“This…”
Seeing Liu Haoxuan crying pitifully with pear blossom-like tears, while nearby stall owners were casting curious glances, Mu Simiao quickly patted his shoulder: “Alright, alright. Come back tomorrow at noon then.”
Liu Haoxuan immediately lifted his head, the tears at the corners of his eyes instantly vanishing: “Really? Then I’ll come tomorrow.”
His mood changed quite quickly, but since she had already agreed, Mu Simiao couldn’t go back on her word. After sending Liu Haoxuan away, she packed up the stall items and hurried home pulling the cart. On the way, she passed by a lumber shop and spent 10 coins to buy two wooden planks, also picking up some vegetables.
Balancing the planks on the cart, Mu Simiao arrived home with slightly sore arms, thinking how much more convenient it would be if they could live in the city proper.
However, their current savings weren’t enough for them to move to a street-side residence.
Mu Simiao walked into the inner room, collapsing backward into the chair and tossing the money pouch from her bosom onto the table. Squinting at Qi Yuze, she said: “Count how much we earned. I’m going to rest for a while.”
Qi Yuze had never handled money before, and upon hearing Mu Simiao’s words, he looked incredulous: “M-me?”
“You don’t want to count it? Then just leave it there. I can count it myself later.” Thinking he was unwilling, Mu Simiao decided not to pressure him. Hearing this, Qi Yuze quickly denied: “This servant is willing.”
Afraid Mu Simiao might change her mind, Qi Yuze hastily took the money pouch and poured it out. Copper coins spread across the table, and watching Qi Yuze carefully counting the money, Mu Simiao couldn’t help but let a slight smile curl her lips.
“Take your time counting. I’m going to bathe and change clothes.”
Qi Yuze was already completely absorbed in counting and didn’t hear her at all. Mu Simiao shook her head helplessly, fetched her change of clothes herself, and went to the courtyard to bathe.
After bathing, it was still early and she wasn’t very hungry yet. Taking advantage of this free time, she decided to use the recently purchased planks to make a handmade baby carriage for Yue’er. After casually drying her hair, she rummaged through the room and found a rusty handsaw.
Beside the well sat a whetstone that hadn’t been used in years. She crouched down, first drew a bucket of water from the well to clean the whetstone, then began sharpening the handsaw.
The iron rust turned into muddy yellow water under friction. After several rounds of grinding and washing, the original color of the iron barely showed through. Only when she had polished the entire saw until it gleamed did she stop, then tested the sharpness with her fingertip.
The whetstone was indeed useful. Mu Simiao wiped the handsaw clean with a dry cloth, then took the wooden planks from the cart. First, she sketched a design on the ground using a twig.
Drawing from baby carriages she’d seen in her previous life, Mu Simiao quickly drafted a simple diagram focusing mainly on the sitting and prone positions. After finishing the sketch, she began disassembling the planks, cutting out various components, then fitting them together according to her design.
She became so engrossed in her work that she completely missed the movements around her. When she finally looked up, she was surprised to find Qi Yuze had already prepared the meal and was watching her.
Their eyes met suddenly, and Qi Yuze immediately lowered his head. After hesitating for a moment, he didn’t ask what she was making, instead saying: “Mu Niang, please come eat first.”
Mu Simiao brushed the wood dust from her hands, acknowledged him, then washed her hands at the well before sitting opposite Qi Yuze.
On the table were stir-fried shredded potatoes and cold tossed tomatoes, which looked quite appetizing. Mu Simiao picked up half a flatbread and, under Qi Yuze’s watchful gaze, picked up a portion and put it in her mouth to chew. Seeing his nervous expression, Mu Simiao felt tempted to tease him.
She furrowed her brows, staring at Qi Yuze without speaking, waiting until he cautiously asked, “Is it unpalatable?”
Only then did Mu Simiao burst into laughter: “No, it’s delicious.”
Qi Yuze finally breathed a sigh of relief and confidently picked up food with his chopsticks.
