Chapter 192:

Chapter 192:

At dawn, when the sky was just beginning to lighten, Gu Lanshi was still in bed, half-asleep. Outside, the barking of dogs broke the silence, making quite a racket.

Pei Yan heard Liu Dahao's voice and put on his clothes to open the door.

On his first day of work, Liu Dahao didn't dare to slack off, waking up early to make his way over.

Older than Pei Yan, he seemed somewhat at a loss upon entering the house, offering a cautious smile meant to please. His face, darkened by the sun, bore the rough marks left by wind and rain.

"Brother Liu, so early," said Pei Yan, closing the fence gate again without bolting it this time.

"Mm-hmm." Liu Dahao nodded silently, unsure what to say, fearing he might say something wrong and thus only responding with grunts.

Pei Yan took a few steps ahead, then paused to say, "Brother Liu, for the next ten days or so, it'll just be household chores and fieldwork. There's no need to get up too early to travel. You can leave your home after the eastern sky brightens; you'll arrive in time."

Liu Dahao simply nodded in agreement. Since that was what his employer said, he would follow suit.

Pei Yan could tell his character and continued as they walked, "When the plants start growing and the weather warms up, we'll need to gather grass and sow vegetables. When things get busier, you can come earlier then."

"I understand, I'll remember that," Liu Dahao finally said a longer sentence.

With Liu Dahao already there, Pei Yan didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Breakfast isn't ready yet, Brother Liu. Why don't you chop some firewood first? After breakfast, the water in the pot will be boiling, so you can cook half a pot of pig food. There's only an old sow and a donkey in the backyard that also need feeding."

It was Liu Dahao's first day, so Pei Yan had to explain where everything was and what needed to be done, lest he feel awkward.

Upon hearing these were all household chores, Liu Dahao, accustomed to such tasks, could easily remember them without needing to ask questions.

Seeing the dog following behind, clearly wary and curious about Liu Dahao, Pei Yan turned to reassure him, "Don't worry about the dog. As long as the two of us are home, it won't bark or bite. Come every day, and once it gets used to you, it will recognize you naturally."

Afterward, he instructed Dahēi, "From now on, Brother Liu will be coming to the house often, so don't bark randomly."

Dahēi looked at him, his tail swaying lightly behind him. Whether he understood or not, Pei Yan didn't dwell on it, speaking to the dog out of habit—a habit he'd unconsciously picked up from Gu Lanshi.

Liu Dahao's previous employer loved keeping dogs and often lectured them as if they were people. Initially uncomfortable with this, Liu Dahao eventually got used to it, so he didn't react to Pei Yan's action.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Liu Dahao didn't rest. Seeing the long axe beside the woodpile, he picked it up and started chopping firewood.

Pausing for a moment, Pei Yan saw how genuine he was and didn't say anything, heading inside instead.

Gu Lanshi had already dressed and gotten out of bed. Winter idleness had made everyone a bit lazy; they had been getting up late recently. It was a bit embarrassing that someone had already entered their home while they were still sleeping.

"I told Brother Liu that after breakfast, he'll take care of feeding the pigs and chickens. You can just rest. After the sun rises higher, we'll go plow the fields together."

Pei Yan spoke while dressing, then casually grabbed a wooden comb to brush his hair. After tying it up with a cloth strip, he rubbed his face, instantly looking more alert.

Gu Lanshi accompanied him outside, entering the kitchen first to light the stove. Once the water heated up, he washed and cleaned his teeth. Because Liu Dahao was in the courtyard and they weren't familiar with each other, Gu Lanshi washed inside the kitchen, only meeting Liu Dahao when he went out to dispose of the water.

Breakfast was simple: two coarse steamed buns per person and half a salted duck egg. They didn't even use a table, eating with their hands.

To be honest, Liu Dahao hadn't expected to have a salted duck egg. The yolk oozed red oil, enough to make one drool just by looking at it. When working for his previous employer, breakfast usually consisted of two coarse steamed buns or a few pieces of homemade rice cake, which he would swallow down with water if they were dry.

