then the door god.”
Lu Yang snorted again: “So you only liked my might.”
Xie Yan: “I also like your softness. That time you said ‘let me enjoy it,’ I quite liked it.”
Lu Yang pushed him: “Pah, you just like enjoying it.”
Xie Yan continued: “I also like it when you scold me.”
Lu Yang had never scolded him!
Xie Yan: “You always say I’m a fool.”
Lu Yang: “That’s a term of endearment!”
Xie Yan laughed like a rooster crowing. “Then you must have fallen for me at first sight?”
Lu Yang thought—seems he called him ‘fool’ first, and then Xie Yan’s eyes sparkled.
He laughed. “Fine, I love you now. Won’t scold you—let you take advantage.”
Sitting too long, his legs went numb. Rising from Xie Yan, he saw Xie Yan slowly holding the table upright, legs stiff. “Are your legs numb too?”
Xie Yan said yes.
Lu Yang laughed again.
They rested, then went to fetch water and soak their feet.
Xie Yan asked, “Now that you’ve figured it out, what about bringing father-in-law to stay?”
Lu Yang said not yet: “When we go to the prefectural city, we’ll settle in first. They can’t live directly in our house—mother is a woman, seldom meets men, and living long with my two fathers would make her more homebound, possibly affecting her health. Better they stay nearby, close enough to visit, and behind closed doors, keep to themselves—avoid future friction.”
Xie Yan listened, understanding. Seeing Lu Yang’s concern, he asked one more thing and learned that Lu Yang was considering keeping the two fathers occupied.
No land in the city, and a small garden wouldn’t be enough. To live in the city long-term, they needed something to do. His mother-in-law could do light sewing and housework, relaxing. His father-in-law, however, would never be idle.
Xie Yan thought it was easy to arrange: “Aren’t we opening a study? I see the godfather printing books, always hiring others. Then let your father-in-law help with printing. Lifeng and the others are printing illustrated books at the dock—let them pitch in, giving carved blocks to your father-in-law, so he can print books at home eventually. No rush—just let them take their time. We’ll often be out, and they can chat with your mother-in-law.”
