Song Ning was also stuffed. He played with the little calico cat in the courtyard for a while before going back inside. The little calico cat now looked like a little ball of fluff, strutting around the courtyard with its tail held high; not even Hei Dou and Hua Dou dared to provoke it.

After moving to town, Song Ning was worried the little calico cat might run away, so he kept her tied up at home for two days. This upset the little calico cat, and she started whining, dragging a chair leg all over the courtyard.

Song Ning had no choice but to untie the little calico cat. “Don’t run off—what would I do if you got lost?”

The little creature was very attached to home; at night, it would often hop back along the wall. Not only were there no more mice in her house, but not even a bird dared to land in the yard. It would only let Song Ning pet it; if anyone else tried to touch it, it would squawk as if threatening to attack.

Song Ning cradled the little calico, squishing and rolling it in his hands. When he’d had enough fun, he went back inside to read. He was currently staying in Yun-ger’s study, where he had no shortage of books to read all day long; whenever he saw one that interested him, he’d bring it home.

A candle was lit in the room, providing much brighter light than an oil lamp. Chen Cuihua had bought it, saying that since she’d earned some silver, she should spend it—especially since she’d noticed everyone else was using candles.

Song Ning was leaning against a small cot, flipping through a book, when Wei Hu sat down beside him. He’d missed Song Ning dearly during the few days they’d been apart.

Wei Hu sat down with Song Ning in his arms on his lap. Song Ning struggled a little. “Brother Wei Hu, stop messing around. I’m reading.”

“You go ahead and read. I’ll read with you.”

“Brother Wei Hu, how about I teach you to read? Then when the New Year comes, I’ll have you write the couplets for our family.”

“Sure thing, Master Song.”

Song Ning felt a bit embarrassed by the nickname. He cleared his throat and put on his “Master” act. “Then let go of me—it’s disrespectful for a subordinate to touch a superior.”

Wei Hu raised an eyebrow and let go of the person in his arms. Song Ning, now in the mood, grabbed a brush and ink and set about teaching Wei Hu, thinking that once Brother Wei Hu could read, he’d be better equipped to manage the family shop—it would certainly be better than going into the mountains to hunt, exposed to the wind and sun.

But as the lesson went on, his student grew restless. Wei Hu had just learned to write both their names that day, and Song Ning’s deadpan expression was simply too alluring—it even made Wei Hu’s blood boil.

Song Ning indulged his mischief; he loosened his inner garment, revealing half a shoulder. “Brother Wei Hu, come here,” he said.

“Who taught you that, Master Song?”

Having stirred up the trouble himself, Song Ning had to be the one to smooth things over. He ended up crying, but Wei Hu coaxed him until he was completely disoriented, and Song Ning let him run wild again.

Before dawn, Wei Hu went out with Chen Cuihua to open their shop. When he got up, Song Ning was still fast asleep, his exposed arm covered in red marks. Wei Hu pulled the blanket over his Fulang to keep him warm.

Although it wasn’t yet dawn, small vendors carrying vegetables on their shoulder poles had already arrived from the countryside.

Business at home was booming, and Chen Cuihua was brimming with energy. No sooner had she moved the shop counter aside than a young woman approached. “Is that you, Aunt Chen? I’m Zhang Sanniang.”

“It is Zhang Sanniang! Come on in. Ning-ger said you’re hardworking and bright—and I can see that’s true.”

“Aunt Chen, I’m not too late, am I?”

“Not at all. Look, I’ve just opened up shop—you’ve come at just the right time.”

Zhang Sanniang was used to doing household chores; she rolled up her sleeves and joined in the work right away. Wei Hu was there today, too, helping to chop the meat for the filling.

As soon as dawn broke, laborers and porters from the docks came over for breakfast. Most would order a couple of steamed buns, while the better-off would add a bowl of mixed-grain porridge costing two wen. These were the shop’s earliest customers. Chen Cuihua knew they were all manual laborers, so she always filled their bowls of porridge extra full.

When the sun came up, business was at its peak. Women and Fulang who had gotten up early to buy vegetables often brought their children along to eat. The children loved brown sugar steamed buns, while the adults preferred a bowl of steaming meatball soup; before leaving, they’d take some steamed buns and pastries home with them.

The nearby fabric shops, pastry shops, and tailor shops also began opening their doors one after another. Shopkeepers would send their clerks over to buy a bowl of meatball soup and a few pastries, and so a busy day would begin.

The streets were getting busier, with the sounds of vendors’ calls rising and falling: “Tofu for sale~ Fresh, hot tofu!”

“Fresh, live carp—look, they’re still jumping!”

“Chinese cabbage, Chinese cabbage—only two wen a head, a bargain!”

Song Ning hadn’t even gotten up yet when the market was in full swing. Wei Hu had kept him up too late last night, and his lower back was still aching. Thankfully, today was his day off; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to let Wei Hu run wild like that on a regular day.

He’d wasted twenty wen yesterday taking them to see a doctor—both of them were in better shape than the other, especially Wei Hu, who spent most of his time running through the mountains and forests and was as strong as an ox.

Song Ning came out with her hair tied back. Lan-ger had gotten up at some point and was already feeding the family’s cow; the troughs for the chickens and ducks were all filled with bran. The little guy was quite capable.

“Lan-ger, haven’t you eaten yet? Come on, let’s go to the street and grab a bowl of soup noodles.”

Song Ning took Lan-ger out for breakfast. He’d gotten up a bit late, so there weren’t many people on the street at that hour. There was a place on this street that served delicious soup noodles—the noodles were chewy and smooth, and topped with a spoonful of savory chicken and shiitake mushroom sauce. It was incredibly fragrant.

