Chapter 34

At his question Li Qinghe and the others exchanged a glance. Zhou Chengkang thought for a moment and said, "I'll fetch a quilt and make do in the cart for the night." You can never be too careful.
There was no other choice. Although the village was fairly honest, with so many fish it would be trouble if someone took a fancy to them. If theft were done quietly, they couldn't catch the thief and would just have to accept their bad luck.
Zhou Chengkang drove the cart into the Zhou family yard, went back inside to fetch a quilt, then stepped out and, under the eaves, happened to run into Zhang Haiyao returning from the outhouse. They only nodded at each other as a greeting.
Zhang Haiyao went in and, looking down at Zhou Chengcai lying in bed, murmured, "By the look of it, is Third Brother going to guard those fish?"
Zhou Chengcai didn't see it as a big deal. "So many fish, of course he should keep an eye on them."
"Hmph." Zhang Haiyao snorted. "It's just a few fish, what stinginess. Helping people with all your heart and soul, who knows if they even pay for the work."
"If the family is willing!" Zhou Chengcai stood, pulled her into his arms, and blew out the candle, "If you asked me to help, I'd be glad to..."
Before dawn Li Qinghe was up; the cart was already parked outside the yard. She wrapped her clothes tight and hurried into the carriage. By afternoon her fish were all sold, she'd sold a little more than yesterday, over ten taels.
Counting the copper coins, Li Qinghe was pleased. With that pond providing, although the two of them worked hard, life should be comfortable.
They returned home at about the same hour as yesterday. Today Zhao Wanwan had also heated water for her, and after Li Qinghe finished washing up, Zhao followed her into the room, "Sister, are you still going to town tomorrow?"
"For what?" Li Qinghe asked as she dried herself carefully. She'd washed thoroughly today and wouldn't need to fish so often for the time being.
Zhao Wanwan lowered her head, cheeks flushing, "I want to take fish to the Hu family."
Actually Li Qinghe had planned to go into town to stroll and to drop off fish for Madam Xu. She said, "I'll go tomorrow, come with me." There would be plenty of people in the village taking the cart; one more wouldn't hurt.
Zhao Wanwan brightened at once.
Seeing her so pleased, Li Qinghe asked, "Do you want to give some to your father?"
"My father?" Zhao Wanwan looked puzzled. "Father is next door..."
She suddenly realized Li Qinghe meant her biological father, Zhao Tianfu, and shook her head, "I haven't seen him in a long time; he doesn't see me either. There's no need. Besides, I asked you for these fish, they're not really mine."
Hearing her mention the Hu family, Li Qinghe suddenly thought of what Zhao Tianfu had done regarding that marriage, he had helped her, which is why she asked.
The next day, on the trip back to town, Li Qinghe sat with Zhou Chengkang outside the cart; it was crowded inside with many people.
They left the cart at the town's edge, bade the others farewell, and first went to the cloth shop.
Madam Xu saw the fish she carried in and was very pleased. "You've really made a habit of it. Did you make any profit?"
"A bit," Li Qinghe replied, in good spirits. "I brought some especially for you for the New Year."
Although mother and daughter hadn't seen each other in a long time, they'd actually grown closer. Mainly because Li Qinghe, lacking the sharpness she had in her past life, was willing to get along with Madam Xu.
As they were speaking, the curtain was lifted and Mrs. Zhang came in. Seeing the fish on the floor she smiled, "Have you brought fish?"
She glanced outside, "In this weather, you've really gone to some trouble. It wasn't necessary; the Zhangs can afford a few fish and won't short your mother. Fish get tiring if you have too much, I don't much care for them..." she said disdainfully, reaching out to tap the bucket.
Madam Xu stepped forward, smiling, and took the bucket. "Mrs. Zhang doesn't like them, but I do. I'll eat them with my husband."
When that last line came out Mrs. Zhang's face soured; she quickly pulled herself together. "Fish bones can get stuck, be careful when you eat. Don't choke during the New Year and make a spectacle of yourselves."
Madam Xu raised an eyebrow. "Trying to embarrass me today, have you lost your mind?"
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Zhang said sternly. "What did I say?"
The two were at odds and on the verge of an argument.
The curtain lifted and a middle-aged man of about forty entered steadily. "There are guests, don't make a fuss."
He meant that Li Qinghe was a guest.
At that, Mrs. Zhang's expression changed. Most men dislike their women having had children by other men, so long as that child exists it will remind him of her impurity. But now he called that child a guest; it plainly meant he didn't mind Madam Xu's past.
Li Qinghe didn't want to linger; she stood, smiling and excusing herself. She politely declined the bolts of cloth Mr. Zhang offered and, once outside, looked to those waiting for her and said, "Let's go stroll the market."
