He Zifeng said to Qiu Yu upon returning home, “Go take a nap.” For people like them who rose before dawn and worked until late, skipping a midday rest was unsustainable.
Qiu Yu, however, was preoccupied with the large amount of pork offal he had bought and needed to clean. “You go ahead and sleep,” he replied.
“I can’t sleep without you,” He Zifeng said.
Qiu Yu’s face flushed instantly—his own words from before were now being thrown back at him.
He Zifeng looked at Qiu Yu and couldn’t resist any longer; he scooped him up and carried him to their room. No chore was more important than cuddling his wife for a nap.
Qiu Yu was placed on the bed, and He Zifeng lay down beside him. Both were exhausted from waking up so early, yet Qiu Yu’s mind remained restless. “But…” he started.
Without giving him a chance to protest, He Zifeng cut him off. “If it comes to that, we’ll hire someone to help,” he said. After all, this was a long-term business, and overworking themselves would only lead to trouble. There were plenty of idle people in the village who would gladly help for a small fee.
Though Qiu Yu said nothing, his expression betrayed his concern about spending money.
“We’ll earn it back,” He Zifeng reassured him. “I promise. Now listen to me, close your eyes, and go to sleep.”
Despite He Zifeng’s urging, Qiu Yu’s eyes remained wide open, his face filled with internal conflict.
He Zifeng smirked and said, “If you don’t sleep, I’ll kiss you.”
At this, Qiu Yu quickly shut his eyes, pulling the blanket up to cover half his face. His eyelashes fluttered slightly. He Zifeng pulled him into his arms, and the two soon drifted off, comforted by each other’s warmth and presence.
When Qiu Yu woke up, two hours had passed. He hurriedly put on his shoes and stepped out of the room, only to find three village women in the courtyard cleaning the pork offal. The pig intestines, in particular, had been turned inside out and washed multiple times.
The women, seeing Qiu Yu freshly woken, noted his slightly flushed cheeks. Handsome as he was, he looked less like a married *ge’er* and more like a young, unmarried man.
“You’re looking younger every day since moving out,” said Sister Xia Hua.
“Our Qiu Yu was always a looker,” chimed in Sister Liu.
Sister Xu added, “He Zifeng invited us to help, offering twenty wen for a day’s work. Honestly, we’re all from the same village; why bother with money?”
Though Qiu Yu had overslept and missed some of the chores, he felt relieved seeing that most of the work was already done. “Thank you, sisters. We’ll definitely pay you,” he insisted.
Sister Xia Hua replied, “It’s easier working here than at home, and at least we get a little money for our efforts.”
“Exactly. If you need help again, just call us,” added Sister Xu.
“Will do, sisters,” Qiu Yu said with a smile.
The pig intestines were now spotless, rinsed twice more with fresh water before being set to boil. Given the large quantity, two pots were needed—one for the intestines, another for the heart, stomach, and other parts. Since the weather was hot and the pork bones couldn’t be kept for long, Qiu Yu set them to simmer separately in a large clay pot.
For the braising liquid, he added a spoonful of soy sauce to the herbs and spices for extra flavor, resulting in a savory, aromatic broth.
As for the two pig kidneys they’d been gifted, Qiu Yu planned to slice and stir-fry them for dinner.
Qiu Yu, ever efficient, soon had everything sorted. The women, meanwhile, began kneading dough. As experienced cooks, they chatted and laughed, making the work feel light.
Before long, He Zifeng returned with freshly ground flour on a cart, along with a small cantaloupe. Though not a local specialty, these imported melons cost five wen each—extremely expensive.
Yet, as he passed through the village, he saw many buying them despite the price. Chilled for extra sweetness, the melons were a rare treat on a hot summer day. He Zifeng bought two.
He sliced one into five portions, offering a piece to each of the women.
They initially declined. “We can’t accept this. You should enjoy it yourselves,” they said. A single slice was worth a wen—a luxury they couldn’t afford.
“It’s already cut,” He Zifeng insisted. “We still have another. Think of it as a little treat.”
Qiu Yu joined in encouraging them, and the women finally accepted. One bite and the sweet, crisp flavor was a refreshing delight, dispelling the heat and rejuvenating their spirits.
Seeing how much Qiu Yu enjoyed the melon, He Zifeng saved the other one for him.
The women finished kneading the dough and even tidied up the courtyard before leaving. He Zifeng had promised them twenty wen for the day, but since they’d only worked half a day, each received ten wen.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, the women protested, “That’s too much.”
“How about five wen each?” one suggested. “And we already had your melon.”
“Take it,” He Zifeng insisted. “We’ll need your help again tomorrow, likely around the same time.”
“Alright,” Sister Xia Hua agreed, and the women left in high spirits.
Though Qiu Yu had initially been reluctant to spend money, he now saw the value. The women had cleaned the offal and prepared the dough, saving him a lot of work.
Excitedly, Qiu Yu said, “Why don’t we count our earnings?” They hadn’t been keeping track, often grabbing handfuls of wen without checking. After tallying, they found they had 2,490 wen in total, even after expenses.
Qiu Yu strung together two *strings* of wen, setting aside 490 for daily use. “From now on, let’s save two strings a day,” he said, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment. Never before had he seen so much money.
Though the pancake business seemed modest, it yielded surprising profits.
As He Zifeng peeled and fed Qiu Yu pieces of melon, he enjoyed watching his partner’s giddy joy.
“Too bad Ranran isn’t home,” Qiu Yu remarked.
“I already asked where the melon vendor usually sells. When Ranran comes back, we’ll go buy more,” He Zifeng replied.
Qiu Yu threw himself into He Zifeng’s arms, prompting him to ask, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m happy,” Qiu Yu said, a radiant smile on his face.
He Zifeng tapped his nose gently, and Qiu Yu blinked, feeling that life was finally on the right track.
Their newfound routine, including help from the village women, had made life easier. With time to spare, He Zifeng suggested they take a walk around the village.
Qiu Yu hesitated, “What’s there to see?” But he changed into fresh clothes, clearly ready to go.
“Let’s go,” He Zifeng said. It had been a long time since they’d enjoyed such a leisurely moment.
Though He Zifeng reached for Qiu Yu’s hand, Qiu Yu refused, mindful of the village gossip.
They visited their house under construction. The foundation was already taking shape, hinting at the spacious home they were building.
“This will be our home,” Qiu Yu said softly, as if afraid to disturb a beautiful dream.
“Yes, and if you have more ideas, we can always add on,” He Zifeng replied.
“It’s already perfect,” Qiu Yu said, eager to move in.
On the way back, Qiu Yu was more lively, and He Zifeng couldn’t stop smiling at him.
Villagers who saw them remarked, “They’ve really turned their lives around.”
“Exactly. Renting a place, running a business—they must be earning plenty.”
By contrast, the He family seemed to be in decline. Wan Hai, overhearing the chatter, approached with a stern expression. “Busy, huh?” he said coldly.
His demeanor made the villagers uneasy, cutting the conversation short as he walked off “leisurely”.
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