“I’ll tell you what, I ate leftovers for breakfast and made sure to eat only half a steamed bun. Mom said you were going to buy fish, so I knew I had to save room.”

“Let’s have breakfast this afternoon. We went to sleep too late yesterday. After we finish the fish, if we have time, let’s go take a bath together!”

Although it’s hot enough to bathe at home, going to the public bathhouse is just different—it feels so much better.

Seeing his husband’s rosy cheeks and lively, chatty demeanor, Huangfu Tieniu knew he’d slept well last night—a full night’s rest had left him looking refreshed. He immediately agreed to everything he suggested, finding everything he said appealing.

“If we don’t have time, we can just as easily go tomorrow. Let’s not rush. After we bathe, we can head to the East and West Markets to restock our goods.” Tang Xianling reversed his previous suggestion and proposed a new plan.

Huangfu Tieniu smiled and said, “Alright, we’ll do as you say.”

Tang Xianling: Hehe.

The two were talking by the mule stable. Huangfu Tieniu was feeding hay to the mule, while Tang Xianling circled around it. He was so happy that he rolled up his sleeves, dipped a brush in water, and gave the mule a quick brush-down. The mule was clearly delighted and snorted contentedly.

After tending to the mule, the two washed their hands. With nothing else to do, they strolled around the courtyard looking for something to work on.

There was a vegetable patch in the courtyard. Usually, whoever happened to pass by would give it a quick tend, but because they’d been so busy, the patch was sparse. On top of that, the ducks were sometimes let out to trample and destroy what little produce remained.

Tang Xianling weeded for a few moments before stopping. “Why don’t we clear this plot out?”

“Clear it out for what?” Huangfu Tieniu took the hoe to continue weeding as they chatted.

Tang Xianling: “I haven’t decided yet, but I feel like it’s a waste of space for us to keep growing vegetables here.”

“Sounds good.”

“Then let’s wait a bit longer.” Hearing Tieniu’s agreement, Tang Xianling hesitated slightly. He looked over and said, “Actually, I’m thinking of turning the place into a small restaurant and stopping the boxed meal service.”

Huangfu Tieniu nodded. “I know.” He walked over, took Fulan’s hand, set the hoe aside, and said, “We have a steady stream of customers at home, so running a small restaurant won’t be a problem.”

“You know what I mean. What are we going to do about the breakfast imitation?” Tang Xianling was worried about this. “We can’t just shut down, can we? I don’t mind having imitators, but if we close our doors and hand the market over to them, that would be ridiculous.”

Huangfu Tieniu: “No need to close it.”

“Huh?”

Huangfu Tieniu: “If the restaurant does well in the future and you get too busy, you’ll have to hire a cook. You can’t handle everything yourself—and that includes the breakfast menu.”

Tang Xianling’s eyes grew clearer and brighter. He’d been fixated on a dead end—he’d been thinking about quitting and shutting down, but why close it?

“I’ve got it! Sure, I’ve got a natural talent for cooking, but those breakfast dishes aren’t exactly rocket science. If others can figure out a flavor that’s about 70% similar, and I teach them, 90% will be good enough.”

“As for the secret sauces for stuffed pancakes and fried pancakes, I can still make those myself—it’s no trouble at all.”

Long story short: there’s absolutely no need to close the shop—he just needs to find someone to run it.

There are two large open-plan shops in front of the house—they’re huge. For breakfast, he’ll set aside about ten square meters to create a narrow shop, about the size of Mr. Zhu’s pork shop, and that’ll be enough. The rest can be renovated into a restaurant.

That’s more than enough.

The more Tang Xianling thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. “That way, we’ll be able to sleep in from now on!!!” Huangfu Tieniu laughed and nodded, saying, “Exactly!”

“Only when a husband sleeps well and is full of energy will he be as lively and cheerful as a child.”

Tang Xianling was lost in a vivid daydream of the future—working from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with weekends off. The more he thought about it, the more excited he got, until finally he slammed his left fist into his right palm. “But then the question arises: who’s going to run it?”

This question stumped Huangfu Tieniu as well.

“For now, we’d have to buy someone.”

Tang Xianling shook his head in refusal. Buying a person wasn’t right. Although he had been transported to a feudal society, he had always lived the life of an ordinary commoner and enjoyed a degree of freedom; he simply couldn’t bring himself to buy someone to be a slave in his household.

