RMCF: Chapter 15

 

Chapter 15

After the Guang family was reported, the villagers seemed to warm up to Zhang Fangyuan again. They started greeting him whenever they saw him and even praised him for catching the thief. As for their previous behavior, they didn't mention it at all.

Zhang Fangyuan couldn't be bothered to engage. Surprisingly, after the lawsuit, his uncle actually had his fourth uncle bring over a piece of pork ribs, supposedly as thanks for helping recover the stolen goods.

He didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it. He also told his fourth uncle that if his eldest uncle wanted to express thanks in the future, he should come himself rather than having fourth uncle play the peacemaker and indulge his elder brother.

A couple of days later, he made a trip into town.

“Top-quality winter bamboo shoots! Fresh winter bamboo shoots!”

“Thin shells, large shoots, selling at a great price!”

Zhang Fangyuan stood with his arms crossed under a tea shed at the edge of the western market, watching Xu He hawking in the marketplace. This guy barely said two words in the village, usually keeping his head down and working silently, but when it came to selling, he showed no shyness at all. His calls to customers were nimble, and soon a woman buying vegetables, carrying a basket and swaying her hips, came over to inquire.

“Five wen per jin with the shell on.”

The woman asked, “What about without the shell?”

Xu He held his scale and said quietly to the woman, “Without the shell, it's more expensive, Madam. Wouldn't it be better to buy it with the shell? If you find it troublesome to peel at home, I can peel it for you here before you take it back. That would save you trouble and some money too.”

“You're an honest young man.” The woman laughed happily upon hearing this, squatted down to pick through the shoots. The plump, round shoots still had bright-colored outer shells, unlike those dug up long ago. She picked four shoots weighing about a jin. “Just these.”

Xu He quickly weighed them. “Almost four jin and six liang. I'll give you a good price, Madam. Just twenty-two wen.”

The woman was very pleased and fished out the money from her waist. Xu He promptly started peeling the shoots. He made a straight cut down the plump shoot, peeled off both sides, cut away the hard base, releasing a fresh bamboo fragrance, and the winter bamboo shoot emerged perfectly intact.

Tender looking and pale yellow. The woman gently pinched it with her nail; it was very crisp.

“Stewed with chicken or pig trotters; the fresh shoots are crisp, like eating spring vegetables.”

The woman smiled and handed over the money. “This is exactly what I crave in winter.”

People around, seeing how fresh and tender the shoots were, also picked out a couple. Winter bamboo shoots were much more expensive than ordinary vegetables. Buying one or two might look like a lot, but after removing the outer shell, not much remained. However, they weren't meant as a main dish but mainly used to cook meat; one or two were enough for a pot of delicious meat soup.

Xu He busied himself collecting money, explaining and removing shells, everything orderly. He hadn't been selling long before a chef from a restaurant came out to shop. He inquired about the price of winter bamboo shoots, haggled with Xu He, and ended up buying the remaining thirty jin at four wen per jin without needing the shells removed.

These winter bamboo shoots really did look excellent and sold well. Xu He had thought they would sell easily but didn't expect it to be this quick. He packed up his things, glanced at Zhang Fangyuan waiting in the distance, looked around again to ensure no familiar faces were present, then went over.

"Sold for two hundred and twenty wen in total.”

Zhang Fangyuan looked down at him with a smile.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“You're usually so quiet. Is it because you use up all your words shouting in the city?”

Xu He shot him a glare. “Who would buy anything if you have a sour face while doing business?”

“So you do know you always have a sour face in the village.”

“Why do you talk so much?”

Zhang Fangyuan grinned, showing two rows of white teeth. “Alright, alright, don't be mad. I won't say anymore.”

Xu He ignored him, counted out half the money himself, then gave Zhang Fangyuan an additional sixty-five wen, leaving forty-five for himself. “We're even.”

Although he felt Zhang Fangyuan should have taken the larger share this time, upon careful calculation, apart from not digging the shoots, he had also contributed considerably: provided the basket and hoe, processed the shoots' outer shells, and did the hawking today. The money was well deserved.

Zhang Fangyuan took the coins. “Selling winter bamboo shoots is really profitable. I only make twenty-five wen for slaughtering a pig.”

Xu He said, “Winter bamboo shoots only grow once a year; it's not a sustainable livelihood.”

“True.” Zhang Fangyuan asked, “Where are you off to next?”

Upon hearing this, Xu He pressed his lips together. He turned his head away, as if unwilling to tell him what he planned to do, and walked ahead on his own with the empty basket. Zhang Fangyuan followed. “Did you eat the shoots you took home last time?”

“Mm.”

“How did you cook them?”

“Stewed with cured meat.”

Zhang Fangyuan imagined the taste. “The way you prepare it must be delicious.”

Xu He stopped in his tracks and looked at Zhang Fangyuan with suspicion. “How do you know?”

