Chapter 85: Busy
Qingyan left the clinic with his ears burning red, still echoing the words of the old doctor: “Your senior brother wrote to me. The toxins in Little Qiu’s body have all been cleared. As long as he recuperates well, there won’t be any lingering issues. His memory will gradually recover, and having children naturally won’t be a problem.”
As Qingyan was about to leave, the old doctor added, “Tell Qiu Henian to come visit me when he has time.”
Qingyan felt somewhat worried, thinking he might have to endure those bitter medicinal soups again. Although the prescriptions from the old doctor and his senior brother were effective, they were quite strong. Every time Qiu Henian took the medicine, he would be weak for a while.
But the old doctor just smiled and said, “Consider it fate. I’ll just chat with him. As for having boys or girls, I have my ways.”
Embarrassed, Qingyan thanked him again and left.
On the way home, his mind was preoccupied, and he didn’t even realize how he got back until he was at the doorstep. He had intended to stop by the butcher’s shop to buy a chicken, but he had forgotten along the way.
All the way, Qingyan was thinking that whether it was a boy or a girl, or even a son, he and Qiu Henian would surely love and cherish them both.
If it was a boy, he hoped he would look like Qiu Henian.
If it was a girl, it would be fine if she resembled him.
Qiu Henian was already handsome, with a good figure. If a girl looked like him, she would be an exceptionally elegant and beautiful lady with long legs.
Thinking about a son, Qingyan imagined Qiu Henian’s appearance and couldn’t help but shake his head and smile. Well, if it was a son, it would be better if he looked more like himself.
However, these were just his random thoughts. Qingyan thought it was too early to consider such things. They hadn’t even made any plans yet, so he decided to let nature take its course.
In the evening, while Qiu Henian was bathing, Qingyan helped him wash his hair and casually mentioned what the old doctor had said. Qiu Henian didn’t show any particular reaction, just nodded and asked Qingyan’s opinion.
When Qingyan said he didn’t have strong preferences, Qiu Henian simply said, “Then let nature take its course.”
This sentiment coincided exactly with Qingyan’s own thoughts.
After finishing washing his hair, Qiu Henian realized that Qingyan, who was waiting beside him, was blushing profusely.
He put on his clothes, tied his belt, approached Qingyan with soft eyes, and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Still not used to it?”
Qingyan shook his head, blushing even more, and replied, “It’s not that.”
Qiu Henian asked again, “Is it because of having children?”
This time, Qingyan didn’t say anything, and his face drooped, avoiding eye contact.
Qiu Henian understood and stepped closer, lifting Qingyan’s chin with his hand, encouraging him to look up.
He gazed into Qingyan’s trembling eyelashes and asked gently, “We’ve done everything already. Why are you still so shy?”
With that, he lifted Qingyan up by the waist, placed him on the bed, and kissed him tenderly.
When he lifted his head, he saw Qingyan’s eyes were moist from the kiss, but Qingyan still remembered to grab his damp hair, afraid of wetting the sheets.
Qiu Henian chuckled, held Qingyan’s hand, and pulled him up.
Qingyan knelt behind him and patiently used a cloth to dry his hair bit by bit. His breathing was light and shallow, occasionally making a faint sound of exhaling when he bent over. His hair, still not tied up, would occasionally fall on Qiu Henian’s cheek, feeling cool and comfortable against his skin.
Once covered up to his waist with the quilt, the two leaned against each other and read a book for a while.
As they read, Qingyan’s face gradually flushed red. He glanced at the man beside him as if to complain.
Qiu Henian, however, remained unaffected and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qingyan pulled the man’s large hand out from under the quilt, bit it in punishment, and Qiu Henian lowered his head to kiss his forehead.
Seeing Qingyan starting to feel a bit sleepy, he asked, “Do you want to sleep now?”
Qiu Henian nodded, and the two lay down facing each other.
After a while, Qingyan asked, “Can’t sleep? Should I put out the oil lamp?”
Qiu Henian said, “No need.”
But even though he said that, he still didn’t close his eyes.
Qingyan glanced at him for a while, bit his lip, and crawled under the covers.
After quite a while, the blanket was lifted, and Qingyan covered his mouth as he got out of bed and went outside the tent.
After a sound of gargling, he returned to bed. Qiu Henian was already tidied up, and the two lay face to face again.
Qiu Henian asked softly, “Tired?”
Qingyan said, “No…,” paused for a moment, but couldn’t help but tell the truth, “My mouth and cheeks are sore.”
Qiu Henian chuckled and reached out to rub his face.
Qingyan held his hand, interlacing their fingers in the middle, and slowly said, “Let’s sleep.”
Qiu Henian was exhausted to the extreme, finally closed his eyes, and fell asleep shortly after.