“You’re right. Our business is thriving in the neighborhood, and we’ve attracted a lot of attention. If we bought someone to work for us, the neighbors would gossip.” Huangfu Tieniu agreed; his husband was right to object.

Tang Xianling: …Different approaches, but the answers are all considered correct.

“Another option is to ask relatives.” Huangfu Tieniu said, adding immediately, “Uncle Zhang and Uncle Wang are definitely out of the question.” That avenue was closed to him.

Unlike modern taboos against doing business with relatives, in the context of that era, when “strength lay in numbers,” villages relied on able-bodied men for farming, while towns depended on them for trade. Whenever matters of mutual interest arose, the first priority was always “family.”

Take the breakfast business, for instance. When hiring outside help, even if a contract is signed prohibiting disclosure, if you misjudge the person and they turn out to be a deadbeat—working for a few months before running off—and then your own family or relatives open an identical shop not long after, going to court to sort it out would be a huge hassle.

Economic disputes are difficult to litigate. Tang Xianling learned this firsthand when he went to court.

In modern times, cutting ties is just that—a clean break. In big cities, there’s rarely a need to rely on personal connections. But in today’s world, family bonds are even closer, so severing ties is a very serious matter.

“Old Tang and my mother’s side definitely have no relatives left. Uncle Zhang and Uncle Wang won’t work either—they’re too far from us. That leaves my eldest or second sister’s families.” Tang Xianling ran through the options, secretly thinking his eldest sister’s household would be the best fit.

“My eldest sister’s family has just split off. If she comes to take over the breakfast service—working five days and resting two—her husband could bring her home, or her husband–”

Tang Xianling dismissed the idea of his brother-in-law preparing breakfast.

After all, his eldest sister’s husband was a genuine farmer; the Lin family owned quite a bit of land, and he had to tend to the fields. As for her second sister, he wasn’t sure what the situation was.

After much deliberation, he still couldn’t decide; he’d have to ask his two sisters what they thought.

“Never mind. When in doubt, sleep it off!”

Huangfu Tieniu teased his husband, “Still sleeping?”

“Are you going to sleep?” Tang Xianling caught the teasing tone. A mischievous gleam flashed in his eyes as he realized something, and he gave a soft chuckle. “Mother went to visit Sister Zhou. It’s just the two of us at home.”

Huangfu Tieniu’s ears immediately turned red. “In broad daylight…”

“What are you thinking in broad daylight, Tieniu? You’re not so innocent anymore!!!” Tang Xianling turned the tables and accused him.

One moment, they were seriously discussing the shop’s future; the next, Big Boss Tang was driving recklessly down the road, giggling and joking again. Eventually, the two of them went back to their room. Fortunately, Mother was in high spirits and had spent over an hour chatting with Sister Zhou at Boss Zhu’s shop before returning with just a handful of vegetables, still not quite ready to call it a night.

“Xiangping told me that the whole family loves the stir-fried vegetables she makes in the morning, and she insisted on giving me some apples.”

“She said we eat pork every day, so we must be getting tired of it. She just bought these apples—they’re bright red, crisp, sweet, and juicy. Her daughter loves them too, so she packed a few for me.”

“I think she’s really thoughtful. Just like yesterday’s downpour—she must have been worried we’d feel awkward asking for less meat, so she deliberately sent us a smaller portion.”

Jiang Yun arrived home carrying her vegetable basket, a broad smile on her face as she spoke.

“Sister Zhou really is thoughtful.” Tang Xianling picked up an apple, washed it, cut it in half, and handed one half to his mother.

Only then did Jiang Yun notice how red Wu-ger’s neck was. Taking the apple with one hand, she asked in surprise, “Did a mosquito bite you there? I didn’t see it when I left.”

With a “crunch,” Tang Xianling froze for a second with the apple in his mouth, then mumbled defiantly, “Nope, Tieniu bit me.”   

“Cough, cough, cough.” Outside the kitchen, Huangfu Tieniu was swinging his hoe through the vegetable patch; the hoe could have easily grazed his foot.

The half-eaten apple in Jiang Yun’s hand also clattered to the ground.

Tang Xianling：？

“Mother, the apple’s dirty.”

“It’s—it’s fine. I’ll pick it up, wash it, and we can still eat it.” Jiang Yun bent down to pick up the apple, grabbed a dipper, scooped up some water, and went out to the vegetable patch to rinse the fruit.

Tang Xianling leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen, leisurely munching on his apple with a satisfying crunch. His eyes crinkled into a smile as he watched his mother and Tieniu “pretend to be busy” in the courtyard.

