SLH | Chapter 40

Back to Shanghe Village

At the hour of the rabbit the next day, before the sun had even risen, Song Tingzhu and his husband headed to town. They first went to Master Sun’s to pick up the custom-made pottery jars, then stopped by Shopkeeper Fang’s clinic to buy some herbs just in case.

Song Tingzhu didn’t outright refuse Master Sun’s offer. If things didn’t work out with Uncle Ma, he’d have to order pottery jars from Master Sun.

“Hey, isn’t this the ceremony teacher from Yunxi Village who was invited for the Hua family’s wedding?”

“It really is. And the man next to him, isn’t that his husband? They look quite a pair.”

“Zhu Ge’er, is that you? Do you remember me? I’m your Aunt Huang.”

As soon as they entered Shanghe Village, a woman recognized Song Tingzhu and greeted him warmly.

Of course, Song Tingzhu remembered. When he came to Shanghe Village last time, it was Aunt Huang who welcomed him.

“I remember,” he smiled and called out, “Aunt Huang.”

“Ah,” Aunt Huang looked at Liu Hu and asked, “Is this your husband?”

Song Tingzhu nodded, “I’m here today to seek help from Aunt Hua and Uncle Ma. Is Aunt Hua at home?”

“Yes, she is. I was just about to head to the Hua family. Let’s go together.” She turned to the women with her, “Let’s go.”

Aunt Huang was quite chatty, and once she started talking, she didn’t stop until they reached the Hua family’s doorstep.

“Sister Dahua, we have distinguished guests. Bring out your best tea leaves and let me share in the glory.”

“What distinguished guests?” Hua Er’niang was in the backyard feeding chickens and ducks. Hearing the call, she came around with a food bowl and was surprised to see the visitors, “Oh, Zhu Ge’er is here.”

Hua Er’niang warmly welcomed the two into the living room and told Hua Qiaoniang, who came out from the west room, “Qiaoniang, go get the tea leaves your mother bought in town a while back.”

“Okay.”

On the day of her marriage, Hua Qiaoniang had only heard that her mother had invited a rather young ceremony teacher, and he was a young man. She hadn’t seen his face then, but seeing him today, he was indeed outstanding. Even the man beside him was tall and handsome, and they looked well-matched.

The young man’s way of speaking was different from the villagers, gentle and pleasant to the ear. Hua Qiaoniang couldn’t help but glance a few more times.

After some pleasantries, Hua Er’niang asked, “Zhu Ge’er, are you here for something today?”

Song Tingzhu nodded. Seeing his husband place the pastries on the table, he then explained his purpose to Hua Er’niang.

“My husband and I plan to start a wine-making business, and we’re short of a batch of containers for the wine. On Sister Qiaoniang’s wedding day, I happened to hear that Uncle Ma has pottery skills, so I thought I’d ask Aunt Hua if Uncle Ma could still take on custom pottery work.”

Hua Er’niang hesitated, “Oh, I can’t make that decision for my husband. My parents-in-law passed away because of this, and he has a knot in his heart. He hasn’t mentioned reopening the kiln for years, so I’m afraid I can’t help you, Zhu Ge’er.”

Song Tingzhu apologized, “Aunt, you don’t need to feel troubled. It’s my fault for coming unannounced.”

“Mom, Dad will agree.” Hua Qiaoniang, carrying the brewed tea, entered and heard the conversation, chiming in.

Hua Er’niang looked at her daughter.

Hua Qiaoniang explained, “Even if Dad doesn’t say it, he’s always thinking about the kiln. Otherwise, he wouldn’t treat those jars and pots in the yard like treasures, cleaning them every now and then. Just the other day, I passed by the kiln and saw Dad sighing outside.”

Hua Er’niang was momentarily stunned.

Song Tingzhu said, “I won’t disturb you today. Once Uncle Ma returns, discuss it with your family. If Uncle is willing to take on this business, please ask Uncle Peng to send me a message.”

