The next day, everywhere in the village, people were talking about the Xie family’s wedding.
They talked about how fragrant the feast had been, how rich the food was—they’d rarely eaten such a good spread in their lives. They said Wang Wen’s cooking was as good as ever. Others noted that Xie Yushu valued the Su family and was generous—her red envelopes and betrothal gifts were no less than what town families gave.
They also said Su Chi was lucky—he’d finally seen the end of his hardships and would enjoy a good life with the Xie family.
One husband who’d always looked down on the Su family and hadn’t been invited the day before curled his lip sourly. “What good is a nice feast? They’re still going to live in that rundown Zhai house. That Xie woman is just putting on a show.”
One of the husbands who’d helped Wang Wen and received a red envelope from Xie Yushu immediately shot back, rolling his eyes. “You don’t know, do you? They’ve already bought a new house in town. They’re just waiting to pack up and move in a few days. They’re going to town to live the good life—what business is it of yours?”
They’d heard it from Wang Wen himself while helping him out yesterday. The joy in his eyes was unmistakable as he praised Xie Yushu’s capability and how well she treated his Chi-ge’er.
They were both shocked and envious when they heard.
The sour husband fell silent and walked on glumly.
The Su Ping family had been overjoyed two days ago that Su Sheng was marrying into town, thinking their son had finally made it. But today, neither husband nor wife had a good face—they were quiet and deflated.
Su Sheng had been married off the day before Su Chi, and even though it was as a concubine to the Bai family, they’d still been happy. But only one elderly servant from the Bai family had come to pick him up. Su Sheng had put on his veil and been taken away in an old carriage—no red silk, no red felt, no fanfare at all.
Those sharp-tongued, sharp-eyed villagers must be laughing at them behind their backs!
What was even more galling was that the Bai family had promised twenty guan as a betrothal gift, but they’d only received five.
Five! Half of Su Chi’s ten guan. How could they swallow that?
Before leaving, Su Sheng had comforted them, saying maybe the Bai family head had simply forgotten—once he’d crossed the threshold, he’d speak to her. They shouldn’t worry.
And then there was the Xie family’s grand wedding yesterday—firecrackers going off like copper coins grew on trees, and that feast everyone was praising.
Just thinking about the feast made Cai Zhi’s face darken. He cursed Wang Wen and Chi-ge’er for being so heartless—no manners at all, not even inviting them. They’d completely abandoned any sense of family.
Su Ping’s expression was even worse. Her nephew was getting married, and Wang Wen hadn’t even invited her—his aunt? Now that her sister was gone, was this how he treated her? He couldn’t even let her family have a decent meal—her two daughters hadn’t had anything rich and oily in ages!
—
Xie Yushu and Su Chi were completely unaware of the various thoughts circulating in the village. They’d woken up a little late and had been busy preparing to move, with no time to worry about anything else.
It was past the hour of Chen (around 8 AM) when they finally opened the inner room door.
Both had woken later than usual. Su Chi had actually woken at his regular time and was about to get up to make porridge, but Xie Yushu had pulled him back into bed, telling him to keep her company for a while longer.
She said they’d had a hard night and needed more rest. At that, Su Chi’s neck flushed. Not wanting her to continue teasing him, he buried his face in her chest and let her hold him a while longer.
Xie Yushu even reached over to rub his sore lower back, so they slept another half hour.
Su Chi was the first to get up. He pinned his hair into a married man’s bun and secured it with a wooden hairpin. He opened the door, fetched some water, brushed his teeth carefully with the tooth powder and brush, and washed his face.
Xie Yushu had told him to brush well, so he’d obeyed, brushing several times. After rinsing, he found his mouth felt fresh and clean, and he felt much more awake.
Then he went to the kitchen to cook a small pot of porridge. He took a plate of fried fish chunks—enough for two—from the bamboo tray and heated them in a pan to go with the porridge. He also grabbed a cucumber from the basket, cut it into chunks, smashed it, and dressed it with sesame oil, salt, sugar, soy sauce, and vinegar—a refreshing, palate-cleansing side.
After that, he went back to the room to wake Xie Yushu. Once they’d both eaten their fill, they began the day’s work.
They planned to move to their new home in town that very day and start their new life together.
