The next morning, half the village was still talking about Qiu Yu’s braised pig trotters with soybeans, a dish so delicious it left everyone craving more.
In their humble home, Qiu Yu made fresh noodles using the broth from the pig bones. The aroma was irresistible. Little He Ran ate eagerly, his large bowl nearly covering his entire face.
After breakfast, He Ran, full of energy, snuggled against Qiu Yu.
Qiu Yu gave him a gentle squeeze and said, “Alright, off you go and play.”
“Okay, I’m going to play!” He Ran cheerfully dashed off. With Gouzi leading the group of children, their laughter echoed throughout the village as they ran wild.
Once He Ran was gone, He Zifeng playfully wrapped his arms around Qiu Yu, mimicking their son’s earlier gesture, leaning his head on Qiu Yu’s shoulder.
“Being on our own is great,” He Zifeng remarked with a grin, “I can get close to my wife whenever I want.”
Qiu Yu gave him a light shove, “Stop fooling around.”
But instead of letting go, He Zifeng held him even tighter and leaned in to kiss Qiu Yu’s ear. “You slept in our son’s bed last night,” he grumbled softly.
Qiu Yu’s cheeks flushed. “I wanted you to sleep well after such a tiring day.”
He Zifeng sighed, “I can’t sleep without you. Don’t do that again.”
In the quiet morning, their voices were barely audible. Qiu Yu nodded softly, and only then did He Zifeng relent.
Qiu Yu changed into his new clothes and prepared to take more fabric to Liu’s wife, planning to have an extra set of clothes made along with two padded winter jackets. He also intended to sew a few more outfits for their son using the leftover fabric from their recent trade.
As soon as Qiu Yu stepped out, villagers surrounded him, asking if he planned to sell more braised pig trotters. Many in the village made a living selling things, like the neighbor who sold radish cakes on the first day of each month. After tasting Qiu Yu’s cooking, people couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Qiu Yu replied, “Maybe later. I can only get that many pig trotters when we go to the market.”
Hearing this, the villagers had no choice but to disperse. After all, a pig only had four trotters, and unless it was a festive season, not many pigs were slaughtered.
Seeing that Qiu Yu was headed to Liu’s wife to make clothes, they didn’t stop him further.
A group of villagers chatted as he left:
“Look at Qiu Yu—just a little better dressed, and he looks so handsome.”
“Exactly! Even Xu Li doesn’t compare. If only Qiu Yu had a good father, his life could have been entirely different.”
“I heard from Liuzi that he’s planning to introduce He Zifeng to his brother-in-law for work. The pay’s good—thirty wen a day, paid daily.”
“That’s great news.”
They laughed and continued, “I heard the He family’s old house was fuming mad last night because He Zifeng and Qiu Yu didn’t share their pig trotters with them!”
“Serves them right! They’re just jealous. If they want something, why don’t they buy it themselves?”
At Liu’s house, Qiu Yu learned about the He family’s outrage. Apparently, their pride had been bruised because Qiu Yu and He Zifeng shared food with the neighbors but not with them.
Qiu Yu scoffed, “I’d rather feed it to the dogs than give it to them. Even though we’ve split, I still can’t forget how they bullied my son. Sharing food with them? They can keep dreaming.”
Liu’s wife laughed, “Don’t bother with them. The whole village knows now how they treated you. Everyone’s on your side. You and He Zifeng are hardworking people, and with just one child, your future will be bright!”
Qiu Yu smiled and handed her fifty wen as a deposit for the clothes. “Please make sure the winter jackets are sturdy and warm.”
Liu’s wife assured him, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure your family looks their best!”
As Qiu Yu walked back home, he saw He Zifeng coming toward him.
“Liuzi’s brother-in-law just returned,” He Zifeng said. “He wants me to come over now.”
Qiu Yu hesitated. He felt reluctant to let He Zifeng go. Building houses was hard labor and often dangerous. Not long ago, a man from a neighboring village had broken his leg while working on a house. They had taken the job out of necessity, but now that they had some savings, he didn’t want He Zifeng to push himself so hard.
He adjusted He Zifeng’s collar and softly asked, “Do you have to go?”
He Zifeng replied, “We need to save for building our own house and for Ranran’s education.” Seeing Qiu Yu’s reluctance, he added, “It’s just the next village over, and I’ll be back every night.”
Qiu Yu reluctantly agreed, “I’ll wait for you to have dinner.”