Busy with who knows what, but very busy nonetheless.

They started preparing the fish a little after four in the afternoon.

Huangfu Tieniu was a pro at gutting fish, while Tang Xianling prepped the ingredients nearby—his mother didn’t even dare enter the kitchen. Since the two of them were inside, she stood in the courtyard across the kitchen corridor and asked, “Do you two need any help?”

He said, “No, thanks.” His mother just hummed in response.

Tang Xianling: …Hehehe. Teasing Mom is pretty fun, too.

Seeing his husband’s smiling eyes, Tieniu couldn’t help but chuckle.

Tang Xianling heard this, shot him a “glaring look,” and transformed into a bully—one hand on his hip, the other running along Tieniu’s waist. “You’ve got a nice figure, young man. Lean and muscular—a great waist, a great waist.”

Huangfu Tieniu: …

Letting his husband get away with his mischief, the fish was finally prepped.

The fish was washed clean, scored on the surface, and stuffed with a knot of scallions and ginger slices. A splash of rice wine was added to remove the fishy smell. Meanwhile, the seasoning bowl was prepared: fermented black beans, Sichuan peppercorns, chili, soybean paste, and garlic.

Heat the oil in a wok—you’ll need soybean oil, plenty of it.

Holding the fish by the tail, he slowly slid it into the pot to begin frying. At this point, don’t move it—wait for the fish to set. A fishy aroma wafted through the air; cooking with plenty of oil makes the dish fragrant, and the scent of this fried fish was particularly intense.

The fish sets quickly; remove it from the oil. Tang Xianling has mastered the heat and timing perfectly—the fish is crispy and golden brown on both sides, with a firmness that makes a “sizzling” sound when scraped with a knife tip. This firmness is intentional; since it will be simmered in the sauce later, a bit of crispness makes it taste better.

Don’t waste the excess oil—pour it into a large bowl to use for stir-frying at home next time.

Heat a little oil in the pot, then stir-fry the ingredients from the “seasoning bowl.” Add all the prepared ingredients at once and stir-fry vigorously. The distinctive aroma of fermented black beans fills the air first, but Tang Xianling has added soybean paste and chili fruit, giving it a slightly different flavor.

Jiang Yun had been standing in the middle of the courtyard, but now she was heading toward the entrance of the kitchen.

“That’s the aroma I was looking for. Do you smell anything else in there?”

“Mm, I added a little chili.” His mother can handle a bit of spice now—just a mild kick. Tang Xianling didn’t use much chili; the flavor came mainly from the garlic, fermented black beans, and cumin.

They didn’t cook rice for the evening meal either; they just ate the steamed buns sent by the Lu family. The Lu family had sent ten large steamed buns that morning!

It wasn’t that the Lu family was stingy and wouldn’t send meat-filled buns; rather, Lu Sanniang had said that Wu-ger’s cooking was delicious, and that plain buns went well with the dishes. She claimed the filling in her family’s meat buns wasn’t as fragrant as the dishes Wu-ger cooked himself. Chen Qiaolian didn’t know what expression to make at the time; she tapped her daughter on the forehead and said, “Why is Sanniang siding with outsiders?”

But they decided to go along with Sanniang’s suggestion anyway.

“Vegetarian buns it is, then. Just pick out a few extra to send over.”

The buns were now steaming in the basket, and Tang Xianling’s fish was nearly done. Tieniu didn’t like cilantro, so they left it out in the end. The fish stew also contained vegetables: tofu, Chinese cabbage, and cucumbers.

“Let’s just eat out in the courtyard,” Tang Xianling said.

Jiang Yun: “I’ve set the table and chairs.”

A wooden board had been placed on the table to act as a heat shield. Huangfu Tieniu carried a large platter and set it down on top, while Tang Xianling followed behind, carrying a plate of steaming hot buns. “Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

“Mom, try it and see how it compares to the fish Chef Tian cooks,” Tang Xianling said.

Jiang Yun: “It smells even better to me.” 

“Hehehe, Mother, you’re really flattering me.” 

“I mean it,” Jiang Yun said with a smile.

The Lu family next door had smelled the aroma early on. When the fish was being fried, Lu Dalang had already muttered, “What a delicious smell.” Lu Sanniang sniffed the air, remembered, and said, “Wu-ger said his family was cooking fish today.”

Speaking of fish, the conversation naturally turned to the fish dish served at their own banquet.

