Chapter 56: Celebrating a Birthday

Chapter 56: Celebrating a Birthday

Qiu Huanian's lunar birthday was the same as the original owner's, both falling on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time of reunion and harvest.

The original owner never celebrated a birthday during his time with the Qiu family. After moving to Du Village, because he was young and the family wasn't well-off, the day was just marked by eating a bowl of noodles. As for Qiu Huanian himself, his most vivid birthday memories were from his childhood. Since graduating from university and no longer having classmates to make a fuss, he had completely forgotten his own birthday.

Now that Du Yunse brought it up, Qiu Huanian suddenly realized that his birthday was just a few days away.

He was about to suggest skipping it, but Du Yunse said, "This year marks the true beginning of our acquaintance and a new chapter in our family life. It's only fitting that we celebrate it properly."

"Brother Hua, you should care more about yourself too."

Qiu Huanian's hands, which had been knitting, unconsciously stopped, the yarn tangling aimlessly around his fingers.

Seeing the undisguised affection and concern in Du Yunse's eyes, Qiu Huanian felt a surge of indescribable warmth and emotion. He laughed and said, "Alright, then let's go to a restaurant in the county town that day, buy some fruits and pastries, and come back in the evening to offer them to the moon."

And so it was decided.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as soon as Qiu Huanian opened his eyes in the morning, he keenly sensed something different in the room.

Turning his head slightly, he saw a neatly folded half-sleeved long vest placed beside his pillow. The double-layered vest was padded with cotton, with a pinkish satin exterior and a light red lining. The collar, edged with white satin, was embroidered with a few branches of red plum blossoms, and the front and cuffs were trimmed with white rabbit fur.

Qiu Huanian got up and unfolded the vest. The vest was clearly made to fit him perfectly, with neat stitches and dense seams, indicating a great deal of effort.

Inside the vest were two decorative notes, written by Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng.

After studying for more than half a year, Jiu Jiu's handwriting had developed a distinctive style, with delicate and graceful characters that still conveyed a sense of resilience. Her note was elegantly worded, wishing her brother health and happiness, and mentioning that she had sewn a garment as a birthday gift.

Chun Sheng, a bit younger and more spirited, hadn't improved as fast as Jiu Jiu, but his note was clearly written with care. Although he tried to be formal, his words were still playful. Besides wishing his brother a happy birthday, most of the note was spent boasting about how, with Meng Wudong's help, he had used a traditional slingshot to hunt two rabbits to make the vest for Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian smiled as he read the two notes and carefully stored them in a small drawer in the heated bed cabinet.

The courtyard was quiet, almost empty. Knowing they must have something planned, Qiu Huanian wasn't in a hurry to go out. He first got up and washed briefly with the water prepared on the shelf in the main room, then found a white long gown with decorative patches to wear as an underlayer. He put on the new vest, tied it at the waist with a pine-green sash, and inserted the Phoenix Facing the Sun warm jade hairpin that Du Yunse had won at the prefectural poetry gathering into his jet-black hair.

There was no mirror in the room. After tidying up and smoothing down the stray hairs on his forehead, Qiu Huanian pushed open the half-closed door.

"How do I look, huh?" he asked with a smile, addressing Du Yunse, who was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard reading.

Du Yunse had been listening to the movements in the main room, his mind no longer on the book. Seeing the newly dressed Qiu Huanian, his eyes lit up instantly.

Against the bright satin and the soft white rabbit fur, Qiu Huanian's face appeared even more handsome, like jade. The sash at his waist perfectly accentuated his slender figure, like a graceful plum tree.

"Among the mountains are hazelnuts, in the marshes are water chestnuts. Whom do I think of? A beauty like you." (Note 1)

The lines from the poem he had just read seemed to spring to life before his eyes, as if the beauty from the ancient Book of Songs had traveled through time to stir the scholar's heart.

Qiu Huanian walked over to Du Yunse and gently pressed down the book he was holding. "What are you reading today? Shouldn't your focus be on me?"

Du Yunse dutifully set the book aside. He had only brought it out to calm his nervous heart.

"Where are the children?" Qiu Huanian looked around but didn't see Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng.

"They went to play in the hills behind the house."

