Lu Liu was fretting over the children’s feeding, but when he heard this, a smile spread across his face, his words sticky with relief: “Brother, you’re incredible, you’ve thought of everything. I was worried we’d be busy settling in the prefectural city, but now I don’t have to worry at all. I’ll just go back and take a nap, and everything will be settled!”
Lu Yang saw the dark circles under his eyes and felt a pang of heartache.
“Why are you so exhausted?”
Lu Liu said, “The children aren’t used to it, they cried a lot on the road. I couldn’t sleep properly, but once we arrive, it’s fine.”
Hearing this, Lu Yang urged them to hurry home and get settled.
“I’ll go out for a bit and bring the wet nurse over, so the children can feed first.”
Since no one had been hired at home yet, everything had to be done personally.
Li Feng had offered to go as well, but Lu Yang declined.
“You just arrived today. You’re covered in dust and need a proper wash. With you at home, changing the water in the tubs is easier. It’s not far; I’ll go myself.”
He arranged for a nearby wet nurse—seven streets away, a round trip of about forty-five minutes.
Lu Yang asked Lu Liu to stay home for a while. Zhao Peilan and the two fathers were reserved by nature; having Lu Liu around eased the awkwardness. He agreed.
They set about their tasks. While water was being heated at both ends, Li Feng and Shun’er moved the luggage inside.
Erhuang followed Li Feng into the new home. Loyal and proud, he circled Lu Liu’s legs.
While the two fathers waited for hot water, they became anxious again, eager to use the small bathing room. Especially Lu Erbao, who lingered, embarrassed to ask, so Wang Fengnian spoke up for him.
Lu Yang had already planned ahead: the bathing room was in the front yard’s small house, with tubs provided.
Later, when they moved in separately, there would naturally be two tubs. For now, they could use this one, and Li Feng would help move it later.
After seeing inside, they relaxed and, like Lu Liu, praised Lu Yang for being thoughtful and thorough.
Bathing was time-consuming, especially with many people, so Lu Yang kept Lu Liu back to bathe as well.
The kitchens had been heating all day. By afternoon, some people still hadn’t rested, waiting for their hair to dry.
Lu Liu waited for the wet nurse, seeing that the children were fed and sleeping soundly. Only then could he relax. With half-dried hair, he was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open and had to lie down.
Li Feng helped him, using a cotton cloth to dry his hair and gently comb it.
Whenever Lu Liu slept, fingers would brush against his scalp. Li Feng’s hands were rough, and to avoid tugging painfully at his hair, he wrapped them in cotton, which also absorbed moisture while combing.
Lu Liu was deeply moved, half-asleep, murmuring that it wasn’t necessary, letting Li Feng rest as well.
The journey these past few days hadn’t been hard for Li Feng. He never argued with Lu Liu, never complained about being tired. He simply said, “Okay, we’ll sleep now,” calming Lu Liu, helping him fall asleep. Then he would check on the children sleeping inside, sitting nearby to dry his own hair.
The two families didn’t gather for dinner until evening, eating for two days straight.
On the night they arrived in the prefectural city, they had a welcoming meal at Lu Yang’s.
The next day, Li Feng went out to buy groceries. Lu Liu stayed with his mother, and Shun’er returned to help tidy up for a small housewarming feast.
A few days after the meal, Lu Erbao and Wang Fengnian adjusted to the new home, moving into the small house at the street corner. The brothers spent some money, bought ingredients, and held another small housewarming meal.
With guests coming and going, everyone was busy, but their hearts were at ease.
Lu Liu rose late after sleeping early, followed the day’s chores, and spent the rest of his time at leisure. He could even take a midday nap.
With the children quiet, he felt truly relaxed.
With nothing weighing on his mind, after a few days of rest, he regained his spirits, greeting everyone with a cheerful smile.
Li Feng, not wanting to leave the brothers idle, went to check the waterfront shop on the second day in the city.
Since the distance was far, it was inconvenient to return home at noon. By evening, returning to good meals, seeing his mother and brother, with the children and husband on the kang, his days were filled with joy.
