Chapter 29 Mountain Home Hearth 29

Chapter 29: Mountain Family Hearth 29

“You’re right, young man, you have some insight.”

The old gentleman was about sixty years old, with white hair meticulously combed and tightly bound with a dark blue hair tie. A long beard adorned his chin, and his attire suggested he was a learned scholar.

Liu Guyu prided himself on his keen eye and, upon seeing this old gentleman, guessed he might be a teacher from Luming Academy.

Luming Academy was not far from the market, so it was possible for students or teachers from the academy to come to the market for leisure.

The old gentleman stroked his beard as he walked over, looking at Liu Guyu as he asked, "Well said - 'How many return from battles of old?'... Have you studied?"

Qin Rongshi, hearing this, couldn't help but glance at Liu Guyu, guessing he would wheel out that tired old excuse again.

Sure enough, Liu Guyu smiled slightly and replied, "My father was a scholar. I learned to read with him since childhood and have also read the books he left behind."

The old gentleman nodded, murmuring softly, "Good, good, good."

Then he turned to Qin Rongshi and asked, "Young man, your speech is also quite refined. Have you studied as well?"

Now it was his turn. Qin Rongshi bowed respectfully, his posture as straight as pine and bamboo.

"In reply, sir, I have studied a bit."

The old gentleman gave a slight nod and asked further, "Have you taken the imperial examinations?"

Qin Rongshi answered again, "This student is currently a student scholar."

The old gentleman's eyebrows rose slightly, clearly surprised. His gaze toward Qin Rongshi changed, carrying a hint of appreciation. "A student scholar at such a young age? Indeed, he shows real promise for the imperial exams."

Though appreciative, he didn't say much more, only offering a few words of praise before shifting his attention to the food on Liu Guyu's stall.

At this sight, his eyes widened, sparkling with delight, and his tone grew noticeably brighter.

Pointing at the red beans simmering until thick and bubbly, he asked, "How much for these red bean rice balls?"

Qin Rongshi replied, "The red bean rice balls are seven wen a bowl, sugar water is five wen, and bowl cakes are two wen each."

The old gentleman chuckled a couple of times, hurriedly reaching into his wide sleeve to pull out a coin purse. Leaning in closer, he whispered, "One of each, please! It's been so long since I've been back to Fushui Town, I never expected to find such new treats here. I must try them!"

He added emphatically, "And extra sugar, please!"

Liu Guyu quickly agreed with a smile and started preparing the rice balls and heating the sugar water.

Just then, a young man of about seventeen or eighteen came rushing over, calling out "Xiansheng!" as he ran, clearly looking for someone.

The old gentleman, hearing the voice, instinctively tried to hide behind Liu Guyu's stall, but before he could move, he was spotted.

The young man rushed over, glaring at him sternly, his face stern as he scolded, "Sir! How'd you sneak off to the market again without me! Oh no, and it's nothing but sweets! How much have you eaten? The doctor said you can't have so much sugar! Why won't you listen?"

The respectable old man, who had commanded respect moments earlier, now hung his head under the younger's reprimand. Liu Guyu glanced over and couldn't help but ask, "Um... do you still want your order?"

Before the young man could speak, the old gentleman craned his neck and whispered, "I do, I do!"

Well, the once dignified and wise old gentleman instantly transformed into a mischievous old man.

This infuriated the young man, who pouted and glared at him.

Liu Guyu chuckled under his breath but, ignoring the old gentleman's request for extra sugar, followed his usual practice of adding just the right amount—neither too light nor overly sweet.

He and Qin Rongshi brought the food over. The young man, while complaining, still reached out to help carry it.

As the pair, old and young, walked away, their arguing could still be heard from a distance.

"Jixiang! I bought it with my own money! How could you eat it!"

"Hmm... The doctor said you shouldn't have so much sugar. I'm doing this for your health."

"Hey! You rascal! Don't you know to respect your elders!"

...

Liu Guyu smiled as he watched them go, then turned to Qin Rongshi, elbowing him gently.

"You have a sweet tooth too. Will you be like that when you're old?"

Qin Rongshi was already reading again, calmly turning a page, his expression composed, his tone flat. "I don't particularly like sweets."

No sooner had he spoken than Liu Guyu pinched his lips.

He teased, "Still playing tough!"

Liu Guyu's fingers were warm, the pads slightly calloused, yet they felt soft against Qin Rongshi's lips.

If Liu Guyu could have heard what Qin Rongshi was thinking at that moment, he would have loudly retorted: Pinch! Pinch! I'm pinching them into a duck's bill!

But Liu Guyu couldn't hear. All he could see was the soft flesh of Qin Rongshi's earlobes turning bright red in an instant, the flush quickly spreading to his cheeks and neck, like river shrimp cooked to perfection.

