“Guests have arrived.” Father Fu returned with Fu Yuan and his wife, followed by Second Sister Cao Peiyu. They had come straight back from the mulberry fields, still carrying baskets of mulberries in their hands.
“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, this is Father Fu.” Lou Zhaoshui made the introduction.
“Uncle Fu.” Lou Yi rose to greet him. “We are not familiar with Han customs, and we failed to send word before coming. We truly apologize.”
Father Fu did find it rather discourteous—for such an important matter as a betrothal, they had not even sent a matchmaker ahead to notify them, and the family had been caught in a fluster, rushing home. But faced with Xianbei in-laws who did not understand Han customs, he could only accept it.
“Sit, let me wash my hands.” Father Fu’s hands were stained purple with mulberry juice.
“The two of you brothers look quite alike; the biggest differences are in the color of your eyes and hair. But both of you are handsome.” Cao Peiyu smiled the moment she saw Lou Yi. He was also a handsome man, worthy of her rushing over in such a hurry.
“This is Second Sister.” Lou Zhaoshui introduced her.
“You and my sister-in-law really are sisters.” Lou Yi could tell that this one, like Fu Ruyi, also had an eye for beauty. It wasn’t just the two sisters—the Fu siblings all seemed to share this habit, In the time since he had taken his seat—a little less than half a shichen—the glances cast his way had not ceased.
“Ah? Fu Ruyi and I don’t look alike.” Cao Peiyu did not understand his meaning.
“Second Brother, Eldest Brother, how old are you? My youngest elder brother is twenty-four, and Second Sister is twenty-nine.” Fu Ruyi quickly changed the subject. “Let’s sort out the order of seniority, so we don’t address each other wrongly.”
“I am twenty-one,” Lou Yi said. “Eldest Brother, you are twenty-seven this year?”
Lou Zheng gave an “mm” in acknowledgment.
“Your parents are young, so their children are also young—the eldest is only twenty-seven. My eldest is already thirty-nine.” Father Fu came over and sat down.
“Yes, my parents are not old in years, and they can still put in effort in the fields. It’s just that they don’t know much, so we must trouble Uncle Fu and all the elder brothers to look after things.” Lou Yi clasped his fists in gratitude. “Eldest Brother and I heard from our parents yesterday about everything that has happened during this time. The two of us brothers thank you here. In the future, our family’s farming will rely heavily on all of you.”
Upon hearing this, Lou Zheng rose and clasped his fists as well.
Father Fu and his sons felt gratified—this second son of the Lou family knew how to speak well.
“Sit, from now on we are all one family; let’s not speak as if we were two households.” Father Fu pressed his hands down, then looked at his wife, unsure whether she had informed them about letting Little Lou stay with the Fu family for two years.
Mother Fu nodded to him, then said to each of her children, “I’m going to cook. Everyone will eat here at noon.”
“Mother, I’ll help you.” Cao Peiyu rolled up her sleeves.
“Juan’er, you and Fifth Brother go catch three chickens,” Mother Fu instructed. “Then go keep watch by the river, and buy two big fish when a fishing boat passes by.”
“Bring the fish to my place to cook, so we don’t fight over the stove here,” Eldest Sister-in-law said. “The broad beans I planted are ready to eat. I’ll go pick a basinful, and we’ll stir-fry broad beans with eggs at noon.”
Second Sister-in-law stood up and said, “I’ll go back and get a duck. We also have dried vegetables from last year at home.”
“I have cured meat at home. I’ll go back and bring it over—the garlic plants are sending up scapes, and they’re delicious stir-fried with cured meat,” Cao Peiyu said as she walked out of the kitchen.
All four households sprang into action, and in a moment, half the people in the courtyard had dispersed, but the atmosphere grew even livelier as the joy of the betrothal gifts burst forth.
“Uncle Fu, you are blessed, and my young brother here is blessed too.” Seeing was believing—Lou Yi no longer had any doubts. The Fu family was truly united, able to pull together as one to accomplish great things. With that understanding, no difficulty could stand in their way.
Father Fu nodded. “Yes, I am blessed.”
