The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 207 Part 2

    A wooden bucket sat on the ground, half-filled with water, two fish crowded inside. Spotting them, Lu Gu hoisted the bucket with one hand while holding Lingjun, carrying it to the well. He cranked the windlass to draw half a bucket of well water, refreshing the fish’s supply.  

    Once Shen Yaoqing finished untying the ropes, he downed the poured tea in one go. He whistled, grinning at little Lingjun, who looked his way, then headed to the woodshed to stack the firewood.

    "Has Eldest Brother eaten at home?" Lu Gu walked over and asked.  

    "Yes, I ate before setting out," Shen Yaoqing replied while working.  

    "Is everything well at home?" Lu Gu asked again.  

    Coming out of the firewood shed, Shen Yaoqing smiled and said, "All’s well. It’s just that rascal Zhao’er, a couple of days ago, he scared the chickens, chasing them around with a bamboo stick. The chickens were flapping everywhere, and the little brat got even more excited, running after them until he tripped and scraped his nose."  

    "His nose got hurt?" Lu Gu quickly pressed.  

    "It’s nothing serious, just a scratch. It bled a little but stopped. In a couple of days, it’ll scab over," Shen Yaoqing said, picking up a bundle of firewood.  

    Only then did Lu Gu relax. He said, "A couple of days ago, I made a bellyband for Ling ger, and I made one for Zhao’er too. I’ll have you bring it back today so he can wear it at night. That way, he won’t kick off the covers and catch a chill."  

    Shen Yaoqing, now inside the firewood shed, responded, "Good."  

    Lu Gu then asked if he was hungry, mentioning that there was old hen soup stewed at noon and some pastries too.  

    Shen Yaoqing had eaten before coming and wasn’t hungry. After unloading the firewood, since Shen Xuanqing was at the shop, the two of them locked the door and headed over with the child, leaving Guaizi to watch the house.  

    When they arrived, Shen Xuanqing was weighing eggs for a customer. The weather was cooler now, so more people were out compared to noon. A few customers came one after another—some, after hearing the price, thought it too expensive and left without buying. Overall, business was slower than in the morning.  

    After sitting down and exchanging a few casual words, Shen Yaoqing spoke up, "The day before yesterday, I went to deliver rabbits to the brothel, but who’d have thought Huang Zhenchuan would see me turning into the alley? Him seeing it isn’t a big deal, but his wife found out, and now it’s spread all over the village these past two days."  

    He was usually polite, calling Huang Zhenchuan "Uncle" when they met, but with all the gossip lately, he was genuinely upset.  

    Brothels weren’t respectable places. Even though they only dealt with the kitchen staff, the reputation wasn’t good. Aside from relatives and clansmen, they’d just laugh it off with villagers, saying the kitchen needed the rabbits, keeping the money-making method to themselves. Since they didn’t want to share, others couldn’t pry.  

    Country folk mostly toiled in the fields, and few went to town often. But there’s no such thing as a completely hidden secret. They’d long expected that delivering rabbits to the brothel would eventually get out.  

    Shen Xuanqing wasn’t panicked, though he did frown slightly.  

    The brothers had clear consciences and weren’t afraid of gossip, but sometimes, rumors still needed to be addressed.  

    Shen Yaoqing continued, "Mother, along with Quanzi’s mother and Aunt Miao, have already put in a word. They explained that we only deliver to the kitchen. We even went to Xia Fulang’s house and chatted with Aunt Shouyi. We’re honest folk, why would we fool around? When I ran into Huang Zhenchuan in the fields, his wife was there too. I asked him right to his face if his wife was spreading nonsense. Huang Zhenchuan lost face and cursed a bit. After that, the old woman’s gossip died down."  

    Huang Zhenchuan had a habit of bullying the weak but fearing the strong. The Shen family’s second branch was doing well now, with two strong young men. Plus, the Shen family was related to Lin Zhongcai’s family, so he didn’t dare offend them too much. He loved gossiping behind others’ backs, but when his wife blabbed, he naturally felt ashamed.  

    "Yan Yan’s grown up, and Mother’s been looking to find her a good match. The brothel’s reputation is bad no matter what. Maybe we should just drop it," Shen Yaoqing said. As the eldest son, he was the family’s pillar and had to think carefully about such matters.  

    Now that they had a meat shop, a few restaurants and taverns in Jixing Town sometimes bought rabbits from them. If they sought out the owners, selling the rabbits wouldn’t be a problem. After a moment’s thought, Shen Xuanqing said, "Fine, we’ll stop. I’ll talk to Luo Biao later and treat him to a drink. He went out of his way to help us before."  

    "That’s only fair," Shen Yaoqing nodded. That was precisely why he’d come today. After taking a sip of tea, he added, "When I sell firewood, I’ll bring the rabbits along and hawk them in Fenggu Town."  

    They’d bred more rabbits this year, and as the numbers grew, they’d considered approaching proper restaurants. But back then, they worried they wouldn’t have enough for both the brothel and the shop, so they held off. Now that the younger rabbits had grown, they could ask if taverns wanted them.  

    With chores waiting at home, Shen Yaoqing didn’t stay long and soon left with the mule cart.  

    The last time they’d eaten fish was when Old Man Yang brought some over. He and a few other old-timers had fished a couple from the river. That evening, after returning home, Lu Gu had Shen Xuanqing clean the fish while he held Ling ger and didn’t lift a finger.  

    While gutting the fish, Guaizi stood close, watching and even sniffing at the scraped-off scales.  

    Since they weren’t delivering rabbits to the brothel anymore, they naturally had to inform Luo Biao. Two days later, the shop’s rabbits were sold out, leaving only a few chickens, ducks, and some eggs.  

    After the morning rush, they sold three chickens and ducks and a few pounds of eggs. Leaving Lu Gu to mind the shop, Shen Xuanqing finished up and took the mule cart back to Fenggu Town to find Luo Biao. Since he was already returning, he figured he might as well stop by Wangli Village to pick up a fattened pig from Li Zhuzi’s family to slaughter and sell pork the next day.  

    Once Shen Xuanqing left, Lu Gu stayed in the shop with Lingjun, playing. At noon, it was just him and the child eating, so there was no need to go home to cook, a bowl of noodles from next door would do. He’d brought the child’s milk fruit, and at most, he’d ask for a poached egg in the noodles, splitting one with Lingjun.  

    While Lu Gu stayed in Jixing Town to tend the shop, Shen Xuanqing hurried back to Fenggu Town, left the mule cart in the small courtyard Luo Biao rented, and the two went to a tavern for drinks.

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 207 Part 1

Chapter 207  

    It was early summer, and as the sun rose, the heat gradually intensified. Everyone had switched to lighter clothing.  

    At noon, the breeze carried the fragrance of flowers. Both neighboring yards had flowering trees, and their scent drifted over faintly with the wind. After lunch, Shen Xuanqing went to check on the shop, while Lu Gu patted the drowsy Lingjun, coaxing him to sleep.  

    The weather was pleasant, and as he patted the child, he himself grew drowsy. In the end, he simply pulled up a thin quilt, covered himself, and slept alongside the little one.  

    The butcher shop’s business had stabilized, and they had gradually grown familiar with the people and affairs of Xixing Street and Nanji Street. Both of them had adjusted to town life, and by now, they knew nearly every corner of Jixing Town, no longer feeling the unease of being newcomers.  

    When Lu Gu woke up, the breeze drifted in through the half-open window. The leaves of the persimmon tree in the yard swayed gently, and on the empty plot to the east, a small vegetable garden had been tilled—three rows of spring greens, which grew easily and thrived with just a little watering after planting. There was also a row of leeks, with scallions and garlic sprouts each taking up half a row.  

    The space wasn’t as ample as their home in the village, but it was enough for the two of them.  

    Through the window, he saw Guaizi lying on his side, napping comfortably under the shade of the tree. People often said: spring brings drowsiness, autumn fatigue, and summer calls for naps—even dogs were no exception.  

    There was still a small empty spot at the edge of the vegetable garden. As he put on his shoes, he thought that later, he’d ask Shen Xuanqing to either stick in a bamboo pole or set up a trellis to grow some luffa and long beans. Those two yielded abundantly and grew quickly, so they wouldn’t have to buy them from outside.  

    As for winter melons and pumpkins, there was no need to plant them, because those vining plants sprawled too much. They could just bring some over from village once they bore fruit. There wasn’t enough space to grow them here anyway.  

    The backyard still had some room, and since the chickens, ducks, and rabbits were kept there, their droppings had been piling up, making it convenient to fertilize the soil. In a couple of days, once Shen Xuanqing had time, he’d have him clear another patch in the backyard. It’d be good to plant some more greens and vegetables.  

    Life was pretty quiet and ordinary. Sometimes, Shen Yaoqing came to deliver rabbits, and when he had spare time, he’d also bring firewood and vegetables by mule cart. Wei Lanxiang had tagged along a few times to visit her little grandson.  

