Chapter 112

Chapter 112

After returning home, Lu Miao remained restless. "What should we do, Third Brother... What if Captain Ge encounters danger?"

Lu Yao couldn't guarantee his safety, as war was never without risks, but he still tried to reassure him. "Captain Ge has been in the army for over a decade. His experience will ensure his safety even in battle."

Lu Miao clasped his hands together and placed them on his forehead, praying. "May the heavens protect him and keep him safe. Third Brother, can you accompany me to the temple tomorrow?"

"Sure." Lu Yao understood his brother's feelings. When Zhao Beichuan went to serve his labor duty, he had been even more worried. With the New Year approaching, if visiting the temple could ease his concerns, it would be worth it.

The next day, Zhao Beichuan drove the carriage, taking the two of them to the Qingyun Temple outside the city.

This ancient temple was said to be three hundred years old. The incense offerings were not very abundant, as Buddhism had become increasingly popular in recent years, with many new Buddhist temples being built in the city.

The wealthy often turned to religion after their physical needs were met, seeking spiritual solace in the intangible.

In his previous life, Lu Yao was an atheist, but the experience of reincarnation had already surpassed his understanding. In this life, he wasn't sure whether he should believe in these things.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, and Zhao Beichuan stayed behind to watch it. Lu Yao and Lu Miao walked up the mountain together.

The path was covered in ice and snow, and they walked carefully, afraid of slipping and falling.

After about half an hour, they reached the entrance of the temple. Lu Miao had visited in the fall and knew the way well, so he led Lu Yao directly into the main hall.

Inside the ancient and solemn temple, a Taoist priest was sweeping the snow. He nodded slightly at the two of them but did not approach to chat.

In the main hall, there were statues of the Three Pure Ones and the Four Emperors, all made of wood and painted, giving them an ancient and mysterious appearance.

The two knelt on the prayer mats. Lu Miao bowed to the statues, murmuring, "May the deities protect Captain Ge, ensuring his safe return."

Lu Yao also knelt and silently prayed, "May I always remain here."

They each lit a stick of incense and left two strings of coins as an offering before heading back down the mountain.

On their way back, they suddenly encountered an elderly Taoist with a white beard. He must have been at least seventy or eighty years old, yet he walked on the mountain path as if it were flat ground, which was truly astonishing.

As the old Taoist passed by them, he paused and pulled out a copper coin from his robe, handing it to Lu Yao.

"What is your intention, sir?"

The old Taoist cryptically said, "This coin is lent to you to stabilize your soul. Return it to me in five years, and at that time, help me rebuild the Qingyun Temple."

Lu Yao took the coin in confusion, and the old Taoist, as if afraid he might change his mind, quickly climbed to the top of the mountain.

Lu Miao exclaimed, "That old man is really skilled. But why did he give you this coin?"

Lu Yao had a suspicion but didn't voice it. Instead, he carefully put the coin in his pocket and later found a string to hang it around his neck.

From that day on, he no longer had strange nightmares, and his spirits improved significantly.

*

The next day was New Year's Eve. Lu Yao delivered the New Year's gifts.

This year, besides the Cao family, Liang family, and the Prefect's residence, he also sent a gift to the Qu family.

The gifts were not expensive but were known for their delicious taste: ten pounds of homemade sausages and cured meat, a box of homemade rice cakes and milk cakes, and a jar of aged Lu wine.

After delivering the gifts, he began preparing the food for their own celebration.

For the New Year, they would go to Changshui Street to spend time with the elderly lady. Lu Yao had Ouyang Beichuan deliver all the necessary items beforehand.

They bought a pig, two sheep, some chickens and fish, as well as dried shrimp, clams, and various other dried seafood.

Besides food, they also bought plenty of incense and candles. Since they couldn't return to their hometown this year, they would burn them in Prefecture City to show their respect.

After finishing the preparations at the tavern in the morning, Zhao Beichuan and Lu Yao took the three children to Changshui Street, leaving Lu Ming, Lu Qing, and Ma Kuan to watch the house.