"The hills behind the house?" Chun Sheng loved to play, but Jiu Jiu wasn't the type to head to the hills early in the morning. Qiu Huanian's eyes sparkled. "Be honest, what are you all up to?"

Du Yunse smiled. "Brother Hua, why don't you guess?"

"Keeping it a secret, huh?" Qiu Huanian raised his tone and suddenly reached out towards Du Yunse's chest, trying to see what was hidden inside.

Du Yunse effortlessly grasped Qiu Huanian's wrists with one hand, pulling his hands to his own chest, "Brother Hua, you're being too hasty."

Qiu Huanian struggled to break free, finding himself in a bind. Du Yunse watched him with a smile in his eyes, curious to see what he would do next.

With the two children absent, the two young adults started their morning with some playful antics.

Qiu Huanian had a sudden idea and unexpectedly leaned in to give Du Yunse a light bite on his chin. Du Yunse's hold slackened a bit, and Qiu Huanian seized the opportunity to break free, standing up straight and smirking like a cat that got the cream.

Du Yunse let out a resigned sigh, "Brother Hua, you're turning eighteen today, yet you still act like a child, biting people."

Qiu Huanian snorted, "What, do you have a problem with that?"

"Of course not, I wouldn't dare. I actually prefer it this way. I wish Brother Hua could always be this happy," Du Yunse said as he stood up, retrieving an embroidered pouch from his chest where Qiu Huanian had failed to sneak a peek earlier.

Opening the pouch, inside was a smooth, warm green jade plaque, a classic type of jade ornament known as a "worry-free" plaque. The rectangular plaque was about half the size of a palm, with symmetrical cloud patterns carved on the top and bottom, and a blank space in the middle.

The "worry-free" plaque is a classic category of jade ornaments, where "wushi" (no decoration) sounds like "wushi" (no worries), symbolizing peace and calm. At the same time, "nothing" implies "everything," representing the fulfillment of all wishes and the realization of dreams.

Qiu Huanian was taken aback with delight that Du Yunse had brought out such an expensive "worry-free" plaque.

"Where did this come from?"

Du Yunse hung the plaque on the long cord at Qiu Huanian's waist, gently smoothing it down so that the jade plaque swayed gracefully by the beauty's side.

"Over the past few months, while I was in the county taking exams, I wrote some calligraphy for people. Recently, I was also commissioned by Song Juren to write a preface for a collection of works by one of his friends. I managed to save over ten taels of silver and ordered this 'worry-free' plaque from a jewelry shop in the county."

Du Yunse's reputation as the top scholar in the county and his title of "Little Triple Crown Scholar" still held some value. If Du Yunse had openly taken on more calligraphy and preface-writing commissions, he could have earned much more. However, ancient scholars valued their reputation, and doing so would have risked being labeled as greedy and mercenary.

Qiu Huanian felt a warm surge of affection. Du Yunse had been preparing this birthday gift for a long time, keeping it a secret until today to surprise him.

Qiu Huanian tilted his head and played with the plaque hanging at his waist, finding it more and more beautiful. However, he couldn't resist teasing, "I'll let it slide this time that you saved up some private money, but if there's a next time—"

He paused deliberately before continuing, "If there's a next time, I'll reward you again."

"And what about this time's reward?" Du Yunse followed up.

Qiu Huanian blinked, "Ahem, I'll make good on it tonight."

Du Yunse's throat moved slightly, and his eyes darkened, "Alright, I'll be looking forward to it."

...

The two children had gone out to give their elders some alone time and returned after a while.

Qiu Huanian thanked them for their gifts, patting Jiu Jiu's head as he said, "You asked me for the remaining silk fabric earlier, saying you wanted to make winter clothes for yourself. Why did you make them for me instead?"

"I already have silk clothes, but Brother Hua doesn't, so of course I had to make them for you first," Jiu Jiu said with a smile. "There's still some fabric left, so I'll make a short vest for myself, just like Brother Hua's."

In a good mood, Qiu Huanian decided, "The New Year is the perfect time for new clothes. Let's go to the county today and buy two bolts of silk. We'll make new clothes for all four of us."

Having earned a good amount from selling cotton, Qiu Huanian was willing to spend.