“No need to wait—I might get back late,” He Zifeng said.
“Come back right after work,” Qiu Yu insisted.
“Alright,” He Zifeng promised, before hurrying off to meet Liuzi’s brother-in-law.
When he arrived, both Liuzi the village head and his brother-in-law were present. Liuzi’s brother-in-law, known as Brother Quan, was short, stocky, and dark-skinned, exuding a sturdy and reliable demeanor.
“Come on, follow me. I’m short-handed right now,” Brother Quan said, then waved to the village head, “See you later, brother-in-law.”
Liuzi gave a nod and waved them off as well.
Brother Quan took He Zifeng to the neighboring village. He had a horse-drawn cart that he sometimes used to transport goods. Now, he let He Zifeng ride in the cart while he handled the reins.
He Zifeng asked, “Are there a lot of people building houses these days?”
Brother Quan chuckled. “Plenty. Many folks have earned some money outside.” He explained that he had 30 workers in the county doing construction jobs. For local work in the villages, he personally managed a team of 20. By taking on both village and county projects, he ensured no opportunity to earn was missed.
He Zifeng continued, “How much does it cost to build a house these days?” He was still living in a wooden house that had been neglected for years and wasn’t habitable for much longer. He knew he’d have to rebuild eventually.
Brother Quan replied, “Depends on what you want to build. Ten taels can get you a two-room tile house. If you want a four-room house with courtyard walls, that’s at least 20 taels. If you want to upgrade all the bricks to blue bricks, then it’ll be 25 taels.”
He elaborated, “We can handle everything—materials, labor, the whole package. Just pay and wait for your new house. It’s hassle-free.”
Some people bought their own materials and hired a few young men from the village to build, but those houses were never as sturdy or aesthetically pleasing as the ones built by professionals. The materials were often inferior, too.
Years ago, people built houses themselves, but nowadays, hiring builders was more common—it saved effort and enhanced social prestige. Plus, the entire process, from laying the foundation to installing the beams, took just over 30 days. The work was guaranteed to be free of any flaws.
—
The horse-drawn cart moved quickly, and soon they arrived at the neighboring village, where they saw a group of people busy constructing houses.
A crowd of villagers gathered nearby, watching out of curiosity since they had nothing better to do.
As soon as Brother Quan arrived, all the workers stopped what they were doing.
“This is He Zifeng,” Brother Quan introduced. “He’s well-known in our village for being capable and hardworking. Old Lin, you’ll take him under your wing.”
“Got it,” replied a dark-skinned man who stepped forward from the crowd.
He Zifeng noticed, however, that one of the workers was staring at him with a look of clear displeasure.
There was a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
However, he didn’t say much and soon began working alongside the others. He Zifeng, with his great strength, helped carry wooden beams, push carts loaded with stones and sand, and handle other heavy tasks. These materials looked light but could quickly make anyone grimace with effort after just a bit of handling.
Yet, for He Zifeng, these physically demanding tasks seemed easy.
“Brother Quan really knows how to pick people. With you here, everyone’s workload has gotten a lot lighter.”
“You’re one solid young man—built like a rock!”
“Good job.”
He Zifeng was a natural when it came to hard work. As soon as he arrived, he prepared all the sand, stones, and timber, speeding up the progress of building the house for everyone.
It was hot these days, so after working for a while, everyone had to take breaks to avoid heatstroke. He Zifeng quietly asked Old Lin, “Why does that guy keep glaring at me?”
Old Lin glanced over and seemed hesitant. The person He Zifeng was referring to was called Brother Li. Since Brother Quan had left, all the work here had been handed over to Brother Li, including controlling everyone’s wages. Though Old Lin didn’t want to offend Brother Li, seeing such a capable young man like He Zifeng, he didn’t want to leave him clueless either. Lowering his voice, he said, “It’s easier to deal with the king of hell than with his little devils.”
Old Lin then explained the situation. Brother Quan was often away procuring materials, leaving Brother Li in charge of managing the workers. Although wages were handed out daily, Brother Li would adjust them slightly up or down by one or two wen depending on the workers’ performance. This was a tactic to control the workers. No one wanted to lose even a small amount, so they tried to stay on his good side. Those close to him did the same work but earned just a little more than others. Brother Li’s authority had grown significantly because of this.
Old Lin added, “Brother Li originally wanted to bring his nephew over to work. But his nephew is only fourteen—how much strength could he possibly have? Brother Quan probably didn’t want him but couldn’t outright refuse, so they brought you in instead.”
