Xiao Zhang and Er Niu brought the bow-measure and squatted by the wall base, while Wei Jinyun fetched the land deed. "This courtyard hasn’t been touched for at least forty years. I suppose Grandmother doesn’t know where the original wall was either. Measure carefully, and I’ll check with you."
Though Xiao Zhang had been busy all day, he had glanced sideways at Wei Jinyun while building the wall. Even though this Miss Wei bargained fiercely and bought many household items at Caoshi, she hadn’t stopped for a moment since returning from Chang Gate.
She had been running up and down, keeping an eye on the gaps for them and handing over tiles. She had barely managed to doze off, only to wake up to this mess.
Seeing her yawn while examining the land deed, Xiao Zhang pressed the bow-measure more firmly against the stone. "Don’t worry, Miss Wei. The stone foundation connected to the base hasn’t moved an inch in forty years of wind and rain—it’s accurate."
He pulled the bamboo ruler eastward, with Er Niu watching the markings behind him. "One step, two steps… to the neighboring wall base, only twenty-four and a half steps."
Wei Jinyun clutched the land deed, her brow furrowing slightly. The words "twenty-five steps north to south" were clearly written on the paper.
She walked the distance again according to Xiao Zhang’s steps and indeed found it off. "It really is short. This shop hasn’t been tended to for over forty years—who knows when they changed it… Luckily, we have the land deed; it’s not just making baseless claims. You two note down this measurement first. I’ll find a reason to bring it up with the neighbor later—no need to argue red-faced."
Xiao Zhang straightened up. "With the land deed in hand, no one can argue otherwise. We’ll mark out the wall foundation according to the original dimensions first. Once Miss Wei settles it, we’ll start work—guaranteed no mistakes."
Wei Jinyun glanced up at the dusk. "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Xiao Zhang and Brother Er Niu. Let’s call it a day here. Grandmother has cooked a few dishes. After dinner, we’ll continue tomorrow."
The two packed up their tools, helped fetch two buckets of clean water from outside, and sat down together for the meal.
Wei Jinyun carefully folded the land deed and tucked it back into Wang Qiulan’s bundle. Earlier, while chatting with Grandmother, Aunt Zhao from Liji Cooked Food Shop had also mentioned the neighboring Zhangji Wenfang Sibao Shop. Zhangji had been operating here for over twenty years. As newcomers, Wei Jinyun and her family didn’t know the temperament of the Zhangji owner.
If handled well, everyone would be happy. But since they’ve built the wall onto her land, they likely aren’t easy to deal with.
If a dispute arises and they have to hire a litigious scoundrel with silver, or worse, take it to the authorities—a judgment could be made, but then every time they meet Zhangji in the future, it’d be nothing but bitterness and resentment.
She was here to make money, not to quarrel.
She needed a reasonable and proper excuse to inquire first, then think of a good solution.
As dusk approached, the shadow of the old locust tree by the well stretched long. Nearing July, most of the locust blossoms had fallen, but clusters still hung heavily from the branches.
With the musty dampness gone from the courtyard, they could finally take a moment to appreciate the fragrance of this decades-old locust tree.
The two sisters returned hand in hand just then, their arms filled with candied fruits and two lifelike bamboo-woven crickets and dragonflies.
Meng Ge’er, with his hair tied in a child’s bun, had a round, cheerful face and loved smiling at everyone. Though his family ran a cooked food shop, Zhao Xiangping kept him neat and clean, and he was well-liked by all the neighbors.
Now he had taken the two sisters for a stroll around Tianqing Temple. The Wei sisters, lively and charming like two little dolls beneath the Guanyin statue, naturally won their affection and were showered with many treats.
As a result, the two returned with full stomachs, barely managing a few bites of rice before feeling stuffed. Even their usual favorite, steamed white fish, ended up back in Wang Qiulan's bowl after she picked the meat from the back for them, only for it to circle back to her.
"Wei Fuling has already learned how to spit out fish bones."
The sisters tidied up their own bowls and chopsticks, then squatted in the courtyard playing with bamboo-woven crickets and dragonflies.
Er Niu truly lived up to Shopkeeper Zhou's description, capable of eating three bowls of rice in one meal.