Qin Rongshi abruptly raised his hand to bat Liu Guyu's arm away, then glared at him fiercely.

"Liu Guyu!"

Liu Guyu pouted, putting on a pitiful, innocent act. "Oh my... so fierce."

Qin Rongshi didn't know how to deal with him. He took a deep breath, put down his book, and started tidying the stall, wiping the already spotless counter with a cloth, making a show of being busy.

Time crept by. Gradually, more people began filling the market.

Vendors selling tanghulu carried poles laden with the treats, weaving through the streets. Further ahead, an old man crafted sugar paintings with great skill, his depictions of cats and dogs so lifelike, they attracted a crowd of children watching.

Occasionally, farmers selling vegetables passed by with their carts, piled high with fresh, plump white radishes, tender green luffa, leafy greens, and mountain produce like mushrooms and bamboo shoots.

The market was bustling. The air was filled with the cries of vendors and peddlers, the haggling of customers, and children's laughter...

By the end of the Shen hour (around 5 p.m.), all the food Liu Guyu had prepared was sold out. Seeing that Lin Xingniang's flatbread shop still had customers, he didn't want to bother her. Instead, he waved to Mai'er, calling her over.

He speared the last bowl cake with a bamboo stick, handed it to Mai'er, and said to the young girl, "Mai'er, Erlang and I are going to take a quick trip to the market to buy a few things. We'll be back soon. If your mother finishes selling here, wait for us at the town entrance!"

Mai'er took a bite of the bowl cake and nodded obediently at Liu Guyu.

Only then did Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi leave. They first pushed the cart to the market warehouse, paid the attendant, stored their things, and then set off.

The two went to the meat market and bought one jin of meat, plus a pig's ear.

In modern times, pig's ears are more expensive than meat, but here, where people rarely eat meat, people prefer fatty cuts, with lean meat being less desirable. So, pig's ears, which have little meat, are quite cheap—one ear cost only eight wen. Liu Guyu didn't bat an eye when paying.

After buying the meat, Liu Guyu looked at Qin Rongshi and asked:

"You've finished your book, right? Do you want to swing by the bookstore to exchange for another one?"

Qin Rongshi nodded, so the two of them made a detour to Temple Alley and entered the old bookstore to look for books.

Liu Guyu had been renting books from this place recently, and the bookstore owner recognized him by now.

The owner said with a grin at Qin Rongshi, "Ah, young Student Scholar, you're a lucky one! Your older brother treats you so well—you must study hard and strive to pass the imperial exams to repay him!"

Qin Rongshi couldn't help but frown, wanting to retort that Liu Guyu wasn't his brother. But he worried that if he said so, the owner might ask about their relationship—would he have to say Liu Guyu was his brother-in-law?

Qin Rongshi was even less willing to say that.

In the end, he simply returned the previously rented book, gave a slight bow to the owner, and turned away to pick out another book.

Liu Guyu was also browsing, but not for Qin Rongshi—he was looking for Qin Banban.

He wanted to rent a medical book for the young girl.

A child's dreams should never be ignored!

Liu Guyu had actually visited several clinics to ask if the physicians would take on a girl as an apprentice, but either they thought he was causing trouble and chased him out, or they assumed he was unwell and offered to take his pulse.

In short, no one was willing.

The idea of finding a master to study medicine had to be set aside. Liu Guyu figured they could start by reading and exploring on their own, waiting for a better opportunity to study more deeply later.

There were a few medical books for sale in the bookstore, but very few available for rent. The owner was reluctant to lend out new books, afraid they would get damaged or dirty.

After searching for a while, Liu Guyu finally found a very basic medical book tucked away in a corner—a "Classic of Herbal Medicine" that introduced the properties of medicinal herbs and included illustrations.

Once Liu Guyu had chosen his book and Qin Rongshi had picked his out, they paid and left Temple Alley.

Lin Xingniang's stall had already been packed up, and she and her daughter were waiting at the town entrance. Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi hurried over to meet them, and the group drove the cart back to the village.

During the ride, perhaps still thinking about Yu Geer and his husband, Lin Xingniang couldn't help sighing. "Ah, Yu Geer is quite fortunate to have met his man..."

"Speaking of which, my Qing Zhu and Dashan grew up together and have a good relationship, but Dashan is such a filial child—I'm afraid he wouldn't leave his family for Qing Zhu. Ah..."

Seeing Lin Xingniang's worry, Liu Guyu actually wanted to say that if it came to that, if they couldn't separate from the family, then they should separate from the man—life goes on without anyone, doesn't it?

But that idea was too bold. Even though Lin Xingniang was straightforward and protective, she wouldn't want her son to divorce.

It was simply because the ingrained mindset made it unthinkable that a man could even get divorced.

In ancient times, the emphasis was always on "family harmony brings prosperity," and the tendency was to endure and carry on.

