Zhang Xiaoyi pulled out some medicinal alcohol from the pouch at his waist. He rubbed it into his hands first, then pressed it onto Zhou Xiaonan’s face and began massaging it in. “This might sting a bit. Bear with it, okay?”

Zhou Xiaonan bit his lip, saying nothing. The warmth from the hand on his face made his eyes sting.

Zhou Xiaonan’s home was a complete mess. Zhang Xiaoyi didn’t know what else to do, so he silently massaged his face. “There. If you need anything, go find my dad or Ning-ger’s dad.”

What else could there be? Old Zhou might be frail, but he was still a man. A young ger dared not interfere.

“Thank you.”

Zhang Xiaoyi left behind the bottle of medicinal wine he’d brought. Zhou Ning and the others didn’t linger and left together.

Zhou Xiaonan sniffed back tears and returned home. He had no idea what to do. Ning-ger’s father had found him a young master to marry, and Yi-ger, who was his age, had a father who was a respected village doctor—naturally, many families sought him out. But he had a drunkard for a father…

Shen Linchuan had also arrived at Xinghua Village. Before he even reached his doorstep, he heard children’s playful shouts. Entering, he saw Huzi and Xiao Yu chasing the family’s little dog.

Shen Xiaoyu spotted Shen Linchuan first and called out loudly, “Second Uncle!”

Shen Huzi looked up and saw his second uncle had returned. He took off running, shouting, “Second Uncle, you’re back!”

Both children were quite fond of Shen Linchuan. Even before Shen Linchuan had come to live with them, the original host—though lazy and fond of eating—had treated the two youngsters well. Whenever he returned from town, he’d bring back a couple of pastries or some rock candy.

Though the money came from his eldest brother and sister-in-law, the children were children. Rarely treated to anything special at home, they always anticipated their second uncle’s town trips, eager for the treats he brought back.

Shen Huzi wrapped his arms around Shen Linchuan’s leg. “Second Uncle! What goodies did you bring this time?”

In the courtyard, Shen Dage was hammering the legs of a bench. Spotting his younger brother return, he set down his tools. “Linchuan’s back. Why hasn’t Ning-ger come over?”

Shen Dasao sat mending clothes by the main hall doorway. She scolded Shen Huzi, “All you think about is eating! No manners whatsoever!”

Shen Dasao rose to fetch hot water. “Is Ning-ger busy? Why didn’t he come?”

“Ning-ger went to visit a friend.”

Shen Linchuan set the basket on the table. Shen Huzi’s eyes lit up as he lifted the cloth cover. Inside, several items wrapped in oil paper lay exposed—they looked like meat. “Uncle, what delicious treat is this?”

Shen Dage sat down too, ruffling his son’s hair. “Always thinking about food.”

Shen Dasao brought the hot water over and gave Shen Huzi a discreet nudge. The boy couldn’t stop talking about food, practically begging for treats, so she sent him off to play.

“Why did you bring meat again? You brought so much last time, we didn’t even finish it. Don’t bring meat next time—it’s all for business.”

“I know, Sister-in-law. But Ning-ger insisted I bring some.”

“Ning-ger is such a straightforward kid. Don’t bring it next time. Zhou Da works hard to earn every silver coin.”

Shen Dasao was soft-hearted. Though she hadn’t cared for Shen Linchuan before, after he humbled himself during the last visit, the family had returned to normal. As his sister-in-law, she naturally worried more.

She continued, “Don’t take offense at my bluntness. Now that you’ve married into the Zhou family, you must prioritize their side. Taking meat from ours once or twice won’t raise eyebrows—Zhou Da and Ning-ger are honest folk who won’t complain. But if both villages learn you’re currying favor here, gossip will inevitably spread behind your back.”

“Thank you, Sister-in-law. I understand.”

Shen Dage sighed. “Since Linchuan hasn’t been back for a while, you should stop saying those unpleasant things.”

“I’m not just thinking about Linchuan or Ning-ger. Since Ning-ger isn’t here today, there are things I can’t say in front of him. Have you forgotten what happened with Daniao from our village? You two men might not think of everything—don’t you think I, as your elder sister-in-law, should be more thoughtful?”

Shen Dage fell silent, looking sheepish.

Shen Linchuan felt a warmth in his heart hearing his sister-in-law’s words. He knew she meant well. Family matters like these could sometimes lead to misunderstandings.

