Chapter 204
Early the next morning, Lu Gu woke up and lay in bed for a while. When he sat up to dress, he turned his head and noticed their little Lingjun was also awake, staring at him with big, dark, bright eyes and even flashing a smile.
Today, he was being particularly well-behaved, not crying at all. Smiling, Lu Gu lowered his head and clicked his tongue to tease Lingjun. "Look who's awake."
After dressing, he stood by the bed and moved the child over to bundle him in thick clothes, the early morning was a bit chilly.
Shen Xuanqing, who had just finished washing up in the yard, came in. Seeing Lingjun awake, he smiled and took the child from Lu Gu’s arms to hold himself.
"He doesn’t need to pee right now, but remember to hold him out later," Lu Gu reminded before heading out to fetch water.
Today, they planned to take the child to town together. There was no rush to set off until the sun was fully up and the chill had eased. Shen Xuanqing, holding his little shuang'er, felt a surge of joy. He hadn’t been home much lately, and though Lingjun recognized him and allowed him to hold him, the child’s smile gradually faded once Lu Gu was out of sight, his expression turning blank. Shen Xuanqing could only whistle a few times to amuse him.
In the yard, Lu Gu scooped water for washing his face. Seeing Guaizi yawning and stretching, he casually poured a ladle of water into the dog’s bowl. Sure enough, Guaizi walked over and began drinking.
Since it was no longer deep autumn or winter, there was no need to heat the washing water. Shen Xuanqing, who had risen the earliest, had already lit the clay stove to boil drinking water in an earthen pot.
After washing up, Lu Gu went into the kitchen to heat breakfast on the large stove when he heard the sounds of Wei Lanxiang and Shen Yan in the main room.
"Mother, Lingjun peed. Can you change his pants for him?"
Before even seeing them come to fetch water, Shen Xuanqing’s voice rang out.
"Coming, coming," Wei Lanxiang replied as she hurried into the room.
Hearing this, Lu Gu sat back down. Changing pants didn’t require so many people. Usually, he was the one holding the child in the mornings and remembered to take him to pee. Shen Xuanqing, unused to tending to the child, had likely been playing with the child and forgotten Lu Gu’s earlier reminder.
"Brother Guzi, you’re going to see the house today," Shen Yan said as she entered with a wooden basin to scoop water.
"Mhm. Do you want anything? I’ll bring it back for you," Lu Gu replied with a smile. They were only going to look at the house today, it wasn’t time to move yet. He, Wei Lanxiang, and Shen Yaoqing would go, while Shen Yan and Ji Qiuyue stayed behind to mind the house.
"There’s nothing I need. I’ve already told Mother, she can buy me two crispy oil cakes when she comes back," Shen Yan said, lifting the basin with a smile. "Once Second Brother really buys the house, I’ll go take a look."
Lu Gu nodded with a grin. "Naturally."
After breakfast, the sun rose and dispelled the morning chill. Seeing the water vat nearly empty, Shen Xuanqing made several trips with two wooden buckets to fill it up. Only then did the group set off toward the large house.
Wei Lanxiang carried a bamboo basket containing milk fruit and two clean diapers, while Shen Yan carried another with breakfast for Ji Qiuyue and the others.
Upon arrival, they saw Shen Yaoqing had already pulled both carts to the courtyard gate and even carried out two large sacks of grain for Li Laiqing.
The two carts for the mules were newly made, slightly larger than their old one for hauling hay.
"He came early. I wasn’t even up yet when I heard knocking at the gate. I gave him the grass baskets and told him to come over if he wanted tea or hot water," Shen Yaoqing said with a laugh.
Weeds pulled from the fields were usually brought back to feed the pigs and sheep. Uprooting them took time and effort, so they couldn’t just be tossed away. A few extra baskets of grass each day ensured the livestock wouldn’t go hungry.
"These two sacks," he patted the burlap bags, "he’ll take home at noon when he goes for lunch. By then, Uncle He and the others won’t need the carts, so he can haul them back. That’ll settle the first year’s two hundred pounds of grain."
"Good," Shen Xuanqing nodded before rolling up his sleeves and heading to the backyard with Wei Lanxiang and Shen Yan to feed the poultry and livestock.
Zhao’er had just woken up, and Lingjun, rubbing his eyes, looked drowsy. Lu Gu pulled out the wooden cradle and laid the child inside.
Ji Qiuyue and Shen Yaoqing were eating breakfast. Lu Gu fetched water and had Zhao’er squat down so he could wipe his eyes and face. The child’s plump cheeks were soft, his skin tender, and his chubby little body crouched by the wooden basin like a round dumpling. Lu Gu couldn’t help but smile as he cleaned him.
"Happy to see Auntie?" Ji Qiuyue sat by the cradle, nibbling on a steamed bun while shaking a rattle for Lingjun. When the child smiled at her, she began chatting with Lingjun.
Shen Yaoqing finished two steamed buns in a few bites and then headed to the backyard to work.
By mid-morning, when the chores were done, they loaded twenty rabbits onto the carts. The meat shop had been closed for several days, and they had to reopen for business tomorrow. The two mule carts were for this purpose, since Shen Xuanqing wouldn’t return at night, Shen Yaoqing would drive the cart carrying Wei Lanxiang and Lu Gu.
Before they left, only Ji Qiuyue and Shen Yan would remain at home. Since the house was large and Li Laiqing - a man, would be coming by later to collect rice and flour, Wei Lanxiang felt it necessary to remind them of a few things. Seated on the cart, she turned to them and said: "There’s still some pastries left. Prepare some hot tea and invite Third Ahma over to keep you company. Xinlian and Yu ger are also around. If they’re doing needlework, have them come here."
"Understood, Mother. Don’t worry. Didn’t Yuping say a few days ago he wanted to borrow the dog to hunt rabbits in the mountains? I’ll invite him too," Ji Qiuyue replied cheerfully.
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