Ger, So Proud

Chapter 71

The next day, seizing the opportunity when He Youcai took him to town to buy a cow, He Ze went straight to Xu Qingsheng’s clinic. As a junior, He Ze didn’t directly broach the subject. Instead, after some small talk, he “casually” mentioned Lin Yu’s worry about Uncle Zhang and his hope that Uncle Zhang could find a companion before his marriage.

When He Ze said this, Xu Qingsheng was writing a prescription. His hand paused momentarily, causing a drop of dark ink to fall on the white paper, slowly spreading and soaking in.

With his goal achieved, and believing that Xu Qingsheng would now have a plan, He Ze took his leave and returned to the cattle market to meet up with He Youcai.

The cattle market was not far from Xu Qingsheng’s clinic. It was a small enclosed area with many wooden posts in the middle, where cattle of various sizes were tied. Buyers and sellers crowded together, their loud conversations occasionally interrupted by the lowing of the cattle.

Perhaps due to the approaching New Year, the market was busier than usual.

The idea of buying a cow had long been on He Youcai and Dad Li’s minds. In the village, people relied on their crops for living, making cattle extremely valuable. With the family now free of financial burdens, buying a cow was a priority.

Taking advantage of a less busy day at the construction site, He Youcai had hurriedly come to the market early in the morning.

“Where did you go?” He Youcai asked as He Ze approached him. He was examining a small, light-yellow calf while the owner boasted about it.

“Brother, this little calf is just three months old. Look at its broad back, these sturdy hooves! Its mother has been with us for seven or eight years and has never been sick. She plows, pulls carts, and carries heavy loads without a problem. This calf eats little and isn’t picky! Buying this calf will be a great investment for you!”

“I went to see Uncle Xu at his clinic. Remember I mentioned the situation between him and Uncle Zhang before.” After the cow owner finished speaking, He Ze finally spoke up, “Father, you’re not thinking of buying a calf to bring home, are you?”

“Of course not, I was just waiting for you to look around.” He Youcai lit his pipe and took a puff before heading towards a row of mature, strong cows near the wall.

He Ze followed him.

“Hey, don’t go! This calf is only five taels of silver—no, four taels and five qian, how about that?” The cow owner called out in desperation as He Youcai walked away, but receiving no response, he turned to shout at other potential customers in frustration.

“What did Doctor Xu say?” He Youcai exhaled a puff of smoke. “You’re too hasty, visiting Doctor Xu without bringing a gift.”

To He Youcai, Xu Qingsheng was a great benefactor who had healed both He Ze’s injury and his own hand. Visiting without a gift felt disrespectful.

“Father, there’s no rush to give gifts right now. Besides, Uncle Xu might soon be part of the family, so there’s no need for such formalities.”

“As for his reaction,” He Ze paused, “it’s hard to tell, but we can’t force it. If they don’t sort things out themselves, there’s only so much we can do.”

As the father and son chatted, He Youcai walked around and finally stopped in front of a sturdy yellow cow. He Ze examined it and said, “This one looks good, very healthy.”

He could tell the general health of animals just by looking at them.

Hearing this, the cow trader immediately approached them. He spoke more persuasively than the previous farmer selling his cow.

It was indeed a good cow.

“Yes, it looks good.” After patting the cow’s side, He Youcai nodded in agreement.

After negotiating the price and paying a deposit, the two went to a noodle stall for a bowl of noodles. He Youcai wanted to take the cow back to the village, but He Ze insisted they go to the carriage shop.

“Since we’re here, we might as well buy a cart. It’ll make trips to the town and transporting medicinal herbs much easier.”

He Youcai agreed. By the time they finished buying the cart, it was already late afternoon. The pale sunlight, carrying a faint warmth, started to slant. They also picked up ten clay pots for planting flowers before heading home together.

He Ze drove the cart, sitting in the front, while He Youcai sat in the back, occasionally touching the freshly painted brown railings. They had owned a cow before but had never afforded a cart. Now, looking at the wooden cart beneath him, He Youcai felt immensely satisfied.

With the ox cart, they were now considered one of the wealthy households in the village!

As they got closer to the village, they encountered more villagers, and He Youcai had to exchange greetings with each of them.

“Hey, you’ve got yourself an ox cart now? You’ve got good fortune, Youcai!”

“Good fortune to all of us, haha!”

Hearing He Youcai’s increasingly hearty laughter, He Ze smiled and shook his head, subconsciously slowing the cart.

When they arrived home, only He An was there. “Dad went to check on the new house.”

After eating the food Dad Li had kept warm, He Youcai chopped firewood, and He Ze went to work at the new house for a while. As evening fell, the day quickly passed.

With the rising and setting of the sun, the New Year’s Eve arrived as expected in the villagers’ anticipation.

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the sun shone brightly.

Most of He Family Village was draped in red: red couplets, red lanterns, red paper cutouts… The children’s laughter and occasional firecracker pops broke the usual tranquility of the small village. Along the paths between the fields, the faces of passersby were adorned with smiles.