He vaguely remembered the woman she mentioned. She’d married off a few years back. In the first year after her wedding, she often returned to her parents’ home, bringing wine and meat. The villagers all praised her parents for their good fortune.

But after several years of this, her husband’s family grew displeased. Their own household wasn’t prosperous either. While visiting in-laws was customary, one couldn’t expect the husband’s family to support the wife’s family indefinitely. She kept sending all the good things back home, and over time, resentment built until it caused chaos.

Shen Dasao picked up her needlework and continued sewing. “Some things are best done in moderation. I may not know a single character, but when it comes to managing a household, I know more than you scholars. During festivals, it’s proper to exchange gifts. When either family faces hardship, help is expected. But you can’t just pick and choose the benefits!”

Shen Linchuan nodded. His sister-in-law understood the ways of life better than he did.

He recalled when his sister-in-law first married into the family. Both his parents were still alive, and the two carpenters in the household were doing well. Relatives from his sister-in-law’s side asked his eldest brother to build a set of standing cabinets for them. His honest brother readily agreed. When his sister-in-law found out, she scolded him fiercely and took a basket of vegetables back to her parents’ home.

The reason was that Shen Dasao’s cousin was getting married. Since they lived close by, her uncle wanted a set of cabinets for the wedding. She had been married for less than half a year, and her uncle expected them to give it away for free. The wood and labor cost money—why should they do it for nothing?

Shen Dasao returned to her parents’ home in tears, claiming her uncle’s family envied her good fortune and deliberately sabotaged her. Her parents, doting on their daughter, went to confront them. The incident created a rift between the two families, and the cabinet order was eventually dropped.

Shen Linchuan recalled this incident from his hazy memories. His sister-in-law was a clever woman. Had she opened this door back then, her parents’ side would have kept asking for this cabinet, that table, and that bench. How would they manage their own household? Better to set clear boundaries from the start and avoid trouble.

Now, relatives from his sister-in-law’s side occasionally came to commission tables, benches, and stools. She charged them a little less, and everyone was happy. Since they were family who knew each other well, it was always cheaper than hiring outsiders to make furniture.

Shen Dasao naturally refused to follow her uncle’s example. Though her family gained an advantage by taking things from them, everyone was struggling with hard labor. If Ning-ger’s family faced hardship, she’d gladly help, but she wouldn’t take advantage of small favors.

Shen Linchuan first pulled out the seventy-five copper coins from the basket. Upon seeing them, Shen Dasao’s expression immediately darkened. “Why bring copper coins now!”

“Don’t be upset, sister-in-law. Hear me out. These seventy copper coins were returned by the academy. Ning-ger and I certainly couldn’t keep them, so I brought them over on my way back.”

Hearing this, Shen Dasao finally relaxed. “So you truly won’t be studying? But your teacher actually agreed to return the tuition?”

She knew Shen Linchuan’s teacher well—he looked down on those who didn’t pay their New Year’s gifts or ceremonial offerings properly. Yet this time, he’d even returned the coins.

“Ning-ger helped request it. He wouldn’t dare refuse.”

Shen Linchuan chuckled, recalling how his Fulang had looked like a mother hen protecting her chicks that day, fearing he might get beaten up.

Shen Dasao smiled. “Ning-ger is a good boy. You must look out for him in the future. How could you let your own Fulang take the lead like that?”

Shen Linchuan nodded repeatedly. He then mentioned wanting his elder brother to help build a cart frame. Shen Dage agreed without hesitation. “A wheelbarrow, right? Big brother will make it for you.”

Shen Dasao added, “Having your elder brother build it for you… You’ve married into the Zhou family, and our family hasn’t given you much in the way of dowry. I always feel a bit guilty about that.”

Shen Linchuan had married into the Zhou family. By custom, the bride’s family should provide dowry items like cotton garments and bedding; wealthier families might even include furniture.

Shen Dasao had accepted five taels of silver from the Zhou family as a gift. At the time, she and Shen Linchuan were in a bitter quarrel, and in her anger, she gave him nothing. After returning to her parents’ home, seeing the young couple getting along harmoniously and Shen Linchuan no longer acting as immaturely as before, she regretted not having given him anything to take with him.

This time, Shen Linchuan had brought money—earned from today’s business dealings. He produced them. “Sister-in-law, you were just complaining about how hard life is. Now, why are you siding with Ning-ger?”