When they arrived, they coincided with the slaughtering of the pig. It was a large animal, and three people couldn't hold it down, so Lu Lin had to call over some neighbors for help.

Their neighbor, Zhao Haifeng, greeted them warmly, "It's been a while since we've seen you. How's business at the tavern?"

Zhao Beichuan replied, "It's doing alright."

Hearing this, Uncle Wang from across the street chimed in, "Hey, if your business is just 'alright,' then we're worse off than the beggars on the street!"

Zhao Beichuan couldn't help but laugh. He didn't manage the business, but with Lu Yao handling it, things were generally fine.

Everyone helped slaughter the two sheep as well. Zhao Beichuan gave each helper two pounds of pork as a thank-you, all of which were fatty cuts. The families happily took the meat and thanked them.

The remaining parts were used to make a stew with the pig's head and leg, while the rest were frozen for later consumption. The cold weather ensured they would last for a month. One of the sheep was reserved for hotpot, and the other would be roasted the next evening.

After slaughtering the pig, Wang Youtian tended the fire, while Zhao Beichuan and Lu Lin cooked.

Hu Chunrong stayed inside with the elderly lady, taking care of the children. She was experiencing severe morning sickness and couldn't stand the smell of cooking, feeling nauseous whenever she entered the kitchen.

Lu Yao, Lu Yun, and Lu Miao were making new bedding in the east room.

The bedding was for Lu Miao's upcoming wedding. They used high-quality cotton, silk for the outer layer, and fine cloth for the inner layer. Each quilt was worth five hundred coins, and Lu Yao prepared eight sets.

While sewing, Lu Yun said, "Fifth Brother is really lucky. When I got married, our family was so poor we could barely make ends meet. I only brought a few clothes with me."

Lu Yao laughed, "You were better off than me. At least the Wang family came to fetch you with a donkey cart. I walked there myself."

Lu Miao added, "Back then, Father always doted on you. How could he bear to marry you off to such a poor family?"

"He wasn't poor. He had saved seven or eight strings of coins."

Lu Yun was surprised, "Really?"

"Later, that money was used to build a house, but unfortunately, it was burned down shortly after we moved in," Lu Yao paused, "If it hadn't been for that fire, we wouldn't be in Prefecture City now." He wasn't sure whether to hate Song Guafu or thank him for the unintended push.

After finishing the bedding, Lu Miao got up and neatly folded it, placing it on top of the chest.

Lu Yao wound up the spool of thread and noticed his younger brother’s face still carried a faint trace of worry, knowing that he was still concerned about Ge Changbao.

"Every year there are battles at the border. Captain Ge is a lucky man; he’ll be fine."

"Hmm."

Outside, Lu Lin called them to come out for dinner, and the three of them quickly put on their shoes and went to help set the table.

For lunch, they had pork dishes, a large pot of braised fatty pork with pickled cabbage, which also included blood sausage and big bones.

The children each held a bone and gnawed on it, while the adults chatted as they ate, the whole family enjoying a warm and joyful atmosphere, filled with laughter.

The old lady had poor teeth, so Lu Yao picked out some tender and soft meat for her to eat.

Lu's mother sighed, "Your father had good teeth and loved to chew on crunchy bones. It’s a pity he didn’t get to eat them much when he was alive."

Everyone knew she was reminiscing, so they quickly changed the topic to cheer her up.

"Mother, I hired a new helper recently. His mother died from childbirth complications, leaving behind a little girl. We’ve never taken care of a child before, so after the New Year, you should go and see how things are going."

The old lady perked up at this, "Oh, how old is the child?"

"Only seventeen days old."

"That young? Have you prepared a nanny goat yet?"

"Da Chuan has been to West Market a few times, but it’s hard to find goats that give birth in winter. For now, she’s just drinking ash water."

"You should add a little sugar to the ash water. It will help the child grow stronger if she drinks more of it."

"Alright, I’ll remind him when we get back."

After finishing dinner, they stayed until it was almost dark before heading home. On the way back, Lu Yao said, "I think after the New Year, we should buy a house in Prefecture City. Living in the inn isn’t a long-term solution."