At the He family home, He Ze stood on a stool at the main house entrance, brushing paste while He An handed him the couplets, stepping back after applying the paste.

“Brother! Slow down, slow down, it’s crooked, to the left, a little to the left… No, to the right, a little to the right, it’s crooked again! Brother, to the left…”

“Left or right, make up your mind!”

He Ze lost his patience and made to get down from the stool.

“Wait! Don’t move! Yes, don’t move! That’s the spot, Brother, stick it on, it’s straight!”

“Really straight this time, paste it!” He An breathed a sigh of relief.

His brother was so clumsy, it wasn’t easy for him!

After putting up the couplets, the siblings started cleaning and tidying each room. He Youcai helped Dad Li in the kitchen, and the aroma of stewing meat wafted through the air, making them salivate involuntarily.

He An’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

“So hungry?” He Ze said irritably, “Get to work. We need to finish before sunset. Also, don’t forget what you promised me!”

“Brother, how could you! We just saw Brother Lin a few days ago, and today is a special day! What if Father and Dad find out…”

“Shut up. If you don’t help, give me back the firecrackers you lit!”

He had bought a lot of firecrackers when he went to town with their dad to buy New Year goods, but He An had played with them until only two were left! Two!

“I’ll help, I’ll definitely help,” He An said, looking at He Ze with a resentful gaze. “It’s just a few firecrackers, Brother, you’re so stingy!”

“Little An, didn’t Brother get you an extra set?” But he had also played with that extra set until only two were left! He Ze squinted his eyes, smiling in a way that invited a punch. “By the way, Matchmaker Wang came over a few days ago with a marriage proposal for you. The groom’s from town, and Dad hasn’t replied yet. Should I help you with it?”

“Brother!”

He An gritted his teeth. Just wait!

When you get married, I’ll definitely have Brother Lin help me get back at you!

As the two bickered, several dishes were already out of the kitchen. There were bowls full of chicken, fish, and meat, and other delicacies that looked and smelled amazing. So much had happened to their family this year, but now that the hardships were over and they were ushering in the new year, they weren’t going to skimp on the feast!

That evening, the atmosphere at the dinner table was joyous. He Youcai opened a jar of fine wine, and the whole family, including He An, enjoyed a few sips. After dinner, He Ze and He An knelt in front of their parents to wish them a Happy New Year. For the first time in many years, He Ze received New Year’s money again.

The amount wasn’t much, just one tael, wrapped in several layers of red cloth, with a few grains of rice placed inside.

He Ze felt a lump in his throat, suddenly at a loss for words. “Father, I’m already so grown up…”

“Grown up, you say? No matter how old you get, you’re still a child in your dad and my eyes!” He Youcai stroked his coarse beard, smiling broadly. “You’re getting married next year—no, this year. This is the last time we’re giving you New Year’s money, a token of our affection. Keep it well!”

“In just over a month, you’ll turn nineteen. Remember what I always say: take on your responsibilities as a man so your father can rest easy!”

“Yes, Father.”

“Father, what about me? I’ll always respect my brother and be filial to you and Dad!” He An grinned widely, then bowed his head to his parents.

Under the dim light of the oil lamp, the childishness in his brows had somehow faded. His appearance, similar to He Ze’s, was refined and gentle, and when he smiled, it was as bright as the morning sun.

“Good, good! You two get up!”

He An’s words made He Youcai and Dad Li laugh. The family continued chatting happily until the moon was high in the sky, and Dad Li finally yawned.

He Ze glanced at He An, and the two of them gently persuaded their parents to retire to their bedroom.

“You should go to bed too. I’ll be back shortly.”

After giving He An a brief instruction, He Ze checked the moonlight. It was probably not yet midnight. In ancient times, without clocks, estimating the time was vague and imprecise, which he found somewhat disconcerting.

“Brother, you’re in such a hurry!” He An teased, then added with a laugh, “Be careful not to get caught by Uncle Zhang!”

“Shut your crow’s mouth!”

He glared at He An before heading to his room and tucking the two firecrackers he had managed to save from He An into his coat.

Fortunately, winter clothes were spacious enough.

“Get some sleep. Tomorrow we have to go back to Li Village with Dad.”

He Ze left the house, closing the courtyard gate behind him. Under the crescent moon, he took a shortcut across the fields to the Lin household.

It was quicker this way.

This being his first New Year here, he felt a strong desire to see Lin Yu. For some reason, he really wanted to.

After about half an hour, He Ze stopped outside the Lin family’s courtyard wall. Just as he was about to knock, he hesitated. What if Uncle Zhang answered the door?

Not only would he not see Lin Yu, but he would also surely get a scolding!

He Ze frowned, pacing back and forth until his eyes settled on the high wall. Considering the height, he moved some stones from the roadside.

He would climb the wall!