“That’s different. It’s just a cart frame—your elder brother can make it. Uncle Zhou and Ning-ger are both good people. Your family isn’t like my uncles, who try to take advantage. It’s not the same.”

“If Ning-ger knew, he wouldn’t be pleased. I won’t stand on ceremony with you two. I’ll cover the cost of the wood, alright?”

“A tael of silver will suffice,” said Shen Dage.

“Brother, hear me out first.”

Shen Linchuan described the frame cart he wanted to his elder brother. Worried his brother wouldn’t grasp it, he grabbed a stick and sketched a rough diagram on the ground. “This is the frame, then the wheels, the axles…”

Shen Dage’s eyes lit up. “So this cart can separate the body from the wheels? That saves space. When not in use, you can just prop it upright in the shed. If you’re camping out, it could even double as a bed. It’s definitely better than a wheelbarrow and lighter than a flatbed cart.”

“Brother, the bearings inside these wheels are tricky to make.”

Shen Linchuan explained the principle and appearance of the bearings. Shen Dage became more excited as he listened. As an experienced craftsman, he grasped it instantly. “That’s no problem. I’ll head to town and have the blacksmith forge some. I’ll install them myself when I return.”

The two men crouched on the ground, murmuring to each other. Shen Dage grew more and more convinced that this frame cart was a brilliant invention.

Especially for farm work, this frame cart would undoubtedly be more useful than a wheelbarrow. And if he managed to make one, he’d be the first to craft this frame cart! Wouldn’t that mean anyone wanting one would have to come to him?

And that bearing thing inside the wheel made pushing the cart so much easier. Old carpenters could forge the frame, but they couldn’t install bearings! Even skilled craftsmen wouldn’t master that overnight!

“Linchuan, you’re bringing silver to your elder brother here. I can’t accept copper coins for my family’s cart. Once I make them, I won’t have to worry about earning silver!”

“Brother, take the seven hundred wen for now. If I take them back, Ning-ger will definitely be unhappy.”

Shen Dasao didn’t understand what the two were discussing about carts. Now that they mentioned copper coins, she asked, “Linchuan, did Zhou Da give you these copper coins?“

”No, Ning-ger and I earned them selling snacks. We just used meat from my dad—basically a no-cost business. Both Ning-ger and my dad know about the cart project. Now we have two businesses, and the wheelbarrow can’t hold everything.“

“That’s good. From now on, discuss any matters with Ning-ger’s father.”

“Understood, Sister-in-law.”

Shen Linchuan was engrossed in discussing the cart with his elder brother. Beside them, Shen Huzi and Shen Xiaoyu, the two younger children, were squatting and crunching peanuts. When he looked up, the sun had already begun to set!

Shen Linchuan remembered his fulang had asked him to return before dark. His legs had gone numb from crouching, so he hurriedly stood up. “Big Brother, is there anything else you don’t understand? If not, I’ll come back tomorrow afternoon.”

“Eat before you go back, or let your sister-in-law pack a quilt for you to sleep here tonight.”

“I can’t, Brother. I promised Ning-ger I’d be back before dark. If I don’t return, he’ll worry something happened to me on the road.”

“Right, right. There’s nothing else to explain. In ten days or so, I’ll have it ready for you.”

Shen Dasao was just about to start cooking when Shen Linchuan mentioned he was heading back. She hurried to pack things, fetching a small jar of oil-pickled vegetables from the kitchen and filling another with mountain wood ear mushrooms and wild mushrooms—all valuable mountain delicacies—stuffing quite a bit into Shen Linchuan’s bag.

She emerged carrying a basket. “Hurry back then, and be careful on the road. Now that the weather’s warming up, watch out for snakes and insects—they’re more likely to bite people.”

“Alright, Sister-in-law, I know. The tofu and blood sausage I brought today aren’t fully dried yet. Hang them in a shady spot for a few more days.” Shen Linchuan said before hurrying off toward home.

Shen Dasao hurriedly called after him, “Wait, wait! Do you know how big Ning-ger’s feet are? I’ll make you two pairs of shoes.”

Shen Dasao fetched the shoe pattern. She knew Shen Linchuan’s size, but Ning-ger’s remained a mystery. Knowing Zhou Ning wasn’t skilled with needlework—their wedding robes had been made by the neighborly aunt—Shen Dasao thought, Now that I’m here as his elder sister-in-law, why should she trouble others?

Upon hearing his sister-in-law would make shoes for Ning-ger, Shen Linchuan quickly measured the sole pattern. “Sister-in-law, Ning-ger’s foot is exactly this size.”