Lu Liu went to the market with his brother, buying plenty of vegetables for home.
He made a mushroom and diced meat sauce, rolled into pancakes or tossed with noodles for Li Feng. Hearing from his brother about sesame paste and peanut sauce for noodles, he bought some as well, leaving Li Feng pleasantly confused by the aromas.
Breakfasts were simple, not much variety. Dinners were richer, and with summer approaching, more vegetables were available, which he rotated daily.
The three families lived close by. At mealtimes, Lu Liu would swing by his brother’s house to swap dishes, and together they would deliver a bowl to the two fathers. The dining table instantly became abundant, and everyone ate their fill.
At night, the couples would soothe the children to sleep. Li Feng would take out portraits, and Lu Liu would help find places to hang them.
With larger rooms, square and spacious, the kang along the wall felt like a bed rather than spanning wall to wall. At the end of the kang was a curtain hiding the chamber pot.
Inside, there was a small round table, unfamiliar to them. After a few days, they replaced it with a long desk from the study.
With the layout changed, it was easier to find spots for the portraits.
Lu Liu suggested minor adjustments, and Li Feng hung the painting.
The portrait symbolized longing and had helped Lu Liu endure many lonely days.
Standing before it, he mimicked the pose in the painting, snuggling close to Li Feng.
“Da Feng, let’s sleep now.”
Li Feng lowered his head, meeting his gaze. Lu Liu’s eyes glistened. Looking a moment longer, Li Feng’s face flushed warmly, filled with affection.
He responded by taking the children to their mother’s room, then went up the kang with Lu Liu to rest.
Lu Yang received two letters, which he opened and read that evening.
One was from Lu Lin, reporting on the shop’s operations. He detailed how producing flour and vegetables at the estate reduced costs and increased income.
Since the firm had also opened shops, the three locations sold vegetables. They still collected seasonal produce and eggs from the village. When produce overflowed, they would clear stock on “vegetable days.”
The shops in the county were trusted by neighbors. When surplus crops appeared, Lu Lin would slightly underweigh the produce, giving extra to customers for goodwill.
After covering these points, Lu Lin briefly mentioned in-shop matters.
Ginkgo and pomegranate were being courted. Locals assumed Lu Lin was working with a man in the shop and spread the rumor. He hadn’t revealed anything. Both families then told matchmakers they could work in the shop. Recently, a few strange men came by, observing the shop and inquiring about wages.
Ginkgo and pomegranate were unaware, and this made them cry. Lu Lin went to the village himself, having his father and the other elders explain matters. How could things be done this way?
Additionally, Old Chen and Lu Sanfeng had caused trouble at the shop twice but were dismissed by the Luo brothers. Lu Lin didn’t know how they handled it and mentioned it in his letter to Lu Yang.
After business matters, Lu Lin wrote about personal matters.
He was busy at the shop daily, so there was little private news. The letter asked after Lu Yang’s well-being in the prefectural city and whether everything was going smoothly.
The handwriting was neat, with formal wording, showing Lu Lin had dictated it to someone to write.
The second letter was from the Luo brothers. They went straight to the point, reporting the matter of Old Chen visiting, which the youngest Chen heard in the village.
Chenjiawan and Lujiatun were close, with many family connections between villages. Upon hearing that Lu Erbao and Wang Fengnian were moving with the children to the prefectural city, he became restless and went to the county to speak with Old Chen, which prompted the visit.
This issue was not difficult to handle. They spoke with Old Chen’s eldest son, agreeing that for a stable life and successful tofu shop business, the elder parents should be managed.
Old Chen’s eldest had been saving money. Last year, he saved from renting land; this year, he bought beans. By the Dragon Boat Festival, he had some extra money and had a matchmaker arrange a marriage proposal.
Good times were within reach. Luo Dayong and Luo Erwu made only mild threats. The eldest Chen was furious and swore that next time the youngest came, he would beat him again, and if the elders interfered, he would no longer give the youngest a cent—literally not a penny.
