RMCF: Chapter 19

 

Chapter 19

The days passed leisurely past the New Year period. After the fifteenth, the festivities were essentially over, and soon it was the end of the first month. The villagers gradually picked up their work again.

Zhang Fangyuan also slaughtered another pig and resumed his routine of leaving early and returning late from town.

By now, the whole village knew that Zhang Fangyuan not only possessed a sturdy black horse but also had a stall in the town's meat market, running his own business.

Occasionally, he even helped villagers with poor mobility by bringing back candles and salt. On non-market days, if he met someone heading to town while his cart was empty, he'd offer them a free ride on his plank cart. People speaking well of him became increasingly common.

Some even started considering buying or selling livestock through him. Everyone began to look enviously upon this capable young man, many changing their minds and reconsidered broaching the subject of marriage alliances with him.

“Probably no chance. I saw Zhang Fangyuan hanging around near the back of the Xu family's house before. He's most likely got his eye on Xu Shaochun.”

“What a real pity. But is that true? I was thinking of mentioning a cousin's daughter of mine to him.”

“It's true. A while back, I saw Zhang Fangyuan talking to Xu’s youngest on the ridge and giving him something. Could it be false?”

Actually, many villagers knew that young men would give things to Xu He to pass on to his sister. The village generally encouraged this custom of delivering gifts through an intermediary. It was both reserved and proper, yet also a brave pursuit of someone one admired; many of the older generation had come together this way.

“But what if the Second Xu girl isn't interested? The matter isn't settled yet, there's still room for maneuver.”

The village women chatted about these things in their spare time while preparing the fields for sowing.

The Xu family naturally got wind of the rumors. Liu Xianglan didn't say much outside, but inwardly she was quite pleased. If every capable, promising young man in the village that the women thought well of and wanted to match their daughters with had their eyes on their household, how could she not feel proud?

After the New Year and into spring, sunny days became more frequent. Xu Shaochun sorted through her wardrobe at home. The thick winter jackets that could be washed were given to the ger, Xu He, to wash. After drying in the yard, they were packed away at the bottom of the chest, leaving only two sets for the potential cold snap of late spring chill. She made sure to bring her spring clothes to the forefront.

Liu Xianglan said in the yard, “Soon enough, the government officials will come to collect taxes again. I do hope they come a little later this year, preferably after the county level exams once the Fei family has visited, before they come to collect.” That way, once her daughter was married out, the household would have one less head tax to pay.

This was an issue every family faced. Xu Shaochun didn't think much of it. “I hope so too.”

The family had no sons, only a daughter and a ger. No matter how capable Xu He was, he couldn't replace a man. The family's income relied entirely on her father alone; life wasn't easy. The silver lining was that when she married out, and when Xu He married out, the old couple could receive some bride price, saving a bit of money for their peaceful retirement.

“That Zhang Fangyuan isn't so bad now, actually. What your aunt said earlier was right. As long as Zhang Fangyuan doesn't fool around, he can earn a good amount of money.” Liu Xianglan was reluctant to admit it, but she discussed it frankly with her daughter. “You've been pretty and loved beauty since you were little. If you were with Zhang Fangyuan, you'd also have more silver to spend.”

Xu Shaochun, however, disagreed. “Mother, scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants. No matter how much money one has, it's not as respectable as a scholar.”

“The Zhang family are farmers, they don't count as merchants. And it's not as strict as in previous years now; even merchant households can take the imperial exams. The Fei family, being scholars, is good, has prospects. But studying requires a lot of money too. I'm afraid life might not be very comfortable.”

Xu Shaochun actually understood these points, but her heart was set on Fei the scholar. Even knowing Zhang Fangyuan's current favorable conditions, she didn't want to choose him. “That's only for now. If he passes the provincial exams in the future, the good days will be long.”

To cut off her mother's thoughts, Xu Shaochun turned to Xu He, who was washing clothes nearby. “Little brother, you were right not to accept anything Zhang Fangyuan wanted you to pass to me before. If he comes to you again to deliver things for me, don't take them either.”

Xu Shaochun simply assumed that the villagers were talking about Zhang Fangyuan giving things intended for herself, and that she hadn't received them because Xu He hadn't agreed to help pass them on. After all, given Zhang Fangyuan's previously terrible reputation, many people were afraid of him. It was reasonable that Xu He wouldn't want to get involved with him.

Xu He had been listening to their conversation, but when Xu Shaochun addressed him directly, he didn't know how to respond.

Zhang Fangyuan had approached him to deliver something, but it wasn't for his second sister. Here the mother and daughter were picking and choosing, and he felt too embarrassed to speak up.

He considered whether to explain, but after thinking about it, if his sister and mother found out that Zhang Fangyuan didn't have his sights on his sister, and that the gift was actually for him, it wouldn't just be a matter of them not believing. His biggest worry was that his second sister and mother would be displeased and take it out on him later.

“Mm.”

“Speaking of which, it's time to start looking for a match for you too. Ah, but I wonder if it will be easy to find.” Liu Xianglan glanced at Xu He and couldn't help but sigh.

Xu He managed all the household chores inside and out, saving her a lot of work. She wouldn't mind him staying home to work for a few more years, but keeping him at home to eat a few extra mouthfuls wasn't the main issue. Now that he was older, the tax for him was no small matter.

“We'll see.” Xu He tossed out these two words, finished washing the clothes, and returned to his own room.

Liu Xianglan thought he was just embarrassed and didn't press the matter.

After the start of spring, the North Mountain tea plantation announced that early spring tea picking could begin. The wages were higher than last year; they could sell one jin of harvested tea at the plantation for eight wen. Xu He knew his second sister and mother would both go. He actually wanted to go tea picking too, but his father was out working as a laborer, so he needed to loosen the soil in preparation for sowing. It wasn't his turn to earn this money.

