Da Wa thought back over the years since he could remember—birthdays meant nothing more than an extra egg to eat. Gifts, surprises—those didn’t exist. Even when Uncle had a birthday, it was only slightly better than theirs.
In Da Wa’s view, giving a sheet of paper was enough. The family wasn’t wealthy, and those fancy, useless things had no purpose. Better to buy two jin of meat, stew it in a big pot—then he could eat a few bites too.
Usually Gu Xiao bought plenty of meat. For Uncle’s birthday, she would surely buy more.
Da Wa looked forward to the birthday even more than Shen Xihe did.
Shen Xihe shook his head, saying he didn’t want anything—but deep down he still hoped. Whatever Gu Xiao gave, he would like: a purse, a sachet, even a handful of wildflowers from the roadside. He couldn’t follow her too far. Standing at the county gate, Shen Xihe watched Gu Xiao’s figure grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared.
The sky was dimming. Shen Xihe had to return to the academy. He thought, if only Gu Xiao had turned back just now—he would have seen her at a glance.
By the time Second Brother and the others reached home, night had fully fallen. He went to the east room to give Madam Zhou the money—fifty-three coins in total. After several days, they had already earned back the initial cost.
Madam Zhou nodded in satisfaction. Madam Li had brought back thirty or forty coins at noon, saying the flatbread stall’s business was getting better and would earn even more in the future.
Madam Zhou was easily content. In the past, the household’s daily income was only thirty or forty coins. Now it had doubled.
“If there’s nothing else, let Madam Li keep going with you. A woman is surely better at this than a man.” Madam Zhou put the money away. Second Brother wanted to say Madam Li was far along in her pregnancy and shouldn’t be running around, but seeing Madam Zhou’s attitude, he swallowed the words.
The Shen family’s meals were the same as always—ten years without change. Supper was no different.
After dinner, Gu Xiao returned to her room and lit the oil lamp for a while. She took out the slip of paper from under the couch: written on it was “paper and pigments, half a tael; current savings, six coins.”
She added four coins of broken silver, writing: “Fans, four coins; current savings, one tael.”
Once the book was repaired, she would have two taels. The oil-paper umbrellas might sell for five taels. That way, she would have saved seven taels in total.
Gu Xiao noted down the figures on the slip of paper, tucked it back under the couch, and blew out the oil lamp—she couldn’t keep it burning all night. Then she lay down on the bed.
The day had been exhausting—her arms sore, her legs aching. Luckily Shen Xihe wasn’t home; if she had to share the couch with him again, the night would have been unbearably stifling.
In fact, if not for Da Wa, Gu Xiao wouldn’t even have known Shen Xihe’s birthday was approaching. She hadn’t planned on giving him any birthday gift. If Da Wa hadn’t mentioned it, she would only have realized on May third itself, and then perhaps picked a handful of wildflowers by the roadside to give him. Now that she knew, not giving anything would seem wrong.
A gift was easy enough—a fan. She could finish one in an hour.
Having made up her mind, Gu Xiao decided to give him a fan. Bamboo branches and leaves, ink-painted bamboo on the fan’s surface—no one could find fault with that.
With that matter settled, Gu Xiao quickly drifted into sleep. But it felt like she hadn’t slept long before she was startled awake.
Outside, dawn was just breaking. From beyond the door came the sound of crying and scolding. It took Gu Xiao a while to recognize the voices.
The one scolding was Madam Zhou, her voice sharp enough to pierce the roof. “I see your wings have hardened! Daring to think of anything! Madam Li is far along in her pregnancy—if she doesn’t want to go, then don’t. But sending Da-Ya? How old is she? What can she do!”
The one crying was Madam Li. “Mother, Da-Ya is the same age as Xiao Xiao. She can do plenty of chores…”
Madam Zhou grew even more displeased. “You dare compare your daughter to Xiao Xiao? You must have lard clouding your mind! Who came up with the flatbread idea? Xiao Xiao. Who bought the meat we eat at home? Xiao Xiao again! If Da- Ya can work, I’ve yet to see her bring home a single coin.”
“All she does is cry. Li, let me be blunt—you can go or not, but if you don’t, this old woman will go myself. And you want Da-Ya to help? She’ll be watching every day, and when she marries, will she be helping her husband’s family instead?”
Madam Zhou was furious. This business had never been shared with her daughters, and Madam Li had the audacity to suggest Da-Ya should help.
Madam Li’s eyes were swollen from crying. Da-Ya leaned against her mother, her face streaked with tears.
Second Brother couldn’t bear to see his wife and daughter suffer. “Mother, it was my idea to let Da-Ya help… Please don’t blame Jingshu.”
“You’re just as muddle-headed!”
Gu Xiao finally understood what had happened. She dressed and came out of her room. “Mother, don’t be angry. It was my suggestion to let Da-Ya go.”
Madam Zhou could scold Second Brother and Madam Li endlessly, but when faced with Gu Xiao’s small, earnest face, she couldn’t bring herself to say a harsh word. These past days, whatever Gu Xiao did was always right—she stood by Third Brother and by her too.
Whatever Gu Xiao did was surely for Third Brother’s sake, and for the good of the family.
Madam Zhou’s anger eased. “What do you mean?”
Gu Xiao asked, “Mother, do you think the county town is big?”
Madam Zhou had only been there a few times, but she knew—it was large, impossible to finish walking through. “It is quite big.”
“Beyond the county, there’s the prefectural city, and the provincial capital. Mother, our flatbread stall only takes up a tiny spot.” Gu Xiao gestured with her fingers, showing just a little bit. Then she continued, “Da-Ya is your own granddaughter. Even if she marries one day, the Shen family is only a dozen people. Don’t you want our stall to reach the prefectural city, even the provincial capital?”
