chapter 5

Steaming hot tofu pudding, drenched with savory sauce, a touch of soy and vinegar, sprinkled with scallions, dried shrimp, and Three-Oil Blend.

The Chicken Giblet Soup shimmered with a layer of oil, its aroma filling the air.

As winter approached, the Shop was bustling with activity. The soldiers from the army had hearty appetites; almost everyone had several bowls stacked in front of them.

Xiang was delighted too, watching them eat with relish, covering her mouth as she laughed, then continuing to serve them more tofu pudding.

They ate and laughed, chatted as they ate, saying the General hadn’t exaggerated-the tofu pudding was truly fragrant and delicious.

They spoke of the war at the Border Frontier that had lasted three years, the bitter cold, the cunning tricks of the Hu Barbarians. Yet they had won, slaughtered the Hu Barbarians, driving them beyond Shahu Pass.

By the end, their laughter faded. The atmosphere grew silent for a moment; everyone buried themselves in their tofu pudding, no one raising their head.

Finally, a young Han Junior General stood up, wiped his face, forced a smile at me, his eyes red as he choked out, “Sister-in-law, is there more tofu pudding? Please set out a few more bowls. Many of our people haven’t returned yet. We promised to come eat together.”

…

After the meal, some of the soldiers Pei Second Son brought back hurried off toward Jingzhou and other directions to return home, bidding quick farewells.

Four others stayed in Yun’an County, including that young Han Junior General.

Pei Second Son said these four were solitary men, with no family left. Even though His Majesty had granted leave to visit relatives, they had nowhere to go, so they followed him back.

I said, “When the news of leave came, I took time to return to Damiao Village. The house is now tidied up and ready for them to stay. Xiaotao, Grandmother, and I have long since moved into the Shop, so the house should have enough room for them to sleep.”

Pei Second Son replied with a simple “Mm”: “I know. Don’t worry, even if there’s nowhere to stay, they won’t let themselves suffer.”

A few days later, these four appeared together at a private lodging in Lion Lane, and only then did I realize, with a twitch of my lips, what he meant.

Because Grandmother had trouble walking, the storeroom in the Shop’s backyard had long been cleaned out for her to live in.

The two rooms on the second floor of the Shop were originally one each for me and Xiaotao.

Since last year, Grandmother had fallen ill for a while. I had to get up before dawn every day to work. Xiaotao, besides her studies, took it upon herself to care for Grandmother to lighten my load, moving downstairs to sleep with her.

The now vacant room upstairs became a place for me to store odds and ends and do some needlework when free.

I hadn’t planned for Pei Second Son to stay at the Shop, since the two rooms upstairs were so close, which could be inconvenient.

But he didn’t seem to intend to stay at the house in Damiao Village either.

That day, he took four officers to Damiao Village, and before leaving, said to me, “I’ll be back soon.”

I was momentarily puzzled-what did “be back soon” mean? Wasn’t he staying there?

Then I thought, he’d rushed home, hadn’t formally greeted Grandmother, nor seen Xiaotao yet. He must have wanted to come see his family.

So I didn’t dwell on it.

Until he returned again. Xiaotao came back from Private School, excitedly bursting into the Shop, bouncing around him: “Second Brother! Second Brother! I heard you’re a General now. Sister-in-law didn’t lie to me-she said you were amazing and would surely become a General!”

I was tidying the tables when I heard her say this, and instinctively glanced at Pei Second Son, only to find him looking at me too.

For a moment, my movements grew flustered.

But he remained calm, just as when we first met at noon, his slender lips curving slightly in a faint smile.

However, Xiaotao’s joy didn’t last long. Pei Second Son began to question her about her studies, testing her on Classics, Histories, Philosophers, and Collections, and the Eight-Legged Essay.

Xiaotao answered haltingly, her face troubled as she looked at him cautiously: “Second Brother, how do you know all this? Do you have to study in the army too?”

“Of course. Those who are good at learning in the camp are sent to the Military Advisor for lessons. Otherwise, if no one can read, how would they understand Military Books and Defense Maps?”

Pei Second Son’s voice was cool and deep, with a hint of sternness, clearly dissatisfied with Xiaotao’s answers.

But Xiaotao was clever. Before he could scold her, she grinned and said, “Second Brother, you must be tired from your journey. Go upstairs and rest for a while. Change your clothes and wash up-they’re all dirty.”

With that, she cheerfully grabbed his hand and led him toward the back stairs.

My heart tightened, and I hurried after them: “Um, is Second Uncle also staying at the Shop?”

Pei Xiaotao turned to look at me: “Of course, isn’t there an empty room upstairs?”

Pei Second Son also looked back at me: “Sister-in-law didn’t prepare a place for me to stay?”

His expression was weary, his voice weary too, with a hint of displeasure beneath the deep tone. I grew anxious: “How could I not? I did prepare, just thought Second Uncle would stay with Han Junior General and the others.”

