“Alright, alright. I was not intentionally trying to frighten you.”
Li Ting watched the hiccuping Xu Yanqiu with a mix of concern and amusement. “I only asked one question; why did you get so scared? Am I truly that terrifying?”
Xu Yanqiu shook his head frantically and then let out another hiccup. He was nearly moved to tears, not understanding why he was hiccuping from fear. It was incredibly embarrassing! It was only because Li Ting had suddenly spoken with such an intimidating tone.
“It is fine. I will teach you a trick,” Li Ting said, remembering a method his mother had taught him. He stepped forward and pinched Xu Yanqiu’s nose shut. “Hold your breath. It will pass in a moment. If you cannot hold it anymore, just open your mouth.”
Xu Yanqiu nodded and pursed his lips tightly. Just as his face began to turn red from the effort, Li Ting released him and asked anxiously, “Are you still hiccuping?”
The two waited in silence for a few seconds before Xu Yanqiu said with delight, “The hiccups stopped! Brother Li is amazing!”
“Even your flattery will not let you escape my question,” Li Ting said. He led the boy to wash his hands and made him sit on a small stool, telling him not to move. Li Ting returned to the stove to heat the oil. He fried the fish until both sides were golden brown, then added the fragrant ginger and garlic, followed by fresh water to let it simmer on low heat.
Xu Yanqiu’s nostrils flared as he caught a scent he had never smelled before. It was more fragrant than any dish in Dongxu Village. “Brother Li, what are you making?”
“My exclusive, secret braised fish,” Li Ting said. He pulled over a small stool and sat opposite the boy. Hearing the stool hit the floor, Xu Yanqiu knew it was time to revisit the topic he had accidentally leaked. He sat up straight and said, “Brother Li, actually, I woke up in the middle of the night yesterday.”
Li Ting had not expected him to start there. “Waking up? Why did you not call me? Did you fall?”
“No, no, no,” Xu Yanqiu shook his head vigorously, trying to look cooperative. “I did not fall, but when I came back…”
He recounted everything from the previous night without holding back. He was not worried about what Li Ting might do to him. Even if Li Ting were to eat him in a fit of rage, he would consider it a way of repaying his kindness. Li Ting had saved his life; a life for a life. Xu Yanqiu was willing to give it back.
When Xu Yanqiu finished his story, he waited silently for a judgment. Li Ting remained silent for a long time before asking, “You said you wanted to touch them again. How did they feel yesterday?”
“They felt very nice, even better than the silk clothes you gave me,” Xu Yanqiu said. He did not know if his words were appropriate, but they came from the heart. Even if Li Ting really ate him, he would have no regrets because the tail fur was truly wonderful to touch. The ear fur was the same.
When Li Ting did not respond, Xu Yanqiu thought he had not said enough and quickly added, “They really feel great! And there are nine of them! They were so warm when they were pressed against me last night. I liked them very much!”
His last sentence was particularly loud. Li Ting, surprised by the volume, felt his ears turn red. He coughed twice and asked, “Do you really like them that much?”
“Yes, yes,” Xu Yanqiu said, noticing that Li Ting’s tone was no longer cold or angry. “I want to touch them again tonight.”
“Are you not afraid of me?” Li Ting sighed and looked at him seriously. “By your standards, I am a demon. I might eat people.”
“If Brother Li is hungry, then eat me,” the little blind boy said, looking up. “I owe you my life anyway.”
“You owe me nothing,” Li Ting interrupted. “You are alive now because you wanted to live. I only gave you a small push.”
“But if you had not pushed me,” Xu Yanqiu said softly, “I would not be sitting here with you. I would have frozen to death on the street long ago with no one to bury me.”
“Do not say such unlucky things,” Li Ting said, rising abruptly. He blew gently on the top of the boy’s head. Xu Yanqiu froze for a moment and then laughed. “I know this! Children’s words carry no harm; the wind blows them away!”
Children’s words.
Li Ting silently repeated those words to himself. Xu Yanqiu’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “But I am no longer a child. In a few days, I will be seventeen. I will be an adult.”
“Is that so?” Li Ting was surprised. He had thought the boy would turn seventeen next year. “When is your birthday?”
“The twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month,” Xu Yanqiu said. “My father said it was snowing the day I was born, just like the cold spring this year.”
Li Ting calculated the dates. Today was the twenty-first; his birthday was only five days away. He realized he needed to prepare a birthday gift.
“Go get some salt for me. It is on the wall in the gatehouse,” Li Ting said, looking back at the pot. He patted Xu Yanqiu’s head, changing the subject naturally. “Go quickly.”
