RMCF: Chapter 41

 

Chapter 41

“The town’s not like the village; it's a mixed bag of all sorts of people. Hooligans and thugs here are much fiercer than the small-time bullies in the village. Mainly because there aren't many people in a village who can truly act up. You look up, it's a neighbor; you look down, it's a relative. Generations have lived there; there's always someone to keep them in check."

“These people come to the city and forget all family ties, just bullying others.”

The two bought what they needed and headed back to the village. Seeing Xu He still seemed distracted, Zhang Fangyuan spoke to comfort him.

“They seemed very afraid of you.” Xu He suddenly asked, a bit naive yet serious, “Were you like that before too?”

“I used to pick fights and cause trouble, but I never bullied ordinary folks. Mostly went with people to collect debts or guard establishments to prevent others from stirring trouble.” He was naturally strong and tall, intimidating, and being a butcher since childhood, his strikes were fiercer than most. “Those small-time thugs who knew me would give me a little face.”

Xu He thought to himself, is it really about giving you face? They're clearly just scared of being beaten up by you. Seeing those two men’s huge purple bumps on their foreheads today, who knows how many hits they took. Though not the first time knowing Zhang Fangyuan could fight—last time catching a thief, he only broke skin, obviously holding back. Today, dealing with those thugs, he saw the real deal.

“Don’t be afraid. I only hit those two guys today because I was really angry.” That morning, his wife showed him the fine wood ear fungi so happily, only for those two to kick them over and scatter them on the ground. How could he not be furious? “I absolutely won’t hit my own people.”

He stretched an arm around Xu He’s shoulders, patting his fluffy head.

“I know.”

Xu He had been slightly startled today. The cart rocked and swayed. He let out a breath. With Zhang Fangyuan holding him, he simply leaned against him.

Zhang Fangyuan's heart instantly swelled with happiness, but he also felt sorry for his wife and wanted to go back and beat up those two guys again.

“Then stop overthinking. We’re going to help at the Chen family tonight. Rest well for now.”

Xu He opened his eyes. “I’m not overthinking. Just, those two didn’t pay for damages before you scolded them away.”

“…”

“Don’t worry, they’ll come find us another day to return the money. They won’t get off that easy. That ger probably won’t dare say another word to you. His husband will definitely keep him in check.”

Xu He had nothing more to say, then added, “When the money’s returned, you keep it.” Consider it payment for your effort.

“Alright.”

Tomorrow, I’ll go demand more; Zhang Fangyuean thought.

When they returned to the village, many helpers had already arrived at the Chen household. The Zhang family could hear the lively noises from their own yard.

After unloading their things in their own yard, Zhang Fangyuan directly took the items the Chen family asked to buy over there. Immediately, several men from the Chen family came to unload everything.

Xu He also went to help. Seeing everyone busy, he didn’t know what to do. Thinking of helping build the stove, Chen Si came out saying, “Ge He, can you chop vegetables? Aunt Hu was doing it, but her child has a fever, so she rushed back.”

“Yes.”

“Great, then I’ll trouble you.”

Zhang Fangyuan, after moving things inside, came out seeing Xu He tying his apron. He stepped over, tied the knot at the back, and rolled up his sleeves. “Later, Chen Si and I need to borrow tables from the village and move them here.”

“Mhm.”

A woman at the nearby table picking vegetables and peeling garlic mumbled, gesturing for others to look.

“Look at that young couple.”

“Never thought Zhang Fangyuan treated his spouse so well.”

“Why wouldn’t he? He worked hard to get that wife, after all.”

Xu He sat at a long makeshift table of planks, took a cutting board, and started chopping vegetables and meat. A big basin of meat needed cutting—some fatty chunks for twice-cooked pork, lean shredded for stir-fry, chicken chopped for soup. Everyone stopped talking about them after Zhang Fangyuan left. Villagers generally didn’t gossip about people to their faces, especially during happy occasions; causing a scene at someone else's house wouldn't look good.

So they chatted about other village matters—whose child was about to turn a month old, whose old man was on his last legs, and so on. Xu He didn’t join in but listened for amusement, feeling that helping at someone else’s wedding or just attending a banquet was more fun than his own.

“Heard from Madam Chen they hired a chef from the next village, cooks well.”

“I thought the chef at Zhang Fangyuan’s wedding was decent too.”

"Did you all attend the Fei family's banquet?"

“Yes.”

The women and ger lowered their voices. “They had many tables, but the food was stingy—twelve dishes per table. The amount for eight dishes barely sufficed, yet they forced it into twelve. When I helped clean up, each table’s soup was completely gone. Not enough rice either; everyone held back, too embarrassed to complain.”

“Hah, wanting to look grand but unwilling to spend—how can that work?”

“Either be like the butcher’s family—half an animal, twelve dishes, each in big bowls. Or like this family—just eight dishes, but make sure it’s enough. Many households do that; no one laughs at them.”

As Xu Shaochun’s natal family, Xu He stayed at their house for meals and hosting on the wedding day and hadn't gone to the Fei family, unaware of their banquet situation. His second sister had been married for some time. Since her wedding, though from the same village, he left early and returned late, and truly hadn’t run into her.