Qingyan tidied up the stray hair that fell on his face, looked at him for a while, then got up and picked up the book that had been placed aside earlier. He flipped through the pages, occasionally glancing at the man sleeping soundly beside him.
He continued until he felt sleepy as well, then got out of bed to blow out the oil lamp and lay down to rest.
…
Qin Liangchuan’s reply never arrived. Qingyan mentioned this to Qiu Henian.
After pondering for a while, Qiu Henian said, “Whether his letter returns or not is no longer meaningful.”
Qiu Henian had regained most of his memories from the past, but he wasn’t fixated on anything else. He already had his own guesses, but he didn’t want to confirm anything. At this stage, regardless of whether he would recall more in the future, he had decided to leave it at that.
Moreover, according to Ren Xiao, Qinlan and her father had been exchanging letters regularly, almost one or two letters every month, with normal handwriting and tone. This also proved that Qin Liangchuan was safe.
Whether he received that letter, or whether he replied after receiving it, or if that letter fell into someone else’s hands halfway, it had become an unsolvable “case.”
…
By late September and early October, it was time for the autumn harvest.
This year, Qiuniang’s family not only planted rice but also learned from Qingyan and planted several batches of vegetables in their fields for their own consumption.
Qingyan planted rice and soybeans this year, as well as various vegetables, mainly scallions, Chinese cabbage, and some beans and loofahs.
During the busy farming season, San Yao took leave from the wealthy household and returned to help with the farming.
After half a month of recuperation, Qiu Henian’s body finally returned to its usual state. When the shop was not busy, he also helped out in the fields.
Apart from them, there were five or six hired workers who were the main force in harvesting.
Qiuniang and Qingyan hardly had time to manage the fields. Lishen’s land was also rented out.
The weather was getting colder in the north, and during this time, villages below the town were all busy harvesting their fields, likely to be finished by the end of October.
By then, farmers would have money in hand from selling grain, so they would spend a little money to reward their families throughout the year. Apart from the basics of food and drink, wives, husbands, daughters, and sons would all need to dress up, right?
Moreover, the New Year was not far away. Prices would rise at the end of the year, so it was better to buy early.
Stores like Xiangyun Fang were the most popular during this period.
Lishen was busy making a new batch of incense sticks upstairs every day, Qiuniang was responsible for managing the store, and Qingyan was responsible for selecting and purchasing goods.
He had almost visited every shop in the town and county to find sources of goods that were both good and cheap.
Now, there were shops in the county learning from Xiangyun Fang. Even the incense sticks and masks made by Lishen had similar products sold by other shops. In this era, there was no patent protection, and there was nothing they could do about imitations.
Fortunately, Qingyan occasionally gave Lishen some new ideas, and Qiuniang and Lishen also thought of ways to add new styles to the Xijin series to attract customers.
In the future, it was possible that someone in town would open a similar shop, and it probably wouldn’t take long.
Qingyan searched around and found some sources of goods that were indeed good, but if everyone could enter, the prices would compete with each other, and in the end, no one would make any money, so it was meaningless.
So he wanted to find something different.
Qiu Henian said, “No need.”
But even though he said that, he still didn’t close his eyes.
Qingyan glanced at him for a while, bit his lip, and crawled under the covers.
After quite a while, the blanket was lifted, and Qingyan covered his mouth as he got out of bed and went outside the tent.
After a sound of gargling, he returned to bed. Qiu Henian was already tidied up, and the two lay face to face again.
Qiu Henian asked softly, “Tired?”
Qingyan said, “Not…,” paused for a moment, but couldn’t help but tell the truth, “My mouth and cheeks are sore.”
Qiu Henian chuckled and reached out to rub his face.
Qingyan held his hand, interlacing their fingers in the middle, and slowly said, “Let’s sleep.”
Qiu Henian was exhausted to the extreme, finally closed his eyes, and fell asleep shortly after.
Qingyan tidied up the stray hair that fell on his face, looked at him for a while, then got up and picked up the book that had been placed aside earlier.
He flipped through the pages, occasionally glancing at the man sleeping soundly beside him. He continued until he felt sleepy as well, then got out of bed to blow out the oil lamp and lay down to rest.
…
Qin Liangchuan’s reply never arrived. Qingyan mentioned this to Qiu Henian. After pondering for a while, Qiu Henian said, “Whether his letter returns or not is no longer meaningful.”
Qiu Henian had regained most of his memories from the past, but he wasn’t fixated on anything else. He already had his own guesses, but he didn’t want to confirm anything. At this stage, regardless of whether he would recall more in the future, he had decided to leave it at that.
Moreover, according to Ren Xiao, Qinlan and her father had been exchanging letters regularly, almost one or two letters every month, with normal handwriting and tone. This also proved that Qin Liangchuan was safe.
