RMCF: Chapter 18

 

Chapter 18

Liu Xiangmei enjoyed a satisfying meal at her younger sister's house, her complexion growing increasingly rosy.

The only one with such culinary skills was the youngest of the Xu family. She remembered how impressed she was the first time she tasted Xu's youngest cooking. She went home and immediately pressed her own daughter to learn cooking properly, only to realize that this skill required a bit of innate talent; it couldn't be forced.

The table featured braised pork knuckle with winter bamboo shoots, a dish Liu Xiangmei loved. She was delighted and wanted to praise He Ger in a few words, but with Xu Shaochun continuously serving food into her bowl, she could only swallow her words.

Liu Xiangmei returned home in the afternoon. The first few days of the New Year could be considered either leisurely or busy. Liu Xianglan didn't press her sister to stay longer, saying she would visit her house when going for the town’s market another day.

Zhang Fangyuan had been busy with his business venture these last few days, leaving early and returning late, so the villagers hadn't noticed anything. But this day, after selling all the pork, he drove his horse and cart back to the village, where many people saw him along the way. He ignored the villagers who stopped to look at him and went straight home.

He put all the money he had earned these past few days into a jar under his bed. It made a satisfying clinking sound when he took it out; a comfort to the ears. He poured the contents out, forming a small pile on the table. It looked like a lot, but it was actually only a few thousand wen. While exchanging it for larger denominations at the money house would be more convenient, running a business required small change for transactions, so he needed to keep a sufficient amount of scattered coins on hand.

He counted; there were about four thousand wen.

The live pig had cost two thousand four hundred sixty wen. After slaughtering, excluding the entrails and head, the meat yield was roughly seventy to eighty-five percent. This pig was a good one, with about eighty percent yield. After several days of hard work, he had earned over a thousand wen. He was quite satisfied.

If this continued, it shouldn't take long before he could redeem the silver bracelet he'd pawned. But now wasn't the time; he needed to buy pigs to sell and required enough capital to work with.

After putting the money away, he unhitched the cart in the yard, fed the horse plenty of grass, then headed out with some snacks and useful daily items he bought in town to freeload a meal at his fourth uncle's house.

“Does it sell well?”

“Not bad. I'll rest a day and then go look for pigs again.” Zhang Fangyuan ate the dishes fourth aunt had hastily prepared. He hadn't eaten properly these past few days, his focus entirely on the stall. “I've already put up a sign near the shop. Families with pigs for sale can contact me.”

Zhang Shicheng sat on a chair by the doorstep. His family had returned from visiting relatives earlier and had already eaten, so he just kept Zhang Fangyuan company. Watching his nephew shovel rice into his mouth, he stretched his legs comfortably, leaning back against the chair, and inquired about the meat market's conditions.

He Shi and Xiaomao were in the bedroom unpacking the things Zhang Fangyuan had brought. There was a packet of dried fruit kernels, a snack for the child. Without waiting for his mother to say anything, Xiaomao happily tucked it away for himself.

Then, seeing several large packages of salt and sauce, He Shi was delighted. “Your cousin is getting better and better at managing daily life, knowing to buy practical things. But buying so much, and getting another pot of wine for your father… he still hasn't shaken the habit of being free with money.”

“Eh, what's this?” Xiaomao, hearing his mother's affectionate scolding, was about to reply when he spotted a small wooden box at the very bottom of the bundle.

Puzzled, he took it out and opened it. Inside the long, narrow wooden box lay a folded hair ribbon.

The dark green silk ribbon felt smooth and pleasantly cool to the touch. Embroidered on it were golden lotus flowers, accompanied by auspicious cloud patterns; it was exceptionally beautiful. It would surely look lovely tied in the hair during spring.

“Mother, such a beautiful hair ribbon!”

Xiaomao couldn't help exclaiming. “Cousin has such good taste!”