Song Ning came to this street every day, always bringing Lan-ger with him. At first, people thought he was just taking the child to school, but after a while, they realized he was actually the schoolmaster himself, and they treated him with special courtesy.

“Master Song, are you heading to the shop?”

“Oh, business is booming, Auntie.”

“Teacher Song, you’re a bit late today. I see your husband’s been busy at the shop.”

Song Ning looked a little embarrassed. “I got up a little late.”

Song Ning arrived at the noodle shop with Lan-ger. “Sister-in-law, two bowls of chicken and shiitake mushroom soup noodles, please.”

“Oh, Master Song has the day off today.”

“Yeah, the school’s closed today.”

Everyone was exceptionally polite to Song Ning. Whenever someone received a letter or wanted to write one, they’d ask Song Ning for help. He never minded the trouble; with his handsome looks and gentle disposition, many of the older women in the neighborhood were fond of him.

After finishing his bowl of soup noodles, Song Ning headed to the shop. It was a bit less crowded now, and Zhang Sanniang had arrived and was tidying up the tables. Song Ning greeted her, “Zhang Sanniang.”

Zhang Sanniang was delighted to see Song Ning-ger. “Ning-ger, why didn’t you let Granny Zhang know you were coming to town? Then your older brother and I could have come over to lend a hand.”

“I just didn’t want to be a bother. Big Brother Zhang is pretty busy with his work, too.”

Song Ning had heard from Wei Hu yesterday that Brother Zhang was working as a porter at the docks. Since that kind of work was already so physically demanding, he certainly didn’t want to go out of his way to trouble him.

Zhang Sanniang had been working all morning, and Chen Cuihua was quite pleased with her. She was cheerful and hardworking—making dumplings, frying meatballs, and cleaning the tables until everything was spotless.

“Third Sister is really capable. With her helping out from now on, Ning-ger, you won’t have to get up early to help anymore. You’re already busy enough with the school.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanniang asked, “Ning-ger, are you working as a teacher in town?”

“I set up a small school with some friends. I’m teaching a few young gers and girls.”

“Wow, that’s amazing! Ning-ger, you’re really something.”

Zhang Sanniang had great respect for people who were educated and literate. That Ning-ger—just a young ger—had actually opened his own school; he was truly impressive!

After a while, Granny Zhang came over to see how Song Ning was getting along. She was delighted to learn that the family had opened a shop in town, but when she saw Song Ning, she launched into another round of scolding, complaining that he hadn’t even told her about such a big event.

Seeing that Song Ning was now living well, Granny Zhang was pleased too. She took his hand, deeply gratified, and said, “Although you’re not as wealthy as you were back in the Song Ning days, things aren’t too bad either.”

“Granny Zhang, I’m doing just fine now.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Granny Zhang said softly to Song Ning. “The Song family isn’t what it used to be these days. I hear that Wu Cai’e mixes old rice with new rice to sell—she’s always after those petty profits—and her business is getting worse and worse.”

Song Ning felt a pang of regret upon hearing that the rice shop’s business was struggling. When his father was alive, he used to sell rice at a discount to poor families, but now that Wu Cai’e was in charge of the family business, those discounted rice deals were likely long gone.

Song Ning let out a soft sigh of regret. “My father passed away so suddenly—it’s a shame he didn’t get to enjoy the reputation he’d built.”

“Oh, I don’t think that shop will last much longer.”

Granny Zhang stopped by, took a look at Song Ning, and then left. Knowing he was doing well now put her mind at ease. Back when Shopkeeper Song was around, he’d treated her family well and had always looked out for them. Now that Shopkeeper Song was gone, the family shop would sooner or later fall apart under Wu Cai’e’s management.

Since Zhang Sanniang was here today, the vegetables for the meatball soup were all prepped; whenever someone ordered it, they just needed to give them a quick blanch. Chen Cuihua had also gone back to the countryside with Song Ning.

It had been nearly two months since they’d last been back, so Chen Cuihua thought she’d take the opportunity to check on her family’s fields.

Wei Hu drove the oxcart, and the three of them sat comfortably on straw mats as they made their way back to the countryside.

The corn was growing in full swing right now—already as tall as a person. Although the main road was crowded with people, once the corn grew this tall, young women and Fulang didn’t dare go to town alone. The elders at home all said that once the corn grew this tall, there would be more kidnappers about.

As soon as the oxcart reached the village entrance, quite a few people turned to look. “Oh, it’s Cuihua coming back!”

“Yeah, just coming home to check on things.”

“How’s business? Did everything go well in town?”

“It’s been okay, it’s been okay.”

Wei Hu kept pulling the oxcart without stopping; otherwise, small talk would have taken up too much time. It was already getting late, and he still had things to take care of.

Once Wei Hu had driven the oxcart a good distance away, a few women and Fulang began to chat among themselves. “Look how brightly Aunt Cuihua is dressed today—she’s wearing a whole new outfit.”

“I heard from Granny Sun that Ning-ger has opened a school in town, too.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

“You bet. Just look at Lan-ger—he’s living so well with that couple now. His little face is so fair and healthy—he doesn’t look anything like the little beggar he used to be.”

The group chattered away, recalling how Chen Cuihua’s family had once lived in poverty and had a bad reputation, but now they were living comfortably in town.

Wei Hu drove the oxcart first to Sun Dazhuang’s house, pulling it straight into the courtyard. Granny Sun was washing diapers in the courtyard; when she saw Song Ning and the others arrive, she hurriedly called out, “Qiu-ger, Ning-ger has come to see you!”