Chapter 46

On Dragon Boat Festival they went back to the Li household. This was Li Qinghe's first formal visit to her natal home after the wedding. Li Fu was delighted, he had even gone to the pond the day before to make sure she really would return.
So when they arrived he was at home sweeping; seeing them at the door he opened it with a smile and led them inside.
Tea was already brewed on the table and the house had been cleaned inside and out. Compared with the disorder the last time she came back, this was much better, someone had truly put thought into it.
Li Qinghe had brought a wild chicken and a slab of meat. Li Fu took them with a grin. "Have some water. I was worried you might not come back, it's been busy over on your side, hasn't it?"
"Thank you, Father." Zhou Chengkang accepted the tea. "It's been all right. We're just gathering timber and blue bricks first, then we'll start slowly."
"When will you begin? How many workers will you hire?" Li Fu sat down opposite.
"We'll start in a couple of days. I want to hire as many as we can so it's finished sooner. We plan to move in this winter." Li Qinghe sipped her tea. The conversation felt novel, her father had never really talked with her like this before, so in a good mood she chatted a little more. "Winter mornings are hard to get up. Someone will need to mind the pond and the chickens."
Li Fu agreed. "I'll go check the kitchen. You two sit."
Madam Qian was in the kitchen; when they came in she had poked her head out to greet them and seemed to bear no grudge over Li Qinghe's refusal to lend money last time.
Soon Madam Qian carried in the dishes she'd prepared: a plate of sliced meat, a pot of bone broth, stir-fried greens and pickles, porridge and steamed buns. The buns were whiter than the usual coarse-grain kind, clearly some refined flour had been added.
This meal had been prepared with care.
Bowls and chopsticks were set. Li Fu began pouring wine. Madam Qian glanced outside several times, and Li Qinghe, sensing it, asked, "Has Wanwan come back too?"
Madam Qian was pleased. "Yes. She came back for Dragon Boat Festival, she found someone to cover her work today."
Just then Zhao Wanwan arrived. She'd bought a few steamed buns and was wearing the same gauzy dress as before. Madam Qian smiled and went out to meet her.
If it hadn't been for the question of borrowing money, they'd all have gotten along. By the time the meal was finished, Li Fu had a little wine and his face flushed. "If only Yanxi were here too."
Zhao Wanwan's movements tidying the dishes for Madam Qian were a little stiff; she said nothing.
This wasn't right, whenever Hu Yanxi was mentioned, Zhao Wanwan would usually talk nonstop. Li Fu didn't notice, chatting with Zhou Chengkang about things to watch for when building the house; Madam Qian noticed, frowned, and said, "Wanwan, bring these out for me."
Zhao Wanwan waved her hand. "Mother, I can't work in these clothes, they'll be hard to wash if they get stained."
Madam Qian swallowed her irritation. "Then come sit with me and talk."
As Li Qinghe carried the dishes into the kitchen she heard Wanwan crying about something outside, but when she went in the two women said nothing; the air between them was heavy.
It was clear something had happened to Zhao Wanwan, but they didn't want Li Qinghe to know. She felt no urge to pry, so she didn't press the matter.
Zhao Wanwan soon excused herself, she'd only stayed two hours and had to hurry back. Her eyes were rimmed in red; she had clearly cried.
After they left, Madam Qian grew quieter, glancing at Li Qinghe now and then as if lost in thought. As dusk fell the two of them took their leave to go home. Li Fu, who had drunk a bit too much, chased after them into the yard, full of bluster: "When you build the house, remember to come to me. I may not have silver to help, but I still have strength, I can help carry bricks."
Madam Qian hurried into the yard and helped him back inside before they were done.
After the pair left, they really did begin preparing to build the house. Li Qinghe hired Li Xingwang; Zhou Chengkang recruited his uncle. They hired a dozen or so people from the village and from his uncle's side and got to work.
The end of May is the best time of year for weather; the days are half an hour longer than usual. Wages were paid by the day now, so don't underestimate that extra half hour, starting work at dawn and letting people go home before dark made them seem particularly generous.
The autumn harvest was still more than two months away, so the crops didn't need much tending. There were plenty of idle hands at home, so they had a good choice when hiring. The men they brought were honest workers; in just half a month the frame was up and they no longer needed so many people. They only had to wait for the carpenters to finish the roof, then fit the windows and lay the tiles, and the house would be complete.
During that time they went out early and came back late. Zhou Chengkang went earlier than anyone and only returned once the others had left. Li Qinghe cooked, feeding a dozen or so people a day was no small task, even if it was only one meal at noon. Fortunately Mrs. Zhou helped, and Fifth Sister tended the fire. After the meal the two women would help Li Qinghe carry the food out to the pond house.
Even Third Brother Zhou went to help at the house for two days. Li Qingmiao and another were there from start to finish. As for other family members, like the eldest's household, they didn't do the labor, but they sent tofu, which counted as a contribution.
While the carpenters worked on the roof, Li Qinghe had people build a wall around the house.
In the village few people bothered with walled yards; most put up low fences you could step over. Neighbors lived close by, and even so no one heard of anything being stolen. But Li Qinghe's pond house was different, within a two-li radius there was no one living nearby, and without a wall it simply wasn't safe.
She also had a private thought: the house faced the pond. If the enclosure were only a flimsy fence that couldn't keep people out, once they had children they'd have to watch them constantly. A proper wall and a locked gate would let her rest easier.
By the time the new house was finished it was the end of June and sweltering. That day the yard was full of people; Li Qinghe, Mrs. Zhou and Li Qingmiao were all busier than could be imagined. Since her house was complete, she had to invite those who had helped to a meal and pay their wages.