A while ago, a guest parked in the backyard and entered Xiaodou’s room, though nothing was stolen, it was quite frightening. With more and more silver in hand, living here could be troublesome if we get robbed.

"Alright, I’ll look around then." Zhao Beichuan had already been considering this.

"No rush, let’s arrange Lu Miao’s wedding first, and then we’ll look for a house. We should buy a bigger one so there’s room for the children when they get married."

"Hmm."

*

The next morning, as soon as it was light, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan got up.

They washed up and changed into new cotton robes. Zhao Beichuan rarely wore his hair in a bun, but today he did, using a silver hairpin with a jade inlay that Lu Yao had bought specially for him, which he had never worn before.

The silver hairpin complemented his outfit, making him look neat and tidy, and particularly spirited.

Lu Yao dressed similarly but wore a hairpin, the jade hairpin given by Lady Lin, which he only wore on special occasions due to its value.

Xiaonian wore a red silk jacket, with two buns tied at the back of her head, adorned with a pair of silver butterfly hairpins and a pair of green fish-shaped earrings.

Xiaodou and Xiaochun both wore identical sky-blue jackets, all dressed up and ready, the family headed to the old lady’s place.

They left plenty of food at the inn for Lu Qing and the others to enjoy during the New Year, and Lu Yao gave each of them a string of coins as a New Year’s gift for good luck.

When they arrived at Changshui Alley, Lu Lin was holding a ladder, and Wang Youtian was hanging peach wood charms on the door.

"How’s it looking, Second Brother? Is it straight?"

From a distance, Lu Yao replied, "It’s perfect! Both sides are just right."

Hearing this, the two turned around and said, "You guys came just in time. The dumplings are about to go in the pot. Come inside and get ready for dinner."

"Alright." Lu Yao went inside, washed his hands, and started helping.

Xiaochun led the younger siblings to play in the yard, the black puppy, now grown into a big dog, following the children and barking happily.

After hanging the peach wood charms, the three men started chopping firewood. They planned to roast lamb in the evening, so they needed a lot of wood.

Inside, Lu Yao led the two brothers in preparing the meal: braised chicken, stewed fish, and hotpot lamb. They prepared twelve dishes for lunch, and the roasted whole lamb for dinner required no additional dishes.

Lu Lin came in from outside carrying a cloth bag, "I bought something good a few days ago. We’ll add another dish later."

"Oh, those are bugs!" Lu Miao was startled.

"These aren’t bugs; they’re moth pupae. Five coins each, not cheap at all! Your father used to find them in the mountains a few times when we were kids, but you two were too young to remember."

Lu Yao had a vague memory but wasn’t quite brave enough to try them, "How do you cook these?"

"Boil them in salt water, and they’re ready to eat."

Lu Miao felt queasy just looking at them, "I don’t dare to eat them. You eat them, Second Brother!"

Lu Lin laughed and cooked the pupae himself, sprinkling a bit of fine salt on them.

During dinner, the children were both curious and disgusted by the pupae. Seeing Second Brother enjoying them, Xiaodou wanted to try.

Xiaonian whispered beside him, "Go ahead and eat it. Once the pupa is in your stomach, it will hatch into a bunch of little worms, and they’ll crawl out of your mouth when you talk."

"Ew!" Xiaodou was too scared to eat anymore.

Zhao Beichuan tried a couple, finding them quite tasty, and Xiaodou kept staring at his older brother’s mouth, afraid the worms would crawl out.

*

As soon as it got dark, Wang Youtian lit the pile of wood in the yard, the orange-red flames reaching high into the sky. Everyone, adults and children alike, put on thick clothes and gathered around the fire, circling it to ward off bad luck.

This year, all the bad things will be driven away, ensuring a smooth and peaceful year ahead!

Zhao Beichuan brought out the firecrackers and placed them on the empty ground nearby, lighting them up. As the bangs of the firecrackers echoed, the black dog ran into its kennel and howled, while the children cheered and jumped around.

This was the fourth Spring Festival Lu Yao had spent here, and everything was gradually getting better, making life more hopeful!