Lu Sanniang hadn’t gotten to try it. “I don’t know what it tastes like, but Aunt Jiang said it was delicious after she ate it. It made Wu-ger so hungry that he decided to make it today too.”

Lu Dalang hadn’t eaten it either. At the time, he and Lingniang had been toasting the guests and were still a bit stiff and nervous—how could they have sat down to eat? Hearing his sister say this, Lu Dalang looked at his wife; she hadn’t eaten the fish either.

Actually, the fish wasn’t that expensive…

But he thought about how, to marry her, the family had spent seven or eight taels of silver in total. Lately, they’d been tightening their belts—Sanniang hadn’t even complained about buying breakfast from the neighbors. His younger brother, an apprentice, still needed money each month, and in a few years, they’d have to buy land for him.

Thinking of this, Lu Dalang held back from suggesting they buy the fish. He decided Lingniang would have to make do for now; times were tight at home these past few years, but things would get better eventually.

But the aroma from next door was growing stronger and more enticing by the minute.

Lu Sanniang could only swallow hard; she didn’t mention the fish, but thought to herself: Aunt Jiang was right after all—that dish of fish at the banquet really was fragrant. But was it really as fragrant as it is today? She tried to recall the scent from that banquet, but couldn’t quite remember; her nostrils were filled with the aroma wafting over from next door.

The Tang family courtyard.

Tang Xianling picked up a piece of fish skin attached to the belly meat with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth. Instantly, his eyes narrowed in delight. It was so, so, so delicious! The fish skin was originally crispy from frying, but after being stewed and soaked in the broth, it had softened slightly while still retaining a hint of crispness.

The fish was tender, perfectly blended with the sauce—a fresh, delicate flavor mixed with the mild spiciness of cumin and the rich aroma of the sauce.

Absolutely amazing!

The large black fish weighed four or five jin and had few bones. The three adults devoured it quickly, speaking little as they ate. Halfway through, they moved on to the vegetable dishes: the tofu had soaked up the broth, and the Chinese cabbage was tender and soft. Jiang Yun loved the vegetables, saying they were even more flavorful.

Tang Xianling: “…Mother, there are two fish here. It’s not like we can’t afford to eat them.” 

Don’t pull that “Mom isn’t hungry, so she’ll just eat the vegetables” routine.

Mother was clearly delighted and found the fish delicious just a moment ago. After all, the reason he made fish today was because, after returning from the banquet, she kept praising the fish cooked by Chef Tian.

Mother must really love fish.

“I really—” Jiang Yun stopped mid-sentence, paused to think it over, then said, “Let’s eat. The fish is delicious. Wu-ger is right.”

Tang Xianling picked up a piece of tofu and said, “Mother, you’re right too—the vegetarian dish is delicious as well.” 

Huangfu Tieniu laughed. Both his husband and mother were soft-hearted, thinking of one another.

The family ate their meal in harmony. It had rained yesterday, and today was cool, but after finishing a pot of steaming “grilled fish,” the three of them were still beaded with sweat. Jiang Yun fanned herself and said she would boil some mung bean soup in a little while to cool them down before bed.

After all, they’d had fried food today.

Tang Xianling didn’t mind; he took out some yogurt and ate it slowly, spoonful by spoonful. He told his mother not to start cleaning up yet, to sit down and eat steadily without rushing, and recounted to her the conversation he and Tieniu had had at noon.

Jiang Yun instinctively frowned, about to say it wouldn’t work.

“The family business is doing very well right now. Why make a change? If we do, it might not be as good as it is now. We’ve invested so much capital—what if we lose money? If we go back to selling boxed meals, will the profits still be as good as they are now?”

Jiang Yun was conservative and afraid of “change.” She feared that any change would bring all sorts of uncertainties and instability. She worried about this and that. But Tang Xianling and Huangfu Tieniu were still young, and with their “golden touch,” they were eager to “venture out into the world.”

“This is a huge undertaking. I need to think it over.” In the end, Jiang Yun didn’t outright reject Wu-ger’s idea; she just needed time to consider it. “So, do you want to ask your older sister to come and run the breakfast service?”

Tang Xianling: “Having my eldest sister come would be best. It’d just be a bit of a hassle for my brother-in-law to watch the kids. If that’s really not possible, we can just bring the kids along—there’s plenty of room at home. If my eldest sister takes over the breakfast service, I’ll have A-Liang or Sister Tong work for a day to help her out. Any money earned—after covering the initial costs—will all go to my eldest sister.”

