Hearing that cry, Kang He felt his legs go weak.
Snapping back to his senses, he hurriedly ran back into the room, where no one dared to stop him.
The bloodstain inside the room was still quite strong. Fan Jing was lying on the bed, sweating heavily, his lips cracked and dry from dehydration.
Kang He quickly went over. Seeing Fan Jing’s pale face, his heart tightened. He took a cloth and gently wiped the sweat from Fan Jing’s face, then squatted by the bed and quietly asked if he was tired.
Fan Jing gave a faint “uhm,” having just gone through childbirth himself. Truly, he didn’t know what kind of suffering it was.
When it happened to himself, he realized it was no easy matter.
He lifted his hand, motioning for Kang He to bring the little one over for him to see.
“It’s a boy, and quite sturdy,” he said.
Kang He took the newborn from the midwife’s hands; the baby was indeed heavy. He carefully unfolded some of the swaddling to show Fan Jing. “The little guy’s pretty big. No wonder it took you so long to give birth.”
Fan Jing sat up on the bed. Those in the room gasped and hurried over to support him.
He leaned against the pillows in a half-sitting position, took the baby from Kang He’s arms, and held him. The baby must have weighed about seven or eight jin.
“Da Jing gave birth pretty fast. Usually, a first-time mother takes five or six hours, but it only took three or four hours this time.”
Doctor Zhu smiled and said, “Father and son are both safe and sound, all’s well.”
The Fan family felt reassured by this, and the room immediately filled with lively chatter.
After admiring the baby and checking on Fan Jing’s condition, Chen Sanfang busied herself preparing the customary gifts of gratitude for the midwife and doctor. She spent the entire afternoon arranging everything and then invited everyone to drink tea and rest.
Kang He didn’t bother with these formalities; since the family was handling it, he stayed in the room with Fan Jing, watching over the little one for quite some time.
“Looking at the features, he resembles me a bit, but the mouth is definitely like yours.”
Kang He observed the baby’s calm demeanor; after crying earlier, the little one quickly fell asleep, nestled in the soft swaddling, looking peaceful.
Though Fan Jing felt it was hard to tell who the baby resembled at such a young age—people always try to find similarities—the little one truly looked like Kang He.
“What should we name him?”
Kang He raised his eyes to Fan Jing. They had already agreed to decide on a name earlier, though they didn’t yet know if the child was a boy or girl.
Fan Jing was silent for a moment, as if recalling something, then said, “Da Fu.”
Seeing how quickly Fan Jing had settled on that name, Kang He smiled. “Good, as you say.”
However, Fan Jing furrowed his brow and said to Kang He, “You pick the nickname, the big nickname.”
He felt uneasy giving the baby a hastily chosen name in a dream; the name given at birth, barring accidents, would last a lifetime.
Kang He raised his eyebrows. “You’re so particular, even dividing nicknames into big and small? I think Da Fu is a very auspicious name, and it’s easy to say, so let’s settle on that.”
Fan Jing warned Kang He not to slack off and insisted he pick a ‘big’ nickname.
Kang He, not wanting to offend, thought carefully: “It’s February now, a good time, and spring will come soon, full of life and vigor. How about Zhong Yang? February is also called Zhong Yang.”
Fan Jing heard this and silently recalled Fan Zhongyang, feeling it fitting. He then nodded.
With the name decided, both felt a subtle joy and contentment—typical feelings of first-time fathers.
Kang He wanted to peck the baby but feared the newborn’s fragility and instead gently pressed his face against the soft blanket.
Fan Jing saw how much Kang He loved the child; his eyes softened, rare and tender. After such an ordeal, he finally felt fatigued. Sleepiness overcame him, and he closed his eyes for a while.
Adding a new member to the family brought joy all around, making it feel like a celebration.
From the main house, Grandfather Fan and Grandmother Fan, upon hearing of the birth, came with their walking sticks to see the baby.
Grandmother Fan was very proud, saying, “I told you the master was formidable. Look at this—after taking the talisman water, you got a big, healthy boy.”
Kang He and Fan Jing didn’t respond, but Chen Sanfang couldn’t bear the implication that the big, healthy boy was her doing.
