The residence had been thoroughly cleaned—spotless everywhere. Xie Jiu had led the servants through three or four rounds of scrubbing, even scraping the moss from the gaps between the steps until not a trace remained.
Even the lotus pond had been refilled with fresh water. The surface now lay clear and still, reflecting the cloudless sky above—a beautiful sight.
Xie Jiu spoke to Xie Yushu with a hint of excitement: “In a few days, we can choose the lotus flowers and the varieties of osmanthus trees—everything awaits your decision, Master.”
Xie Yushu glanced at her. In just a few days, Xie Jiu had already developed the eye of a proper household steward—she was learning fast.
Though Xie Yushu had appointed Xie Jiu to guard the house and yard, there were many things she didn’t know—like where to find craftsmen for pruning plants or repairing the pond.
Fortunately, with the Tang family’s enthusiastic recommendations, they’d found skilled artisans to dredge the silt and bring in fresh water.
Su Chi stood in the lotus pavilion, with Xiuwei carefully supporting him.
Listening to them discuss the details of the plants and flowers, the sense of unreality gradually filled with tangible, touchable things.
He leaned close to Xie Yushu and whispered: “This house is really too big.”
“It’s not big.” Xie Yushu wrapped an arm around him, her large hand resting on his soft belly, her tone certain. “When the baby’s born, we’ll need to hire help. Right now, we only have six servants, including Xie Jiu and Xiuwei. If that’s not enough, we’ll need to add more. Father will be moving in soon too. And besides—”
She drew out the last two words, a mischievous smile in her eyes: “Besides, what if we have many children?”
Su Chi’s ears grew warm at that, but he didn’t argue.
She had a point.
Even without children, her business was growing—she needed a large house to maintain face in her trade, or people would laugh.
Whether it was agreeing that the house wasn’t too big, or agreeing that they might have several children, Su Chi lowered his gaze, then smiled softly: “Alright.”
Just getting familiar with the house took Su Chi several days.
Xie Yushu wouldn’t let him go out—the streets were crowded, and she was afraid someone might jostle him. Even matters for the new shop were handled by Xie Jiu, running back and forth.
Su Chi understood—his situation was different now. He’d agreed with Xie Yushu that for the first two months, he wouldn’t personally handle shop affairs. He’d leave it to others, not go to the shop, and stay home to rest.
Fortunately, Su Chi had half a year of experience running a shop in Songwan Town. He knew exactly what needed to be done for the new shop.
He made lists: purchasing tables, chairs, bowls, chopsticks, and acquiring pots, pans, and other utensils.
Staff had also been hired: four in total—two skilled in noodle-making, one to handle the broth, and one general helper.
Su Chi called them to the house for training, teaching them just as he’d taught Chen Fulang—step by step: kneading dough, wrapping techniques, mixing fillings, making braising liquid, simmering broth—until he was satisfied with the taste.
The shop Xie Yushu had secured was more than twice the size of their old one. Four staff was a conservative estimate—they’d likely need to hire more down the line.
For the first three months, Xie Yushu wouldn’t let him go to the shop at all. The opening would have to wait until Su Chi was past the three-month mark and stable.
Xie Yushu had taken Su Chi to the Sun family pharmacy in the county for a checkup. Sun Wubing said Su Chi’s pulse was steady and the baby was healthy.
Back home, Su Chi was carefully settled onto the daybed. She changed him into light, cool clothes, and Xiuwei brought over the fruit drink that had been chilled in the well water.
They hadn’t had this drink in town. After moving to the county, Xie Yushu had bought it for Su Chi once, and he’d fallen in love with it—he’d been asking her to buy it every day since.
From then on, Xiuwei went out each day to the clean drink stall to buy two portions for his fulang.
His fulang was kind—he’d drink one and save the other for him, so Xiuwei always got a cup too. It was sweet and delicious.
He was young and adaptable. Within a few days of running errands for Su Chi, he’d memorized the county’s streets. Sometimes he’d bring back candied fruit, sour plums, or snacks they’d never seen before.
Though some of the snacks were confiscated by the boss—she said the fulang couldn’t eat them yet—so they ended up in Xiuwei’s stomach.
By June, the sun was blazing hot. Xie Yushu was already thinking about where to get ice to cool Su Chi down.
Su Chi didn’t feel too hot yet. When he saw her return with a sweaty forehead, he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her brow: “Why are you so warm?”
“You’re not hot?” Xie Yushu leaned in, enjoying her fulang’s attentive care.
