MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 56

The next day, Qiao Suiman slept until the sun was high in the sky before finally rising. Lu Dongqing was no longer in the room. He rubbed his sore waist and sat up.

 

The quilt slipped down, and the dense red marks on his chest seemed to be accusing him. His clothes were folded and placed at the foot of the bed. While dressing, Qiao Suiman muttered under his breath, “That shameless rogue.”

 

The only time he slept in his undergarments was the night before he returned home!

 

In the courtyard, Miao Lianhua was embroidering handkerchiefs. The ones she made now could be sold to the embroidery shop in town for nine wen each. The embroidery techniques in Yuntai Town were somewhat different from those here, and the shopkeeper found them novel, hence the higher price. If they sold well, the price might even increase further.

 

Miao Lianhua only glanced up at Qiao Suiman without asking why he’d woken late, sparing him any embarrassment.

 

“You’re up? There’s porridge in the kitchen, still warm,” she said with a smile.

 

“Thank you, Mother.”

 

Qiao Suiman’s ears were burning, so he scooped some water to wash his face. The cool water splashed on his face just enough to reduce the heat.

 

After cleaning his teeth with a willow twig, Qiao Suiman returned to the courtyard with a bowl of warm vegetable porridge and sat beside Miao Lianhua. He casually asked, “Mother, where is Dongqing?”

 

Miao Lianhua’s lips curled up slightly, and she saw through it but didn’t say anything, “He went up the mountain to dig clay and cut bamboo. He also went to fetch the wooden barrels.”

 

Qiao Suiman nodded to show he understood, then began to eat the porridge. It wasn’t too hot, just right for eating, and he finished it quickly. After washing the bowl, he took out the camellias they had picked the day before yesterday to continue drying them.

 

Originally, he should have gone up the mountain with Lu Dongqing to pick more blackberries, but in his current state, he wouldn’t be able to walk far. Qiao Suiman sighed. He couldn’t let him act so recklessly again, or it would only delay their work.

 

“Xiao Man, are you going up the mountain tomorrow to pick blackberries?” Miao Lianhua asked.

 

“Yes. We should also gather more camellias before they wither.”

 

“Alright, I’ll go with you two tomorrow. The chestnuts should be ripe on the mountain, so let’s pick some to eat during the winter.”

 

“Okay. Qin Yu-ge is also coming. Once it gets colder, we might not be able to find any more.”

 

The two chatted casually while continuing their work. The conversation shifted to New Year preparations, and they became increasingly excited, as if tomorrow were already New Year’s Eve.

 

The courtyard gate opened, and Lu Dongqing returned, pulling a cart.

 

Qiao Suiman immediately went to greet him. Seeing him panting heavily, any anger he might have felt dissipated. “I’ll get you a bowl of water.”

 

He then hurriedly went to the kitchen.

 

Lu Dongqing gulped down several mouthfuls before catching his breath.

 

Last night, he had indulged himself but exhausted Qiao Suiman in the process. Today, he chose not to ask Qiao Suiman to join him and managed the workload of two people by himself. He had dug several large baskets of yellow clay, cut several thick bamboo stalks, and even gone to the Lu family home to retrieve the wooden barrels. It was quite a lot of effort.

 

“We can mix the clay this afternoon. The sun isn’t too strong now, but the wind is strong enough. It’s the perfect time to mix clay.”

 

Lu Dongqing pulled Qiao Suiman to sit down and continued, “While mixing the clay, I’ll cut the bamboo strips. They’ll be slightly larger than the barrels, so we can place the barrels inside and fill the gaps with clay.”

 

“Songzi will be home this afternoon. We can have him help,” Miao Lianhua said.

 

Lu Xuesong went out early and went fishing in the river with other young men in the village. Thinking of this, Miao Lianhua sighed helplessly.

 

Lu Xuesong is talkative and sociable, and quickly became friends with the other children in the village. Whether it was going up the mountain to gather firewood or down to the river to catch fish, someone would always ask him to join them. He had become the leader of the children.

 

But he was already fifteen, soon to be sixteen. If he didn’t settle down soon, finding him a match would be difficult. Fortunately, he knows what he should do and never shirks his responsibilities. Aside from the initial period of reclaiming wasteland, most of the fieldwork had been handled by the second son.

