Mu Dalang had only been at the Fan family for less than two months, but he had really learned how to manage the livestock.
The fast-breeding poultry—chickens, ducks, rabbits, quail—had hatched four or five broods already. Each person would hatch three eggs, sometimes as few as two, sometimes a mix of fertilized and unfertilized eggs. The little ones grew up healthy and lively.
The cages and sheds were also kept clean and comfortable, without any foul odors. It wouldn’t be unpleasant for anyone to spend a night inside.
The animals rarely showed signs of diarrhea or weakness anymore; every single one was full of spirit.
The Fan family was quite satisfied seeing Mu Dalang’s skill.
Word spread in the village that the Fan family had hired such a capable person to help. If anyone’s livestock was in good condition, they would bring things over and invite Mu Dalang to come and take a look whenever he had time.
The Fan family, however, didn’t allow it. They said such trivial matters shouldn’t delay their own household affairs, and besides, they could still use it to build good will.
Kanghe noticed the family’s poultry business was gaining momentum. These meat ducks and rabbits would be ready to sell in about two months, so he intended to get the business moving.
Taking advantage of early October, after the busy autumn harvest, many households had finished their work, so Kanghe and Fan Jing ran around the various villages all day, slaughtering pigs and calling out about their business.
“The weather’s good this year, and the harvest’s excellent. I heard Uncle Zhang is getting married at the end of the year; it’ll surely be a lively celebration.
“We’ll probably need to set up around twenty tables.”
“That’s not so easy. With relatives and friends coming, having over ten tables is already quite something.”
Old man Zhang said, “I already told everyone to come to our place to slaughter pigs on the thirteenth of the twelfth lunar month. On that day, don’t go to any other house.”
Kanghe laughed, “Uncle Zhang, you told me so early; how could I run off to other houses? I already wrote it down. If someone offers two hundred coins to have my big Jing come slaughter pigs on that day, we’d go too.”
“That’s a good day for Uncle Zhang. How could you joke around and miss it?”
Old man Zhang chuckled. This month, with the pig prices good, he had slaughtered one early to sell for money, and planned to slaughter another one for the wedding feast in the twelfth month.
Kanghe pressed on, “Uncle Zhang, have you arranged the meat and vegetables for the feast? My family’s raising some chickens and ducks right now; if you need any for the feast, I can send over as much as you like.”
“You’re an old customer; price isn’t a problem.”
“You’ve even started raising those things at your place?”
Old man Zhang said, “You really are capable.”
After that, Kanghe listed what his family was currently raising, and Zhang listened carefully.
Old man Zhang said, “If I’d known earlier you were buying here, I wouldn’t have bothered to ask neighbors in the village. The eastern neighbor’s got two chickens, the western side three ducks. It takes a lot of favors and effort. It would be much easier if I just bought from you all at once.”
Kanghe heard that and saw this business wasn’t without troubles, so he said, “Having everything settled is good. I’ll say something convenient for you to hear. You know I have these things at my place, so if you ever need anything, you can call on me.”
Old man Zhang nodded in agreement.
“If anyone in my village needs chickens or ducks for a feast, I’ll tell them about you.”
Kanghe smiled and agreed, “Usually, my wife and I don’t come to your village to slaughter pigs. Whenever we go to the county to buy supplies, I’ll stop by the shop to give you a heads up.”
On the way back, Fan Jing drove the cart, noticing Kanghe was drinking water nonstop. These days, Kanghe talked more than ever when they went out to slaughter pigs, all for the sake of business.
That was the case, and the family’s livestock really had only a couple of outlets.
Fan Jing quietly watched and felt a complicated mix of feelings in his heart.
Kanghe, however, wasn’t impatient. Such matters had to be done slowly. Selling livestock to people holding feasts was different from selling on the city streets.
The city had many people who ate three meals a day; buying a chicken or duck was common. Buyers usually bought one or two at a time, sometimes just half a bird.
In the countryside, it was considered a big purchase. When a family hosted a feast, they might have ten tables at the least, and would buy three, five, or even eight chickens or ducks. Large feasts could require up to twenty birds.
But feasts didn’t happen often, and they didn’t necessarily have to buy from them. However, even if they bought, people had to know first that there was this place doing this business.
Back at the shop, Kanghe and Fan Jing arranged the slaughtered pigs. The couple had exchanged a few days with Chen Sanfang, letting the two of them watch the shop.
Kanghe made a sign and placed it in front of the stall, announcing chickens, ducks, rabbits, and quail for sale.
Those who could read would see it, and those who couldn’t, Kanghe would explain to.
So, Kanghe no longer bothered with other things.
After autumn, the Fan family was busy again. This year’s harvest was three times that of previous years. They hired four strong men to help gather crops from the various villages during the autumn months and finally finished in time.
