Zhang Fangyuan’s heart swelled with joy as he studied the ge’er before him. Xu He was half a head shorter, thin and frail, but his taller frame and larger bones made him seem less delicate. Yet, with so little flesh on him, he looked gaunt.
Though young, poor children grew up fast. Xu He already helped with family chores, and his skin was tanned from working outdoors. From a distance, he wasn’t particularly striking, but up close, his features were delicate and refined.
Zhang Fangyuan thought his fulang's bone structure as a child resembled their son Little Ruili - except their son had grown up pampered, fair and beautiful, while Xu He’s childhood had been rough, leaving him dull and overlooked.
Xu He felt the gaze burning into him. His back was cold but his face hot, the contrast made him squirm. Was this another prank? He took a step back, pretending not to hear Zhang Fangyuan.
The sting of rejection lingered as Zhang Fangyuan rubbed his nose, feeling awkward. It had been years since Xu He had treated him this way, and he wasn’t used to it.
"Zhang Fangyuan!"
Chen Si ran over: "I thought you weren’t fishing or playing games! Did you change your mind?"
Zhang Fangyuan tore his eyes away from Xu He and declared: "The weather’s nice. I’ve decided, if you all want to play Landlord, gather up. Chen Si, count them."
Chen Si jumped for joy: "Got it!"
Kids loved games, and the more the merrier. The boys swarmed around Zhang Fangyuan: "Me! Me! Pick me!"
The shy girls and ge’ers watched eagerly, afraid of being left out.
Chen Si tallied the group: "Twelve people."
Zhang Fangyuan nodded: "Then I’ll assign roles."
Chen Si stared expectantly, mouthing: Steward, steward!
"Chen Si will be steward. Donkey will be accountant. Liu Wu and Xiao Xi are guards..." Zhang Fangyuan assigned roles until he reached the two bullies: "Li Erdian and Zhou Xiaohu will be laborers."
"Laborers!?"
The two boys, hoping for better roles, pouted. But the newly appointed guards snapped: "Dare to talk back to the master? Want a slap?"
Li Erdian and Zhou Xiaohu immediately shut up.
"Ah-Yuan," Chen Si suggested, "there are so many ge’er and girls this time. Should we pick a wife or fulang?"
Zhang Fangyuan’s brow twitched. Chen Si had always been sharp.
"Yeah! Without one, it’s no fun. Landlords always have wives and concubines!"
"Fine, we’ll pick one."
The girls and ge’er perked up, trying to hide their eagerness.
Zhang Fangyuan scanned the group, his finger hovering over each head. Xu Shaochun bit her lip, imagining what she would do if chosen - until Zhang Fangyuan pointed at Xu He.
"Huh?"
The crowd gasped. Xu Shaochun looked up, stunned.
"Ah-Yuan, did you point wrong?" Chen Si voiced everyone’s doubt.
"No mistake. Him. The rest can be maids."
All eyes turned to Xu He. The boys thought Zhang Fangyuan had lost his mind; the girls and ge’ers stomped in envy. Xu He shrank back: "I-I didn’t say I wanted to—"
Zhang Fangyuan cut him off: "Let’s start. Chen Si, take two people back to the ‘manor’ to get fishing nets and traps."
The boys, thrilled by Zhang Fangyuan’s enthusiasm, forgot their confusion and cheered: "Yes, master!"
"Two of you, prepare seating for the master."
The chosen boys cut banana leaves to line the ridge. Zhang Fangyuan plopped down and beckoned Xu He: "Sit next to me."
Xu He had seen other kids play this game but never joined.
Zhang Fangyuan always played the landlord, gathering kids to bring bowls and tools. In the mountains, they hunted; by the river, they fished. His skills ensured they always had food - wild vegetables, fish soup, even roasted pheasant or rabbit. The game was so realistic that participants often ate better than at home, making it wildly popular.
Though Xu He had never played, he’d often watched, curious and envious. He’d wondered what role he’d get, probably just gathering firewood.
Now, not only was he playing, but he’d been chosen as the master’s fulang. He froze, unsure what to do.
Two ge’ers rushed over: "Let us help fulang over."
Xu He swallowed hard as the "maids" ushered him to Zhang Fangyuan’s side. He sat stiffly, not daring to look at the boy beside him.
Zhang Fangyuan, pleased, announced: "You two did well. You’ll each get a fish later."
The ge’ers jumped with joy, curtsying: "Thank you, master and fulang!"
With rewards on the line, the kids worked even harder.
Zhang Fangyuan, legs crossed like a proper landlord, barked orders: "Li Erdian, Zhou Xiaohu, go wash the fulang's clothes."
"Boys washing clothes?"
"Talking back!?" The guards handed Zhang Fangyuan a water gun. He drenched the two boys, who fled screaming as the others laughed: "Go or not!?"
"Fine, fine! We’re going!"
The boys scrambled to wash Xu He’s clothes under the guards’ supervision.
"Are you cold?" Zhang Fangyuan asked.
Xu He shook his head, but Zhang Fangyuan draped his outer robe over him anyway.
Xu He had never been treated like this - having his clothes washed for him, someone shielding him from the cold. Under the others’ gazes, his face burned.
Zhang Fangyuan glared at the onlookers: "What are you staring at? Isn’t this how it’s done?"
Chen Si returned with tools: "The master and fulang are supposed to be like this! The master’s always right!"
The girls and ge’ers grew even more envious, vowing to be chosen next time.
Zhang Fangyuan set traps in the deeper water and lured fish with bait. He sent boys to catch crabs and led others to hunt for loaches in the fields. The kids were having a blast.
Xu He trailed behind, carrying a basket as Zhang Fangyuan darted through the fields, emerging with fat loaches and eels. Watching the growing haul, Xu He’s eyes sparkled.
In an hour, they’d caught over a dozen loaches and eels. The group trotted back to camp, retrieving the traps which were now filled with jumping fish, shrimp, and crabs. The kids cheered Zhang Fangyuan’s skill, eager to cook their spoils.
Then, a voice called from the bridge: "Ah-Yuan! Time to go home!"
Zhang Fangyuan turned to see his father returning from town, arms laden with goods. His heart warmed: "Coming!"
"Ah-Yuan, you’re leaving? We’re not cooking today?"
The kids groaned, they hadn’t even gotten to the best part.
Zhang Fangyuan said, "Next time."
He divided the catch: "Take some home."
The kids brightened at the free food.
"Steward gets the loaches and eels."
"Guards get shrimp."
"Maids get small fish and crabs."
"Li Erdian, Zhou Xiaohu, one crab each."
Everyone got something. Though the portions weren’t equal, free food was free food. They waved as Zhang Fangyuan left, already planning their next game.
Xu He stared at his share - two large river fish, nearly three pounds each. Zhang Fangyuan had even left him a basket to carry them. He glanced at the fish, then at Zhang Fangyuan’s retreating back, lips pressed tight.
The others sighed enviously: "Xu He, Zhang Fangyuan treats you so well. I hope I get to be the fulang next time!"
Xu Shaochun, annoyed by the attention Xu He was getting, brightened at the thought of fish for dinner. She strutted over as if the fish were hers: "He ge’er, let’s go home."
Xu He carefully lifted the basket and glanced once more at Zhang Fangyuan’s distant figure: "Mm."
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