 

The eldest has a craft to earn money, and she herself focuses on embroidery. Thankfully, Lu Dongqing and Qiao Suiman were both diligent, giving her one tael of silver each month for household expenses and even willing to buy chicks and ducklings for Xuesong. Raising more of them could also earn money, which was a way to make a living.

 

Since the children had plans, Miao Lianhua naturally had no objections. In truth, what she earned was enough for their expenses, but she still accepted the money Lu Dongqing gave her, saving it up so she could give it to her grandchildren as pocket money later.

 

“Mother, were you calling me?”

 

As soon as Miao Lianhua finished speaking, Lu Xuesong’s voice came from outside.

 

Miao Lianhua chuckled and shook her head. “His ears are sharp.”

 

When he entered the courtyard, she continued, “I was saying you should help your Xiao Man-ge mix clay this afternoon!”

 

“Of course!” Lu Xuesong agreed without hesitation. “Xiao Man-ge, can I go to the market with you on the twenty-fifth? It’s been so long since I last went.”

 

“Sure. My Da-ge and the others are also buying chicks and ducklings,” Qiao Suiman said, then turned to Miao Lianhua. “Mother, why don’t you come too? The more people, the livelier the journey.”

 

If they all went, leaving Miao Lianhua alone at home wouldn’t feel right.

 

After a moment’s thought, Miao Lianhua nodded. “Alright. I’ll visit your Uncle Lu’s family and let them see you.”

 

With the plan set for the whole family to go to the market, everyone became even more motivated. They cooked extra porridge in the morning, and at noon, they ate their fill with steamed buns.

 

Heijin also enjoyed a bowl of rice soup mixed with coarse steamed buns and ran around happily. This place was new to him, and everything seemed fascinating. If not for his fear that Qiao Suiman might leave again, he would have long disappeared from sight.

 

Lu Dongqing found this amusing and whispered to Qiao Suiman, “A long time ago, I caught a fish for him. I thought he had a steady temperament. Who knew he’d be so lively?”

 

“A fish?!”

 

Qiao Suiman’s mind instantly flashed back to the time Heijin had brought home a fish. He exclaimed in surprise, “Was it that time we first met?”

 

Back then, they ran into each other on the mountain, but they were unfamiliar with each other and didn’t exchange many words. Who would have thought that in just over half a year, he would become someone’s fulang?

 

“Yes,” Dongqing Lu was stunned for a moment, “Did it bring the fish back?”

 

At the time, he had assumed the dog was just greedy and helped catch one. But from Qiao Suiman’s words, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

 

“So that’s how it was!”

 

Qiao Suiman’s eyes widened. Remembering that day, he felt a surge of frustration before continuing, “Back then, that shrew Lin Xiuhua had caused a scene at home, and I was already in a terrible mood. Then Heijin came back with a fish in his mouth.”

 

Lu Dongqing’s expression shifted from anger to quiet laughter as he listened. Lin Xiuhua’s actions had been truly vile, but he had accidentally sent a fish their way. No wonder the villagers said he and his fulang were fated!

 

“When we have time, I’ll go catch fish too and treat Heijin a snack,” Qiao Suiman said.

 

“Mn. I’ll go with you.”

 

Miao Lianhua was amused by their childish conversation. This was what life should be: discussing everything together, with little surprises now and then to make it flavorful.

 

Mixing clay and cutting bamboo strips were both physically demanding tasks. Qiao Suiman and Miao Lianhua assisted by adding water and holding the bamboo strips in place while Lu Dongqing nailed them together. They worked until dark before finally finishing all eight wooden barrels.

 

The clay would take time to dry, and once it did, they would seal the gaps to prevent customers from seeing the clay and finding it off-putting.

 

Qiao Suiman loves cleanliness, and his drinks are clean too. Even if clay was applied, it wouldn’t get into the drinks. But there were always envious people looking for faults, so sealing the gaps would prevent any issues.

 

Later, they would wrap embroidered cloths from Miao Lianhua around the barrels and carve characters into the bamboo exteriors, making them even more exquisite.

 

—

 

Author [陳皮皮梅]: This method was something my mother mentioned. In rural areas, they used to do this with jars. I adapted it for wooden barrels, which should work just as well.

 

 

 

 

 

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