Shopkeeper Hu chuckled, completely unbothered that his little scheme had been seen through, and casually probed, “The price can be negotiated, of course. But young man, do you really know the teacher from Yunlang Academy?”
“I do. He’s a distant uncle from my clan. How about this, if I can make the connection, I’ll come find you again tomorrow at the same time,” Lu Dongqing said.
“That’s great! I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow!”
With the matter settled, Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing took their leave. They bid farewell to Qin Xiaoyao before walking out of the alley.
While Lu Dongqing negotiated with Shopkeeper Hu, Qiao Suiman had remained silent. Now, he tugged at Lu Dongqing’s sleeve and said, “That shop isn’t bad, but at most, it’s worth a little over forty taels. He actually dared to ask for fifty-five! If we add another five taels, we could buy the shop we saw in the East Market.”
“He probably thought we were easy to swindle.”
Lu Dongqing shook his head, “It’s understandable. Since we’re here, let’s ask Uncle Lu and Huaqing-ge if they know them. If not, then there’s nothing we can do. It just means we’re not meant to be with that shop.”
“Okay,” Qiao Suiman agreed, “There’s a butcher shop up ahead. Let’s get some meat to take with us.”
“Mm.” Lu Dongqing smiled and nodded.
Man proposes, but Heaven disposes.[mfn]谋事在人，成事在天 móu shì zài rén, chéng shì zài tiān (Planning lies with man, accomplishment lies with Heaven.) – A Chinese proverb meaning that while humans can make plans, the final outcome is determined by fate or divine will.[/mfn] They have worked so hard for so long, doing everything they could. The rest is up to the Heaven.
And as it turned out, the Heaven favored them.
“Yuan Shan’an? That’s easy!”
When Lu Huaqing first heard them mention this matter, his expression was quite serious. But as soon as he heard the name, he laughed, clapped his hands, and said decisively, “This matter will work out. You can rest assured. I know him very well.”
Qiao Suiman’s eyes sparkled, and he repeatedly thanked him. “That’s wonderful! Thank you, Huaqing-ge!”
“It’s just a small matter.”
Lu Huaqing waved his hand and Yangyang crawled into his arms. Spotting Qiao Suiman, the child said, “Xiao-mo, sweet! Want sweet!”
Qiao Suiman rubbed his head in embarrassment, “Xiao-mo didn’t bring any drinks today. Next time, I’ll bring some for Yangyang.”
“Okay! Next time, want sweet!” Yangyang said softly.
Lu Huaqing laughed heartily. He picked up Yangyang and swung her around. Suddenly, he remembered something and said to Qiao Suiman, “Oh right, you’ve seen him before. He was the first one to visit your stall on Dragon Boat Festival.”
At that, Qiao Suiman recalled and clapped his hands. “The scholar in the blue robe?”
“That’s him.”
Lu Dongqing looked confused, and Qiao Suiman explained to him: “Back then, Huaqing-ge and another scholar bought from us. You were still rowing the boat.”
“So that’s how it was. What a coincidence.”
Lu Dongqing smiled warmly. “Then we’ll trouble Huaqing-ge to speak on our behalf.”
“Of course! Beide Road isn’t far from here, so we can help each other out. Mother and Xiao Yan will be delighted when they hear!”
“By the way, Huaqing-ge, do you have any sheepskin parchment paper? And rough paper, too. The New Year’s almost here, and I was thinking of making bamboo lanterns and palace lanterns. I can earn a lot of money from that,” asked Lu Dongqing.
“I do. That’s a good idea. How much do you need?” Lu Huaqing was excited and said he would go to the front to get them. Lu Dongqing and Qiao Suiman naturally followed.
After some thought, Lu Dongqing said, “Eighty sheets of sheepskin parchment paper, and since rough paper is cheaper, two hundred sheets of that.”
Lu Huaqing was surprised: “That many?”
How long would it take to make them all?
“Palace lanterns sell fast during the Lantern Festival, and regular lanterns are popular too. If we want to save up, we’ll have to make more,” Lu Dongqing replied with a smile.
“Alright, then I’ll give them to you at wholesale price. Actually, just pay me after you’ve sold them.”
“No, Huaqing-ge, you’ve already helped me a lot. I just got my wages today, so I have enough.” Lu Dongqing didn’t accept Lu Huaqing’s offer. He had already helped him enough. The shop was a huge favor, so how could he delay paying him?
“Fine, fine.” Knowing his stubbornness, Lu Huaqing didn’t press further. “Sheepskin parchment paper is five wen per sheet and it’s of good quality. Rough paper is cheaper, one wen for five sheets. That’ll be five mace in total.”
