Chapter 218

Chapter 218

The cold instilled fear in one's heart; the dark sky let down large snowflakes that rustled as they fell. Occasionally, howling winds would rage, but they couldn't dislodge the thick layers of snow on the branches and rooftops.

In the mud stove, burning firewood crackled softly, the flickering flames casting a warm glow. A clay pot on top of the stove emitted steam. The lid of the teapot on the table beside it was lifted, and a small gourd ladle scooped up boiling water to pour into the teapot.

Lifting it gently and swirling it around, the red tea gradually spread within the pot.

Gu Lanshi closed the teapot lid with a smile, pouring two cups of tea as he said, "This tea has a bright color and a strong flavor."

On the kang, Pei Yan was half-reclining at the head of the bed, with Xingxing lying against his chest, grinning with a toothless mouth.

"Next time, we should buy some other good tea to try." Pei Yan, busy playing with the child, didn't forget to join in the conversation.

Seeing Xingxing turn his face, his chubby cheeks pressed tightly against his father's chest, his little hand moving slightly as he yawned, looking like he wanted to sleep, a smile appeared in Pei Yan's eyes. He remained still, afraid of disturbing his son's sleep.

With a child, they were afraid that the extreme cold would freeze Xingxing, so they kept the kang warm during the day.

Seeing Xingxing rub his little face against his father's clothes, finding a comfortable position before closing his eyes, Gu Lanshi closed the door that had been left slightly ajar.

Remembering something, he picked up the fur gloves placed on the box cover, put them on, and then lifted the clay pot and mud stove, carrying them out to the main room. He shouted towards the west room, "Brother Liu, the water in the clay pot is boiling. Pour yourself some tea to drink."

Hearing an affirmative response, he turned back inside and closed the door again.

There was only one mud stove in the house, and with such heavy snowfall, it was inconvenient to go to the kitchen to boil water. Earlier, when warming milk fruit for Xingxing, he had brought the stove and clay pot into the room.

Placing them in the main room made it easier for both sides to fetch water.

Removing his gloves, Gu Lanshi turned to see Xingxing open his eyes again at the sound, looking extremely sleepy as he yawned once more.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" he asked with a soft laugh. Xingxing smiled upon hearing his familiar voice, rubbing his eyes with his little hands, looking drowsy.

"Pat him," Gu Lanshi said to Pei Yan.

Pei Yan was very skilled, pulling over the child's small blanket to cover him, then gently patting Xingxing's back with his large hand as he whispered, "When we go to town next time, buy a bolt of red cloth and a bolt of deep lotus green. Make clothes and a belly band for Xingxing to wear."

"By next summer, he'll definitely have grown some more. It won't do to keep wearing second-hand clothes. Sister-in-law and the others also want to save clothes for their future children. We should make a few ourselves. When we have a second child later, they can wear Xingxing's clothes."

Children should wear bright colors. Gu Lanshi was certainly willing to splurge on new clothes for Xingxing, nodding and saying, "Then buy another bolt of pale yellow. Whether for trimming or making clothes and pants, it's perfect for a baby. It won't be wrong."

"Alright," Pei Yan agreed, thinking for a moment before raising his eyes to ask, "Should I buy a bolt of blue-green for you? To make a set of clothes to wear for the New Year."

Sitting on the edge of the kang, Gu Lanshi picked up his tea cup and took a sip of hot tea, laughing as he said, "No need. My winter clothes are still quite new."

As long as there were no patches, what difference was there between clean clothes and new ones?

"The cotton at home will be used to make a few sets of winter clothes for Xingxing next year," Gu Lanshi said, noticing that the child had fallen asleep soundly. He gently picked him up, placing him on the warm side of the kang, covering him with a blanket to let him sleep.

Xingxing wasn't startled awake and continued to sleep soundly.

"He's much easier to take care of than Gu Man and Gu An were when they were young. He hasn't given us any trouble," Gu Lanshi praised with a smile, finding his son increasingly adorable and endearing the more he looked at him.