However, He Shi slightly furrowed her brows, taking the ribbon to examine it. Although it was nice, the color was somewhat dark, not quite suitable for someone Xiaomao's age.

Even though she saw her little ger liked it, she said, “This is probably something your cousin intends to give to someone else.”

Xiaomao was a little disappointed, but he understood. “Then I'll take it back to cousin. He already bought me dried fruit. This silk ribbon doesn't look cheap either.”

He Shi smiled and nodded, ruffling the little ger's hair.

Zhang Fangyuan, full and content after the meal, and having explained what needed explaining to his fourth uncle, started feeling the urge to slip away. Just as he was about to speak, Xiaomao ran out first. “Cousin A-Yuan, is this something you meant to give to someone?”

Hearing this, Zhang Shicheng also looked at his son. Seeing the box in Xiaomao's hand, Zhang Fangyuan's face suddenly flushed. He hurried over to take it. “Ah… yes. Ah, my memory! I was so hungry when I got back, I rushed over in a hurry and forgot to take this out earlier.”

Seeing that the item was indeed meant for someone else, Xiaomao wasn't upset. Instead, he said, “It's very pretty. Who are you giving it to, cousin?”

Zhang Fangyuan scratched the back of his head. Under the amused gazes of his uncle's family of three, he became somewhat flustered and could only manage a silly grin, carefully tucked the item inside his chest. “I have things to do, I'm heading back now.”

They didn't try to keep him. Watching the tall figure leave, they all shook their heads with knowing smiles.

Zhang Shicheng got up from his chair. “This kid… finally seems to be gaining some sense.”

He Shi smiled and ruffled Xiaomao's head. “Mao Ger, it seems it won't be long before you have a cousin-in-law.”

After leaving Zhang Shicheng's house, Zhang Fangyuan didn't go straight home. Instead, he wandered around the village with a clear goal yet feigning aimlessness, worrying about how to call the person out of the house if the intended recipient of the gift was at home.

However, after circling behind the Xu’s house, he didn't see Xu He at home. Instead, he ran into some villagers who pulled him into conversation. He had little patience for it and brushed them off after a few words.

“He Ger, busy with the New Year?”

“Mm.”

“It is a busy time around the New Year, visiting this place or that. Haven't seen you around much lately.”

Xu He was pulling radishes in the field. Hearing the chattering person, he said bluntly, “Do you have something you want me to give to my Second Sister?”

The man seemed a bit embarrassed upon hearing this. He took out the item he wanted to deliver; clearly, it was his first time doing this, and he wasn't very practiced yet. Xu He saw that although the man was somewhat shy, he had clearly found out the proper way, knowing to give him a delivery fee. So, Xu He repeated his usual set of rules, while the man nodded repeatedly.

Xu He sighed softly. Today, from his mother's meaning, it seemed she favored the Fei family. After this period, he wouldn’t run errands for these people anymore, lest they get their hopes up for nothing.

“Th-then, thank you. You carry on with your work…”

Xu He couldn't be bothered to lift his eyelids. “You can go. No need for such pleasantries.”

The man left dejectedly. Turning around with his head down, he almost bumped into Zhang Fangyuan, who was approaching. The man swallowed nervously, his heart in his throat, and scampered away. After running some distance, he glanced back at the butcher striding over and thought to himself; if even the butcher had designs on Xu Shaochun, what hope did he have?

Zhang Fangyuan looked happily at the little ger bent over pulling radishes in the field. He didn't call out to disturb him but squatted down on the ridge, simply watching over him.

Xu He pulled enough radishes for the pig feed tonight in one go. As he was about to load them into his basket to carry home, he felt as if a giant dog was squatting overhead, making him uneasy. He looked up and saw Zhang Fangyuan grinning, showing his canine teeth, smiling at him.

He was startled. “What are you squatting here for?!”

“Squatting for you, of course.”

Xu He pressed his lips together but wasn't angry. “What do you want now?”