Jiu Jiu, at the age where she was just starting to care about her appearance, was immediately excited. Chun Sheng, though not particularly interested in new clothes, was happy for his sister.

—The siblings next door, Yuchuan and her brother, always boasted about how well-dressed they were when they lived in the capital. Once their new clothes were ready, they'd see how they could still boast!

The four of them quickly packed up and drove to the county to celebrate the birthday. For convenience, Qiu Huanian had purchased a sturdy wooden carriage, which they alternated with a freight cart. With the carriage, they were shielded from the wind and sun during the journey.

They reached the county before noon and went to a well-regarded restaurant, spending five qian of silver on a table laden with delicacies and a pot of clear wine to celebrate both the Mid-Autumn Festival and the birthday. The restaurant owner, recognizing their accents, specially prepared a bowl of longevity noodles to wish them a long life.

Qiu Huanian wanted to challenge himself to eat a whole bowl of noodles in one go without breaking the strands. Du Yunse watched with a smile, sipping his drink alone, and didn’t stop him. After a few tries, Qiu Huanian gave up, feeling frustrated.

Du Yunse handed half a cup of wine to Qiu Huanian’s lips, "Don’t be upset, take a sip of your favorite wine."

Qiu Huanian took a small sip from Du Yunse’s hand and finally felt satisfied. He knew his limits with alcohol; it wasn’t so much a craving for wine as it was a rebellious urge to do what he was told not to.

After the meal, the family went to buy silk. The clerk at the fabric shop, an old acquaintance of Qiu Huanian, immediately came out from behind the counter upon seeing him.

"Could you recommend some silk that’s good for winter clothing?"

"Please, follow me!" The clerk eagerly bent over to guide them.

He recalled the first time he saw this man and his husband, both wearing faded old clothes, only daring to ask the price of the silk fabrics in the store but not to buy. Who would have thought that in less than a year, they’d buy over ten bolts of fabric from their own shop, and now they were here to buy silk!

Who wouldn’t like such a good-looking and decisive big customer!

"In winter, when it’s cold and the scenery is dull, wearing bright-colored fabrics really stands out. When it snows, the silk fabrics will shine in the snowy scenery, looking as beautiful as can be," the clerk, who had sold fabrics for many years, spoke with authority.

"This new batch of silk fabrics, all with floral patterns, uses a fresh weaving technique from the south. A thin layer of velvet is woven on top of the soft satin, making it warmer than ordinary silk and also preventing snow from soaking into the clothes. One layer here is as good as two layers elsewhere!"

"Check out these colors: Yao yellow, vermilion, snail green, white-blue... from old to young, from men to women to gentlemen, everyone can find a suitable color."

"I’m not exaggerating, but since this fabric arrived, we sell two or three bolts every day. People who come to buy fabric can’t take their eyes off it!"

The clerk brought over a bolt of velvet floral soft satin for Qiu Huanian to take a closer look. Qiu Huanian felt it and sure enough, there was a layer of cotton velvet.

The clerk wasn’t kidding; this fabric really was warmer and more snow-resistant, but the price was also quite steep, costing four taels of silver per bolt, a full tael more than ordinary silk.

Qiu Huanian chose four colors and bought half a bolt of each, making a new set of clothes for everyone in the family, while bargaining with the clerk to get a bolt of high-quality cotton fabric for lining and a large pack of various colored cotton threads.

With Qiu Huanian smiling in satisfaction, the clerk, though a bit pained, happily packed all the goods and took the money.

—This guy really knows how to haggle!

Qiu Huanian took it as a compliment; even with ample funds, one shouldn’t spend recklessly. Being frugal is the key to a long and stable life.

...

As the sun set, the family of four returned to Du Village after a day of shopping and sightseeing in the county town.

Qiu Huanian, still young and without significant status, feared that a grand celebration might bring bad luck, so he didn’t specifically inform others about his birthday, planning only a family celebration.

Still, a few close families somehow found out about his birthday.

When the mule cart returned to the garden gate, the coachman from Song Juren’s house was already waiting by the door. Seeing them, he stepped forward and said, "The master and madam know that today is Mr. Qiu’s birthday and have specially sent me to deliver a few congratulatory gifts."

Qiu Huanian got off the cart, "Please thank the master and madam for their kindness, and thank you for waiting."