Thinking it over carefully, the money from tea picking wouldn't end up in his own pocket anyway, so it doesn't matter if he didn't go.

His eyes drifted towards his bed. Under the pillow was the box Zhang Fangyuan had given him before.

He had looked at the hair ribbon inside many times and he had to admit, it was truly beautiful and to his liking; even made of silk. Although hair ribbons were usually made from silk scraps, the quality of the material itself, and the workmanship was excellent. It surely couldn't have been cheap.

He said he bought it on a whim, but this 'whim' seemed far more thoughtful than the silk flower Zhang Fangyuan had bought for the visit to the Guang family.

He really didn't know what this man meant by it.

He had never received a gift before. To receive such a nice one as his first was leaving him at a loss for what to do.

And it was a pity he had no occasion to wear it. Oh… wait, the Flower Festival was coming up in a few days, wasn't it? But even if he wore it, would it look good on someone like him?

These past few nights, he hadn't been able to stop his mind from wandering. Lying on the pillow over the ribbon, thinking about the person who gave it to him, it unsettled him—someone who usually remained indifferent to so many things.

He shook his head. He didn't dare slack off during the day. He carefully put the item back under the pillow and prepared to go work in the fields.

“He Ger.”

Xu He was putting all his strength into swinging the hoe, planning to finish loosening the soil in the side field today so he could save himself the trouble tomorrow and go up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables.

Just as he was working up a sweat, he heard a cultured call. He looked up, “Scholar Fei?”

The scholar's eyes curved slightly at the sight of him. “How long have you been working? Are you hot?”

“Not too bad.” Xu He looked at the scholar dressed in blue, seemingly wearing the uniform of the city's Songzhu Academy. His face was pale, his lips red, his body somewhat thin and frail—the very picture of a fine scholar.

No wonder his second sister fancied him.

Thinking this man would soon be his brother-in-law, he was quite polite. “Returning from town?”

Fei Lian gave an affirmative sound. “The county level exams are approaching. The academy has a break, allowing students to return home to rest for a couple of days before preparing to go take the exams.”

“Then I wish Scholar Fei success on the examination.”

Fei Lian smiled slightly and took a piece of paper from his book bag. On it were written several neat rows of large characters. “Heaven, Earth, Human, World, Flower, Grass, Tree, Wood. These are eight characters. You can take them back to practice.”

Seeing the paper, Xu He's brow moved slightly. He wiped his hands and accepted it, examining it carefully.

Fei Lian, seeing his serious attitude, had a smile in his eyes. “Before, when I taught you to write your own name, you learned it in just three tries using a tree branch. You remembered faster than your sister.”

Xu He was undoubtedly eager to learn and improve himself. He admired people who could read and write, but his family's circumstances wouldn't allow a ger to study and learn characters.

“Second Sister's name has many more strokes than mine. It's not as simple, so of course she wouldn't remember it as quickly.”

Fei Lian said, “But she still hasn't learned it now.” She had no heart for learning or self-improvement.

Xu He didn't refuse Fei Lian's offering, thinking it nothing much for a future brother-in-law to teach a few characters. But his comment about second sister struck him as odd. Then again, he figured, they were about to be betrothed, practically family, so his words were surely just modest.

“Thank you, Scholar Fei.”

Fei Lian raised the corners of his mouth. “No need for thanks. I am a scholar. It's possible I will teach and nurture others in the future. I am happy to instruct.”

Xu He made a sound of acknowledgment, thinking his second sister had good fortune.

"He Ger, if I am fortunate enough to pass this county exam…“ Fei Lian suddenly spoke again. Seeing Xu He's blank expression, he didn't finish his sentence.

But Xu He roughly guessed the rest was …if he passes he could marry his sister and bring her into his household, right?

“Scholar Fei will surely have his wish fulfilled.”

“R-really?”

Xu He saw Fei Lian's face flush slightly, very excited. He nodded. Fei Lian and second sister were mutually affectionate; of course it would work out.

“Good… good.”

Xu He didn't say more. “Then I'll get back to work.”

He hadn't swung the hoe a few more times when a cold, grating question sounded from above. “What did Fei Lian say to you?”

Seeing it was Zhang Fangyuan, who had appeared out of nowhere, the tips of Xu He's ears turned faintly red. He kept his head down, using the digging as a cover for his flustered reaction after seeing him. “Why should I tell you?”

“Tell me, quickly!” Zhang Fangyuan said angrily.

Xu He didn't know why the man was being so domineering today. He suddenly felt a bit wronged and retorted irritably, “People come to me every other day wanting to deliver things or messages for Second Sister. Do I have to report each one to you?”

“Who cares about those chasing your Second Sister?” Zhang Fangyuan's tongue felt thick. “That Fei Lian… it was obvious he wasn't talking about your Second Sister! The way he looked at you so directly, and he left all red in the face!”

“Nonsense!” Xu He's heart skipped a beat. Most of what was discussed was about his sister; he'd just been given a few extra characters. But how was this big oaf so sharp, noticing even that small difference? Still… “What's it to you?!”

Hearing this, Zhang Fangyuan grew anxious. “How is it not my business? If you keep being this stubborn, believe me, I'll…”

Before he could finish, Xu He said, “What then? Do you want to hit me?!”

Zhang Fangyuan was furious. With a thud, he suddenly jumped down from the ridge onto the field, startling Xu He into taking a step back. Then, the hoe in his hands was snatched away.

The fierce-looking man swung the hoe, venting his anger as he forcefully turned over two mu of land for him. Xu He stood to the side, not daring to get close. “You… you're crazy!”

 

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