Song Ning was utterly enamored with the little spotted cat, clutching it close to his chest. Worried the winter cold might harm it, he kept it by the brazier to keep warm.

Chen Cuihua also grew quite fond of the little spotted cat. She found a newly woven wicker basket at home, lined it with soft straw, then added a layer of old cloth to make a cozy nest for the little creature to rest in.

At night, when Song Ning tried to bring the kitten into bed, Wei Hu pulled it out with a stern expression. “No.”

Song Ning grumbled, “Why not? It’s so tiny. If I leave it in the kitchen, it’ll freeze to death.”

“It won’t freeze. I’ll keep an eye on it.”

He’d brought this little tabby home to cheer Song Ning up, not to compete with him for his Fulang. Song Ning pinched the kitten’s ears. “Then find it a warm spot. Don’t let it freeze.”

“Got it.”

Wei Hu carried the little colorful cat to the hearth in the kitchen. The area under the pot was warm, and once the wooden door was shut, there wasn’t a single draft. After settling the little creature, Wei Hu went back to his room to sleep. The moment he touched the bed, Song Ning rolled into his arms, and Wei Hu fell asleep holding him.

In the middle of the night, he got up again to check on the little calico in the kitchen. He reached out to touch its nest—it was warm inside. Only then did he feel at ease.

Song Ning adored this little calico intensely. If it couldn’t be raised to adulthood, he’d be heartbroken again. Wei Hu hadn’t brought this kitten over to cause Song Ning grief.

Song Ning missed the little tabby, too. He woke up early, eager to see it. While Wei Hu cooked breakfast, Song Ning brought the kitten to tend the fire. The tiny, lazy creature lay sprawled across his lap, eyes half-closed.

The weather was fine today. Wei Hu had gone into the mountains with his supplies, so Song Ning played with the little tabby in the sunshine. He planned to visit Qiu-ger later—he’d sketched some new flower patterns for him yesterday to give as a gift.

The small calico cat was playing in the yard, its tail held high. Song Ning called out “Mee-mee” twice, and it came running over, coaxing a smile from him.

“Ning-ger!”

Someone called from the doorway. Song Ning looked up and saw Qiu-ger approaching. His eyes lit up, and he hurried over. “Qiu-ger, you’re here! I drew some new flower patterns and was just thinking of giving them to you.”

Qiu-ger felt awkward seeing Song Ning again, especially with Sun Dazhuang accompanying him. “Is Brother Hu at home?”

“No, Brother Wei Hu went hunting in the mountains early this morning.”

Sun Dazhuang nudged his Fulang gently. “Then you and your sister-in-law stay and play. I’ll head back first.”

With Wei Hu absent, Sun Dazhuang felt it was inappropriate to linger. Since Qiu-ger hesitated to come alone, he escorted him to the gate before returning home.

Song Ning beamed as he pulled Qiu-ger into the courtyard. “Why haven’t you come to see me in so long? I’ve been waiting for you forever.”

Qiu-ger blushed slightly. “Ning-ger, I’m sorry. That day…”

Before Qiu-ger could finish, Song Ning cut him off. “It’s not your fault. I wanted to come find you, but I was afraid your mother would scold me.”

Song Ning happily went inside and brought out the flower patterns he’d drawn for Qiu-ger. “Look, I drew some more. They’re all for you.”

A warm feeling washed over Qiu-ger, melting away his earlier awkwardness. He was still carrying his basket. Lifting the ragged cloth covering it, he showed Song Ning inside. “Ning-ger, look! I went to town yesterday to sell embroidered handkerchiefs and bought some paper for you.”

“But this is so expensive!” Song Ning exclaimed, yet he didn’t refuse. He happily accepted it. “Qiu-ger, you’re so kind. I was afraid you wouldn’t come find me anymore.”

“Not at all.”

The two sat together in the courtyard, basking in the sun. Song Ning scooped up the little tabby kitten from the ground and cradled it in his arms. “Look! This is the little tabby Wei Hu gave me!”