The woodpile burned for an hour and gradually turned dark red. Lu Lin carried over the sheep that had been marinated for a day and began to roast it over the fire.

While this was happening, Zhao Beichuan went back to the tavern to light the lanterns. The two large red lanterns at the front were filled with beef tallow candles, which shone brightly! Just then, the innkeeper from the neighboring post station was also lighting his lanterns, and they exchanged greetings with a few auspicious words.

Zhao Beichuan walked around the back and saw Lu Qing, Lu Ming, and Ma Kuan sitting together in the kitchen, eating their meal.

"Master is back!" The three of them quickly stood up to greet him.

"You can continue eating. We'll be keeping watch on Changshui Street tonight. If anything happens, just come and get me."

"Okay."

On the way back from the tavern, the sound of firecrackers was heard all along the road. Zhao Beichuan quickened his pace, almost jogging back to the Lu family's house.

In the courtyard, everyone was gathered around the bonfire roasting the sheep. The meat was almost done, and the aroma of the roasted meat filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.

Lu Yao held his hand and asked, "Did you light the lanterns?"

Zhao Beichuan moved a wooden stool next to him and sat down. "Yes, the candles you bought are really good. From afar, our lanterns are the brightest on the street."

Lu Yao whispered in his ear, "Those are beef tallow candles from Shang Jing. Each one costs eighty coins, quite expensive!"

Zhao Beichuan couldn't help but marvel. In the past, they couldn't even afford to light a five-coin oil lamp, but now they could use eighty-coin beef tallow candles.

The sheep was finally cooked, and everyone took plates to share the food. At first, they used chopsticks, but soon they were all eating with their hands, each one with greasy mouths.

After eating the sheep, the old lady felt sleepy, so everyone let her take a few children to bed.

The rest sat on the kang in the east room, chatting and keeping watch through the night, reminiscing about the past and reflecting on their current good fortune.

"Who would have thought we'd end up in Prefecture City," Lu Lin said, cracking sunflower seeds. "Sometimes I close my eyes and it feels like a dream. Yesterday we were farming in the village, and today we're running a shop in Prefecture City."

Wang Youtian nodded. "I talked about this with Lu Yun the other day. It really feels like a dream. The day before we came to Prefecture City, we were still harvesting millet in the fields."

Lu Yun said, "It's all thanks to Third Brother and his husband."

"Family is family. Saying such things makes us feel distant. I wouldn't help anyone else. It's not enough to do well yourself; you must make sure your whole family does well."

Lu Yun's eyes welled up with tears. He was the most sensitive among the brothers. In the past, he had resented Third Brother, but now he genuinely appreciated him. Without Third Brother, they would still be living in Willow Village, worrying about a small plot of land.

As they chatted, the conversation somehow turned to supernatural stories. Zhao Beichuan recounted his encounter with a fox on the mountain, nearly being lured off a cliff.

Lu Yao said, "I still get scared thinking about it. Why did you chase the fox? If you fell off that high cliff, you would have been lucky to survive."

Zhao Beichuan replied, "I don't know what came over me. I was obsessed with catching that fox."

"You were bewitched. Creatures in the mountains have spirits after many years. My father also encountered something similar," Wang Youtian said, chewing on longan. "I heard this story when I was a child. I was only three or four years old. One day, my father went to cut firewood on the mountain and accidentally cut a snake in half."

Everyone gasped simultaneously. Ancient people feared snakes more than foxes or wolves because a bite from a venomous snake was almost always fatal, so few dared to venture into the mountains during spring and summer.

"The snake was as thick as a wrist. My father didn't think much of it at the time, but suddenly a dense fog enveloped the mountain, trapping him. He couldn't find his way out, and it was getting dark, which made him very anxious."

Lu Yun, who had never heard this story before, asked curiously, "What happened next?"

"My father went back to where he had killed the snake and bowed three times, apologizing for the unintentional harm and asking for forgiveness. He promised to offer incense to the spirit. Strangely, the fog cleared as soon as he finished speaking, and he hurried home with the firewood."