“Alright.”
Lu Dongqing paid without hesitation, leaving him with only one mace and fifteen wen from today’s earnings. Still, he was in high spirits. During his apprenticeship, he helped his master make and sell palace lanterns. Each could fetch two or three mace. Adding the small fish lanterns and bamboo lanterns, he could earn a decent amount.
He was a little tired, but the thought of opening a shop with Qiao Suiman filled him with energy. He couldn’t wait to get home so that he could quickly cut some bamboo strips and start weaving lanterns.
Lu Xiang, who was standing by, was very pleased. Seeing his old friend’s child so ambitious and determined, he was happy for the late Lu Lai’an.
Lu Huaqing acted swiftly. First, he wrote a letter explaining the shop’s situation and sent a servant to the Yuan residence to arrange a meeting at a teahouse the next day. Then, he packed the papers Lu Dongqing had requested.
Since Chen Fanhuan and Meng Yan weren’t home, Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing didn’t linger after settling matters. With the servant gone and Lu Huaqing needing to tend to the shop, they agreed to return the next day after delivering drinks to hear the news before heading home.
Lu Xiang had initially refused the two strings of meat they brought, but Qiao Suiman insisted, saying they didn’t bring any drinks today and that it should be stewed into soup for Yangyang. When Yangyang heard Qiao Suiman calling her, she happily threw herself into his arms.
Once outside, Qiao Suiman looked up at the sky, feeling as if everything before him brimmed with hope. When no one was around, he secretly grasped Lu Dongqing’s large hand and grinned foolishly. “Dongqing, I’m so happy.”
Lu Dongqing was amused by his childish expression and squeezed his hand firmly, gazing at him intently. “I’m happy too, Xiao Man. Ever since I met you, nothing but good things have happened. You’re my lucky star.”
Qiao Suiman’s ears turned slightly red. Even though they had been intimate many times, he still flushed whenever Lu Dongqing said such sweet things.
Trying to hide his embarrassment, Qiao Suiman turned his head away and took a deep breath where Lu Dongqing couldn’t see, pretending to be serious. “We’re outside. You, you shouldn’t say such things.”
Lu Dongqing smirked. “Alright, I’ll say them when we get back.”
That’s not what he meant!
Qiao Suiman screamed internally. But… if it was just between the two of them, then… well, he wouldn’t mind hearing it.
Ahem.
Once they reached a crowded area, they let go of each other’s hands and walked side by side back to the wine house.
Since they didn’t return home at noon, Qiao Suiman thought of bringing something back for dinner so Miao Lianhua and Lu Xuesong could try something new.
He brought spare change with him when he went out. Lu Dongqing ordered him some noodles for lunch, and he had already spent so much on paper. Qiao Suiman thought for a moment and said, “Let’s take the cart to the East Market and buy roasted chicken. The smell is irresistible. I’ve been craving it every time we pass by.”
He added, “I’ll buy it. My treat for Mother and Songzi.”
“What about me?” Lu Dongqing pretended to be hurt.
Qiao Suiman smirked mischievously. “Aren’t you supposed to be dependent on me?”
“That’s right, thank you, Shopkeeper Qiao.”
Qiao Suiman was grinning from ear to ear, his laughter sounding like heaven to Lu Dongqing, who couldn’t help but burst out laughing too. However, people passing by saw that the two of them were smiling, each one more foolish than the other, and thought to themselves that they must be two fools. Though with their delicate and handsome features, they didn’t quite look the part.
After retrieving the cart from the wine house, they didn’t see Steward Fang or Wu Sheng. They’re likely busy with work. At the end of the year, people were willing to spend the money they had saved up all year on good food, so the business at the wine house was thriving. Some households even had the servers deliver meals directly to their homes, and the kitchen staff were busy from morning till night.
The East Market was also crowded. The afternoon was warmer, and both townsfolk and villagers had come to shop. The roasted chicken stall Qiao Suiman mentioned had an especially long line.
After waiting for an incense stick of time, it was their turn. Qiao Suiman inhaled the aroma of the roasted chicken and said, “I want one to take away.”
“Alright! That’ll be forty wen.”
Qiao Suiman took out his coin pouch. He only brought fifty wen with him today, but fortunately, it was enough, otherwise, he would have been laughed at.
The roasted chicken had just come out of the oven and was still piping hot, almost burning to the touch. This was the first time he bought cooked meat for his family, and he wasn’t sure if they’ll like it.