Only then did Qiu-ger notice the tiny creature in the courtyard. He reached down and gave it a gentle pat. “It’s so tiny! Is it a boy or a girl?”

As he spoke, Qiu-ger lifted the kitten by its hind legs. The little creature immediately hissed at him, startling Qiu-ger into dropping it. “It’s a little female kitten, and she’s quite fierce!”

“My mother said calico cats are fierce too—they can even fight dogs.” Song Ning smiled as he cradled the kitten. Holding it close in winter would warm his hands. “By the way, Qiu-ger, you mentioned going to town to sell embroidered handkerchiefs. How did it go? Did they sell well?”

At this, Qiu-ger perked up. “Ning-ger, guess how much I sold each handkerchief for this time!”

“Fifteen wen?”

Qiu-ger had told him before that he usually sold them for eight wen each, so fifteen wen was already quite a lot.

Qiu-ger excitedly grabbed Song Ning’s hand. “Eighteen wen!”

“That much!”

Hearing that Qiu-ger had sold a handkerchief for eighteen wen made Song Ning happy too—it meant Qiu-ger could earn more.

Qiu-ger couldn’t contain his joy. “This is all thanks to you, Ning-ger, for helping me design the patterns! The shopkeeper at the embroidery shop said the designs were fantastic! Oh, and this is for you!”

Qiu-ger reached into his chest and pulled out a small string of copper coins. “Ning-ger, these are yours.”

Song Ning thought Qiu-ger was simply giving him coins for no reason. Knowing Qiu-ger’s family wasn’t well-off, he couldn’t possibly accept them. He pushed the coins away, refusing to take them.

Qiu-ger let out an exclamation and slapped his hand. “I’m not giving you these! Have you forgotten? You gave me some flower patterns earlier. I took them to the embroidery shop owner to show him, and he paid me five wen for each one!”

Song Ning’s eyes widened in surprise. He never imagined his flower patterns could actually sell!

Qiu-ger grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. ”You gave me twenty flower patterns. That’s exactly one hundred wen—quite a lot! Each pattern is worth as much as an egg now.”

Song Ning held the small string of coins, stunned with delight. He never imagined he could earn copper coins himself. He’d originally thought of selling some calligraphy or paintings, hoping to supplement the household income. But he hadn’t dared to use the silver he had—paper for painting was expensive, costing two or three taels of silver.

Now that he could earn copper coins, wouldn’t he be able to save up and buy some paper later? The more Song Ning thought about it, the happier he became. Hugging the little calico cat, he bent down and kissed it. “I can earn copper coins!”

“That’s right! You earn copper coins much faster than I do embroidering. Though five wen per floral pattern, embroidering a handkerchief takes me at least two days.”

Qiu-ger suggested he could sell the basket’s floral pattern next time he visited the embroidery workshop, or even when he went to town. Song Ning shook his head. “This is a gift for you, Qiu-ger. I’m not selling it.”

“Alright, then I’ll accept it.”

The two resumed their usual closeness, sitting knee-to-knee in the courtyard as they chatted.

Chen Cuihua returned carrying her basket. Not one to stay cooped up indoors and always restless, she’d taken advantage of the fine weather to pound some rice. Overhearing gossip about Song Ning, she’d stormed back, hands on her hips, berating the busybodies until they dared not utter another word.

The gossiping old women and their Fulang were silenced by her scolding. Chen Cuihua returned triumphant, her rice pounded and ready.

“Qiu-ger is here.”

Qiu-ger gave Chen Cuihua an embarrassed smile. “Auntie, you’re back.”

“Ah.”

Song Ning trotted over, clutching his string of coins. “Mother, Qiu-ger gave me some paper! Look, and here are the copper coins I earned!”

Chen Cuihua gasped. “How did you earn this? It looks like quite a lot.”

“I drew flower patterns, and Qiu-ger helped me sell them in town. Five wen each—I made a full hundred wen!” Song Ning clutched his small string of coins like a child seeking praise, beaming with delight.

Chen Cuihua hadn’t imagined those tiny embroidery patterns could fetch coins. “Goodness gracious! Five wen can buy an egg now!”