Pei Yan got off the kang, tasting the hot tea. It was slightly bitter, but left a lingering fragrance in his mouth. He said, "It's indeed good."

This was high-quality tea bought in the capital city last time. They would serve it to guests when the New Year came.

Outside, the wind continued unabated, and the light grew darker, as if brewing a greater storm.

Gu Lanshi and Pei Yan drank tea for a while, not doing anything else, so they didn't light a lamp.

The warm kang enveloped them in comfort, and they huddled together, covered by a quilt on their legs.

Resting against the familiar chest, Gu Lanshi felt a bit bored, grabbing Pei Yan's palm to count his fingers. Pei Yan's hands were larger than his, and his frame was bigger too. He wondered how he had grown to be so tall.

Recalling what Pei Yan had said earlier, he raised his head, his forehead brushing against the man's jawline, and asked with a smile, "How many children do you want?"

Pei Yan held his husband in his arms, feeling a bit restless without realizing it. His throat tightened, and his free hand gradually lost control. Suddenly hearing this question, his Adam's apple moved slightly as he thought seriously and said, "Three."

Two was too few, and four or five seemed too many. For over a decade, they'd be revolving around newborns. With only him and Gu Lanshi at home, they might not be able to manage. Besides, each birth meant enduring pain. Too many children were definitely not feasible.

"Three?" Gu Lanshi thought about it and said with a smile, "If it's three, two older brothers and one younger brother or sister would be just right."

"Mm-hmm," Pei Yan shared the same idea. He paused and asked, "What about you? Have you ever thought about how many children you want?"

Gu Lanshi said, "Me? I don't know. Anyway, it doesn't matter what we say. We'll have however many we have, as long as we can afford to raise them."

He had many siblings, and after getting married, he and Pei Yan were only two people. Whether it was three or five children, as long as the family was thriving, it was good.

Warm kang, husband in his arms.

Wishing for children wouldn't work by just talking about it. But only he knew that all this talk about children was just an excuse.

Pei Yan lowered his head, gradually kissing from the top of Gu Lanshi's hair to his ear and neck.

Gu Lanshi found it ticklish and couldn't help letting out a soft laugh. He turned his head to avoid it, one hand covering Pei Yan's cheek, trying to gently push him away.

Unexpectedly, when their eyes met, he saw the longing in Pei Yan's eyes. Those starry eyes were filled with a different emotion, deep and murky, and his breathing changed, giving rise to the most direct and passionate thoughts from the depths of his heart.

Gu Lanshi paused.

They were too familiar with each other, too well-matched. Lowering his eyes to avoid the intense gaze was a tacit agreement.

The doors and windows were tightly shut, and not a sound of their restrained movements leaked out.

When he emerged from under the covers, Gu Lanshi's hair was slightly disheveled, clearly damp from the heat.

He stretched out his arm, trying to cool off, suppressing his breaths. Even though they hadn't truly made love, it was still unbearable.

Soon, there was movement under the covers again. His chest heaved as he bit his lip hard, his gaze towards the ceiling gradually becoming unfocused.

*

In the courtyard, Pei Yan and Liu Dagé were loading bamboo baskets onto the cart. The donkey snorted, shook its head, then stood still in place, waiting silently, as docile as could be.

They had accumulated over two hundred eggs. Some were left at home while three egg baskets, two vegetable baskets, and a basket of walnuts were carefully placed on the cart. Gu Lanshi handed over the food pouch and said, "Eat something warm if you get hungry. You can have wontons or mixed broth."

It was cold, and eating meat would keep them warm.

Pei Yan stuffed the food pouch into his chest and, with a nod, set off with Liu Dagé.

The snow on the road hadn't melted yet. In some sections, where people frequently passed, the terrain became bumpy and muddy, with deep cartwheel tracks. When delivering eggs, he always led the donkey by hand. With an extra person alongside, they could help push the cart and steady the egg baskets when the going got tough.

After watching them leave, Gu Lanshi returned to the main room to add more firewood to the brazier and continued weaving bamboo baskets.

