The days passed, and summer was drawing to a close. The sun was no longer as fierce as before—still warm, but without that scorching intensity.
The crops in the fields ripened day by day. Every household was throwing themselves into the harvest, too busy to even stop for meals—children would bring food out to the fields for their parents.
As one of the few villagers who didn’t have to work the land, Xie Yushu was neither busy nor idle. She had a stack of pre-wedding tasks to get through.
Before the wedding, she’d discussed the arrangements with Wang Wen and offered him ten guan as a betrothal gift. He refused, saying he didn’t want the money—only that she treat Su Chi well.
That went without saying. Xie Yushu would treat Su Chi well no matter what.
In the end, after much insistence and a well-reasoned argument, Wang Wen accepted.
With some time still before the wedding, Xie Yushu received word from Aunt Liu via the county that the owner had agreed to sell for fifty guan—she could come sign the deed.
Xie Yushu met Aunt Liu at the agency, paid the fifty guan, and added an extra five qian for Aunt Liu.
Aunt Liu accepted the money with a smile and handed over the deed. After Xie Yushu confirmed it was correct, signed, and pressed her thumbprint, Aunt Liu gave her the countersigned deed along with the keys.
She assured Xie Yushu that she’d already arranged for a tiler and cleaners—the yard and roof would be tidied up in a few days. She could move in with her husband soon.
Xie Yushu nodded—Aunt Liu was efficient, no nonsense, and her after-sales service was good.
Then she asked which carpenter in town made the best, most refined furniture. She had a lot to order, and all of it urgently needed.
Aunt Liu clapped her hands. “Miss Xie, you’ve come to the right person. There are several carpenters in town, and their work is all decent. But if you ask me, I only recommend the Zhou carpenter near the bridge. They have plenty of ready-made pieces, and if they don’t have what you need, just tell her the style and she’ll have it done before your wedding. Their rush fees are fairer than most.”
Xie Yushu said she’d remember that: Zhou carpenter by the bridge.
“You also need a well dug, right? Then go to the Wu well-digger—her work won’t disappoint.”
Having lived in town for years, Aunt Liu knew all these things. And since Xie Yushu had just done such a big deal with her, she felt confident she wasn’t being cheated. She filed it all away.
Clutching the deed and keys to her chest, Xie Yushu walked out of the agency light-footed.
She went straight to the Zhou carpenter’s shop by the bridge. She didn’t even need to ask for directions—she could see the piles of timber stacked in front and in the yard.
The Zhou carpenter had a white cloth slung over her shoulder, sweat soaking her forehead—she didn’t bother to wipe it. Her plane slid back and forth with force, sending thin curls of wood shavings spiraling down.
When someone walked in, she stopped and looked up. “Looking for furniture?”
“Yes.”
Xie Yushu looked around. There were quite a few finished pieces in the yard: stools, low benches, armchairs, square dining tables, washbasins, basin stands—all sorts of things.
“Aside from what’s here, do you have more? I need them for my wedding.” Xie Yushu was direct.
The Zhou carpenter nodded knowingly and led her to the back warehouse. Inside were two large dowry chests—made of good elm, big enough for moving house, with the metal fittings already attached, just waiting to be bought and oiled.
Xie Yushu walked around and selected several ready-made pieces.
She ordered four wooden stools, a square table, two armchairs, two basins, a basin stand, two buckets, a grain cabinet, and one large chest.
She only bought the essentials—time was short. Larger, less urgent pieces could be added later after they’d moved in.
For the window paper, she asked the Zhou carpenter to use the best quality, layered thickly to keep out wind and cold.
The carpenter nodded, saying she had mulberry paper coated in tung oil—three layers would keep out wind, frost, and cold.
Finally, Xie Yushu ordered a canopy bed and a smaller wooden bed.
Besides the main hall and the bathroom, there were two bedrooms—one for her and Su Chi, the other as a guest room for Su Chi’s father when he came to town, or for visitors.
The canopy bed would go in their room, the smaller bed in the guest room.
The canopy bed was custom-made—the carpenter had to measure the space, and said it would take three or four days.
That afternoon, the Zhou carpenter and her husband brought a cart full of furniture and several bundles of tung-oiled mulberry paper to Qingshui Lane.
She worked as efficiently as Aunt Liu had said. She measured the bedroom for the canopy bed, discussed wood choices with Xie Yushu, and then pasted the window paper securely and evenly—every window sealed tight enough to keep the wind out and the warmth in.
Her husband quietly unloaded the furniture and placed it as requested.
The once-empty house slowly filled with furniture—not much, but gradually it was taking shape.
The Zhou carpenter calculated the price and gave Xie Yushu a fair deal.
The smaller ready-made pieces were inexpensive—five qian total. The mulberry paper added one qian. The large chest was one guan and four qian. The canopy bed, made of better materials and more complex, cost three guan. The total came to five guan, but the Zhou carpenter gave her a discount—charging her four guan and eight qian instead.