    Old Man Yang, whenever he had nothing better to do, would wander over to the shop for a stroll. Whenever Lu Gu cooked, he’d invite the old man to eat with them, and if he stewed chicken or duck, he’d send some over to the Yang family.  

    The Yang family was busy too. Though the old couple didn’t have to work at the tavern, their grandchildren (from their sons) and even their daughter’s children were all in Jixing Town, so they helped their sons and daughters with childcare.  

    Most of the time, it was just him, Shen Xuanqing, and Lingjun.  

    The child hadn’t woken up yet. Seeing that Lingjun was still sleeping soundly, Lu Gu sat in the room embroidering a handkerchief. After having a child, he could only do needlework in stolen moments.  

    Thankfully, their Lingjun was well-behaved. Once fed, he rarely cried or fussed. When Lu Gu cooked, he’d pull out the wooden rocking cradle and place it by the kitchen door, chatting and playing with the child while chopping vegetables—somehow, he managed just fine.  

    Of course, Lingjun had his moments of mischief too. Sometimes, right in the middle of cooking, he’d start crying and refuse to stay in the cradle. Lu Gu would have no choice but to carry him on his back, switching to boiled or cold dishes—blanched or dressed with sauce, to avoid splattering oil that might scald the child. Other times, he’d just make a simple dough-drop soup with vegetables and noodles—as long as it filled their stomachs, it was enough.  

    Just as he finished embroidering a flower, there was movement from the bed.  

    Lu Gu set down the embroidery hoop and went to pick up the child. The midday heat had left little Lingjun’s cheeks flushed in his sleep. Lu Gu gently felt the child's face and forehead, detecting a slight sheen of sweat, and confirmed his suspicion when he checked the child's back and found it slightly damp.

    The quilt covering Lingjun was a bit too thick. Tomorrow, he’d switch to a thinner one, just enough to cover his belly and prevent a chill.  

    "Time to pee." He carried the child under the eaves to relieve himself, whistling a tuneless shh-shh sound.  

    Guaizi, lying under the tree, cracked open an eye to look but, seeing nothing of interest, closed it again, not moving a muscle—the picture of laziness.  

    With meat and vegetables already at home, there was no need to go out shopping. Wanting to finish the handkerchief, Lu Gu didn’t go to the shop. Instead, he moved the cradle under the shade of the tree and let the child sit inside to play. The occasional breeze made it wonderfully comfortable.  

    After finishing the handkerchief, he fetched water to wash the diapers and the clothes he and Shen Xuanqing had changed out of. By mid-afternoon, as he was hanging the damp laundry, he suddenly heard knocking at the back door and Shen Yaoqing's voice.  

    Guaizi barked toward the back and ran into the rear yard ahead of him.  

    Lu Gu hurried after him but didn’t forget to carry the child. Last time he’d gone to open the door without Lingjun, the boy had burst into loud sobs the moment he walked away.  

    Before even opening the door, Lu Gu called out while walking, "Eldest Brother?"  

    "It’s me." Shen Yaoqing answered, then added, "I chopped some firewood yesterday and set fishing nets last night. This morning I caught a few fish brought you two."  

    As he spoke, Guaizi recognized him and stopped barking. Lu Gu opened the back door.  

    Without needing to be told, Lu Gu stepped back, and Shen Yaoqing lifted the wooden threshold himself, first leading the mule cart inside before closing the door behind him.  

    "Is Erqing at the shop?" Shen Yaoqing asked casually after securing the door.  

    "Mhm, he went over after lunch," Lu Gu replied. Seeing him start unloading the firewood, he said, "Eldest Brother, take a rest. No rush, let me pour you some tea."  

    Shen Yaoqing untied the ropes on the cart and chuckled. "Just drove the cart here, didn’t run a step. Not tired. Once I unload, it’ll be done."  

    "Alright then, I’ll get your tea." Lu Gu quickly went to the front to fetch the teapot and a bowl. The day was hot—after the trip, he must be thirsty.  

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 206 Part 2

    Even with one’s own parents, interests had to be considered.  

    Besides, since Old Lady Zhang’s mourning period wasn’t over, potential matches might fall through upon hearing about it. So the matter of finding Li Wanyun a husband was indefinitely postponed.  

    As long as her parents were alive, she had someone to back her up. She even bought treats and clothes for her nephews occasionally, making sure to do it openly so they’d remember her kindness. If she never remarried, at least her nephews wouldn’t kick her when she was down.

    Speaking of her family, she had two older brothers and one younger brother. Her married sisters didn’t count, and her nephews from them lived too far away, so she focused on her brothers' sons as potential support. She had once considered adopting one as her own son, but her family would never agree. A widow with no in-laws or husband, living with her parents, who would willingly give her their son? Unless she flashed her money.  

    Li Wang’er was the second son of her eldest brother, stuck in the middle and neither favored by his mother nor cherished by his father. His quiet, withdrawn nature made him even less liked, but he had a good temper. After a year of schooling, he knew some characters and understood basic manners and reasoning, he’d even taught her how to write her name. Her eldest brother didn’t have much money, so only Li Wang’er had been sent to school for a single year, while his older and younger brothers were kept in school longer, favored by their parents.

    Afraid of having no one to rely on in the future, she couldn’t shake a sense of unease. Secretly, she compared her nephews over and over and decided Li Wang’er was the most grateful, so she gradually began favoring him.  

    Last winter, when it was time to enter the private school, her eldest brother only sent the oldest and youngest sons. The eldest was the family’s hope, and the sweet-talking youngest was their parents’ darling. Li Wang’er, the second son, was left to gather firewood and dig for winter bamboo shoots. Gritting her teeth, she paid out of her own pocket to send him to school. No matter how much her family grumbled or even quarreled over it, at least Li Wang’er gradually became loyal to her.  

    Worried he might not strive hard enough and end up with no prospects, she often encouraged him, telling him to study well. As long as she was around, he’d never lack paper, brushes, or books. Even if he never passed the imperial exams, it didn’t matter, she’d send him to learn a trade or start a small business. If he wanted land to farm, a mule cart to ride, or fine clothes to wear, he’d have to work hard himself. But one day, he’d surely surpass his eldest and youngest brothers.  

    Li Wang’er, unloved by his parents and just one of many grandchildren to his grandparents, wasn’t highly regarded. Fortunately, his aunt’s favor gave him the drive to persevere. He wasn’t naturally gifted in studies, but he worked hard, ranking above average among his peers. Sometimes, when he recited passages well, even the teacher praised him.  

    These were matters Li Wanyun couldn’t discuss with outsiders. She kept them to herself, turning them over in her mind. If she couldn’t find a way forward, she’d at least secure a fallback plan.  

    Lu Gu refilled tea for all three of them and said, “From now on, Erqing and I will be here. If you ever need a place to rest or a meal, just come by.”  

    Jixing Town was far, and running into an acquaintance wasn’t easy.  

    Li Wanyun took a sip of tea and smiled. “I’ve heard about your family raising rabbits. Did you build a big house for them? With rabbits, chickens, ducks, and all?”  

    That was how the countryside was, without much entertainment or gossip, news spread quickly from village to village.  

    Lu Gu chuckled and nodded. “We did build a house. Rabbits breed fast and in large numbers, and our old home didn’t have enough space, so we had to set aside some land.”  

    After hearing this, Li Wanyun glanced around the shop. She’d been so busy talking earlier that she hadn’t even looked properly.  

    Noticing this, Lu Gu said, “Let me show you around. It’s not very big.”  

    Just then, Shen Xuanqing returned with a package of plum blossom pastries. Seeing Li Wang’er also eager to look around, he smiled and said, “Go ahead, all of you. I’ll keep an eye on the cloth here.”  

    Li Wanyun didn’t stop Li Wang’er, a young boy ought to see more of the world.  

    The back door was narrow, only allowing one person through at a time. Lu Gu, carrying Lingjun, led the way, explaining, “It’s cramped back here, and the courtyard is small.”  

    “Just one room,” he said, lifting the curtain and stepping aside so Li Wanyun and Li Wang’er could peek inside before continuing further.  

    “Why aren’t there any bedding or mats? Are they airing out back?” Li Wanyun asked curiously, seeing the bare wooden bed frame that clearly wasn’t meant for sleeping.  

    Lu Gu turned back with a smile. “We don’t live here. The bedding’s been moved to the house, on Zhenzhu Alley in Nanji Street. If you ever come by and I’m not here, just ask around there. It’s the sixth house down the alley.”  

    Li Wanyun was even more surprised. “A house?”  

    Lu Gu rubbed his neck sheepishly but admitted, “Yes, we bought one there. The shop’s too small, cooking and laundry are a hassle, and with a child, there’s always diapers and clothes to wash. Otherwise, everything would stay damp.”  

    She had assumed they were renting, never expecting they’d bought a place. Li Wanyun had always known Shen Xuanqing was capable, but she never imagined he’d become so prosperous—owning not just a house in town, but even a butcher’s shop. Lu Gu was truly blessed, few people had such luck . 

