Chapter 42: Zhao

Chapter 42: Zhao

Kill... kill someone?

Chun Sheng swallowed nervously, the fear that had been closing in on him from all sides finally overwhelmed his mind, engulfing him completely.

He shuffled half a step back, almost ready to bolt out the door, but at the last second, he controlled himself. Sixteen's mystery and strength were both terrifying and exhilarating.

Chun Sheng instinctively knew that Sixteen wouldn't really hurt him. This belief supported him in persisting for the sake of his aspirations.

"What's the point of learning to kill?" Chun Sheng asked with difficulty.

Sixteen was silent for a moment, "Perhaps none."

"Huh?"

"Killing, in itself, is pointless. It only matters if you want to protect something that's in danger, or if someone you serve needs you to kill."

"..."

The flickering flame in Chun Sheng's heart suddenly died out, no longer so excited, nor so fearful.

His young, limited understanding told him that he had nothing in danger that he wanted to protect, nor anyone he served. Killing seemed completely pointless to him, and he couldn't think of anyone he'd need to kill.

Chun Sheng glanced at the sharp blade by his feet, both fearful and fascinated, and finally asked, "If I really want to learn, how do I go about it?"

Sixteen looked at Chun Sheng, "Take you away from Liaozhou, give you a new identity, train in martial arts for ten hours a day, you can't see anyone outside until you've mastered it, you can't leave the courtyard, and within ten years, you should be proficient."

"..."

Chun Sheng was so terrified he was speechless. He took several steps back, his heel hitting the threshold, then suddenly turned and ran towards the front yard, as if a demon were chasing him.

Sixteen watched him go with a calm expression, waiting until Chun Sheng entered the front yard before speaking to himself, "You can come in now."

Qiu Huanian, hiding in the adjacent room, rubbed his nose and stepped out sheepishly.

Chun Sheng had quietly gone to the backyard to find Sixteen, and Qiu Huanian quickly noticed. When he arrived, the conversation between Sixteen and Chun Sheng had just begun.

Qiu Huanian should have interrupted them, apologized, and taken Chun Sheng away, but at that moment, Chun Sheng was just talking about his own worries. To understand what was going on in Chun Sheng's little head, Qiu Huanian hesitated.

This hesitation allowed the conversation between the two inside to gallop off like a runaway horse, making it impossible for Qiu Huanian to find the right moment to interrupt.

When Chun Sheng was scared off, Qiu Huanian quickly hid in the adjacent room that hadn't been fitted with a door yet. Fortunately, Chun Sheng was too distraught to notice anything unusual.

But with Sixteen's skills, he had probably noticed Qiu Huanian outside long ago.

Qiu Huanian looked at Sixteen awkwardly, "The child doesn't understand, I apologize for troubling you, Sixteen."

Sixteen said indifferently, "It's fine."

Qiu Huanian coughed lightly, "There have been too many things at home recently, and I've been neglectful. Now that I know Chun Sheng's concerns, I'll talk to the children later, so Chun Sheng won't disturb you anymore."

Sixteen stepped forward to retrieve his hidden sword, wiped it, and sheathed it, "If you're willing, what I suggested isn't necessarily a bad idea."

"What?"

"Du Village already has someone as talented as Du Yunse, whose younger brother's academic talent is far inferior. Following his path would only lead to mediocrity. It might be better to take a different path."

"If the Du brothers can achieve both in literature and martial arts in the future, it would also ease your burden."

"..."

Qiu Huanian always felt that Sixteen now spoke to him like a strict and critical elder, even though Sixteen was not yet twenty-five this year, only six or seven years older than Qiu Huanian.

He shook his head with a smile, "These things are too distant. Chun Sheng is still so young, why make a child suffer when there are other options? When he grows up and understands, I won't hinder him from choosing his own path, nor will I force him if he wants a peaceful and happy life."

"You..." Sixteen hesitated to continue.

Qiu Huanian didn't wait for the rest; Sixteen remained silent for a moment, then suddenly threw the hidden sword to Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian hurriedly caught it. The hidden sword was about a foot and a half long, with a modest sharkskin sheath that felt weighty in his hand. He had already seen its razor-sharp blade earlier.

"This sword has no name, yet it can cut through gold and iron. Keep it for self-defense."

Sixteen's demeanor made it clear that refusal was not an option.

Qiu Huanian instinctively examined this unexpected gift; the more he examined it, the more extraordinary it appeared. "How could such a fine sword have no name?"

Sixteen paused, then lowered his gaze, "From now on, it belongs to you. You should name it."

"..."

Qiu Huanian thought for a moment, "I don't know how to name weapons. Today is Minor Heat, and soon it will be the Dog Days. The weather is hot, everything is thriving, as intense as a raging fire, which is a good omen. How about naming it the Fushu Sword?"

Sixteen nodded, "As you decide."

...

Qiu Huanian took the Fushu Sword back to the main room and stored it securely, then got two bowls of white flour from the kitchen to make dumplings.

