SLH | Chapter 48

Anger at Pan’s Big Mouth

“Have you heard? The Liu family has brewed their wine!”

“How could I not? It’s not even noon yet, and the whole village is buzzing. The Liu family is going to open a wine shop in town!”

“Easy to say, but brewing wine is one thing; selling it and making money is another. I reckon they’ve spent at least ten taels of silver. If they can’t sell it and it just sits there, it’ll be a laughing stock!”

“You’re just sour grapes, Xu family. The wine’s brewed, and there’s no reason it won’t sell. Brother Zhu said it himself, if it’s brewed, it’ll be cheaper by two or three coins for the village than in town!”

“Is that true?”

“I heard it straight from Brother Zhu’s mouth, no joke.”

Under the big banyan tree in the village, a group of gossiping women were chatting away about the Liu family, their mouths almost running dry, yet still full of interest.

Meanwhile, in the Liu family’s courtyard, the second batch of wine mash had produced its tail wine and was being bottled.

“Sister-in-law, can’t we drink the tail wine?” Liu Xiaomei asked, holding a small half jar of wine, looking regretful.

Song Tingzhu smiled and said, “It can be consumed, but it needs to be mixed and processed first. It can also be used as a seasoning for cooking.”

Liu Xiaomei’s eyes lit up, “Can it really be used for cooking?”

“Of course. The big taverns in town use yellow wine for stewing chicken, and the refined spirits have a richer flavor. It not only enhances the taste and removes the fishy smell but also helps in cooking and adds aroma.”

The little girl didn’t fully understand, but as long as it could be used and not wasted, she was happy.

With limited funds, the wine steamer Song Tingzhu ordered could only hold six hundred jin of grain. It took two and a half days to steam all three large vats of fermented wine mash.

Since it was his first time brewing, the steps weren’t very familiar, and they ended up with a hundred jin less than expected, producing only about eight hundred jin of wine.

Song Tingzhu had anticipated this, so he was only slightly disappointed for a moment before he perked up and had the men in the family help carry the wine jars into the cellar for storage.

With one vat of slightly lower quality wine mash left, Song Tingzhu planned to make it into sake for sale. The taste of the spirits made from old grain wasn’t as good, and he wouldn’t ruin his reputation by selling it.

The process of making sake is different from spirits. Sake doesn’t require distillation but needs to be sealed and occasionally supplemented with cool boiled water during fermentation.

After the first fermentation, which takes five to six days, add one to one and a half times the amount of cool boiled water. After the second fermentation, add more cool boiled water and continue fermenting for twelve hours. When the fermentation liquid turns sweet, it can be pressed into wine.

This vat of wine mash was the last to ferment, and today happened to be the day for pressing the wine. So, the men worked hard all afternoon to press out the cloudy wine, finally completing the task.

Song Tingzhu tasted the cloudy liquid and was quite satisfied.

The light, sweet aroma was the usual taste of cloudy wine, just right.

Next to him, Xia Ge’er smacked his lips, holding onto the wine jar with his small hands, tiptoeing to peek inside.

“Little Uncle, Xia Ge’er wants to taste it too.”

The little guy had been running back and forth for several days. Everyone in the family had tasted it, even Liu Xiaomei had dipped a chopstick in it, but he hadn’t had any, and he was craving it. Now, smelling the sweet aroma, he couldn’t help but drool.

The family laughed in unison.

Liu Meng picked up his son and rubbed his stubbly chin on Xia Ge’er’s fair face.

“Our Xia Ge’er wants to drink wine too?”

Xia Ge’er, feeling ticklish, pushed his father’s chin with his small hands, leaning back, and said crisply, “Yes, Xia Ge’er is all grown up now, not a child anymore.”

“Is that so? Then the malt candy I bought in town, I gave it all to the neighbor’s Gou Dan, because big kids don’t eat malt candy.”

Xia Ge’er’s little face immediately fell.

Everyone burst into laughter again.