“I just know. Your Second Sister can't cook. Actually, it's usually you who cooks. But your biased mother leads everyone to think it's your sister.”

Xu He didn't feel any comfort knowing someone knew the truth. Instead, he became worried. “Don't go around talking nonsense.”

Seeing the person warn him, Zhang Fangyuan's brow creased slightly and he sighed quietly. “I'm not one of the village gossips.”

Xu He felt relieved and his steps lightened. Walking ahead, he waved behind his back at Zhang Fangyuan without turning around. “I'm heading back.”

This time, Zhang Fangyuan didn't follow. He smiled, watching Xu He's figure disappear at the end of the street before turning to attend to his own matters.

“Brother Zhang! Haven't seen you in a good while. Where have you been making your fortune lately?”

Zhang Fangyuan went to the meat market and headed straight for the person managing the stalls.

“Where else? Same as before.”

Zhang Fangyuan didn't want to elaborate on his own affairs and said directly, “I came to find you this time to rent a stall.”

The man was quite surprised upon hearing this and asked quietly, “Brother Zhang, aren't you working for Young Master Qin anymore?”

Zhang Fangyuan shook his head. The man referred as Young Master Qin, was named Qin Zhong, the person he work under when he used to hang around in town. He was good at fighting and quick with tasks. By chance, he ended up under Qin Zhong and quickly gained attention. Outsiders thought Qin Zhong valued him highly, even letting him lead a few brothers, giving him some status.

Back then, Zhang Fangyuan was also full of ambition, thinking he had found the right person and had a bright future ahead. He had done a lot of work for Qin Zhong, but in the end, he was used as a pawn and ended up in prison.

“Trying to do some legitimate business.”

The man knew Zhang Fangyuan was fierce and didn't dare pry too much into his personal affairs. He just said, “I'm only in charge of the stalls in the meat market, Brother Zhang. Pick one that suits you.”

Zhang Fangyuan said, “Just keep a decent stall for me. I'll pay the market rate.”

“Brother Zhang, you're being too polite. If you need a stall for business, why talk about money? Doesn't the meat market rely on you keeping an eye on things?”

Zhang Fangyuan felt somewhat helpless upon hearing this. He had indeed made a name for himself in the past. Now, seeking out an acquaintance made it seem like he was throwing his weight around. He emphasized, “I'm not with Qin Zhong anymore. Just doing some honest small business to support myself.”

The man's brow twitched, knowing when to stop. “Brother Zhang has foresight. Doing steady business is good; all that fighting gets tiresome. Just pay half the market rate. We're old acquaintances; consider it letting me do you a favor.”

Zhang Fangyuan didn't say more and took out one hundred and twenty wen for the man.

A stall in the meat market cost eighty wen per month, paid quarterly. He paid half price as the man suggested. Seeing this, the man actually smiled more broadly, accepted the money, and cupped his hands. “Wishing you prosperous business in advance, Brother Zhang.”

Zhang Fangyuan patted the man's shoulder. “I'll buy you a drink next time.”

“Sure, sure.”

Zhang Fangyuan and the man walked around the meat market, selected a stall, and after settling on it, there was nothing else to do so he headed back.

Time passed quickly. As the New Year approached, occasional sound of firecrackers could be heard in the village. For New Year’s, the village children used their saved up coins to buy firecrackers in town to play with. The festive atmosphere grew stronger.

On the Little New Year*, a light snow fell. Village households had already put up blessing characters and couplets. The gray, worn earthen houses and thatched huts gained a touch of festive red. Zhang Fangyuan, carrying several freshly cut logs from the mountain, passed by the main village road. From afar, he saw Xu Shaochun wearing a red coat, like a bright flower blooming in Jijiu Village, and also in the hearts of the village's young men.

*Little New Year — Xiaonian, 23rd or 24th of the 12th lunar month

Quite a few young men wanted to approach and chat, but Miss Xu's bright eyes only held the scholar Fei, who had returned for his break from the academy. The two seemed to have come back from town together, talking and laughing. The scholar was refined, the young lady charming—a well-matched pair in talent and looks.

Zhang Fangyuan didn't linger to watch the commotion. He strode home with large steps. During the New Year, rural households were lively, but Zhang Fangyuan's home was quiet, no different from usual, with little festive atmosphere.

He sat straddling a stool under the eaves, carving at a piece of wood. Working overtime on carpentry these days, his self-made flatbed cart had taken shape. After smoothing it and applying some color, it wouldn't look worse than the carts sold in town workshops. After installing the wheels, he tested it around the courtyard. It moved smoothly without catching; it worked.

Although making it himself was time-consuming and laborious, it saved him the cost of buying a cart. Zhang Fangyuan chuckled happily, shamelessly thinking he was becoming quite skilled at managing his life.

“What are you grinning foolishly all by yourself?”

Zhang Fangyuan put down the cart and saw his fourth uncle approaching with a basket.

