Stone Town
Thanks to Zhang Shi’s reminder, Yang Lan recalled the ancient custom of returning to one’s parental home three days after marriage, a tradition upheld in Willow Leaf Village as well.
The treatment a newlywed woman or Ge’er receives at her husband’s home is often judged by the weight of the gifts prepared for this return visit.
At that moment, Lin Qiao poked his head in through the door: “Father, Husband, the meal is ready.”
Yang Lan acknowledged him and pressed Zhang Shi’s hand gently: “Father, wait here. Lin Qiao and I will bring the food in. Today, we’ll eat in your room.”
Farm folks weren’t too particular about such matters, and Zhang Shi smiled in agreement.
As Yang Lan approached the kitchen door, a delicious aroma wafted out, stirring his appetite and making his stomach growl audibly.
Lin Qiao bit his lip, apologetic: “I neglected to notice, letting Husband go hungry until now.”
“It’s not your fault I didn’t have an appetite,” Yang Lan said as they walked. “What delicious food have you made?”
Lin Qiao’s attention was successfully diverted, and he shyly replied, “It’s getting late, so I just rolled out some noodles and made egg noodles. It’s my first time making them, so I’m not sure how they’ll taste.”
Yang Lan was taken aback. Wasn’t he just supposed to steam an egg? How did it turn into something so elaborate? Lin Qiao must have been worried about him not eating and made it specially.
Warmth filled his heart, and the meaning of the word “family” finally took shape in his mind.
“Thank you, Lin Qiao,” Yang Lan said sincerely, looking at him.
Lin Qiao met his gaze, which was filled with such tenderness that it made his heart race.
Just then, Yang Lan’s stomach grumbled again, loudly protesting, and Lin Qiao couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Yang Lan gritted his teeth, feeling his face heat up.
The egg noodles Lin Qiao made received unanimous praise from both Zhang Shi and Yang Lan. Hearing their continuous compliments, Lin Qiao’s pale face finally regained some color.
After the meal, Lin Qiao went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Yang Lan helped Zhang Shi to bed.
Once their tasks were done, they returned to their room, exchanged few words, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, the whole family woke up late, so they skipped breakfast and combined it with lunch, once again enjoying Lin Qiao’s noodles.
With more time today, Lin Qiao made a sauce and stir-fried beans with eggplant, making for a delicious and satisfying meal.
After eating, Lin Qiao went to the kitchen and drank a large bowl of medicine, which was even more bitter than the one he had seen when he first woke up. Just watching made Yang Lan’s tongue taste bitter.
But Lin Qiao didn’t even frown, drinking the entire bowl clean, afraid to waste a single drop.
Yang Lan felt a pang in his heart again, pondering that when he went to buy gifts for the return visit in the afternoon, he would also buy some sweets and candied fruits for Lin Qiao.
He voiced his thoughts aloud.
Lin Qiao was a bit incredulous: “Husband is going to the town just to buy return visit gifts?”
“Of course,” Yang Lan replied.
Zhang Shi had raised quite a few chickens, but they were all hens for laying eggs. They only slaughtered one for special occasions. Yang Lan planned to buy a rooster, some pork, tea leaves, and pastries.
Last night, after hearing Zhang Shi talk about the return visit, he had specifically searched through his predecessor’s memories and found the customs for return visits in Stone Town.
As for Willow Leaf Village, his predecessor knew nothing about it, having never cared for the village, always dreaming of becoming a city dweller.
Lin Qiao’s eyes were a bit moist, and he murmured, “There’s no need to buy anything… The two taels of silver given at the wedding were already more than enough.”
He had always known his mission was to marry into a good family and secure a large dowry to help his brothers marry.
Since he was fourteen, he had been anxious, fearing he would marry an old widower or someone with a disability.
Perhaps his family’s asking price was too high, for by eighteen, no one had shown interest until the Yang family sent a matchmaker.
The Yang family was very poor, and when he learned his father had asked for two taels of silver as a dowry, he was stunned.
On his wedding day, he didn’t see his husband, only the worried face of Zhang Shi, and he realized he was married to bring good fortune to the family.
He feared for Yang Lan’s health and worried Zhang Shi would take out any financial stress on him.
But neither of these fears came true. Yang Lan miraculously recovered, and Zhang Shi was always kind to him.
His current life with the Yang family was beyond anything he had dared to imagine, so he hadn’t given the return visit much thought. Even if Yang Lan didn’t accompany him, he wouldn’t have complained.
Yet, Yang Lan told him they would go to the town in the afternoon, specifically to buy return visit gifts for him.
At that moment, Lin Qiao’s heart felt full, as if a seed had quietly taken root.
“What are you daydreaming about? We’ll go together this afternoon,” Yang Lan said with amusement, tapping his forehead.
Lin Qiao’s mouth dropped open: “You’re taking me to the town?”
“Yes, don’t you want to go?”
Lin Qiao quickly shook his head, his eyes bright: “I want to go! I’ve never been to the town before.”
Yang Lan gently patted his head: “In the future, if you want to go, just tell me, and I’ll take you.”
“Okay!”
When Zhang Shi heard they were going to the town, he didn’t say much, quietly returning to his room to fetch a tael of silver.
“We’re running low on oil and salt at home, so buy some while you’re there.”
Yang Lan didn’t take the silver, suddenly remembering he had an important matter he hadn’t shared with them yet.
Looking at the ten taels of silver on the table, Zhang Shi’s hands trembled: “Did you really earn this all in one day yesterday?”
“I got lucky yesterday and found a patch of Dendrobium candidum. It won’t happen again. On a normal day, I can gather twenty pounds of herbs at most, which can be exchanged for 200 wen,” Yang Lan explained.