Ruan Xiulian couldn’t bear to see her darling grandson being teased, so she took him into her arms and kissed his cheek to comfort him, “Your dad is teasing you. Today, Grandma will let our Xia Ge’er taste it with a chopstick.”

“Yes, Xia Ge’er loves Grandma the most~”

The little guy opened his mouth, waiting. But after tasting it, not only did his eyebrows furrow, but his whole face scrunched up.

Xia Ge’er stuck out his tongue, wrinkling his little face, “It’s so bad…”

“Hahaha.”

His words made everyone in the courtyard laugh out loud again.

By dusk, after the family had dinner, the two uncles from the Ruan family saw that it was getting late and prepared to leave with Jinning and Wen Ping.

Seeing them off at the door, Song Tingzhu called his husband to bring two jars of spirits.

“Big Uncle, Little Uncle, take these two jars of wine home. It’s not yet cellar-aged, so the taste and quality are a bit lacking.”

Ruan Erniu took them with a hearty laugh, “No worries, it tasted great at dinner. I’ll take it back and let the old man try it.”

“Big Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Sister-in-law, we’re leaving.” Ruan Jinning waved goodbye to the Liu family, holding Wen Ping’s hand.

Ruan Xiulian, worried, reminded them, “Be careful on the road. It snowed this afternoon, don’t let the child slip and fall.”

“Got it, Big Sis, you all go back inside, it’s cold out here.”

“Aunt, my brother and I are leaving too. You’ve been busy all day, you should rest early.” Tian Tian’er said.

“Alright, come back another day with your parents for dinner.”

“Okay.”

The Tian brothers also took a jar of wine home.

Song Tingzhu had drunk some wine today and was a bit tipsy. At night, he leaned against his husband’s chest, his eyes bright, unable to sleep.

Liu Hu didn’t sleep either, holding his wife’s wrist, chatting with him.

“We brewed eight hundred and twenty jin of spirits. Once the sake is filtered, there’ll be about a hundred jin. The spirits need to be cellared, and the earliest we can sell them is in spring. The sake isn’t as strict, we can sell a batch during the festival.”

Song Tingzhu traced the patterns on his husband’s inner clothes with his thumb, whispering to him.

“Big Brother doesn’t have to work for Landlord Zhang in winter, so he can go to town with you to sell. It’s best to ask around at small stalls and eateries. If we can convince the shopkeepers to buy from us, that would be ideal.”

“If not, you’ll have to work hard with Big Brother, going street to street to sell. I’ll invite some uncles and elders to come and support us. Our homemade wine is aromatic, and once the word spreads, it will sell.”

“Alright, I’ll do whatever my wife says.”

The man’s voice was a bit hoarse, and Song Tingzhu thought he might be ill. He frowned and asked with concern, “Why is your voice hoarse? Are you feeling unwell? You’ve been busy these days and wearing little. Don’t catch a cold and get sick.”

“No.” Liu Hu leaned over the bed, awkwardly saying, “Wife, you can touch me however you want, just don’t get mad at me, okay?”

Song Tingzhu was just a bit embarrassed earlier, but now he was both shy and annoyed.

He covered himself with the quilt, blushing and said, “Who wants to touch you? I have what you have, why would I touch you? You’re all hard and bony, what’s so good about touching?”

Why is he even more upset now?

Liu Hu frowned, looking confused.

The next morning, when Song Tingzhu woke up, the man was already gone. The clothes for changing were neatly folded by the bed, still warm to the touch.

He pursed his lips, feeling warm inside, but his ears couldn’t help but heat up.

In another month, it would be a year since he married his husband. Although his parents-in-law never mentioned children, outsiders often brought it up in front of him. After the festival, his husband would be twenty-one. In the village, men of that age who were married usually had children.

Thinking about it, besides Big Brother Tian and his husband, there really wasn’t a third person like that in the village.

He tied his belt, feeling the softness of his waist, blushing as he thought he should visit the clinic in town.

There wasn’t much to do today, so after breakfast, Song Tingzhu took Xia Ge’er and Xiaomei on a bullock cart to town.

