RMCF: Chapter 26

 

Chapter 26

That day, Zhang Fangyuan once again driving his horse cart into town to sell meat. Xu He also needed to go to town to buy some corn seeds; some of last year's saved seeds had spoiled, so he had to buy more to make up for it. Zhang Fangyuan finally got the chance for Xu He to go with him and happily called him over to go together. 

The back of the plank cart carried the pork, while Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He sat side by side in the front. When they encountered villagers wanting a ride, Zhang Fangyuan wouldn't take them even if offered money. On ordinary days, he might give them a lift, but today, with Xu He going to town, he only wanted him alone on his cart.

“Did your family give you money for the seeds?”

“They did.”

“That's good.” Zhang Fangyuan drove the horse, saying, “Then later in town, I'll take you to see my shop. You'll know the way in the future and can go find me there directly when you’re in town.”

Xu He didn't refuse.

“I don't have much meat left today; it should sell out. Stay in town a little longer. I'll take you to a restaurant in town for lunch at noon.”

Xu He quickly said, “Why waste that money! Eating at a restaurant is so expensive.”

Zhang Fangyuan grinned, showing eight big white teeth. “Not even married yet, and you're already trying to manage me?”

The tips of Xu He's ears grew warm. “Who wants to manage you?”

“I do, I want you to.” Zhang Fangyuan again brushed the back of his hand against Xu He's, ingratiatingly, “I'll only accept being managed by you.”

Xu He didn't respond to his words.

Zhang Fangyuan took a breath, opened his hand, and breathed on it, “The weather has a bit of the late spring chill, huh? The wind this morning was strangely cold. My hands are a bit stiff too.”

Xu He glanced up at him, then lowered his eyes slightly. Never mind the fact that the weather in the approaching third month wasn't really cold anymore, and today was sunny—where was it that cold? “Wear more layers when going into town from now on.”

Zhang Fangyuan's chin drooped a little, his brows furrowing, clearly dissatisfied with Xu He's response.

He fidgeted, feeling that using a soft approach wouldn't work on Xu He. So he simply became shameless, “Hold your Da Ge's hand again, please?”

Xu He rolled his eyes. So he finally spoke honestly. But he didn't grant his request. A man shouldn't be spoiled. “Drive the cart properly.”

“I can drive with one hand. Little Black is very steady. The other hand is just idle if it's empty.”

“When we get to town, I'll buy you a spring roll, okay?”

“There's also an accessory shop opposite the meat market. How about I take you to buy another hair ribbon?”

No matter how Zhang Fangyuan pestered him, Xu He remained as steady as a mountain, his eyes fixed ahead, not listening to his sweet talk and coaxing. After a good while, he finally said, “Did you used to coax other girls and gers like this before?”

Zhang Fangyuan's pupils dilated. His handling of the reins became noticeably clumsier. “I've never coaxed anyone before!”

Xu He glanced at him sideways, half-smiling, making Zhang Fangyuan's hair stand on end all over.

“I'm telling the truth!”

“We're almost there.”

Xu He looked ahead again; the city gate was already visible.

Zhang Fangyuan still wanted to argue for a bit, but Xu He said directly, “Can't be bothered to listen to your nonsense.”

Zhang Fangyuan had no choice but to shut up and drive the cart all the way to the meat market.

Today, they had arrived a little later than usual, and the town's traffic of carts and horses had increased significantly. Entering the city was much slower; they had to stop every now and then.

By the time they reached the meat market, it was already bustling. This was Xu He's first time at the meat market. His family rarely bought fresh meat to eat. The meat they ate was mostly from the pig slaughtered at the end of the year. On ordinary days, the pork they ate was cured meat. Moreover, even if they did eat fresh meat once, it wouldn't be his turn to buy it.

He looked around, following beside Zhang Fangyuan, like a child who hadn't seen much of the world.

Seeing Zhang Fangyuan was about to move the meat to the stall, he was just preparing to lend a hand when Zhang Fangyuan directly slung the large half of the pork onto his shoulder and carried it away by himself.

