MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 54

Lu Dongqing had only ever walked around the front courtyard and the main hall when visiting the Qiao family before, so today Qiao Suiman brought him to take a look around the backyard as well.

 

Only then did he realize how much it had changed. The loofah and hairy gourd vines had long since withered. Qiao Ruifeng simply took down the trellises and used them to fence off two plots of land. He also fenced off the ground beneath several fruit trees.

 

Qin Yu had gone to prepare the meal, and Qiao Ruifeng explained to them, “Chicks and ducklings are cheaper now than in early spring, but with the cold weather, they’re harder to raise. Your Qin Yu-ge and I plan to keep them in this fenced area for now. When it gets cold at night, we’ll move them into the woodshed. We’ve got a few big chicken cages in there, and we’ll line them with wheat stalks to keep them warm.”

 

Lu Dongqing nodded in agreement. “That’s true. We’re also planning to build a low thatched shed in the next couple of days and surround it with straw curtains to block the wind and rain.”

 

The Lu family’s woodshed wasn’t as spacious as the Qiao family’s, so raising chickens and ducks there was out of the question. The best they could do was enclose an area and lay down wheat stalks and rice straw.

 

“Mm,” Qiao Ruifeng nodded. “That’s a good idea. If you end up raising more in the future, you could gather stones from the mountain to build a sturdier enclosure.”

 

“Speaking of which, Ge, we need to dig up some yellow clay from the mountain to coat the outside of the wooden barrels to keep it warm!” Qiao Suiman chimed in.

 

“There’s such a method?” Qiao Ruifeng exclaimed in surprise.

 

He then continued, “We also wanted to discuss the drink business with you. You…” He paused, glancing at Lu Dongqing, hesitating over whether to proceed.

 

Qiao Suiman smiled faintly. “Ge, just speak freely.”

 

“Alright.” Since Qiao Suiman had given his consent, Qiao Ruifeng stopped hesitating. “Your Qin Yu-ge and I thought that since you’ve married into the Lu family, it’s only right that you take this money-making business with you to avoid gossip. I’ve already packed up the things we usually use at home for you. When you two-”

 

“Ge!” Qiao Suiman interrupted. “Who’s gossiping? All these things belong to the family. Even if I’m making the drinks, I still need Qin Yu-ge to help me sell them.”

 

How could they expect him to take everything away?

 

In the past, they had all contributed to selling the drinks. There was no way he could keep all the profits for himself now.

 

Qiao Suiman spoke faster than usual in his urgency. He knew Qiao Ruifeng and Qin Yu meant well. After all, who continued to earn money with their birth family after marrying out? If he met a fierce mother-in-law, he would probably not get a single penny from the money he made.

 

Seeing his distress, Lu Dongqing quickly patted Qiao Suiman’s back and said, “Qiao-da-ge, we’ve already discussed this with Mother. The kitchen at home is too small to work in comfortably. Besides, we’re planning to make bamboo bowls like the merchants in town so passersby can drink and go. We’ll still need Qin Yu-ge’s help with washing and calling out to customers.”

 

Qiao Ruifeng scratched his head, suddenly feeling a little guilty toward Qiao Suiman. He reached out and gently, soothingly patted his head. “Alright, we’ll talk to A-Yu later. We just didn’t want to make things difficult for you.”

 

“I know, Ge.” Qiao Suiman smiled again now that his elder brother had stopped refusing.

 

“The food’s ready!” Qin Yu called from the kitchen.

 

“Coming!”

 

The three of them made their way back from the backyard. Qiao Suiman, familiar with the routine, entered the kitchen and said to Lu Dongqing and Qiao Ruifeng, “You two go to the main hall first. I’ll bring the food over.”

 

“Alright.”

 

On the kitchen counter were five dishes: sweet and sour pork, spicy braised fish, scrambled eggs, stewed radish, and dried vegetable soup. A large pot of rice was also steaming in the pot.

 

“So many dishes!” Qiao Suiman’s mouth watered at the aroma. “Qin Yu-ge, how did you cook so quickly?”

 

“I prepared everything in advance, just waiting for you two to arrive. Your brother bought the fish and meat yesterday and marinated them overnight. They’re definitely flavorful now.”