True—Su Chi wore light clothes, had chilled fruit drinks every day, and the rear courtyard had plenty of shade and was quite cool. And she never let him go out—so of course he felt comfortable.
Meanwhile, she was out and about every day. Even riding in the carriage, she sweltered in the stuffy cabin—changing clothes twice a day.
At that thought, Xie Yushu couldn’t help pinching the extra softness that had appeared on Su Chi’s cheeks since he’d gotten pregnant—so smooth and fair to the touch.
Su Chi didn’t mind—Xie Yushu’s pinches were always gentle. He reached up, helped her take off her sweat-soaked clothes, and had Xiuwei bring a clean set. As he dressed her himself, he couldn’t help but murmur: “You don’t have enough clothes for this season—you get a few sets dirty every day. Tomorrow I’ll have the tailor come and make you several more.”
Su Chi was growing into the role of the household’s fulang more and more. He held the silver Xie Yushu had handed over, plus the savings he’d accumulated himself, managing everything with increasing skill.
The money in the chest would cover the household’s expenses for years. Making his wife a few sets of fine, respectable clothes was only fitting.
Not to mention all the other costs—new furniture, daily food purchases.
Things were different in the county. Back in town, his father had sent fresh fruit and vegetables from the village. Now in the county, the household had to go to the market every morning, and sometimes the produce wasn’t even that fresh.
Meat, on the other hand, was always fresh—there were farms near Tang’an County that supplied it daily.
The tailor was coming tomorrow anyway, so Su Chi decided to have new clothes made for the servants too.
Especially Xiuwei—he’d have several sets made for him. After all, Xiuwei was his personal attendant, well-behaved and always keeping him company when Xie Yushu wasn’t home.
He was also growing more adept at managing the servants, assigning daily tasks and knowing exactly who did what and where.
The servants were fond of their two new masters—good-tempered, easy to talk to, generous with rest, and the meals were delicious and filling. What more could anyone ask for?
“Whatever you say.” After changing, Xie Yushu turned and pulled him into her arms, kneading him gently. She murmured, “You’ve put on a little weight.” Better to hold.
Su Chi’s slightly fuller body suited her just fine—a bony frame was no fun to hold. A little softness and health was much better.
And he was still slim overall—just a bit rounder than before. Xie Yushu resolved to have him eat half a bowl more at each meal.
Su Chi had no idea what she was scheming. He just let his wife hold and squeeze him, a sweet warmth spreading in his heart.
·
Fortunately, the three-month mark was fast approaching. Su Chi didn’t find staying home boring—Xie Yushu always made time for him, and when he was free, he practiced calligraphy, building up a thick stack of finished pages.
Xie Yushu had also settled into a routine: home to workshop, and back. Sometimes she’d go to the Tang household for business talks, which were always brief—she never lingered, heading straight home to Su Chi afterward.
Though Tang Zhiyi would tease her every time before she left. Xie Yushu would shoot back without missing a beat, saying her fulang was waiting at home, just a few steps away.
About ten days passed this way. Su Chi’s belly had begun to show a slight curve, and the Su family bun shop in Tang’an County reopened.
Business was booming right from the start—before long, the spacious shop was packed, with a long line stretching out the door. People kept coming, and the crowd only grew.
Xie Jiu brought the good news back to the Xie residence. Su Chi was beaming, saying “Wonderful, wonderful!” over and over.
The lively opening was thanks to Xie Yushu’s careful preparations. A few days earlier, she’d hired four or five glib talkers and sent them to the county’s main streets and busy lanes, armed with small copper gongs, to drum up business.
She’d chosen well—they had loud voices and knew how to shout:
“The Su family bun shop on South Street opens in three days—”
“Buy three buns, get one free! Buy two five-spice eggs, get one free—”
“Thin skin, generous filling, juice bursting in every bite—”
“Guaranteed to have you coming back for more—”
…
But Xie Yushu didn’t stop there. She went to a bookshop and found a few literate artists, showing them the sample flyer she’d drawn herself. She paid them well to copy it—about a hundred sheets in total. Skilled hands readily took the job.
The illustrations were simple but vivid: plump, steaming buns in a basket, with wontons and five-spice eggs beside them, and the words “Su Family Bun Shop” at the top—making the shop’s specialties instantly clear.
Passersby, intrigued by the illustrated papers, went up to the talkers to grab one. Some tucked them into pockets, some took them home and stuck them in the kitchen, others just found the design novel and examined it.
And so, everyone kept the opening date in mind—ready to see if the buns were as good as claimed.
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