SLH | Chapter 12

Silently Taking Root

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it’s the Lantern Festival. The villagers of Yunxi Village all got up early, each carrying baskets and bags. They looked cheerful, not just because they could go to town to enjoy the lanterns and the lively atmosphere, but also because with so many people in town today, the things they brought were sure to sell for a good price.

At the small Liu family courtyard, the oil lamps were lit early. Ruan Xiulian and her eldest daughter-in-law each carried a basket of chicken and duck eggs, while Liu Xiaomei took along the embroidery she had been working on for the past few days. The three of them got ready and left the house together.

“Is Xia Ge’er still asleep?” Ruan Xiulian asked her eldest son, who was holding his grandson.

Liu Meng nodded, “Yesterday he was excited about going to town to see the lanterns, so he stayed up late.”

“Let him sleep. Wrap him tight in the blanket, the ox cart is cold, don’t let him catch a chill.”

“Alright.”

Today, he didn’t have to go to work. Landlord Zhang was kind enough to lend him the family ox cart, allowing him to take his family to town to celebrate the festival.

Liu Meng felt grateful and thought that he should work even harder in the future. During the hardest times for their family, it was Landlord Zhang who employed him, and when his second brother got married, Landlord Zhang’s husband also helped with the betrothal gifts. Landlord Zhang’s family were truly good people, and he knew he had to repay their kindness.

Before leaving, Ruan Xiulian reminded her second son, who still had to work, “Huzi, don’t forget to make medicine for Zhu Ge’er before you go. There’s still some white rice in the jar, make some porridge for your wife.”

“Got it, Mom.”

Liu Hu watched as the family got on the ox cart and left, then turned back into the courtyard.

In the west room, Song Tingzhu’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. Hearing the creak of the door, he suddenly opened his eyes, waking up from a nightmare.

“Wife, what’s wrong?”

Liu Hu closed the door and quickly walked to the bedside. Seeing Song Tingzhu drenched in sweat, even his hair was wet, and his eyes lacked luster, he furrowed his thick brows in panic, “Wife, don’t scare me!”

Song Tingzhu’s hands and feet were cold. He sat there dazed, being held by the man who rubbed his hands and feet. After a long while, he finally came back to his senses, and his eyes gradually focused.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” He gave the man a weak smile, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, “Just had a nightmare, but I’m okay now.”

Liu Hu still frowned, holding him until his body was completely warm before laying him back on the bed.

“I’m not going to work today,” he said in a muffled voice.

Song Tingzhu wanted to persuade him otherwise, but when the man looked at him, his eyes filled with concern, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

“Okay.” He agreed with a smile.

Liu Hu’s tense expression relaxed, “I’ll get you a basin of water to wipe off the sweat.”

“Mm.”

Leaning against the man’s chest, Song Tingzhu was carefully wiped down and changed into clean, fresh clothes, finally looking somewhat spirited.

Liu Hu felt much more at ease seeing this.

After being watched over while having breakfast and taking medicine, Song Tingzhu leaned against the bed and dozed off again.

Liu Hu sat on a stool nearby, sorting straw. Song Tingzhu forced himself to stay awake, asking what he was doing.

Liu Hu replied, “Weaving some mats to sell in town later.”

Not being able to work in town today meant losing forty-five copper coins, so he had to find a way to make up for it.

Song Tingzhu guessed his intention and didn’t say anything to disturb him. Instead, he quietly watched as the man’s fingers flew skillfully, and before long, he was lulled to sleep.

Having not slept well the night before, he now had Liu Hu by his side and got a good nap. When he woke up in the afternoon, feeling refreshed, Le Ge’er came over to chat and remarked that he looked much better than the day before.

The weather was great today, with plenty of sunshine outside, so Tian Le suggested taking Song Tingzhu out to soak up some sun. After getting his nod, he informed Liu Hu, who was weaving mats in the courtyard, “Huzi Ge, I’m taking your wife outside for some sun.”

“Alright.”

By the time they stepped out, Liu Hu had already brought over two stools and placed them by the courtyard wall.

Tian Le winked at Song Tingzhu, “Your husband is really good to you, even warmed your clothes in advance.”

When he handed the clothes to his sister-in-law, they were warm, clearly having been heated by the stove. Who would have thought that his rough, tongue-tied Huzi Ge was so good at taking care of someone?

Song Tingzhu glanced at his serious husband and turned back, “Stop teasing me. It’s the Lantern Festival today, why aren’t you in town watching the lanterns?”

Tian Le shrugged, “It’s the same every year, nothing new to see. I’d rather stay home and figure out how to make little birds fly.”

“To make little birds fly, the usual methods won’t work.” Song Tingzhu pondered, “Le Ge’er, have you heard of Yan Shi?”

Tian Le shook his head, “What’s Yan Shi?”

Song Tingzhu explained, “They’re craftsmen skilled in making various mechanical devices and mechanisms.”

Tian Le’s eyes lit up, “Do you know a mechanism master?!”

“No, I’ve only read about them in books. Yan Shi are rare in Sheng Kingdom, even in the prefectural city, they’re hard to come by.”