    There were still four rabbits in the back, so Lu Gu said, “Since you’re here, take one home to eat.”  

    Li Wanyun immediately waved her hands. “No, no, I can’t! I came empty-handed, how could I take something back? Absolutely not.”  

    “Just take it. We’ve got plenty more at home, one rabbit is nothing,” Lu Gu insisted, bending down to open the rabbit cage and reaching in.  

    Seeing this, Li Wanyun quickly grabbed his arm, refusing resolutely.  

    Lu Gu had no choice but to give up. The group returned to the front to drink tea and eat pastries. Li Wanyun still had to sell her cloth and buy books for Li Wang’er, so she didn’t stay long.  

    She left in high spirits. Back then, life had been so miserable that there were few in Qingxi Village she cared to see again. But Lu Gu’s family and Aunt Miao were different, they’d helped her, and she wasn’t one to repay kindness with ingratitude. After two years, knowing Lu Gu was now settled in Jixing Town with a child and everything going smoothly, she was genuinely happy for him.  

    Li Wang’er, at eleven, was still half a child himself, so they let him take the remaining half-pack of plum blossom pastries. Li Wanyun tried to refuse, but with both Lu Gu and Shen Xuanqing insisting. She relented, refusing would have created unnecessary awkwardness

    The streets were crowded. After they’d gone, Lu Gu remarked, “Her life’s better now.”  

    “Mm, as long as she’s doing well, she’ll always find a way,” Shen Xuanqing agreed beside him.  

    Another customer came to buy rabbits, and the two quickly turned to attend to business.

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 206 Part 1

Chapter 206

    “So it’s little Ling ger.” Li Wanyun smiled and held the child’s hand, teasing him playfully. She had been afraid of asking the wrong question earlier, what if this wasn’t Lu Gu’s child? That would have been like rubbing salt in the wound.  

    Standing in the middle of the street wasn’t ideal, so Lu Gu asked her, “Are you busy? Would you like to come inside the shop and sit for a while?”  

    “I’m not too busy, just delivering these few bolts of cloth to the fabric workshop.” Thinking that they hadn’t seen each other in two years, Li Wanyun didn’t refuse. She glanced at the shop and asked, “Is this your family’s business?”  

    Lu Gu led her and the boy of about eleven or twelve inside, gesturing for them to sit. Holding the child, he could only pour tea one-handed. Smiling, he said, “We just opened this year, selling chicken, duck, and rabbit meat. Sometimes we butcher pork too.”  

    For common folk, eating meat wasn’t an everyday affair, some families only bought it during festivals. To most people, anyone who could afford to run a butcher’s shop was impressive, and Li Wanyun was no exception.  

    She had never forgotten her time in Qingxi Village, the steamed buns Lu Gu had given her during that freezing winter, stuffed with slices of meat and pickled vegetables. They were the most delicious meat and pickles she’d ever eaten. Seeing that Lu Gu’s life had improved, she felt happy for him.  

    She set the three bolts of cloth in her lap and said, “This is my nephew, Wang’er. He’s eleven this year. He came with me to sell the cloth, helping me carry a couple of bolts. Call him little ahma.”  

    “Little ahma,” Li Wang’er echoed, also laying the two bolts in his arms across his lap.  

    Guaizi, who had been following Shen Xuanqing in the back, had sharp ears and keen eyes. Hearing voices at the front, he trotted over. Before he could bark, Lu Gu scolded him softly, so the dog circled around to sniff at Li Wang’er instead.  

    “Shoo,” Lu Gu chided gently, then reassured Li Wang’er, “Don’t be afraid. He won’t bite as long as I’m here.”  

    Li Wanyun still remembered the dog and laughed. “He came with you too?”  

    “He guards the house at night. But how did you end up here?” Lu Gu asked after sitting down with the tea. He was curious, Lijia Village was closer to Fenggu Town, yet Li Wanyun had come to Jixing Town instead.  

    With him, Li Wanyun didn’t hide the truth. Glancing at her nephew, she smiled bitterly. “Fenggu Town is closer, but what if I ran into the Zhang family? They’ve never given me a way out. What can a woman like me do except stay far away?”  

    At her parents’ home, she was safe. Her family was there, so the Zhang relatives wouldn’t dare barge in. But if she encountered them outside the village, things could turn ugly.  

    Realizing he’d touched on a painful subject, Lu Gu felt a little awkward.  

    Li Wanyun noticed his discomfort and smiled. “It’s all in the past. I’ve made my peace, I just avoid them. What about you? Why did you open a shop so far away?”  

    Lu Gu handed the small rattle drum on the table to Lingjun, who was reaching for it, and said, “Erqing’s master and his family are in Jixing Town. Coming here meant we’d have relatives to rely on. They helped us find and buy this shop.”  

    Li Wanyun nodded in understanding. Starting a business in an unfamiliar place was difficult, having connections made all the difference.  

    The rattle drum shook with a dong-dong-dong sound, making Lingjun giggle. The two adults amused themselves with the child for a while as they chatted. Then Shen Xuanqing returned, carrying a freshly slaughtered old duck.  

    “It’s Wanyun, I just saw her on the street,” Lu Gu quickly explained.  

    Seeing Li Wanyun instinctively stand, Shen Xuanqing smiled and said, “Please, sit. I’ll go buy some pastries from the street so we can eat while we talk.”  

    He and Li Wanyun had little interaction, and as a woman, it wasn’t proper for him to engage in too much conversation. But since they had a guest, it was only right to prepare tea and snacks. So he headed out, with Guaizi trotting after him.  

    Noticing the slaughtered duck, Lu Gu said, “Are you in a hurry at noon? If not, I’ll cook a meal. I was just about to stew this duck, why don’t you join us?”  

    Li Wanyun’s smile was noticeably brighter than it had been two years ago. “I came here thanks to a village uncle’s mule cart. He’s waiting for us at the town entrance in half an hour, so we can’t stay.”  

    Since that was the case, Lu Gu didn’t press further. Spotting the five bolts of cloth she’d brought, he asked curiously, “Did you weave all these yourself?”  

    Li Wanyun’s smile changed slightly, her eyes brightening. She unwrapped the cloth to reveal two bolts of silk and one of cotton. “Yes. I don’t have many ways to earn money, but thankfully I know how to weave. Selling to fabric workshops brings in a little income.”  

    She handed one of the silk bolts to Lu Gu, urging him to feel it. “At first, I only wove hemp and cotton. This year, after saving up, I found a villager who grew mulberry fields. I couldn’t afford much, so I negotiated to lease one mu, enough to raise silkworms at home. That’s how I managed to weave these two bolts.”  

    The silk felt completely different under his fingers. Hearing how capable she’d become, Lu Gu smiled and handed it back. “Having a skill to earn money is good.”  

    “Exactly.” Li Wanyun nodded, rewrapping the cloth. These past two years, her life had been decent. With money in hand, she secretly helped her parents. Whenever anyone - openly or not, tried to drive her away, she’d curse them out.  

    Later, between weaving and leasing the mulberry field, she sometimes couldn’t handle all the work alone. So she had her parents help with weeding and watering. After selling the silk, she’d buy them food and supplies or give them a few dozen copper coins. She was clever, she always paid them after they finished, treating it as wages so they wouldn’t complain about working for free.  

    As a widow, she feared her parents might hastily marry her off to some widower. If she ended up with another family like Old Lady Zhang and Zhang Zhengzi, she’d just be jumping back into the fire.  

    So she made a habit of weeping and lamenting her misfortunes in front of her parents, emphasizing how unlucky she’d been in marriage. She also reminded them that she still had three years of mourning left. And she hinted that if she remarried, all her earnings would go to her husband’s family. She wouldn’t be able to support her natal family anymore, and even the leased mulberry field would have to be returned.  

    With their daughter at home, Old Man Li and Old Lady Li had food, clothes, and even earned copper coins from working the mulberry field. Life was much better than before. If Li Wanyun married off, she’d be like spilled water, unable to be gathered back. The money would belong to her husband’s family.  

  

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 205 Part 2

    With only the three of them living there - none of them slovenly, the front yard wasn’t dirty, just a few persimmon tree leaves on the ground. The backyard didn’t need his attention either, because Shen Xuanqing would sweep it when he had time.  

    Unable to sweep, Lu Gu held the child in one arm and used a feather duster with the other to wipe down tables and chairs. With daily dusting and his light touch, there was hardly any dust to begin with.  

    Just as he set down the duster, Guaizi, still hungry after half a bun, stood by the stone table whining pitifully.  

    The other half of Lu Gu’s bun was still on the table. Guaizi had been eyeing it for a while, wanting to eat it but not daring to.  

    Last time, he and Huang’er had stolen meat and were beaten hard by Shen Xuanqing. This time in town, fearing dog thieves might poison them, they’d been trained not to accept food from outsiders. Clever as ever, Guaizi learned quickly. Now, unless it was food placed in their bowl or thrown to them by family, he wouldn’t touch anything offered by others.  

    "Coming, coming," Lu Gu said with a laugh. Not hungry himself, he gave Guaizi the remaining half-bun and fetched another from the kitchen.  