Today at the Chen family’s event, his mother hasn’t come to help. She loved village events, usually going early, having plenty to gossip and boast about. Today, likely because only two were left at home with Xu Changren injured, she couldn’t leave, probably coming tomorrow.

No wonder farming families wanted sons—for carrying on the family line, and because with daughters and ger married off, an elderly couple would be lonely.

On the first evening, the Chen family set up two tables for a small dinner. After eating and helping wash dishes, Xu He noticed the men didn’t linger drinking as usual, knowing they needed to get up early the next day to help. The couple returned home not too late.

After washing up, Zhang Fangyuan thought since they didn’t need to set up stall in town tomorrow and could get up later than usual, he had an excuse to ask for something else.

Xu He, leaning against his chest, felt the person behind him heating up and quickly moved to the other side.

Zhang Fangyuan shamelessly pressed closer. “It’s still early.”

“We’re out of that.” Xu He looked at Zhang Fangyuan, arm bent. “You forgot?”

Zhang Fangyuan’s thick brows furrowed. How could he have forgotten? No wonder he felt something missing when returning today. Xu He carefully checked everything and said nothing was missing. They clearly agreed to buy more when it ran out. His wife had a good memory; definitely didn’t remind him on purpose today.

This little ger!

“Hmm?” Xu He raised his brows innocently and regretfully, tucking the quilt. “Sleep. Don’t you need to go fetch the bride with Cousin Chen Si tomorrow?”

His expression made Zhang Fangyuan's heart itch even more. Clearly knowing he wouldn’t try without supplies, he stubbornly wrapped an arm around the slender waist and stretched a leg to press down on him. “How about we try without? I think we’ve improved; definitely won’t be like the start.”

Feeling the familiar breathlessness, Xu He quickly pushed against Zhang Fangyuan, who was sniffing all over him like a dog. If he could push this rock away, he would. Anxious and annoyed, “A-Yuan!”

“Angry?”

Xu He pressed his lips tightly, brows forming two little ridges.

Zhang Fangyuan hurriedly got off him. “I was just teasing.”

Xu He ignored him. Once free, he turned over, facing away, and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep. Zhang Fangyuan was most afraid of this. Already a man of few words, but when angry, he became practically mute, speaking even less. He tugged Xu He’s sleeve pleadingly. “Really, just joking.”

Seeing no response, he added, “How do you know I’m called A-Yuan? Only my parents called me that when they were alive.”

After a while, Xu He said, “Heard Xiaomao call you that.”

“Oh, right.” Zhang Fangyuan took the chance to pull him back into his arms. “You call me that too from now on. Sounds closer.”

Xu He didn’t confirm or deny, this time leaning against Zhang Fangyuan without further protest. But Zhang Fangyuan couldn’t sleep for a long time, staring at Xu He, eventually kicking the quilt off the bed entirely.

The next day, the couple got up, washed, and went to the Chen family for breakfast. The morning was busiest, as they had to prepare the evening meal timely. The auspicious hour for fetching the bride was set early; after the bride arrived and ceremonies were completed, the first round of the banquet would begin. The timing was quite tight.

Xu He drank congee, and seeing his mother had indeed come today, he greeted her. Around Chen hour (7-9 am), his second sister and her new mother-in-law, Madam Fei, also arrived, looking quite harmonious.

Xu Shaochun was radiant, greeting everyone. She seemed even more beautiful than before her marriage. Actually, her features were the same, but newlywed maturity replaced maiden shyness, adding a young married woman’s charm, attracting more male attention than before.

Xu He, marrying before his sister, knew why she seemed this way—marital life must be satisfying. Liu Xianglan had certainly given her plenty of pre-marital 'education'. It was only recently, while selling vegetables in the city, that he accidentally overheard some women with daughters or ger talking and realized that mothers were supposed to teach those things before marriage.

It was a pity Liu Xianglan had said nothing. He had assumed everyone had to figure things out on their own after marriage. Who knew there was such a thing as 'private lessons’?

But he didn't dwell on it. Anyway, it didn't matter now.

Xu He also greeted Xu Shaochun briefly, then continued his tasks. Xu Shaochun was very diligent outside, washing vegetables and wiping bowls. Women all praised Madam Fei for gaining a good daughter-in-law.

Madam Fei smiled, pleased by flattery but not showing it excessively. Her son, before returning to the academy, had carefully instructed the family not to boast too much, as it could harm his reputation.

No matter how proud she was, she wouldn't dare jeopardize her son's scholarly reputation.

As noon approached, Xu He carried a basin of prepared ingredients into the kitchen and saw several members of the Chen family huddled together, looking frantic as they discussed something.

“Lunch is only two or three tables; anyone can cook. The crucial thing is the evening banquet—no chef, how can that work?!”

“Going to hire someone now would take hours, might not even find anyone. No prior arrangement, no connections—who would come on such short notice?”

“Enough, enough. Everything’s prepared. Just find someone in our village who cooks decently and make do. No other choice.”

“Then who should we ask?”

Seeing Xu He enter, their eyes lit up. Madam Chen stepped forward, taking Xu He’s hand. “He Ger, I remember your sister cooks well. Last New Year’s pig slaughter at your place, wasn’t it your Second Sister in charge? She’s here now; ask her to help, okay?”

Xu He awkwardly held the vegetable basin. “I… I’d have to ask my Second Sister if she agrees.”

 

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