Hua Er’niang straightforwardly said, “Why wait? Your Uncle Ma is in the fields. I’ll have your sister Qiaoniang bring him back, so you don’t have to make another trip.”

Hua Er’niang was quick to act, and her daughter was just as quick-tempered. In just a quarter of an hour, Ma Guangzhong, who was weeding in the fields, was called over.

“Qiaoniang said Zhu Ge’er wants to order pottery jars?” Ma Guangzhong rubbed his hands, his dark face full of excitement, “I haven’t touched the craft for years. My skills might be rusty, and the kiln has been abandoned for over ten years. It’ll take some time to repair.”

Song Tingzhu said, “No rush. Delivery by next spring is fine.”

Ma Guangzhong chuckled, “That’s plenty of time. Zhu Ge’er, do you have any specific requirements?”

“Though they’re pottery jars, they shouldn’t be too inferior. No bigger than six inches, small and delicate.”

“No problem, a hundred or so can be done in five days. I haven’t practiced in a while, so how about two and a half wen per jar? Once the kiln is repaired, we’ll test a small batch first.”

Song Tingzhu nodded. Uncle Ma’s price of two and a half wen was half of what Master Sun charged.

He was pleased and asked, “Can Uncle Ma engrave characters?”

“That’s beyond me.”

“Looks like I’ll have to find someone else to engrave.”

“No need to look elsewhere. We have someone at home.” Hua Qiaoniang pulled out a wooden hairpin from her hair and showed it to Song Tingzhu, “My husband carved this when he had free time. How’s the craftsmanship, Zhu Ge’er?”

After examining it, Song Tingzhu nodded, “I didn’t expect Brother-in-law to have such skills.”

Hua Qiaoniang laughed, “He’s liked tinkering with these since he was young, but it’s just a hobby. His skills can’t compare to professional carvers in town. If you find it acceptable, I’ll let him know when he returns. When Dad makes the pottery jars, he can engrave the characters.”

Song Tingzhu didn’t refuse, “Then I’ll trouble Brother-in-law.”

After agreeing on the inspection time and paying a 20% deposit, the couple bid farewell and returned to Yunxi Village.

On the way, Song Tingzhu talked to his husband about buying grain.

“The autumn harvest just ended, and everyone still has surplus grain. We should stock up before the prices rise for the New Year. I don’t know who in the village has extra grain, so we’ll need Mother and Big Sister-in-law’s help.”

Liu Hu reminded, “Don’t forget the autumn tax.”

Song Tingzhu frowned slightly.

He had indeed forgotten. This year, there were no major issues with labor, only a few men from the neighboring village injured their feet. Just as everyone was about to celebrate, they were hit with an increased autumn tax.

Seeing this, Liu Hu comforted, “Tomorrow, I’ll ask around the neighboring villages. Dahua Village is prosperous, and there should be plenty of families with surplus grain.”

Song Tingzhu nodded, reflecting that he hadn’t been thorough enough. If it were his grandfather, he wouldn’t have let this happen.

As he thought this, his right hand, hanging by his side, was gently squeezed by his husband.

Though no words were spoken, it somehow reassured him.

At the dinner table that evening, Ruan Xiulian and Tang Chunxing, upon hearing about buying grain, went to ask familiar families early the next morning.

Two days passed, and the villagers noticed that the Liu family was buying jars and hoarding grain, with their doors mysteriously shut all day. Rumors spread that the Liu family had found treasure in the back mountain.

Soon, villagers, armed with hoes, rushed to the back mountain to find treasure. In just half a day, the barren land at the foot of the mountain was cleared.

Of course, no treasure was found, but the diligent ones gained a free acre of barren land, which was a treasure in itself.

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Author’s Note: No matter how I write it, I’m not satisfied. I cut down a 4,000-word draft to 2,000, and I’m feeling numb [crying][crying]