Seeing Lu Liu like this, Li Feng didn’t ask further.
He had a routine when he returned home: first, fill a basin with water, wash his face and hands. Today the dogs’ meal had been taken care of early, so Li Feng also fed the dogs and fetched fodder for the horses.
Lu Liu moved back and forth a few times, setting up a small brazier on the table and heating a pot of wine.
The brazier was made of copper; they had seen similar ones in large taverns. Many soups and stews in such establishments were served over small braziers, so the dishes could continue simmering for a long time at the table. It was more portable than a home stove but used similarly.
Lu Liu brought the wine to a boil, laid out a few dishes to accompany it, and served two bowls of rice.
Worried the food might cool, he cleaned a small pot to keep inside the room. If anything got cold, he could just simmer it all together again.
Li Feng entered and caught the aroma, then noticed the fine dishes and wine on the table, raising his eyebrows.
He closed the door, walked to the table, and sat down. Seeing Lu Liu smiling brightly, with no trace of worry, he asked, “Why did you think to eat in the room?”
Lu Liu replied, “It’s lively at home. It’s been so long since we’ve had a meal alone. I mentioned it to Mother this afternoon, and she didn’t even ask—she just agreed.”
He poured some wine for Li Feng. It was hot and slightly scalding; he cautioned him to drink slowly.
Li Feng rarely drank spirits and wasn’t in the mood today.
Since their marriage, he had drunk more often, and Lu Liu had always been attentive, heating the wine for him.
Li Feng nibbled on fish bones and vegetables and noticed Lu Liu bringing a second bowl of wine, blowing on it before offering it to him. He laughed, saying, “Mother says you’re not my brother, so I shouldn’t always let you drag me into drinking.”
Lu Liu ignored him. “It’s fine. I want to drink today, and I’m making you drink with me.”
Li Feng said his tolerance was low, but his craving strong. Lu Liu just chuckled.
Once Li Feng took a few sips, Lu Liu finally asked, “Da Feng, is there anything you want to tell me?”
Li Feng paused, startled. He had no secrets and hadn’t acted out anywhere, so he wasn’t sure what Lu Liu meant.
He thought back to the days in the mountain band, when he often told Lu Liu about life there. Since coming to the city, he hadn’t mentioned much about the docks.
He furrowed his brow, unsure what to say.
Lu Liu already knew the good news from the shop.
The things unspoken were minor operational details and difficulties dealing with people.
Since coming from the mountains to the city, his experience had to evolve—he had to feel his way forward. In social interactions, he needed to flatter and appease, which felt undignified. He didn’t want to mention that.
He looked up into Lu Liu’s clear, smiling eyes, thought for a moment, and chose his words carefully.
“The docks aren’t very stable. Some people cause trouble. Since we’re close to Hong Chu, we’ve upset other branches of the Hong family. Things seem smooth outwardly, but behind the scenes, people are scheming. For example, a while back it rained and the warehouse leaked. Luckily, we noticed in time. The brothers on watch did regular patrols, or the mountain mushrooms would have been ruined.”
After this incident, Hong Lao Wu replaced the watchmen. Li Feng considered keeping his own men on duty, but given the sums involved, he couldn’t risk someone tampering with the goods. It was easier to use Hong Lao Wu’s men—they were all on the Hong family payroll and convenient to manage.
He had too few trustworthy men under him to form a proper crew and hoped a couple of brothers could come to help. He also regretted being too proud and solitary back in the mountain band, not having gained more dependable comrades.
In the city, if he could hire and get along with someone, working together would be fate. But he couldn’t risk strangers in urgent situations.
Li Feng drank a bowl of wine and picked at the snacks before speaking again. “Being outside, my courage shrinks a bit.”
Lu Liu immediately disagreed. “No, you’re not timid. You just have heavy responsibilities and a lot to think about. So many people rely on the shop for a living—their hopes are all pinned here. That’s a lot of pressure. Back then, you only managed yourself and a few brothers. Now, you’re running a big operation. Da Feng, you’re amazing. I know how hard it is outside. In my eyes, you were always upright and strong, a solid, tough man. Now, you can soften when needed—bend and stretch—you’re even better!”
Seeing Li Feng staring at him silently, Lu Liu added with a smile, “Da Feng, I already know how capable you are. You’re my great hero!”
Li Feng laughed. The warmth of home made him feel at ease. He glanced around—they truly were at home.
By the window on the table edge, an oil lamp with a square shade glowed. On top were their moon-viewing illustrations.
A year had passed; the paired pictures had aged, yellowing slightly, but the figures’ skin tones and expressions had grown tender, even lifelike.
Li Feng asked, “Xiao Liu, why are you like this today?”
Lu Liu smiled, “I want to make you happy!”
Li Feng’s heart softened. “Am I not happy?”
Lu Liu said, “I just want to hear you talk. If there’s something, we bear it together. Whether solvable or not, when it enters two ears, we share the burden.”
A soft heart changes one’s attitude toward things.
Li Feng wasn’t used to showing weakness and often refrained from speaking.
He wasn’t accustomed to socializing. Outside interactions weren’t like the mountain band.
Even as a hunter selling goods, he learned from his mother and experience how to handle customers, gauging their preferences.
Back then, he didn’t have to do this daily and could often retreat to the mountains for peace. Now, with responsibility and family, he carried everything on his shoulders.
Good, bad, bitter, sweet… he swallowed it all.
With so many cold shoulders, he had to master the art of appeasement.
Finally, he expressed only one rough complaint: “Nothing much, just too many cold shoulders—I can’t stick my warm face anywhere.”
Lu Liu feigned shock. “Poor you, only one cold shoulder!”
Li Feng choked on his words.
Lu Liu hurried around the table, patting his back, and continued, “The richer the person, the colder the seat, huh? No wonder they say ‘warm face meets cold butt.’”
Using his modest knowledge and Li Feng’s experience, Lu Liu grasped the meaning of the proverb.
Li Feng wrapped an arm around him mischievously, giving a playful squeeze.
Through clothes, there was no warmth. He only said, “Xiao Liu, your butt’s cold too.”
Lu Liu widened his eyes and pushed him. “Bad man!”
He bent low, feeling along the bench and pressing toward Li Feng’s leg, touching his butt.
Whether he felt it or not didn’t matter. Shocked, he exclaimed, “Wow, Da Feng, your butt’s cold too! So we both have cold butts!”
Li Feng laughed heartily.
With the playful antics done, there was no need to move. Li Feng lifted him onto his lap, and they drank and joked together.
Lu Liu squirmed, half-heartedly resisting, speaking as if it were improper, “This isn’t right, it’s not proper.”
Li Feng didn’t mind.
He said, “When we’re together, aside from eating chicken, what’s proper anyway?”
Lu Liu puffed his cheeks, stifling a laugh.
He told Li Feng, “Inside, we can joke. Outside, we pretend to be studious and ambitious. People can fake books, so they can fake ambition too!”
Li Feng understood. One arm held Xiao Fu Lang, the other lifted a bowl of wine, letting Lu Liu drink first before finishing the rest himself.
He said, “Today we discuss butts over wine—a trivial matter.”
Lu Liu laughed freely.
Yes—they were delightfully ordinary!
Lu Liu asked, “Da Feng, do you want to talk a bit more?”
Li Feng shook his head. “Later. Tonight, we eat chicken.”
It was cold; rolling around on the kang was the only option.
Li Feng extinguished the brazier and lamp, lifting Lu Liu onto the kang.