In the south, there is a Minor Heat custom called "eating new," where newly harvested rice is ground and offered to the grain gods and ancestors before being eaten. In the north, crops mature more slowly, so they can't eat new rice, but many places have the habit of eating dumplings during Minor Heat.

Dumplings are appetizing and satisfying, shaped like ingots, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. After the Dog Days, people's appetites diminish, making it the perfect time to comfort the stomach with a meal of dumplings.

Qiu Huanian didn't feel like going to town for meat, so he picked a large bunch of fresh leeks from the garden, mixed them with scrambled eggs and the small river shrimp Yun Kang had delivered that morning, added a little salt, and stirred it into a filling. The yellow of the eggs and the green of the leeks mixed together, all fresh and vibrant, making the filling alone stimulate the appetite.

Seeing Qiu Huanian preparing to make dumplings, Jiu Jiu put down her needlework, washed her hands, and came to help. Jiu Jiu was very skilled; with a bit of guidance from Qiu Huanian, she made dumplings that resembled proper ingots.

As she wrapped the dumplings, Jiu Jiu asked, "Brother Hua, Chun Sheng has been staying in the east wing and won't come out. What's wrong with him?"

Chun Sheng had been acting out these past few days, and now he suddenly did this.

Qiu Huanian smiled, "Chun Sheng secretly went to find Sixteen earlier and got scared by him. It's nothing serious."

Hearing this, Jiu Jiu bit her lower lip, "Brother Hua clearly said not to disturb Uncle Sixteen, why did he do that!"

Although Jiu Jiu was somewhat annoyed, the worry in her eyes was unmistakable.

Jiu Jiu was perceptive and mature for her age, having long noticed from her brothers' attitudes and Sixteen's daily behavior that Sixteen was no ordinary passing friend. She was both upset with Chun Sheng for not listening and concerned that he might have caused trouble or gotten hurt.

Qiu Huanian tapped Jiu Jiu's nose with a flour-dusted finger, leaving a white mark. Jiu Jiu quickly raised the back of her hand to wipe it off, and the worry beyond her years on her face instantly disappeared.

"Children shouldn't always frown. If you get wrinkles, wearing flowers won't look good," Qiu Huanian said with a smile.

Jiu Jiu puffed out her cheeks and sighed deeply, "When will Chun Sheng grow up?"

Qiu Huanian chuckled, "You talk as if you're already grown up."

"I want to grow up soon too, so I can go to faraway places."

"Where do you want to go, Jiu Jiu?"

Jiu Jiu shook her head, "I’m not sure yet, but I don’t want to stay in one place forever. I want to go to the capital, to the south, to many places I don’t know, and meet many different people."

Qiu Huanian picked up on a hint of loneliness in Jiu Jiu’s voice. It suddenly hit him that Jiu Jiu’s good friend Cun Lan hadn’t visited her in days. Wei Liuhua and Youge were unavailable, Yun Kang was too different in age and gender to relate to, and Chun Sheng was still giving her the cold shoulder. Jiu Jiu had been cooped up at home, reading and embroidering by herself—no wonder she was feeling down.

Qiu Huanian tentatively asked, "Why don’t you go hang out with Cun Lan, Jiu Jiu? Didn’t I just get you that embroidery pattern book the other day? Why not pick some out with Cun Lan? It’d be fun to embroider the ones you like."

Jiu Jiu shook her head, "I’ll go in a few days. It’s not good to visit too often."

"What’s wrong?" Qiu Huanian was puzzled. Their relationship with the clan leader’s family was good—had Jiu Jiu encountered something?

Jiu Jiu didn’t want to elaborate, "You’re already so busy, Brother Hua. Don’t trouble yourself with these little things. It’s really nothing, I’ll handle it."

Seeing that Jiu Jiu didn’t want to talk, Qiu Huanian had no choice but to keep making dumplings and try to find out more later.

...

After a tasty dumpling dinner, Qiu Huanian decided the next day to put the biological enzyme pest control method into practice.

This was the first time they were putting it into practice, so Qiu Huanian couldn’t skip out—he had to be there. Luckily, the best time to spray the enzyme was late afternoon, around five or six, when the sun wasn’t as strong.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse used a mule cart to transport the diluted biological enzyme liquid and several spray devices to the field. A crowd of curious villagers gathered to watch the commotion.

When Qiu Huanian’s family first switched from dry land to paddy fields for cotton, many were doubtful, and some sharp-tongued folks even talked behind their backs.

But now, months later, with the cotton thriving and blooming, many villagers were starting to change their tune.

Many had already made up their minds: if Qiu Huanian’s family and the other two trial plots had a good harvest, they’d cozy up to Brother Hua and learn to grow cotton next year.

So when news of Qiu Huanian’s family’s activities spread, interested families rushed to inquire.

"What’s that big wooden box Brother Hua and the others unloaded? And why’s it hooked up to pig intestines?"

Hu Qiuyan was also watching nearby. If Qiu Huanian’s experiment succeeded today, their family and the clan leader’s family would follow suit. The cotton bollworms that gnawed on cotton stems and leaves were increasing, and if not controlled, it would be too late once they damaged the cotton bolls.

