Chapter 34
"He went to find Liuliu."
"Oh!" Fang Zichen picked up the kite and tugged at Zhao Ger. "Let's go fly the kite."
Zhao Ger glanced at the lard on the cutting board, hesitating. "I... I won’t go. I need to render the lard later."
His hesitation meant he actually wanted to go.
Whenever Fang Zichen returned home, Guaizai would cling to him, and Zhao Ger was no exception. But after all, he was an adult and had a sense of shame—he couldn’t act like Guaizai, who would just stare at Fang Zichen with adoring eyes.
It wasn’t late yet, around shenshi (3-5 pm) in the afternoon. Fang Zichen grabbed a bag of dried fruit and pulled him outside, saying playing was more important—they could work together when they got back.
Money wasn’t easy to come by. A kite cost sixteen copper coins, and no one in the village would spend money on something that couldn’t fill their stomachs.
Remembering how Aunt Liu had helped them before, Zhao Ger doubled back to the kitchen before they left. He carefully cut a catty of pork to bring as a gift.
This cut of pork belly was good—a catty would cost at least thirteen copper coins.
Zhao Ger had taken so much without asking, and now he felt uneasy. But thinking of Fang Zichen’s personality, he wasn’t as scared anymore. Still, he explained, "Aunt Liu helped us make clothes last time. Back then, we had nothing at home. Now that you bought meat, I... I thought we should send some over."
"Oh." Fang Zichen fiddled with the kite in his hands, not even looking up. "You decide. You’re in charge of household matters anyway. Besides, I don’t really understand these social customs. But since Aunt Liu helped us, giving her something isn’t too much—it’s just returning the favor!"
Zhao Ger smiled.
He remembered when he and Fang Zichen had first started living together over a month ago. After spending more than a decade with the Ma family, he’d picked up some habits. At first, he hadn’t dared to touch anything in the house without permission.
Fang Zichen noticed and said carelessly, "Do whatever you want with the house. As long as you don’t climb on top of me to mess around or pee, you can even tear the roof off—it’s not like it’s ours anyway."
Guaizai and Liuliu were playing in the Liu family’s yard. When they saw Fang Zichen, Guaizai immediately abandoned his little friend and rushed over.
"Father~"
He wasn’t even as tall as Fang Zichen’s calf. Fang Zichen crouched down and checked his hand. "Does it still hurt?"
Aunt Liu and Zhou Ger heard the commotion and came out. Fang Zichen followed Zhao Ger’s lead and greeted them politely.
"Aunt Liu, hello. Zhou Ger, hello."
Aunt Liu smiled. "Come inside and sit! I’ll get you some water."
Fang Zichen had just drunk water at home and wasn’t thirsty, so he shook his head and declined.
Zhao Ger chatted with them for a bit before handing over the meat. Aunt Liu refused.
"Take it back! It was just a few pieces of clothing—nothing worth mentioning. Take it back!"
Zhao Ger didn’t withdraw his hand. "Aunt Liu, please accept it. Otherwise, I won’t dare to ask for your help in the future."
Aunt Liu genuinely didn’t want to take it.
This was a big piece—at least a dozen copper coins’ worth. Zhao Ger’s family wasn’t well-off, and Zhou Ger had mentioned yesterday that the goods at the dock had been moved, meaning Fang Zichen was out of work.
Knowing her concern, Zhao Ger explained that Fang Zichen had found a new job.
Aunt Liu and Zhou Ger were stunned.
They were familiar with Zuixiao Restaurant—the largest and most luxurious Restaurant in Fuan Town. Only wealthy people dined there, all dressed in fine clothes. Whenever they passed by while selling vegetables in town, they never dared to look inside, afraid of offending the nobles.
Working as a bookkeeper there for three taels of silver a month—how impressive would that sound to others?
It was like being an executive in a foreign company. Aunt Liu and Zhou Ger’s gazes toward Fang Zichen instantly changed.
Good heavens.
Not only is this man good at fighting, but he also has such skills!
The village chief kept his mouth shut. The villagers only knew Fang Zichen was from overseas—nothing else. Aunt Liu pulled Zhao Ger inside and asked excitedly, "Your man can read?"