She countered, “Mother, you don’t know. The other day, when I brought your talisman paper home to burn and make the water, a strong wind came and scattered the ashes all over the courtyard. When I told them to gather it up, it just wouldn’t stick.”
Grandmother Fan was momentarily speechless, her expression souring.
Chen Sanfang saw this and ignored it. After all, Grandmother Fan disliked her and wasn’t worried about adding to her grudges.
If this had been before, Grandmother Fan would have gotten angry at Chen Sanfang’s tone. But now, seeing how strong the second house was, she dared not lose face and kept quiet.
This woman always liked to pick on the weak.
The Fan household remained lively for two days. A new goat was brought in to carefully tend the milk, and close relatives came to see the baby.
Even Kang He and Fan Jing took several days to get used to having a little one at home.
At first, the baby was kept in a cradle, and Kang He and Fan Jing slept in the same room.
At night, they watched the baby fall asleep and chatted for a while before going to bed themselves.
In the middle of the night, Kang He suddenly woke up, got up to check on the baby, saw him sleeping soundly, then returned to bed.
He got up five or six times during the night.
Fan Jing, who was unaccustomed to going to the mountains these past two years, usually did not stay overnight at his own place and slept deeply when with Kang He.
But now with Da Fu, perhaps because he had someone to worry about, his sleep became lighter—everyone noticed.
Fan Jing couldn’t help but tease Kang He, saying he was up more often than the baby, who didn’t even cry.
The commotion ended up noisier than the child’s fussing.
“Don’t you find it strange? Da Fu doesn’t cry at night. I’ve heard raising babies is hard; they cry all night and you have to get up to hold and soothe them.”
Fan Jing said, “Not every child is the same. Maybe Da Fu is just more obedient.”
Kang He thought the baby was just too well-behaved. Worried, he said, “Let’s hope Da Fu isn’t a fool.”
Fan Jing couldn’t help kicking Kang He. “You’re the fool.”
Kang He grunted from the kick but finally slept more soundly.
In late February, the pickled meat shop reopened.
Fan Jing was still in confinement and didn’t join in the excitement.
Though Da Fu was born only ten or fifteen days ago, lively and energetic, Fan Jing was eager to go out.
The family urged him not to be reckless just because his health was good. They worried that if he ignored the confinement rules, his body might suffer in old age.
Fan Jing ignored their advice but preferred to stay at home and carefully care for the baby.
It wasn’t the shop’s first opening; they set off a couple of firecrackers and offered some discounts to customers to liven things up, marking a successful reopening.
Fan Jing finished his confinement in March. Soon after, there were two wedding banquets to attend—one for Xiang Xiu’s marriage and another for Xu Yang’s.
The celebrations were lively.
Before Da Fu reached a full month, they planned a hundred-day banquet, conveniently spacing it between the two other celebrations.
Though Xu Yang was a good acquaintance, he wasn’t family, so Fan Jing didn’t help much with the arrangements.
The main house was close kin, and earlier, when Kang He and Fan Jing married, fewer people helped with the preparations.
Chen Sanfang and Fan Jing went to the city to oversee the shop, so they had to have two girls help with chores.
Fan Jing’s father also took Dou Yicang to help with heavy work.
For Xiang Xiu’s wedding, Kang He and Fan Jing gave a red envelope of five guan copper coins and gifted a fine dressing table, a standing cabinet, and four bolts of quality cloth.
These furnishings were part of the dowry, to go with her to her husband’s family.
Xiang Xiu’s family had lived in the county for many years, a respectable household in the city.
The dowry needed to be impressive to avoid gossip from her husband’s family and relatives.
Xiang Xiu, somewhat strong-willed, worried about having a meager dowry.
Seeing Kang He and Fan Jing bring such grand gifts and a large red envelope made her feel both honored and touched.
The Fan family’s wedding banquets numbered twelve or thirteen tables, already bustling.
Xu Yang’s wedding was even grander, with thirty tables.
Though the two families couldn’t compare, Xu Yang was now the village head, and everyone in the village would attend.
Mr. Xu had run a business in the city for many years, and the eldest grandson’s wedding brought many respected guests.
