Chapter 24

The rain descended with sudden, fierce intensity, scouring the mountain forests clean and whipping up a verdant, rolling sea of pine, as if performing a grand farewell ceremony for the summer.

After three consecutive days of rain, Qingmiao Village welcomed clear skies. The crops, thoroughly saturated by the downpour, thrived, waiting only for the arrival of autumn to begin the busy harvest.

Looking out at the wheat fields, Zhang Cuilan’s pupils reflected the interplay of green and gold, her eyes filled with an envious longing.

"Land is the foundation. Only when a farming family has land can they truly feel at ease." Her family once owned over a dozen acres of fertile fields. Though they weren't wealthy, they were never wanting for food or clothing. But when war came, her husband and son perished, and the land was sold to barely sustain a living.

She had been terrified by poverty, and her heart felt as if it lacked an anchor; Gu Chengwu understood this. "Once we build the house," he said, "we will buy the available paddy fields in the village. It will provide an annual income."

Zhang Cuilan was stunned for a moment, then pleasantly surprised, before letting out a sigh. "Where would we find the energy? Tending to fields is no easy task. I am capable enough, but Brother Yun’s constitution is frail, and you must frequently head into the mountains. Let’s talk about it later."

Zhang Cuilan never spoke of resting or recuperating in front of Jiang Yun. She knew that with Jiang Yun’s temperament, if he heard such things, he would inevitably feel uneasy and force himself to get up even if he were barely holding on. Brother Yun was now a member of the Gu family, not a servant brought here to wait on them; Zhang Cuilan had no intention of wearing him out.

The vegetable patch was not far from the bamboo house. From just a few paces away, one could clearly see the young man leaning against the head of the bed in the inner room, his face twisted in distress as he held a bowl of medicinal soup, fretting over how to drink it.

Gu Chengwu withdrew his gaze. "I won't be going into the mountains as often anymore."

The incident where Jiang Yun was abducted by the Liu family remained a thorn in his side. If he left, only Jiang Yun and Zhang Cuilan would remain at home. Even while hunting in the mountains, it would be difficult for him not to be distracted.

"If you are worried about things at home, that is not an issue. In a few days, we can build our brick house in a more populated area. Surely those thieves wouldn't dare come near," Zhang Cuilan said, setting down her hoe and offering a suggestion. There was no sense in being bitten by a snake and fearing a coiled rope for ten years.

Gu Chengwu shook his head. "That is not the only reason. Hunting is a trade that harms the natural order; it is not something to be done for a long time. Recently, the number of students at the county archery range has increased. I have signed a long-term contract with the proprietor, so I will be staying there more often."

Previously, he only needed to go for three days every ten-day period, earning three taels of silver a month. The owner was sincere about keeping Gu Chengwu, and the sons of officials and merchants specifically requested his instruction. After negotiation, he signed a long-term contract: two days off every ten days, with the monthly wage increasing to ten taels. He was also allowed to use the archery range’s bows and weapons freely, provided they were not taken away or intentionally damaged.

Ten taels of silver was not a small sum. A hardworking peasant in the countryside might only make ten taels in a year of good harvest, let alone during years of natural disaster.

For Zhang Cuilan, land was a form of security, but for Gu Chengwu, it was not. A few acres of thin soil were enough to maintain their daily meals.

"I will go to town tomorrow." Since he was not scheduled to work, he planned to find Li Si first.

Seeing that his foster son had made up his mind, Zhang Cuilan had nothing more to say and yielded to his decision. Seeing that dusk was approaching, she set down her hoe and said, "Since Brother Yun is ill, I’ll prepare something light tonight so he can recover his health more quickly."

Since Jiang Yun arrived, Zhang Cuilan had rarely stepped into the kitchen. It wasn't that she made Brother Yun do the work; it was simply that her cooking wasn't as delicious as his. She truly loved the dishes Brother Yun made. However, Zhang Cuilan didn't stay idle; she handled the chopping, fire-tending, and dishwashing whenever she could—one must do what one can as long as one is living.

After the shock, Jiang Yun had fallen severely ill, only beginning to recover when the weather cleared. He didn't dare go out to catch the wind, so he stayed in bed. He knew that if this had happened to any other wife or husband in the village, they would have long since been berated by their mother-in-law. But the Gu family was different; no one mistreated him, and when he was sick, even his meals were brought to him, warm and ready.

The bamboo door of the inner room creaked, and steady footsteps approached the bedside.

Jiang Yun kept his head slightly bowed, feeling too shy to look at the tall man before him. Having been married for several days, he felt he had yet to truly look at Gu Chengwu.