Old Fan counted and paid the taxes. This year’s grain still had 35 shi (a unit of measure) left.
Fan Shoulin sighed deeply, feeling both happy and worried. Since the granary had been noted, at night he’d get up to look at it once before feeling at ease.
One night, in the pitch dark, two people were scared stiff by a sudden noise.
The sound startled two dogs tied outside, barking loudly, which caused the whole family to hurriedly light lamps and get up, thinking it was burglars again.
Chen Sanfang said to Kanghe, “We should just take the grain to the county and sell it. That way, Father won’t be uneasy every day.
“Honestly, I’m nervous inside. Our courtyard walls are low; thieves can easily climb in. The previous burglary still haunts us. We’ve spent a lot this year; it’s better to sell the grain now and have some money in our pockets.”
Kanghe agreed. Though they had many people in the family and weren’t particularly afraid of thieves, nothing was ever certain. The thieves could get in, and inside the house were not only grain but also smoked cured meat and sausages.
If those got taken, it would be a terrible loss.
When he had time, Kanghe took Fan Jing to the county granary to look around, found a shop with decent prices.
They kept a few shi for their own use and sold 30 shi. The harvest was good this year, so the grain price was high, and selling 30 shi brought in 33 guan coins.
After a drought last year, this year’s farmland was much better. With a few more years of careful cultivation, things would improve.
In winter, they left the paddy fields fallow but still planted some winter melons and vegetables in the dry fields.
Outside, Kanghe also bought some rapeseed seeds to plant, telling Old Fan to sow them. When they flowered in winter and the next year, he could bring down some hives of mountain bees to collect honey.
Once the seeds set, they could take them to the neighboring oil shop to press oil.
They weren’t sure whether to keep the rapeseed oil for themselves or sell it, as the price was low.
The household’s farming was arranged, and winter had come quickly. This year was warmer than usual, with less snow than previous years.
At the end of the year, the Fan family went to the Xu family’s for a hundred-day celebration.
Yuan Ge had just fathered a son, and the Xu family was very happy, holding a lively celebration.
The Fan family brought plenty of chickens, ducks, rabbits for the feast, with plenty of leftover meat and vegetables.
After the feast, Xu Yang asked Kanghe to bring some dishes home to eat, as there was too much left and it would be a waste otherwise.
Kanghe saw that Dafu liked fried fish pieces, so he took a plate back for him as a snack.
The fish pieces were coated in starch and fried crispy. After steaming them in the pot to reheat, the crust became soft.
Dafu smelled the aroma and obediently sat on Fan Jing’s lap, looking eagerly at the plate, tapping his chubby little legs, waiting to be fed.
Fan Jing picked a piece of fish belly, removed the bones, and fed the little one bit by bit.
Kanghe, tidying up in the courtyard, said, “I see Dafu likes this fish flavor. I’ll go buy some large green fish in the afternoon, chop them up to make fish balls for him. That way, no bones to choke on.”
Hearing this, Dafu immediately turned his head toward Fan Jing, shouting, “Large green fish! Large green fish!”
Fan Jing held the little one with one arm, straightened him up, and fed him a piece of fish.
He said to Kanghe, “You said that too? He’s been saying ‘large green fish’ all afternoon.”
Kanghe laughed, “Looks like the little guy takes after someone, with a good memory.”
After finishing his chores and washing his hands, Kanghe was about to play with Dafu when Zhang Jinguì from the big family came over.
“Big aunt, what brings you here today?”
Kanghe greeted Zhang and fetched a stool for her, inviting her inside the main room to warm by the fire.
Zhang Jinguì pinched Dafu’s chubby cheeks. Since the little one wanted meat, Zhang wasn’t about to deny him. She plopped down on the stool and watched Fan Jing feed the child.
The big, chubby boy was getting cuter by the day.
Time passed quickly. Zhenzhen had found a good husband and married, and Dafu was almost two years old. Even Xu Yang had a big, chubby boy now.
Zhang Jinguì’s thoughts grew heavier. With the New Year approaching, she lacked the usual joy. All day, she didn’t feel like shopping for New Year goods or tending the household and often just lay half the day on the kang.
Kanghe saw Zhang Jinguì’s listless look and asked, “Aunt, what’s wrong?”
“Sanlang, I really worry about our Daxin ge.”
Kanghe smiled upon hearing this; he already knew what Zhang Jinguì was worried about.
She glanced at Kanghe and Fan Jing, then looked away, seeing they weren’t responding. After a pause, she stammered, “Sanlang, do you know if that He Jia ge from the shop… has found a family yet?”
Kanghe’s brow twitched at her words, but before he could reply, Fan Jing shot Zhang a look and said, “Why are you bothering with that?”
Zhang Jinguì, seeing Fan Jing speak, instantly lost her fight, saying, “I wasn’t bothering.”