Everyone was amazed. "Did your father continue to worship the snake?"

Wang Youtian nodded. "Yes, he had someone carve a wooden plaque and placed it in a chest, offering incense during festivals."

They chatted until the sky began to lighten. Lu Yao was exhausted and leaned against Zhao Beichuan's shoulder, dozing off.

After breakfast, the children wanted to stay and play, so Zhao Beichuan led Lu Yao back to rest, planning to return for dinner in the afternoon.

They continued feasting and drinking until the eighth day of the first month when the restaurants and taverns reopened, marking the end of the New Year celebrations.

*

On the sixth day of the second month, Ge Changbao sent a letter from the border.

The letter reported his safety, saying he was in good health and that the clothes Lu Miao had made fit well and kept him warm. He liked them very much. Of course, the letter contained more than just that. Last time, Lu Miao had written a letter and tucked it inside the clothes, though the handwriting was messy, the meaning was clear.

Ge Changbao thought Lu Miao could read and write, so he wrote many sweet words in the letter, saying things like how he missed Lu Miao when he saw the mountains and snow, and how he wished he could fly back to marry her and have several children.

Lu Miao couldn't read, so he asked Lu Yao to read the letter to him. After hearing it, his face turned as red as a monkey's bottom, secretly scolding Ge Changbao for being shameless, writing such things in a letter.

However, the weight on his heart was lifted, and his mood visibly improved. He began preparing for the wedding.

Lu Yao asked some regular customers about the wedding customs in Prefecture City. Coincidentally, Cao Wuye's eldest son had just gotten married last year, so he knew all the details.

"Cao Wuye, whose family member is getting married? I can help you plan it."

"My fifth brother is marrying Captain Ge from the army. They got engaged last year, but Captain Ge was transferred to Ying Prefecture and won't be back until the end of March."

"Marriage to Captain Ge, huh?" Cao Wuye stroked his beard. "Our Ping Prefecture has fewer customs compared to Shang Jing and Jin Ling, but the main stages are: Nacai (presenting betrothal gifts), Wenming (inquiring the name), Nagi (auspiciousness confirmation), Nazheng (presenting the engagement gifts), Qingqi (setting the wedding date), and Qinying (the groom's procession). These are known as the Six Rites."

"Since your family has already set the engagement, the first three steps can be skipped. You only need to do Nazheng, Qingqi, and Qinying."

Nazheng involves presenting the engagement gifts, where the man's family prepares gifts to send to the woman's family, and the woman's family accepting the gifts signifies their agreement to the marriage.

"Presenting the engagement gifts doesn't have strict rules. Wealthy families use gold and silver, while less fortunate ones can send half a pig."

Lu Yao thought about it. This was similar to what they did in the village. When he got married, Zhao Beichuan had sent half a pig to the Lu family.

"The woman's family also needs to prepare a dowry, which is usually based on their financial capability and the value of the engagement gifts received," Cao Wuye said, taking a sip of tea. "For example, my son's engagement gift was five hundred gold pieces, and his in-laws provided a dowry worth nearly three thousand taels of silver, including two estates and three shops."

Lu Yao couldn't help but marvel. The Cao family was truly wealthy. Five hundred gold pieces equaled five thousand taels of silver.

Cao Wuye continued, "However, families like mine are few. Most people just send some common items as a gesture, doing their best."

Lu Yao nodded and said, "Thank you, Wuye, for your help in clarifying this. I will prepare accordingly."

After Cao Wuye left, Lu Yao began sketching and calculating on his notebook, planning Lu Miao's dowry.

Four sets of bedding should be sufficient, and one bolt of fabric each for spring, summer, autumn, and winter would be enough for clothing. Although the boy doesn't wear head ornaments, a few decent hairpins should still be prepared. A few more chests and cabinets would also be needed. All in all, one hundred taels of silver should cover it.

Lu Yao planned to give him an additional five hundred taels of silver as a gift. After Lu Miao marries Captain Ge, his life will surely not be bad, and this money would be a token of his affection.

On March 26th, the long-awaited soldiers from the border finally returned!