Chapter 36

"Maybe Aunt Qian felt bad about Wanwan leaving and said she wasn't well. She's gone back inside to rest." Li Qinghe made no attempt to cover for her; even if speaking the truth might spark an argument with Li Fu, she wasn't Wanwan.
Wanwan, except during busy farm seasons, stayed at home. Housework was tedious, true, but she had nothing else to do. Li Qinghe was different: she had to go to the wasteland every day to build shelters and work, and when the weather improved she'd need to buy fry and chickens to raise. In any spare moment she had to wash and mend her own clothes, and Zhou Chengkang's, so she was truly busy and had little headspace left for domestic matters.
Li Fu was surprised. He had thought Madam Qian went to return something, not that she'd gone to lie down. His face darkened and he went into the house.
Yu Yan, who had been holding a broom ready to help, saw the scene and lowered her voice, "I'll head back first. If... later, I'll come over again."
Li Qinghe walked her to the gate and smiled. "No need, it's just sweeping. It looks tedious, but it won't take long."
When she turned back, she saw Madam Qian had already put on a coat and come out, broom in hand, angrily sweeping. Catching Li Qinghe looking, she sneered, "What are you staring at?"
"I see you're fine," Li Qinghe replied, unhurried. "Weren't you saying you couldn't breathe?"
Huffing and puffing with anger, her breathing was remarkably even.
That only made Madam Qian angrier.
By then all the guests had left and only family remained. Li Fu came out of the house; since people had been drinking with him earlier and it would be rude to refuse on a day like today, his face was a little flushed. He grabbed a broom and began to sweep.
When Madam Qian was angry she worked fast, in a flurry she swept half the yard, then went inside to clean more. Li Fu went to the back yard, and Li Qinghe put away the tables and chairs. After an hour they had almost finished.
Dinner was simply the leftovers from the feast, ready-made and only needing reheating. As they ate, Li Fu glanced at Madam Qian. "Tomorrow morning I'll go fetch Wanwan back. Make sure you have the food ready."
Madam Qian ignored him and looked away. It was obvious she was still angry.
Li Fu put down his chopsticks. "Don't sulk like that. I'm telling you, Wanwan is your daughter too. If you shame her, will that make you happy? Besides, once a girl is married, when she returns to her mother's house she's a guest. If you make her welcome she'll come back more often; if you snub her, she won't want to return, you'll regret it before you know it."
"Then fine, don't come back!" Madam Qian snapped. "My whole life's been misery. Men can't be relied on, raising a daughter is wasted effort; I'd be better off dead." As she spoke, tears began to fall.
Li Qinghe couldn't bear to watch her like that; she rose with her bowl and went outside.
From behind came Li Fu's displeased voice, "Next time you eat, don't cry, it ruins your appetite!"
Saying that, he stood and went out. Seeing Li Qinghe in the yard, his tone softened, "There are still dishes in the kitchen. Heat them yourself; don't go inside."
Li Qinghe finished in two mouthfuls. "I'm full." She took the bowl into the kitchen.
When she came out again, Li Fu had already left the yard and gone for a walk along the road. Standing there, she could clearly hear Madam Qian's plaintive sobs, full of grievance.
"My father has already gone," she called out loudly.
The crying inside faltered, then stopped. Madam Qian came out holding plates and chopsticks, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and clear the dishes!"
Li Qinghe spread her hands. "I cooked the meal, and I'm not going to clear it. If you've got the nerve, do it yourself!"
Madam Qian stamped her foot in anger, but she didn't dare to leave the dishes as Li Qinghe suggested.
Li Qinghe went back to her room to fetch clothes for washing. She'd been busy for two days; in this cold weather, a change of clothes made a whole heap, and by the time she finished washing, night had already fallen.
The next day, Zhao Wanwan was going back to her parents' home; her family had come to fetch her. Li Fu left early in the morning, and Madam Qian got up and went into the kitchen.
Li Qinghe went to the kitchen to help. There were leftover meat and vegetables from yesterday, so preparation was quick, but there was little conversation between them; the atmosphere was tense.
When the day fully brightened, Li Fu returned with Zhao Wanwan.
They still ate together as a family that morning, everything seemed the same as before, and yet somehow different.
By the afternoon, Hu Yanxi arrived. He would take Zhao Wanwan away after lunch, and with that the marriage would be settled. After that, whether Zhao Wanwan returned would depend on her mood, aside from festival visits.
Actually, what Li Fu had said last night was right: if the home is comfortable, a daughter will be happy to come back often; if she comes home sulking, she might really stop coming at all.
Madam Qian was very pleased with this son-in-law. She helped him serve food several times and smiled, "When are you planning to set out for the county exams in March?"
"The sooner the better," Hu Yanxi said with a smile, thanking her. He added, "We'll need to rent a place when we get there; a few of us agreed to live together, that'll save quite a bit of silver."
Hearing this, Li Fu frowned slightly, "Wanwan's uncle will come too?"
Hu Yanxi laughed, "Your uncle and I were classmates once. Now that we're relatives, we should look out for one another."
Madam Qian's smile deepened at that; she handed him another piece of meat and urged, "Eat more."
But Li Fu wasn't satisfied with that answer. He glanced at the bashful Zhao Wanwan with her head down and said, "If possible, I'd rather we live separately..."
