“Did you give the honey to Uncle Tian and the others?”
Xia He, holding a quilt, asked Qiao Yue as he returned empty-handed. Today was sunny, so Xia He took all the quilts out to dry.
“I did, one jar each,” Qiao Yue nodded, walking over to catch the slipping quilt. With a stretch of his long arms, he quickly hung it up properly.
Qiao Yue looked around and asked, “Where did Xiaoyuan run off to?”
Xia He chuckled, “He probably went to play with mud bombs again.” The kids in the village loved competing with mud bombs, shaping mud into bowl-like forms and then slamming them on the ground. The impact would make a “pop” sound, and whoever made the loudest sound would win. They’d come home covered in mud every day.
“I’ll go find him,” Qiao Yue said, noticing his aunt in the kitchen, and quickly headed out.
Qiao Yue searched the village’s open space and finally found a group of kids by the river. They were divided into two groups, arguing and shouting at each other, faces flushed with excitement.
Seeing Qiao Xiaoyuan laughing among them, Qiao Yue thought, “Well, he does have a bit of my flair.”
“Xiaoyuan, why are you playing by the river?” Qiao Yue called out, “Come on, let’s go home.”
Qiao Xiaoyuan ran over, “Big brother, why are you here!”
“They called me over, I didn’t come on my own,” he explained, covering his butt, remembering the last time he was almost spanked for playing by the river.
Qiao Xiaoyuan pouted, still feeling the sting of that spanking.
Qiao Yue looked at him skeptically, “Really?”
“Yes, yes, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Miao Miao and the others!”
Qiao Yue didn’t hesitate and asked them directly. Miao Ge’er glanced at Qiao Xiaoyuan and stammered, “Y-yes, Yuan Yuan is right, I called him to watch the mud bomb game.”
The other kids, who had been arguing, also stopped to explain to Qiao Yue that they had come first and Xiaoyuan and his friends came later. “And we didn’t play in the water, my sister fetched it for us.”
Qiao Xiaoyuan grinned, “Big brother, you heard them~”
Qiao Yue poked his forehead, “I heard.” It seemed they hadn’t played in the river, but as for Miao Ge’er calling him over… that was doubtful.
His little brother was quite the trickster; he was probably the one who coaxed Miao Ge’er into it.
“Alright, let’s go home,” Qiao Yue said, picking up Qiao Xiaoyuan. “You guys should head back too.”
Qiao Xiaoyuan waved to Miao Ge’er, “Miao Miao, see you later~ After lunch, let’s dig for worms at your place.”
Miao Ge’er nodded vigorously, “Okay, Yuan Yuan, remember to come find me!”
The two shouted to each other as if they were parting forever.
The smoke from the Qiao family’s chimney was carried away by the wind as Zhou Shi placed the dishes on the Eight Immortals table in the main room.
The table was already occupied, with Qiao Laohan holding chopsticks, and everyone else eagerly waiting for him to start eating.
“Great, just in time for lunch!”
Qiao Yue appeared at the door, and Qiao Xiaoyuan’s little legs kicked in the air as he was set down.
Qiao Xiaoyuan ran to sit next to his little dad, then scooted over and patted the bench, “Big brother, sit with Xiaoyuan…”
Qiao Yue sat next to Qiao Xiaoyuan, “Alright.”
At the end of February, not only were the wild vegetables abundant, but the lettuce in the garden was also growing beautifully, with thick stems. Stir-fried with cured meat, the lettuce was crispy and sweet, with the rich flavor of the meat, making it very appetizing.
Everyone focused on eating, quickly using their chopsticks to grab food.
The Qiao family had many strong young men, with Qiao Xiaoyuan being the youngest. The cornbread was distributed by count, with a set amount for each person, but the dishes had to be grabbed. Soon, the plate of stir-fried lettuce and cured meat was empty, leaving only the less desirable bamboo shoots.
Qiao Yue, with his long arms, managed to grab a lot, piling his bowl high with food.
The only sound left at the table was the crunching of food. He shared half of his food with Xia He, “Little dad, you eat.”
“Alright, you eat too,” Xia He smiled, picking up a piece of lettuce and taking a big bite with the cured meat on his cornbread.
Qiao Xiaomei instinctively looked at Qiao Xiaoyuan’s bowl. His short arms couldn’t reach much, but his little dad had filled his bowl with food, unlike her own mother…
Zhou Shi turned to her, “You have a small appetite, you can’t eat that much, here…” She was about to put more in her bowl.
Qiao Xiaomei: “…” She knew it!
“I can finish it,” Qiao Xiaomei hugged her bowl, avoiding her mother’s attempt. Her mother treated her well, but compared to her two brothers, it was different.
Unlike Xiaoyuan, even though he was a brother, Uncle Xia and the others were happy to spoil him.
Qiao Xiaomei enviously looked at Qiao Xiaoyuan, who was ten years younger than her.
Qiao Xiaoyuan looked up from his bowl, his cheeks red, “Um… Sister Mei, does Xiaoyuan look good?”
Qiao Xiaomei: “…”
Qiao Xiaoyuan’s face was dirty, yet he acted shy and bashful. Qiao Yue couldn’t bear to watch and pretended to take meat from his bowl, “Hurry up and eat, or I’ll eat it.”
“Oh no, no, Xiaoyuan is eating!”
Qiao Xiaoyuan quickly started eating.
The little one focused on eating, while Zhou Shi looked at Qiao Laohan, “Dad, are you really going to the academy later to tell Xingsheng to take a leave tomorrow to support the Wang family? What if… it delays Xingsheng’s marriage?”
