RMCF: Chapter 51

 

Chapter 51

Zhang Fangyuan chose a day to go to the county yamen to complete the registration procedures. During this period, the yamen staff were busy compiling the recently collected taxes. They verified whether he had paid his share on time and in full. Seeing his good record in the register, they didn't make things difficult for him amidst their busy schedule and hastily approved the land permit.

The chief secretary did, however, take the opportunity to instruct him that once the shop opened, he should cooperate with the county yamen's affairs and, ideally, pay his commercial tax voluntarily each quarter, rather than wait for the yamen’s visiting and reminders.

Zhang Fangyuan readily agreed to everything.

In truth, common folks often set up makeshift sheds or stalls by the official road to do business. Temporary stalls that could be dismantled anytime were one thing, but building a permanent structure required reporting to the county yamen. Nevertheless, many people avoided this process, refusing to pay the commercial tax.

Zhang Fangyuan was no longer inclined that way. Since having Xu He, he'd become much more law-abiding. Ultimately, honest business felt more secure—he now had a family to think about.

However, one couldn't entirely blame the common folks for being dishonest. In some counties, the yamen officials were utterly unscrupulous. To get land approval, if you didn't treat officials to banquets, give gifts, or bribe them, they wouldn't see you even after four or five visits. 

Ordinary folks wanting to do small business couldn't withstand such attrition. Getting approved meant paying high taxes, squeezing them from both ends. With money needed on both ends, unable to produce the required sums, many people risked openly breaking the law.

Fortunately, the magistrate of Siyang County was relatively fair and upright, refraining from blatant misdeeds, allowing the people to live and work in peace.

After completing the procedures, Zhang Fangyuan went straight to Wangfeng General Store to pick up Xu He, who had come to town today to buy kitchenware.

The cart was parked by the roadside. A shop assistant carried out two bundles of pots and utensils; though wrapped in sackcloth, the ceramic bowls inside were still visible.

There were iron woks, draining ladles, soup ladles, long-handled ladles… a whole set carried out in pots. Zhang Fangyuan couldn't name all these kitchen tools, much like Xu He couldn't identify all the various iron tools and knives in his tool shed.

He couldn't really join the conversation, so he stood with his arms crossed, guarding the cart. Only after doing a thorough inventory did Xu He climb onto the cart. “All set.”

Without waiting to be asked, Xu He said, “Cost six hundred wen in total. The iron wok was the most expensive.”

Zhang Fangyuan knew ironware was costly, but half a cartload of kitchenware for over six hundred wen was worth it. Anyway, with Xu He handling the purchase, here was no risk of being cheated.

“How did it go? Did the yamen people give you a hard time?” Xu He had worried that with Zhang Fangyuan's hot temper, he wouldn't get things done at the yamen. Commoners had to be respectful and polite to officials, and might even have to beg and grovel. He felt he could manage it better himself.

But Zhang Fangyuan had said splitting up would be faster, and went alone.

“Don't worry, it's done. I've been doing business for a while now, I know what I'm doing.”

Xu He glanced at him doubtfully. “You know what you're doing? The other day you actually cursed out a customer.”

“He was asking for it. He picked out the piece of meat he wanted, had me slice it, and after it was done, he said he didn't want it. Running a business doesn't mean we have to be bullied.”

“Alright, don't get angry.” Xu He fished two wen out of his pocket and called to a small ice-seller by the roadside for some sweet ice. “Here, cool down.”

Zhang Fangyuan reined in the horse and pointed at the stall. “I want the one with pear inside.”

The vendor put back the plain ice and took out the pear one. “Three wen.”

Zhang Fangyuan looked at Xu He, indicating he should buy it.

Xu He gritted his teeth and added another wen. This spendthrift was always pushing his luck.

He took the ice from the vendor and shoved it into Zhang Fangyuan's mouth. “It all tastes the same. Had to pick the expensive one.”

Zhang Fangyuan winced from the cold, then couldn't help laughing.

Instead of heading back to the village, they went directly to the tea stall site. Over the past six or seven days, the structure had largely taken shape. Next came plastering the walls and putting on the roof.

Going inside, Zhang Fangyuan found it surprisingly lively. His fourth uncle, Zhang Shicheng, was there today.

“Happened to be going out of the village on business, so I dropped by to lend a hand.”

Zhang Shicheng looked satisfied with the tea stall's progress, as if he'd built it himself.

“Then tonight, bring Auntie and Xiaomao over to our place for dinner.” Zhang Fangyuan said to his fourth uncle, then glanced back at the Chen brothers.

“Alright.”

Nobody stood on ceremony; they all readily agreed.

Zhang Fangyuan added, “Then I'll take these things home first and have He Ger start cooking.”

Xu He overheard from the outside and came in to greet Zhang Shicheng before leaving with Zhang Fangyuan. Although guests had been invited suddenly, Xu He wasn't worried about what to cook for dinner. He could simply use the meat Zhang Fangyuan had for his stall; stir-fried or boiled, it would be perfectly presentable for a farm household.

Zhang Fangyuan, however, smacked his lips regretfully. Pity they hadn't bought two fish in town. They were cheaper in the afternoon, made a good dish, and with the leftover pork intestines they hadn't sold, they could have made a magnificent pot of fish with intestines.

Once the sun went down, they could eat in the yard, and it wouldn't feel too hot.

Xu He said, “You're dreaming.” But he promised that once the tea stall was finished, they could have a proper feast.

The two returned home in high spirits. As the cart reached the road outside their house, they saw from a distance fourth aunt He Shi waiting for them.

Seeing them coming, she didn't wait by the yard gate but walked straight up to meet them.

“Where's your Fourth Uncle? Have you seen him?”

