Looking at the rabbits in the cages - it wasn’t yet feeding time, leaving room to stew meat. Shen Yaoqing opened a cage door and pulled out a plump rabbit. “Since Brother Luo is here today, if I don’t let you try the rabbit meat, people would say I’m a poor host.”
Luo Biao quickly waved him off. “Eldest Brother Shen, you might not know this, but when Second Brother Shen came to town to find me last time, he left four rabbits. I took one to the kitchen and shared it with the head chef over drinks. I’ve already tasted it.”
Shen Yaoqing understood that dealing with the kitchen required some greasing of palms. Unfazed, he still smiled. “Ah, but the brothel’s cooking is different from home-style. Today, let your sister-in-law make a spicy stir-fried rabbit. Even if it’s not as good as the chef’s, you can still try our family’s cooking.”
Seeing he couldn’t refuse, Luo Biao stopped being polite. Since they were dealing honestly with the Shen family, there was no need for empty words.
He pulled out a red cloth from his sleeve, wrapped around loose silver and copper coins, and handed it directly to Shen Yaoqing. “This is the payment for the rabbits. Between us, there’s no need for pretense. Let me be clear, it’s five silver coins and eighty-five copper coins. Eldest Brother Shen, take it.”
[1 silver coins = 100 copper coins]
Shen Yaoqing accepted it but frowned. “Ten rabbits should only be four hundred and fifty copper coins - four silver coins and fifty copper coins. Why so much?”
Luo Biao smiled. “Last time, Second Brother Shen left three rabbits with me. I sold them all to the brothel. This money is rightfully yours.”
Now understanding, Shen Yaoqing placed the trembling rabbit atop the cage and unfolded the red cloth, revealing the silver and coins.
From this height, even if the rabbit jumped, Dahei would catch it.
“Before Erqing left, he said since we owe you a favor, the earnings should include your share—” Before he could finish, Luo Biao cut him off.
Waving a hand without even glancing at the money, Luo Biao frowned. “Don’t insult me. What’s my relationship with Second Brother Shen? This little favor is nothing. No need to say more.”
With that, he turned to leave, clearly miffed.
“Hey.” Shen Yaoqing laughed, grabbing his arm to stop him. “Brother Luo, you’re being too formal. Not just you, even with Erqing, we’ve agreed: he paid for building this house, so excluding other livestock, rabbit sales are split sixty-forty between us. If we’re this clear between brothers…”
“Let me be frank. Before you came, we thought the brothel might pay forty copper coins. Never expected an extra five copper coins. You deserve a share. Besides, without you, how could we have connected with the brothel? If we took these rabbits to town and business was slow, we’d hardly make any money in a day.”
With others, Luo Biao wouldn’t hesitate to take a cut, but the Shen family was different. He couldn’t bring himself to skim from his own brothers.
As Shen Yaoqing began counting coins, Luo Biao stopped him. “Since Eldest Brother Shen sees me as family and wants to earn together, I won’t refuse. But all I did was talk to the kitchen staff and share a meal, I can’t take this. Raising rabbits isn’t easy. How about this: whenever I crave meat or drink, I’ll come to you two brothers. Just keep some good food and wine ready for me. That’ll more than cover it. Deal?”
Seeing his sincerity - unlike outsiders, Shen Yaoqing realized insisting would dishonor their bond. Tucking away the cloth, he clasped his hands with a smile. “Then it’s settled, Brother Luo.”
No sooner had he spoken than the rabbit on the cage suddenly kicked free, hopping to the ground in escape.
Luo Biao burst out laughing, rolling up his sleeves to chase it. Shen Yaoqing, however, stayed calm, calling toward the front house, “Dahei!”
The swift hound came running.
Accustomed to hunting with Shen Xuanqing, chasing rabbits was instinctive for Dahei. Without a word, he dashed after the fleeing rabbit.
By the time Shen Yaoqing and Luo Biao returned to the main house with the rabbit, Ji Qiuyue and Lu Gu were busy in the kitchen. Knowing they were preparing four dishes, Shen Yaoqing decided to slaughter the rabbit.
Luo Biao, an orphan and practically homeless, rented his current dwelling. With no one to cook for him, a bowl of steamed egg custard drizzled with fragrant sesame oil made him think of his late mother. Though he often ate at the brothel, nothing compared to home-cooked meals ,even something simple like stir-fried vegetables, which held special warmth.
A burly man not prone to sentimentality, he showed nothing on his face, though inwardly, he sighed repeatedly.
____
Shen Xuanqing hadn’t returned yet, but life went on as usual. With a new outlet for selling rabbits, the whole family was delighted.
Though Luo Biao worked as a brothel enforcer, his honesty left even Wei Lanxiang unable to criticize him.
The days grew colder as autumn winds rustled through. Lu Gu added an extra layer for warmth and stayed busy. Alongside Shen Yan, he headed to the riverbank to dig up grass roots. Without fresh grass to cut, a basket of roots mixed with hay would suffice for the rabbits' feed.
Kneeling in the barren field, his hands muddy, he shook dirt off a clump of roots before tossing it into the basket.
Noticing Shen Yan standing to rest, he smiled. “Almost full. Go rest first, I’ll finish the rest.”
Shen Yan shook the bamboo basket, eyeing the roots inside. “Brother Guzi, this should be enough. We’ve been working nonstop, you should rest too. Squatting like this must be hard on your legs.”
Her words eased his fatigue, though thirst lingered. Following her suggestion, he stood to rest before carrying the basket toward the new house.
Just as the back gate came into view, distant barks echoed from the mountain. Lu Gu halted, turning toward the slope.
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