Chen Guizhi said he could take charge of the household, but she rarely gave opinions on family matters. Most of the time, Lu Liu felt uncertain and insisted she give a clear answer.
This time, Chen Guizhi didn’t voice her opinion and avoided meeting Lu Liu’s eyes. Opening a shop was quite different from running a street stall, both in effort and cost.
With the provincial exams approaching, they cut two fewer baskets of buns each morning—any extras would have to be sold on the street. Autumn meant returning villagers competing to harvest crops, and winter brought the New Year holiday. Following her advice, this year they decided to hold off on opening the shop.
Still, she saw the commercial potential in Fucheng. The shop, located near the academy, could be run with care; while it might not make a fortune, it could easily net a few taels of silver a month, comparable to the income from a stall.
So she stayed silent. If the family was willing to invest, she’d work at the shop. If they weren’t, she’d work at home. Either way, it was the same to her.
Li Feng earned money for the comfort of his family. Lu Liu had carefully planned everything, and after listening, Li Feng agreed they could open the shop.
They had already checked the rent for shops in Fucheng. Aside from those at the docks, most shops were reasonably priced; near the academy, the rent was slightly higher. Renting a small shop would cost roughly thirty-odd taels of silver.
“I’ll go to the silversmith later and leave word with someone to keep an eye out,” Li Feng said.
Lu Liu was thrilled and kept piling dishes onto his plate. He was skilled with his hands; at banquets, he could grab a few bowls of food, and this time, he heaped them high in Li Feng’s large bowl.
When Li Feng called him “Boss Lu” again, Lu Liu was overjoyed to the point of being unable to contain himself.
The excitement was contagious; even before the shop opened, the elders in the family were fully invested in the idea.
The next morning, Chen Guizhi and Zhao Peilan went out to buy chickens, ducks, and spare ribs, returning with two small clay pots. Using the household stove, they prepared the ingredients so that when Lu Liu returned from his stall, the soups were already simmering.
By afternoon, as the scholars finished their lessons, Chen Guizhi took the initiative, Zhao Peilan wanted to go along to see if anything could be sold, and Wang Fengnian and Lu Erbao were eager, rubbing their hands at the door.
Seeing this, Lu Liu had no choice but to fetch his older brother to help.
Too many people at the stall would scare off customers.
Lu Yang said, “Bring a few bowls, go stand or squat like regular customers.” He wasn’t going himself—he stayed home to watch the child. He usually didn’t watch over the child much, only played with him.
Looking around, only three big dogs were beside him. He thought, the bustling stall could wait; better to spend time with the child.
So everyone leaving the house had to praise Shun Ge’er, who blushed from the attention.
Xie Yan had been coming home late lately, speaking with Elder Cui. When he arrived, he only saw Lu Yang and Shun Ge’er at home. Curious, he asked, “Where’s everyone else?”
Lu Yang briefly explained about the stall.
Shun Ge’er babbled about the stall too.
Xie Yan was pleased for a moment, then cautiously asked, “And Li Feng?”
Lu Yang made a teasing face, “Why are you competing with my man? You like him?”
Li Feng immediately gagged twice, deciding not to ask about the stall anymore.
Shun Ge’er saw the exchange, avoided Li Feng, and quietly gave Lu Yang a thumbs-up.
“Brother Yang, I’ve learned it.”
Lu Yang snorted, “You’ve got a lot to learn. You used to be too obedient, a little helper to Aunt Chen—clever but too straightforward. Once the shop opens and you deal with all kinds of people, your growth will speed up!”
He thought of Lin Ge’er at the shop and smiled.
If the top scholar passed the exam, they could return home in September, pay respects at their father-in-law’s grave, and meet relatives and friends. For today, they only awaited their little boss Lu to come home with good news.
In mid-July, Lu Yang and Xie Yan packed to leave for the provincial exams in the capital. They left a month in advance, planning to return once results were announced. Lu Liu and Li Feng were entrusted to care for their mother, with Shun Ge’er staying overnight at home to keep her company.
After the beginning of autumn, the weather gradually cooled. They packed jackets and cotton clothes, took a carriage to the docks, and boarded a boat to the capital.
While loading luggage, Lu Yang pulled Lu Liu aside to give instructions.
Shipments had increased recently, and Li Feng had been going to the docks early and returning late. Lu Liu would manage the household during this time, calling his father over as needed. Honest and strong from years of farm work and pig-slaughtering, his father could ward off petty thieves.
Usually, only Er Huang was let out; when Li Feng returned, Wei Feng and Wei Meng could play. Otherwise, Er Huang stayed indoors. With the colder season, more people ate dog meat, so they needed to be cautious.
The elders were ambitious; daily, they wanted to make soup to sell. Lu Liu had to moderate them—business should be done, but not rushed. He assigned work so people would alternate between busy and idle, ensuring someone was always home to watch over the house and children. People needed rest too, some leisure.
Lu Liu rubbed his temples.
“Brother, I understand. Don’t worry about the household. I’ll take care of them. Mother said I could manage things, but if I miss anything, she helps watch over it. Shun Ge’er is clever and helpful; he can assist me everywhere. Don’t worry, just take care of yourselves. I’ll wait for you to return!”
Lu Yang was a worrier. Looking at the household, everyone was in place. Li Feng was still giving instructions to Xie Yan, who listened carefully without fussing.
Lu Yang glanced down the alley—He Fulang was at the gate, looking toward them and smiling. Lu Yang waved. He Fulang hesitated, didn’t understand, then waved back. Lu Yang shook his head, smiling, and told Lu Liu, “Liu Youli will also take the exam. They agreed to depart in August. I calculated—He Fulang will sell salted duck eggs one more time, take the money, and Liu Youli will leave. You watch He Fulang closely; his life will get harder then.”
Lu Liu widened his eyes. “You mean the faithless type from the storybooks?”
Lu Yang shook his head. “Storybooks at least give some excuse. They… the couple…”
He couldn’t continue, saying only, “In August, keep an eye on them.”
Lu Liu took note.
Living in the same alley made it convenient to check in.
Lu Yang spoke briefly with his mother, reminding her to take good care of herself.
“If the house feels empty, you can stay with Brother Liu, bring your bedding—no need to move luggage. Convenient, right?”
Zhao Peilan reassured him, “I have company—someone to talk to during the day, Shun Ge’er stays at home at night. Aunt Chen promised to cook three meals, and I’ll have Ar Yan draw her portrait. I agreed.”
Lu Yang laughed, pleased.
“After the provincial exam, he can rest and spend time with the family. I’ll also paint a picture of you with Aunt Chen.”
Zhao Peilan could paint, though her skills weren’t as refined as Xie Yan’s. She mostly painted embroidery patterns; portraits were only approximate. Hearing this warmed her heart, and she said, “I’ll practice with my brush too, to paint the two little ones.”