    The sun was up now, and with nothing else to do at home, Lu Gu strapped the child to his back with a carrier, locked the gate, and headed to the shop with Guaizi trotting obediently beside him.  

    The eastern neighbors, the Liu family, had three generations living together - seven or eight people in a house similar in size to theirs, making it feel cramped.  

    "Auntie, off to buy vegetables?" Lu Gu asked with a smile when he saw Granny Liu with her basket.  

    He wasn’t as timid and withdrawn as before, hawking goods on the streets had bolstered his confidence, and he could now exchange a word or two with strangers.  

    "That’s right. You headed to the shop?" Granny Liu had a habit of gossiping and couldn’t keep secrets, her husband had scolded her many times for it, but she wasn’t a bad person and could chat with anyone.  

    She added, "Do you still have rabbits? Save two for me. My elder sister-in-law’s birthday is coming up, and I’d like to bring some meat."  

    "We do. I’ll set them aside for you," Lu Gu agreed cheerfully.  

    "Good, good. I’ll come by later. You go on ahead, I’d best hurry." Granny Liu rushed off, busy with shopping and babysitting duties.  

    The alley’s entrance was to the east. As Lu Gu walked that way, he passed the western neighbors, who ran a teahouse with a storyteller. Shen Xuanqing had mentioned taking him there someday when they had time.  

    "Sister Wang," he greeted a few families along the way. Since they’d be living here long-term, it was best to get familiar.  

    Houses in Zhenzhu Alley were expensive, only those with some savings could afford them, and most families ran businesses.  

    Initially uneasy about the neighbors, Lu Gu had grown more at ease over the past few days. At least on the surface, most were amiable, and with Shen Xuanqing around, he felt reassured.  

    He didn’t dwell on it much, partly because Shen Xuanqing was taller and sturdier than most men, a butcher who could slaughter pigs and sheep, making him less likely to be bullied as newcomers. Secondly, both of them were polite, decent-looking, and neatly dressed, giving a good first impression.  

    Common folks were too busy making ends meet to pick fights or cause trouble.  

    Guaizi ran ahead a few steps but stopped to wait. As Lu Gu reached the alley’s end, the bustling street came into view - vendors shouting about steamed buns and baked flatbreads, noodle and dumpling stalls, shops opening for the day, all kinds of smells mingling in the air. Peddlers with shoulder poles selling vegetables and fruit walked past him.  

    The morning was already this lively, so different from the village.  

    Spotting a woman and a fulang selling eggs from baskets, Lu Gu was reminded of his days with Shen Xuanqing in Fenggu Town, a faint smile touching his lips.  

    Some passersby, afraid of dogs, gave Guaizi a wide berth. But Guaizi, knowing they were outside, stayed close to Lu Gu’s legs without strayin. Shen Xuanqing had trained him well. Sometimes, Lu Gu even felt Guaizi was protecting him. With the dog by his side, he felt less nervous walking the crowded, unfamiliar streets with a child on his back.  

    At the street’s end, he noticed the stationery shop had opened. He glanced inside, every time he passed, he thought about buying paper, brushes, and books for Lingjun here someday. It was so conveniently close.  

    Xixing Street was just as lively. Before reaching the butcher shop, he could already see several people at the door.  

    Shen Xuanqing untied two slaughtered rabbits from the wooden rack. The two women buying rabbit meat picked through them, each choosing the one they thought was bigger, though the rabbits were all similar in size, pre-selected at home to avoid drastic differences. The ones too big or small were kept for themselves.  

    An old woman wanted a live rabbit. Just as Lu Gu arrived, Shen Xuanqing went to the back to fetch one, leaving Lu Gu to mind the front.  

    "Plump rabbits, chickens, and ducks! Come take a look!"  

    When passersby glanced over, Lu Gu called out a few lines to advertise their wares and draw customers.  

    Business was decent today. After the morning rush, they’d sold six rabbits and two old ducks.  

    One duck buyer asked for it to be slaughtered and plucked. Since it wasn’t busy, Shen Xuanqing agreed, swiftly handling the task. His knife skills were unmatched when it came to preparing live animals.  

    Seeing Lu Gu sit down to drink water, Shen Xuanqing said, "We haven’t had meat in a couple of days. Since there’s hot water in the pot, I’ll kill a chicken for lunch stew. Easier to eat here than carry soup back."  

    "Alright," Lu Gu nodded.  

    With the street quieter now, he sat to rest. Glancing up idly, he caught sight of a vaguely familiar figure - a woman carrying three bolts of cloth. After a moment, he realized she looked like Li Wanyun.  

    Holding the child, he hurried to the door for a better look. The woman was accompanied by a boy of about eleven or twelve. The more he looked, the more certain he became. Afraid she’d walk away, he tentatively called out, "Wanyun?"  

    The neatly dressed woman turned, her initial confusion and tension melting into relief and joy upon seeing Lu Gu.  

    "Guzi, what are you doing here?" Li Wanyun walked back quickly, then hesitated at the sight of Lingjun. "This is…?"  

    "My child, Ling ger." Seeing her no longer thin and wretched but slightly plumper, dressed in unpatched clothes, with two hairpins in her neatly kept hair, Lu Gu felt genuinely happy for her.  

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 205 Part 1

Chapter 205

    After buying the small house in Zhenzhu Alley, since it wasn’t a full family relocation but merely setting up a residence in Jixing Town for Lu Gu and the others to have a place to eat and stay, they didn’t neglect any of the customary rituals - selecting an auspicious date and time, making offerings to the gods, and observing all the traditional practices.  

    The liveliness of the moving day went without saying. Several tables were set up in the front courtyard, with their whole family, along with Shen Shunde and Shen Shunwang’s families, several of Shen Xuanqing’s aunts and uncles, and, naturally, the Yang family all in attendance. Even a few childhood friends from the village, like Dachen, came to join the excitement and show their support. Luo Biao didn’t miss it either.  

    Shen Xuanqing felt uneasy about leaving Lu Gu and the child alone in the house, so he decided to bring even Guaizi along in the mule cart, having a dog at night would be safer.  

    When they set off from home, Guaizi wasn’t used to riding in the cart. As soon as he was lifted onto the cart, he jumped right back down. So they let him run alongside instead—after all, he was accustomed to running in the mountains, and the flat official road was even easier for him.  

    Jixing Town was quite far, and Lu Gu felt sorry for Guaizi. Before they were halfway there, he called the panting dog to climb onto the cart and poured water from a bamboo tube into his palm for Guaizi to drink.  

    Initially resistant to the cart, Guaizi seemed to find it comfortable after lying down and stopped jumping off, his long tongue lolling to the side.  

    After everyone else returned, only the three of them remained in town. Being new here, Lu Gu slowly began acquainting himself with the people and happenings nearby.  

    On the fifth day after moving in, early in the morning when the sky was still dim, Shen Xuanqing got up to open the shop for the morning market, needing to slaughter a few rabbits in advance.  

    He washed up in the front courtyard while Lu Gu, already dressed, came out as well. The child was still asleep.  

    "We’re out of bamboo shoots. If I come across any vegetable sellers on the way, I’ll buy some. You can come fetch them later, no need to go to the morning market," Shen Xuanqing said before splashing another handful of water on his face.  

    "Mm, got it," Lu Gu replied, heading toward the kitchen where the water vat was kept.  

    The backyard had a well, making it even more convenient than back home, no long trips to fetch water. When Shen Xuanqing wasn’t around and Lingjun was asleep, Lu Gu could manage to fill the vat himself with a few extra trips.  

    The clay stove in front of the kitchen was already lit, with a pottery jar heating water. Peering inside, Lu Gu saw two clean white eggs boiling. With the weather warming up, steamed buns could be eaten cold, so there was no need to fire up the big pot in the morning.  

    The kitchen was fully stocked with pots, bowls, and basins. The rice and flour jars had red paper pressed inside - a custom Wei Lanxiang had insisted on when they moved in, saying they shouldn’t remove it until the contents were finished. The jars of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were neatly arranged. The firewood, hauled from the village in two full cartloads, would last them a good while without needing to buy more.  

    After washing up, Lu Gu peeked into the room. Lingjun was still asleep with no signs of waking up, so he quietly closed the door and left, joining Shen Xuanqing at the stone table in the courtyard to peel eggs and eat steamed buns.  

    "We’ve got about a dozen rabbits left. Once they’re sold, I’ll head home and bring back two baskets of eggs, some for us to eat, the rest to sell at the shop."  

    Just as Shen Xuanqing was speaking, Guaizi, freshly awake, came out of the main hall and shook his fur vigorously in the courtyard, as if finally waking up properly. Seeing them eating, he whined and trotted over.  

    Their dogs no longer slept in kennels but stayed under the eaves like people. The burlap sacks used for bedding were periodically freshened up by Lu Gu, he washed the sacks and stuffed them with new straw or wheat stalks. Every so often, he even washed the burlap by the river and dried it before reuse—after all, the sacks sometimes stayed in the main hall during the day and couldn’t smell too bad.  