“Little Uncle, I can’t see anymore~”

On the bullock cart, Xia Ge’er was wrapped up like a silkworm baby, struggling to pull the thin quilt.

Song Tingzhu tugged the quilt, only revealing the little guy’s bright eyes.

Xia Ge’er sat comfortably in his little uncle’s arms, turning his head to look around.

“Little Uncle, look, the wheat fields are all covered in snow.”

It snowed heavily last night, and before the snow melted, they could still go to town. If it turned into muddy slush, the road would be hard to walk. Even with a bullock cart, shoes would inevitably get dirty. Song Tingzhu liked cleanliness and wouldn’t go out in such weather.

“It would be nice to have a carriage,” he murmured softly.

Xia Ge’er heard and looked up, asking, “Little Uncle, are you talking to Xia Ge’er?”

“Yes, our Xia Ge’er has helped Little Uncle with a lot these days. Little Uncle is thinking of buying some snacks to reward you.”

The little guy’s eyes lit up, squinting with a smile, “Xia Ge’er wants to eat hawthorn skewers, can I?”

“Of course, not only hawthorn skewers but also walnut crisps.”

“Yay, I love Little Uncle the most~”

On the bullock cart sat a few familiar aunties, who were originally chatting about preparing for the New Year. Seeing the close bond between the uncle and nephew, they turned the conversation to Song Tingzhu.

“Looks like Brother Zhu also likes kids. You’ve been married to Huzi for so long, when are you planning to have a child?”

“Your big sister-in-law only has Xia Ge’er, and in a couple of years, Xiaomei will get married. The house will be so empty.”

“My Chengzi is the same age as Huzi, and he already has three kids!”

Several women talked over each other, and after they finished, Song Tingzhu finally spoke.

“We’re busy with the wine business right now. I haven’t thought about these things with my husband yet.”

“That’s foolish. No matter how big your business gets, without a child, it’s incomplete. In our farming families, children are the most important. You don’t have your own family to support you, so if you don’t have a child soon to tie your man to you, you’ll be crying later!”

“Rough words but true. Don’t blame your Third Aunt for being blunt. We don’t know about men in the prefectural city, but we know village men. Which man doesn’t want kids? Brother Zhu, don’t wait until Huzi brings home a younger one; it’ll be too late to regret it!”

“What nonsense are you spouting in front of the child!”

Aunt Cai, who hadn’t spoken since getting on the cart, couldn’t help but scold.

“Brother Zhu, don’t listen to them. I watched Huzi grow up, and he’s not like that.”

Liu Xiaomei puffed her cheeks, angrily saying, “Yes, my second brother treats his sister-in-law very well, he won’t bring another one home!”

Xia Ge’er also widened his eyes, looking adorably fierce.

The women, unconvinced, pouted, “We’re just speaking the truth, how is it nonsense?”

The woman huddled in the corner, muttering, “What’s wrong with helping the family business? Without a family to support him, he’s just asking to be bullied. If he can’t have kids, the Liu family will get tired of him eventually!”

Sitting next to the woman, Song Tingzhu heard every word.

It’s one thing to gossip behind someone’s back, but to say it in front of him, do they think he has no temper?

“Auntie, are you unhappy with your own life and taking it out on me, Tingzhu?” he said coldly.

Everyone on the bullock cart didn’t know what was happening and craned their necks to look.

“If Auntie says that, then you must have family backing you up. But why is your life still like this? I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like living well like Auntie.”

The woman, hit where it hurt, got angry, “You’re so rude, how dare you talk to an elder like that, you have no manners. Didn’t your parents teach you?”

Song Tingzhu’s face grew colder, “My mother passed away early, I’ve grown up wild with no one to teach me. But Auntie’s family is perfect, yet you still gossip behind people’s backs.”

“You!”

The woman was so choked up she couldn’t say a word, her face turning beet red.

Two aunties huddled at the back of the cart for warmth, whispering in amazement, “I thought Brother Zhu was gentle and easy to handle, but who knew he could be so sarcastic.”

