The dock was crowded, packed shoulder to shoulder. Afraid of getting lost, he didn’t dare stray far from Shen Xuanqing. Eventually, he simply walked close beside him, ensuring he wouldn’t lose his way.
People from their hometown often referred to themselves as "Yuqing folks" when traveling, and today, they finally set foot in Yuqing City.
The two of them wandered aimlessly through the city. Meanwhile, Luo Biao was idly sitting in the shop. He knew the prices of all the poultry and livestock, but with no customers coming in, he had nothing to do. So, he pulled out an unfinished bamboo basket Shen Xuanqing had been weaving and continued the work.
"Guzi?"
Hearing movement at the door, he thought it was a customer coming to buy meat, but when he looked up, it was Li Wanyun and Li Wang’er.
When he lived in Zhenzhu Alley, Li Wanyun had visited a few times, so the two were acquainted.
Li Wanyun also recognized him and smiled. "Oh, it’s you. I thought Guzi was here."
Luo Biao stood up. Despite having spent time in a brothel, he spoke little in front of respectable women. Scratching his head, he said, "He and Second Brother Shen went to Yuqing Prefecture. Did you need something?"
"Nothing much," Li Wanyun replied. "I came to sell some cloth and thought I’d chat with Guzi if he was here. Since he’s not, I’ll come another time. Don’t let me keep you." Now as a woman who had seen the world, she spoke without hesitation.
After she and Li Wang’er left, Luo Biao sat back down and resumed weaving the basket. But as he worked, it suddenly occurred to him that she was a widow who hadn’t remarried.
Yet he soon sighed. Someone like him—who would even consider him? So he shook his head, dismissing those pointless thoughts.
Though many shops sold things they could also find back home, there were plenty they didn’t have. Lu Gu’s eyes darted around in fascination until he heard a shop on the next street hawking "su shan." Shen Xuanqing, with his sharp ears, caught it immediately.
Neither of them had ever tasted it and didn’t know the price, so they followed the customer ahead of them and spent two taels of silver on a bowl, sitting inside the shop to eat.
The su shan had crushed ice and chopped fruit at the bottom, topped with whipped milk that was soft and melted in the mouth, sweetened with sugar. The crushed ice and fruit below were cool and sweet.
Being able to eat ice (something usually only available in winter) during summer was a novel experience for Lu Gu.
He bit into the crushed ice, making a light crunching sound, then turned to Shen Xuanqing with a smile in his eyes.
Yuqing City was vast. Without any luggage to carry, the two of them strolled leisurely, snacking as they pleased, mostly trying things they’d never eaten before. Some items were expensive, but since Shen Xuanqing could afford it, neither of them restrained themselves.
At noon, when the sun was at its fiercest and the heat gave them headaches, Shen Xuanqing took Lu Gu into a large inn.
The main hall had diners, but since they’d already eaten plenty along the way, they didn’t order food here. A waiter led them upstairs.
The room had a bed, a table, a bathtub, and a screen—clearly better than any inn in Jixing Town.
They rested until the worst of the midday heat passed, then went out to explore again. This time, Shen Xuanqing took him past the government office, pointing out that it was the yamen, and also brought him to the main gate of Yuqing Prefecture.
Standing outside the city gate, Lu Gu looked up. He could read—the plaque bore the characters "Yu Qing."
Such a tall, imposing city gate could only belong to a prefectural city.
They stayed in the prefecture for two nights before returning. They’d eaten what they wanted, seen what they wanted, and even bought wine for Luo Biao. Lu Gu was thoroughly satisfied, he had been to the prefectural city now. In fact, in his nearly twenty years of life, this was the first time he’d had so much fun.
As the boat traveled upstream, he sat in the cabin and, when no one was looking, secretly hooked his little finger around Shen Xuanqing’s. Smiling, he said, "When Lingjun is older, let’s take him out on a boat too."
"Of course," Shen Xuanqing agreed with a smile.
Their hands quickly separated, afraid someone might see and gossip.
Upon their return, Luo Biao was delighted with the wine. He handed over the money from the sales to Shen Xuanqing. Since he couldn’t read or keep accounts, he used his own method: drawing three circles on the ground—one for rabbits, the other two for chickens and ducks. Every time one was sold, he added a horizontal line beneath the corresponding circle.
When Shen Xuanqing returned to tally the accounts, it was all clear at a glance.
After their trip, life returned to normal. Two days later, missing their child back in the old home, Lu Gu bought two watermelons at the dock. Shen Xuanqing hitched the mule cart, and they set off.
Lingjun had been having the time of his life at home. His uncle and aunt had even taken him up the mountain to pick fruit, and he hadn’t once said he missed his parents—until the cart stopped at the gate and he saw Lu Gu. Only then did he remember to cry.
This time, when they returned to Jixing Town, they brought the child with them.
Lingjun was a beautiful, clever little shuang’er. Though playful, he was quick-witted. Lu Gu and Shen Xuanqing had memorized a few simple poems, and on a whim, Lu Gu taught the child a couple of lines just for fun. To his surprise, the next day, their Lingjun recited those two lines flawlessly.
Most children have good memories, and at his age, he didn’t understand the meaning of the lines. But Lu Gu was still overjoyed, scooping Lingjun up and covering him in kisses, happier than ever.
But when he tried teaching more lines, Lingjun, still so young and restless, kept getting distracted, wanting to play. After a couple of attempts, he even started crying.
Lu Gu had always doted on the child, and Shen Xuanqing told him not to push Lingjun—he was still little. In town, children didn’t start learning characters until seven or eight, and some even began at nine or ten. So he let it go. Why force the child? At his age, he hadn’t been any more accomplished.
Summer wasn’t over yet, and Lingjun, now nearly three, had grown a little taller. Shen Yan and Gu Chengyue’s wedding date was set for an auspicious day before next year’s spring plowing, when farm work would be light and relatives could attend.
With the happy occasion settled, everyone at home was in high spirits.
On an ordinary early morning at the end of summer, in Zhenzhu Alley, Lu Gu had just finished breakfast when a sip of tea suddenly churned in his stomach. He rushed to the corner of the yard and vomited for a while.
At first, Shen Xuanqing didn’t realize what was happening, patting his back and handing him tea. Only when Lu Gu, after recovering, looked at him did it dawn on him. Immediately, he picked up a confused Lingjun, grabbed Lu Gu’s hand, and hurried to the clinic.
The physician diagnosed a pregnancy pulse, stroking his beard with a smile and offering congratulations.
Lu Gu was fine—this was how it had been when he was carrying Lingjun. Smiling, he glanced at Shen Xuanqing, only to find their Erqing once again stunned by the physician’s words, standing there dumbfounded. His own smile widened.
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