    Lu Gu had just broken off half a bun for Guaizi when he heard Lingjun crying inside. He quickly set down his food.  

    With Lu Gu tending to the child, Shen Xuanqing didn’t have to worry. After finishing breakfast, he loaded ten rabbits and a few chickens and ducks onto a cart in the backyard and left through the rear alley.  

    Since they didn't stay overnight at the butcher shop, and leaving it unattended would be unsafe, they kept all their livestock at home instead. The shop was conveniently close by, so this arrangement worked well. Each morning, Shen Xuanqing would transport the animals to the shop, and at day's end, he would bring back any that hadn't sold. This way, the shop wasn't left vulnerable at night, yet they didn't have to go far to manage their stock.

    They had considered leaving Guaizi at the shop, but before Lu Gu moved in, when Shen Xuanqing lived alone in town, a dog from a family in Liuzhi Alley had been stolen. The dog was never found, but later rumors circulated that it had been butchered by idle troublemakers for a dog meat stew.  

    In these times, thieves were everywhere. It was better to be cautious. During the day was fine, Guaizi was smart and quickly learned to stay close to Lu Gu’s legs without wandering when visiting the shop. But after dark, Shen Xuanqing didn’t let the dog out, keeping him inside to guard the house and stay alert.  

    "I’m off. Remember to lock up," Shen Xuanqing called from the front after securing the cart.  

    "Got it, go ahead," Lu Gu replied, holding Lingjun as he relieved himself in the courtyard. Afterward, he went to the backyard to bolt the rear gate shut.  

    Once the child was awake, many tasks became impossible. Lu Gu played with Lingjun for a while, fed him milk fruit, then remembered he hadn’t swept yet. He moved the wooden cradle to the main hall, settling the child inside with a small rattle-drum and clay figurines of a pig and dog to play with, keeping him within sight in case he tried to chew on them, so Lu Gu could fish them out.  

    With the door wide open, Lu Gu quickly swept the room, then moved to the main hall, taking care to keep the dust down so as not to irritate the child.  

    As for the front and back courtyards, before he could finish the main hall, Lingjun tossed aside his rattle-drum and reached out to be held, threatening to cry if ignored. Lu Gu had no choice but to set aside his works.

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 204 Part 2

    The cart jolted along as Lu Gu, holding the child, chatted and laughed with Wei Lanxiang all the way to Jixing Town.  

    After unloading the rabbits and seeing it was almost noon, they decided to eat first at the noodle shop next door.  

    Turning the corner east of Xixing Street, they walked a stretch along Nanji Street before Shen Xuanqing pointed ahead and said with a smile, "This is Zhenzhu (Pearl) Alley."  

    As they walked, he added, "The brokerage is at the other end. Wait here, I’ll go fetch the broker. He has the keys."  

    Shen Yaoqing nodded. "Go ahead. We’ll wait at the alley entrance."  

    Shen Xuanqing quickened his pace. Lu Gu shifted Lingjun to his other arm, and the three of them walked more slowly, observing the shops along the street.  

    At the alley entrance, Wei Lanxiang peered inside. Zhenzhu Alley was slightly wider than Liuzhi (Willow Branch) Alley behind the butcher shop. She mused silently, this definitely wouldn’t be cheap.  

    Before long, Shen Xuanqing returned with the broker, a man named Shao, and they entered the alley, stopping at the sixth gate.  

    Broker Shao unlocked the door and gestured for them to enter before stepping inside with Shen Xuanqing.  

    This was a modest single-courtyard house - neither too big nor too small, but enough for a family. In the front courtyard, a stone table with four stools stood to the east, a persimmon tree grew to the west, and the kitchen occupied the southwest corner.  

    Lu Gu, holding the child, scanned the courtyard. By now, he had some experience, the layout was simple, with few rooms, something country folk like them could afford.  

    "Don’t let the single east and west wing rooms fool you, they’re spacious. If you have more people, you could even partition them into two," Broker Shao said, pushing open the east wing door for them to see. Naturally, a small house like this couldn’t compare to larger multi-courtyard mansions.  

    Wei Lanxiang glanced inside the east wing, then checked the west wing, they were indeed sizable.  

    The main northern building had three rooms: a central hall flanked by two side chambers. Lu Gu and Wei Lanxiang inspected everything.  

    What had caught Shen Xuanqing’s eye about this house was its backyard, complete with a woodshed, livestock pen, and a well. They didn't need to go out for water.  

    Upon reaching the backyard, Shen Yaoqing walked to the well, peered down, and lowered the bucket to draw half a pail of water. He scooped some up with his hand and smiled. "The well water’s ice-cold. I’ve heard that in summer, families with wells can lower melons and fruit into it to chill them."  

    "That’s what we do at home," Broker Shao said with a grin. "With this well, you won’t need to haul water from outside or deal with water sellers. Over ten or twenty years, that’ll save a fair bit of money."  

    It was precisely because of this well that the price was ten taels higher. Ordinary families buying a house would surely live there for a long time.  

    With a well, front and back courtyards, and enough rooms even if relatives visited, and just one street away from the butcher shop, this house was the best Shen Xuanqing could find. There was another on Xixing Street, but it was a larger double-courtyard mansion, naturally far more expensive.  

    Broker Shao, adept at reading expressions, excused himself to the front when he saw they needed to discuss, saying he’d wait there and they could call if they had questions.  

    "Mother, what do you think?" Shen Xuanqing naturally sought his mother’s opinion first.  

    Wei Lanxiang looked around. "It’s good, but I wonder about the price."  

    He paused, then decided honesty was best. "This is a street-facing property, not some remote spot on the town’s outskirts. The house is small, with beds and kangs but no tables or chairs, no extras. The well adds to the cost. The total is eighty taels."  

    Wei Lanxiang’s jaw dropped. Even Lu Gu’s mouth fell open. 

    Eighty taels!  

    Seeing their reactions, Shen Xuanqing took Lingjun from Lu Gu’s arms and said with a smile, "Eighty taels seems like a lot, but it’s close to the shop, easy to manage. Coming back for meals will be convenient. There are cheaper houses in remote alleys, some as low as thirty-five taels for five or six rooms, but they’re far. If I’m at the shop and you’re home alone with the child, how could I rest easy?"  

    Lingjun, held facing Lu Gu, stretched out his arms to return to him, perhaps feeling uneasy in the unfamiliar place.  

    "Broker Shao and I have already settled on the eighty taels, no extra fees. He’ll handle the deed and official seal." Shen Xuanqing handed the child back to Lu Gu. He’d spent over half a month searching Jixing Town and was satisfied with this house—otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought his family to see it.  

    Wei Lanxiang glanced at her eldest son. Seeing Shen Yaoqing’s slight nod, and remembering she wasn’t the one paying, she gritted her teeth and agreed. Eighty taels of silver!  

    When Shen Xuanqing looked at him, Lu Gu hesitated but eventually nodded too, though he was also thinking, Eighty taels of silver!  

    With everyone in agreement, the matter was settled. They even opened the woodshed and the back gate to inspect the rear alley, where livestock and firewood carts passed - a considerate design.  

    Returning to the front courtyard, they found Broker Shao waiting eagerly. Upon hearing they would buy, his smile widened, and he grew even more attentive.  

    "Once we move here, Mother, you’ll have a place to stay whenever you visit," Shen Xuanqing said happily.  

    At these words, Lu Gu looked around, a faint smile touching his eyes, his mood entirely different from before. This would be their home now, close to Shen Xuanqing.  

    Since they were already here, they decided to finalize the deed today rather than delay. Broker Shao asked them to wait while he fetched the property deeds, contracts, and writing tools from the brokerage.  

    With four stone stools in the courtyard, Lu Gu sat down and gazed at the persimmon tree to the west. Just like at home, they could enjoy persimmons here too. Thinking of the name "Zhenzhu Alley," his eyes curved in a smile, what a lovely name.

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 204 Part 1

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.  

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 203 Part 3

    Wei Lanxiang pursed her lips at the mention of more grandchildren, feeling her second son's words made sense.  

    For Shen Yaoqing, hard work wasn’t a big deal. He was young and strong, the eldest son of the family. Doing more labor was his duty.  

    But after hearing Shen Xuanqing’s suggestion today, he considered it. Their family had few men. Wei Lanxiang and Shen Yan were one old, one young. Ji Qiuyue and Lu Gu had to care for the children. If they hired a farmhand, the twenty-one acres would have someone to help tend them, sparing him from struggling alone. With freed-up time, he could also gather grass to feed the livestock. Between selling grain and livestock, they could definitely afford two taels a year.  

    After some calculation, he nodded and said, "Then who should we hire? Do you have anyone in mind?"  

    "Find someone without land. Uncle Chunsheng is old, and you said his son-in-law only has one mu of land, I wonder if he’d be willing." Shen Xuanqing had only thought of this a quarter-hour ago, and the first person that came to mind was Ge Chunsheng.  