After the meal, Mu Simiao picked up the bowls intending to wash them, but Qi Yuze pressed the back of her hand down, taking the bowls and chopsticks from her grasp: “I’ll wash them. Mu Niang, please focus on your tasks.”
Since he said so, Mu Simiao didn’t refuse. She walked over to the wooden board and continued assembling it. Before long, a simple version of a baby carriage was completed. To prevent any splinters from hurting Yue’er, Mu Simiao deliberately rubbed the board with an extra piece of wood to smooth it out.
Yue’er was already asleep and couldn’t test whether the baby carriage was sturdy, so Mu Simiao took off her shoes and socks and stepped onto the seat with one foot to test it. As soon as she shifted her weight to her left foot, she heard a startled cry.
Qi Yuze hurried over and knelt before her, helping her put on the shoes and socks she had just removed. He spoke in a rushed tone: “Mu Niang, the law stipulates that married women and men are not allowed to expose their skin outside the house. Please keep them on.”
She hadn’t expected such a rule—truly a bad custom. But seeing Qi Yuze’s anxious expression, Mu Simiao didn’t want to make things difficult for him. She looked down at him from above, waiting until he finished putting on her shoes and socks, then suddenly leaned forward, stopping just a centimeter from his lips.
“If we can’t undress outside, then when the door is closed and it’s just the two of us, can we undress?”
Qi Yuze’s face flushed with shock and embarrassment before he lowered his head. Then, hesitantly, he spoke: “Mu Niang can do whatever she wishes with me, but please don’t wake Yue’er.”
At first, she thought nothing of it, but Qi Yuze’s words suddenly filled the air with an ambiguous tension. Mu Simiao immediately wanted to step back, but Qi Yuze’s slender fingers grasped her sleeve. Taking advantage of her confusion, he abruptly leaned in, and their lips met.
The sensation was fleeting. By the time Mu Simiao reacted, all she could see was Qi Yuze’s hurried back as he carried the bowls toward the kitchen.
Mu Simiao touched her lips, then looked up at Qi Yuze’s shy smile, momentarily entranced. “A clever smile creates dimples; lovely eyes shine bright”①—truly, he was a beauty.
Instantly energized, Mu Simiao picked up the wooden block and continued smoothing the baby carriage. By the time Qi Yuze finished cleaning the kitchenware, she had completed her work.
Seeing Qi Yuze standing in the distance, Mu Simiao waved to him: “Come here.”
Qi Yuze, already curious, hurried over at her gesture. Mu Simiao then presented her creation to him: “This is a carriage for Yue’er to sit in. The surrounding boards will prevent her from falling. She can usually sit in it, so you won’t be as tired and can focus on your tasks.”
Qi Yuze’s eyes lit up, clearly very pleased with the baby carriage. He caressed it lovingly, his gaze shining as he looked at Mu Simiao: “This is for Yue’er? It’s so beautiful.”
Mu Simiao could somewhat understand his reaction, as such craftsmanship didn’t exist in ancient times. She patted her chest and smiled at him: “It’s nothing much.”
The woodworking had left a lot of sawdust, so she took another quick bath before heading into the inner room. Yue’er was sleeping soundly, while Qi Yuze sat on a chair mending clothes.
Seeing Mu Simiao enter, he quickly put down the needle and thread in his hand: “Th-this… Mu Niang’s sleeve has a loose thread. This humble one didn’t mean to touch it intentionally.”
“No need to explain, it’s just a piece of clothing. Besides, you’re sewing it for me, so don’t be so nervous.” Mu Simiao sat opposite him, gazing at his faintly smiling face. “It’s been several days since you visited your maternal home. If you’re free tomorrow, why not go see the elderly couple?”
Mu Simiao’s intention was for him to spend time with his family, unlike her situation—suddenly transported here without even a chance to bid farewell to her parents.
But Qi Yuze seemed to have misunderstood something. He immediately dropped the needle and clothing, kneeling before Mu Simiao. “Mu Niang, please don’t drive this servant away. This servant will stay home and go nowhere.”
Author’s note:
①: Confucius “The Analects – Eight Rows of Dancers”