“At the tea stall site. He'll be back later. We were just about to go invite Auntie over for dinner.”

He Shi frowned, clasping her hands. “Your Second Aunt is back.”

Zhang Fangyuan hesitated for a moment. “Why the sudden return? She couldn't make it for our wedding when we sent word.”

He Shi said, “She married far away; timing issues are common. She's back now to visit family. I was just thinking of having your Fourth Uncle come back early. What bad timing.”

“Where is Second Aunt now?”

“At your Eldest Uncle's house, of course.”

Zhang Fangyuan nodded. It seemed they wouldn't be having their family dinner tonight after all. He entered the yard to unloaded their things, leading only Little Black out. “Then I'll go get Fourth Uncle back.” He also needed to let the Chen brothers know.

“Alright.” He Shi helped carry the pots and utensils inside.

Xu He didn't have a strong impression of Zhang Fangyuan's second aunt. Back in the day, the Zhang family had been relatively well-off in the village. Everyone naturally paid close attention to such families, and there was often gossip about them.

He was too young when Zhang Fangyuan's second aunt married into another county to know the details, let alone meet her. Anyway, marriages in the village were complicated—not everyone was lucky enough to marry nearby; many married far away.

After Zhang Fangyuan brought his fourth uncle back, they all headed to the eldest uncle, Zhang Shixin's house. It was bustling there tonight, with most of the Zhang family gathered, except for the sixth uncle.

“The last time I came back was for Fifth Brother's funeral. In a blink, so many years have passed, and Fangyuan is married with a family now.”

Xu He entered the yard with Zhang Fangyuan and saw a woman who didn't look old, but whose temples were streaked with white hair. She stood up from the main hall, suddenly rushed out, grabbed Zhang Fangyuan's arm, looked him up and down, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Zhang Fangyuan called out “Second Aunt,” and Xu He, understanding the situation, followed suit.

Fourth uncle Zhang looked at his sister, and though his emotions weren't as open and obvious as the woman's, his brow was furrowed.

“Seeing you should be a happy occasion, why the tears? Go inside and sit.”

After entering the hall, Xu He noticed an unfamiliar little girl inside. She was quite delicate and pretty, but very thin and small, with a pointed chin, not at all like the round-cheeked faces of other children her age.

He knew that look all too well—he'd been such a thin, weak child himself.

Seeing him glance at the child several times, Zhang Fangyuan asked Zhang Shiyue, “Second Aunt, is this your Xiao'e?”

Zhang Shiyue gently nudged the girl forward. “Xiao'e, call him Cousin.”

The little girl was timid, and looking at Zhang Fangyuan's fierce appearance only frightened her more. She instinctively tried to hide behind Zhang Shiyue, but she obeyed her mother, pursed her lips, stepped forward, and called out “Cousin” in a very low voice.

“How old is she? This is my first time seeing her. She looks like you, Second Aunt.”

“Twelve.”

Zhang Shiyue glanced at her daughter, unable to hide her furrowed brow. Though not young in age, Xiao'e looked like a child of only seven or eight.

Zhang Fangyuan wanted to ask more, but Xu He tugged at him. “Don't scare the child.”

Zhang Fangyuan laughed. “Alright.”

Zhang Shiyue looked at Xu He again. He was tall, with a very good build. She smiled at Zhang Fangyuan. “A-Yuan, you're a lucky man, marrying such a fine ger.”

"Of course. It's a pity Second Aunt couldn't make it back for the wedding. You must stay and visit for a couple of days this time.” Zhang Fangyuan shamelessly pulled Xu He forward. “Our He Ger is an excellent cook. We're getting ready to open a tea stall by the official road now.”

Hearing this, Zhang Shiyue's face broke into a smile. “Good. A-Yuan has grown up and become sensible.”

Xu He let Zhang Fangyuan chat with his aunt and went to the kitchen to help the eldest uncle's wife and eldest sister-in-law cook.

Xiaomao ran around the house, wanting to play with the girl his age, but she kept hiding behind Zhang Shiyue, so he didn’t dare approach. He ended up following Xu He around, helping pick vegetables.

While tending the fire and helping with the food, Xu He took a look at what was for dinner. Eldest aunt said they were having soft tofu pudding and boiling a piece of cured meat, and that was it for the meat dishes.

He felt a bit strange inside. He had long heard from Zhang Fangyuan that his Eldest Uncle's family was outwardly very generous and easy-going, but extremely stingy with their own household. That's why they didn't interact much with them usually.

Today, he was seeing it for himself.

With such a large household filling two tables, even if they were family and didn't need to stand on ceremony, Zhang Shiyue had traveled a long way from another county. She had married out so many years ago and rarely returned. Serving just a bit of cured meat as a welcome was truly a bit shabby.

Taking the chance to wash vegetables outside, he called Zhang Fangyuan over and spoke to him quietly.

“Eldest Uncle's family is like this. I'll go back and bring two jin of fresh meat. Second Aunt rarely returns to her natal family, we should treat her properly. Think we should bring anything else?”

Xu He said, “Bring the pig's heart too. Stir-fry it with scallions—you like that.”

Zhang Fangyuan smiled and said, “Okay.”

 

***

T/N

hello~ 

(ㅅ´ ˘ `) first of all i am so very sorry for this late update! and secon i do not plan to drop this novel! 

life happened and i took an unexpectedly longer break from translating, but i am getting back on track, no worries

(ง ͠ಥ_ಥ)ง 

thank you for your patience! at first i did not expect to have readers at all, and this is just a little passion project of mine,... i'm still learning and figuring things out and i might have overestimated myself, but i'll make sure to stockpile chapters for a rainy day in the future

(つ.と) ♥︎

 

<< ToC >>