He Zifeng understood the situation. It turned out Brother Li resented him for taking the job meant for his nephew. He didn’t say much about it and, unlike others who might grovel and flatter, he stayed indifferent. He figured he’d work if he could and leave if he couldn’t—it wasn’t a big deal.
When Brother Quan returned, the local village head called him away to discuss something, leaving all responsibilities in Brother Li’s hands.
Brother Li would circle around to check on He Zifeng seven or eight times a day. The other workers didn’t dare make a sound. Old Lin tried to smooth things over, saying, “Brother Li, let Xiao He take a break.”
Brother Li snorted coldly. “He can’t even handle this much work? This is a place for labor, not a retirement home. If he doesn’t want to work, he can get lost!”
Brother Li didn’t even spare He Zifeng another glance.
He Zifeng chuckled. “Fine. I quit.” With that, he tossed his tools aside and walked straight toward Brother Li.
Perhaps due to the deep impression left by his past life, He Zifeng’s current personality had become more assertive. He could work hard, but he wouldn’t tolerate being humiliated. Being paid thirty wen a day wasn’t enough for him to act subservient to someone like Brother Li.
Brother Li raised an eyebrow. “You’re rebelling, huh?” He assumed He Zifeng was just an ordinary laborer and couldn’t believe he’d be so brazen in front of everyone. How was he supposed to maintain authority after this?
The workers on the construction site were all sturdy young men. Brother Li had been put in charge because of his tough demeanor. Now, having his authority challenged by He Zifeng, he couldn’t let it slide and decided to teach him a lesson.
Immediately, he called over five or six men—all burly fellows. If someone dared to disobey, they’d settle it with fists. If he didn’t suppress He Zifeng today, he might as well give up his position as the foreman.
At Brother Li’s shout, five or six men showed up.
Old Lin realized this was bad. So many men ganging up on one person—he feared He Zifeng might suffer. Without hesitation, he ran to find Brother Quan. If these brutes caused a commotion, the situation might spiral out of control.
Brother Quan rushed back as soon as he heard, taking no more than a quarter of an hour. By the time he arrived, several men were already sprawled on the ground. Only He Zifeng remained standing.
The villagers loved a spectacle. They had been watching the fight with wide eyes, eager not to miss a single moment.
Now they were all enthusiastically recounting to Brother Quan how intense the fight had been.
Brother Quan was shocked. These were experienced laborers, yet He Zifeng had managed to take them down in such a short time. He truly wasn’t an ordinary person.
Brother Quan very much wanted to keep He Zifeng, but He Zifeng had made up his mind. If he wasn’t welcome there, he would simply leave.
Brother Quan, knowing Brother Li’s temper, couldn’t force He Zifeng to stay, though he regretted it deeply. Despite He Zifeng’s short stint—less than three hours—Brother Quan still gave him thirty wen, showing more generosity and consideration than his subordinate.
He Zifeng thanked him and left with the money.
As soon as he was gone, complaints among the workers resumed. When He Zifeng was there, everyone’s workload was much lighter.
Privately, many started harboring resentment toward Brother Li. Always thinking he’s smart while treating others like fools. Finding someone who works hard and doesn’t slack off isn’t easy, yet he drove the guy away. Now the work’s back on all of us. Some even muttered, He deserved to get beaten. Why didn’t He Zifeng just finish him off?
He Zifeng walked back to his village, where Qiu Yu was already preparing a meal. As soon as he stepped into the yard, he was greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of food.
Hearing someone enter, Qiu Yu came out to see who it was. Her eyes lit up with surprise and joy. “You’re back already?”
“I quit,” He Zifeng said, offering no further details.
Qiu Yu, who had always worried about the dangers of He Zifeng’s work, was overjoyed to see him return.
Covered in dirt, He Zifeng said, “I’m going to the river to wash up. I’ll be back soon.”
Qiu Yu nodded. “Bring Ranran back with you when you come. That little rascal plays outside all day and doesn’t even want to come home.”
He Zifeng chuckled. “It’s good for Ranran to be a little mischievous.”
Qiu Yu couldn’t help but laugh. “You just spoil him.”
He Zifeng replied firmly, “He’s our son, after all.” Then, he headed off to bathe.
As he stepped outside, he saw a few women from the village who were on friendly terms with his family.
“We were just about to come find you,” one of them said. “Something’s happened—your uncle and his people have arrived.”
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