Xie Yushu had told him about the move a few days before the wedding, so he’d been thinking about it ever since. He’d already mentally organized what to pack and how to arrange everything.
His clothes at the Su house had been packed the day before the wedding. He’d also set aside some of the kitchenware—the rest would stay for his father to use.
He didn’t worry about the fields or the chickens in the yard—his father would take care of them.
His father had even said he’d buy more chicks and ducklings, raise them plump, and plant more vegetables and grains to bring to them later.
When Wang Wen spoke of these things, his eyes were warm, his voice strong, and his energy high.
There wasn’t much else at the Su house. The main task was the Zhai house—since Xie Yushu said they wouldn’t be coming back to live here, they’d move anything usable that wasn’t broken.
The neighbor auntie’s ox-cart had arrived—Xie Yushu had gone to call her and paid thirty wen for the ride to Songwan Town.
Since the new house came with new furniture, they didn’t load any old pieces onto the cart—just food and daily necessities, all small and easy to pack.
They packed together—Su Chi handled the light items, Xie Yushu the heavier ones.
Wang Wen had known they were moving today. After cleaning up from the feast last night, he’d gone home and immediately packed up all the best things for Su Chi.
All sorts of dried goods—daylily, bamboo shoots, preserved mustard greens, winter melon peel, tangerine peel, dried radish, cucumber strips, basket after basket of eggs and duck eggs, jars of pickled vegetables—Wang Wen loaded them all onto the cart.
Since Su Chi’s last stall session had used up all his filling ingredients and flour, and he hadn’t restocked, there was nothing left to move. That saved them the trouble.
Su Chi had thought there wouldn’t be much, but after several trips, Wang Wen had filled the back of the cart.
He wanted to leave the pickled vegetables and dried goods for Wang Wen, but his father wouldn’t have it: “Take all of these with you and Yushu. I’ll make more for myself.”
Then he added, “When you need red beans or vermicelli, just send word—I’ll buy them in the village and bring them to you. Saves you the trip.”
Su Chi, reluctant to leave his father, just looked at him silently.
Wang Wen, who doted on his son, spoke to him for a long while, until Su Chi’s eyes grew moist.
Just as he had when Su Chi was little, Wang Wen wiped his tears. “Don’t cry, Xiao Chi. Isn’t your housewarming in a few days? I’ll come then.”
Su Chi lowered his head and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “Mm. When you come, I’ll make all your favorite dishes.”
Wang Wen soothed him further. “Our village is so close to town—I’ll come visit whenever I miss you.”
Su Chi finally smiled. “Good.”
Everything was packed. Xie Yushu hadn’t forgotten the colorful seashells and conches He Xi had given them. She’d placed them in a small wooden box; when shaken, they clinked and chimed cheerfully.
By the time they were ready to leave, it was well past noon. They ate a quick bite, said goodbye to Wang Wen, and set off.
Just as they were leaving, Su Quan arrived to see them off.
She gave Xie Yushu a long list of advice, making her laugh—the village chief was like a doting elder.
Finally, she mentioned the current state of Xie Yushu’s aunt Zhai Yan’s family.
Su Quan didn’t know the details, but she’d run into Zhai Yan while visiting relatives in Bailian Town some time ago.
Zhai Yan had lost her purchasing job at the wealthy household—someone had reported her to the master, saying her family had poor character and dishonest hands. The master had immediately dismissed her.
Since then, their fortunes had plummeted.
Her daughter’s husband had nearly lost his baby, and they’d spent a fortune—every last copper—just to save the child. The younger daughter’s marriage had fallen through.
Without Zhai Yan’s lucrative job, the family had no income and could barely get by. They’d sold their spacious townhouse and moved into a rundown little yard—five, soon six people crammed into a tiny space barely bigger than a palm.
Xie Yushu listened expressionlessly, thinking: This is the best wedding gift my aunt could have given me.
What sweet justice.
—
The ox-cart carried Xie Yushu, Su Chi, and their mountain of belongings to Qingshui Lane. Xie Yushu paid the thirty wen, and she and Su Chi got off together.
Because the houses in Qingshui Lane were a few guan pricier than elsewhere in town, not many people lived there—it wasn’t bustling, but it wasn’t desolate either. A dozen or so households made their home here.
