5
“Huge Sum” Two Hundred Wen
After seeing Liu Shuhuai off, He Xunzhou headed toward the inner area of Great Black Mountain.
Soon, he arrived in front of a cave. This was the home He Xunzhou had found for himself. Inside the cave, there was only some dry grass where he slept.
Since the animals on the mountain learned that this territory belonged to He Xunzhou, none dared to come near. During the day, he would sometimes let out a loud roar to scare other animals away.
Evening at the Liu residence.
“Husband, do you think Mother intends to keep supporting him forever?” Song Xiao Lan grumbled as she mended Liu Qing Yang’s clothes.
“Back then, when I suggested to Mother that we give him away, she just glanced at me and said nothing. If she considers Liu Shuhuai her grandson, why does she silently allow him to suffer like this?”
Liu Qing Yang didn’t know either. He still remembered his third brother’s final request to take care of his sister-in-law. Who would have thought that she would die young, passing away from illness shortly after giving birth to Liu Shuhuai?
He felt guilty too, but he had looked after Liu Shuhuai, hadn’t he? The boy was alive and well, wasn’t he?
Although he did household chores, they weren’t excessive. Sometimes, he didn’t even have to work in the fields. Wasn’t that good enough? At least he had food and clothing.
“Let it be. Who knows? Wash up and go to sleep. Don’t overthink it. Whatever Mother says goes.” With that, he pulled up the quilt and closed his eyes.
Song Xiao Lan cut the thread with scissors, put away her sewing supplies, and got into bed. Once she was settled, Liu Qing Yang blew out the lamp.
“He calls you Grandma. Are you really going to do this?”
“What else can we do? After his mother passed, look at how things turned out. I didn’t even sell him off. During those years of famine, I still supported his wife and child. We’ve done more than enough by raising him until he’s thirteen.”
“Will Qing-Lin blame us for being bad parents?” He was afraid that if they ended up in the underworld, he wouldn’t know how to explain things to Qing-Lin.
“His wife’s family didn’t lift a finger—they moved away altogether and we’ve heard nothing from them since. We’ve treated him well enough. Once he turns thirteen, he’ll have to fend for himself.”
Soon, the light in that room went out as well.
He Xunzhou directly bit off a small branch from the apple tree. This branch had three apples on it. He didn’t want the apples covered in his saliva before eating them.
The apple tree had suddenly sprouted in the Dimension, along with other common fruits like watermelons, pears, and strawberries. It seemed to have a conscience after all, and He Xunzhou felt slightly more satisfied with the orb.
The Dimension had also expanded, now stretching beyond sight.
Moreover, the fields were filled with everything he could want: cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots—all growing without him having to lift a paw.
The house was fully furnished, with pots, pans, bowls, and all kinds of seasonings in the kitchen. It was a pity he couldn’t cook. If only he could turn into a human.
He wanted to be human!
“Meow.” Liu Shuhuai immediately opened the window, and He Xunzhou leaped inside in one jump. He Xunzhou placed the apple in Liu Shuhuai’s hand.
Liu Shuhuai felt the weight in his hand—it wasn’t very heavy, perhaps he was just used to it.
“Da Hei, is it heavy? Let me check your teeth. I hope you didn’t hurt yourself.” Liu Shuhuai inspected them and was relieved to find everything fine.
“Meow.” Not heavy, it’s for you to eat. He Xunzhou shook his head.
“Thank you, Da Hei.”
He Xunzhou was kissed on the cheek. He froze for a moment, then buried his face in Liu Shuhuai’s embrace. His face felt warm—this was the first time anyone had ever kissed him.
Liu Shuhuai took a bite. It was delicious. He had never seen such fruit before, and no one sold it in the streets. Could it be that it wasn’t a god who sent Da Hei to him, but that Da Hei himself was the god?
He’s really clever, he guessed it right away.
The immortal was Da Hei.
Liu Shuhuai took a fresh apple. “Da Hei, it’s really delicious, try some.” Sweet to the core.
He Xunzhou looked up and gently shook his head, pointing at his belly with his paw.
“Da Hei is full already.” Liu Shuhuai patted his stomach and indeed it was rounder.
After finishing the apple, Liu Shuhuai quietly crushed the core and threw it to the chickens, then broke off the twigs and placed them under the haystack. He put the branches with the firewood – he didn’t dare take any chances.