Qiao Laohan put down his chopsticks, “We must go. You all know how the village head treats our family. Now that his son is getting married, he specifically came to inform us and asked about Xingsheng. He definitely wants him there. If we don’t show face… it won’t be good for Xingsheng’s reputation!”
Zhou Shi nodded, “Then if Xingsheng comes back from the academy tomorrow, should we prepare something?”
“Shanzi, after you finish eating, go to the academy and tell your brother Xingsheng to take a leave tomorrow. Also, buy two pounds of brown sugar. We have about ten eggs at home, and we’ll send them as a gift the day after tomorrow.”
Qiao Laohan gave the order, and Qiao Yue nodded.
He wanted to refuse, but since Zhuzi was already helping with the wine, he really had no reason to refuse.
After lunch, Xia He was washing dishes in the kitchen when Zhou Shi sneaked in and whispered, “About Shanzi’s marriage… the Zhao family asked around. What do you think? The Zhao family’s brother may look small and thin, but he’s capable and takes good care of his younger siblings. They don’t ask for much dowry, just three taels…”
Qiao Yue had been going out early and coming back late for several days, and some people in the village were starting to get interested. Xia He was capable, and Qiao Yue had improved, so the marriage seemed feasible.
The Zhao family was one of them, and they approached Zhou Shi to help pass the message.
Xia He listened, picturing a brother in his mind, “It’s him, huh? Sounds good, but the marriage still depends on whether Shanzi is willing.”
“Parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words, you agree first, and Shanzi will naturally follow. It’s hard to find someone willing to marry their brother over, we can’t keep them waiting, or they might change their mind.” Zhou Shi wasn’t happy to hear he wanted to ask Qiao Yue and tugged at his arm.
Xia He wanted Shanzi to get married, but he shook his head, “No, sister-in-law, let me ask him first.”
“Second brother’s wife…”
Xia He focused on wiping the stove clean, “I promised Shanzi I would.”
This second brother’s wife seemed soft, but was as stubborn as a bull. Zhou Shi cursed under her breath at Xia He’s back.
In the end, she could only urge, “Remember to ask, it’s hard to find someone willing now that Shanzi has improved…”
“What?”
Xia He looked up, realizing that people thought Shanzi had improved because of his recent behavior.
Xia He felt worried.
Spring only lasts a few dozen days, and after that, Shanzi will surely revert to his old ways… ahem…
He’ll surely relapse and won’t wake up early anymore!
By then, the brother will realize he’s been deceived.
“Sister-in-law, I thought about it, and let’s forget it. You know…”
“No, no, we can’t!”
While Zhou Shi was pestering Xia He, Qiao Yue was already on the village head’s ox cart heading to the county. The village head’s ox was old, and they usually didn’t let it pull passengers, but with the son’s wedding coming up, they finally used it to go to the county.
Besides the Wang family, Tian Zhuzi and Qiao Yue were also on the ox cart.
Wang Lizheng was going to the county to order half a pig from the butcher for the wedding feast, and Wang Ming, hearing that Tian Zhuzi was going to buy two pounds of wine, immediately asked to join.
So they gave Qiao Yue a ride.
Tian Zhuzi patted Wang Ming, teasing, “Why are you going out when you’re about to get married?”
Wang Ming grinned, “I’m buying hairpins for my wife to make her happy. You wouldn’t understand since you don’t have a wife.”
“Go, go, go, I don’t have one now, but I will later,” Tian Zhuzi pointed at him, telling him not to be smug.
Wang Ming, seeing Tian Zhuzi’s envious and jealous expression, was pleased and turned to Qiao Yue.
Qiao Yue met his gaze and said calmly, “Congratulations, Ming.”
Wang Ming, seeing this, patted his shoulder like dusting off dirt, “Shanzi, it’s my wedding this time, but next time it’ll be yours. You look good, even if you’re a bit lazy, someone will definitely like you…”
Qiao Yue: “I don’t mind.”
Tian Zhuzi: “…” Has anyone considered my feelings! Why isn’t it my turn next!
Tian Zhuzi’s exaggerated expression made everyone on the cart laugh, and after some banter, they arrived at Qingshui County.
They agreed on a time to meet and went their separate ways.
After paying the entrance fee, they entered the city, and Tian Zhuzi asked, “Weren’t you going to have me buy it for you? Why did you come yourself?”
Qiao Yue explained he was going to the academy to find Qiao Xingsheng.
Tian Zhuzi understood, “No wonder you didn’t say anything.” The wedding was the day after tomorrow, and they hadn’t informed Scholar Qiao yet, even though the bride’s side had already spread the word.
“Alright, you go ahead.”
“Mm.”
They parted ways again, and Qiao Yue first bought two pounds of brown sugar. After walking for about half an hour, he finally saw the stone plaque of Qingyun Academy. The plaque had the words “Qingyun Academy” carved on it. The calligraphy was originally flowing and graceful, yet not lacking in strength. Even carved into stone, it retained the hidden sharpness between the lines.
Qiao Yue, panting, supported his knees, his eyes fixed on those four characters, lost in thought for a while.
He passed under the stone plaque and arrived at the academy’s entrance, where the gatekeeper stared at him. Qiao Yue snapped back to reality and explained he was there to find someone.
The gatekeeper nodded, “Qiao, Sheng, Yi, right?! Which class?”
Qiao Yue: “…Qiao Xingsheng, Class B! Tell him there’s an urgent family matter.”
The gatekeeper understood, “Got it, Qiao…”
“Xingsheng.”
“Right, Qiao Xingsheng, Class A… Class B, right, Class A.”
Qiao Yue: “…”
His throat was hoarse from shouting. Looking at the forgetful and somewhat hard-of-hearing gatekeeper, all his previous worries vanished, leaving him amused and helpless.