“That won’t do,” Jiang Yun flatly refused this time. It was Tang Xianling’s turn to gasp in surprise, looking over in bewilderment.

Jiang Yun said, “Your eldest sister married Lin Hu, so she’s part of the Lin family now. You and Tieniu are family. Since you’re in business together, it’s fine to give your sister a cut of the profits, but it can’t be excessive. Besides the capital, there’s also the annual shop tax—”

“Of course, we can’t saddle your eldest sister with the taxes for both shops. She should only pay what she’s responsible for. If you’re covering her trade fees, you should charge her a small amount. But don’t charge her for living at home—she’s my daughter, and when she comes back to her parents’ house, it makes no sense to charge her.”

Tang Xianling was stunned that his mother could say such a thing. Family ties existed, but she kept the accounts clear and precise.

Seeing her Wu-ger looking at her like that, Jiang Yun hesitated. “Did I say something wrong?”

“All right, all right.” Tang Xianling clapped his hands in approval. “I’ll just have to ask my older sister.”

Huangfu Tieniu: “Why don’t we pop over to my older sister’s place tomorrow?”

“No, I have to go shopping and stock up tomorrow. It’s not urgent this week—let’s do it next week,” Tang Xianling said.

As it turned out, no sooner had they spoken than the very person they were talking about arrived. Early the next morning, her brother-in-law showed up with her older sister and their three children.

Tang Xianling was overjoyed. Turning to his older sister, he said, “Today, you and your husband will finally get to taste my cooking. We have a fish at home—Tieniu bought it yesterday—and I cooked it today. It turned out delicious.”

As he spoke, he ruffled Xiao Erniang’s hair and then pinched Sanlang’s cheek.

Dalang was older and nearly as tall as him, so he didn’t bother the little ones.

The two little ones—one smiling shyly, the other giggling—were soon running around and playing in the courtyard—they weren’t shy at all. Tang Qiao said, “Don’t worry, your sister and I have to make a quick trip to the West Market first.”

“Alright, that works out—we’ll be back for lunch,” Tang Xianling said. Figuring his older sister’s family had come into town on some business, he didn’t ask what they were doing at the West Market.

In the end, the couple took Erniang with them when they left, leaving Dalang and Sanlang behind in the courtyard. 

Tang Xianling:? 

Tieniu was already harnessing the mule cart. “You don’t need to go. I know what supplies we have at home; I’ll handle it.”

“Alright, I’ll stay home and cook.” Tang Xianling and his mother stayed home to watch the children, seeing off the ones who had gone to run their errands.

Dalang wasn’t much of a talker, but he was steady and dependable, just like his father. As soon as his parents left, he automatically took charge of Sanlang, forbidding his younger brother from running off to play, from climbing all over the railings of the veranda, and from doing this and that. When Sanlang whined at his older brother, Dalang said, “Boys aren’t allowed to whine.”

Meaning, a boy isn’t allowed to act like a baby.

Tang Xianling: …couldn’t help but want to laugh.

If it hadn’t been Lin Dalang who said that, but Tieniu instead, Tang Xianling would have blurted out a cheeky retort: “I’ll act spoiled then—and I’ll make it extra sappy.” Too bad his Tieniu wouldn’t be so “impartial” in front of him.

His Tieniu is a total secret flirt; he loves hearing him act all cute.

Lin Sanlang had been scolded into such a stiff, proper state by his older brother that he might as well have been standing guard in the courtyard. Jiang Yun washed the fruit, called the two children over to eat, and said to Dalang, “You two can relax a bit while you’re at Grandma’s.”

“Thank you, Grandma,” Lin Sanlang said, his voice cheerful and sweet, as he grabbed an apple and took a bite. Dalang said he didn’t want any. Jiang Yun forced one into Dalang’s hand and urged her to eat. “Why did your parents take Erniang out? Did they go shopping for something?” Jiang Yun wondered.

Lin Sanlang was munching on a piece of fruit when he blurted out, “To buy my second older sister a small hairpin. The fruit-shaped hairpin Uncle bought for her was broken by my second uncle’s oldest daughter.”

Tang Xianling had been heading toward the kitchen when he heard this and stopped in his tracks.

“What happened?” Jiang Yun furrowed her brow.

Sanlang didn’t know how to explain it and looked to his older brother. Lin Dalang cut in with a single sentence: “My second uncle’s oldest daughter fancied Erniang’s hairpin. Erniang handed it over for her to look at, but while she was looking at it, it fell to the ground, and she stepped on it, breaking it.”