When Liu Shuhuai woke up in the morning, he was called to the main hall where everyone had gathered.
“The New Year is approaching. Next year Yao Zong will take the Tongsheng examination, so he needs proper rest. Quan should do the same,” Grandfather Liu looked at Liu Quan.
“Your grandson will work hard.”
“Good. The teacher has high expectations of you both, don’t disappoint him.” He had high expectations too – they mustn’t disgrace him.
“Yes,” both bowed with clasped hands.
“I heard Zhi’s marriage has been settled. She’s fortunate to be with Wang Wen-Bin.” Grandmother Liu looked proudly at her granddaughter, her pride and joy who had captured Wang Wen-Bin’s heart.
“Grandmother~” Liu Zhi buried her blushing face in her grandmother’s embrace.
“Oh look, she’s shy! Hahaha.”
In this harmonious atmosphere, everyone wore happy expressions, occasionally covering their mouths to laugh and whispering among themselves.
Grandmother Liu turned to Liu Shuhuai, her smile vanishing. “Gather more firewood this winter, don’t be lazy. Don’t forget the household chores – go prepare the meal.”
“Yes.”
“Have new clothes made for the children. It’s almost New Year, and they have the Tongsheng exam coming up – we must maintain face and not let others look down on us.” Grandfather Liu looked at his two precious grandsons.
“Don’t forget about Zhi – she’s marrying a scholar, can we let people belittle her?” Grandmother Liu knew men valued appearance – if her granddaughter weren’t so beautiful, would Wang Wen-Bin have chosen her?
“Right. Tomorrow the whole family will go to the market and buy Zhi a hairpin to wear. We mustn’t lose face.” This market trip definitely wouldn’t include Liu Shuhuai.
Liu Shuhuai listened silently. Yes, the New Year was coming. Uncle Wang sometimes bought firewood from him every year – it was essential during winter and New Year. No one knew he secretly sold firewood.
Occasionally he would buy a meat bun to eat – so fragrant, filling his mouth with the scent of meat.
Unfortunately, opportunities to go secretly were rare. He remembered only going about ten times since childhood.
Each bundle of firewood earned him six Wen. Now he had amassed the enormous sum of two hundred Wen – he was quite clever.
Sometimes he would secretly go to the market to sell, though such opportunities were scarce.
He had to think of himself. Though he wore Liu Yao Zong’s hand-me-downs in winter, as long as he didn’t freeze to death, it was a minor issue.
Uncle Wang had returned home injured from war, only to find his own parents mistreating his wife and son. He resolutely separated from the family, but unfortunately his wife passed away from illness.
His son was a steady, hardworking man who had studied some books before stopping his education. He now worked as an accountant at a restaurant in town and had fallen for the owner’s daughter.
The son and daughter-in-law were good people. They bought a house in town and wanted to bring his father over, but Uncle Wang refused, saying: “This is where your mother lived, I must guard this place.”
The son had no choice but to bring his wife and child to visit when possible, giving his father more money and telling him not to stint himself.
“Uncle Wang, do you still need firewood?” Liu Shuhuai knocked on the door.
“Cough cough, it’s Shuhuai.” Uncle Wang struggled to get up and put on his clothes. He’d accidentally caught a cold yesterday, his head ached slightly, and he’d already called the doctor to check on him.
“Cough… Yes, we’ll take as much as you can bring. We’ll need it for seven days starting tomorrow, still six coins per bundle.” Uncle Wang opened the door.
“Alright, Uncle Wang.” Liu Shuhuai kept blowing on his frozen hands, occasionally exhaling warm breath to combat the cold.
“Your Brother Dasheng has an extra thick coat. Let me get it for you – it’s freezing out here.” Uncle Wang turned to fetch the garment.
“Uncle Wang, forget it. If I wear that, they’ll definitely start asking questions.” They’d find out he was selling firewood.
“Even sewn inside, it would keep you warm.”
“My cousin has eagle eyes – I really can’t take it. But thank you for always looking out for me.”
He knew Uncle Wang was being kind to him because his son delivered grain and firewood to Uncle Wang every month.
Although Brother Dasheng noticed the firewood wasn’t what he normally delivered, he never said anything about it.