After the summer passed, Lin Yu finally felt a bit better. Zhao Yueniang accompanied her in the courtyard as they sewed little clothes for the two little ones. Zhao Yueniang bent over her sewing, looking quite happy. “I wonder if it’ll be ger or a boy?”

“Either is fine. Babies don’t care about colors—they look adorable in red.”

Tuan-ger came running over, clutching a piece of malt sugar. “Little Daddy, have some~”

“Little Daddy is sewing clothes for your little brother. You eat it yourself.”

“Play with my little brother~”

Tuan-ger, perched on Lin Yu’s lap, was watching him sew the tiny clothes. Daddy said he’d have a little brother to play with soon.

“Yueniang, you’re sixteen this year, right?” Lin Yu asked.

Zhao Yueniang hummed in acknowledgment, head bowed as she continued sewing the little garment.

At sixteen, Zhao Yueniang was of marriageable age. Lin Yu had considered asking Wei Qingshan to help arrange a match—his sister certainly wouldn’t settle for anything less than suitable.

“You’re growing up so fast. Should I have your brother keep an eye out for you?”

“Brother, I don’t want to marry so young. I still want to stay with you.”

Zhao Yueniang didn’t want to marry so soon. She didn’t have anyone special in mind anyway. Life was good now, and whether she married or not didn’t really matter to her. Over the years, she’d saved up forty or fifty taels of silver in the shop. Her brother never made her spend a single coin on food or clothes.

“Brother, I want to stay with you. Then I can take care of my two little nephews.”

“Silly girl, if you really are, tell your brother. I’ll keep an eye on things for you.”

“No, there’s nothing like that.”

The two chatted while working on their needlework. How could Lin Yu not worry? She was his only close sister. He feared she might not find a good match later, that her life wouldn’t be comfortable. He didn’t demand great wealth—just enough to avoid want, a harmonious home life.

Making clothes for the two little ones was quite a task—little undershirts, spring jackets, vests, shoes, hats. Each child needed at least seven or eight sets.

With Zhao Yueniang’s help, Lin Yu got through the work much faster. He didn’t have much else to do anyway; Shi Xiaoliu managed the shop, and he only needed to glance at the ledgers occasionally.

Wei Qingshan headed straight home after work, skipping the usual drinking and dining out. His colleagues joked that he was a henpecked husband. Wei Qingshan chuckled, “That’s right. These days, I’m entirely supported by my husband.”

The group burst into laughter. Their official salaries weren’t generous, and some had families to feed. Who else could openly admit to being a kept man like Wei Qingshan?

Many knew that the county’s famed First Pavilion was run by Wei Qingshan’s husband. A husband capable of managing such a large establishment couldn’t be an ordinary man. Those who hadn’t met Lin Yu assumed he must be formidable, keeping even someone like Wei Qingshan firmly under his thumb.

Wei Qingshan couldn’t care less what others thought. Now, his fulang was the one bringing home the silver. His meager salary, barely two taels, couldn’t even cover Tuan-ger’s food and clothes alone.

After finishing his duties, he rode home on horseback. Tuan-ger was playing in the courtyard. Hearing the hoofbeats, he ran toward the gate. “Daddy, Daddy~”

“Here I am, Daddy’s back.” Wei Qingshan dismounted. Tuan-ger held out his little arms for a hug. “Ride horse, horse~”

“Alright.” Wei Qingshan hoisted Tuan-ger onto the horse with one arm. Lin Yu watched them from the main hall doorway. “Take it slow.”

“Don’t worry, I’m just taking him for a little spin.”

Tuan-ger, tiny in Wei Qingshan’s arms, showed no fear on the horse. He giggled happily, waving his little hands. Wei Qingshan rode him around the courtyard a few times before setting him down when he’d had his fill.

Tuan-ger danced with joy, “Daddy, big horse~”

“Mm-hmm. Daddy will teach you to ride someday. Come inside, weee~” Wei Qingshan carried Tuan-ger inside. Lin Yu took him from his arms. “Wash your hands, it’s time to eat.”

“Okay.”

With so many family members gathered around the table, the meal was lively. Now that the weather had cooled, Lin Yu’s appetite had improved. His jaw had grown sharp during the summer, but he had finally gained some weight back.

Wei Qingshan ladled a bowl of shredded chicken soup for Lin Yu. He particularly loved this soup made by Xu Nainai, who prepared it for him every few days. Since Lin Yu’s pregnancy, the family’s meals had become more refined, and even Ding Xiaohe and Ding Xiaosui had gained a bit of weight.

Taking advantage of the fine weather, Lin Yu was fermenting soybean paste again. Many dishes at the shop required this fermented paste. He also took apart the winter quilts to wash the covers.

Business at the shop was booming and gradually gaining a reputation. Before they knew it, winter arrived. When the first snow fell, Lin Yu lit a charcoal fire indoors.

Tuan-ger was running wild in the courtyard, chasing snowflakes. Dressed in a little red cape, he looked like a red ball of fluff. Worried he might fall, Lin Yu called out, “Tuan-ger, slow down.”

“Daddy, snow~”

Lin Yu gazed at Tuan-ger with tender eyes. Wei Qingshan always said Tuan-ger resembled him, but he couldn’t recall what he looked like as a child. He only remembered his mother’s warm hand, always holding his.

Lin Yu stroked his rounded belly. With two little ones joining the household, life would only grow livelier.

This New Year, being pregnant, Lin Yu wouldn’t return home. On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, he had Wei Qingshan hire a carriage to send Shi Xiaoliu, Ding Xiaohe, and the others back. They would be fetched back on the tenth day of the new year.