Gu Lanshi originally wanted to cut a slice of pickled vegetable for each of them. That's how he and Pei Yan usually ate. But then he thought that since it was Liu Dahao's first day, they should give him something better to eat.

After eating, Pei Yan drank a bowl of hot tea and began working with Liu Dahao in the front and back yards.

The household chores weren't heavy, and with two strong men doing them, Gu Lanshi suddenly found himself idle. All he had to do was sweep the rooms and dust off the cobwebs. He didn't need to do any outdoor work.

Accustomed to being busy, he felt a bit out of place when suddenly idle. He circled around the main room several times, looked around the front yard, but couldn't find any work for himself. In the end, he picked up needle and thread to sew.

As the sun rose higher, after finishing the household chores, Pei Yan and Liu Dahao led the donkey to plow the fields. The land needed to be deeply tilled, and in a couple of days, they would also till the vegetable garden.

With nothing else to do, Gu Lanshi noticed the dogs pacing around the house. So, he took the three large dogs for a walk outside. He didn't go far, just strolled around nearby. Squatting down, he pulled away last year's dead grass and branches, discovering a few new sprouts. Small and tender, they appeared fragile. He smiled, knowing that soon fresh wild vegetables would be available.

*

At noon, Pei Yan and Liu Dahao returned from the fields, their shoes and trouser cuffs covered in mud. After washing their hands, Gu Lanshi had already set the table with their meal.

This was Pei Yan's and his own meal. His own bowl, chopsticks, and food were on the table inside the room.

Entering the main room, Liu Dahao looked around, seemingly unsure what to focus on. After Pei Yan sat down, he noticed Liu Dahao still standing there and said, "Brother Liu, sit down and eat."

Only then did Liu Dahao realize he was supposed to eat at this table.

He swallowed hard, rubbing his hands before sitting down. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke, "In my previous jobs, I always ate separately. I could eat holding the bowl in my hands or on a wide bench where I could place the bowl. I ate separately from the master of the house."

Understanding, Pei Yan nodded and said, "Let's do it this way for now. Just eat your fill first."

"Good, good," Liu Dahao agreed repeatedly, picking up his chopsticks and taking his bowl. Still restrained, he didn't dare to pick dishes randomly, only eating what was in front of him.

Seeing his unease, Pei Yan thought that perhaps it was indeed better to eat separately. By giving him a separate bowl of dishes, he could enjoy his meal without feeling constrained, not having to worry about barely touching his chopsticks during the entire meal.

If not for Gu Lanshi's keen ears, with only a few people in the house, he wouldn't have heard the conversation outside while eating alone on the kang without saying a word.

By the afternoon, with less than half an hour until sunset, dinner was already prepared.

This time, Gu Lanshi and Pei Yan ate inside, while Liu Dahao dined alone in the main room. Besides a bowl of steaming-hot dumpling soup and two coarse steamed buns, there was also a full bowl of dishes.

Eating alone, he was clearly more relaxed. Upon discovering egg flowers in the dumpling soup, he felt rather overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness.

Eggs were too precious at this time of year. Even if one was added to the dumpling soup, some people would scoop out the egg flowers first when serving themselves, reserving them for their family. He never expected to find them in his own bowl.

Compared to his surprise, Gu Lanshi hadn't given it much thought. The egg flowers were scattered and stirred into the soup; he didn't have the leisure to scoop them out.

Rural men who worked hard ate a lot. Seeing Pei Yan finish his bowl and stand up to serve himself more, Gu Lanshi suggested he ask Liu Dahao if he wanted more. There was plenty of dumpling soup left in the pot.

Liu Dahao hesitated for a moment, then followed Pei Yan to serve himself another half-bowl of dumpling soup.

Just through two meals, he could see the sincerity of Pei Yan and Gu Lanshi. His heart grew increasingly reassured. Over the years, he had worked as a long-term laborer for several households, encountering both good people and employers who would cut corners in various ways.

He stayed with his previous employer for a long time. If not for his husband's illness, he wouldn't have quit. That household was similar to Pei Yan's, never mistreating people when it came to meals. Not only did they provide oil, but the portions were also generous.