“Of course they will. Songzi loves any kind of meat, and as for Mother, she’ll just be happy you thought of her,” Lu Dongqing said.
“Mm. The money from selling Mother’s handkerchiefs is still in my pocket, too. The shopkeeper at the embroidery workshop said they didn’t even have enough to meet the demand. She’ll be very happy if she knows that!”
Qiao Suiman kicked a pebble along the road, smiling as he looked down.
That morning, they delivered drinks to the wine house and passed by the embroidery shop that bought Miao Linhua’s handkerchiefs. They handed over the seventeen handkerchiefs that she recently embroidered, receiving nine wen per piece for a total of one hundred fifty-three wen. The shop’s steward even asked them to bring more next time, offering ten wen per handkerchief.
Qiao Suiman admired Miao Lianhua more and more. He could never imagine himself earning money through embroidery. Even the handkerchief he was making for Lu Dongqing’s birthday had taken him nearly a month, and it still wasn’t finished.
Thinking of the handkerchief made Qiao Suiman anxious again. He had been so busy with the shop’s business these days that he hadn’t found the time to embroider it. Once the shop was settled, he would have to hurry and finish it… and then…
Qiao Suiman’s face flushed for no reason. He peeked at Lu Dongqing, and felt relieved when he didn’t seem to notice. Ah, forget it. When the day comes, he’ll just grit his teeth and face it.
Mm. Qiao Suiman encouraged himself silently.
“You’re back! What took you so long today? I was about to send Songzi to look for you.”
When they arrived home, Miao Lianhua looked worried, already preparing to go out. Her expression eased only when she saw them return.
Qiao Suiman recounted the day’s events in detail, and her face shifted with every twist and turn. By the end, she sighed in relief and comforted him, “You’ve walked so much today, so you must be exhausted. Sit down and rest. As for the shop, we’ve done all we can. What happens next is up to fate. If the silver still isn’t enough, I have more here.”
“It’s enough, Mother. Dongqing plans to sell lanterns during the Lantern Festival. We’ll be able to earn quite a bit.”
Qiao Suiman’s eyes suddenly brightened. “Oh! Mother, you taught me how to weave tassels. We could make red auspicious tassels to hang from the lanterns. They’ll look festive and pretty!”
The Lantern Festival was all about good fortune and family reunions. With that kind of symbolism, they’ll definitely sell well.
Miao Lianhua praised, “Where do you come up with all these clever ideas?”
Qiao Suiman laughed heartily and carried the roasted chicken into the kitchen. It had cooled a bit on the way back.
“Mother, we have roasted chicken for dinner. How about stewing some radish soup and steaming some buns to go with it?”
“Sounds good. Go rest. I’ll boil some water so you two can soak your feet first.”
After running around all day, they needed to relax their muscles; otherwise, their legs would surely ache tomorrow.
Qiao Suiman replied sweetly, “Yes, Mother.”
Miao Lianhua sighed inwardly at her luck in having such a thoughtful son-in-law as Qiao Suiman. Then she went to the kitchen to start a fire and boil water, tossing in a handful of dried mugwort leaves as well.
Qiao Suiman collapsed on the bed as soon as he returned to the room. He didn’t notice it before, but now his feet were cramping painfully. Seeing this, Lu Dongqing pulled a chair over and sat by the bed. He lifted Qiao Suiman’s legs onto his own lap and removed his shoes.
Qiao Suiman raised his head slightly, looking puzzled.
“I’ll massage them for you. Once you soak your feet later, you’ll feel much better,” Lu Dongqing explained.
“Alright.”
Qiao Suiman smiled and teased, “Is this the job of a servant… or a husband?”
Lu Dongqing huffed. “Since when does a ge’r let servants rub his feet? Of course it’s a husband’s job.”
Then he leaned close to Qiao Suiman’s ear and murmured in a low, rough voice, “At night, I have other skills too. Would Shopkeeper Qiao like to try them?”
The deep, resonant voice sent shivers down Qiao Suiman’s spine, stirring a restless itch inside him. He pushed Lu Dongqing away. “It’s not even dark yet, and you’re already spouting nonsense.”
“It’s not nonsense.”
The wine house’s business came suddenly. Before that, the two of them hadn’t been intimate for four or five days. Now, it has been more than ten days.
Lu Dongqing had certainly been counting.
“But we have to make drinks tomorrow,” Qiao Suiman whispered.
He didn’t want to deprive Lu Dongqing, but making drinks was exhausting, and lately, he had to accompany him to town as well. He just couldn’t handle it.