    Those with land had to tend their own fields and mostly worked short-term jobs. Since long-term hires paid yearly wages, it was best to find someone without land, preferably a young man. It wasn’t that he looked down on Ge Chunsheng, but everyone struggled to earn money. If there were young candidates, they should be prioritized.  

    Thinking of Li Laiqing’s honest and simple nature, Shen Yaoqing nodded. "Alright , since we’re free now, I’ll go ask. But how should we settle the wages? Let’s decide first so I can explain it to him."  

    Shen Xuanqing took a sip of water and said after a moment, "The long-term laborers in Wangli Village get two thousand copper coins a year, but they eat and live with the employer. We don’t need that, we don’t have extra rooms. We can give some grain and a bit of extra money. Linhe Village isn’t far, he can walk the distance."  

    Unlike the long-term laborers employed by landlords and rich families who lived on-site and worked all day, families like theirs with only twenty or thirty mu weren’t considered wealthy landowners. Hired hands usually didn’t live in, and one meal a day was enough. If they didn’t want to provide food, they could give grain instead. Li Laiqing was poor, with a wife and children. Giving him rice and flour would mean his whole family could eat.  

    After hearing this, Shen Yaoqing pondered and said, "How about a hundred catties each of rice and flour a year, plus an extra hundred coins?"  

    They were hiring Li Laiqing, so they only needed to cover his personal food. If he was frugal, the extra two taels would be enough for his family to get by in the countryside, maybe even help his father-in-law, Ge Chunsheng.  

    "That’d be two thousand one hundred coins. Eldest Brother, we’ll split it half and half?" Shen Xuanqing asked, though he already knew the answer.  

    Shen Yaoqing smiled and nodded. "Of course."  

    The brothers hadn’t divided the family assets yet, and grain income had always been split evenly. As for the rabbit sales being split 60-40, Shen Yaoqing had always been clear-headed, the big house was built with Shen Xuanqing’s money. Without that space, they couldn’t have raised so many rabbits for profit.  

    Sure enough, Shen Xuanqing nodded too. "Good."  

    "I’ll go ask Li Laiqing now." Shen Yaoqing stood up. As he walked out, Zhao’er tossed aside his rattle-drum and called, "Dad! Dad!"  

    Since his son wanted to follow, he picked him up with a laugh.  

    Li Laiqing’s family was so poor they only had a single mu of land , barely enough to keep the four of them alive. If not for Ge Chunsheng’s family also being poor, he wouldn’t even have a wife. Taking a long-term job meant neglecting his own land, but hearing the offer of two thousand one hundred copper coins and two hundred catties of grain a year, how could he refuse?  

    His parents had passed away the last couple of years, and he had no siblings, just a few cousins he wasn’t close to. His wife, Ge Qiao’er, suggested she could manage their one mu, or at least ask her father for help, so he shouldn’t worry.  

    Li Laiqing wanted the wages - two taels of silver and grain, so he nodded in agreement.  

    Ge Qiao’er had her own motives. Her father, Ge Chunsheng, had no land to farm. The old man wanted to be a long-term laborer, but no one would hire him. During busy seasons, he could earn a few copper coins, but otherwise, he had to scrounge for odd jobs, gather firewood, or dig bamboo shoots to sell in town. If he helped Li Laiqing tend their land, she could slip her parents some food, and Li Laiqing couldn’t complain.  

    Once the other party agreed and confirmed that being a long-term laborer meant regularly managing their fields, Shen Yaoqing returned and discussed it with Shen Xuanqing. The brothers drafted a contract detailing wages and grain, then went to Linhe Village. Li Laiqing couldn’t read, so they had a literate villager review it before he pressed his fingerprint to seal the deal.  

    Lu Gu hadn’t expected things to move so fast, in less than two hours, their family had hired a long-term laborer.  

    Little Lingjun woke up, so he went to carry him.  

    Shen Xuanqing followed him inside and opened a chest, saying, "I left the contract with Eldest Brother. For the one thousand fifty copper coins, I’ve counted them out to give to him. At the end of each month, he’ll pay Li Laiqing. His family is struggling, so we won’t make him wait half a year or a year for payment."  

    "That’s good too." Lu Gu felt little Lingjun's diaper, it was wet, so he laid the child on the bed to change him. Then he asked, "So we’ll go see the house tomorrow?"  

    Shen Xuanqing pulled out a large coin pouch from the chest and took out a string of a thousand coins. His face immediately lit up with joy, his star-bright eyes crinkling as he turned his head, clearly delighted. "Yes, tomorrow."

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 203 Part 2

    Lu Gu checked the small jar of sesame oil, only a little remained at the bottom, but it would last a while longer. Still, he’d mention it when the family returned so they could refill half a jar at the next market.  

    When Shen Xuanqing came back next, he’d steam him a bowl of egg custard too. Though he ate well in town, such a delicate dish was usually reserved for children. Shen Xuanqing never lacked meat or staples, but as a guest in others’ homes, he couldn’t make special requests.  

    While Lu Gu took care of the children and chores at home, Shen Xuanqing was in Jixing Town, selling rabbits and inquiring about houses for sale. Unlike renting, they had enough money to buy a small property outright, so he was taking his time to find the right one.  

    During this time, Shen Yaoqing took Wei Lanxiang on several trips in the mule cart to buy more chicks and ducklings. They even brought home the four piglets reserved from Li Zhuzi’s family. With new rabbit litters filling the hutches that had been empty in winter, the pens were gradually becoming crowded again.  

    Because of this, when Shen Xuanqing returned after half a month and mentioned finding a house with a well, Lu Gu hesitated.  

    Sitting by the stove, adding firewood to steam the egg custard while Lingjun slept, Shen Xuanqing washed his hands and crouched beside him in the kitchen.  

    After exchanging a few affectionate words, Lu Gu thought for a moment and said, "A couple of days ago, we were running low on firewood. Eldest Brother came back from weeding the fields and went straight to the mountains to cut wood without resting. Mother and Yan Yan also gather firewood when they can, besides tending to the ducks and cattle."  

    "The four big pigs eat a lot, and the four piglets aren’t far behind. Dong ger and the others bring back two cartloads of grass daily. Uncle He and Aunt He are frail, and he isn’t as strong, so they can only manage two cartloads. When Sister-in-law and I have time, we take the children out to forage for pig grass—otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough for the pigs and goats."  

    "With Sister-in-law and me working together, one watches the children while the other works, whether cooking or gathering grass. That’s the only way we manage."  

    Finally, Lu Gu lowered his voice but continued, "If I leave, she might struggle alone. Zhao'er runs around now, and without someone watching him, it’s not safe."  

    After hearing him out, Shen Xuanqing frowned slightly. They had originally agreed to live together in town, but he also knew how much work the livestock required. Jixing Town was far, and with him tied to the shop, he couldn’t return often to help. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, but the reality was complicated.

    Lu Gu noticed the busyness at home and naturally wouldn’t overlook it. He added, "With more fields, Eldest Brother goes to pull weeds, and Mother follows too. The weeds grow too vigorously, so they only rest occasionally."  

    "I see." Shen Xuanqing responded in a low voice, lowering his eyes in thought for a while. With thirteen acres of dry land and eight acres of paddy fields, it was indeed difficult for Shen Yaoqing to manage alone, especially while also tending to the family’s livestock.  

    After some consideration, he looked up at Lu Gu with a smile and said, "What’s so hard about this? We’ll hire someone to work the fields, and Eldest Brother will have his hands free. Then he can focus on raising the livestock and just pull weeds in his spare time."  

    "Short-term hires are expensive, so let’s just hire a long-term laborer. It’s only two thousand copper coins a year, two taels of silver. With twenty acres of land, can’t we afford two taels?"  

    Shen Xuanqing thought this was entirely feasible. There was plenty of work at home, and their mother was getting older. His sister was an unmarried girl, Ji Qiuyue had to look after the child, and no one had much free time. He himself was busy running the shop in town and couldn’t tend to the household. They really needed a solution.  

    "These two taels, since the land belongs to the whole family and the grain income is split evenly every year, if we really hire someone, Eldest Brother should pay half. One tael each isn’t too much." He always had ideas, and since farmland was their foundation, no matter what other work there was, the fields had to be well tended. Hiring someone to farm wasn’t absurd.  

    "That might work." Lu Gu had never been as full of ideas as him, but two taels a year, their family could truly afford it now.  

    Shen Xuanqing brightened and said with a laugh, "Later, I’ll talk to Mother and Eldest Brother. You don’t need to worry about this. Tomorrow, I’ll take you all to see the house. If everyone likes it, we’ll buy it."  

    "Mm." Lu Gu nodded. After talking for so long, he nearly forgot the main task. He quickly stood up and lifted the pot lid to check the steamed egg custard, afraid it might have overcooked.  

    By the time Shen Xuanqing sat at the table to eat the egg custard drizzled with sesame oil, Shen Yaoqing and Wei Lanxiang had already heard his proposal to hire a long-term laborer and were both deep in thought.  