Fan Jing showed no warmth and said firmly, “Don’t be thinking about him anymore. It won’t be good for anyone.”
Zhang Jinguì blushed and didn’t dare say more. The room grew heavy and silent.
Just then, an old man came in to buy rabbits. Kanghe stood and led the man to choose rabbits, and Zhang Jinguì slipped away home.
Seeing the man leave, Kanghe said to Fan Jing, “Big aunt really is something—she tried to talk to Mother about Daxin ge, but Mother, after what happened before, has firmly refused to get involved again. Aunt must have realized this, so she came to us instead.”
Fan Jing said, “Making trouble for no reason.”
Just then, Qiao came back outside and overheard them talking. She ran over laughing.
“Big aunt’s worried again. This morning she went to see Dr. Zhu about the roof, hoping to talk with Jì ge, but he and our brother Mu were talking the whole time, so she didn’t get a chance.”
Kanghe asked, “Our brother Mu and Jì ge really get along?”
Qiao said, “They’re both doctors—one a human doctor, the other a veterinarian. Still, they get along better than with Daxin ge.”
Qiao continued, “Not long ago, when brother-in-law was home, brother Mu went to visit Jì ge to discuss medicine and even helped Dr. Zhu with work.”
“I teased him once, and he immediately turned bright red.”
Kanghe laughed, “This girl has the sharpest tongue.”
After chatting a while, the old man finished picking rabbits and took six in cages. Kanghe had no pressing matters, so he drove the man back.
The weather was cold, but in winter, village roads were still passable. Xu Yang joked that when he became wealthy, he’d donate money to repair the village roads.
The old man was grateful, saying villagers had told him about this place selling these things, so he came all the way.
After two busy months, Kanghe and Fan Jing’s hard work paid off. By the end of the year, many relatives visited, buying more meat and poultry, and people had started coming to the Fan family to buy directly.
Some buyers still arranged for delivery, but many preferred to come and choose for themselves.
Kanghe understood; first-timers were always wary of being cheated and preferred to see the goods themselves.
After Little New Year, the village grew even more festive for the Spring Festival.
Fan Jing bought firecrackers in the city and played with Dafu, who surprisingly wasn’t afraid of the noise.
Fan Jing laughed and enjoyed himself while Dafu happily played with the firecrackers.
That year, Xiang Xiu came to visit with her husband.
Zhang Jinguì took the opportunity to pour out her worries to Xiang Xiu, saying that now that Xiang Xiu had married into a good family and lived comfortably, she shouldn’t forget her brothers and must help find a good family in the city for Fan Xin.
Xiang Xiu was agreeable and quick to act, returning in the first lunar month with a letter.
She said there was a city family surnamed Lu, in the grain business, not poor, with a well-looking daughter—not ugly, just a little older, over 25.
Zhang Jinguì secretly followed Xiang Xiu to see them and found it was as described. Yet she wondered why such a good girl hadn’t been married yet.
Xiang Xiu countered, saying she looked her over thoroughly and wasn’t any worse. Why hadn’t anyone chosen her?
Zhang Jinguì, learning from past experience, no longer dared to be picky and said little. She was afraid of upsetting Xiang Xiu and losing the chance to find a match.
Xiang Xiu pleaded earnestly with her mother, “Mother, Daxin ge is my real brother. I wouldn’t harm him, let alone hurt him. Frankly, after our parents pass, the only one we can rely on in our mother’s family is one brother.
“If he does well, what good would I get? But I only hope he does well. He has ability.”
Zhang Jinguì’s words were apt, and the marriage was arranged quickly.
Fan Xin didn’t argue about the marriage; the family decided for him.
The match was settled fast.
Kanghe found it odd. Though he suspected Xiang Xiu might not be entirely sincere with her brother, Zhang Jinguì’s doubts were also somewhat justified.
Since the family was from the city, Kanghe decided to listen in on their affairs.
At night, Kanghe whispered to Fan Jing, “That Lu family really is as Xiang Xiu described. The family isn’t poor; the girl is good-looking. She was originally betrothed to a family, but the engagement was broken off, which delayed things until now.”
Lying on the bed together, Kanghe moved closer to Fan Jing and asked, “Do you know why the engagement was broken?”
Fan Jing answered, “How would I know?”
Kanghe said, “I heard the man’s young son was no good. Before the wedding, he secretly kept a male prostitute outside. One day, the Lu girl caught them red-handed.
“The girl was fierce. Right there, she slapped the boy twice, gave him a pig’s face, and scolded him in the street, bringing him great shame.
“The two families called off the wedding. Though the boy’s family was at fault, no one dared marry into the Lu family afterward because the girl was so formidable.
“A year passed after year, and finally, she’s reached this age.”
