Shen Xihe came home at noon; he would leave again tomorrow morning.
Gu Xiao was glad he studied at the academy. Coming home only once every five days was manageable. If he were home daily, facing each other morning and night, Shen Xihe would feel uneasy—and so would she.
Madam Chen only thought Gu Xiao was shy. After all, she had often heard her mention Third Brother before. A young woman’s heart was hard to guess. “Ah, I won’t say more. Add some firewood.”
The meat was nearly done. Soon it would be ladled into a basin, then steamed buns made.
Gu Xiao stuffed dry wood into the stove. This load would be enough.
Madam Chen poked at the pile of firewood, glanced at Gu Xiao twice, and whispered, “Xiao Xiao, there’s ash on your face. Go wash quickly—Third Brother will be back soon.”
Gu Xiao wiped her face. Sure enough, there was ash. She would wash, but what did that have to do with Shen Xihe?
Madam Chen smiled. “I’m here. You go.” Her attitude toward Gu Xiao was different from Madam Li. With Madam Li, she quibbled over chores and money. But the knot‑tying work had been found by Gu Xiao.
Madam Chen was a generation older than Gu Xiao—an elder.
Gu Xiao straightened. “Then I’ll wash.” Not for Shen Xihe, but she couldn’t look so dusty.
Outside, Shen Xihe heard voices and hurried a few steps forward. “I’m back. Second Brother and the others are behind…” He had gone straight to the stall after class, then returned with them, impatient, so he quickened his pace.
Shen Xihe lowered his head to look at Gu Xiao. Sure enough, there was a smudge of ash on her face. “Xiao Xiao, here—there’s ash.”
“Right here.” He reached out his hand. Gu Xiao froze, then stepped back, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “I know. I’ll wash now.”
“Alright. Then I’ll put these things away first.” Shen Xihe’s hand hovered in the air, shifting twice. “Oh, Xiao Xiao!”
Gu Xiao stopped. “What is it?”
Shen Xihe pressed his lips. “The other day, Teacher tested us with an essay. I was first place.”
The youth stood at the doorway, back straight. His gaze fell first on the beam above, then on the water jar in the courtyard, and finally on Gu Xiao’s face.
He stared at the small patch of ash on her cheek. “The topic wasn’t very hard. But I alone was first.”
Shen Xihe saw Gu Xiao’s eyes curve with a smile, and his own lips couldn’t help but curve as well.
Gu Xiao said, “Third Brother, that’s amazing! Go tell Mother—she’ll be delighted.”
If Shen Xihe had placed second, Gu Xiao might have been surprised. But as the male lead of an imperial exam novel, when had he ever not come first?
Shen Xihe: “Mm.”
Why did Gu Xiao still call him Third Brother? He never told Madam Zhou about academy matters. He knew she trusted him, and he was saying this only to Gu Xiao. It seemed, apart from such things, there wasn’t much else to say.
Gu Xiao went to the well to wash her face. After a while, Second Brother and the others returned. Madam Li stepped down from the cart, and the first thing she did upon entering was hand the day’s earnings to Madam Zhou. That morning they had sold sixteen plain rolls, six with egg, and eight with meat—altogether forty‑two coins. Subtracting costs, they had earned nearly twenty coins. Carrying sacks at the docks for a whole day only paid ten coins.
Madam Zhou was satisfied. She increasingly felt her younger daughter‑in‑law was well chosen—the idea had been Gu Xiao’s.
Madam Zhou said, “Business is good?”
Madam Li rubbed her belly. Standing all morning had tired her. “Mother, plenty of people. Many regular customers.”
Their food was clean, tasty, and cheap. Most who tried it came back again.
Madam Zhou said, “Listen to Xiao Xiao more. Do as she says, sell what she decides. Don’t make your own plans, and absolutely don’t hide money in secret!”
Madam Zhou knew Madam Li wouldn’t dare, but still repeated her warnings.
Madam Li said, “Mother, I understand. Third Brother faces the autumn exam next year. As his sister‑in‑law, I want to do my part.”
“Mm. Go wash your hands. We’ll eat soon!” Madam Zhou gave the order, and everyone did what they should—washing hands, setting bowls.
Gu Xiao followed Madam Chen to serve the food. When the lid was lifted, steam rushed out. More than twenty slightly yellowed steamed buns, and a basin of braised meat. Lamb, pork belly, ribs, and two trembling pig’s feet.