Xu He pressed his lips together. This butcher!

“Well now! Butcher Zhang brought a little brother along today?"

Zhang Fangyuan had been working at the meat market for almost two months now and was a familiar face. The butcher next to his stall was squatting on a stone pier, slurping noodles. Seeing Zhang Fangyuan, who usually set up his stall alone, surprisingly leading a ger, he called out a greeting.

“No.” Zhang Fangyuan placed the pork on the chopping block and glanced back at Xu He. “This is my wife.”

“Oh~ First time seeing you bring your husband out.”

Xu He was embarrassed by Zhang Fangyuan's bluntness, his ears turning red, but he also felt a warmth in his heart at his unreserved acknowledgment. He knew his appearance wasn't something to be proud of in public, but Zhang Fangyuan never seemed to think about that. On the contrary, he acted as if having him by his side brought him honor.

He didn't listen further to their conversation and went to the front of Zhang Fangyuan's stall to help arrange the tools and chopping board, wiping down the stall with a cloth.

“I'll go buy the seeds now.”

Zhang Fangyuan wiped his knife. “Go on.”

Then, afraid he might run off, he put down the knife and grabbed Xu He's wrist. “Come back here after you finish buying. We'll go back together.”

Xu He nodded.

The people at the surrounding stalls saw how well the two coordinated and thought they had been married for a long time. The women's eyes held a hint of envy. Zhang Fangyuan might not be great to others, but he seemed quite good to his wife.

“You two have such a good relationship.” The butcher next door, seeing Xu He had left, said to Zhang Fangyuan with a smile.

Zhang Fangyuan was very happy to hear such praise and said shamelessly, “Of course.”

During this spring plowing season, all the grain shops in town had their doors wide open. Firstly, to make it convenient for tenant farmers to come collect seeds from their landlords, and secondly, to sell seeds. The town was very lively, filled with villagers from nearby villages selling wild vegetables—things like spring buds, thorny buds, tender mugwort, fiddlehead ferns, spring bamboo shoots,...

The streets and alleys where stalls were set up were lined with spring vegetables. Commoners coming to browse and buy were as numerous as woven fabric. The morning market was truly bustling.

Xu He felt an itch in his heart. He also wanted to gather some wild vegetables to sell. There were many wild onions in the village, very fragrant for making dumplings or buns. In previous years, he could have dug up some spring bamboo shoots and wild vegetables to sell, but this year he couldn't. His father was bedridden, Xu Shaochun was taking care of him, and his mother had to go to the tea plantation to pick tea… He had to manage the family's eighteen mu of land almost entirely by himself, with absolutely no time to go up the mountain to dig for spring bamboo shoots and wild vegetables to sell.

By the time spring plowing was over, the wild vegetables in the mountains would probably be gone too.

He sighed softly. But he was getting married next month. Once married, he would certainly have to manage his husband's household affairs. Even if his maiden home was close by, it wouldn't make sense to keep managing the Xu family's crops.

He remembered Zhang Fangyuan telling him that their family's land was all managed by his fourth uncle's family. This year's planting had already started; the seeds were bought with his own money, and he had given some money to his fourth uncle's family. When he moved in, he wouldn't need to continue the busy spring plowing.

That being the case, he might still catch the tail end of spring.

Thinking this, he entered a grain shop where he had sold grain before to buy some seeds. When he came out, it was still early.

Feeling his pocket, he turned back and went to a cloth shop, picked out some thread and a small piece of fabric. It didn't cost much, but he really didn't have much spare money to spend.

“The results are out!”

“There were so many people crowded outside the academy early this morning.”

“Your second son also took the exam this year, right?”

“More and more people are taking the imperial exams. Scores that could pass in previous years might not pass this year.”

Xu He turned his head and saw several women discussing. Their voices weren't soft, so he overheard. Only then did he remember the county exams had ended, and the results were posted today.