    The bowl of egg custard wasn’t large, and he soon finished it clean. Putting down the bowl, he smiled and said, "Mother, you’re not getting any younger. You should take care of yourself, there’ll be more grandchildren for you to hold in the future. If we don’t hire someone for the fields, the work will pile up. Even if it’s not heavy labor, it adds up. Just listen to me."  

    Partly out of selfishness - wanting Lu Gu and the child to move to town, and partly because he genuinely believed it, his words of persuasion sounded more mature than his usual silent decision-making.  

    Ji Qiuyue hauled Zhao’er, who had been ruining the spring vegetables, back from the garden and laughed when she heard this. His brother-in-law wasn’t the same as before, he’d grown up. She had noticed how exhausted Shen Yaoqing had been lately: chopping firewood, carrying water, hauling manure to the fields every day, shoveling dung and sweeping - all his tasks. And whenever something came up at home, he had to take the mule cart out. So she said, "Mother, just listen to Second Brother. He makes sense."  

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 203 Part 1

Chapter 203

    "Woof!"  

    The cuju ball rolled noisily on the ground as Guaizi excitedly nudged it back with his nose. Xiaohuang and Huang'er intercepted it, snapping at the ball, while Zhao'er let out a delighted shriek that made Wei Lanxiang exclaim, "Oh dear, oh dear, stop shouting or you'll ruin your voice!"  

    Zhao'er snatched the cuju ball from the competing mouths of Xiaohuang and Huang'er and placed it back on the ground, then tried to kick it as Shen Yaoqing had taught him.  

    How much strength could a toddler have? Guaizi, who had dashed forward eagerly, caught up to the cuju ball in just two steps and batted it back with his front paws, making Zhao'er giggle. Whether child or dogs, everyone in the yard was excited and happy.  

    Lu Gu held Lingjun in his arms and watched from the sidelines. Unexpectedly, their little shuang'er wasn't the overly reserved type, he strained forward impatiently, pointing at the rolling cuju ball with one hand and babbling excitedly.  

    "Alright, alright, you can kick it too." Lu Gu had no choice but to bend down, holding Lingjun securely, and let the child's tiny feet tap the ball. Seeing the cuju ball roll away, Lingjun immediately burst into laughter, making incoherent sounds as if trying to speak.  

    Guaizi, Xiaohuang, and Huang'er fought over the cuju ball with their teeth, none willing to yield, growling low in their throats as if ready to brawl.  

    Children who could walk and run were always full of energy. Even after playing for a while, Zhao'er showed no signs of fatigue. He walked up to the three dogs and tried to grab the cuju ball.  

    "Let go!" Wei Lanxiang scolded the dogs as Zhao'er reached for the ball.  

    Guaizi and the others immediately released it and stopped growling, standing still while licking their muzzles. But when Zhao'er kicked the ball again, they eagerly chased after it, playing like children themselves.  

    Lingjun wanted to kick the ball again, so Lu Gu had no choice but to carry him as they chased after it.  

    Wei Lanxiang sat under the eaves, mending clothes. She had torn her sleeve yesterday while carrying firewood. Watching her two grandsons having fun, a smile also appeared on her face.  

    After playing with the cuju ball for a long while, Lu Gu straightened up with Lingjun in his arms and said, "Alright, alright, Amu is tired. We'll play again later."  

    The sun was growing stronger, and sweat beaded on Zhao'er's flushed cheeks. Wei Lanxiang, having already finished mending her sleeve, walked over to wipe his face with a handkerchief. She then felt the back of his neck and said to Lu Gu, "His back is drenched."  

    "Enough for today. Drink some water and rest, you're all getting too wild." Wei Lanxiang picked up the cuju ball, and when Zhao'er protested, she coaxed, "Go drink some water, and Grandma will break you a piece of steamed bun."  

    With the cuju ball put away and out of sight, both child and dogs had nothing left to play with. Even little Lingjun stopped fussing, allowing Lu Gu to finally sit down and rest.  

    Seeing that it was almost noon, Lu Gu finished the water in his bowl, set it down, and said, "Mother, I'll go back to make lunch. Can you watch Lingjun for a while?"  

    "Alright, go ahead." Wei Lanxiang handed half a steamed bun to Zhao'er before taking Lingjun, and Lu Gu headed back to the old house.  

    As he walked out of the courtyard gate, Guaizi and Xiaohuang followed. He didn't stop them, the old house was empty and locked, so having the dogs accompany him was some company.  

    After transplanting the rice seedlings, Shen Yaoqing went to the fields every day, either checking the paddies or pulling weeds from the wheat fields. The good weather meant weeds grew vigorously, and if left unchecked, they would choke the crops and reduce the harvest.  

    Shen Yan and Ji Qiuyue took the cattle, ducks, and geese to the riverbank. They also carried fish traps and a shovel to dig for earthworms and catch loaches to chop up for the chickens.  

    The chicks and ducklings hatched at home were now a little over twenty days old. Being so fragile, not all of them survived - out of seventy-six chicks, sixty-five lived, and out of eighty ducklings, sixty-two made it. Fortunately, their house was large, with spacious chicken and duck coops, and they diligently cleaned up manure to prevent dampness and stuffiness, so the losses weren't too severe.  

    When they first hatched, Wei Lanxiang would inspect the coops daily, often carrying out one or two dead chicks or ducklings. Such young poultry had barely any meat, and local custom dictated they be buried under trees, not even the dogs were allowed to eat them, let alone people.  

    Those that survived grew stronger each day, and since no more died, it was a relief.  

    They still had twenty adult chickens and ducks each. Even so, when Shen Xuanqing returned last time, he asked Shen Yaoqing to buy more spring chicks, aiming to raise over a hundred. They would likely go to Liangzhang Bridge for the market in the next few days.  

    Lu Gu unlocked the door and entered the yard, pulling up a spring vegetable from the small garden. When Guaizi sniffed at the other vegetables and even opened his mouth as if to bite, Lu Gu immediately smacked him on the head. The dog lowered his head, tucked his tail, and flattened his ears, looking thoroughly chastened. Lu Gu pinched his ear and scolded, "Even Xiaohuang behaves better than you. Every time you take a bite, you just leave it, such a waste of food. If Mother finds out, she’ll beat you."  

    Despite his words, when Guaizi rubbed against his leg with a furry head, Lu Gu relented and gave him a fresh spring vegetable leaf.  

    Xiaohuang wagged his tail and looked up expectantly, so he got a big leaf too.  

    After washing the vegetables, Lu Gu chopped them on the cutting board with rhythmic thuds. Remembering it had been a while since they’d had steamed egg custard, he took a few eggs from the basket. This year was different, with more hens and ducks, half laid eggs for sale while the other half hatched fertilized eggs, balancing both purposes.  

    Lingjun could now eat a few bites of egg custard, though Wei Lanxiang said young children shouldn’t have too much oil - like sesame oil, which should only be used sparingly.  

    A drop of sesame oil from the mill carried a rich, fragrant aroma. In rural families, where some couldn’t even afford cooking oil, let alone sesame oil, they used it sparingly.

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 202 Part 2

    Having raised Guaizi since he was a pup, Lu Gu had always carried him into the mountains with Shen Xuanqing. Naturally, he was a bit biased, giving him a dozen or so peanuts every few days as a treat. If he forgot for too long, Guaizi would stealthily tug his pants toward the storage room where peanuts were kept when no one was looking - clever as ever.  

    The dogs at home ate well. Watching Guaizi munch on the peanuts, Lu Gu couldn’t resist ruffling his head, his fur smooth and sleek, his ears soft, just as pleasant to touch as before.  

    It was already afternoon. After playing with the dog a while, since Shen Xuanqing was home and didn’t need help at the main estate, Lu Gu rolled up his sleeves and went to the front yard’s vegetable patch to pick some spring greens. They’d eaten lunch early and would likely get hungry sooner, so it was best to prepare dinner in advance.  

    With spring plowing over, the family relaxed. That night, everyone slept more soundly than usual.  

    Lingjun had napped for less than half an hour in the afternoon, so he didn’t fuss much at night. After blowing out the lamp, Shen Xuanqing lay down, Lu Gu beside him as always, with the child on the innermost side.  

    "I want to discuss something with you," he said quietly. Catching the scent of Lu Gu’s face cream, he couldn’t resist stealing a kiss before continuing seriously, "We’ve got a few hundred taels saved. Spending a few dozen, we could buy a small house in town. I want to bring you and Lingjun to live there."  

    Lu Gu froze. Move to town?  

    "We’d be together," Shen Xuanqing added, unable to suppress his smile.  

    "But there’s still so much work at home," Lu Gu hesitated.  

    Shen Xuanqing chuckled. "At home, you take care of the child, cook, and do laundry, other chores aren’t your responsibility. During busy seasons like spring plowing or harvest, we can always come back."  

    "Besides, over there, I won’t have to trouble Shiniang with my meals and laundry. She’s getting older, her legs aren’t good, and she worries about me alone at the shop with no one to tend to things. Once you’re there, she won’t have to fret."  

