"Tsk tsk, your braised carp just swam away." Yang Jiabo gloated.
"You try," Wei Jing said, knowing Yang Jiabo had set him up for failure.
"Watch me." Yang Jiabo gripped the bamboo pole, eyes locked on a fish. In one quick motion, he pressed the net down, embedding the metal ring into the mud before flipping it up. A large carp flailed in the funnel-shaped net. "Well?"
"That’s more like catching dragonflies than fishing," Wei Jing remarked. No wonder the net looked so odd.
"Exactly! Got the idea from catching dragonflies. Works great in shallow water, though useless in deep spots." Yang Jiabo grinned, eyes crinkling.
Afterward, they plucked two lotus leaves for cooking and dropped off their haul before heading up the mountain to catch a chicken and pick vegetables. Workers in the fields greeted Yang Jiabo cheerfully as "little boss." By the time they’d circled the farmstead, they’d gathered everything they needed for the day.
Yang Jianjun ran into them midway, noting their sweaty faces and armfuls of goods. Wei Jing’s dress shoes and pants were caked in mud, while Yang Jiabo wore rolled-up shorts and old rubber sandals.
"Jiajia, why’d you drag him through the fields? And why didn’t you remind Xiao Jing to change first?" Yang Jianjun scolded lightly.
Yang Jiabo glanced at Wei Jing, embarrassed. "I forgot."
"It’s fine. A quick wash will fix it," Wei Jing said, unbothered.
Back home, Wei Jing changed into casual clothes and left his cleaned shoes by the door. Knowing Wei Jing’s arrival meant a feast, Yang Qing dutifully helped wash vegetables. Not to be outdone, Wei Jing was assigned plucking chicken feathers.
When Yang Jiabo checked later, Wei Jing with apron on, was meticulously tweezing every tiny feather from the chicken with a pair of tongs. By the end, the chicken was spotless.
After lunch, the two lounged on rocking chairs on the outdoor deck, a teapot on the table between them. Sipping tea, Yang Jiabo swayed contentedly, savoring the lazy afternoon.
"Jiajia, are we… retiring early?" Wei Jing asked.
"Nope. I’ve been retired every day," Yang Jiabo said shamelessly.
"Jiajia, you should come see the outside world with me. Those wild ideas of yours, they’re becoming reality. You’re creative, full of ideas. You’re young, you should explore. The world changes daily, always moving forward." Wei Jing urged.
Yang Jiabo flushed at the praise. He knew the truth, those "ideas" weren’t his. He’d just been reborn with foresight. He’d never intended to steal others’ work. He’d only ever complained. So now, he was content as a little landowner, living leisurely in nature’s embrace.
"I'll think about it when the opportunity arises. I'm quite content with my life as it is." Yang Jiabo was the type who hated moving around. Once he settled somewhere, he never wanted to leave.
Wei Jing knew his personality well and didn’t push. Instead, he said, "I’ve invited a few friends over. They’ll arrive in a few days. They can stay in the nearby bamboo houses."
"How many? All around our age?" Yang Jiabo asked.
"Seven or eight, about my age."
"How long are they staying? I’ll make arrangements." Each bamboo house had four rooms, so two houses would be enough. He could reserve a table in the restaurant for them daily. Yang Jiabo mentally calculated, he was too lazy to cook for them himself every day.
"Three days." Wei Jing wasn’t entirely sure either. He knew Yang Jiabo disliked unfamiliar people and environments. Given a comfortable space, he’d happily stay put forever. Unless absolutely necessary, Yang Jiabo rarely left Wuquan Farmhouse.
Wei Jing suspected Yang Jiabo had created this idyllic retreat precisely so he could hole up indefinitely. The restaurant, disguised as a countryside eatery, was just his way of maintaining some connection to the outside world. The friends he’d invited were close ones, familiarizing Yang Jiabo with them might make it easier for him to step out in the future.
Over the years, Yang Jiabo’s life had been peaceful. With Wei Jing subtly guiding him, his mental state had stabilized. No relapses, rare suicidal thoughts, and genuine satisfaction with his current life.
Their casual conversation was interrupted as guests began arriving at the farmstead. One angler, carrying fishing gear, passed by the bamboo house and greeted Yang Jiabo cheerfully. "Little Boss, living the good life, huh? Who’s the handsome friend?"
"Yep, Boss Zhou, you’re early today. If you keep coming this often, you’ll fish out my entire pond," Yang Jiabo joked.
"Now you’re exaggerating. Little Boss, you know how big your pond is. Any new recommendations lately?" Boss Zhou loved the farmstead’s dishes, they were sk fresh that everything else tasted like leftovers in comparison.
"Actually, yes. The big grass carp are fully grown now. You can have sashimi, fried fish scales, or a milky-white bone broth. Great for hotpot or à la carte."
[À la carte: ordering individual items from a menu or list, rather than a pre-set package or meal]
"Save me one for dinner. If it’s good, I’ll take a few home."
"Limited stock, only one per customer." Yang Jiabo had absolute confidence in his produce.
"Still so stingy. Why not breed more?" Boss Zhou grumbled. At Yang Jiabo’s place, takeout was reservation-only. No walk-in purchases. Who ran a business like this?
"I’m lazy. Money’s endless, but what I have is enough."
"Fair enough. Sometimes I really envy you and your dad’s lifestyle."
After some small talk, Boss Zhou headed off to fish. More familiar faces passed by, all greeting Yang Jiabo warmly. Most guests here were regulars - weekends meant fishing, tea, cards, or flower-viewing. Some had even suggested Yang Jiabo raise birds.
Yang Jiabo had no interest, but Yang Jianjun, tempted, bought a myna. For some reason, he spent days teaching it to sing The East Is Red.
Wei Jing: "Jiajia, reserve a table for me tomorrow."
Yang Jiabo: "I’ve got tables for twenty, fifteen, or ten. Which one?"
"Twenty. I’m treating my parents and some family friends. They’ve missed your food. Mom even tried growing veggies on the balcony, but they never taste as good as yours."
Yang Jiabo smirked. "My place has great feng shui, everything grows better here. If Auntie likes them, I’ll send more."
"What you’ve sent is plenty. Start charging, or my parents will feel bad." Wei Jing recalled his parents gushing about Yang Jiabo who was so capable and thoughtful, while complaining he and Wei Feng were never home.
"Uncle and Auntie have done a lot for me too."
Knowing the Wei family was coming, Yang Jiabo arranged a discount and two complimentary dishes. When dinner neared, Wei Jing dragged him along. Reluctant but unable to refuse, Yang Jiabo went.
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