 

“Then I’m eating two bowls of rice!”

 

“There’s plenty. Eat as much as you want!”

 

Qiao Suiman eagerly carried the dishes to the main hall, then fetched the bowls and chopsticks and served four portions of rice. He sat down next to Lu Dongqing and said, “This is even more lavish than New Year’s.”

 

Lu Dongqing’s eyes held a glimmer of amusement as he tugged Qiao Suiman’s arm, pulling him a little closer. “Mm, it smells delicious. We’ll make an even more sumptuous feast for New Year’s.”

 

Qiao Suiman beamed. “Mm.”

 

Qin Yu shook his head with a mix of amusement and relief. “Well then, let’s live the good life with plenty of fish and meat!”

 

For a while, the dining table was filled with laughter.

 

As they ate, Qiao Suiman explained their plans to Qin Yu once more. Qin Yu was surprised at first, but then joy lit up his eyes.

 

If this arrangement worked, it would be ideal. Not only would he get to see Qiao Suiman often, but there would also be more income. Raising chickens and ducks was also part of their plan to earn extra coins.

 

“Really?” Qin Yu asked again for confirmation.

 

Before Qiao Suiman could answer, Lu Dongqing spoke up first. “Of course. Mother does embroidery and can’t help much, and Songzi has other things he wants to pursue. If anything, we’re the ones troubling Qin Yu-ge.”

 

“Ah, you,” Qin Yu burst out laughing. “You’ve got a silver tongue.”

 

Before, Qiao Suiman had said Lu Dongqing didn’t seem like much of a talker. But it wasn’t that he disliked speaking; he just didn’t have anything to say when his beloved wasn’t around!

 

Qiao Suiman bit his chopsticks, grinning at Lu Dongqing before picking up a piece of meat and placing it in his bowl.

 

Mm, he deserved a reward.

 

The laughter never stopped during the meal, and all the matters that needed to be discussed were settled. There were still some perilla leaves and dried osmanthus flowers left, and the camellia flowers could be dried at home.

 

This season, the blackberries on the mountain should also be ripe. Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu agreed to go pick them up together the next day. Qiao Ruifeng had to go to Hexi Village to help move things for the wealthy landowner Master He, so Qin Yu would be home alone and bored. It was perfect for him to join them on the mountain.

 

In the afternoon, Lu Dongqing and Qiao Ruifeng would go to Yu Ping’s house to finalize matters regarding the bamboo grove. That way, they could join Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu the next day to dig clay and cut bamboo.

 

Their days were packed with tasks. After the meal, Lu Dongqing and Qiao Ruifeng cut a small portion of meat to take to Yu Ping’s house.

 

Before they left, Qiao Suiman gave Lu Dongqing two taels of broken silver, telling him to use it as needed. He didn’t go with them, instead staying home to chat with Qin Yu.

 

After washing the dishes, the two closed the courtyard gate and the main hall’s door, and huddled together by the fire. The weather was getting cold, and whenever the door opened, the chill would seep in and make their bodies feel frozen.

 

“Xiao Man, he treats you well,” Qin Yu said softly, patting Qiao Suiman’s hand. “I’m at ease.”

 

“Qin Yu-ge,” Qiao Suiman nestled into Qin Yu’s embrace as he always had. “Life is so good now.”

 

Feeling warm and cozy, with no worries in sight, Heijin dozed off beside him. Days like these couldn’t be any better.

 

Perhaps because it hadn’t seen Qiao Suiman in a few days, Heijin was uneasy and stuck close to him all day, even insisting on curling up at his feet when it slept.

 

On the day Qiao Suiman married out, there were a lot of people around. Heijin has a lively temperament and didn’t show any odd behavior that day.

 

Qiao Suiman’s heart softened as he gently stroked Heijin’s head. After raising it with such care, he couldn’t let it go hungry and lose weight again.

 

Yu Ping’s house was near Butcher Wang’s, so Qiao Ruifeng stopped by the Wang family on the way to see the puppies. It was common for villagers to raise dogs, and when a litter was too large to manage, they would give the puppies away.

 

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