Kang He and Fan Jing didn’t know what to give as a gift, but after some thought, they noticed wealthy city families often brought a whole roasted pig to weddings.
Someone had already given Kang He instructions on this.
He went and found a pig weighing 170–180 jin, had it slaughtered and tied with red cloth, then carried it to Xu’s house on the wedding day.
Everyone saw it and thought it impressive and practical, adding to the festivities.
At the wedding, Kang He drank quite a bit.
Who could blame him? Xu Yang was a good friend, and since it was his brother’s big day, if he passed out drunk, how could he join the wedding night?
Trying to help Xu Yang’s big occasion, Kang He did his best to take on the drinking.
On the way back, they were all a bit tipsy, and Fan Jing took charge of getting them home.
“I didn’t drink this much at my own wedding,” Kang He slumped onto the bamboo couch, belching repeatedly.
Fan Jing took Da Fu, who had wide, round eyes, to Chen Sanfang, worried that Kang He’s smell would disturb the baby.
Chen Sanfang was delighted to hold the child and told Fan Jing, “Tonight Da Fu will sleep with me. Since Sanlang drank so much, I’m afraid he might vomit in the middle of the night and disturb the baby.”
Fan Jing agreed.
Returning to the room, he heated some water and saw Kang He’s flushed face. He scolded, “Who told you to do this for others?”
Kang He replied, “You can’t refuse a hand that helps you.”
A few days ago, Xu Yang had treated him well, so Kang He felt obligated.
“If I’d known it would be this painful, I wouldn’t have accepted his favor.”
After a hot bath, Fan Jing, with patience, stripped Kang He’s clothes and washed him thoroughly.
Once washed, Kang He felt much clearer.
Looking at Fan Jing, he laughed, “Our Ah Jing is becoming quite the virtuous one.”
Fan Jing shot him a sidelong glance and splashed some water onto his face.
Kang He spat, “Even the bathwater you feed me.”
They laughed together, and Kang He pinned Fan Jing down, his clothes half-hung at his waist.
He looked at his brother and said, “Can we really do this? It’s only been a month.”
Fan Jing punched Kang He’s chest. He had been working hard lately, and his body had grown stronger.
Though solid to the touch, his chest felt soft.
During Fan Jing’s pregnancy with Da Fu, both had been very restrained, avoiding such matters for fear of causing problems.
Even in the summer, they hadn’t really undressed while sleeping.
Now, they were like monks breaking their vows.
“It’s fine.”
Kang He grabbed Fan Jing’s hand. “You always say ‘it’s fine’ about everything.”
Fan Jing looked at him. “If you don’t want to, forget it.”
Kang He pulled him back when Fan Jing tried to get off. “I don’t think you don’t want to.”
He brought Fan Jing back. “I’ve been wanting this for a while. Didn’t you see the red pimples on my chin recently? That was because I was upset.”
Fan Jing’s eyes seemed to smile. They finally indulged themselves, but carefully, without going all out.
Originally wanting to gently calm their inner fire, Kang He’s teasing only made the fire burn brighter, and the days didn’t get any easier.
March passed in happiness.
By April, matchmakers came, hoping to arrange a marriage for Zhen’er.
These past two years, the Fan family’s life had improved.
The two girls also worked but no longer had to endure the hardships of outdoor labor.
They ate well and grew plump. Zhen’er, once thin and pale, now looked much healthier.
Her skin had improved, inheriting the beauty of her mother, Ling Niang.
Zhen’er had delicate features and was quite attractive.
At the weddings for the main house and Xu family, many people came and went, and soon a matchmaker appeared at their door.
Zhen’er blushed, thinking the matchmaker had come for her, and shyly hid in her room.
Coincidentally, outside she overheard Chen Sanfang talking with the matchmaker.
The matchmaker spoke of a farming family, which was fine since the Fan family were also farmers.
But when Chen Sanfang asked about the size of the land, the man’s skills, and what strengths the parents had, the matchmaker hesitated.
“My daughter is well cared for at home, not spoiled, but well raised. I don’t mind poor families, but if there’s no strength at all, wouldn’t she be marrying into hardship?”
Chen Sanfang saw the matchmaker couldn’t give proper answers and grew less polite.