“Your aunt boiled some pig ears. Brought them over to have a drink with.”

“Sure.” Zhang Fangyuan pulled the cart back into the house and wiped the table. Zhang Shicheng sat down first, took out a plate of pig ears from the basket—not much meat, but there were some peanuts too.

“It's New Year. A home still needs someone to manage to keep it neat, and most importantly, lively.” Zhang Shicheng looked around the house. Although there were signs of tidying, it certainly wasn't as proper as his own home with his wife managing it.

Having said this, he moved to the main topic. “Earlier, that Guang family with their foul mouths ruined your reputation in the village. Now they've been sent to the authorities. I heard the Guang family has moved away again. Everyone knows you were wronged, and no one mentions the previous matters anymore.”

Zhang Fangyuan tossed a couple of peanuts into his mouth. “Mm.”

People in the village had been greeting him lately, and a few days ago, someone had asked him to help slaughter livestock. He knew the situation had improved.

“Your aunt's idea is to take advantage of the New Year when every household is festive. Have the matchmaker propose a match. It might work out.”

Hearing this, Zhang Fangyuan's brow furrowed.

Zhang Shicheng watched his expression, confirming his own suspicion. Before Zhang Fangyuan could speak, he continued, “I've already told your aunt, this matter isn't urgent. You already have your own plans.”

The inner resistance to the marriage proposal was involuntary. Zhang Fangyuan didn't know why he felt this way. Previously, he was the one who wanted to find a match. But since his fourth uncle said he had plans, he responded rationally, “Plans? What plans do I have?”

Zhang Shicheng tilted his head, somewhat exasperated. “When you talk to the youngest Xu, your grin practically reaches your ears. I find it embarrassing to watch, and you say you have no plans?”

Hearing this, Zhang Fangyuan carefully tried to recall when his interactions with Xu He had been noticed by his uncle. He couldn't figure it out. Since it was someone close to him, he didn't press the matter, only asking with some disbelief, “Is it really that obvious?”

“You should carry a mirror on your belt and take a good look at that undignified expression of yours next time.”

Zhang Fangyuan rubbed the tip of his nose, a bit at a loss for words.

“Thinking it over carefully, although the youngest Xu isn't as clever or good-looking as his sister, and his temperament is aloof, he's steady and hardworking. I imagine he could manage a household well and live a good life.”

“Who says he's not clever? Few gers are as sharp as him!” Zhang Fangyuan immediately retorted upon hearing his fourth uncle speak poorly of Xu He.

“Aiyaya.” Zhang Shicheng frowned and tutted. “There's not even a stroke of the brush yet, and you're already defending him so fiercely? Still saying you haven't set your sights on him? Let me finish first!”

Zhang Fangyuan took a gulp of wine. “Speak, speak, Fourth Uncle, you go ahead.”

“I think that young Xu's character is quite good…”

“Naturally!” He was the one who had spoken up for him before.

“You brat! Do you want me to speak or not?!”

“Fourth Uncle, go on! Go on!”

Zhang Shicheng glared at Zhang Fangyuan. “His character is good, and we've watched him grow up. Actually, it's just because Xu Shaochun is there, she outshines the young ger, making him seem less outstanding. If he were in another family, he'd be a top-notch ger. Most importantly, you, this big oaf whose brain has been like iron since childhood, fancy him. Since that's the case, then make preparations early.”

“Xu Shaochun has been past her coming-of-age ceremony for over a year. No matter how much the Xu family dotes on that girl, they won't keep her forever. Once she's married off, it'll be the youngest Xu's turn next. Their ages aren't that far apart. What a pity if someone else snatches him away then.”

Zhang Fangyuan's heart tightened. He remembered that in his previous life, Xu He had been married off to another village. The person had actually run away before the wedding but was caught and brought back. The incident had caused quite a stir, and he had some vague impression of it.

“Madam Xu favors his Second Sister. If I ask a matchmaker to propose to the Xu family, wouldn't that jump the queue over his sister? Would his biased parents be happy about it? It would be easy for them to reject my proposal."

Zhang Shicheng acknowledged this. “You've thought it through carefully. Your aunt said the same thing. That's why I came to talk to you about this.”

"If you fancy the young ger, don't just keep it to yourself. Learn from the other young men in the village. Those who admire Xu Shaochun send food today, jewelry tomorrow, and some even have the cheek to go to their house to help with work. Be good to him, then he'll know your intentions. After some back and forth, if both have feelings, wouldn't that achieve twice the result with half the effort?"

Zhang Fangyuan looked at Zhang Shicheng and couldn't help but smile.

He received a slap on the forehead. “All you do is smile. Did you remember what I said?”

Zhang Fangyuan nodded repeatedly. “Remembered, remembered. Hearing Fourth Uncle's words is like having my iron-clad brain enlightened.”

“You brat!”

***

Author's note:

Zhang Fangyuan: Fourth Uncle has some ability.

 

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