“I am blessed too.” Lou Zhaoshui stole a glance at the person across from him, then couldn’t help glancing again—such a quiet, reticent demeanor was truly rare on her.
Ruyi covered her mouth and yawned secretly; the back-and-forth pleasantries were nearly putting her to sleep. She stood up and said, “Eldest Brother, Second Brother, you’ve never been to Dapo Village, have you? Would you like to go out for a stroll?”
Lou Yi looked toward Father Fu.
“Go on.” Father Fu was more than happy to agree—he had run out of things to say, especially with the silent Lou Dalang beside him, which made him feel a bit uneasy.
Fu Changgui rose to accompany them, but Ruyi stopped him. Lou Zheng had been glancing at her from time to time, and she guessed he had something he wanted to say to her.
“Shall we go see my mulberry fields, or take a look at the land your Little Lamb plowed?” Ruyi asked once they were out the door.
“The mulberry fields,” Lou Yi said.
The Xianbei people had a custom of trial marriage, so Ruyi felt no shame before them over what had happened last night. She walked two steps ahead, leading the way, introducing the village scenery to those behind her.
Once they left the village and were out of sight, Lou Zheng relaxed. He cleared his throat and said, “Sister-in-law, I was wrong yesterday. I scared you.”
“So that’s what you wanted to talk to me about, Eldest Brother?” Ruyi was surprised. She turned back and said, “You’re a good man, Eldest Brother. I don’t blame you.”
Lou Zheng stared at her as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Only those with a soft heart would fear the sins on their hands, would be afraid of the bloodstains. You have a conscience, Eldest Brother.” Ruyi offered proof to back her words, showing she wasn’t just placating him casually.
Lou Zheng’s hand clenched at his side.
Lou Yi sighed silently. He changed the subject: “Whose mulberry fields are those over there? So many trees planted, and they’ve grown so tall.”
“Mine. They’re Chinese tallow trees, used for making candles,” Ruyi answered. “Most were transplanted from Mount Beimang. They bear tallow seeds every year.”
“Did the method for making candles really come to you in a dream from a deity?” Lou Yi asked curiously.
Ruyi nodded. “Otherwise, how do you think I would have learned it, Second Brother?”
Lou Yi didn’t know—the matter was too extraordinary. “Then have you dreamed of the deity again since?”
Lou Zhaoshui stepped forward, inserting himself between Lou Yi and Ruyi, and cut in: “Watch the road—there’s a pile of cow dung ahead.”
As if Lou Yi wouldn’t see through his little scheme. He snorted quietly. “Little Lamb, you’re asking for a beating again.”
Just as well—Ruyi didn’t want to talk about deities anymore either. She started a new topic: “Eldest Brother, I heard you’ll be staying home for half a year. When you have free time, you and Little Lamb can go into the mountains to look for tallow trees, dig them up, and plant them in your mulberry fields. When late autumn comes, pick the tallow seeds and bring them over—after selling the candles, we’ll split the profits with you.”
Lou Zheng agreed readily; he hadn’t known what to do with himself anyway.
“It’s not just tallow trees—if you come across any good trees, you can transplant them back too. With more trees planted, the pruned branches from autumn and winter will be enough to use for half a year or a year.” Seeing that he didn’t resist her arrangements, Ruyi added one more line.
“That’s one good thing—when we were out on the pastures, we could only stockpile dried cow dung for fuel,” Lou Yi chimed in, oblivious to the mood.
“That must have been a hard life,” Ruyi said, feeling she couldn’t have endured it. “Hey, you’re not planning to move back north to herd, are you?”
“No, we won’t move back—don’t worry,” Lou Zhaoshui assured her.
Lou Yi nodded. Here there were mountains and water, trees and grass; the snow was thinner than up north, and the wind gentler. They’d have to be out of their minds to migrate back to the northern plains.
“Come on, I’ll teach you to recognize the trees,” Ruyi said. “Our mulberry fields have all kinds—besides the mulberry, elm, jujube, and pagoda trees the court requires, there are tallow trees, hickories, and hawthorns moved down from the hills, plus a few pomegranate, orange, and Sichuan pepper trees bought in Luoyang—though who knows if they’re the real thing.”