Stir-fried pickled vegetables, perfectly seasoned, paired with tender green soybeans, and gluten-stuffed meat with soft skin and firm filling, topped with a ladle of broth poured over the rice to eat together.
Er Niu devoured four bowls, slurping noisily.
"I didn't even get full, I'm telling you."
Xiao Zhang hitched the donkey cart, pointing a trembling finger at Er Niu while turning to bid Wei Jinyun farewell with a smile.
"You were too busy giggling to eat."
Er Niu rolled his eyes and patted the donkey's head beside him.
These two brothers worked honestly and diligently. In just half a day, they replaced most of the tiles on the roof and even helped Wei Jinyun fix the lock on the main gate. Now the door swung open smoothly, sparing her the need to tiptoe in the morning and endure its piercing screech.
The partition inside the house was nearly finished, with the small lattice window wide open for ventilation. In a couple of days, Wei Jinyun would measure the spacing and replace these broken windows.
Tonight was far more comfortable than the previous night.
With a new bed, Wei Fuling, exhausted from playing, had been chattering about which dress to wear tomorrow to visit their grandaunt one moment, only to fall asleep hugging a winter melon the next.
During the rainy season of June, the weather was stifling and hot. Wang Qiulan would always fan her two granddaughters with a palm fan as they slept, only going to rest herself after they had drifted off.
Now with some free time, she was persuaded by Wei Jinyun to go to bed.
The two large winter melons cost Wei Jinyun seven copper coins. Washed clean and hugged while sleeping, they could calm the mind, soothe the spirit, regulate qi and blood, and even lower body temperature.
When she was young, her grandfather would buy one for her to hug every summer—more comfortable than a fan.
In each room, she had also placed a few old bricks and lit mosquito coils on them. This way, they could ward off snakes, insects, rats, and ants during the rainy season, allowing everyone to sleep better.
Around midnight, Wei Jinyun got up to drink water and was startled to see Wei Fuqu squatting in the courtyard, her small figure seated beside a water bucket.
The lotus she had picked from Gaochun Town was placed beside her. Carefully, she scooped water from the bucket with both hands, bit by bit, to pour over the lotus.
After several days on the water and nearly two days in Pingjiang Fu, the lotus had wilted, no longer as vibrant and delicate as before.
"Fuqu, not asleep yet? We’re going to Grandaunt’s house tomorrow."
Wei Jinyun held a bowl and took a few sips of water, standing beside her.
"The lotus I picked has withered."
Wei Fuqu carefully lifted the lotus, murmuring with her head lowered, "Fuqu still really liked Gaochun Town."
Her younger sister was somewhat sensitive. Likely, seeing the wilted lotus in the corner before bed had stirred homesickness again.
"Fuqu, go to sleep."
Wei Jinyun reached out to ruffle her hair. "Maybe the lotus will bloom again tomorrow."
"How could that be?"
Wei Fuqu looked up in surprise.
In the darkness, her sister's eyes shone brightly.
She reluctantly handed the lotus flower to Wei Jinyun but obediently returned to bed.
Wei Jinyun held the lotus branch, thought for a moment where she stood, then went to the kitchen to soak some red beans.
She suddenly had an idea—not only to comfort her younger sister…
Today, Wei Jinyun still woke up early. As the sun rose, the rainy season seemed to be gradually passing.
A few sparrows landed in the small courtyard, chirping as they pecked at the rice grains left over from last night’s dinner. Seeing her come out, they fluttered up to perch on the nearby wall.
The newly built stove was still unusable, so after washing up, Wei Jinyun simply lit the clay stove and moved the iron wok onto it.
Another clay stove was already lit, with an earthen pot steaming atop it. Wei Jinyun lifted the lid, and the fragrance of red beans filled the courtyard.
She had cooked the red bean paste an hour earlier, then gone back to sleep for a while. Now, the red bean paste in the pot was thick and sticky. Pressing it with a spoon, it felt soft and melted into a sandy texture. She stirred it in one direction for a while, scooped it into a bowl, and placed it in a basin of cool water to cool.
The fire under the clay stove hadn’t gone out yet, so she took the opportunity to cook some porridge.