Hu Qiuyan explained to the onlookers, "That’s a sprayer Brother Hua made—it’s way more even than spraying by hand. Brother Hua says once you spray his special mix, the bollworms won’t touch the cotton."

Cotton bollworms are everywhere, wreaking havoc on cotton, but they’ll also munch on corn and veggies. The villagers were familiar with them, and hearing Hu Qiuyan’s explanation, their first reaction was disbelief.

Hu Qiuyan didn’t bother explaining further—Brother Hua’s experiment would speak for itself, louder than any words.

Even though she trusted Qiu Huanian completely, Hu Qiuyan couldn’t help feeling both excited and nervous. After all, once they successfully passed the pest control hurdle, a good cotton harvest was within reach. She’d done the math: even at 180 catties per mu and 160 wen per catty, one mu of cotton could bring in nearly thirty taels of silver!

Their family wouldn’t make that much from selling fish in years!

Hu Qiuyan eagerly watched the bulky water tank in the field not far away. Brother Hua had already promised that as long as they staggered the timing, their family and the clan leader’s family could borrow the spray device for free. The only expense would be replacing the pig intestines if they wore out.

Brother Hua wasn’t charging them, but Hu Qiuyan still felt guilty. Their family had already gotten enough favors, but they didn’t have much to give in return, and she wasn’t as talented as Wei Liuhua. Besides sending fish and shrimp, she couldn’t find other ways to compensate.

A few meters away, Qiu Huanian stood at the field’s edge, guiding Du Yunse and the hired hands as they tweaked the device. His health hadn’t fully recovered, so Du Yunse forbade him from helping physically, only allowing him to give instructions.

Hu Qiuyan looked at Qiu Huanian’s thin figure, and an idea flashed through her mind.

Her maternal family had a distant relative living further north in Liaozhou, who made a living by digging ginseng. Medicinal ginseng had to grow for at least thirty years and was hard to find, but ginseng seeds were produced every year and were also a potent tonic, calming the mind and replenishing energy.

Fresh ginseng seeds were difficult to preserve and transport, usually sold locally. Outside the origin, it was easy to buy fakes. Hu Qiuyan planned to ask Qiu Huanian later if he needed ginseng seeds. If he did, she could help connect him to buy the best original product.

...

The diluted bioenzyme solution was poured into the large wooden box. The hired worker held the nozzle and, following Qiu Huanian's instructions, steadily pressed the pedal on one side. The water began to flow through the pipes, and after a few seconds, it sprayed out from the nozzle, forming an arc of water that evenly sprinkled over the cotton.

Seeing this amazing device for the first time, the crowd couldn't help but cheer. Qiu Huanian secretly let out a sigh of relief. Although he had tested the spraying device at home, seeing it work smoothly in the field was a whole different experience.

Qiu Huanian raised his hand to shield his eyes from the less intense sunlight, trying to get a better look. Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over him.

He turned to see that Sixteen had appeared behind him unnoticed, holding an oil-paper umbrella. The umbrella tilted, blocking the sun from Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian was momentarily taken aback. "Thank you."

Sixteen responded with a curt "Hmm."

"..."

Qiu Huanian thought that Sixteen wasn't as cold and intimidating as he had initially seemed. To make an inappropriate analogy, he even seemed a bit like the 'tsundere' archetype popular in the anime world from his past life.

Most of the time, Sixteen was expressionless and silent, but every now and then, he showed some emotional flickers, though he'd never admit it.

Qiu Huanian held back a smile, worried that Sixteen might catch on to his strange thoughts.

The interaction between the two at the edge of the field drew the attention of the surrounding villagers.

Zhao, who had been lying low at home for a few days to recover from the nightmare of her trip to the city and had finally regained her energy, stood at the back of the crowd. Seeing a young man she'd never seen before standing next to Qiu Huanian, she couldn't help but ask, "Who is that young man holding the umbrella?"

The person in front, engrossed in watching the activity in the field, didn't turn around and casually replied, "That's a guest staying at Brother Hua's place. They say he's an old friend of Yun Se and has been here for a few days."

An old friend? A young man? Staying for a few days?

Zhao's heart skipped a beat. She squinted, trying to get a better look at the young man's face, but the sunlight made it hard. All she could tell was that he was young and probably good-looking.

Zhao pursed her lips, eyeing Qiu Huanian, who stood at the edge of the field doing absolutely nothing. A malicious plan started brewing in her mind, fueled by jealousy and resentment.

Author's Note:

Note 1: Some customs referenced from the internet.

Sixteen: Wrestling with deep-seated resentment over whether to acknowledge his nephew.

Qiu Huanian (secretly): Yay, a tsundere pretty boy.

A note on ages: Mei Xueer is twelve years older than Sixteen, making them an older sister and younger brother duo. Sixteen is eight years older than Qiu Huanian, making him the younger uncle and Qiu Huanian the older nephew.