“I know.” Lu Dongqing took the chance to steal a kiss on Qiao Suiman’s cheek. “How could I bear to?”
He just wanted to say it so his fulang would dote on him a bit. But if Qiao Suiman really did feel sorry for him, he wouldn’t be so pleased either.
“Lao-da[mfn]老大 – refers to the oldest child in a family or the firstborn[/mfn], the water’s ready!” Miao Lianhua called from outside.
Qiao Suiman pulled his legs back and urged Lu Dongqing to fetch the water. After the massage, his muscles did feel much looser.
“I mixed in cold water, but it’s still a bit hot.”
Lu Dongqing placed the basin by the bed so Qiao Suiman could soak his feet without getting up.
As always, Lu Dongqing stepped into the hot water first, letting out a sigh of contentment before placing Qiao Suiman’s feet on top of his and scrubbing them gently.
Qiao Suiman didn’t resist and let him wash. Once Lu Dongqing scrubbed them clean, he said, “Let me do yours.”
“Alright.” Lu Dongqing was more than happy to oblige.
Qiao Suiman bent forward and rubbed the tops of Lu Dongqing’s feet, silently marveling at how big they were.
The hot water left them both warm and relaxed. When they had soaked enough, Lu Dongqing got up again to dump the water and returned with a clean basin to wash their hands. Then they put their socks back on.
“I could fall asleep right now,” Qiao Suiman mumbled, sprawled on the bed.
“Then sleep for a bit. Take off your outer robe first.”
Lu Dongqing helped him out of his outer robe, then tucked him under the blankets. “Rest. I’ll wake you when it’s time to eat.”
By the time they returned home, it was nearly wei shi, and the sky had already begun to darken. Lu Dongqing felt heartache seeing Qiao Suiman constantly running about these days, so every time they got back, he would let him rest for a while first. Miao Lianhua and Lu Xuesong had no objections either, only thinking how hard the two of them had been working.
Qiao Suiman gave a couple of soft hums. His body felt warm and cozy, and he fell asleep the moment he closed his eyes.
He even had a brief dream. In it, his fragrant drink shop was thriving, with countless customers visiting every day. He even hired helpers, leaving himself only to sit at the counter collecting money.
So many copper coins, so many bits of silver, so much money…
Qiao Suiman woke up smiling, the joy of counting money in his dream still lingering in his heart. He giggled foolishly, then looked up to see that outside the window, the sky had already turned dark. Heijin was by the bed, tilting its head and staring at him.
Memories rushed back, and Qiao Suiman realized he had just been dreaming. He felt a twinge of disappointment but quickly cheered up again. A sweet dream like this could come true!
Qiao Suiman rubbed his thighs and put on his outer robe and shoes. After that short nap, the soreness had disappeared, leaving him refreshed and full of energy. He even thought that if Lu Dongqing wanted to tonight, he might not refuse.
Of course, that was just a passing thought. Once Lu Dongqing got started, he was relentless. It would be better to wait until they had more free time.
Miao Lianhua had just finished cooking. A whole roasted chicken was cut into pieces, its skin slightly burnt and wrinkled in places. Qiao Suiman asked, “Mother, did you reheat it over the fire?”
“Exactly. The skin is the best part of roasted chicken. It would be a shame if it turned soggy from steaming. Look,” she pointed at a few extinguished firewood sticks in the yard, “I just had Lao-da light a fire. It will smell even better if you roast it for a while.”
“You’re hungry, aren’t you? Go call the two of them in for dinner. They’re in the back yard shoveling chicken droppings,” Miao Lianhua added.
“Alright.”
Qiao Suiman hurried to the backyard to call them. The two brothers were burning medicinal herbs: both to cover the smell of the chicken and duck droppings, and to kill harmful maggots and flies, which was good for the poultry.
After washing their hands and closing the main hall’s door, the radish soup steamed warmly. With the fire burning inside, the room was comfortably warm.
Qiao Suiman ladled out four bowls of soup, each filled with plenty of ingredients. They ate coarse steamed buns with the roasted chicken; the combination was deliciously satisfying. Since he and Lu Dongqing had already eaten outside at noon, the two chicken legs went to Miao Lianhua and Lu Xuesong, while they took the wings. Though there was less meat, the flavor was just as good.
“This is so delicious, Xiao Man-ge. Is this from that stall we passed by in the East Market before?” Lu Xuesong asked between bites of chicken leg, his words slightly muffled.
“Mm, the one with the long line.”
“No wonder their business is so good. The taste is amazing.”
