Exhausted and hungry from the journey, Shen Yan and Shen Yaoqing devoured their meal like a whirlwind. A bowl of fried mushrooms with cabbage, a dish of wild mallow, and even the wild vegetable soup were all finished clean.
Lu Gu didn’t let Shen Yan help with the dishes. She had eaten so much, better to let her rest. For him, their arrival was pure joy, and his happiness lingered unbroken.
By nightfall, Shen Xuanqing still hadn’t returned, so Shen Yaoqing barred the gate. Lu Gu made a bed for him in another room, and after a quick wash, the three retired to sleep. Shen Yan naturally sharing Lu Gu’s room.
When Lu Gu asked about Zhao’er, Shen Yan turned to face him in the pitch-black room, grinning. "Zhao’er has grown chubby, his little hands are so plump! But he’s still too soft, I don’t dare hold him much."
"When Mother and Sister-in-law changed his clothes, I saw his arms were chubby too, so soft...especially the flesh on his little bottom."
Since Zhao’er’s birth, Shen Yan often referred to herself as his aunt, her words brimming with affection.
Lu Gu listened with equal joy, until Shen Yan abruptly turned the topic to him.
"Brother Guzi, when will you and Second Brother have one? Then I’ll be an aunt to two nephews!" Her tone was innocent, even adding, "Zhao’er is a little boy. Why don’t you and Second Brother have a little shuang’er or girl? Then I can dress her up, braid her hair, and put flowers in it."
She didn’t know about Lu Gu’s past visit to the doctor.
"I- we-" Lu Gu stammered, at a loss. In a fluster, he grasped for an excuse. "Your Second Brother and I aren’t in a hurry. We have Zhao’er at home."
"True, one child is enough work. With two, the house would be chaos," Shen Yan said guilelessly, not overthinking it.
Mentioning dressing up reminded her of the embroidered handkerchief she’d made at home. Tugging Lu Gu’s sleeve in the dark, she chirped, "Brother Guzi, I embroidered a hibiscus handkerchief a few days ago, it’s so pretty! Even Mother said it was well done. I forgot to bring it this time, but I’ll show you when we go back."
The matter of children was brushed aside, letting Lu Gu exhale silently in relief. "Alright, I’ll definitely see it when we return."
The day’s travel had worn them out. Hearing Shen Yan yawn, Lu Gu softly suggested it was time to sleep.
All three slept soundly through the night.
The next morning, Shen Xuanqing still hadn’t returned. Lu Gu reheated breakfast in the kitchen while Shen Yaoqing, with nothing else to do, chopped some of yesterday’s unfinished firewood. After washing up, Shen Yan carried the split wood into the shed, leaving it outside risked rain ruining it.
The journey had been tiring. Even Shen Xuanqing usually rested for half a day or more after coming up the mountain, and Shen Yaoqing and Shen Yan were no exception.
But after lunch, since the chestnut grove wasn’t far, Shen Yaoqing grew restless. As a man, he could pass time with Shen Yan, but with Lu Gu, he had to maintain some propriety. After filling the water vat, he didn’t know what else to do. Lu Gu and Shen Yan were busy with needlework and shoe soles, he couldn’t just stand there watching. So he slung a bamboo basket on his back, saying he’d scout the chestnut grove and gather whatever he could.
At this, Lu Gu and Shen Yan set aside their tasks and followed. Harvesting chestnuts and hazelnuts was simple, ripe ones fell naturally, so they only needed to bend down and pick them up.
They hadn’t gone in the morning for two reasons: first, without dogs, just the three of them might face dangers in the early woods; second, they’d hoped to wait for Shen Xuanqing, who’d been gone for days.
Before leaving, Lu Gu didn’t lock the door, only latching it. Worried Shen Xuanqing might return and panic if he found no one, he wrote a message on the ground with a stick: Gone to gather chestnuts with Eldest Brother and Yan Yan.
After writing, the three set off for the chestnut grove.
Though Shen Xuanqing rarely spoke of mountain dangers during his years of hunting, after Lu Gu’s encounter with the wild boar last time, even Shen Yaoqing was more cautious now. They didn’t venture too far, filling two baskets before the sun began dipping westward. Though he’d brought a sickle, he led Shen Yan and Lu Gu back carefully.
Before long, Lu Gu heard barks and looked over to see Guaizi sprinting toward them, with Da Hui and Da Hei close behind.
Having missed Shen Yan and Shen Yaoqing for so long, Guaizi wagged his tail furiously, darting around their legs in clear excitement.
"Eldest Brother!" Shen Xuanqing called from a distance.
"Second Brother!" Shen Yan waved, her almond eyes curving. Though she usually grumbled about her brothers tugging her braids, after over a month apart, she’d missed her second brother.
Approaching, Shen Xuanqing took the bamboo basket from Lu Gu and smiled. "I saw the message on the ground when I got back, so I brought the dogs to find you."
Truthfully, when he hadn’t seen Lu Gu come out to greet him and the dogs earlier, and all three hounds had barked incessantly, his face had paled. Rushing back, he’d only relaxed after spotting the written note - Eldest Brother and Shen Yan had arrived.
Mountain goods were winter provisions, and stocking up was a common practice among rural families. Even with enough rice and flour this year, his family was no exception.
Shen Xuanqing and Shen Yaoqing walked behind, carrying the bamboo baskets and discussing last month’s rice harvest.
Lu Gu had already heard this from Shen Yan last night, but it didn’t stop his heart from swelling with joy when Shen Yaoqing mentioned the eight large vats at home now brimming with new rice.
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