Only then did Pei Second Son’s face soften a little, and he said, “Why would I stay with them? Now that I’m home, of course I’ll be with my family.”
I was taken aback for a moment, feeling as if he was no longer the Pei Second Son who had left three years ago, yet also thinking that he ought to be the same person.

What kind of person he truly was, how could I know? I hadn’t interacted with him much to begin with.

But I was still uneasy. The empty room upstairs hadn’t even had the bedding laid out, the sewing baskets cluttered all over the table, a complete mess.

So I braced myself and stepped forward, saying to Xiaotao, “Go on, go help tidy up the table.”

Xiaotao agreed readily, as if she’d been waiting for a chance to slip away.

My heart was pounding, my steps unsteady, my mind muddled, as I led him to the room where I lived.

Fortunately, the room was very clean, everything tidied up, the bedding freshly washed and aired by me, and the window open for ventilation.

Even so, there was still a faint scent of Osmanthus Oil lingering in the air. The quilt was embroidered all over with bright red peonies, and the canopy was made of red gauze.

At a glance, it looked festive yet tacky.

I said awkwardly, “The house is full of women, so everything is arranged according to our tastes…”

“No matter.”

Pei Second Son didn’t mind much. He took off the Sword at his waist and placed it on the table, then began to remove his armor.

I hurried forward to take it from him, planning to wash and air it later.

Underneath, he wore a deep blue Undergarment Fur, with a dense layer of fur sewn inside the collar to keep the wind from getting in.

It wasn’t new-this was the one I’d made for him last year.

I pointed to his military boots, “Take off your boots too, I’ll put them out to air. Second Uncle, you should rest for now. When evening comes, I’ll heat the water for your bath. I’ve made a new Undergarment Fur for you, just need to finish the edges. I’ll wrap it up later, so you can wear it after your bath.”

Pei Second Son replied with a quiet “Mm.” I took his armor and boots, then asked, “Second Uncle, how long will you stay home this time?”

“About a month.”

“Will you return to the Border Frontier after that?”

“No, I’ll be going to Huajing Chang’an Camp for my new post.”

I couldn’t help but click my tongue in surprise. Huajing Chang’an Camp, right under the Son of Heaven’s nose-he truly was rising in the world.

“That’s wonderful. I’ve heard the Capital is prosperous, everyone wears silk and brocade, the plaque on Chengtian Gate is made of gold, and from the ancient tower on Triple Mountain, you can see every prefecture of our Great Chu.”

“When I’m settled, I’ll bring you all over.” Pei Second Son seemed in good spirits, letting out a low chuckle.

I was stunned, turning his words over in my mind, sighing inwardly.

If anyone was to be brought over, it would be Xiaotao and Grandmother. As for me, if I remained his Widowed Sister-in-law, I could go and enjoy a good life too. But I hadn’t planned to stay in the Pei family as a widow forever.

Fate between people has its limits.

All I ever wanted was enough food and clothing, to keep Xiaotao and Grandmother safe and secure. Now that I’ve achieved all this, I’m already twenty.

At this age, my thoughts have changed from before. I feel I should start planning for the rest of my life.

I’ve thought about remarrying, because I did meet someone quite decent.

He’s a Scholar, surnamed Chen, a Teacher at Xiaotao’s Private School.

It’s a coincidence, really. Years ago, when I was copying books at the bookshop, the young man who gave me a piece of flatbread was Chen Scholar.

His parents died young, leaving him alone. He’s devoted to pursuing scholarly honors, and hasn’t found a wife yet.

I remember the kindness of that flatbread, and pity his loneliness, so I often make food for Xiaotao to bring to him.

Two years ago, he failed the Provincial Examination and was dejected. I brought him a bowl of tofu pudding at the Shop, encouraging him to try again in three years.

At the time, the Scholar asked me gloomily, “Do you really think I can pass? I haven’t even taken the Provincial Examination.”

“You can. It’s not like you don’t have another chance. There are Scholars in their forties still hoping to become Provincial Graduates. You’re young and talented-you’ll make it.”

“Actually, I wasn’t feeling well on the day of the Provincial Examination, I was terribly cold. I think I could have passed.” The Scholar’s eyes reddened.

I said, “Exactly. So you must study hard and eat well. What’s meant for you will come to you in the end.”

“Yu, I will. Next time, I’ll definitely become a Provincial Graduate. If I do, could you… could you look at me?”

“Look at you for what?”

“I… I want to marry you as my Madam. But I can’t now-my house is bare…”

“I’m a widow.”

“I don’t mind, Yu, I really don’t. I want to marry you because I think you’re wonderful, not because of whether you’re a widow.”

The Scholar explained anxiously, his face flushed red to the ears. I couldn’t help but laugh, “Enough, why say all this? You should focus on your next exam. We’ll talk when you pass.”

I actually have a good impression of the Scholar.