The vegetable patch in the courtyard was covered in snow. After being outside for a short while, one's legs and feet would turn icy cold. It was much more comfortable inside the house.

Xingxing was asleep. As a baby, she spent most of her day eating and sleeping, with little time for play. Her mother said that a child who eats well, sleeps soundly, and doesn't fuss grows tall.

Dahai monopolized the mud stove, roasting himself in front of it. Huīhuī and Huáizai squeezed next to the brazier. They had run through the snow earlier, and now their paws and leg fur turned damp from the heat.

"Whine—"

Huīhuī let out a low howl from her throat.

Gu Lanshi glanced at her and noticed both dogs staring at the brazier. He remembered that they had seen him put wild sweet potatoes inside earlier and couldn't resist scolding them, "All you think about is eating all day long."

He was then amused by Huīhuī's tilted head as she looked at him. He prodded around with a piece of wood, pulling out several charred wild sweet potatoes from the basin.

The wild sweet potatoes rolled twice on the ground, steaming hot. Huáizai approached to sniff them but quickly pulled back his nose, realizing the danger from the intense heat.

Gu Lanshi chuckled and warned, "Wait, let them cool down before eating."

He gathered the sweet potatoes together with the wood and resumed his work.

Earlier that morning, Huīhuī had been too mischievous. Seeing him carrying Xingxing out, she suddenly leaped onto him, dirtying his pants with her black paws. Fortunately, he held the baby high enough so that the swaddling cloth remained clean.

He was wearing a new pair of trousers, and this incident inevitably made him a bit angry at Huīhuī.

Huīhuī knew she had caused trouble. Whenever she saw him, she would grin sycophantically, her ears folding back, and even lay on the ground to show him her belly. Normally, she wouldn't let anyone touch the soft fur on her belly, only obeying after a slap from Gu Lanshi. Today, however, she truly displayed a humble and submissive demeanor.

Dahai was very composed. He knew that there would definitely be wild sweet potatoes for him to eat, showing no signs of impatience or greed. Occasionally, he would glance at the pile of roasted sweet potatoes.

After a while, Gu Lanshi picked up a wild sweet potato. His fingers immediately turned black, but he didn't mind. He broke it open to find the inside thoroughly cooked, the white flesh steaming. He peeled off the charred skin, blew on it, and took a bite. It was slightly sweet and glutinous, with a mild flavor.

"Let them cool down," he said, breaking open the sweet potatoes for the dogs and placing them on the ground.

Without permission to eat, the three dogs grew a bit anxious. Sniffing and discovering that the sweet potato flesh was still hot, they raised their heads and howled a few times, scratching the ground with their paws.

Gu Lanshi leisurely finished his wild sweet potato. Seeing that the ones on the ground had cooled down, he threw away the charred skin into the charcoal brazier: "Go ahead, eat."

As if hearing an incredible command, the dogs gobbled them up hastily, fearing they might eat less than the others.

"Pitiful," Gu Lanshi shook his head. Having raised them for a few years, he had never let them go hungry. Yet, they always acted like starving ghosts reincarnated.

Despite his scolding, having the dogs at home provided him with a sense of comfort.

On the other side, Pei Yan and Liu Dagé arrived at the city, heading straight for the alley behind the Zheng residence.

Today, all two hundred eggs were bought by Fang Chenghua, at fifteen cash per egg, significantly higher than Ning Shui Town's price.

After entering the city gate, Pei Yan encountered two men selling eggs. He asked them about the price. One carried a bamboo basket, the covering cloth blown aside by the wind, revealing the eggs inside. The man refused to disclose any information and headed straight for a grand entrance, clearly delivering eggs there.

The other man, who was shouting and selling eggs from his bamboo basket, quoted a price of fourteen cash, claiming it was already cheap. Those who overheard were taken aback; ordinary families couldn't afford such prices.

Pei Yan and Liu Dagé hadn't walked far when they heard someone calling out to the egg seller. Turning back, they saw a man dressed in a long robe and wearing a hat, clearly someone of status, possibly a steward of a wealthy household.