Whether he received that letter, or whether he replied after receiving it, or if that letter fell into someone else’s hands halfway, it had become an unsolvable “case.”
…
By late September and early October, it was time for the autumn harvest.
This year, Qiuniang’s family not only planted rice but also learned from Qingyan and planted several batches of vegetables in their fields for their own consumption.
Qingyan planted rice and soybeans this year, as well as various vegetables, mainly scallions, Chinese cabbage, and some beans and loofahs.
During the busy farming season, San Yao took leave from the wealthy household and returned to help with the farming.
After half a month of recuperation, Qiu Henian’s body finally returned to its usual state. When the shop was not busy, he also helped out in the fields.
Apart from them, there were five or six hired workers who were the main force in harvesting.
Qiuniang and Qingyan hardly had time to manage the fields. Lishen’s land was also rented out.
The weather was getting colder in the north, and during this time, villages below the town were all busy harvesting their fields, likely to be finished by the end of October.
By then, farmers would have money in hand from selling grain, so they would spend a little money to reward their families throughout the year.
Apart from the basics of food and drink, wives, husbands, daughters, and sons would all need to dress up, right?
Moreover, the New Year was not far away. Prices would rise at the end of the year, so it was better to buy early.
Stores like Fragrant Melody Pavilion were the most popular during this period.
Lishen was busy making a new batch of incense sticks upstairs every day, Qiuniang was responsible for managing the store, and Qingyan was responsible for selecting and purchasing goods.
He had almost visited every shop in the town and county to find sources of goods that were both good and cheap.
Now, there were shops in the county learning from Fragrant Melody Pavilion. Even the incense sticks and masks made by Lishen had similar products sold by other shops. In this era, there was no patent protection, and there was nothing they could do about imitations.
Fortunately, Qingyan occasionally gave Lishen some new ideas, and Qiuniang and Lishen also thought of ways to add new styles to the series to attract customers.
In the future, it was possible that someone in town would open a similar shop, and it probably wouldn’t take long.
Qingyan searched around and found some sources of goods that were indeed good, but if everyone could enter, the prices would compete with each other, and in the end, no one would make any money, so it was meaningless.
So he wanted to find something different.
He was initially upset about this matter, but Qiu Henian reminded him that he could ask the leader of the merchant team he had dealt with before.
This time, Qingyan found the right person. After the incident of searching for Qin Liangchuan, they both had trust, and the basic first step in business together had already been completed.
Qingyan told him his thoughts, and the leader of the merchant team called Feng Lao San to find him and said, “You should go out and walk around. Don’t stay in this small county.”
The old man in Feng Lao San’s family had passed away, and he had finished his filial duty. He happened to want to resume his old business and readily agreed.
Qingyan explained all his needs to him, and within a few days, Feng Lao San organized a small merchant team to set off for the capital.
From Muling County to the capital, it was much closer than going to the south, all the way on flat official roads, and with many horses in Feng Lao San’s team. In less than half a month, they returned from the capital with a full load of goods.
Feng Lao San let Qingyan choose first, and after Qingyan finished choosing, the remaining goods were delivered to other shops.
Qingyan naturally did not treat him unfairly. He gave the silver money straightforwardly and also gave Feng Lao San additional bonuses. For every item of his goods sold at Fragrant Melody Pavilion, he received corresponding profits, settled monthly.
Feng Lao San took this money very seriously, regarding purchasing goods for Qingyan, and he wouldn’t supply them to other shops anymore.
The styles popular in the capital were naturally beyond comparison for small towns, and the slightly higher prices were understandable.
Qingyan had a display shelf customized at the carpenter’s, with a sign reading “Capital Trends” as the flagship. The incense sticks made by Lishen and others had already established a steady customer base, which also boosted sales of other products in the store.
The effect was indeed remarkable. Throughout November, Qingyan calculated that the Pavillion’s profits had doubled compared to the month of their grand opening promotion. In just three months, they had already earned back their annual rent money, making Qiuniang and Lishen even more motivated and happy.
Being so busy day in and day out, after they finished this period, Qingyan went to the warehouse at home and discovered that Qiu Henian had set up wooden racks at some point. He had stacked bags of rice on them to prevent dampness and mold.
Barrels of golden-yellow soybean oil that had already been pressed were also neatly arranged on top.
The Chinese cabbage had all been sun-dried and stored in the vegetable cellar behind the house. The scallions were also dried and tied together.
There were too many green beans to eat at once, so they were all dried, and the cores of the loofahs were peeled out and dried, ready for direct use in washing dishes and bathing.
Although there were hired workers, these tasks were not something that just three or four people could complete, so Qiu Henian had to put in a lot of effort.