How else could he be a bookkeeper?
Fang Zichen had once told Zhao Ger that he had studied for fourteen years and could even speak "bird and duck language"—he was amazing.
Zhao Ger nodded.
In the entire Xiaohe Village, aside from the village chief, not a single person was literate. Though, to say the village chief could read was a stretch—but compared to the rest of them, who couldn’t recognize even a single character, knowing two or three words was already impressive. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become village chief in the first place.
In these times, scholars held high status. It didn’t matter if they were scholars or officials—just being literate earned respect and admiration.
Outside, Fang Zichen thoroughly explained how the kite worked, but Zhao Ger still hadn’t come out.
Liuliu was too excited to wait any longer and dashed inside. "Uncle Zhao, let’s go fly the kite!"
East of the village was a small stream. Fang Zichen had once gone there with Zhao Ger and Guaizai to pick water celery. The open space by the stream was perfect for flying kites.
Zhou Ger joined them too. The kite soared high against the wind—it was shaped like a swallow, large and imposing, like a ruler patrolling its domain.
Fang Zichen was like the leader of the children. He ran ahead, holding the string, while Guaizai and Liuliu chased after him.
They had never played like this before. Fang Zichen taught them, letting each of them take turns flying the kite. They were beyond excited.
Zhao Ger took out some of the dried fruit he’d brought and shared it with Zhou Ger.
His gaze burned as he watched Fang Zichen, his eyes filled with joy. Zhou Ger teased, "Snap out of it. Can’t you get enough of him at home? Now you’re staring outside too?"
"......" Zhao Ger’s face flushed instantly. "Don’t talk nonsense."
Guaizai and Liuliu laughed endlessly, running until their heads were drenched in sweat.
Kites were a rarity in the village, and soon, many children and women were drawn over, watching from a distance.
Ma Wen, carrying firewood, stared at Zhao Ger, his eyes glinting with an unreadable light.
Zhao Ger was becoming more and more dazzling.
The group had gone wild with fun.
Later, Fang Zichen even pulled Zhao Ger and Zhou Ger into the game—not doing anything in particular, just running after the kite like fools.
Though Zhou Ger was married, he and Fang Zichen should have kept some distance. But Fang Zichen, operating under the belief that "my wife’s friends are my friends," dragged him along anyway.
After running all afternoon, Zhao Ger remembered his lard. By the time it was past five, he pulled Fang Zichen and Guaizai back home.
Guaizai’s clothes were soaked with sweat, his little topknot crooked, his face red as a monkey’s bottom. Holding Fang Zichen’s hand, he looked up and said, "Father, let’s play again next time~"
Fang Zichen agreed, then asked. "Not tired?"
Guaizai grinned. "Not tired. It was fun."
Once home, Zhao Ger rested for a bit before heading to the kitchen to work.
The lard was cut into chunks—fist-sized pieces were fine. The pot was newly bought and big enough. Soon, the aroma of frying fat filled the air.
Fang Zichen had never lifted a finger in the kitchen before. Back home, the housekeeper cooked with imported oil—he had never smelled anything like this. Now, he and Guaizai looked as if they had inhaled something intoxicating, their faces blissful and dazed.
Guaizai couldn’t hold back anymore. Salivating, he peered into the pot. "Daddy, smells yummy~"
Fang Zichen’s stomach started acting up after a while, his guts twisting uncomfortably. He’d eaten a bowl of wontons in town at noon—maybe there was something wrong with them.
He set down the firewood and told Zhao Ger to keep an eye on things before rushing outside.
Guaizai blinked his big eyes, then quickly followed.
Midway through answering nature’s call, rustling sounds came from outside the outhouse.
Fang Zichen peeked through the cracks—Guaizai was squatting outside, his back turned, looking like a small little lump.
"......"
"Guaizai? What are you doing out there?" It was like guarding a high-security prisoner.
Guaizai stood up and turned around. "Bringing Father a stick~"
[In ancient times before toilet paper, small wooden sticks or bamboo strips were commonly used for personal hygiene after using the toilet.]
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