The coachman quickly smiled, "The young lady mentioned you were heading to the county town today, so I only left the residence in the afternoon and didn’t have to wait long."

Chi Qinghe must have told her aunt and uncle about Qiu Huanian’s birthday. The child was thoughtful and must have noticed Jiu Jiu secretly making birthday gifts and knew they didn’t want a grand celebration, so she only suggested sending birthday gifts later.

Mrs. Song sent longevity peaches and noodles, both wrapped in red paper—classic birthday gifts from back in the day. In addition, she also sent a pair of cotton-padded embroidered shoe uppers and a small copper hand warmer. Though the gifts weren’t extravagant, they were all practical, and Qiu Huanian didn’t feel obliged to return the favor.

After some time, several village families, aware that Qiu Huanian and his family were back, also came by with gifts and birthday wishes. Ye Taohong, representing the headman’s family, sent a large basket of red dates from their garden. Hu Qiuyan sent a basket of pickled dried fish. Wei Liuhua was the most generous, embroidering a screen with a picture of plum blossoms in the cold of winter.

Although the screen was embroidered by Wei Liuhua herself, the cost of materials and labor was certainly not cheap. Qiu Huanian thought it was too expensive and wanted to decline, but Wei Liuhua pressed his hand.

"Brother Hua, you only celebrate your birthday once a year. Who knows if we'll still be around to see it next year? Let me show my appreciation."

"Du Yunse, Youge, and I owe our current life to you. If it weren't for you buying sweet beetroots from me, allowing me to save money to supplement Youge's diet, reminding us to be cautious of Li Guer, and driving away Zhao and her companions, who knows what kind of life our family of three would be living now!"

"This kang screen—a decorative panel for a traditional heated bed—is something I've wanted to embroider for you for a long time. It just happened to be finished before your birthday. If you don't accept it, I won't be able to feel at peace."

Qiu Huanian reluctantly accepted the kang screen and carefully organized the birthday gifts. For dinner, Du Yunse insisted on handling the cooking himself and prepared a pot of noodles. Having traveled and studied away from home for many years, Du Yunse knew how to cook, though not as well as Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian guided him from the side, instructing him to first fry the scallions, then add boiling water, season with salt and a pinch of rare pepper, and finally add the noodles. He also told him to soft-boil a few eggs.

Du Yunse felt his cooking wasn't the best, but Qiu Huanian ate with relish, his love making the meal taste better than any gourmet dish.

After dinner, as the moon hung high in the sky, the family carried the table to the courtyard, setting out fresh fruits and the beautiful mooncakes they had bought in the city as offerings for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng, exhausted from a day of wandering, couldn't stay awake any longer. After sharing the mooncakes, Qiu Huanian urged them to go to bed. He himself sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, resting his chin on his hand, staring at the full moon in the sky.

People feel a sense of longing during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the moon is roundest in one's hometown.

Was it also Mid-Autumn Festival in his original hometown? What were his family members from his past life doing at this moment?

They say that though the land may differ, the moon and breeze are the same under the same sky. But when even the moon and breeze are different due to the separation across time and space, where should one direct their clear and endless longing?

Du Yunse fetched a robe from inside and draped it over Qiu Huanian, standing in the courtyard to keep him company.

"I miss home, Yun Se..." Qiu Huanian sighed softly.

Du Yunse's heart stirred. He suddenly had a strange feeling that the home Qiu Huanian spoke of wasn't the Shangliang Village everyone knew, nor the family composed of Qiu Chuanzong and others.

"Do you want to go home?" Du Yunse crouched down, looking up at Qiu Huanian's face, partially obscured by his hair.

That beautiful face appeared to be caught between tears and a smile, a myriad of emotions flickering across it, all eventually washed away by the moonlight, leaving only faint traces.

"I can't go back."

"I can't go back..."

Qiu Huanian stared blankly at Du Yunse, who was so close, his eyes filled with confusion and helplessness, which made Du Yunse's heart ache.

"If you can't go back, then stay with me, okay?"

"You still have our home."

Yes, our home. Qiu Huanian reached out and traced Du Yunse's sharp brow, down his nose, thin lips, and Adam's apple, slowly mapping out his features, deeply treasuring them in his heart.