Lin Dalang’s face darkened as he spoke. His second uncle’s daughter had done it on purpose.

His sister treasured that hairpin dearly—it was both expensive and beautiful, and she was too fond of it to wear it out. She usually just kept it at home to look at and touch. Second Uncle’s daughter had been pestering her parents for it, but her family wouldn’t buy her one, so they just let her look at it. In the end, she stepped on it and broke it.

Erniang cried for a very, very long time.

Originally, according to the farming family’s way of thinking in the Lin household, they wouldn’t have bought such a hairpin for a child—it was too expensive and not worth the cost. They’d say it was fine to splurge occasionally on food or treats when the child craved something, but there was no need to spend on mere trinkets. But since they’d already bought it, and seeing her own child—a relative of her second uncle’s family—treat her daughter’s precious possession so carelessly, Erniang, being sensible, silently shed tears but didn’t make a fuss or demand a replacement.

The second wife tried to talk her way out of it, saying the child was too young to have meant it, and that it was Erniang who hadn’t held it steady and had been showing it off recklessly.

Tang Qiao was furious. The anger choked her. That day, it had just stopped raining, and the ground was muddy. She declared she’d go into town no matter what to buy Erniang an exact replacement. So, once the roads dried out a bit, she set off on a day when her family’s business was closed.

Jiang Yun listened with a heavy heart. “Didn’t your mother hit her back?” 

Lin Dalang: “Huh?”

“If your mother didn’t fight back, and your second uncle’s child is younger than Erniang, then Erniang should have fought back.” After saying this, Jiang Yun added, “No, when they get back, I’ll have to tell Erniang she needs to fight back. She can’t just cry all the time.”

“Erniang is young and doesn’t dare to fight, so your mother has to stand up for herself.”

Tang Xianling: Right.

His mother really did seem to enjoy a good fight these days, but she just couldn’t seem to find an opportunity.

Tang Xianling went to the kitchen to prep the vegetables. Before leaving, Tieniu had already gutted and scaled the fish, which made things much easier. He called out, “Mom, buy some pork ribs. For lunch, I’ll make sweet and sour pork ribs, fermented black bean-baked fish, stir-fried shredded potatoes, minced pork with eggplant, and since that male duck at home isn’t laying any eggs, let’s slaughter it and eat it.”

“We have a clay pot—let’s make ginger duck.”

Jiang Yun thought that was a good idea; she had no interest in keeping a male duck that didn’t lay eggs anyway, so they might as well eat it.

“Then I’ll go buy the ingredients.” Jiang Yun glanced at Dalang and Sanlang. “You two stay home and listen to your uncle.”

Tang Xianling poked his head out from the kitchen. “Dalang, do you know how to slaughter a duck? I’m a bit clumsy at it.” Lin Dalang puffed out his chest.

“I can! Leave it to me, Uncle. I know how to slaughter chickens and ducks.”

“That’s the spirit. A young man should do some kitchen work—that way, when he marries, he’ll know how to take care of his wife. If you do the farm work first and then help out in the kitchen when you’re free, your wife is sure to love you.” Tang Xianling couldn’t resist teasing him.

Jiang Yun: …She didn’t dare say anything to Wu-ger. She was afraid he’d say she was as stubborn as an ox again.

Besides, there was some truth to what Wu-ger said.

Jiang Yun hurried out of the courtyard gate without looking back, still clutching her vegetable basket. Inside the courtyard, Lin Dalang’s swarthy face had turned crimson, while Uncle Tang continued his advice from experience: “Don’t be shy, just take it to heart. These are words of wisdom—they’ll guarantee marital harmony and a lifetime of happiness. Go on, go on. And you, don’t go slaughtering the wrong one.”

“You can’t kill the female duck—she’s still laying eggs.”

Lin Dalang grabbed a kitchen knife and went to catch the duck. Lin Sanlang followed his older brother, eager to watch the commotion. From time to time, Sanlang’s voice rang out from the courtyard: “Brother, brother, there, there, there it is!”

“Oh no, it got away.”

“How come this duck can fly?”

“Ahhhhh, it’s flying right at my head! Brother, save me!”

“Sanlang, move aside.”

“Brother, I’m heading out.”

Lin Sanlang slipped into the kitchen. Tang Xianling thought: Thank goodness he’s not the one killing the duck—I’d be scared.