    "When the shop’s busy, it’s one thing, but once things slow down, I’m left with nothing to do. You could cook while I mind the shop and hold the child, that way, you wouldn’t be overworked."  

    The idea of moving to town made Lu Gu uneasy. He was used to village life and had grown familiar with the neighbors over the years. But hearing Shen Xuanqing’s reasoning, it did seem reasonable.  

    "Lingjun’s bigger now and behaves well in the cart. Didn’t we say before that he’d study in the future? Isn’t that why we opened the shop? Moving to town a couple of years early won’t hurt."  

    To persuade his fulang and child, Shen Xuanqing laid out all his arguments at once.  

    Lu Gu wasn’t one to insist on his own way. For him, staying home or going to Jixing Town with Shen Xuanqing made little difference. Convinced in just a few sentences, he only asked, "Have you talked to Mother and Eldest Brother yet?"  

    "Not yet, I'll talk to them tomorrow morning. Buying a house isn’t urgent, we’ll find a good one before moving. The shop’s too small, but the house should at least have a yard, enough to grow some vegetables for ourselves." Shen Xuanqing kept his voice low.  

    There were all kinds of houses in town, big and small. He knew a bit about them. His master's place, for instance, though not large, had front and back yards - the front for vegetables and flowers, the back for livestock and firewood. He wanted something similar, spacious enough not to feel cramped.  

    "Mm," Lu Gu listened carefully, his unease fading. The thought of living in town and seeing Shen Xuanqing every day brought a smile to his eyes.  

    The next morning, before sunrise, Shen Xuanqing was already awake. He was heading back to Jixing Town today, taking a dozen or so rabbits with him.  

    As for bringing Lu Gu and the child to town, though he framed it as discussing with Wei Lanxiang, he’d already made up his mind.  

    "Moving to town?" Wei Lanxiang paused while helping load rabbit cages onto the cart. After a moment’s thought, she sighed lightly. Her second son now spent most of his time at the shop, returning only two or three nights a month. Without someone to cook and tidy up for him, relying on his master’s family for meals wasn’t ideal.  

    "It makes sense. With Guzi watching over you, I’d worry less. But Lingjun’s going too?"  

    Shen Xuanqing had expected more resistance, so his mother's agreement surprised him. Smiling, he said, "Yes, with Guzi. When I’m not busy, I can help with the child."  

    Wei Lanxiang was reluctant to part with her grandson. She often went visiting with one child in her arms and another by the hand, the thought of one fewer little one fussing around her left her feeling oddly empty.  

    Sensing her reluctance, Shen Xuanqing said, "We’ve still got the mule cart at home. If you miss Lingjun, just have Eldest Brother take you over, you’ll see him then."  

    "That’s true." Wei Lanxiang’s heart eased. She’d momentarily forgotten about the cart, thinking Jixing Town too far. Now that they didn’t have to walk everywhere, travel was much easier.  

    As for Shen Yaoqing, if it were him, he’d want Ji Qiuyue and Zhao’er with him too, so he wouldn’t object.  

    Once the mule cart was ready, Shen Xuanqing bid farewell to the family at the gate and set off.  

    Watching him leave, Wei Lanxiang suddenly remembered he’d mentioned buying a house in town. She wondered if he had enough money. Then again, his second son had always been prudent, if he didn’t have the funds, he wouldn’t have brought it up. Reassured, she let it go. The young had their own ways.  

The Sweet little Fulang Chapter 202 Part 1

Chapter 202

    By noon, when it was warm, the family was busy - some washing their hair, others bathing in their rooms. Lu Gu split firewood and boiled water, while Ji Qiuyue looked after the two children. Everyone had their own tasks.  

    By the time the smoke from the firewood in the kitchen had dissipated, Shen Xuanqing and the other three were already sitting in the yard, basking in the sun to dry their hair as quickly as possible.  

    "Honestly, after washing up, it feels like I’ve shed two catties. I'm so much lighter and cooler now," Wei Lanxiang said as she combed her damp hair. With the rice seedlings planted, a major task was finally done.  

    "My hair feels the same," Shen Yan chimed in with a smile. Having changed into clean clothes, she found her long hair dampening her back, so she gathered it over her shoulder and tilted her head, wiping it again with a cloth draped over the chair.  

    Lu Gu, now free, sat in the shade of the eaves with little Lingjun in his arms. The midday sun was harsh, and the child sometimes struggled to keep his eyes open under its glare.  

    "Your hair’s gotten long," he remarked, looking at Shen Xuanqing, who sat in the sunlight ahead.  

    "Mm, it has," Shen Xuanqing replied, glancing down at his wet hair. He got up, fetched scissors from the sewing basket on the main hall's table, and returned to trim it himself, cutting it shorter.  

    Hair couldn’t be carelessly cut or shaved off, but tidying it up was fine to prevent it from becoming unmanageable. Country folk usually trimmed their own hair, men tied theirs up and wrapped it in cloth, so even if the cut wasn’t perfect, it wouldn’t show.  

    "Done?" Shen Yaoqing asked, extending a hand for the scissors.  

    Shen Xuanqing handed them over. After sitting in the sun a while longer, his hair dried noticeably, feeling lighter. Freshly bathed from head to toe, he combed and tied his hair. Once done, the heat of the sun made him shift his chair back to sit beside Lu Gu.  

    "Here, let Dad hold you," he said, taking little Lingjun. He wanted to kiss the child’s chubby cheeks but remembered he hadn’t shaved in days and held back, settling for playfully lifting the little shuang'er instead.  

    Lingjun giggled with delight each time he was raised high.  

    Zhao’er, who had been dragging a wooden rake around the yard, dropped it at the sound of his little brother’s laughter and toddled over, arms outstretched. "Up! Up!"  

    Before Shen Xuanqing could respond, Shen Yaoqing, who was tying his hair, chuckled and said, "Come here, Dad will lift you. Don’t always fight with your brother, you little jealous thing."  

    Zhao’er happily waddled to his father and burst into giggles as he was hoisted overhead.  

    Shen Xuanqing had been staying in town lately, returning home only for a night at most. This rare stretch of days back had him missing Lu Gu and the child. After the busy past few days, he now held Lingjun without letting go, it had been a while since he’d doted on his little shuang'er like this.  

    At the butcher’s shop in town, work could be hectic, but once things slowed, there wasn’t much to do - wiping tables, sweeping the yard, sharpening knives. Yan Shi would sometimes come by to wash his clothes in her free time, but she had her own household chores, and he didn’t want to burden her too much, so he often washed them himself.  

    Used to the spacious countryside, he found the shop cramped. He didn’t mind the small space, but sometimes it felt too low and narrow. Chatting with his master and the neighbors was fine, but when left alone minding the shop with nothing to do and no one to talk to, he grew restless. To pass the time, he’d sharpen every knife in the shop until they gleamed.  

    Now, back home holding his little shuang'er and eating his fulang's cooking, the thought grew stronger - he wanted to bring Lu Gu and Lingjun to Jixing Town.  

    This idea had lingered for a while, but the shop had only one room, and the backyard was too small for drying clothes or bedding. The makeshift stove under a thatched awning made daily life inconvenient compared to home.  

    Their house, no matter what, was spacious, especially the new house. Bringing Lu Gu and the child there would only make them feel stifled.  

    Lingjun’s little white baby teeth showed when he laughed, his eyes crinkling sweetly. Shen Xuanqing couldn’t resist planting a soft kiss on his cheek.  

    "Alright, alright, Dad’s arms are sore," Shen Yaoqing said, putting down his chubby son and pinching Zhao’er’s plump cheeks playfully.  

    Seeing him pinch repeatedly, Ji Qiuyue swatted his hand away, glaring. "You’ll burst his drool pouch! If he grows up slobbering, it’ll be your fault!"  

    Locals often said a child’s "drool pouch" shouldn’t be pinched, or they’d drool even as adults.  

    Struck hard on the back of his hand, Shen Yaoqing withdrew it sheepishly, not daring to pinch again.  

    The family rested until mid-afternoon. Shen Xuanqing, Shen Yaoqing, and Wei Lanxiang went to the new house to feed the livestock. The calf had worked hard plowing the fields before transplanting rice seedlings, so these days, it was left to rest and eat.  

    Shen Yan drove the ducks and geese to the river for a swim. Zhao’er wanted to follow, so Ji Qiuyue took him along to keep her sister-in-law company.  

    After Lingjun had his milk fruit, Lu Gu noticed him rubbing his eyes - a sign he was sleepy, so he carried him inside to soothe him to sleep. Just as Lingjun drifted off, Guaizi, who had been guarding the new house, trotted back. Not finding Lu Gu in the yard, the dog headed straight indoors.  

    Lu Gu closed the bedroom door and stepped out with Guaizi. "Hungry?" he asked with a smile.  

    Peeking into the yard and seeing no one else home, he went to the kitchen and grabbed a small handful of shelled peanuts for the dog.