However, Lin Xingniang was just venting and didn't continue the topic, flicking the reins to drive the cart back to the village.

Back in the village, they said their goodbyes at the door, and Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi carried their things home.

"Mom! Banban! We're back!"

The mother and daughter, who were cooking in the kitchen, hurried out to meet them. Seeing the two carrying quite a few items, they quickly stepped forward to help.

Cui Lanfang took the pork and pig's ear tied with straw rope, chattering away but with a smile hidden in her eyes.

"Oh, you bought meat again! How can we afford to eat it every day!"

Liu Guyu chuckled and said, "How is it every day? We only made pork rib soup last time, and that was days ago!"

With one sick person at home and two young ones still growing, they could cut corners elsewhere, but not when it came to food.

Liu Guyu could save on clothing—as long as he was warm, he didn't care about looking good—but food was something he insisted on taking care of!

If conditions allowed, he would have loved to eat three meals a day like in his previous life, with meat every day!

Although they couldn't manage that now, Liu Guyu kept it in mind—someday, they would!

After saying this, Liu Guyu handed the "Classic of Herbal Medicine" to Qin Banban.

"Banban, this book is for you. It's a medical book—read it in your free time. If there are characters you don't recognize or sentences you don't understand, ask your brother!"

Qin Rongshi, a man of few words, nodded in agreement.

The whole family was happy. Liu Guyu also talked about the day's business, which made Cui Lanfang and her daughter smile from ear to ear.

After they finished laughing, Cui Lanfang remembered something important and said, "Tomorrow, the village will collect autumn taxes, and officials from town will be coming. Be very careful—don’t offend them when you go out. We can’t afford to provoke these officials!"

After this reminder, the family happily ate dinner and turned in early.

*

The next day.

The autumn in Shanghe Village was also exceptionally beautiful.

As the sunset gradually faded, the crimson glow was blocked by the layered mountains, casting a rosy hue over the green peaks, with only a faint red light seeping through the horizon.

At this time, cooking smoke rose from every household, the faint white wisps drifting skyward like thin gauze. The reeds by the river were gradually turning pale, and ducks lined up to wade into the reed beds, quacking as they headed into the river, their webbed feet swiftly paddling and creating ripples.

The small wooden house was surrounded by a bamboo fence, and two magpies chirped as they perched under the eaves, preening each other's feathers.

At that moment, Qin Banban rushed in like one of the magpies, shouting, "They're born! They're born!"

Liu Guyu and Cui Lanfang, who were cooking in the kitchen, came out one after the other. Cui Lanfang wiped her hands on the apron tied around her waist and asked, "What's born?"

"Aunt Lin's dog! Ah Huang!"

Liu Guyu answered Cui Lanfang first, then turned to Qin Banban with a smile and asked, "How many were born? What colors?"

Since it wasn't market day, Liu Guyu hadn't set up his stall, but their neighbor Lin Xingniang had left early with her daughter.

No one was home at their place, but Qin Banban had heard the dog barking earlier and thought there might be a thief. She quietly pushed open the gate to take a look and realized it was their pregnant dog going into labor!

She told Liu Guyu and then ran over to watch. The young girl squatted there for over two hours without tiring, until Liu Guyu couldn't bear to see it anymore and brought her a small stool.

The Lin family's yard was also enclosed by a bamboo fence, and two large dogs were lying inside. Qin Banban sat outside, cheering Ah Huang on.

Another black-furred dog circled anxiously around the mother dog, wagging its tail uneasily, occasionally lowering its head to lick the mother dog's nose reassuringly. But soon, Ah Huang, already irritated by the labor, swatted it away with a paw.

Qin Banban sat outside the Lin family's yard for over two hours. By the time Liu Guyu had almost finished cooking, the delivery was finally successful.

She rushed back excitedly to tell the family.

Qin Banban lifted her head excitedly and said happily, "There are three puppies! One black, one yellow—just like Big Black and Ah Huang! And one is black and yellow—black body with yellow paws and belly! They're so adorable!"

The young girl was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling like two shiny black grapes, clearly smitten with the three puppies.

After hearing this, Liu Guyu called Qin Banban into the kitchen. He first scooped out half a bowl of coarse rice, then poured two large ladles of meat broth over it.

He had made Twice-Cooked Pork, and the broth was what remained after boiling the meat, including the bits at the bottom of the pot, all mixed together.

"Aunt Lin and Mai'er aren't home either, so let's mix this for her. Ah Huang just gave birth—she must have used up a lot of energy."

Lin Xingniang had mentioned earlier that she would give them a puppy to raise for guarding the house, so Liu Guyu was not stingy—he filled a bowl with dog food and even added two pieces of meat.

Lin Xingniang’s dogs were well-raised and known all over the village for guarding the home!

Since the villagers learned that her dog was pregnant, many households with the means to raise a dog had come to inquire. Even the village head had reserved one in advance—and paid upfront!