The lane was one of the best in Songwan Town—the river flowed right at its entrance, and every yard had a tree: some elms, some willows, some locusts, all tall and shady in summer.
Xie Yushu had bought the best house on the lane. Her arrival stirred some quiet curiosity among the neighbors. When they saw her moving in with her husband, they cracked open their gates to peek—saw they were a newlywed couple, handsome and well-matched, and soon withdrew their heads.
Su Chi truly loved the new home. When they arrived, he couldn’t take his eyes off it—looking in one room, then another, filled with wonder.
The furniture Xie Yushu had ordered had already arrived and been placed exactly where she’d specified. The house instantly felt lived-in.
She took Su Chi to their main bedroom. Besides the carved canopy bed coated with tung oil, there was a large, dark, sturdy chest at the foot of the bed. Xie Yushu said it was for him.
“This chest is for me? It’s so big.” Su Chi couldn’t help but reach out and touch it. One feel and he knew it was good wood—camphor wood, with an even, smooth coat of oil that felt solid and reassuring.
It was huge—more than enough to hold both his and Xie Yushu’s clothes. He marveled silently.
And there was the large canopy bed—Xie Yushu had secretly made it up without his knowing. She’d layered two thick mattresses, topped with a new quilt stuffed full of cotton, and two clean, soft pillows side by side.
Seeing his eyes curve happily, Xie Yushu knew he loved the bed and the chest. She couldn’t help wrapping her arms around him from behind and whispering in his ear:
“We still need a wardrobe for clothes, and a small table by the bed for books and writing supplies. That chest can hold all your favorite things.”
“The smallest room will be the bathhouse—we can bathe there. I’ve ordered a tub that should arrive in a few days. Then you can enjoy a proper soak.”
“The spare room is for Father when he visits. I also bought a new set of bedding.”
“And for the kitchen, we’ll go look at shops together tomorrow. You can pick out bowls, chopsticks, pots, and pans that you like.”
She went on and on, occasionally asking for his opinion.
Su Chi gently placed his hand over hers, resting on his waist, and tilted his head to look at her. Whatever she said, he agreed.
By the time they’d unloaded the cart and finished setting up the new house, it was past dinner time. Su Chi got up to make a simple meal—they’d both had a long day.
They’d brought all the food from the Zhai house, plus the pile of things his father had packed. Su Chi had put everything in its place; the grain jars and cabinets in the kitchen were now full.
He steamed rice for two in the steamer, reheated the rabbit and duck in the pan, quickly stir-fried a plate of greens, and heated up the remaining sour meatball soup.
That way, the meatballs would be finished today. In another day or two, all the leftover feast dishes would be gone. Su Chi mentally tallied what was left.
That evening, they bolted the gate, ate, cleaned up, and retreated to the bedroom. The kitchen fire died down, and the busy yard fell quiet.
Autumn had arrived. During the day, they’d been too busy moving to notice—they’d even worked up a sweat. But at night, the wind turned cold, sending a chill through the air.
A cool draft blew in through the open window. Su Chi reached over and gently closed it.
He admired the doors and windows—they were beautiful. Even the window paper was layered thickly for windproofing.
His wife had put so much thought into everything.
When he turned, Xie Yushu had already washed up and changed into a thin under-robe. She was sitting on the bed, counting something.
After he’d also changed, she handed him a small box.
Su Chi took it, puzzled. “What’s this?”
Xie Yushu looked at him. “All my savings.”
“You’ll be in charge of the household. From now on, you keep the money.”
“And, Su Chi—”
She took his hand and squeezed it gently. He asked, “What is it?”
“Don’t run your stall anymore. Let’s rent a shop instead—it’ll be easier for you.”
Seeing that she’d been thinking the same thing, Su Chi smiled softly. “Mm, I was thinking that too. But I still have some money saved—it should be enough for a shop. This is your money—you keep it.”
He knew Xie Yushu had been busy lately, barely home. She must have some business to tend to, and that would cost money. He couldn’t possibly take it.
“No—this is for my husband.” Xie Yushu insisted, deliberately putting on a stern face.
Hearing that, he couldn’t refuse. She’d said it was for him to manage the household. His heart warmed, and he accepted it.
He’d keep it safe for her—if she ever needed money, she could just tell him.
But when he opened the small chest, he was taken aback. “There’s so much here?”
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