A few days later, Luo Biao returned with the Qiu family’s horse caravan after over two months away, heading straight for Jixing Town as usual.
He arrived mid-morning, just as the sun had risen. Lu Gu was in the yard washing Lingjun’s hair.
The child squatted beside the wooden washtub. Because the weather was so hot, Lingjun wore only a red bellyband and small pants. His plump, pale arms stuck out like sections of lotus root, round and chubby. His little hands splashed and slapped at the water, sending droplets flying onto his own head and face. But he just kept laughing, delighted by his messy play.
With all this mischief, Lu Gu’s clothes were inevitably soaked, even his hair damp from the splashes. Suppressing a sigh, he focused on washing Lingjun’s hair first.
Nowadays, the child could run and jump, never resting even in the heat, as if he had boundless energy. Every day, he played until his head was drenched in sweat. Last night, Lu Gu noticed the child's hair had started to smell, so this morning he kept Lingjun from playing to avoid more sweat.
"Close your eyes. It’ll be over once we’re done." He took a soapberry from the small basket nearby, rubbing it between his hands to produce white foam.
Little children loved playing in water during summer, it kept them cool. Lingjun was fairly obedient, squeezing his eyes shut when told, his little face scrunching up tightly. Lu Gu couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
"Don’t open your eyes until I say so, or they’ll sting. Understand?" He massaged the soapy foam through Lingjun's hair while talking.
"Mm!" Lingjun gave a firm nod, surprisingly well-behaved.
After much effort, the washing was finally done, though most of the water in the basin had ended up on the ground.
Lu Gu had Lingjun stand up to keep him from playing with the leftover water, then took a cloth to dry the child’s hair.
"Done, done, Amu!"
Eager to play, Lingjun who usually mumbled and stumbled over words, spoke quickly in his excitement.
Lu Gu kept drying his hair a while longer to prevent water from dripping down, then patted the child’s plump little butt and smiled. "Alright, go play. But don’t go outside. Stay in the yard until your hair dries."
Lingjun squatted back down to play with the remaining water in the basin.
Seeing him happy, Lu Gu was about to fetch another ladle of warm water—the sun was scorching today, and playing in water would keep him cool—when suddenly, a voice called from the gate: "Sister-in-law!"
Guaizi, lying in the shade, immediately stood up and barked toward the entrance.
Lu Gu looked up to see Luo Biao walking in from outside the gate.
"Amu!"
Lingjun also saw the burly man approaching and hid behind Lu Gu in fright.
Luo Biao hadn’t shaved, his clothes were dirty from travel, and his voice was loud. If he hadn’t been a familiar face, even Lu Gu would have been wary.
"Guaizi." He called the dog, who recognized Luo Biao and stopped barking. Then he asked, "When did you get back?"
Luo Biao carried a shoulder bag and a backpack, grinning as he replied, "Just arrived today. I stopped by the shop first."
He set his bags on the stone table in the yard and opened the backpack, revealing a clean cloth bundle. Inside was a bundle of dried meat. "It’s too hot to bring anything else, so I got some jerky."
Hearing there was food, Lingjun peeked out from behind Lu Gu’s legs but didn’t dare approach, only watching from a distance.
Luo Biao noticed and laughed. "What, don’t recognize Uncle?"
The child wasn't even two years old, and with Luo Biao gone for three months, it was no surprise he didn't recognize him.
Lu Gu smiled. "Have you eaten? I’ll cook. There are still a few eggs at home, I’ll fry some for you."
Luo Biao didn’t stand on ceremony, nodding. "Then I’ll trouble you, Sister-in-law."
Lu Gu hesitated. He didn’t mind, but Luo Biao’s bushy beard made him look intimidating, and Lingjun was clearly afraid. So he said, "I boiled water earlier for washing the child’s hair. Now that that’s done, there’s still some in the pot. Rest a while and clean up properly."
Luo Biao scratched his head, looking down at his disheveled appearance. Realizing how unkempt he was, he chuckled sheepishly and agreed.
"I’ll ask your Sister Hong and Brother Xiaoshan to come play with you, alright?" Lu Gu asked Lingjun softly.
Unlike chubby Zhao’er, little Lingjun wasn’t as bold. He clung to his father’s pants, but the kitchen would be too hot for him to follow.
"Okay."
Lingjun agreed in a tiny voice.
So Lu Gu picked him up and said to Luo Biao, "There’s tea if you want it. If you’re hungry, there are pastries under the bamboo basket on the table, have some with your tea."
"Got it." Luo Biao began unpacking his bags at the stone table. The sun was fierce in the yard, so he moved to the main hall to sit, helping himself to tea and pastries without hesitation.
Xiao Hong from the Liu family next door was playing with her younger brother, Xiaoshan. Hearing Lu Gu call her, the girl answered brightly and brought her brother over to play. Lu Gu poured water for the children, they’d surely get thirsty playing in the heat.
Luo Biao, sipping tea in the main hall, saw the kids and called out, "Come here. I’ve got some jerky, perfect for gnawing on."
Seeing the children too afraid to approach, Lu Gu went in and handed out a few strips. The jerky was tough, Lingjun couldn’t even bite through it, truly just gnawing.
"Play in the shade, and don’t run outside," he reminded the three children before heading to the kitchen.
"Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I’ll keep an eye on them so they don’t run off," Luo Biao said around a mouthful of pastry.
"Good." Lu Gu smiled and nodded. Having an adult outside did ease his mind, so he went to cook.
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