"Have you finished your medicine?" Even though he could clearly see the empty bowl, he asked anyway, trying to find something to say.

"Mm, yes, I've finished it." Jiang Yun’s voice was faint, answering only what was asked, his slight blush well concealed.

Before bed, he always washed his face, feet, and rinsed his mouth. Even when he was in the most wretched state at the Jiang house, he had insisted on living cleanly.

Gu Chengwu discovered this habit of his spouse by chance, and without waiting for anyone to ask, he brought over a basin of hot water.

Jiang Yun never dared to imagine a man washing his feet; no husband in the village would do such a thing, but Gu Chengwu was different from everyone else.

"I—I'll do it myself," he said, feeling flustered. When the man’s fingertips touched his ankle, Jiang Yun was panicked, his eyes filled with alarm and embarrassment. How could he let him touch such an unclean place as his feet?

Gu Chengwu had already crouched down, lifting his chin and frowning. "Don't move," he said, his tone carrying a hint of command but no reproach.

Before Jiang Yun could refuse, his broad palms cradled the fair feet and submerged them into the water. The temperature was just right—not too hot or cold, but warm. Jiang Yun’s feet were small, almost the size of Gu Chengwu’s palm, the toes round and translucent white; one hand could hold them both.

Gu Chengwu washed them with great seriousness. His hands, accustomed to drawing bows for years, held great strength, yet as he gripped the soles of the feet, his movements were slightly clumsy, as meticulous as threading a needle.

He managed to make washing feet feel like facing a formidable enemy. When he left the room to pour out the water, Gu Chengwu’s gait was vaguely unsteady.

After returning, Jiang Yun had already dried his feet and wrapped himself in the quilt. For the past few days, Gu Chengwu had been sleeping on the outer side of the bed. Jiang Yun had suggested switching, but it went without saying that he was refused.

Once the lamp was blown out, the room plunged into darkness, leaving only a sliver of light to reveal the contours of the night. With his breathing gradually steadying, Jiang Yun fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next day, he had to go to town early. Old Chen, who drove the ox cart, started his journey before dawn. Few families in the village had oxen, so most people took his cart, paying a few coins per trip.

After resting for several days, Jiang Yun’s illness had fully healed. He looked much more spirited, with a spark of vitality in his eyes, and was even able to help Zhang Cuilan with farm work.

When he opened his eyes, Gu Chengwu was already gone. Jiang Yun changed his clothes without the usual vigilance, no longer fearing he might be seen. Once, when Gu Chengwu was washing in the courtyard with his shirt off, Jiang Yun had only caught a glimpse before he dared not look again, his cheeks burning hot.

The large wooden wardrobe had been newly made for the wedding. At a glance, all of Jiang Yun’s clothes combined did not add up to half of Gu Chengwu’s. Often, he had to wash his clothes immediately after changing, or he would have nothing to wear the next time. He was a tidy young man who preferred not to wear the same garment for more than two or three days.

Looking at the gray cloth garment in his hands, washed until it was pale and thin, Jiang Yun pursed his lips, his eyes filled with a dazed emotion. He stood lost in thought for a moment before quickly putting it on to go work.

Zhang Cuilan was busy in the fields, wielding her hoe with a strength that rivaled any man’s. Jiang Yun followed with a small hoe to clear the weeds.

"In the next two days, we’ll sow the radish seeds so we’ll have something to eat in the winter. Fortunately, I bought some seeds from Auntie Xu, enough to plant a small patch," Zhang Cuilan said, her work not hindering her conversation.

Jiang Yun was usually quiet, but now, infected by Zhang Cuilan’s enthusiasm, he spoke a little as well. "I can plant... the radishes. Ridging and sowing, I can do both." At the Jiang house, he had to do everything; if he didn't, he would be beaten. Liu Guihua couldn't even do these things herself, let alone teach him, so he had to learn by secretly watching other families.

"That’s fine," Zhang Cuilan said with a chuckle. "Two people working together makes the work easier."

Zhang Cuilan had mentioned the plan to buy land to Jiang Yun during their chat, and she noticed the hope in his eyes. Unlike before, only the land bought by the Gu family made Jiang Yun feel that the food grown was truly his own—a feeling he had only known when his own mother was alive. Jiang Yun had never studied and couldn't find the words, not knowing that this was what "home" felt like.

As he leaned over to work, the pull of his movement caused his already short sleeves to slide up to his elbows, and his ankles were exposed to the cool breeze.

Only then did Zhang Cuilan notice. She sighed and said, "You’ve been in the Gu family for nearly a month. Another day, when it’s market day, your godmother will take you to buy some daily necessities."

Jiang Yun nodded in agreement, already having his own plans in mind.