“How coincidental! Ning-ger’s foot is the same size as yours.”

Shen Linchuan felt a bit embarrassed. “Sister-in-law, I’ve grown a bit taller this year, and my shoes are starting to feel tight. I need mine made a bit longer.”

“Alright, I’ll take care of it. Now hurry back so Ning-ger doesn’t worry.”

“Alright!”

Shen Linchuan ruffled Shen Huzi and Shen Xiaoyu’s heads before hurrying off with his basket. The journey from Xinghua Village to Dayangshu Village took nearly an hour and a half—he needed to pick up the pace.

Seeing him run so fast, Shen Dasao called after him, “Slow down, Linchuan! Don’t spill the pickled vegetables in that basket!”

“Got it, Sister-in-law!”

Shen Linchuan hurried home. He’d been so engrossed in his conversation with his elder brother that he’d completely lost track of time!

Shen Linchuan recalled his sister-in-law asking about Ning-ger’s shoe size. He couldn’t help but chuckle. They’d been married for so long—how could he not know? Shen Linchuan cleared his throat to shake off his wandering thoughts and quickened his pace toward home.

Zhou Ning watered the vegetables in the courtyard, cleaned out the chicken coop, and even gave Dahuang a bath. By the time he finished, his father had returned. Seeing the sun already low in the west, Zhou Ning figured Shen Linchuan must be on his way home.

Zhou Ning then gathered the sliced meat and eggs needed for tomorrow’s meal. He planned to have Shen Linchuan teach him how to prepare the braised pork belly, so from now on, he would handle this task, allowing Shen Linchuan to focus on his studies.

By the time Zhou Ning finished preparing everything, dusk had fallen, yet Shen Linchuan was nowhere in sight. He went to the doorway and scanned the distant path, but saw no one. Growing anxious, he headed back to the kitchen to knead the dough for steamed buns. “Father, could you light the stove for me?”

“Alright.” Zhou Da came over to help. “Why isn’t Linchuan back yet? Hope he hasn’t gotten held up somewhere or stayed over at the Shen household.”

“He won’t. Shen Linchuan said he’d be back before dark. Father, I’ll go meet him.”

“Alright. It’s getting too dark to see the path. Take the lantern.”

Zhou Ning couldn’t stay put any longer. He fetched a paper lantern from the house, added more lamp oil inside, and said, “Father, I’m going to meet Shen Linchuan.”

“Go ahead, but take your time on the road.”

Zhou Ning hurried out the door, lantern in hand. His worries about Shen Linchuan grew—had he gotten lost? Could he see the path clearly? Had he fallen into a ditch? The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became, his steps growing even more hurried.

Shen Linchuan was also running along the road. As soon as he left Xinghua Village, he started running with his basket. The path home from Xinghua Village took him through villages and fields. Some of the narrow country lanes were now overgrown with grass up to his shoes, especially since it was the height of spring.

By now, darkness had fully settled in. The moon hid behind the clouds, refusing to appear, making the path difficult to discern. Shen Linchuan spotted the lights of the village in the distance and quickened his pace toward them.

Shen Linchuan spotted a flickering orange glow drifting through the darkness. The closer it came, the brighter it seemed. At first, he thought it might be a village lantern, but the light appeared to be heading straight for him. Could it be Ning-ger coming to meet him?

In this vast wilderness, pitch-black and devoid of any other souls, Shen Linchuan called out, “Ning-ger, is that you?”

“Shen Linchuan!”

Shen Linchuan had only called out tentatively, never expecting it to truly be his Fulang coming to fetch him home. His heart swelled with joy—someone was waiting for him to return.

Shen Linchuan broke into a run toward the light. Seeing Zhou Ning carrying a lantern to greet him, he threw his arms around him. “Ning-ger, you came for me! I thought I’d have to walk this pitch-black road alone.”

Zhou Ning had instinctively wanted to push him away—after all, they were out in the open. But then he remembered it was already dark. Who would be out here for no reason? So he let his husband embrace him.

But why was he acting so clingy? His husband loved to be affectionate. Zhou Ning was grateful that the deep darkness hid his embarrassment. Held like this, he felt as though his whole body was burning. “Let’s… let’s go home. Father is waiting for us.”

Shen Linchuan was deeply touched. He took his fulang’s hand and walked home, a small paper lantern illuminating a patch of ground ahead.