“Actually, I met a mechanism master when I was a kid. He was an old grandpa with white hair, and the things he made were so intricate. It was because of him that I grew to love making small gadgets. But I never saw him again after that.”

Seeing his interest, Song Tingzhu asked, “Do you want to become a Yan Shi?”

Tian Le waved his hand, “I don’t have such grand ambitions. It’s just a hobby. But if I could make some money from it, that would be amazing.”

Grand ambitions, huh.

Song Tingzhu fell into memories.

He once had them. His grandfather ran a tavern, making a living from brewing wine. His mother loved brewing too. Perhaps he inherited it from his mother and grandfather, as he was also interested in brewing wine. In his childhood, when his mother was alive, he read many books on the subject and even boasted to his mother and grandfather that he would one day open the family tavern in Kyoto.

But after his mother passed away, his health deteriorated, and that idea was gradually buried deep in his heart. Like a butterfly with broken wings, he was trapped in the Song household, passing time by reading books, and those dreams and aspirations were worn away day by day.

Tian Le noticed his absent expression and asked worriedly, “Sister-in-law? Why are you daydreaming? Are you feeling unwell again?”

“No, just remembering some things.”

Song Tingzhu snapped back to reality. He looked at Le Ge’er, and an idea silently took root in his heart.

“Le Ge’er, you’re good at tinkering with things. If I give you a blueprint that’s missing some parts, could you figure out how to make it?”

“I’m not sure, but I can try.” Tian Le asked curiously, “Sister-in-law, are you planning to make something?”

Song Tingzhu frowned slightly, “There is something I’d like to make, but it’s not possible right now because it’s a large item and the materials are expensive.”

“Oh, then maybe we can use bamboo to make a small version and save up for the big one.”

Song Tingzhu smiled at the suggestion, “That’s a good idea.”

Liu Hu was weaving mats nearby, occasionally glancing at his wife. Hearing that his wife wanted to make something, he was curious but didn’t show it. Regardless of what his wife wanted to do, he was fully supportive. If they needed money, he’d work harder to earn it.

He just didn’t know how much money his wife would need. He wasn’t very smart, and besides having a lot of strength to earn some hard-earned money, he couldn’t do much else.

What if his wife needed a lot of money? Should he go into the mountains like the old hunter and hunt? If lucky enough to catch a deer, it could fetch twenty taels of silver. Even if he didn’t catch a deer, pheasants and rabbits could sell for a good price.

But he hadn’t fully learned the skills, and he wasn’t sure if he could catch anything.

As Liu Hu wove mats and daydreamed, Song Tingzhu led Le Ge’er to the storage room.

When he saw the entire wall of books, Tian Le’s already large eyes widened even more.

“My goodness, so many books! How much money did it take to buy all these?”

Song Tingzhu smiled, “I don’t know. My mother and grandfather would send books every now and then, and over time, they accumulated.”

“No wonder you know so much, having read so many books. Liu Yushu from Liu Lao’er’s family has been studying at the academy in town for five or six years and has only learned three or four books. Yet, Granny Liu boasts to everyone that her grandson is well-read. Isn’t she afraid of being laughed at?”

“In the village, opportunities to study are rare. The fact that Granny Liu can send Liu Yushu to the academy and keep him there for five years is already something many envy.”

“That’s true. But why are you showing me these books? I can’t read a word.”

Song Tingzhu said, “It’s okay if you can’t read. As long as you can understand the blueprints.”

A while back, his father and brother Huzi helped him build a bookshelf, and Xiaomei organized his books, categorizing them as he instructed. Most of these books he had read before and had some impression of in his mind. Now, after organizing, he could glance at them and know which one he wanted.

Song Tingzhu took out two books and sat back on the small stool with Tian Le, their heads together discussing.

“The blueprints are detailed, but they seem intentionally incomplete.”

“This part is a family secret, not to be shared.”

Tian Le suddenly lowered his voice, speaking like a thief, “So, are we stealing knowledge? If the owner finds out, will they report us to the county and have us jailed?”

Song Tingzhu was amused by his idea and took a while to suppress his laughter before explaining, “Don’t worry, no one will throw you in jail. The elder who wrote this book passed away long ago, and the family gradually declined. Before his descendants died, they added at the end of the book that if someone could complete the blueprints, they would gift them the method.”

Tian Le, being clever, thought for a moment and clapped his hands, “No wonder Liu Yushu always talks about ‘a house of gold in the books.’ With so many money-making methods hidden in books, aren’t they just like gold nuggets?”

Song Tingzhu chuckled, “That phrase means that by studying and achieving scholarly honors, one can gain endless wealth and prosperity. Its purpose is to encourage students to study and achieve their dreams and aspirations.”

Seeing Le Ge’er looking confused, Song Tingzhu’s eyes twinkled with more laughter, “But you’re not wrong. Reading broadens your horizons, allowing you to explore the world even if you never leave your home.”

For over a decade, it was through these books that he learned about the world and proper behavior, avoiding becoming the unruly person Song Madam hoped to raise.

Author’s Note:

———————-