“Indeed, those from the prefectural city are different, they can really talk. Look at how he shut Pan’s Big Mouth up.”

“Yao family, your mouth should be sewn shut to stop you from gossiping!”

Aunt Cai hadn’t heard what was said, but Brother Zhu was always gentle with people, never arguing with anyone. For him to act like this, he must have been really angry.

And Pan’s Big Mouth was known in the village for gossiping, no need to guess who started the trouble.

She then comforted Song Tingzhu, “Brother Zhu, don’t let her ruin your mood, it’s not worth it.”

“Got it, Auntie.”

Xia Ge’er lifted his head, “Little Uncle, don’t be mad, Xia Ge’er has already chased the bad person away!”

Song Tingzhu lowered his eyes, smiling as he asked, “How did Xia Ge’er chase them away? Little Uncle didn’t notice.”

“Like this.” He widened his eyes, demonstrating.

Seeing this, Song Tingzhu couldn’t help but laugh, leaning down to kiss the little guy’s cheek.

“Is it cold? Your little face is all red.”

“Not cold, Little Uncle is so warm~”

Aunt Cai watched the little guy snuggle up to Song Tingzhu, smiling as she said, “This child is really close to you.”

Holding Xia Ge’er’s little hand, he replied, “Maybe it’s fate. Back in the Song family, not many kids wanted to be close to me.”

The Song family ran several shops, knowing many people from all over, with many relatives. Occasionally, children would wander into the Bamboo Garden, but most would take one look and leave, never wanting to get close.

Aunt Cai knew he didn’t have a good life in the Song family and sighed, “Let’s not talk about the past. You and Huzi should live well together. Don’t rush the child thing. You’re both young, wait until you’re healthy, then it’s not too late.”

Song Tingzhu nodded.

The snowy road was slippery, and the bullock cart took half an incense stick longer to reach the town.

“This afternoon, I have things to do at home. If you want to take the cart, come an hour earlier. If you’re late, you’ll have to walk back.” Old Peng said, taking out the fodder.

Aunt Cai said, “Brother Zhu, I’ll be buying things on North Street. Let’s meet at Old Peng’s after lunch.”

“Alright.”

After parting with Aunt Cai, Song Tingzhu took Xia Ge’er and Xiaomei to a bookstore, bought a knife and some yellow hemp paper, wandered the streets for a while, bought Xia Ge’er a sugar-coated hawthorn skewer, and before the cold wind could chill them through, they headed to Chunhui Hall on South Street.

The room was warmed by charcoal, and as soon as they entered, they felt a warmth.

Shopkeeper Fang was calculating at the counter. Seeing them, he smiled and greeted, “Brother Zhu, it’s been a while. Did you find any rare herbs this time?”

Song Tingzhu replied, “Shopkeeper Fang, you’re joking. How can I find herbs in this cold? I’m here to buy some lime.”

Shopkeeper Fang was puzzled, “Lime? Brother Zhu, you must be in the wrong place. The lime here in the clinic is for medicine, not for plastering houses.”

Song Tingzhu explained with a smile, “I’m not in the wrong place. I’ve been brewing some wine at home and want to use lime for sake.”

“The lime sold by the stone masons on North Street isn’t trustworthy for food, and I don’t know where else to get it, so I thought I’d ask here.”

“I see. Lime does have different types. Even if you went to the stone masons, they wouldn’t sell it to you for that purpose.”

Shopkeeper Fang sorted through the herbs, looking impressed.

Having lived in town for a while, he’d seen many shady deals. The lime sold by the masons and the clinic differed by half a coin. If used in large quantities, it added up. Many merchants would sacrifice their conscience to save those few coins.

“How much do you need, Brother Zhu? I’ll have the medicine boy check the stock.”

Song Tingzhu gave the number he had calculated earlier, “Fifty to sixty jin should be enough.”