“Shen Linchuan, your hands are sweaty.”

“I ran back so you wouldn’t worry,” Shen Linchuan replied, grinning foolishly. “I chatted too long with my elder brother and lost track of time.”

“Mhm.”

Qinghe Town was usually peaceful, but Zhou Ning still worried his husband might encounter trouble. As a scholarly gentleman, Shen Linchuan wouldn’t stand a chance against thugs.

Hand in hand, they squeezed their way home. Zhou Ning walked with his back straight, maintaining a serious demeanor, while Shen Linchuan grew increasingly bold, pressing closer to his Fulang, practically wanting to burrow into his embrace.

“You’re going to trample the wheat sprouts.”

Shen Linchuan stiffened for a moment before pulling him closer. “Then lean on me as we walk.”

As soon as they reached the doorstep, Dahuang came wagging his tail, barking twice to draw Zhou Da’s head out of the kitchen. “Linchuan and Ning-ger are back.”

“We’re home, Father,” Shen Linchuan said cheerfully, his mood excellent. “Father, have you started cooking? I’ll take over. I’ll make Ning-ger’s favorite stir-fried bottle gourd.”

Shen Linchuan stepped into the courtyard under the faint light spilling onto the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and began helping.

The dim oil lamp in the main hall, the flickering flames beneath the stove, and the wheat aroma wafting from the pot—Shen Linchuan felt incredibly fortunate to have found such a wonderful Fulang and such a wonderful father.

That evening, Zhou Ning enjoyed his favorite stir-fried bottle gourd with eggs, along with the oil-pickled vegetables Shen Linchuan had brought back from his elder brother’s home.

All the ingredients for tomorrow’s business were prepared. Today, they’d intentionally bought extra dried tofu from the village tofu seller, and Zhou Ning had already peeled the eggs. “Shen Linchuan, I’ll cook. You keep an eye on things.”

“Alright.”

After dinner, the two squeezed into the kitchen together to prepare the braised pork. Zhou Da washed his face, humming a tune as he returned to his room. The young couple were so affectionate—he’d seen them holding hands when they first came back. With the household now peaceful and harmonious, he couldn’t help but feel happy.

Zhou Da thought of Ning-ger’s other father, who had passed away from illness after only a few good years with him. He hadn’t taken good care of Ning-ger either—the poor boy had suffered living with a rough man like himself. Over the years, their inability to marry had drawn plenty of gossip in the village.

His son-in-law was more thoughtful than he’d ever been, devoted to his family and kind to his Fulang. He took better care of Ning-ger than he ever had. Though the young man wasn’t much of a talker, Zhou Da could see Ning-ger was happier than ever since their marriage. Ning-ger’s late father would surely be pleased too.

After learning the technique from Shen Linchuan yesterday, Zhou Ning tried it himself today. His result was eighty percent as good as Shen Linchuan’s. Shen Linchuan praised him again, “Impressive! My Fulang mastered it after just one lesson. Truly remarkable!”

Zhou Ning had rarely heard praise directed at him in his life. The only time he’d ever been complimented before was when someone remarked, “This kid sure is strong!”

The moment they turned back and caught sight of the crimson birthmark at his eyebrow’s end, they retreated in awkward haste.

Flustered by the praise, Zhou Ning stammered, “I, I’ll boil some water for you to wash up. Have a bath.”

“Alright, thank you for your trouble, my dear Fulang.”

Shen Linchuan had run all the way back from Xinghua Village today. Sweaty from the journey, he felt completely refreshed after bathing and changing into dry clothes.

Zhou Ning squatted by the doorway, brushing his teeth with a willow twig. He swished water around his mouth, spat out the tooth powder with a puff, wrung out his sweat towel, and wiped himself clean before heading back inside to rest.

Shen Linchuan now wore only his undershirt, leaning leisurely against the bed with a book in hand. The loose garment hung loosely, revealing a hint of his toned abs.

Zhou Ning frowned slightly. Though April brought warming days, nights still held a chill. After a moment’s hesitation by the bedside, he walked over, pulled the quilt from the bed, and covered Shen Linchuan with it. “It gets cold at night. Don’t leave your belly exposed and let the cold seep in.”

Shen Linchuan exhaled sharply, having held his breath for quite some time!

After all these days of training, his abdominal muscles still weren’t very pronounced. He’d been holding his breath precisely to make them look better! Yet his fulang was only focused on staring at his belly button!