Having raised Guaizi since he was a pup, Lu Gu had always carried him into the mountains with Shen Xuanqing. Naturally, he was a bit biased, giving him a dozen or so peanuts every few days as a treat. If he forgot for too long, Guaizi would stealthily tug his pants toward the storage room where peanuts were kept when no one was looking - clever as ever.
The dogs at home ate well. Watching Guaizi munch on the peanuts, Lu Gu couldn’t resist ruffling his head, his fur smooth and sleek, his ears soft, just as pleasant to touch as before.
It was already afternoon. After playing with the dog a while, since Shen Xuanqing was home and didn’t need help at the main estate, Lu Gu rolled up his sleeves and went to the front yard’s vegetable patch to pick some spring greens. They’d eaten lunch early and would likely get hungry sooner, so it was best to prepare dinner in advance.
With spring plowing over, the family relaxed. That night, everyone slept more soundly than usual.
Lingjun had napped for less than half an hour in the afternoon, so he didn’t fuss much at night. After blowing out the lamp, Shen Xuanqing lay down, Lu Gu beside him as always, with the child on the innermost side.
"I want to discuss something with you," he said quietly. Catching the scent of Lu Gu’s face cream, he couldn’t resist stealing a kiss before continuing seriously, "We’ve got a few hundred taels saved. Spending a few dozen, we could buy a small house in town. I want to bring you and Lingjun to live there."
Lu Gu froze. Move to town?
"We’d be together," Shen Xuanqing added, unable to suppress his smile.
"But there’s still so much work at home," Lu Gu hesitated.
Shen Xuanqing chuckled. "At home, you take care of the child, cook, and do laundry, other chores aren’t your responsibility. During busy seasons like spring plowing or harvest, we can always come back."
"Besides, over there, I won’t have to trouble Shiniang with my meals and laundry. She’s getting older, her legs aren’t good, and she worries about me alone at the shop with no one to tend to things. Once you’re there, she won’t have to fret."
"When the shop’s busy, it’s one thing, but once things slow down, I’m left with nothing to do. You could cook while I mind the shop and hold the child, that way, you wouldn’t be overworked."
The idea of moving to town made Lu Gu uneasy. He was used to village life and had grown familiar with the neighbors over the years. But hearing Shen Xuanqing’s reasoning, it did seem reasonable.
"Lingjun’s bigger now and behaves well in the cart. Didn’t we say before that he’d study in the future? Isn’t that why we opened the shop? Moving to town a couple of years early won’t hurt."
To persuade his fulang and child, Shen Xuanqing laid out all his arguments at once.
Lu Gu wasn’t one to insist on his own way. For him, staying home or going to Jixing Town with Shen Xuanqing made little difference. Convinced in just a few sentences, he only asked, "Have you talked to Mother and Eldest Brother yet?"
"Not yet, I'll talk to them tomorrow morning. Buying a house isn’t urgent, we’ll find a good one before moving. The shop’s too small, but the house should at least have a yard, enough to grow some vegetables for ourselves." Shen Xuanqing kept his voice low.
There were all kinds of houses in town, big and small. He knew a bit about them. His master's place, for instance, though not large, had front and back yards - the front for vegetables and flowers, the back for livestock and firewood. He wanted something similar, spacious enough not to feel cramped.
"Mm," Lu Gu listened carefully, his unease fading. The thought of living in town and seeing Shen Xuanqing every day brought a smile to his eyes.
The next morning, before sunrise, Shen Xuanqing was already awake. He was heading back to Jixing Town today, taking a dozen or so rabbits with him.
As for bringing Lu Gu and the child to town, though he framed it as discussing with Wei Lanxiang, he’d already made up his mind.
"Moving to town?" Wei Lanxiang paused while helping load rabbit cages onto the cart. After a moment’s thought, she sighed lightly. Her second son now spent most of his time at the shop, returning only two or three nights a month. Without someone to cook and tidy up for him, relying on his master’s family for meals wasn’t ideal.
"It makes sense. With Guzi watching over you, I’d worry less. But Lingjun’s going too?"
Shen Xuanqing had expected more resistance, so his mother's agreement surprised him. Smiling, he said, "Yes, with Guzi. When I’m not busy, I can help with the child."
Wei Lanxiang was reluctant to part with her grandson. She often went visiting with one child in her arms and another by the hand, the thought of one fewer little one fussing around her left her feeling oddly empty.
Sensing her reluctance, Shen Xuanqing said, "We’ve still got the mule cart at home. If you miss Lingjun, just have Eldest Brother take you over, you’ll see him then."
"That’s true." Wei Lanxiang’s heart eased. She’d momentarily forgotten about the cart, thinking Jixing Town too far. Now that they didn’t have to walk everywhere, travel was much easier.
As for Shen Yaoqing, if it were him, he’d want Ji Qiuyue and Zhao’er with him too, so he wouldn’t object.
Once the mule cart was ready, Shen Xuanqing bid farewell to the family at the gate and set off.
Watching him leave, Wei Lanxiang suddenly remembered he’d mentioned buying a house in town. She wondered if he had enough money. Then again, his second son had always been prudent, if he didn’t have the funds, he wouldn’t have brought it up. Reassured, she let it go. The young had their own ways.
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