In the past month, the work in the blacksmith’s shop had gradually increased, and Qiu Henian was busy with both ends, which made Qingyan worry about him deeply.
However, now was not the time to relax. With New Year’s approaching in just a month, many households would be buying pots and pans, and damaged farm tools from the autumn harvest needed repairs, keeping the blacksmith’s shop busy.
Qingyan also asked Feng Lao San to bring back a batch of festive red decorations. Calculating the days, they should be arriving in the next couple of days, so there would still be plenty to do then.
Today, when he finally had some free time, Qingyan specially cooked a delicious meal at home and took it to the blacksmith’s shop for the master and apprentice.
As soon as Xiao Zhuang saw Qingyan enter, he respectfully called out, “Master’s wife,” and tried to rush out, but was grabbed by the back of his neck and pulled back by his master.
Qiu Henian asked him coldly, “Is the work done? Why are you going?”
Xiao Zhuang always felt that his master looked better now, but with his stern face, he seemed even scarier.
Scratching his head, Xiao Zhuang apologized, “My mother told me to have some foresight. She said since you have a good relationship, when you meet, you must have personal talks. Since the master’s wife is here, I’ll go out more.”
Qiu Henian’s expression softened when he heard Xiao Zhuang’s words, and he smiled slightly. He nodded towards the food basket in Qingyan’s hands, “Go out and walk around. Don’t you want to eat the meal your master’s wife made?”
Xiao Zhuang’s eyes lit up, “Then I won’t go. I want to eat!”
Qingyan smiled and put the food basket down. Qiu Henian washed his hands, came over to set up the table, and together they brought out the dishes. Coincidentally, they reached for the same plate, and their fingers accidentally touched.
Qingyan paused for a moment, feeling his fingertip being squeezed, and only then did they take the plate out.
During the meal, the three of them sat around the table, eating and chatting.
Sitting here in such comfort, Qingyan suddenly remembered that he hadn’t sat down like this with Qiu Henian for at least half a month, just leisurely eating together.
After the meal, they cleaned up briefly and drank tea to freshen their mouths.
At that moment, Qiu Henian asked Xiao Zhuang, “What did your mother tell you?”
Xiao Zhuang was initially stunned but quickly reacted cleverly. He stood up abruptly and said, “Master, master’s wife, I ate too much and need to go out for a walk.”
Then he quickly ran out.
Qingyan hadn’t recovered yet, and the child was nowhere to be seen.
Qiu Henian got up, closed the shop door tightly, and returned to sit at the table, drinking tea.
Qingyan put down his teacup, placing both hands on his knees.
After taking a sip of tea and placing the cup down, Qiu Henian looked over and saw his apprentice sitting upright, head bowed, with a faint blush on his ears.
Qiu Henian suddenly understood, chuckled, and said, “It’s windy outside now. I didn’t mean anything else, just that it’s been a while since we sat down together and had a chat.”
Qingyan glanced at him, seeming a bit annoyed.
Qiu Henian reached out and held Qingyan’s hand on his knee, looking at him tenderly, and whispered, “I’m dirty. I’m afraid I’ll soil your robe.”
Qingyan’s voice was so low it was almost inaudible, “I don’t mind if you’re dirty.”
Qiu Henian’s gaze softened, stood up, his voice slightly hoarse, “I haven’t lived in the shop for a long time, so I changed the bedding.”
Qingyan also stood up, his face reddening, “I didn’t mean that. I just wanted to hug you.”
Both fell silent for a moment, staring at each other.
After looking at each other for a while, Qingyan took a step forward, and Qiu Henian also reached out with his arms.
The two hugged for a while and kissed for a while.
Qiu Henian whispered in Qingyan’s ear, “The other day, I went to the clinic.”
Since returning, Qingyan knew he needed to visit the old doctor periodically for pulse diagnosis, so he asked, “How was it? Everything okay?”
Qiu Henian said, “Everything’s fine.”
Qingyan felt relieved.
But then the man holding him whispered in his ear, “It would be nice if there was a child like you, a little boy just like you.”
Qingyan had heard him say similar things before, so it wasn’t surprising.
However, at this moment, why did he bring this up again?
But he quickly understood, “Did the old doctor tell you that trick?”
Qiu Henian nodded and whispered a few words in his ear.
Qingyan blushed even more suddenly.
No wonder the old doctor refused to tell him and insisted on telling Qiu Henian instead.
It turned out that trick wasn’t some prescription as Qingyan had thought, but rather… a certain position during that time!
Spoiler for the Next Chapter:
The knocking continued outside. Qingyan was getting anxious, but before he could say anything, Qiu Henian lightly pinched his wrist and whispered, “I’ll try to come back early tonight.”