Yesterday, Wei Jinyun had bought two bags of flour at Caoshi. She scooped about four pounds into a wooden basin.
She mixed the flour with oil and water to form a pliable yet soft water-oil dough, then blended it with melted lard, adding not a drop of water, to create a rich and glossy shortening dough.
Naturally, she added some red flower powder for coloring.
She divided the water-oil dough into small portions, wrapped them around the shortening dough, rolled them into long strips, and let them rest for half an hour. After shaping the portions and filling them with the cooled red bean paste, Wei Jinyun used a knife to cut six petals into each.
The oil temperature had to be carefully controlled—warm oil for slow frying.
Small bubbles sizzled in the wok, and as the petals met the oil, they gradually unfurled, like delicate lotus flowers blooming for the first time in a pond.
Wei Jinyun took a large sheet of oiled paper and placed the freshly fried lotus flower pastries on it to drain.
By the time all the lotus flower pastries were fried, the porridge in the other clay stove was almost ready.
“You’re up so early, Qujie.”
Wei Jinyun ladled out the porridge, placing bowls outside to cool, as Wei Fuqu walked into the courtyard yawning.
“The courtyard smells so good, and I have a nose.”
Wei Fuqu skillfully rinsed her mouth with poria water, holding a toothbrush between her teeth. “Only Lingjie sleeps until the sun is high every day.”
“Who says that!”
Wei Fuling leaned against the second floor, catching Wei Fuqu gossiping about her early in the morning. With a series of “thump-thump-thump” sounds, she ran downstairs, darting in front of the two faster than a mouse.
Before she could start bickering with Wei Fuqu, she spotted the arranged lotus flower pastries. “What did Sister make? It smells so good, and it looks so pretty.”
“Sister made it for me.”
Wei Fuqu stood in front of the lotus flower pastries, staring intently at them.
They were layered and stacked, just as beautiful as the lotus lanterns she, her grandmother, and her younger sister had released together in the small river of Gaochun Town during summer.
The lotus flowers had bloomed again, just as Sister had promised.
“I want to hear Qujie call me ‘Sister’ one more time.”
Wei Jinyun grinned happily, bending slightly as she leaned closer to Wei Fuqu.
She had finally called her “Sister.”
This must be what it feels like to hear celestial music—a moment of clarity for the ears!
“Sister…”
Wei Fuqu muttered softly.
“Good girl.” Wei Jinyun nearly laughed out loud.
“Chirp chirp.”
Wei Fuling twisted her mouth, imitating Wei Fuqu’s tone. “If you’re going to call her ‘Sister,’ just do it. It sounds worse than the little sparrows chirping on the wall. It should be… Sister, Sister, Sister, Sister!”
“Shut up, you’re even noisier than the little sparrows.”
With such beautiful pastries, the cooled porridge seemed dull in comparison. The two sisters each ate one piece, along with half a bowl of porridge paired with stir-fried eggs in sauce, before Wei Jinyun instructed them to deliver the lotus flower pastries.
"Meng Ge'er, would you like some lotus flower pastry? It's sweet."
Wei Fuling held the oil-paper package up to Meng Ge'er. "My sister said each shop in the surrounding neighborhood gets one package."
Meng Ge'er set down his bowl, thanked her over a dozen times, and shouting "Mother!" as he ran into the shop with the package to find Zhao Xiangping.
"Here's some lotus flower pastry for you."
Wei Fuqu handed the oil-paper package to Zhang Renbai. "My sister made it."
Zhang Renbai's hands trembled as he opened the oil paper, revealing the exquisite and tempting pastries inside, more beautiful than flowers in a painting.
Carefully lifting one piece with his hand, he lowered his head and repeatedly confirmed, "Y-you… your sister gave this to me?"
"Yes."
Wei Fuqu nodded firmly.
Author's Note:
The bow-measure and bamboo ruler are equivalent to today's measuring tape, used for measurement. It is often stipulated that one bow is approximately equal to five Chinese feet.
Lotus flowers, water lilies, including Fuqu's name "Fuqu," all refer to the same type of flower, hahaha. [Owl]
Wife, I'd like a little nutrient solution. [Rice][Rice]