The house was done: blue-brick walls and a locked gate that kept everyone out. Even though Li Qinghe ran about cooking, she was very happy, it was her own house.
What's more, the build had gone unusually smoothly. In the past, tilers had fallen from roofs and only barely survived; this time there were no falls, not even a bruise. Everything was finished without a hitch.
The yard outside was wonderfully lively. In the kitchen Li Qinghe's knife flew through the vegetables; Fifth Sister tended the fire; Mrs. Zhou kneaded dough, and her smile never left her lips. "I didn't expect it to go so smoothly," she said. "For over a month I haven't slept well; sometimes I dream the house has hurt someone..."
"Mother, don't worry so much," Li Qinghe said, smiling. "It's fine. Once we move in, if you'd like, you can come live with us, Fifth Sister too."
Fifth Sister at the stove smiled shyly. She was already fifteen; because the family was large and busy she usually stayed home doing chores and rarely went out. She had helped with the cooking every day this time; Li Qinghe noted it and planned to add to her trousseau when she married.
Li Qingmiao teased from the side, "Oh, so you remember Mother, should I come live there a few days too?"
"If you want, go ahead and stay," Li Qinghe said with a bright smile. "Go often, I'm more afraid you won't."
At that moment a shadow fell across the doorway. Zhang Haiyao stood with her arms folded. "Is the meal ready? Need help? I'm a little hungry!"
Her eyes dropped to the pot; it was obvious the last line was what she really meant.
Mrs. Zhou's smile faded and her tone grew serious. "This is a good day, don't make trouble. With so many people out there, if someone scolds you it would be humiliating."
Even Meihua, who hadn't helped with the work, had sent tofu and so had added a dish. But this woman, who knew how she could stand there and do nothing, didn't lift a finger. Mrs. Zhou wasn't insisting she help, but she couldn't tolerate that attitude. Even carrying a bundle of firewood or pulling a few vegetables would have been enough. If you don't reach out when others need help, who will reach out to you when you need it?
When that time comes, the one who suffers will still be the third son. So when the daughters-in-law were compared, even Meihua, who had been a remarried daughter-in-law and had annoyed her at first, had now won more of her favor than Zhang Haiyao.
Zhang Haiyao was brusque with her sisters-in-law, but she dared not show a rude face to Mrs. Zhou, and Third Brother Zhou wouldn’t allow it either. She took two steps forward and stood by the stove, lowering her voice though everyone in the room could hear clearly, “Mother, I have good news to make you even happier.”
Mrs. Zhou glanced at her dismissively.
The others didn’t even look; Zhang Haiyao smiled and placed a hand on her belly. “I’m with child. I went to the town doctor yesterday, he took my pulse. I’m already two months along. You’re going to be a grandmother.”
Mrs. Zhou looked up in surprise. “Really?”
“The town’s Doctor Huang felt my pulse; lots of people saw it, even Third Aunt in the village witnessed it, if you don’t believe me, go ask.” Zhang Haiyao beamed. “Mother, this will be the Zhou family’s first grandson. Chengcai said Father was always longing for a grandson before he left. When we have time, Chengcai and I will go to his grave and tell him ourselves. How about that?”
“All right.” Perhaps mentioning Zhou’s father had touched her; Mrs. Zhou’s eyes reddened as she warned, “The child isn’t secure yet, don’t go telling everyone.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Zhang Haiyao replied obediently. “I absolutely won’t tell anyone.”
After she left, Li Qingmiao rubbed her belly. “Fine for sister-in-law to have news, why haven’t I heard anything?”
“Don’t be anxious,” Li Qinghe advised. “It’ll come. But whatever you do, don’t take any folk remedies.”
On hearing that, Mrs. Zhou agreed. “Right, you mustn’t mess with those so-called cures that guarantee a son. Someone once took one and the child that was born wasn’t fully male or female…”
From there the talk wandered. It started with pregnancies and quickly slipped into which family’s remedy cured what and which didn’t. The mouths didn’t stop and neither did the hands; by noon it was time to eat.
After the meal they fetched the town chief to help hand out the wages. Even though they’d only worked a month and a few days, the pay came to seven taels, and that only because many people took less. For example, Second Zhou and Li Qingmiao, who helped from start to finish, only took one man’s wage. Li Xingwang and his son knocked off the odd coins, effectively working several days for nothing. As for Li Fu, he refused any pay at all until the town chief shoved some coins into his hand, half of which he returned.
Li Qinghe stood aside and wrote down exactly how much each person received and who had taken less, if people wanted to help, she needed to keep track.
After sending everyone off, Li Qinghe was left with just a little over a tael in loose silver; all their savings had been spent.
She had known the money might not be enough. The new house had nothing in it, bed, dressing table, tables and chairs, not to mention kitchen pots and bowls, buying all that would far exceed this money.
Fortunately, the fish in her pond were ready to be sold; once exchanged for silver they should cover the purchases, and if she didn’t demand finery there might even be a little left. Still, she had to set aside money to buy fry and to buy chicks.
At night, Zhou Chengkang held her as moonlight filtered through the papered window. He chuckled low, “Wife, from now on I’ll be living in your house. To avoid being thrown out, shouldn’t I be sure to take good care of you?”
As he spoke his hands had already begun to wander indiscreetly.
Li Qinghe: “…” Is that taking care of me? He’s just taking liberties!
The next morning they unusually slept late. Since getting married they’d hardly had a proper rest and were exhausted. Outside the sun shone brightly; Li Qinghe squinted at the light, listened to the steady breathing beside her, and couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.