Chapter 217
After Shen Yan’s marriage was settled, during the winter, things were still fine. But once the weather warmed up, Gu Chengyue began visiting their Qingxi Village more and more frequently, either bringing snacks or buying little toys.
Since the two were already engaged, his actions weren’t considered improper. Wei Lanxiang didn’t interfere much—after all, every time Gu Chengyue came, the family was present, and he never stayed too long.
The various betrothal formalities—sending and replying to invitations, exchanging gifts—had yet to be completed, as everything had to follow auspicious dates according to etiquette. The wedding date hadn’t been finalized yet, but Shen Yan had already started sewing her wedding robe and embroidering her bridal veil.
This was how things were done in the countryside - buying fabric and making the dress themselves, rarely hiring someone else to do it.
Gu Chengyue was still preparing for the provincial exams and had to seize every moment to study. Though he sometimes seemed a bit slow-witted in front of Shen Yan, his heart was simple. He was overjoyed when bringing gifts to his future wife, but once home, he still studied diligently. If he truly passed the exams and became a juren, he would naturally be able to provide for the family, and Shen Yan wouldn’t have to suffer hardships with him.
Leaving aside the Gu family, Shen Yan’s marriage arrangements were proceeding smoothly, and the whole family felt at ease. Now, all that was left was to live their days well—after all, the two children still had many years before they fully grew up.
After summer arrived, Lu Gu took Lingjun back to their hometown for a short stay. During that time, someone in the village was selling land, and Shen Yaoqing bought those four acres of paddy fields.
Their family already had plenty of land, enough to feed everyone. But if they had more children in the future - each with a mouth to feed, it would be wise to accumulate more land while they still had the means.
As the saying goes - a half-grown boy eats his parents poor. Both Shen Yaoqing and Shen Xuanqing had big appetites when they were young. If they were to have a few more boys and wanted to raise each of them strong and sturdy, they’d need to stock up on rice and flour.
[半大小子吃穷爹娘 (bàn dà xiǎozi chī qióng diē niáng): lit. A half-grown boy eats his parents poor; fig. Teenage boys have voracious appetites that strain family resources.]
After staying at home for half a month, when the afternoon turned cooler, Lu Gu and Ji Qiuyue took the two children to wash clothes by the shallow part of the river. Lingjun and Zhao’er squatted by the bank, playing in the water. The two adults kept a close eye on them, afraid they might fall in.
Before they finished washing the clothes, Lu Gu heard a familiar bark. He turned around while still squatting and, sure enough, it was Guaizi.
The dog dashed over, and soon after, a familiar figure appeared in the distance.
“When did you get back?” Lu Gu asked with a smile, rubbing the dog’s head with one hand.
Shen Xuanqing picked up both his little shuang'er and nephew from the water’s edge. The two children giggled endlessly as they were lifted. “Just got back,” he said. “Yan Yan told me you were washing clothes by the river, so I came over.”
“Have you eaten?” Lu Gu asked again.
“Had lunch. Isn’t Mother making dinner now?” Shen Xuanqing set the children back down and let them run off to play.
Lu Gu pounded the laundry with a washing paddle and casually asked, “Where’d you eat?”
“At that eatery on the street corner, a plate of food and a pot of wine. After that, I tidied up the butcher shop and cleaned the front and back yards of the house before heading back.” As he spoke, Shen Xuanqing noticed Zhao’er trying to skip stones like an adult. He bent down, picked up a flat stone, and sent it skimming across the water, creating several rippling circles.
“Wow!”
The two children gasped in amazement, their tiny figures squatting by the bank as they turned to stare at him in awe.
Even though they were just two little kids, being looked at like that made even Shen Xuanqing feel a hint of pride. Seeing this, Lu Gu secretly smiled beside him.
“Daddy, Daddy, throw!” Lingjun ran to his side and pressed a small pebble into his hand.
The child’s hands were small, so the pebble he found was tiny too. Shen Xuanqing couldn’t help but chuckle as he looked at it.
“Daddy, throw!”
Just as he was laughing, he suddenly heard Zhao’er call him the same way and burst out laughing.
“Look carefully, is that your daddy?” Ji Qiuyue asked, laughing.
Zhao’er, still young, had absentmindedly copied Lingjun's words and called the wrong person “Daddy.” He didn’t care, he just wanted to play.
Ji Qiuyue grinned and added, “That’s your second uncle. What’s wrong with your eyes?”
“Alright, I’ll throw it.” Shen Xuanqing walked to the water’s edge and played with the two children.
As cooking smoke rose and the sun began to set, farmers carrying hoes returned home from the fields one after another. Shen Xuanqing walked ahead, holding the hands of both children, while Lu Gu and Ji Qiuyue followed behind, carrying basins of laundry and chatting happily as they returned to the old house.
It was summer, and since the old home no longer raised poultry or livestock, the usual smells were faint.
Shen Xuanqing stayed home for two days, taking Lu Gu, Lingjun, and Zhao’er up the mountain to pick wild fruits and look for mulberries. The two children had a great time, though they were still too young to run wildly all over the mountain like the older village boys.
When it was time to return to town, the cart carried not just rabbit cages and Guaizi but also Lu Gu and Lingjun.
Over the past half-month, Shen Xuanqing had mostly eaten at eateries and noodle shops in town, occasionally dropping by his master's place for a meal. Worried that he wasn’t eating well outside, Lu Gu decided it was time to join him.
Upon returning, he saw that both the front and back yards of the house had been swept clean, not a trace of mess. He really had tidied up.
As night fell, the entire town gradually quieted down.
The main room’s door was left open, letting in occasional cool breezes. Guaizi slept on the floor, the burlap sack he usually lay on had been put away once summer arrived. Lu Gu had taken out the straw inside to sun-dry and washed the burlap itself.
Lingjun slept soundly. When leaving the old home, Zhao’er had cried, wanting to ride the mule cart and go with his little brother. His tears made Lingjun cry too, and it took a while to calm them down on the road.
After half a month apart, Lu Gu had missed Shen Xuanqing. Now, lying side by side, their hands clasped atop the thin quilt, they exchanged a few quiet, affectionate words.
“There’s something I want to discuss with you,” Shen Xuanqing said, rolling onto his side. Under the moonlight, he reached out to touch his fulang's cheek, his expression gentle.
“Mm.” Lu Gu also turned to face him.
“I reckon Biaozi will be back in about a month and a half. I want to ask him if he’s heading north again after autumn. If he is, I’d like to go with him to buy some furs and sell them when we return.” Shen Xuanqing’s voice was very soft.
Lu Gu was taken aback. “Why are you suddenly thinking of this?”
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