Not only that, she also threw in some extras—two low stools, a broom and dustpan, and a few other small items.
Since this was Xie Yushu’s first time ordering from her and she’d bought so much furniture at once—and since it was for a new home, with more large pieces to follow—the Zhou carpenter was thinking ahead.
While measuring for the canopy bed, she’d heard Xie Yushu talk about her plans for the new house—including a bathhouse, which would require a large tub. And the young woman had also mentioned wanting a wardrobe for her husband later, along with various smaller items. There was profit to be made.
To keep this customer coming back, she needed to offer a fair price.
Hearing the Zhou carpenter’s quote, Xie Yushu’s eyes lit up—four guan and eight qian was truly reasonable, especially for such good wood and solid, attractive craftsmanship.
It was even cheaper than she’d expected.
Aunt Liu had good judgment. Xie Yushu decided that from now on, all her furniture would come from the Zhou carpenter.
At the carpenter’s request, Xie Yushu paid in full for the ready-made pieces on the spot. The remaining balance would be settled when the canopy bed was finished.
Xie Yushu glanced at her with surprise—she had good business principles.
The well-digger she’d hired also worked hard, finishing the well ahead of schedule after several diligent days. Seeing that Xie Yushu was newlywed, she charged less to share in the good fortune—only three guan and five qian.
Well-digging was tough labor and required skill—the price was indeed low. Xie Yushu had discreetly asked around and learned that other well-diggers charged over four guan. Since she was about to start a family, she needed to save wherever possible.
She happily paid, and even added an extra oil-paper packet of meat buns as thanks.
The buns had come from Su Chi’s stall—fresh out of the steamer, plump and steaming hot.
Just as the well was finished, the people Aunt Liu had arranged arrived and got the job done in an afternoon. Xie Yushu generously shared the meat buns as thanks, and everyone went home happy.
—
On the main street, Su Chi was packing up his stall.
The filling jars were empty, the dough all used up. Just as he finished tidying up and was about to head home, he spotted Xie Yushu coming toward him.
“Don’t go home yet. Come with me somewhere.” She looked cheerful.
“Where?” Su Chi asked, putting the jars and odds and ends into his basket.
Xie Yushu took the basket from him. “You’ll see when we get there.”
Seeing she was being coy, Su Chi could only smile and go along with her.
She led him through Qingshui Lane and stopped in front of a tidy, bright-looking house.
Su Chi stopped too, confused. “What is this place?”
“Come in.” Instead of answering, she took his hand and pulled him across the threshold.
Once inside, she asked, “What do you think?”
“It’s lovely—big, and beautiful.” Su Chi looked around, finding everything about the yard and house pleasing.
The walls were made of clean, neat brick and stone. The gate was heavy and solid. The yard was paved with bluestone, free of weeds and dead leaves. The house itself was spacious and well-built.
Seeing his eyes light up, Xie Yushu knew he liked it. She smiled. “I’m glad you like it. This is going to be our new home.”
Su Chi’s mind went blank. He stared at her for a long moment without speaking.
“Hm? This—”
“You… bought this house?”
Xie Yushu admitted it openly. “Yes. I even had a well dug—we won’t have to fetch water from outside anymore.”
She took his hand and showed him the well, then the layout of the main rooms.
Su Chi was dumbfounded, following her obediently wherever she led. When he looked inside the bedroom, his eyes widened.
It was truly wonderful.
Xie Yushu chattered on about where she’d place the furniture, saying he could buy whatever he liked and arrange the house however he wanted.
His face flushed as he let her hold his hand, nodding softly.
Originally, she’d planned to wait until after the wedding to bring him here. But she’d found she couldn’t wait.
Showing off in front of the person you loved was exhilarating.
They stepped out of the main room and into the yard. The evening light slanted in from the west, warm and golden, casting their long shadows across the bluestone—soft and intimate.
The light was so gentle it caught the fine down on Su Chi’s face. Xie Yushu noticed a smudge of flour on his left cheek and reached out with her thumb to wipe it away.
Her voice was tender as she said, “We’ll move in after the wedding.”
The wedding itself would be held in the village, with a feast for the guests. Afterward, they’d spend a day or two tidying up and then move.
Su Chi blinked, his breath catching. After a pause, he managed a soft, “Alright.”
With the yard empty, Xie Yushu leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. The setting sun melted their shadows together.
—
That night, Wang Wen came to Su Chi’s room. He took his son’s hand and pressed the ten guan Xie Yushu had given him into Su Chi’s palm.
“This is the money that child gave me. After you’re married, you’ll need it for everything—especially fixing up that Zhai house. It’ll cost quite a bit. Keep it safe.”
To Wang Wen, Xie Yushu was wonderful in every way—except her house was rundown, she had no steady business, and the Zhai family had no land. Life ahead wouldn’t be easy for them.