“Even if Da-Ya marries, she’s still your granddaughter. A family doesn’t speak as outsiders. If she’s clever and learns some skill, her husband’s family will respect her—and they’ll respect you as well.”
Gu Xiao reached for Madam Zhou’s hand. “It’s all for the sake of our household. The county is so big—I won’t let anyone steal our business.”
Madam Zhou’s expression softened. “Xiao Xiao sees things clearly.”
Gu Xiao smiled. “That’s because you taught me well, Mother. Otherwise I wouldn’t understand.”
Madam Zhou finally relented. “If she wants to go, let her. She must keep her eyes open for the work and learn more from her Aunt.”
Da-Ya sniffled. “Grandmother, don’t worry. I’ll be sure to learn from Aunt.”
Madam Zhou said, “Enough. Go wash your face. Crying and wailing first thing in the morning is bad luck.”
Madam Li wiped her eyes and gave Gu Xiao a grateful look. Gu Xiao returned to her room, worked on a fan for a while, then went with Second Brother and the others to the county town.
Before they left, Madam Zhou pressed fifteen coins into Gu Xiao’s hand. “Buy a jin of meat.”
Shen Xihe’s rest period would last two more days. His birthday was in early May, still seven or eight days away. Buying meat now…
In the past, whenever Gu Xiao brought home meat, Madam Zhou would feel distressed, not knowing how to bear the expense. But today she herself had suggested buying meat.
Gu Xiao accepted the money. “Shall I buy pork belly?”
Madam Zhou kept a stern face. “Buy whatever you want.”
Gu Xiao blinked playfully. “Mother, you’re being so kind today!”
“I’m not kind. I only see that the household has income now, so we can afford a little meat. If there were no money, I’d like to see who dared to think of eating meat.”
Fifteen coins was just enough for a jin of meat.
Gu Xiao said, “The chives in the field have already grown several rounds. How about making chive-and-meat stuffed pies?”
Stuffed pies meant the whole family could have a bite.
“You decide what to make. If there are big bones, buy two for your Second Sister-in-law…” Madam Zhou didn’t finish the sentence, but Madam Li was far along in her pregnancy and needed nourishment.
“And bring back a jin of brown sugar for me.” Madam Zhou pulled out her purse and handed Gu Xiao another eight coins. “Always crying—her child will be a crybaby too.”
Gu Xiao accepted the money. “The brown sugar is for Second Sister-in-law, isn’t it? I’ll go look.”
“Who said it was for her? It’s for me! Be careful on the road, and come back early.”
Madam Li stayed home. Madam Chen went later. Da Wa went to help Second Brother. Gu Xiao watched the stall for a while, and seeing nothing urgent, went to the bookshop. The sooner she finished repairing the book, the sooner she could collect the silver. She worked all morning, and if Manager Zhang hadn’t come in, she wouldn’t have realized it was time for lunch.
Manager Zhang said, “The clerks bought food. If you don’t mind, have some here.”
Gu Xiao felt embarrassed. “I’ll eat at home. My family is selling food at the alley entrance—I can’t help worrying, so I’ll go check.”
Manager Zhang was sincere. “At least eat a little. It won’t take long. You’ve been repairing books all morning—you must be tired.”
Gu Xiao took a deep breath and suddenly thought of a reason to refuse. “Today really isn’t possible. My elder brother is bringing me something. He studies at the academy, and only has a short break at noon—I can’t miss him.”
Manager Zhang didn’t press her. “Then go ahead.”
Gu Xiao nearly forgot about Shen Xihe. But it was only two robes—she could just give them to Da Wa. Since she left late, Shen Xihe had probably already gone back.
From the bookshop to the academy took more time. By the time Gu Xiao arrived, there weren’t many students left at the gate.
There were still people gathered around the flatbread stall, but Shen Xihe wasn’t there. In truth, Gu Xiao knew why he insisted she mend his clothes—because her stitching was beautiful. A large patch and a bamboo leaf embroidery were not the same at all.
Da Wa had sharp eyes—he spotted Gu Xiao returning from afar. “Little Aunt, I’ll make one for you right away.”
Gu Xiao said, “Mm. I’ll also take your Uncle’s clothes.”
Da Wa replied, “Uncle hasn’t come out yet.”
“He hasn’t?”
“Mm, not sure where he went. Little Aunt, you eat first.”
The stall was busy, so Da Wa hadn’t paid close attention. He hadn’t seen Shen Xihe, though he had noticed Chen Ningyuan.
Flatbreads were made quickly, and soon Gu Xiao was eating a hot one stuffed with braised meat. The golden beans melted in her mouth—she was savoring it when suddenly she saw Shen Xihe walking out from the academy.
Shen Xihe held a robe in his hand. “Xiao Xiao, you just arrived? I just came too.”
“Classes ended late today, so I came out late. I brought the clothes.”
But Shen Xihe was holding only one robe. Gu Xiao asked, “Just one?”
His throat went dry. “I forgot the other one. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”
The future top scholar, destined to become a prime minister, able to read ten lines at a glance and never forget—yet he had “forgotten” one of two robes.
Gu Xiao said, “Alright then.”
It was the first time Shen Xihe had ever lied. His ears burned red—thankfully only his ears, or he would have been utterly humiliated. But if he hadn’t lied, how could he explain that he had already finished class, seen Gu Xiao wasn’t there, then turned back to hide behind the wall, waiting until she arrived before coming out?