Li Feng crouched down. In the stream of honey pouring from the ladle, he caught a reflection of Lu Liu. A warm amber glow lay across Lu Liu’s face—soft, gentle.
Today they only drew one bucket of honey, and the two of them carried it together to the food shop.
Lu Liu found a small porcelain bowl, scooped some honey into it, and set it on the table for customers to see.
He had already thought through how to restore the honey’s reputation—how to mend the disappointment in the diners’ hearts.
Most of their customers were scholars. It was common for them to study late into the night by candlelight.
Beeswax could be made into candles. Li Feng had asked around—these candles carried a faint fragrance, produced little smoke, and were a bit pricey. Scholars would certainly not refuse beeswax candles.
Lu Liu decided not to run any more tasting stalls to gather opinions. He already knew the problem, and he was about to have the solution.
He planned to offer beeswax candles as a gift—limited to three days. Buy one jin of honey, get one candle. During this time, they would continue selling honey drinks in the shop as usual, brewing each bowl in plain sight so customers could see the clarity of the honey and know that the impurities had been removed.
But beeswax needed time to produce. If they waited for goods from the mountain stronghold, it would be too late.
When his brother-in-law returned, he would purchase the stock from that Husband Sun to show sincerity. That way, the shop’s immediate needs would be met, the honey’s reputation could be restored quickly, and at the same time, Husband Sun’s worries would be resolved, allowing him to return to the stronghold and focus on refining honey.
As he spoke softly to Li Feng, Lu Liu could not help but reach out and take his hand.
“Da Feng, Brother An and Da Qiang are about to pull through as well.”
Husband Yao was his first friend—and his best.
Da Qiang had always been a step too late. When there was a chance to partner up and head into the deep mountains, the stronghold had already found a livelihood, and no one needed to take such risks anymore.
He had also been late in joining when Li Feng brought the others into the trading company as shareholders—so there had been no place for him.
But now, they could turn their lives around with this “flowing gold.”
Li Feng squeezed his hand in return and led him outside for a walk.
The prefectural city had many different scenes. The residential alleys were full of everyday life—after Mid-Autumn, more tenants had moved in. Smoke rose from kitchens, people gathered in the lanes to chat, and even through courtyard walls, voices drifted out.
Out on the streets, the air was filled with vendors calling out their wares. Only after walking among the crowds for a while could one begin to pick out the voices of companions nearby.
Since coming to the city, Li Feng had not been to any truly quiet place. He had gradually grown used to the noise. As he listened to Lu Liu talk about the past and the future, everything sounded full of joy and hope. The surrounding clamor faded in his ears, leaving behind only a sense of quiet satisfaction.
He took Lu Liu to a teahouse to listen to storytelling for a bit of leisure. It was getting late; they would not be able to stay long—one story would not even finish.
Lu Liu obediently followed him and found a seat with no one in front or behind.
With so many people at home, it was rare for the two of them to have time alone.
Lu Liu asked, “Da Feng, did you miss me?”
Li Feng shook his head. “I just wanted to bring you out for a while.”
Lu Liu pressed his lips together, a little unhappy.
Why not just say you missed me? It was only a nod—whether true or not, he would not know.
Li Feng reached out and gently touched his face. “Why do you love hearing sweet words so much?”
Lu Liu snorted, thinking: I say plenty of sweet things myself!
Li Feng’s large hand lingered on his face, rubbing until Lu Liu’s cheeks turned red. Only when Lu Liu shot him a glare did he laugh and say, “I wanted to bring you out to relax.”
Lu Liu did not understand. Relax from what? He felt quite happy.
Li Feng said, “Before, it was fine. Even if you mostly stayed around the house, you could visit Husband Yao, and everyone you saw was from the stronghold. You could chat about daily life, and when you looked back, there were the mountains. You could go out to gather wild greens. We even had a small vegetable garden. The front and back yards were spacious. You were busy with many different things every day, and your heart felt open and free.
“But the city is too crowded. The roads are narrow, houses everywhere, people everywhere. It’s lively, yes—but too lively. Household matters, people matters, one after another—your ears never get a moment’s rest. How can your heart not grow weary?”
Lu Liu had lost a bit of weight. He did not go far each day, ate well, drank soup often, smiled all the time, and had not fallen ill—yet he had grown thinner.