In her previous life she disliked coming here, partly because she still harbored resentment toward Madam Xu, partly because things often turned into scenes like that, leaving her stuck in the middle, utterly embarrassed.
The town had been bustling these past few days, about half again as many people as usual, packed everywhere. The two of them squeezed through, happy, and by afternoon they stopped at Auntie's bun shop. It was crowded with people eating noodles and buying cakes; Auntie was swamped but still made a point of greeting them.
The shop was lively, with many children all dressed in new clothes. Li Qinghe remembered something and said softly, “I’ll make you an outfit and give it to you when we go back.”
Zhou Chengkang followed her gaze to a child of three or four nearby; the child’s nose was red from the cold and he was sniffling. He scowled, “Do you take me for a child?”
Li Qinghe smiled and shot him a look. “Adults need new clothes too, you know?”
Zhou Chengkang lowered his head, took a big bite, then slurped his soup. After a long moment he looked up, his eyes rimmed red. “I hardly ever wore new clothes when I was little.”
In farming households, the older children handed down clothes to the younger ones. As the youngest of the Zhou children, there were so many of them, that was the way of things. She couldn’t help but say, “From now on I’ll make you one every year.”
Her tone was playful, like soothing a child. Zhou Chengkang laughed helplessly; the remark warmed him. “I’ll be waiting for that.”
By the time they reached the village gate, Zhao Wanwan was already waiting, warming her hands over a basket and twirling in small circles.
Li Qinghe stepped closer, puzzled. “Why not go up first?”
“That would be awkward.” Zhao Wanwan smiled and climbed up. “It’s just as cold inside if they’re not moving. Out here I can at least watch the commotion.”
The carriage got back to the village quickly and picked up a number of villagers along the way. Many had heard about the fish-selling, some had seen it themselves, so a lot of people joked and asked when the wedding would be. Zhou Chengkang, in front and in high spirits, answered, “Soon, soon, after the New Year.”
A few women half-joked, half-mean, “Don’t keep saying that, you’d better hurry, or your wife might run off.”
The fish-selling had brought in money. Nobody knew how much capital had been put up, but the coins had piled up fast; word was that in two days they’d taken in two chests’ worth, not a small sum. If Li Qinghe hadn’t already been betrothed, many suitors would surely be calling.
Zhou Chengkang stole a glance at Li Qinghe in the carriage, head bowed and shy, and smiled, “I’ll make sure to hurry.”
There was laughter all the way home. When Li Qinghe and her sister stepped down from the carriage, two people were still being taken home by the carriage and Zhou had to see them off. Watching it pull away, she turned and went inside.
Zhao Wanwan stole glances at her a few times and then, testing the waters, asked, “Sister, have you set your wedding date yet?”
“After the New Year.” Li Qinghe answered offhand and then asked, “Why, is the Hu family ready to wed?”
“The inn in town needs an extra hand after the New Year. They open on the third day…” Zhao Wanwan lowered her head. “My aunt thinks if we marry quickly then I could go.”
Li Qinghe was surprised. “If that work is really available and you’re already betrothed, you could go right away. Why must you marry first?”
Zhao Wanwan shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Li Qinghe didn’t press it and simply asked, “Have you set the date?”
“I was thinking sometime in the first month.” Zhao Wanwan tested the reply. “Sister, if you can’t make it in time, then, ” When Li Qinghe didn’t answer, she grew discouraged. “I’d have to go before you.”
That didn’t matter much, she was already engaged anyway. “Will your dowry be ready?”
Zhao Wanwan shook her head. “I don’t know yet.”
Indeed, nobody knew. The argument about the five taels of reserve silver when the Hu family first brought up the match had been a thing, and since then even Li Fu hadn’t mentioned it again in her presence.
The next day was New Year’s Day. The household was fairly quiet; Madam Qian, who usually liked bringing things up at the table, hadn’t pressed the unpleasant topics and hadn’t even mentioned their daughters’ marriages, because bringing that up would very likely set off a fight.
On the first day of the lunar month, Zhou Chengkang and Hu Yanxi came to pay their respects and stayed for the meal. Li Fu was in good spirits and had them drink with him.
By the afternoon Li Fu had sobered halfway and, with Madam Qian, went back to his parents’ home.
The place was close; if they chose to linger over a meal they could stall for half a day, otherwise half an hour would be more than enough. In previous years Li Fu and the others would return quickly, but this year was different, the night was falling before they came back, and Li Fu’s expression was unwell.
As soon as they entered, Madam Qian began to cry. “What do you mean by this? On such a big holiday you have to make things difficult? My parents raised me, couldn’t you at least help them?”
Li Fu’s face was still flushed. He waved his hand. “Don’t cry. I said being filial is right, but don’t read too much into everything.”