“Alright.” Xu Yanqiu rose and felt for the rope along the kitchen wall to find his way to the gatehouse. Their courtyard did not need a guard, so the gatehouse was mostly used for storage. Xu Yanqiu felt around the room and finally found the small bag of salt they had bought together.
Li Ting stood by the stove, pondering what to prepare. He had no siblings, and in the past, his uncles had always been the ones to give him gifts. It was not easy to come up with an idea on short notice. It was also hard to tell what Xu Yanqiu wanted. A new set of clothes could make him happy for days, and he even treasured the pine nut candy Bai Qianjing had given him, eating only one or two pieces a day. Li Ting frowned and flipped the fish with his spatula, watching the fish soup bubble.
“Brother Li, the salt,” Xu Yanqiu said as he walked in. After Li Ting took the salt, the boy said shyly, “Brother Li, can I ask you for a gift?”
Li Ting was surprised. “Just say it.” The little blind boy was becoming more vocal, finally learning to express his own desires. The little fox felt quite gratified.
“On my birthday, can you personally put that earring on me?” Xu Yanqiu lowered his head, his voice getting softer. He habitually tugged at his clothes in nervousness but then gripped the fabric tightly so Li Ting would not notice.
Li Ting did not answer immediately. Xu Yanqiu could only hear the crackling of the fire, and his hope began to fade. Then he heard Li Ting say, “I can. But you must let your wound heal before then.”
A piercing does not heal in a day or two, and they had to prevent the flesh from closing back up. By the boy’s birthday, it would be just right for the earring.
“I am in no hurry. I will see this through. On that day, I will wear the other earring with you. Are you happy?” Li Ting tasted the fish soup. The little blind boy nodded vigorously. “Good! I will remember your words. You cannot go back on them.”
“When have I ever gone back on my word?” Li Ting raised an eyebrow. “Stay still and taste the soup.”
Xu Yanqiu felt the warm, fragrant spoon against his lips and took a sip. “It is so delicious.”
“As long as it is not too salty.” Li Ting withdrew the spoon and squatted to extinguish the fire. It was just the two of them today, so fish soup over rice was enough. “Come eat. We have work to do afterward.”
“What work?” This was the first time Xu Yanqiu had heard Li Ting mention having tasks to do. He was curious and hoped he could help.
Li Ting set out the soup and said softly, “Scent making.”
“Brother Li, you smell so good.”
Li Ting was opening a small white porcelain bottle and pouring out a pink liquid. Many small white jade dishes were laid out on the table. Most were empty, but a few held thick, transparent liquids with floral scents.
The pink liquid blended into the transparent base. The two floral scents merged, but instead of becoming stronger, the pink scent was softened. Li Ting was about to find the begonia flower paste he had stored when he heard Xu Yanqiu’s comment.
“Is that so? What scents can you smell?” Li Ting glanced at him. The little blind boy did not know what was on the table and did not dare reach out. He lifted his head to sniff the air and frowned. “Is it locust flowers?”
“No, guess again.” Li Ting used a small silver spoon to scoop some begonia paste into a jade dish and stirred it with a silver rod. The letter from Li Dongtang had not only announced his visit but also included new orders for his business.
Foxes have a keen sense of smell, and Li Ting was particularly skilled in the art of floral scents. He had learned the craft as a child. As his reputation grew, people often sent letters with specific requests and payment. Li Ting would fulfill the orders and send them back. Most of the time, he made scents for young ladies of noble families, but occasionally he received orders from the entertainment districts. Those women were generous with their pay and preferred much stronger scents. Li Ting never discriminated; he treated every order with the same care.
This time, the orders were from several regular customers. Someone had heard of a rare scent from the South Sea that was elegant yet captivating. Li Ting thought it sounded like a scam, but he was willing to try.
The little blind boy thought for a long time and then said disappointedly, “I cannot guess. I have only smelled locust flowers, and wait. There is a nameless flower on the back mountain of Dongxu Village. My father brought a few back for me once. The scent I smell now is very similar to the one Brother Li has on him.”
Li Ting paused. He looked at the two fifty-tael banknotes in the letter and then at Xu Yanqiu, who was waiting patiently for him to speak. He suddenly began packing away the things on the table, leaving only the half-finished jade dish.
“Brother Li, what happened?” Xu Yanqiu asked, hearing the clinking of bottles. “Is everything okay?”
“Xiao Qiu, come.” Li Ting took his hand. “I am taking you out for a walk.”
He wanted to find a few of those flowers to test them out.