The Gu family had money, as Jiang Yun knew; Gu Chengwu and Zhang Cuilan never hid their conversations from him. But that money was meant for building the house, and there wouldn't be much left over.

His mother had taught him while she was alive: as long as you live, you must do your part. After finishing the housework, Jiang Yun busied himself in the fields and forests.

In the countryside, wild vegetables were abundant throughout the four seasons—wild scallions, purslane, and sow thistle grew everywhere. Not only could they be used for stir-fries and steamed buns, but the local apothecary would also buy them.

In the past, only those who were starving during years of disaster would eat these, but now, with better living conditions, few people bothered to dig them up. Jiang Yun had discovered this by chance when he went to town. There were poor families in town who couldn't afford vegetables and would buy these wild greens at a low price, which served as a potential outlet.

When the sun set, his wicker basket was stuffed to the brim. Selling the whole lot would only bring in a dozen or so coins, but for Jiang Yun, it was enough. Accumulating over time, he could save enough to cover the costs of oil, salt, soy sauce, and tea.

Seeing the pile of wild greens covering half the courtyard, Zhang Cuilan joined in, her spirits lifted as she helped organize them. "If I had known there were people in town who ate these, I would have dug them up too. Brother Yun is truly clever."

Jiang Yun felt shy at the praise, pursing his lips and offering his godmother a faint smile.

In the kitchen, millet porridge was simmering. The Gu family’s dinner was simple: two salted duck eggs and some pickled vegetables. With a large bowl of stir-fried fresh greens, they could have a satisfying meal.

After tidying up the last of the greens, Jiang Yun looked toward the entrance of the bamboo forest from time to time—the only path leading to the Gu family’s small courtyard.

Zhang Cuilan was a discerning woman; how could she not see that her little son-in-law was missing someone? She smiled without saying a word, only speaking after a moment. "He isn't working at the archery range today; why has the lad been gone so long without returning?"

"Perhaps... he has other matters to attend to." Jiang Yun’s movements slowed, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Outside Qingmiao Village, the little red horse carried Gu Chengwu home under the starlight. He had gone to town to find Li Si and inquire about the whereabouts of craftsmen, and he had indeed found a lead; the foreman of the craftsmen had once been helped by Li Si. Upon hearing that it was to help Li Si’s brother build a brick house, he had readily agreed. The three of them were enthusiastic, went to a restaurant for a meal, and negotiated the renovation cost down to eighty-five taels—a true bargain.

The craftsman insisted on treating him to drinks, and Gu Chengwu did not refuse. As they drank and talked, Li Si brought up the matter of Old Master Liu from the Liu family.

"I followed your instructions, Brother Gu, and indeed, I could not find the contract for the marriage of your spouse from the Liu family." Li Si lowered his voice, speaking only when the craftsman was drunk, out of respect for the young man’s reputation.

The Liu family had caused Gu Chengwu enough trouble. Hearing this, his gaze turned cold. "The imperial court strictly prohibits the private buying and selling of innocent citizens. The Liu family thought that because the mountains were high and the Emperor was far away, no one could touch them, but they have dug their own graves."

Li Si nodded. "The crime of abducting a person is enough to get him in serious trouble if reported to the county magistrate. However... once reported, the magistrate will summon your spouse to the courtroom for questioning. I fear it might affect him or frighten him, so I haven't reported it to the officials yet, waiting for your instruction."

"You did well." Gu Chengwu hadn't misjudged Li Si. With leverage in hand, the Liu family wouldn't dare act rashly for the time being, but that didn't mean Gu Chengwu was willing to let the matter rest.

They chatted about other things, and finally, taking advantage of Li Si being drunk, Gu Chengwu paid the bill.

"Three jugs of wine, two jin of roasted meat, and a side dish—three hundred and fifty coins total."

It was expensive, but the craftsman was straightforward and didn't overcharge him, and Li Si had helped him keep an eye on the Liu family; he wasn't a stingy man.

"Wrap up another jin of roasted meat to take away." He had already eaten, and the meat was for his godmother and spouse—it was among the best in town.

On his way home, Gu Chengwu stopped at a pastry shop.

"Would you like to buy some pastries? We have all the latest varieties; I guarantee they’re delicious." The owner tried to rouse his enthusiasm. Pastries were luxury items; few people bought them, so he relied on repeat customers.

"Which ones are good?" Gu Chengwu didn't usually eat sweets, but the pastries were specifically for Jiang Yun, so he would have something to eat after his medicine to take away the bitterness.

The owner gave him a full introduction, and in the end, he packed ten walnut cookies. Six cookies the size of a palm cost fifty coins—as expensive as pork or mutton.