Song Ning was thrilled, too. Finally, he could earn coins for the family. Up until now, Wei Hu and his mother had handled everything inside and out, and he hadn’t been able to help at all. Now that he had a way to earn coins, he was overjoyed.

Chen Cuihua’s face was beaming. “Mother will go buy two blocks of tofu. We’ll have stewed tofu for lunch.”

Song Ning pulled Chen Cuihua back. “Mother, go buy some meat instead. I want you and Brother Wei Hu to have meat.”

“Alright, but if I go now, I won’t be back until after noon. I’ll get you some meat this afternoon.”

Song Ning pressed the copper coins into Chen Cuihua’s hand. “Mom, use the coins I earned. I want to buy meat for you and Brother Wei Hu to eat.”

Chen Cuihua was overjoyed inside. This little ger was truly endearing. “Alright, Mom will go buy some meat this afternoon. We’ll have a proper meal.”

Song Ning nodded eagerly. He could earn copper coins now!

That afternoon, Chen Cuihua carried her basket to buy meat. A butcher two villages away made it convenient. She bought a string of premium pork belly, some cheaper bones, and pig’s blood, spending forty-five wen. She carefully tucked the remaining wen away for Song Ning, intending to give them to him when they returned home.

Chen Cuihua carried the basket of meat with a spring in her step. Usually, when any family in the village bought something nice, they’d hide it away, afraid others would find out they were eating well. They worried outsiders might come over, and they wouldn’t be able to offer them anything.

Chen Cuihua, however, carried her basket uncovered with open pride. She wanted the whole village to see! Who said her Ning-ger was lazy and good for nothing? Her little ger was quite the catch—even a single flower pattern sold for five wen!

Chen Cuihua paraded back to the village. Though the afternoon sun wasn’t as strong as morning’s, it was still warm. The village entrance was inevitably crowded with idle folk—some grinding grain or pounding rice, others huddled together gossiping.

She wasn’t one to chat with villagers. Chen Cuihua believed that time was better spent working harder; some families were poor for a reason.

Today, however, Chen Cuihua deliberately walked past them, basket in hand. “Dabao’s mom, pounding rice over here?”

“Oh my! Sister Cuihua, why so much meat? Is there some celebration at home?”

Chen Cuihua covered her mouth and laughed. “Not at all! Ning-ger earned some copper coins and insisted on buying meat for Wei Hu and me. That boy! I told him to keep it for himself, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Now he’s always sneaking off to buy meat whenever he gets a chance.”

The village hadn’t stopped gossiping about Song Ning. Everyone said Chen Cuihua had married Wei Hu, a useless Fulang. What kind of Fulang was that? It was like bringing home an ancestor to worship. What Fulang was a good for nothing?

Now, hearing Song Ning had earned some copper coins, they all pricked up their ears to listen. Wasn’t he supposed to be good for nothing?

Li Guifen was there too. She couldn’t stand seeing Chen Cuihua gloating. She was the first to ask, “Cuihua, you didn’t sneak and spend your own copper coins to buy that meat, did you?”

Chen Cuihua’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “Of course not! It’s copper coins from our Ning-ger. Honestly, that boy… he drew some embroidery patterns and sold them. For each large pattern, they gave him five copper coins!”

“What? Those embroidery patterns can sell for coins?”

“Five copper coins? That can buy an egg!”

The onlookers buzzed with discussion. Eggs were precious in the countryside, especially in winter when hens stopped laying. They were even more valuable then. Usually, adults wouldn’t dare eat the eggs at home; they’d either take them to town to sell or occasionally let the children have one.

Granny Sun was the ultimate gossip, spending eight out of ten days at the village entrance spreading rumors. When she spotted Chen Cuihua approaching, she’d planned to slip away, fearing another spit in her face. But Chen Cuihua ignored her entirely, so Granny Sun stayed put.

Stretching her neck to listen, she caught every word. Seeing the meat in Chen Cuihua’s basket only deepened her envy.