Zhang Fangyuan didn't continue joking around. Instead, with an ingratiating, eager and tentative manner, he pulled out the item he had tucked inside his chest and handed the box over across the ridge.

Xu He's brow moved. Seeing Zhang Fangyuan's foolish expression, he couldn't help but be momentarily stunned. The box before him was a wooden, patterned box. Just looking at the box suggested the item inside wouldn't be cheap.

It had been a long time since he'd paid such careful attention to something given to him to pass on to someone else. Every time, he would deliver it to his second sister untouched. He never thought…

But why was he surprised? His second sister was the village beaty. Now that Zhang Fangyuan had mended his ways and had proper work, even his aunt thought well of him. Naturally, he had the qualifications to try for his sister's hand.

Why was he meddling unnecessarily, suddenly feeling a bit of an indescribable, complicated emotion? Even seeing the mountain of gifts all meant for his sister, he never batted an eye.

Oh, right. His second sister was going to be betrothed to the Fei family. When that happened, Zhang Fangyuan would come away empty-handed. He was probably feeling sorry for him. After all, this big guy was actually quite good hearted. He was like a hedgehog on the mountain—prickly on the outside, very intimidating, but the flesh inside was soft. And he had taken care of him many times.

Taken care of him many times… was it all for his sister? Like his cousin Chen Si said, Zhang Fangyuan was friendly to him, took him to see the doctor, bought him sugar-coated hawthorns, went digging for bamboo shoots with him… was it all to get close?

But when he was with him, he barely ever mentioned his sister. Otherwise, he wouldn't want to get close to him… But he also remembered, when Zhang Fangyuan came to their house to slaughter the pig, he really had been looking at his second sister through the window…

After this internal struggle, Xu He realized he was grateful to him regardless. Whether Zhang Fangyuan had approached him for his sister's sake or not, he still hoped Zhang Fangyuan could get what he wanted and live a good life.

He forced what he hoped was a relaxed expression and accepted the box. “Don't think just because we're familiar I won't charge you a delivery fee. I'm not short of your money, but you still have to pay.”

Zhang Fangyuan was initially quite happy to see him accept the item so easily, without any refusal. But upon hearing his words, he felt displeased again. “No way.”

Xu He also felt a bit sour. “You can afford to give a gift, but you won't give me a little delivery fee? How can you be so stingy?”

“It's not a question of stinginess. However much money you want, just name it and I'll give it to you. But isn't it inappropriate to charge a delivery fee for a gift you're receiving yourself?”

Xu He's hand stiffened. He was slightly taken aback, not immediately understanding Zhang Fangyuan's meaning. It took him a moment to process it. He looked at the box incredulously, then raised his eyes to look at Zhang Fangyuan, uncharacteristically stammering, “You… what do you mean?”

“Open it and see if you like it.”

Zhang Fangyuan felt slightly unnatural, “I saw it in town and thought it was alright, so I bought it on a whim.”

Xu He's lips parted several times, but no words came out. He didn't open the box, instead looking at Zhang Fangyuan. “Why are you giving me a gift?”

Zhang Fangyuan's face flushed under the gaze of those clear, bright eyes. He shot to his feet, becoming very tall in front of Xu He, who was standing lower on the slope. “There's no one else in the village I can give it to. You… you should open it quickly and see if you like it.”

Xu He stared at him intently. “I'll look at it when I get home. My hands are dirty from pulling radishes.”

“Oh.” Zhang Fangyuan's heart was beating very fast. He didn't dare meet Xu He's eyes and coughed dryly. “Then, you should finish up soon and go home early. I have things to do too. I'm heading back.”

With that, Zhang Fangyuan, like a thief caught in the act, swiftly strode away with his long legs and hurried off.

Xu He watched the figure until it disappeared at the far end of the ridge before slowly lowering his gaze.

He held the box carefully in his hand. He still didn't know what was inside, yet he was afraid of crushing it, unsure whether to grip it tightly or loosely.

 

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