He instinctively thought of Fei Lian and wondered if he had passed.  Although it didn't have much to do with him, he would be his brother-in-law after all. He suddenly remembered his mother had mentioned yesterday, telling him to go check the results. His brow twitched. Seeing Zhang Fangyuan really makes him forget things! He had almost forgotten his mother's instruction. Luckily, he overheard the discussion.

After buying what he needed, he headed straight for the Songzhu Academy. The county exam results were posted outside the academy.

By the time Xu He arrived, it was no longer the early hours for checking the results. Those anxious to see them had already looked. At this time, there weren't many people left outside the academy, mostly the curious taking a glance.

He walked up to the notice board, scanned the densely packed names, and felt slightly awkward—he didn't even recognize Fei Lian's name. So he had to ask for help from someone nearby who could read.

Fortunately, there was a kind person willing to help him look.

“Fei Lian… Fei Lian… Don't worry, let me look carefully. Over sixty scholars were admitted this year; need to search slowly.”

Xu He stood to the side, waiting patiently. “Fei Lian…”

Someone who had just come out of the academy heard his name being called and instinctively looked towards the voice. “He Ger, what are you doing here!”

Xu He hadn't expected to run into the person himself while checking the results. He nodded in greeting to Fei Lian.

Fei Lian seemed visibly pleased to see him. He glanced around at his fellow classmates coming out of the academy, noticing their frequent looks and seeming whispers. He slightly lowered his head and called Xu He aside. “Did you come to see the results?”

Xu He nodded honestly. “My mother…”

“I passed!” Fei Lian interrupted Xu He, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Nothing was better than encountering the person he admired showing concern for him just when he was riding high on success. “I was just about to return to the village to give my mother the good news.”

Xu He thought that now his mother and second sister could rest easy. Remembering that Fei Lian had once taught him to write a few characters, he congratulated him, “Congratulations, Scholar Fei… no, that's not right, now you're Fei Xiucai.”*

*Xiucai (秀才) — scholar, a person who has passed county level exam; before he was called Tongsheng (童生) — scholar, but a candidate who hasn’t passed the county level exam yet

Fei Lian gave a refined smile, but thinking of his family's arrangements and seeing the person before him, a bitterness crept into his smile.

“Just now, I heard there were many examinees this time, and fewer were accepted than in previous years. Fei Xiucai is truly talented. Your future prospects are limitless.”

“Yes, the exam was difficult this year. I was fortunate to pass, but my ranking isn't particularly high.”

“Being able to pass is excellent in itself.”

Fei Lian's brows relaxed. Xu He was usually quiet, so hearing him say a few more words felt more comforting and pleasant than any flattery from others.

He suddenly thought: since he was now a xiucai, receiving a monthly stipend from the court, and had been granted land, he had the means to support a family. Overnight, their Fei family had become a very respectable household in the village. In that case… why not strive for what he wanted this once?

Many among his classmates also had more than just a proper wife. He Ger was simple and unadorned; perhaps he would agree… “He Ger, if…”

“Half a day without returning, so you’ve come over here!”

Before the words he found difficult to say could be spoken, they were abruptly cut off by a rough, loud voice. Looking up, it was actually the overbearing butcher from the village, Zhang Fangyuan. Fei Lian was slightly taken aback. The two had never interacted; why would he appear here?

Seeing that Zhang Fangyuan had come looking for him, Xu He couldn't help but ask, “Did you sell the meat that quickly?”

Zhang Fangyuan looked at Xu He, his eyes clearly saying—Sold out long ago, been waiting for you for ages. But he was stubborn and refused to answer, keeping his mouth shut to show his extreme displeasure.

Xu He knew this man was taller than anyone, but his heart was smaller than anyone's.

Although he and Fei Lian had nothing going on between them, Zhang Fangyuan held hostility towards Fei Lian. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he reached out and took Zhang Fangyuan's large hand, giving it a slight shake. “I'm asking you a question.”

 

<< ToC >>