Madam Chen had been married into the family for years, but had never seen such a pot of meat. She swallowed hard, picked out the pig’s feet and a few ribs. Madam Zhou had said these must be saved for Third Brother.
Madam Zhou’s favoritism was long‑standing. Madam Chen was used to it. Just a bite was enough to satisfy her.
The meat was carried to the table, buns picked out, Madam Chen ladled braised cabbage—the broth rich with meat flavor, something she’d never had before. She clapped her hands and sat beside Eldest Brother, watching Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou sat upright and picked up her chopsticks. “Eat. Why are you all staring?”
At that, the whole table froze. What did she mean—no dividing?
At family meals, Madam Zhou always portioned everything. Eggs and meat went to Shen Xihe, the eldest branch’s two grandsons, and the old master. Even buns—men always got one more than women. But today, she wasn’t dividing.
Most surprised was Madam Li. Because of her pregnancy, she had one egg a day. But her daughter, Da Ya, had grown up barely tasting anything good. Madam Li’s eyes instantly filled with tears. “Mother…”
Madam Zhou disliked seeing her cry. “Eat. Whoever doesn’t want to eat can leave!”
There was plenty of meat in the basin, yet no one dared move their chopsticks.
Gu Xiao was already hungry. She picked up a piece of pork belly, fat and lean interlaced, and placed it in Madam Zhou’s bowl. “Mother, you eat.”
Madam Zhou gave a soft grunt. “Xiao Xiao, you eat too.”
Shen Xihe lowered his head, looking at the steamed bun in his bowl, then glanced at Gu Xiao. Before he could act, Gu Xiao had already placed a piece in her own bowl. “You all eat quickly. It’s been stewing for two hours—see if it’s tender.”
Lamb and pork stewed together tasted even richer. The parts with tendon and membrane were soft and yielding; one press and the meat fell apart.
Madam Li gave Da‑Ya a piece. Da‑Ya blinked, eating slowly, tiny bites.
Madam Chen gave Er‑Ya a piece. Er‑Ya looked at Madam Zhou and whispered, “Mother…”
Madam Zhou’s face hardened. “Eat or don’t. This meat was bought by Xiao Xiao for Third Brother. You’re lucky to share it. Don’t act so petty, as if you’re still being treated harshly!”
Gu Xiao added another piece to Madam Zhou’s bowl. “Mother, you’re sharp‑tongued but soft‑hearted. Sister‑in‑law, eat quickly—cold meat isn’t good.” She then placed a piece in Shen Xihe’s bowl. “Husband, eat more.”
Shen Xihe said, “Mm. You eat more too.”
Gu Xiao would. She had spent the whole morning stewing it—of course she meant to eat her fill.
Da‑Ya and Er‑Ya didn’t dare eat much—just two pieces each. Gu Xiao ate to her heart’s content.
Thinking there would be another meal in the evening, Gu Xiao almost wished Shen Xihe would come home every three days. If he came home every day, that would be too much. Eating something good once every three days was enough.
After lunch, Shen Xihe returned to his room.
Gu Xiao knew he wanted to change clothes, so she stayed outside helping Madam Chen tidy the bowls.
Madam Chen sighed. Madam Zhou doted on her sons, but she herself felt more for her daughters. She wanted to save some dowry for Er‑Ya, so she kept thinking about the pancake stall.
Rubbing her hands, Madam Chen said, “Xiao Xiao, if I go to the academy gate, just sell at noon, it won’t delay housework, right?”
“Sell more, and we can save more for Third Brother…” She thought of her daughter eating meat. “Do you think Mother will agree?”
Gu Xiao said, “If it’s for Husband, Mother will surely agree.”
Madam Chen immediately said, “Of course it’s for Third Brother! All the money we earn will go straight to Mother.”
But later things would be different. Once the family split, she could plan for herself.
Madam Chen beamed. “Then tonight I’ll talk to Mother.”
After washing the bowls, Gu Xiao lingered outside a while. She thought Shen Xihe must have finished changing. She knocked. “Are you ready? I’m coming in.”
Shen Xihe said, “Just come in. This is your room too. No need to knock.”
Gu Xiao thought that last time he changed clothes, he hadn’t said that. She looked at him—he was still in the same coarse blue robe, hadn’t changed.
Shen Xihe turned his head, hand on his belt. “I’m going to weed in the fields later.” Wearing this clearly wouldn’t do.
Gu Xiao’s heart tightened. What did Shen Xihe mean by that?