CH 90

Over the next few days, Lu Yuyan came to Jiaolan Courtyard every day. Ms. Zhao drew out the flower stencils for her, taught her how to embroider them, and let her begin embroidering the flowers on the hem of her wedding dress.

She only came in the afternoon. This was convenient, as the storefront was only busy in the morning, while people only came to buy salted eggs and dried fruits in the afternoon.

Lu Junming didn’t come to town today, and Mo Yan told Ms. Zhao she was coming over to make lunch in advance. Seeing it was turning noon soon, she rubbed her eyes and grabbed her coat hanging from the wall.

Then, a group of people came over, entranced by the smell of fried eggs and millet porridge. They were rushing to get back on the road and couldn’t sit down at a restaurant, so they ordered two wraps each.

That was over a dozen wraps, and Mo Ling wouldn’t be able to handle it on her own. Mo Yan put her coat back onto the wall and decided to leave after helping out with this.

The sisters had just dealt with the group of people when Ms. Hua came over with a basket. They had been busy the entire time and didn’t notice her leaving her courtyard.

Mo Yan greeted her, “Mrs. Ng, are you out to buy groceries?”

She smiled, “Yes, I bought some rice, tremella and lilies. I wanted to ask if you would sell me some lotus seeds.”

“You don’t need to buy them from me, just take as much as you need.”

Over this period of time, Mo Yan had learnt that Ms. Hua was a frugal person who would never ruin goods like Mo Feng. They never paid much attention to their meals, but now she was buying tremella, lilies and lotus seeds.

Ms. Hua walked to the back and said politely, “Then I’ll weigh out half a kilogram of lotus seeds, you can just deduct that from your rent.”

While looking at her retreating figure, Mo Yan asked, “Sis, have you noticed that Ms. Hua has changed?”

Mo Ling replied while cleaning up, “Her face isn’t as dry, her clothes are cleaner, and she looks more energetic. Considering her improved living conditions, it’s nothing special!”

“But today, she bought ingredients for lily bulb and lotus seed congee. This is much more nourishing than what she normally has.”

“Don’t care about how other people are living their life. It’s more important to order the baskets for the New Year.”

After that, Mo Yan went to Jiaolan Courtyard, while Mo Ling looked after the storefront. A while later, she saw Zhao’er come from the back, holding a clay jar and standing in front of the storefront, “Big sis, could I have green beans dipped in sauce?” Then, he tried to put five dollars in the safe holding the money.

Mo Ling handed him a small bowl filled with the green beans and stopped him from giving the money, “There’s no need, it’s just five dollars. What’s five dollars between neighbours?”

Zhao’er said, “My mum says we can’t take advantage of you all the time. If Mr. Cao hadn’t said he liked your green beans dipped in sauce, we wouldn’t buy it from you. We know you won’t accept our money.”

So they were buying these for Mr. Cao!

“Zhao’er, what’s in your clay pot?” Mo Ling asked.

“Lily bulb and lotus bulb congee, to foster an appetite. Mr. Cao’s appetite hasn’t been very good recently, my mum said he needed to drink more congee.”

Zhao’er thanked her and entered the clinic, while Mo Ling thought about what Mo Yan just said. So Ms. Hua’s congee was made for Mr. Cao! She knew she shouldn’t think much about it, but instinct told her that what Ms. Hua was doing for Mr. Cao wasn’t merely out of gratitude for him accepting Zhao’er as a disciple.

Mo Ling was thinking when Lu Junming rode over on his horse, “Sister Ling, do you know where Brother Cheng lives?”

“Don’t call me that, you’re not respecting seniority. If the older generation heard us they’d berate us for not following etiquette.”

“There aren’t any members of the older generation here. What etiquette are you talking about? Quick, tell me where he lives.”

“Xiahe Village.”

“I’m asking where Xiahe Village is, and on which side of the river.”

Mo Ling replied slightly angrily, “I’ve never been, how would I know?”

Lu Junming replied with dismay, “Then I’ll ask someone!”

“He’s going to be here in a day or two, why are you asking for him so urgently?”

“I have goods to transport.”

Mo Ling started cleaning her chopping board with a cloth, “You’re going to the Upper Valley again? He’s not going. He got beaten up so badly last time, what will happen if he meets those people again this time?”

Lu Junming left, “It won’t happen again, don’t worry!”

Mo Ling didn’t say anything else, and Lu Junming started galloping away on his horse.

Qianshui City was around a dozen miles away from Xiahe Village, and Lu Junming only returned when it was dark. He thought that the young ladies learning embroidery from his mother had probably gone home by now, so went to Jiaolan Courtyard.

He immediately called his mother as soon as he entered the courtyard, but the three young ladies in the courtyard responded before Ms. Zhao did.

“Who’s this? Ms. Zhao looks so young, but she has such an old son.”

Ms. Zhao came out of the house and said, “He’s learnt martial arts from a young age, so he’s as large as an ox. However, he’s just thirteen, still young!”

Liu Yuyan said conspiratorially, “He’ll be fourteen after the New Year, just two years younger than me. It’s time to speak of marriage.”

Lu Junming wasn’t good at talking to young ladies, so didn’t know what to say and stood there dumbly, holding the reins to his horse.

Mo Yan came out of the house and formally greeted him, “Yan’er welcomes Mr. Lu.”

He couldn’t retaliate in front of outsiders and tried to explain embarrassedly, “My family has seniority in our village…”

Liu Yuyan replied, “I know, none of us here are saying that you’re old.” She turned to ask the other two young women, “Do you think this gentleman is young or old?”

Those two looked each other in the eyes and said, “Neither young or old. He’s just the right age.”

The three started walking out, and when they passed by Lu Junming, they looked at his face intently before laughing and walking past him.

Mo Yan also started walking out, but was stopped by Lu Junming, “My mum says I’m still old, but you’re calling me Uncle. What are you doing?”

She smiled at him and said, “Look at your size, people might not believe it if we said you’re fifteen. I’d rather say you’re old. If you disagree with me, you’re agreeing with what they’re saying, aren’t you?”

Lu Junming knew he couldn’t argue with her, so went out, but was stopped by Ms. Zhao, “Bring Yan’er back home! It’s already dark, and her sister must’ve gone back home already.”

Although he said it was annoying, he still agreed. However, he didn’t help her onto the horse, and let her get on herself. She was short, and was unable to get on after trying for a long time.

He watched from the side and found it funny. Mo Yan decided to just not get on the horse, and walked ahead on her own. Lu Junming finally caught up with her and asked, “Did you really get mad at me?”

Mo Yan stopped to look Lu Junming in the eye. He led his horse to a large rock by another family’s courtyard, “Step on the stone, it’s called a saddle stone.”

Mo Yan stepped onto the saddle stone then got onto the horse. She was so excited her legs started flailing around, “Lu Junming, I can get on a horse without you now!”

However, the horse mistook her flailing for a signal to go, and it started moving. Lu Junming let go of the reins and grinned cheekily, “Getting on the horse is easy, but let’s see how to get off the horse.”

Post-translation notes: And we end on a comedic note; I’m surprised Mo Yan hadn’t learnt earlier. As always, thank you for reading!