“That’s not much. I’ll have the medicine boy fetch it.” Shopkeeper Fang glanced between him and Xiaomei, “Fifty to sixty jin isn’t light. With you and Xiaomei, I’m afraid you won’t be able to carry it out of town.”

Song Tingzhu said, “Please have it packed separately. There’s a bullock cart at the town entrance, and Xiaomei and I will carry it there to ride back.”

“Alright then.”

The little guy tiptoed, “Xia Ge’er can help too. Xia Ge’er’s little basket is still empty.”

“Okay, Grandpa Fang will pack some for you too.”

After buying the lime, Song Tingzhu glanced at the inner room, hesitated for a moment, and asked Xiaomei and Xia Ge’er to wait outside while he went in to have Doctor Cen check his pulse.

“Doctor Cen?”

Seeing the old doctor close his eyes and say nothing, he felt a bit nervous.

After a moment, the old doctor, stroking his beard, spoke, “Your body is severely depleted, and what you wish for is unlikely to happen.”

Song Tingzhu was momentarily stunned.

“But it’s not hopeless. You’re still young, and given time, you might be able to conceive. But when it comes to childbirth, you’ll likely suffer more than others.”

Song Tingzhu wasn’t afraid of suffering. He liked children and wanted one of his own with his husband. Now knowing his body could conceive, he was overjoyed.

“The old man advises you to take care of your health before planning. That way, not only will you suffer less, but the child will also be healthier.”

Song Tingzhu was worried about this. He’d been sickly since birth, often falling ill, and feared his child would inherit his ailments and come into the world with a frail body.

After listening to the old doctor’s advice on matters of the bedchamber, he blushed and thanked him, “Thank you, Doctor Cen. I’ll remember.”

After settling the bill, the three of them each carried a small bag of lime out of the clinic.

“Is it heavy?” he asked Xia Ge’er.

The little guy shook his head, “It’s light, Xia Ge’er can carry twenty more jin!”

Originally, he only gave him a jin, but the little guy saw it was much less than the others and pouted unhappily, so he added two more jin.

Seeing the little guy carrying it without much effort, he felt a bit relieved and turned to Xiaomei, “If you get tired, stop and rest. There’s no rush to go back.”

Liu Xiaomei swung her arms, looking relaxed, “Not tired. When I used to sell grain with Mom in town, I carried heavier than this!”

“Sister-in-law, you’re carrying more than me. If you get tired, just say so, and we can switch.”

Song Tingzhu smiled and agreed, but he didn’t intend to switch with Xiaomei.

Holding Xia Ge’er’s hand, the three of them left South Street and found the little guy walking heavily. He pursed his lips silently, looking so obedient and sensible that it tugged at the heartstrings.

Seeing a wonton stall ahead, he said, “Hungry? Little Uncle will take you to eat meat wontons.”

Xia Ge’er’s almond eyes widened with excitement, “Yay, hot meat wontons. Xia Ge’er can eat two in one bite!”

At the stall, he ordered two bowls of meat wontons, and Xiaomei went next door to buy two flatbreads. The three of them ate until they were full.

After resting at the stall, they continued on their way with their baskets.

At the town entrance, they saw Aunt Cai and a few women taking shelter from the wind behind a tree.

Aunt Cai also saw them and, noticing they were carrying things, called Aunt Yang over to help.

“Why are you carrying so much? If I’d known, I’d have come to find you after I finished my errands.”

Song Tingzhu thanked them, “Thank you, Aunties, for your help. It’s just a few dozen jin of lime, not too heavy, so we bought it together.”

Aunt Yang said, “We’re all used to farm work. A hundred jin is nothing. Brother Zhu, you’re delicate, never worked the fields, and don’t know how to exert force, so it naturally feels heavier.”

“Exactly, don’t look at Xiaomei being small; she’s much stronger than you.”

“Xia Ge’er is strong too. Xia Ge’er can lift Little Aunt’s basket!”

The little guy used all his strength, and the basket barely lifted off the ground, earning praise from the two aunties.

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Author’s Note: Six thousand words achieved today [flowers][flowers][flowers]