“She’s young. We can raise her for a few more years.”
Saying this sharply, she sent the matchmaker away.
When the matchmaker left, Zhen’er came out and said her mother had become very formidable.
Before, she would have eagerly welcomed matchmakers, but now she could even drive them off.
Chen Sanfang said, “That girl’s got a sharp tongue. Our family now has food, drink, and a shop. Your second sister is virtuous and capable. Why not find a good match?
“To marry a man is to wear clothes and eat. If he can’t even provide food, why marry him?”
She pinched Zhen’er’s nose, teasing, “If you ever cry to marry a worthless man, I won’t acknowledge you.”
Zhen’er said, “I won’t look for a worthless one. If I marry, it’ll be someone like Sister Xiang Xiu, a city merchant with money.”
“You’re shameless,” Chen Sanfang scolded.
Kang He and Fan Jing returned from the city and heard the matchmaker had come for Zhen’er.
Fan Jing was concerned and asked about the family.
Previously, the family was pickier. If it were back then, that family would be a decent match.
But now that the family was better off, he didn’t want Zhen’er marrying into a poor household.
The hardship of poor families was well understood by all in the Fan family.
He instructed Chen Sanfang, “If any more matchmakers come, tell me.”
Chen Sanfang knew Fan Jing cared deeply for Zhen’er. “Such a big matter, how could I not tell you? I watch carefully. If they’re unsuitable, I send them away with a scolding, so those matchmakers know not to bring rubbish to shame our family.”
Kang He said, “We’ll see. No rush. We should find Zhen’er a family nearby, so she’s close to home.”
Zhen’er overheard the family’s concern and felt warmth in her heart.
That evening, after dinner, Kang He took four jin of fresh pork left from the stall to Dou Yicang.
“This year’s been busy, with one task following another, making it hard for you to visit your parents and siblings.”
“I’m giving you two days off to go home and have some fun before coming back. After that, it’ll be busy with farming again, and next month there’ll be another banquet.”
Kang He was pleased with Dou Yicang, who had worked well for eight months and was honest and reliable.
He gave Dou Yicang a string of copper coins for travel expenses.
The next morning, after finishing chores, Dou Yicang went home.
The Dou family hadn’t seen him for a while and missed him, so they were very happy when he returned.
They took the fresh pork Dou Yicang brought back to prepare a meal.
“Mother, this is from Kang Sanlang, who told me to bring it back for you all. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t made meat before. I eat well there—meat almost every other day. When there’s no meat, there’s gravy over rice.”
Though Dou Yicang wasn’t always at the same table with the Fan family, he ate whatever was served at home.
Dou’s mother saw that working at the Fan family’s had made Dou Yicang stronger than when he was home and felt at ease, thinking the family must be kind.
Seeing him refuse the pork, she told him to knead dough and make dumpling soup, something he liked at home.
She also asked about the Fan family’s situation. “At New Year, they said Sanlang and Eldest Brother’s child was almost born. Was it a boy or a girl?”
“A chubby boy. The family adores him like their own eyes. The baby is very well-behaved and hardly fusses.”
“So the Fan family now has a male heir.”
Dou’s mother continued, “And the second and third young ladies aren’t young anymore.”
Dou Yicang sat on the doorstep eating his soup and answered, “The second young lady just turned seventeen, the third is only twelve.”
“That’s a good family. Do you know if the second young lady has been promised yet?”
“I heard some matchmakers have been around.”
Dou’s mother sighed, “If only our family were as well off as the Fan family. Then Father and Mother wouldn’t worry about your marriage.”
She had heard that the Fan family had once been poor but had since grown prosperous, running a good business and being genuinely kind people.
When they visited Dou Yicang’s family, they always brought rice or flour, not just meat.
Dou’s mother looked at Dou Yicang sitting at the door—dark and sturdy.
Recently, a village head had come looking to marry off a girl to their Dou family. The girl was acceptable but lacked a dowry.
Poor families marrying poor families with many children—what good was that?
Still, Dou Yicang was favored by many girls.
Her eyes brightened with an idea, and she leaned toward Dou Yicang, whispering something in his ear.