He smiled under the moonlight and held out his arms. "My legs are numb. Carry me home."

Du Yunse steadily picked up Qiu Huanian and placed him on the kang, then brought a basin of water to help him wash up. That night, the "reward" Qiu Huanian had planned earlier didn't come to pass, but the two embraced and slept closely, as if they were the happiest couple in the world.

...

The Song family had specially sent birthday gifts, and as a junior, Qiu Huanian felt obliged to visit and express his thanks. Coincidentally, the next day Jiu Jiu was going to the Song residence for a piano lesson, so Qiu Huanian hitched a ride on the Song family's carriage.

At the Song residence, Jiu Jiu and Chi Qinghe went to Chi Qinghe's room to chat, while Mrs. Song stayed in the back hall to chat with Qiu Huanian.

"Word has spread far and wide about your high-yield cotton. Have you thought about the title I mentioned before?"

Mrs. Song, having been an official's wife, was well-informed and had long advised Qiu Huanian to use the cotton to secure a title for himself.

"The planting method isn't fully mature yet. I plan to experiment for another year next year and perfect it before presenting it to the court."

To quickly promote this planting method in the Yu Dynasty and benefit more people, private efforts are limited, and it is necessary to rely on imperial edicts.

Mrs. Song nodded, "Have you written to the magistrate about this matter?"

"I have only spoken about it, not in writing."

Mrs. Song advised, "Magistrate Wang is the magistrate of Zhang County. Since you first planted cotton in Zhang County, any future reports will inevitably involve him. It would be wise to formally submit a written document. This isn’t about doubting Magistrate Wang’s integrity, but about protecting against opportunists who might take advantage."

Mrs. Song's implication was clear. A few families knew about Qiu Huanian's cotton planting method. If someone leaked the method and took credit, Qiu Huanian, the original innovator, might struggle to prove his claim.

Qiu Huanian had also considered this, but what Mrs. Song didn't know was that the guard known as Sixteen, a trusted guard of the crown prince, had once visited Du Village and taken away Qiu Huanian's nearly completed agricultural book on cotton planting. If anyone were to harbor ill intentions in the future, Sixteen would have solid evidence.

"I will formally write a letter to Magistrate Wang when I return." Better safe than sorry.

After discussing household matters, Mrs. Song deftly shifted the conversation to Chi Qinghe.

"Brother Hua, you've known Qinghe for a few months now. What do you think of my niece?"

"Miss Qinghe is exceptionally talented, graceful, and beautiful, with a gentle and kind temperament. Everyone in the village who knows her sings her praises."

Mrs. Song smiled, "I'm relieved to hear you say that."

"To be honest, my niece was sent to stay with me due to a family matter. She’s at an age where she can’t go back soon, and her parents have asked me to find her a good match to avoid delaying her future."

"My husband and I are settling in Zhang County, and I’d like to find her a husband from here, so she’ll have family nearby after marriage."

"What do you think of my plan, Brother Hua?"

"Mrs. Song, your care for Miss Qinghe is truly heartwarming," Qiu Huanian said, though he wondered why Mrs. Song was bringing this up with him.

Qiu Huanian and Chi Qinghe weren’t related, so Mrs. Song’s sudden talk of marriage was clearly intentional.

Finding a local man from Zhang County... Could it be that Mrs. Song already had someone in mind? And who might that person be, requiring her to sound out Qiu Huanian's opinion?

Chi Qinghe was around fourteen or fifteen. Of the men Qiu Huanian knew who were around her age and worthy of her, there was only one...

Qiu Huanian's heart and mind raced, unsure how to handle the situation.

Mrs. Song took a sip of tea and smiled, "Qinghe is still quite young. I plan to keep her with us a few more years before she marries. However, marriage is a significant matter, and good men become scarcer as time goes on. It’s best to pick a good match early, so she doesn’t miss out later."

"...Mrs. Song is right."

Seeing that Qiu Huanian understood her meaning, Mrs. Song changed the subject, "I've been feeling increasingly lethargic these days and plan to take a walk in the village. Qinghe mentioned that your family's courtyard is beautifully maintained, so I thought I might ask to visit."

Author's Note:

Note 1: Excerpt from "The Book of Songs: Odes of Bei - Jian Xi."