Fan Jing frowned slightly. Most men preferred gentle and virtuous wives. Having made such a mistake, they would fear trouble at home. The Lu girl’s fierceness naturally intimidated many men.
He looked at Kanghe. “Knowing big aunt’s temper, would she accept such a fierce girl as her favorite?”
Kanghe chuckled, “I guess Xiang Xiu deliberately didn’t tell big aunt about this. Otherwise, she wouldn’t dare be so picky after what happened. Most likely it’s the former, or else she’d be boasting about the good match.
“If you ask me, Xiang Xiu has good judgment, finding such a bride for her brother. The big family needs a strong girl to control Daxin ge, who’s a man with little initiative. Otherwise, married life would be difficult.”
Fan Jing didn’t reply but agreed with Kanghe’s reasoning.
Having Fan Xin settled was a big deal for the Fan family, sparing Zhang Jinguì from endless sighs.
He shifted his legs and pressed against Kanghe’s thigh. Kanghe was like a stove, hot all year round—even in winter.
That night, Dafu was coaxed to sleep by Chen Sanfang with a piece of chestnut cake.
Without the little one on the bed, it suddenly felt much wider.
With more space, it felt colder in winter.
Seeing Fan Jing willing to snuggle close, Kanghe’s hand slid inside his undergarment.
He whispered near Fan Jing’s ear, “Tell me, why do men keep male or female prostitutes on the side?”
Fan Jing glanced sideways at Kanghe. This man was about to say something serious again. He didn’t respond.
Kanghe grinned, “Don’t you know?”
“I do.”
“Then I’ll tell you.”
Fan Jing thought, no matter what he said, it’d come out of his mouth anyway. He was curious how Kanghe would explain, so he said, “Go ahead.”
Kanghe lowered his voice, “Actually, it’s because…”
“Ah, I haven’t read much; you’re not making yourself clear. If you want some money, just say so—I could take it as a bribe. I’m strong; you know what I’m capable of.”
Fan Jing raised an eyebrow and mocked, “What’s your price?”
“I’m well-built, good-looking—top-notch, definitely handsome. But that’s all show. Not much use besides turning on a light, no advantage.”
“The important thing is my endurance, and it’s a long time. I’m just a common lowlife.”
Fan Jing’s ears flushed. Kanghe had been at this long enough to be smooth at talking business, even selling himself without shame.
“I think you’d do better running a brothel.”
“I’m not that kind of person. I pick my customers, only sell to one. If the price’s good and payment is upfront, I don’t mind.”
Kanghe pinched Fan Jing’s waist. “Brother, are you buying or not?”
Fan Jing said, “Inspect the goods first.”
Kanghe tossed aside his thin clothes to the floor. Fan Jing checked thoroughly, and the two had quite a tussle.
A few days later, Zhenzhen came to pay New Year’s greetings at Luo Chuanyi’s home.
The couple rode a horse-drawn cart, bringing six bolts of cloth, four boxes of pastries, and several other boxes of unknown New Year gifts.
Kanghe personally cooked a table of dishes, and the house was lively.
After the meal, the women of Zhenzhen’s family spoke privately.
“Seeing this girl married for only half a year, her complexion is good. Is she doing well at the Luo family?”
Zhenzhen blushed, “He treats me very well.”
Chen Sanfang and Qiao smiled listening.
“The house is managed by the eldest sister-in-law. She’s capable, strict, and hard to get along with. I mostly serve one or two grandmothers and don’t have much else to do. I spend most time studying.”
“What about young master Luo? Is his father-in-law still strict?”
Zhenzhen said, “Father-in-law usually goes to school to teach, early and late, with few social obligations. He’s more authoritative than others at home, but I rarely meet him.”
Chen Sanfang felt relieved hearing this. The second half of last year was busy at home; her cousin Yun invited her out several times, but she had no time. She was only somewhat familiar with things on that side.
She added a few words about the Luo family hiring several people and that young master Luo had good luck last year with these matters.
Qiao listened with interest, curious about such wealthy households.
In the afternoon, Zhenzhen was about to leave.
Fan Jing, during their conversation, fetched two rabbits, two big geese, and four quail from the shed, slaughtered and prepared them, then went upstairs to find some items to pack and load onto Zhenzhen’s cart.
Zhenzhen quietly watched Fan Jing pack the things and felt a deep emotion.
She said, “Big brother, this is already too much; you don’t have to take so much.”
Fan Jing glanced at her but said nothing, only, “Bring it to the shop later.”
Zhenzhen replied.
When leaving, the family saw them off. Dafu called out “auntie,” and Zhenzhen hugged him and kissed him, clearly reluctant to part.
On the way back, she couldn’t hold back tears on the cart. Luo Chuanyi wiped her tears and comforted her.
And so, the quiet days passed by. In the blink of an eye, three years had gone by.