"Nonsense," Madam Qian shot him a look. "Isn't someone close better than a stranger?" She turned to her daughter, "Wanwan, what do you think?"
Zhao Wanwan lifted her head, smiled, and said nothing.
Madam Qian felt a little embarrassed and annoyed; she looked helplessly at Li Qinghe, "Qinghe, what do you say?"
Li Qinghe kept her head down and ate without a word, she wasn't one for speaking in such moments. When Madam Qian addressed her, she smiled, "My brother-in-law has studied a lot; I'm sure he knows what he's doing."
At that, Madam Qian gave her an approving glance, then looked to Li Fu, "Even Qinghe agrees."
Li Qinghe said nothing. She glanced at Hu Yanxi, who chewed slowly, he didn't look foolish; he seemed like a man with plans. Whether he was willing to live together wasn't something Madam Qian could decide.
It looked as though they'd answered Madam Qian, but they hadn't given a firm reply. When asked when they'd depart, he said "the sooner the better." He mentioned several of them planned to live together; when she asked whether they'd bring money to help with the marriage, he only said relatives should look after one another, he never declared that those living together would necessarily contribute money.
So Madam Qian was telling the truth, he certainly knew the score.
Pleasantly satisfied, she asked again, "Have you prepared the travel money?"
"Not yet." Hu Yanxi's smile faded; his brow tightened as if he were troubled. "But we'll find a way."
They'd argued about this many times recently; bringing it up again darkened the mood. Li Fu stood and went inside to fetch the wine, cutting off whatever Madam Qian was about to say.
After the meal they saw the two off.
Hu Yanxi was attentive to Zhao Wanwan in his movements; the two looked quite intimate in the way they moved. Madam Qian watched them smiling, her eyes full of approval.
As the couple walked away, the smile drained from Madam Qian's face. Growing serious, she said, "Her father, this is your son-in-law, can't you help a bit? If he passes the exams, it will benefit Wanwan and all of us."
Li Qinghe turned and went inside, intending to change and go out to the fields. There was half a day left; she'd do as much as she could.
When she came back out, she heard Li Fu's slightly angry words, "I just paid five taels of silver for the dowry, where would I find silver to lend?"
He was angry, and Madam Qian didn't give ground, "Half of those five taels went to Qinghe, why are you snapping at me? Qinghe's wedding date isn't set yet; we can wait until after the autumn harvest. Then we can sell the grain and prepare, there'll be plenty of time..."
At the sight of Li Qinghe coming out, Li Fu grabbed her, cutting her off.
Madam Qian turned to see her leave, snorted coldly, and strode back inside.
"What a temper," Li Qinghe sighed; it really was true love.
"Heading to the fields again?" Li Fu softened his expression. "Do you want me to come and help?"
She waved him off and said sincerely, "No, it's fine. There are so many tasks in the fields, you mind your own, Father."
Li Fu felt a pang of sadness at her words. Thinking of the anger still in the house, he grew somewhat resentful. Everyone was busy with spring sowing after the New Year, and she was sulking every day. He immediately rose and went inside, "Change your clothes and come with me to the fields; you're afraid of the sun, and luckily it's not out now."
Li Qinghe went out to work in the fields; she was truly busy. By the end of the month the lean‑to and the little house were nearly finished, and she and Zhou Chengkang went into town to buy chickens.
There were chicks for sale, but they were too small and prone to dying, and not many of them either, that would have to be handled slowly. Fish fry, however, were worth asking about.
By the time she put the fry into the water it was already February. When she went back into town people were talking everywhere about the scholars preparing to go to the county seat for the provincial exams; they were said to depart in a few days. Everyone was gossiping about which households had brought book‑boys, which wealthy families had even brought maids to serve them.
When she released the fry she scooped out the few large fish left inside, four or five jin apiece. They were hard to sell; ordinary families wouldn’t waste money on so large a fish for a single meal. She remembered that at the old tavern some customers specifically wanted fish that size and had to order them in advance from the fish sellers, so she thought she’d go ask.
She knew most of the helpers at the tavern, so she entered through the back door and wound her way to the kitchen. Just as she was about to greet someone she saw Zhao Wanwan squatting by the hearth tending the fire.
That was normal; whoever was new started with fire‑tending and dishwashing.
"Sister, what brings you here?" Zhao Wanwan shoved a few sticks of firewood in and stood up. "I wanted to speak with you, let's step outside."
Li Qinghe raised an eyebrow. "I'm not here for you; I have business."
It was still early, time to prepare ingredients, and she slipped into the head chef's little resting room. The tavern's head chef, surnamed Chen, was fairly amiable; when she explained he smiled and said, "You can bring them over, I'll speak with the manager when the time comes."
With that settled, Li Qinghe smiled and thanked him.
When Zhao Wanwan saw her come out, she hurried after her. "Sister, I need to talk something over with you."
"What is it?" Li Qinghe suspected she would ask to borrow money. Hu Yanxi was about to set out; although Li had some silver on hand she had plans and worried it wouldn't be enough. She wasn't going to lend money.
"My husband leaves for the county in a few days," Zhao Wanwan paused. "So many are bringing book‑boys and maids; our family can't afford help. Could you..."
Li Qinghe braced to refuse a loan, but Zhao Wanwan continued, "...cover my work for two months?"