He’d been thinking of planting more crops to help the young couple out.
Su Chi was taken aback. She’d given his father ten guan as a betrothal gift without even telling him?
He pushed the ten guan back. “She gave it to you, Father—you keep it. I still have over eight guan—enough for us.”
Hearing his father worry about the tiny Zhai house and sigh over their future living conditions, Su Chi couldn’t bear it. So he told him: Xie Yushu had already bought a new house in town—they wouldn’t be living in the Zhai house after all.
Even Wang Wen was surprised. “Th-That quickly?”
A great weight finally lifted from his heart. That child had planned everything out—she must have a steady income now. He could rest easy.
Wang Wen took Su Chi’s hand and said affectionately, “Then I definitely can’t take this money. Town living is more expensive. You keep it—I don’t spend much here in the village.”
“From now on, I’ll grow vegetables and grains here, and bring them to you in town every now and then.”
“You two just close your doors and live your own little lives.”
Wang Wen then pulled out a wooden box from the cabinet. Inside lay a fine jade bangle in excellent condition. He slipped it onto Su Chi’s wrist.
It was a wedding bangle Wang Wen had prepared for Su Chi long ago.
Looking at his father’s kind face, Su Chi felt tears welling up. Wang Wen laughed, saying he was already grown but still crying like a child.
So father and son sat together by the dim candlelight, talking for half the night.
—
Since Xie Yushu had no intention of inviting the Zhai Yan family to the wedding, there was no one from the Zhai side. On the Su side, only Wang Wen remained.
Xie Yushu had considered hiring a professional banquet cook from the village or a neighboring village, but Wang Wen waved it off—no need to spend that money. He could handle the banquet himself.
Since he was the only elder on both sides, and the villagers weren’t strict about formalities, having family cook the feast was perfectly fine.
So Wang Wen would be in charge of the wedding banquet.
His cooking was excellent too—he’d only been too ill to cook before. Now that he’d recovered, and it was his son’s wedding, he threw himself into the preparations wholeheartedly.
Xie Yushu gave him a sum to buy meat and vegetables, telling him to make good dishes.
Wang Wen, ever frugal, planned to make a spread that would do them proud while still saving the young couple some money.
—
Once Tian Fūlang let the news slip, the whole village knew: Xie Yushu and Su Chi were getting married. Everyone was stunned—they hadn’t seen the two of them show any particular closeness, yet they’d quietly arranged a wedding?
And then Tian Fūlang “accidentally” let it slip that Xie Yushu had offered ten guan as a betrothal gift. The village was in an uproar.
Usually, a wedding involved one or two guan—maybe three if the family scraped together everything. No one had ever heard of ten guan.
That was the kind of betrothal gift you’d expect from a wealthy town family.
Everyone was in awe—envious, jealous, and deeply curious.
At the Su Ping household.
They’d heard about the wedding too. Cai Zhi wasn’t surprised—he wore a smug “I told you so” expression around the house.
“See? See? I told you those two were involved—and Su Quan wouldn’t believe me!”
And when he heard that Xie Yushu had given Wang Wen such a huge betrothal gift, his heart bled. His eyes turned red with envy. “Ten guan, so what? Who knows if she borrowed that money to save face?”
But as he watched Su Sheng try on a red wedding dress, he felt a little better.
“Our Sheng-ge’er will marry better than Chi-ge’er. So what if Wang Wen’s son gets ten guan—he’ll still end up in the village, scratching dirt for a living.”
His gaze softened as he looked at Su Sheng. “Our Sheng-ge’er is different—he’s marrying into the Bai family in Bailian Town. He’ll live a good life.”
A few days earlier, when Cai Zhi had taken Su Sheng and his two daughters to visit his parents, they’d passed through Bailian Town and unexpectedly crossed paths with the Bai family—the wealthiest household in town. And they’d taken a liking to his Sheng-ge’er.
It was as a concubine, sure—but still far better than what Su Chi was getting. The date was set for the day before Su Chi’s wedding. The Su Ping family could still hold their heads high and look down on Su Chi’s household.
“Father.” Su Sheng blushed and tugged at Cai Zhi’s hand, as if embarrassed. He was wearing the red wedding dress the Bai family had sent—it fit surprisingly well. He stroked the fine fabric, overjoyed.
He was thrilled. The Su family ancestors must have been smiling down on him—he’d actually been noticed by a wealthy town family.
Since the Bai family had asked them not to publicize the good news before the wedding, Cai Zhi had been keeping quiet about it, holding in his excitement. But after hearing about Su Chi’s wedding, he couldn’t help but boast a little.
Then a thought struck him, and he said with malicious glee, “Just you wait—that woman is poor and has no real skill. Chi-ge’er’s in for a hard life.”
As the wedding day approached—though they wouldn’t be living in the Zhai house afterward—Xie Yushu still spruced the place up a little, for the sake of festivity and good cheer.
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