Lu Liu touched his face. “Maybe it’s from reading too much.”
He smiled at Li Feng, no longer fussing about whether he had been missed, and instead teased him for being sentimental.
“What’s wrong?” he said. “The honey can be sold again—aren’t you happy? Or are you upset about seeing Hai Yazi? I noticed Shun-ge did not even come by. Hiding this early… maybe something is going on.”
Li Feng chatted with him. As for Shun-ge’s marriage, he had come to accept it—so long as the person stayed within the household, there was nothing to be reluctant about. Everyone had to marry eventually.
As for the honey, of course he was pleased. Once this matter was resolved, he planned to persuade Da Qiang to merge into the trading company. In the future, people in the stronghold could learn beekeeping as well, hanging hives at home. With an additional livelihood for everyone, those who had made it out would not have failed their hometown.
It was just that, now that the honey issue was settled, the matchmaker had been consulted, and Hai Youtian’s attitude had been tested, the heavy matters weighing on his heart had come to an end. Lu Liu could finally rest.
As Lu Liu listened to him speak in a low, gentle voice, the roughness of his tone softened into something slightly husky. It made Lu Liu’s ears tingle—almost as if the feeling reached his heart.
He thought back to the day he had invited Li Feng for a drink. They had been alone in a room, sharing wine. He had tried to cheer Li Feng up, encouraging him to speak his mind, to feel unburdened.
Today, Li Feng had brought him to the teahouse for the same reason.
Lu Liu did not touch the tea snacks on the table. Instead, he placed his hand over the back of Li Feng’s and smiled.
“Da Feng, I’m not like you. My heart is small—I like staying at home. When I’m busy, I find it meaningful, not tiring. And I’m not like you—you care about face, so there are things you won’t tell me. I don’t care about face at all. I like sticking to you. Whatever happens, I have to come and mutter to you about it. I’ve given you my whole heart—it feels wide and free with you.”
Li Feng felt he could not compare. When it came to comforting others, his Xiao Liu was far better.
He had brought Lu Liu out to ease his mind, only to be the one comforted instead, unable to suppress his smile.
Lu Liu was like someone steeped in a jar of honey—sweet through and through.
Li Feng changed the subject then, telling him some amusing stories from outside.
By the time the sky darkened, the two of them packed up some snacks and walked home hand in hand.
People like them—so openly intimate—were rare on the streets. Especially in the residential alleys, passersby would smile when they saw them. Unlike the teasing in the stronghold, these smiles carried surprise, with a trace of disdain mixed with envy.
Lu Liu said to Li Feng, “If there’s anything I’m not used to in the city, it’s these looks. Back in the village, in the stronghold, anyone who could make money was admired. But in the city, earning well can bring envy—and also contempt.”
Because their stall and shop were close by, the neighbors could see everything. They were not very friendly. It had improved recently—he knew it was thanks to his brother and brother-in-law—but he did not care to associate with such snobbish people.
Li Feng said, “I’ll bring Da Qiang and the others here as soon as possible. Then you’ll have friends to talk to, and you won’t need to bother with these people. We’ll eat well, live well, in a big house—who cares whether they look down on us? We don’t have time for them.”
Lu Liu’s smile was bright. He leaned against him, pressing close. “Da Feng, I heard that, and I’ll remember it. You have to keep your word.”
Li Feng always kept his word.
Lu Yang had become a “grand master of the household,” with nothing left for him to handle personally. The newly rented house had been entirely arranged by his younger brother, who had even hired people to clean it.
The whole family had voiced their opinions and effectively “stripped him of power.” No matter how much he talked, no one listened.
When the house was ready, Lu Liu came to invite him to inspect it together, and Lu Yang gave him a good scolding.
“You call me domineering—where am I domineering? I cannot even get a word in.”
Lu Liu looped his arm through his, smiling. “I did not listen to Da Feng either.”
He had suppressed all those who could make decisions—he was the most domineering of all.
Lu Yang grumbled a bit, but there was a smile on his face.
“My Liu-ge’er is impressive—handling everything inside and out.”
They all lived in the same alley, very close to each other. It was as if their families had staked out territory there—step outside, and it was all familiar faces.