“200 wen is a lot!” Zhang Shi immediately replied.
Yesterday, he and Lin Qiao had helped the Village Head harvest wheat, working hard all day, and only earned 30 wen.
After speaking, his brow furrowed again: “But the mountain is really not safe…”
Yang Lan had already considered this. Yesterday, he had been too impulsive. Luckily, he hadn’t encountered any wild animals, or he would have had nowhere to cry.
“Don’t worry, Father. Later, I’ll find Uncle Li. He goes hunting on the mountain every day. I’ll go with him and give him some compensation,” Yang Lan reassured.
Li Jiang lived next door and was the best hunter in Willow Leaf Village, with extensive experience in the mountains. Hearing this, Zhang Shi’s brow finally relaxed.
“Father, keep your money. Once I break this ten taels, I’ll give you five.” Before Zhang Shi could refuse, he explained: “You know, Father, I spend money recklessly. You need to save it for my studies.”
Zhang Shi quickly agreed, knowing he didn’t buy anything himself, so keeping the money was the best option.
……
Yang Lan and Lin Qiao arrived at the Wang family to catch the ox cart. By the time they got there, two other people were already waiting in the courtyard.
Seeing the red dots on their foreheads, Yang Lan realized these two were also Ge’er.
He held Lin Qiao’s hand, and as they passed by, he gave them a polite smile.
Unexpectedly, one of them sneered: “Isn’t this Yang the Scholar? Not even a Scholar yet, and already not acknowledging his uncle? If he really makes it big, he probably won’t even recognize his own father.”
The sharp and sarcastic tone made Yang Lan frown. Searching through his predecessor’s memories, he realized this person was indeed a distant uncle from three generations back.
After his father passed away, Zhang Shi had voluntarily left the family to retain custody of his son, severing ties with the Yang family. Thus, his predecessor was unfamiliar with his father’s relatives.
The uncle beside him tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to stop.
But he didn’t care: “Why shouldn’t I say it? I’m the elder. If his father can’t discipline his son, why can’t I help?”
“Oh, it’s Uncle. I’m a bit short on cash. Could I catch a ride with Uncle today?” Yang Lan asked, looking at him calmly.
Chen Yun’s face changed instantly, and he spat out: “Bah! Shameless! Being poor is one thing, but to flaunt it and try to take advantage of me? Dream on!”
Yang Lan raised an eyebrow: “Isn’t Uncle an elder? You’re so eager to discipline me, but can’t spare five wen for the fare?”
Chen Yun was momentarily speechless, clearly not expecting Yang Lan to be so quick-witted.
Just as he was about to retort, the uncle beside him pulled him away: “Enough! Your husband is waiting for lunch. Let’s go home and cook.”
With that, he dragged Chen Yun away, ignoring his protests.
“Husband, you’re amazing,” Lin Qiao said, looking up at him. “You got rid of him with just a few words.”
Yang Lan rubbed his nose. As a lawyer, debating was his forte. This was nothing.
“Lan Xiaozi, Lin Qiao, are you heading to the town?” Uncle Wang asked, driving the ox cart out from the back yard.
Yang Lan replied: “Yes, Uncle Wang, we’re here to catch the ox cart.”
Uncle Wang nodded: “Hop on then. I’m heading to the town to deliver vegetables.”
The two thanked him and climbed into the cart, which was loaded with four large baskets full of vegetables.
“Sorry, Uncle Wang, earlier two uncles were going to the town, but after a chat, they suddenly left,” Yang Lan said.
Uncle Wang waved it off, not minding, and raised his whip: “They weren’t going to the town. They came to discuss selling vegetables.”
Yang Lan was surprised.
After chatting, he learned that Uncle Wang’s second son, Wang Changjun, had opened a vegetable shop in the town, selling fresh vegetables and seeds. Because of the daily deliveries, Uncle Wang had bought an ox cart.
“It’s impressive that Brother Wang managed to open a shop in the town,” Yang Lan said sincerely.
In this era, labor was cheap, but skills were kept secret within families, so everyday goods were expensive, and building a house was even more so. Most homes in Willow Leaf Village were wooden or thatched cottages.
Uncle Wang laughed heartily: “That rascal was bold. Back then, we didn’t have a penny, and he carried vegetables to the town to sell. It took years to save enough to rent a shop. In the blink of an eye, over ten years have passed.”
As they chatted, time flew by, and half an hour later, they reached the gates of Stone Town.
Yang Lan and Lin Qiao got off at the gate, arranged to meet Uncle Wang in two hours, and entered the town.
Stone Town was unfamiliar to both of them, and everything they saw was new and exciting.
A real ancient city was quite different from the newly built structures in tourist areas, with a richer sense of life and a distinct local flavor.
Yang Lan first went to a confectionery shop and bought two pounds of maltose and two packets of candied fruits. The small three paper bags cost 60 wen. Despite being mentally prepared for the high price of sugar in ancient times, paying still pained him.
“We haven’t gone far. Lin Qiao, try it to see if it’s sweet. If we’ve been cheated, we can still return it.” Yang Lan pinched a square piece of maltose from the bag and popped it into Lin Qiao’s mouth.
Lin Qiao instinctively savored it, and the sweet taste filled his mouth.
He smiled, eyes crinkling: “It’s so sweet!”
Yang Lan chuckled and tossed the three paper bags into the basket.
After finishing the candy, Lin Qiao realized and puffed his cheeks: “That’s the Su family’s candy shop. With such a big sign, how could it be fake? Husband is teasing me again.”
Yang Lan raised an eyebrow, surprised at how quickly Lin Qiao caught on.