Liu Dagé was simple and honest; even if his master wasn't good, he would still work diligently. But in his heart, he knew how others treated him. By the end of the day, he secretly resolved to put even more effort into his work in the future.

*

Time flew by, and gradually, there were specks of green on the ground, which filled one's heart with joy.

Those who couldn't wait had already begun carrying bamboo baskets to dig for wild vegetable sprouts by the riverbank, and because it wasn't the right season yet, they often wandered around for a long time before they could gather half a basket.

"Go home, don't play on the road," Miao Qiulian instructed from behind.

"I know, Mother," Gu Lanshi replied with a smile, turning back. His mother was like that; he was already so old, how could he possibly be tempted to play on the road?

The bamboo basket in his hand contained plenty of wild vegetable sprouts, tender and green, making one feel delighted at the sight. How long had it been since they'd eaten such fresh spring vegetables?

When he got home, he would wash them, slice some meat, and make a soup, then add the wild vegetables. Once cooked, it would surely be fresh, green, and sweet. Just thinking about it made his mouth water.

Gu Lanshi walked energetically toward home, with Dahēi running ahead, occasionally stopping to wait for him.

He discovered a few tiny wildflowers blooming just a few steps ahead, and Gu Lanshi was astonished, unable to resist stopping and squatting down to examine them closely.

The pink petals were small, the entire flower not even as big as a fingernail. Having not seen fresh flowers for three or four months, he couldn't help but stare for a while longer.

Dahēi, seeing him squatting there motionless, ran back to check on him, and his paws accidentally stepped on the wildflower, both front and back paws taking turns, instantly destroying the delicate bloom.

Gu Lanshi was stunned for a moment, then laughed helplessly, reaching out to rub the dog's head. If only he had picked it, he could have shown it to Pei Yan. Now, no one would get to see it.

He clapped his hands and stood up with the bamboo basket, having forgotten Miao Qiulian's warning because he didn't think he was playing. As he walked, he searched for other wildflowers.

Unfortunately, the season wasn't right, and he saw no others.

The wicker gate was open, indicating that Pei Yan was at home. Huīhuī and Huīzǎi were circling the entrance, barking fiercely at Dahēi and Gu Lanshi when they saw them, as if scolding them for not bringing them along.

With wild vegetables to eat, Gu Lanshi was in a great mood. At the door, he stroked Huīzǎi's head, and the silver bracelet on his left wrist flashed.

Ever since hiring Liu Dagé, the amount of work he did each day had decreased significantly, leaving only washing clothes and cooking. No longer needing to do the rough and dirty work, Pei Yan reminded him to wear the bracelet.

In the first few days after putting it on, when he visited neighbors at home, the villagers noticed it and made envious remarks, albeit in jest.

Gu Lanshi could tell that some people were actually envious, but he had his own way of dealing with it. He bluntly stated that Pei Yan had bought it for him, and that immediately silenced several people, leaving only envy in their words.

Who didn't know that Pei Yan had earned quite a bit of money selling pigs and eggs? Buying a silver bracelet was perfectly reasonable.

"Woof—"

Huīzǎi closed its eyes in pleasure as it was petted, causing Huīhuī to bark at it again.

"Alright, alright." Gu Lanshi then rubbed Huīhuī as well. After dealing with the dogs, he finally headed inside.

The red ribbons on the fruit trees had already been removed, and some branches had buds growing. As he walked, he observed the changes in the trees and fields, a smile hidden in his eyes. Spring was a wonderful season.

Pei Yan was sharpening knives in the courtyard; two kitchen knives were already done, and now he held a sickle blade in his hand.

Seeing his husband enter with a smile, he stopped his work and asked with a smile, "Did you find any?"

"Yes, quite a lot. We're having meat and wild vegetable soup today." Gu Lanshi eagerly approached, showing him the wild vegetables in the bamboo basket.

Pei Yan's face was full of smiles, his gaze falling on Gu Lanshi's fair complexion illuminated by the sun. The red dot on his brow was bright and beautiful.