At this time, eggs were rare commodities. Once available, they were always purchased by the wealthy.

At the back door of the Zheng residence, Gui Zi summoned Fang Chenghua.

Fang Chenghua seemed unusually happy. Upon hearing the number two hundred, he readily paid three taels without even glancing at the dozen or so broken eggs. In the dead of winter, having rotten eggs to eat was considered a rarity. Taken to the kitchen, they would likely be cooked immediately; no one would bother to pick through them.

He had consumed some alcohol that morning, perhaps under the influence, insisting on taking Pei Yan to a tavern for a drink. He mentioned doing business together, stating that he should treat Pei Yan to a drink, and also included Liu Dagé in the invitation.

With no eggs on the cart to tie their hands, Pei Yan thought that selling the vegetables and walnuts later wouldn't be too late, so he didn't refuse.

The trio entered the tavern. Pei Yan asked the waiter to help unload the vegetable baskets and bamboo basket and place them beside the table, to prevent any passerby from stealing them.

After sitting down, Fang Chenghua ordered two jars of wine and several dishes. As they drank, realizing they were among friends, he couldn't help but speak a bit more.

It turned out that he could sell the eggs to the government offices for sixteen cash each. For two hundred eggs, based on the market price of fourteen cash outside, he could make four strings of cash. However, he still chose to pay Pei Yan more.

Those two strings of cash didn't mean much to him. In winter, eggs were indeed scarce. Every household and government office was searching for them. Any scattered eggs would be swiftly acquired by those with reliable information, regardless of the price.

As a minor steward, he managed to procure one or two hundred eggs during winter, a significant amount, and had supplied them two or three times consecutively. Therefore, even if he charged a higher price, no one in the government office complained. With so many eggs, if he didn't maintain a stable relationship with the egg supplier, the supplier would have sold them elsewhere long ago.

Even the major stewards didn't possess such capabilities. He had truly shown off his skills, feeling immensely proud.

Initially, unsure of how many eggs Pei Yan could provide during winter, Fang Chenghua had been cautious, fearing embarrassment. Only after winter began did he inform the kitchen that he had a source of eggs.

Originally, he had to beg others to buy eggs from him. Now, it had turned into the kitchen pleading with him. The situation had completely reversed, with the cooks inviting him for drinks.

When Pei Yan delivered eggs last time, it coincided with the ladies of the government office craving egg custard. Normally, eggs were insignificant trinkets to wealthy households. But once winter arrived and supplies dwindled, wanting to eat eggs became difficult. That single taste became exceptionally fragrant.

Similar to the scarcity of vegetables during harsh winters, if a family could obtain expensive fresh leeks and greens, casually mentioning it was a subtle form of boasting.

When entertaining guests, eggs used as toppings or garnishes on the dinner table would catch everyone's eye.

When the higher-ups enjoyed their meals, they would ask where the eggs came from. Since there hadn't been any shortages this winter, Fang Chenghua's name naturally came up.

Listening to this, Pei Yan clinked his wine cup with Fang Chenghua's, a smile on his face. So that was the case. Although Fang Chenghua had his own calculations, it couldn't conceal the fact that Pei Yan had earned a considerable sum through him. In the past half month, they had accumulated two hundred eggs and received three taels, more than what he and Gu Lanshi had estimated.

The alcohol had gone to Huacheng Fang's head, his neck and face flushed red.

Liu Dae, sitting beside him, sipped his wine gently, occasionally picking up a morsel of food with his chopsticks. He was content just to be at the table, not uttering a single word. Knowing he was not eloquent and incapable of flattery, he chose to remain silent like a mute, believing that silence would prevent any mistakes.

Huacheng Fang's tongue was thick with drink, and he slapped Pei Yan's shoulder as he said, "Rest assured, as long as your Second Brother has a mouthful of meat, you won't go without."

"Then I thank Second Brother," Pei Yan replied with a smile, smoothly following along with what Huacheng Fang had said.

The tavern wasn't lacking in patrons; most were men drinking and boasting, their voices occasionally rising in loud exclamations, creating a lively atmosphere.