It was only for Liu Guyu’s household, thanks to the friendship between the two families, that Lin Xingniang offered to give them a dog to help guard the house.

Both families still remembered the incident when Er Gouzi sneaked over to the Qin family’s doorstep late at night, trying to climb in, only to be discovered by the two big dogs!

He passed the bowl to Qin Banban but then worried that the mother dog, having just given birth, might be overprotective or aggressive. Liu Guyu, still concerned, went out with Qin Banban to check.

However, Big Black and Ah Huang were well-trained and intelligent. They seemed to recognize Liu Guyu and Qin Banban long ago, not even making a sound as they approached. Even when Liu Guyu reached out to rub Ah Huang’s head, she tilted her head and nuzzled into his palm.

Though it’s natural for a mother dog to protect her pups, Liu Guyu still refrained from touching the three little ones and only leaned in to get a better look.

Slippery and wet, just like little rat pups, they were far from "cute," but Liu Guyu couldn’t help feeling a soft spot for them.

Ah Huang lay gently on the ground, licking the puppies’ heads.

Big Black was a lot smarter. His dark, shiny eyes darted around and landed on the bowl of food in Liu Guyu’s hand.

He wagged his tail, turned, and ran off, returning shortly with a dog bowl in his mouth. Then, acting all sneaky, he pushed the empty bowl toward Liu Guyu.

“Hey... this dog’s like a clever little spirit!”

Liu Guyu chuckled, then pushed aside part of the bamboo fence and poured the food into the dog bowl.

He added, “This is for your wife! Don’t you dare steal her food!”

It was unclear whether Big Black understood or simply had no intention of eating. Instead, he tilted his head and nudged Ah Huang’s neck, urging her to eat.

After the dogs had eaten their fill, Ah Huang lay down to nurse the puppies. Liu Guyu and Qin Banban crouched down watching for a long while until Cui Lanfang came out, calling them in for dinner. They then left with the empty bowl.

Back home, they saw that Cui Lanfang and Qin Rongshi had already prepared the meal, with small stools neatly arranged by the table.

Seeing them enter, she smiled and said, “Come, sit down and eat.”

The four of them took their seats, and Cui Lanfang gave each of them a helping of Twice-Cooked Pork.

The Twice-Cooked Pork was stir-fried with pickled vegetables and fermented black beans, making it a real treat to look at, smell, and taste.

Slices of boiled pork belly were pan-fried until the fat rendered out, then stir-fried with broad bean paste and fermented black beans until fragrant and glistening with red oil—it made your mouth water just seeing it. Pickled vegetables were added and stir-fried until the fatty edges curled, making them hearty without being oily. Just before serving, a handful of garlic shoots were tossed in, releasing their aroma and adding a fresh green touch to get your appetite going.

While eating, Liu Guyu suddenly asked, “Next year, our family will have to pay the autumn tax, right?”

These past few days were the time for tax collection, with officials from town coming to the village to collect grain taxes. Liu Guyu had remembered Cui Lanfang bringing it up the day before.

Reminded of this, Liu Guyu immediately thought of the fields they had just reclaimed.

Hearing Liu Guyu bring it up, Cui Lanfang also furrowed her brow, beginning to worry.

“Ah, this is troublesome. We definitely can’t rent the land to the Chen family again, but aside from them, there are no other non-locals in the village. Every other household has their own fields—why would they need to rent from us?”

She was still troubled about renting out the land, unaware that Liu Guyu had no intention of renting it out but wanted to farm it themselves.

However, the family lacked experienced farmers. Even Liu Guyu himself only knew ways to enrich the soil but had never actually worked the fields—his hands-on experience might even be less than Cui Lanfang’s.

Because of this, Liu Guyu didn’t know how to broach the subject with Cui Lanfang.

While he hesitated, Qin Rongshi spoke up first.

He set down his bowl and chopsticks, saying to Cui Lanfang, “Mother, if we can’t rent it out, let’s keep it and farm it ourselves.”

Cui Lanfang, not one to make decisions easily, nodded at Qin Rongshi’s words but then suddenly realized something wasn’t right. Surprised, she asked, “Farm it ourselves?”

Qin Rongshi nodded, then glanced at Liu Guyu and added, “Brother Liu has a method for fertilizing the fields. Now that we have the land, we can try it out next spring.”

With Qin Rongshi taking the lead, Liu Guyu found it easier to speak up. He nodded in agreement and said, “If my method works well, the grain yield could double at the very least!”

Hearing this, Cui Lanfang’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Currently, one acre of land produced at most 250 pounds of grain. Doubling that would mean 500 pounds?

Good heavens, she had never heard of such a thing!

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Author’s note: There will be an update tomorrow, but it will be late, probably after 11 PM. Those who can’t wait can check back the next day.