Qiu Yu immediately felt that this small shop was a good choice: the price was reasonable, and the location was excellent. “Let’s buy it,” he said. Buying this smaller shop meant they wouldn’t need to borrow money.
Diao Fei’s uncle asked, “Are you planning to use it yourselves or rent it out? The current tenant is pretty reliable.” The tenant of the general store was not a local; it was a family of three trying to make a living. According to Diao Fei’s uncle, they always paid rent on time.
He Zifeng decided to keep renting it out.
They went together to draft the property transfer documents, and the shop officially became Qiu Yu’s property.
Everyone’s gaze carried a hint of surprise when they looked at Qiu Yu, who subtly tugged at He Zifeng’s sleeve, trying to get him to reconsider.
He Zifeng said, “Be good.”
Qiu Yu blushed.
With the shop purchased, the tenant promptly signed a two-year lease with He Zifeng and handed over eight taels of silver. Though the general store seemed small, it had a significant amount of stock, and the old customers were loyal. Moving would have been troublesome, so signing the contract gave the tenant peace of mind.
Having gained a shop in just one outing, Qiu Yu carefully folded the deed and tucked it into his chest.
After completing such a big transaction, He Zifeng suggested they head home.
He also made plans to invite Diao Fei and Xiong Ge for a drink upon their return, as the two of them were eager to strengthen their relationship with him. Ever since He Zifeng’s role in solving a major case, he had become a rising star among the yamen officers, with a bright future ahead.
As they approached home, they saw Old Xu standing by the door, anxiously looking around. Seeing them, he immediately plastered a smile on his face and said, “Ah, officer, I was blind and didn’t recognize someone of your stature earlier. If you still want my shop, you can have it for 280 taels.” Old Xu had finally realized that his shop had been unsellable for two and a half years, and if he let He Zifeng slip away, who knew how much longer it would take to sell?
He Zifeng replied, “You can keep it. Even if you offer it to me now for 200 taels, I won’t take it!”
Old Xu’s shop had been overpriced to begin with. They hadn’t been picky, but his sudden price hike and unpleasant words left a bad taste.
At the time, the shop had seemed perfect. But now that they’d had time to reflect, they realized it wasn’t that great after all. With their savings, they wouldn’t struggle to find a better shop. Why waste money on something that brought them no joy?
Old Xu, seeing that He Zifeng had no intention of changing his mind, was filled with regret. It was odd—he had been worried about the unsold shop every day, yet once he found a buyer, he couldn’t resist making things difficult.
Now, watching the straightforward buyer walk away, Old Xu was nearly consumed by regret. He wished he hadn’t let his sharp tongue get the better of him.
With the shop secured, He Zifeng drove the cart home with Qiu Yu. Along the way, Qiu Yu hummed a tune, feeling elated. It amazed him how, in just over a year, he had escaped the hardships of the He family and now had a shop, fields, and a home—a life he never dared to dream of.
Qiu Yu lifted the curtain of the cart, gazing at He Zifeng’s tall, handsome figure. He drifted off into thought until his arm grew tired, reluctantly letting the curtain fall.
“You’re not bored sitting inside? Come out for a while,” said He Zifeng as he slowly stopped the cart.
Qiu Yu lifted the curtain and sat beside him, finding the driver’s seat much more comfortable.
“What do you want for dinner?” Qiu Yu asked.
“Steamed buns with wild mountain vegetables,” He Zifeng replied. They’d been eating braised pork bones every day, so a lighter meal sounded appealing.
“Alright,” Qiu Yu agreed.
“Let’s go pick some together later,” He Zifeng suggested.
The first time he met Qiu Yu had been in the mountains, wild and carefree. He never would have guessed Qiu Yu could raise such an obedient child like Ranran.
When they got home, they unloaded their goods and fed Qinghua. Since changing the horse’s feed, Qinghua had been enjoying it, especially the soybean meal. If there wasn’t enough, Qinghua would lie down like a spoiled child.
The two of them changed into old clothes before heading to the mountain, knowing they’d have to wash up afterward. Old clothes had lower collars, so even a hint of red marks was enough to get the village women teasing.
Qiu Yu raised his head and asked, “Are the marks lighter now?”
“They’re light enough that no one will notice,” He Zifeng assured him.
Qiu Yu didn’t believe him but had no choice since their old clothes were limited. The rest were relatively new, and he’d hate to ruin them in the mountains. “Let’s take the back path,” he suggested. He Zifeng carried a basket, and Qiu Yu followed stealthily behind.
Luckily, they didn’t run into anyone along the way.
Once they reached the mountain, Qiu Yu became as lively as if he’d returned to his own backyard, moving with remarkable agility.
On their way up the mountain, they found large wild mushrooms, some as big as two fists, and picked a few. It seemed their luck was good this time.
They continued picking mushrooms along the trail, which was clearly untrodden. In just two or three handfuls, they gathered enough wild greens to fill a large bowl. The mushroom caps looked like small umbrellas. When stewed with chicken, they became tender and even tastier than the meat itself.