They hadn’t even made it halfway through the mulberry fields when someone from the house came calling them back for a meal.
There was stewed young hen, carp fried and then simmered, braised duck with dried vegetables, steamed grain with cured meat and garlic scapes, green-and-yellow broad bean and egg stir-fry, golden eggs fried in lard, and two jars of fine wine Lou Zhaoshui had brought—a proper feast laid out for guests.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three Lou brothers took their leave.
With the guests gone, the Fu and Cao siblings each headed home to keep working the fields.
“Ruyi, walk with me a few steps,” Granny Wei said.
Ruyi followed.
Once they were three zhang from the Fu house, Granny Wei spoke: “Ruyi, do you still remember the matchmaker’s gift you promised me?”
“I do—a sheep.”
“Your marriage wasn’t really arranged by me; I didn’t have to do much talking. I’d have no face taking a fat sheep from you—people would curse me for it. I noticed the ewe the Lou family sent is pregnant. Once the ewe gives birth, pick a little one and give it to me. Would that do?” Granny Wei asked.
“That’s me getting the better deal,” Ruyi said.
Granny Wei shook her head. “By rights I shouldn’t take anything—I did little enough for your match. But I was the matchmaker for the Wang family first, then turned around and made a match for the Lou family next door. That’s not proper. A little lamb would at least make up for the curses I get behind my back.”
“Whatever you say, Granny Wei.” Ruyi lowered her head, embarrassed. “Then I’ll shamelessly accept the better bargain.”
Granny Wei smiled, took Ruyi’s hand, and said, “I’d also like to ask you to be my matchmaker. If it works out, I’ll give you a little lamb in return. Your second brother-in-law doesn’t seem to be married—my third granddaughter is only four years younger than him. What do you think?”
Lou Yi was always out and about; with a face like his, Ruyi figured he had no shortage of prospects for marriage. If he was still single, there had to be another reason. She wasn’t about to take on that headache, and she wasn’t close enough to him to play matchmaker anyway.
“Granny Wei, with his way with words and his looks, do you really think he’d be alone out there?” Ruyi asked.
Granny Wei gave her a couple of looks. “I had the wrong idea. Forget it—pretend I never mentioned it.”
Ruyi smiled. “On my wedding day, Granny Wei, bring Third Sister to the feast.”
Granny Wei waved her hand. She’d gotten ahead of herself, momentarily dazzled by Lou Yi’s impeccable manners and handsome face. Now she realized he was a man who never stayed home—not what she wanted for her granddaughter in a Xianbei husband.
“I’m off.” Granny Wei said no more.
Ruyi went home and felt the clothes and bedding airing outside—they were dry. She took them down and folded them.
Turning around, she saw Mother Fu standing under the eaves, staring at her with sharp old eyes that made Ruyi afraid to meet her gaze.
“If he comes again, tell him to leave before dark, so he doesn’t wake the whole village and keep everyone from a good night’s sleep.” Mother Fu didn’t beat around the bush at all, cutting straight to the heart of her secret.
Ruyi was stunned. She wavered between playing dumb and confessing for a few moments, then chose to step forward and throw her arms around her mother. “Aiya!” she exclaimed. “I always wondered why I was so bold—turns out I take after my mother.”
Mother Fu swatted her, exasperated. “Don’t go slinging mud at me.”
“How is that slinging mud? It’s a badge of honor!” Ruyi was overjoyed. “I think of something and I dare to do it—I’ve had my fun, felt good, enjoyed myself, and got what I wanted.”
Mother Fu looked at her smug expression, caught between annoyance and amusement.
“Mother, get me a new bed, won’t you?” Ruyi wheedled. “The one I’m sleeping on now is too small and too old.”
“I’ll talk to your father about it tonight,” Mother Fu agreed.
Ruyi was so delighted she planted a kiss on her mother’s cheek and fluttered away like a colorful butterfly.
Mother Fu wiped her face and heard a cheerful little tune drifting from the backyard. She smiled, truly hoping her youngest daughter would be happy all her life, and that this temperament of hers would never change even into old age.