Ding Xiaohe and Ding Xiaosui were delighted. They ate well and lived comfortably at the county government office. Their wages were occasionally sent home through intermediaries, and they had saved up some copper coins themselves. During their breaks, they could buy little snacks.

Lin Yu gave the three some parting advice as he watched them board the carriage. He also asked Ding Xiaohe to deliver ten taels of silver to the eldest son of the Ding family—the agreed-upon annual nominal payment.

Ding Xiaosui hadn’t expected they’d be returning by carriage. After a year at the county seat, she’d grown bolder. Though still shy by nature, she could now help serve tables when the kitchen got too busy.

The carriage first dropped Shi Xiaoliu off at the town, then took the two to Hulucun Village. Winter days were already short, and Hulucun was remote. By the time the driver delivered them to the village, night had fallen.

Ding Xiaohe leaped down first. “Father! Uncle! We’re back!”

Second Uncle Ding recognized his second and third sons. “Ah! Xiaohe and Xiaosui are back! How was the trip? Was it cold?”

“Not cold. Cousin arranged a carriage to bring us home.” Ding Xiaohe beamed at seeing his father, little father, and siblings.

“Oh, Father, it’s dark now. The driver is still outside. He’ll need to stay the night at our place.”

“Of course, of course.”

Second Uncle Ding hurried out to welcome the young man inside. It was the dead of winter and already dark—how could they send him away?

Ding Xiaohe had an older brother who was also of marriageable age, and a younger sister who was only seven this year. Since he and Xiaosui had gone out this year, everyone at home had winter coats to wear this winter. Ding Xiaohe was quite pleased; at least they wouldn’t have to endure the cold so harshly anymore.

Ding Xiaohe glanced at their dilapidated courtyard. “Father, where are my uncle and the others? I don’t see them.”

“Your uncle received ten taels of silver last year and built a new house on the village outskirts. With that silver, he constructed two rooms of blue-brick walls. Since the silver wasn’t enough, he temporarily thatched the roof. He’s already come over two or three times just to ask when you two would return.”

Ding Xiaohe knew exactly why his uncle was coming—he wanted the silver his cousin had given him. He handed the ten taels he’d brought back to his father. “Father, Cousin Lin told us to bring this back.”

“Alright. Give it to your uncle when he comes tomorrow. Save him the trouble of making so many trips.”

After his uncle’s family moved out, their home felt less cramped. Though they still slept on straw mattresses, the siblings no longer had to huddle together.

Ding Fulang brought out a few bowls of noodles. “Xiaohe, Xiaosui, eat first.”

“Alright!”

The driver ate and then rested. Ding Xiaohe and the others gathered in the dilapidated main room, sleeves tucked into their trousers as they huddled around a dim oil lamp. They listened as Ding Xiaohe recounted events from the county seat.

“Cousin Lin has been so kind to us. Last year, when we went to see him, we were dressed so thinly. He wanted us to wear his silk-lined coats, but I refused—I was too dirty. As soon as he got to town, he bought new coats for me and Xiaosui. At the county seat, we shared a room in a brick-and-tile house!”

Father Ding nodded repeatedly, murmuring, “That’s wonderful, that’s wonderful.” Deeply grateful to Lin Yu, he marveled that even after rising to success, he still remembered his impoverished relatives. This year alone, his second and third children had sent home seven or eight taels of silver—their combined wages now equaled the ten taels Ding Laoda earned annually.

With the silver sent by the two boys, they could all wear padded jackets this year. Though their meals were still cornbread, they could eat their fill—life was much better than before.

“Cousin Lin even had the housekeeper make new padded jackets for me and Xiaosui this winter. At home, we eat whatever Cousin Lin eats. Xiaosui and I haven’t suffered any hardship since following him.”

“That’s wonderful, truly wonderful. Your cousin Lin is a good man.”

“Oh, and cousin Lin is expecting twins! They’re due in just a few months!”

Upon hearing this, Ding Fulang exclaimed, “That’s wonderful! Has your cousin returned home this year? Your father and I were thinking of going to town tomorrow to buy some things to send over.”

“No, he hasn’t. It’s not good for him to come back while he’s carrying.”

“Then tomorrow, our whole family will go to the town market. Your father will make a few pairs of tiger-head shoes for you two to take back when you visit.”

“Alright!”

The youngest sister tugged at her second brother. “Second Brother, what’s the county seat like?”

“The county seat is huge! The roads are wide, and the shops are all two stories tall. The wealthy folks on the streets wear brocades and silks. You wouldn’t believe it—Cousin Lin’s husband works at the government office. Everyone calls him Captain Wei. He’s so impressive!”

“What! Yu-ger’s husband is an official? Good heavens, that’s incredible!”

Second Uncle Ding gaped in astonishment. Living in such a remote place, they’d never seen an official—the village head was the highest authority they knew. That Lin Yu’s ger was an official! Though he didn’t know what a “Hundred-Men” rank entailed, the title alone suggested command over a hundred men. This must be a significant position!

His family had truly met a noble benefactor. “Xiaohe, Xiaosui, you two must work diligently for your cousin Lin. Don’t let him down.”

“Father, little father, rest assured. I will work hard alongside my cousin.”

Father Ding sighed, remembering something. “While you two were away this year, our family split from your uncle’s household. What did our poor family have to divide? Just two acres of dry land—one acre each. And then your uncle’s Xueniang got married off.”

“Why did they suddenly marry off Xueniang? We never heard Uncle’s family mention any such plan before we left!”