Lu Xuesong kept talking even as he ate, telling Miao Lianhua, “Mother, once I start earning money, I’ll buy roasted chicken for all of us too. I wonder where they get their chickens from. Once my chicks hatch and the flock grows, maybe I can do business with them. Then we can roast and eat them whenever we want.”
Miao Lianhua chuckled. “What, you’re planning to eat all the chickens you raise yourself? How will you earn any money then?”
“If I raise enough, maybe we really can eat chicken every day,” Lu Xuesong retorted.
“Just eat for now. Raise the chickens properly first, then think about becoming a big-time chicken farmer,” Miao Lianhua said with amusement.
“When the time comes, your brother and I will be counting on you for chicken, Songzi.”
Qiao Suiman couldn’t stop laughing and encouraged him.
“Of course.”
“Hahaha, you rascal.” Lu Dongqing couldn’t stop laughing either.
Heijin barked excitedly nearby, drool nearly dripping from its mouth as it circled around their legs.
“Here, here.”
Qiao Suiman picked out a piece of chicken breast with skin and dropped it into Heijin’s wooden bowl. He even poured some soup over it and soaked a bun in it. Instantly, Heijin quieted down and began munching happily.
After the cheerful meal, Qiao Suiman boiled water to wash the dishes, then carried a basin back to their room. Miao Lianhua and Lu Xuesong had already retired to the front house. Lighting a candle, Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing counted their money once more.
Including the wages Lu Dongqing had left from today, they now have thirty-eight taels, six mace, and seventy-three wen.
They couldn’t pour all the money into the shop, so Qiao Suiman set aside three taels, six mace, and seventy-three wen. “Only thirty-five taels left. On the twentieth, Steward Fang will settle my wages. After giving Da-ge and Qin Yu-ge their share, I should have about ten taels of silver. That’ll make forty-five taels in total.”
“If Shopkeeper Hu keeps his word, buying that shop for just over forty taels shouldn’t be a problem. Forty-two or forty-three taels should be enough,” Lu Dongqing said quietly.
“If we open the shop, we won’t have the capacity to keep supplying the wine house. I’m thinking maybe I should sell them the recipes instead, a few taels of silver for each one, and I’ll teach them step by step. Steward Fang would probably agree.”
Qiao Suiman had considered this. After just half a month of trial production, Steward Fang was willing to pay over ten taels to hire him. That was acceptable at first, but over time, he might think it wasn’t worth it. If they could just pay to buy the recipes, it would benefit both sides.
“That could work. The restaurant needs a large amount every day. It’s exhausting. If you wear yourself out, that won’t be good,” Lu Dongqing agreed. He had been thinking the same, but was afraid Qiao Suiman wouldn’t be willing, so he hadn’t brought it up. Now that he saw they shared the idea, he naturally fully supported it.
“Then we’ll bring it up when we collect the wages. We can give him the recipes. The Snow-Soaked Mung Bean Drink and fruit syrups just need careful attention to heat. The Crystal Jade Beauty Drink’s recipe is the most valuable, so we’ll gift it as a show of sincerity. A wine house can’t rely on just a few drinks. If they need new recipes, I’ll come up with more for them. It’s mutually beneficial.”
As Qiao Suiman spoke, his eyes sparkled under the candlelight, his earnest expression entrancing Lu Dongqing, who momentarily forgot to respond.
Qiao Suiman waved a hand in front of his face, snapping him out of it. Lu Dongqing coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment. “Good idea. They have plenty of ingredients. We could even trade with them in the future.”
“Right!”
Qiao Suiman beamed. He hadn’t thought of that.
Lu Dongqing ruffled his hair. “The water’s just warm enough. You wash up first. I’ll put the money away.”
“Mm.”
After washing up, he slipped into the bed and instinctively snuggled into Lu Dongqing’s arms. He rubbed against him a bit, only to hear Lu Dongqing’s breathing grow noticeably heavier. His hand was grasped and guided downward. Lu Dongqing’s voice was low and hoarse: “Xiao Man.”
A while later, Qiao Suiman went to wash his hands again.
Translator [LUNE]: I’d like to mention that there is an author’s note for this chapter, however, it is a promotion for the author’s upcoming work (at the time), and not related to this story. So I decided not to translate it (plus it’s been a very long chapter, I’m quite dizzy). If you’re interested to hear it, just let me know so I might add it here later on. (It’s a transmigration story by the way.)
If you enjoy my translations, consider buying me a coffee ☕
I would be glad to read it but please don’t force yourself to do it if you’re not feeling well enough to translate it. Thanks for a quality update (as always)!🫶