Mushrooms were highly prized in the county, with prices much higher than other wild greens.
Qiu Yu didn’t just gather mushrooms; he also picked fresh grass, saying, “This is for Ranran’s rabbit.” Their rabbit was well-fed and had grown quite fat. Even Gouzi’s father commented that the rabbit looked big enough to roast. Qiu Yu thought so too, but since their son loved it so much, they kept it as a pet.
He Zifeng followed behind Qiu Yu and noticed how much happier Qiu Yu became once they were on the mountain.
Thinking back, ever since their marriage, Qiu Yu hadn’t had the chance to roam the mountains so freely.
He Zifeng said, “We’ll come often from now on!”
Qiu Yu responded with a soft “Mm” and also collected seeds from wildflowers. These wildflowers came in all colors, growing abundantly across the mountain. When the wind blew, it created a sea of blossoms.
Qiu Yu said, “Next time Ranran comes back, we’ll plant them by the new house.”
He Zifeng agreed, “Let’s also dig up some soil while we’re at it; the soil in our village isn’t great.”
Qiu Yu replied, “No rush.” He walked ahead while He Zifeng picked a few flowers. The village children were skilled at weaving flowers, but He Zifeng’s hands were even more adept. Somehow, he twisted a blue flower and a purple flower into a small butterfly and handed it to Qiu Yu.
Qiu Yu was pleasantly surprised and held it in his hand, cherishing it. “I didn’t know you could do this.”
He Zifeng chuckled. “There’s much more I can do. I’ll show you bit by bit.”
Qiu Yu smiled, and with their basket full of wild greens, they headed down the mountain.
The roots of the greens were caked with soil, so they needed to be snapped off and the leaves washed one by one. Qiu Yu handled the washing while He Zifeng kneaded dough. The two of them worked in seamless coordination without needing to instruct each other.
He Zifeng prepared leavened dough for steamed buns, letting it rest and rise naturally.
Qiu Yu suggested adding a bit of pork to the filling for better flavor. Wild greens alone could be a bit astringent, but with meat, the taste would improve significantly. He Zifeng went to the neighboring village to buy twenty wen worth of pork.
By the time He Zifeng returned, Qiu Yu was already chopping the greens. He Zifeng began mincing the pork—a skillful task that required more than just strength. Improper technique would result in pieces flying everywhere.
After finely chopping the meat, He Zifeng mixed it with the wild greens, which Qiu Yu had salted and wrung out to remove excess water. They had seven large bundles of wild greens, enough to make at least a hundred buns. The cool post-rain air meant they could store them without worry.
He Zifeng thoroughly mixed the meat and greens while Qiu Yu added various seasonings. The dough had finished rising, and after kneading, they began rolling and filling the buns.
Although He Zifeng seemed capable of many things, his bun-making skills were lacking compared to Qiu Yu’s. His buns weren’t nearly as neat and attractive.
However, He Zifeng made sure each of his buns was placed next to Qiu Yu’s, forming a pair. After a dozen or so, Qiu Yu began to feel self-conscious, glancing at He Zifeng repeatedly but holding back from saying anything.
Once the counter was full of buns, He Zifeng loaded them into the steamer.
When the water boiled, the steam puffed out, and soon the plump buns were ready. Lifting the lid revealed round, fluffy buns, their imperfections hidden.
He Zifeng picked one up with chopsticks and took a bite. The soft outer layer and savory filling blended perfectly. The combination of meat and wild greens created a flavor more robust and delicious than ordinary dishes. Even without dipping, the taste was excellent.
He made a dipping sauce of vinegar and chili oil, and the tangy, spicy aroma mixed with the savory filling, delivering an instant sensory jolt. One bite wasn’t enough.
Seeing He Zifeng devour the food like a wolf, Qiu Yu said, “Slow down, there’s plenty in the pot.” Freshly steamed buns were scalding hot.
He Zifeng imitated the way people eat soup dumplings, pouring vinegar into the bun’s filling. The burst of flavor made him exclaim in satisfaction. “I could eat this every day and never get tired of it.”
Qiu Yu loved watching He Zifeng eat; his appetite always seemed to increase when he saw him enjoying food. “No problem. If you want it, I’ll make it for you,” Qiu Yu said.
He Zifeng’s tone was playful, “You’re so good to me.”
Qiu Yu, familiar with He Zifeng’s tendency to indulge in inappropriate thoughts, quickly added, “That depends on my mood!”
Just as He Zifeng was about to reply, they heard footsteps approaching. His instincts as a yamen officer sharpened, and he stood up. Sure enough, it was Sister Liu knocking at the door.
Seeing them eating, Sister Liu declined their offer to join, saying, “I’m just here to let you know—He Zifeng’s mother is back!” She had hurried over from the village entrance to deliver the news.
R : His real mother ???
