_{Edited on 14th July.}

Qian Defu had taken a liking to a widowed ge’er who also had a six-year-old son. When Qian Defu told his parents about the situation, they outright disagreed. However, just like with the matter of Zhang Lanhua in the past, they couldn’t win against Qian Defu. He reasoned that since he had already separated from the family, who he chose to marry was his own decision.

This ge’er, after losing his husband, continued to live with his in-laws instead of establishing a separate household like Tang Chunming had. His household registration was still tied to his late husband’s family. That village was two mountain ranges away from Pingshan Village. Traveling there from Pingshan Village would take half a day on foot, as the mountain roads were tough and the journey took longer than going to town.

Despite the distance, news still spread. From what Zhang Xiu shared, Tang Chunming could guess that this ge’er wasn’t a meek or submissive person. He had managed to care for his son while keeping the land left by his late husband, which indicated some resourcefulness. In comparison, the previous Ming Ge’er had fallen to the point of being sold off by his in-laws for money.

Later, however, due to unclear dealings with men in the village, the ge’er’s reputation worsened, and his relationship with his in-laws soured. Somehow, Qian Defu crossed paths with this ge’er during a visit to that village and decided to marry him after several meetings. As for the rumors, Qian Defu dismissed them as mere gossip, believing the ge’er’s claim that his in-laws fabricated the rumors to force him to give up the land.

“You have to hand it to Qian Defu… What can you even say about him?” Zhang Xiu muttered, holding back some harsher words out of consideration for Ming Ge’er. “Bringing along a six-year-old son—this family is going to be hard to manage. And Qian Defu is nothing like Li Feng. I don’t think this will turn out well.”

“Doesn’t matter as long as they don’t bother us,” Tang Chunming replied. He refrained from commenting further but hoped the ge’er could live peacefully after marrying into Pingshan Village. Anything else was irrelevant. However, this situation further soured Tang Chunming’s impression of Qian Defu. He didn’t seem like a filial son. Even after splitting from the family, Qian Defu expected his elderly parents to harvest the crops in the fall—a backbreaking task, especially for older folks. To Tang Chunming, Qian Defu and Zhang Lanhua were well-matched—neither were decent people.

“Ming Ge’er, what are you drawing?” Zhang Xiu asked, shifting the topic. He leaned over to look at Tang Chunming’s drawings but couldn’t figure them out. “Why not draw some new flower designs for me instead?”

Tang Chunming laughed. “It’s a tool we’ll need soon. You’ll understand its purpose when it’s finished.” He didn’t elaborate further because he wasn’t sure how to explain. He was simply replicating designs from his past life. The brewing equipment consisted of three parts: a bottom pot, a middle wooden barrel, and a top lid. He planned to brew wine in time for his wedding with Li Feng, thinking they could serve it to their guests.

Ever since confirming their relationship, Tang Chunming enjoyed discussing everything with Li Feng. To him, that was what family meant.

Li Feng, upon receiving the design, said nothing and immediately had someone make it according to the specifications. As for whether they’d use Tang Chunming’s homemade wine, Li Feng decided to wait until the wine was ready. It wasn’t that he doubted Tang Chunming’s skills—he was worried it might be too good, as the brewing method differed significantly from what Li Feng knew, potentially drawing too much attention.

Meanwhile, Tang Chunming began the brewing process, starting by mixing sorghum with yeast and steaming it to initiate fermentation. He caught the interest of Elder He, who observed the entire process, even lending a hand. Elder He eagerly anticipated the final product. At his age, good tea and good wine were life’s simple pleasures. Along with raising children, gathering herbs in the mountains with Doctor Hu, his days were as carefree as a celestial being’s.

While waiting for the wine to ferment, Tang Chunming also checked on the silage experiment in the back hills. He had workers remove the soil covering the silo and lift the oilcloth. After letting the fermentation gases dissipate, he and Li Feng inspected the feed.

“How is it? Did it work?” Li Feng asked, with the others present also waiting expectantly.

Tang Chunming grabbed a handful of silage, examining its texture and color. “It’s a success,” he said confidently. Turning to Uncle Da, he added, “Uncle Da, mix some of this with the regular feed over the next few days. Start with a small amount and monitor if the animals eat it and stay healthy.”

“Got it!” Uncle Da responded earnestly.

Seeing Tang Chunming’s reaction, Li Feng was reassured that the first step was successful. Now it depended on how the sheep responded. If they ate the silage and gained weight, the method could be widely adopted.

Tang Chunming noticed Li Feng’s thoughts and said, “If the results are good, I wouldn’t mind sharing the method. Even if others copy it, they can’t match the quality of our silage because their raw materials aren’t as good as ours.”

Li Feng chuckled. Tang Chunming truly understood him. Despite leaving the battlefield, Li Feng still cared about his former comrades. Improving their lives would bring him great satisfaction. “Of course,” he said. “Oh, and let’s bring some back for Jingfeng to try. Let’s see if he likes it.”

The two filled a basket to the brim and left the rest under Uncle Da’s management. Over the past few days, both Tang Chunming and Li Feng had developed a strong liking for Uncle Da, as he was meticulous and reliable in his work.

On their way back, they passed by the chicken coop and ran into Xiaoshunzi, who was there collecting eggs and catching chickens. Every few days, Xiaoshunzi would gather 200 to 300 eggs, enough to supply Jinji and the Tingjing Pavilion in the county.

“Brother Li Feng, Tang Fulang!” Xiaoshunzi greeted them cheerfully.

“Ah Feng, Ming Ge’er, here’s the money from this time.” The son of Sixth Uncle rubbed his hands together nervously as he handed over the silver coins Xiaoshunzi had just settled on the spot. It happened to be convenient to meet Tang Chunming in person. Otherwise, one of the couple would make sure to deliver the money to Tang Chunming’s house without a single coin missing, along with a detailed report of the number of chickens and eggs sold.

Tang Chunming accepted the money. He noticed a small child peeking timidly from behind Sixth Uncle’s son, clutching the hem of his pants tightly. It reminded him of Ah Lin when he first arrived. He asked, “Is this the child? What’s his name now?”

Sixth Uncle’s son, somewhat nervous since this child was originally from the Huang family, feared that Tang Chunming might dislike him. For this reason, they usually kept the child away from the chicken coop. But this time, they coincidentally ran into each other. Seeing that Tang Chunming didn’t show any displeasure, he relaxed slightly and gently pushed the child forward. “Yes, this is him. He’s called Huang Xiaoxing now—it’s the name his grandfather gave him.”

Tang Chunming shook his head silently. The grandson was named Xiaozhu (Little Pillar), and now the child was Xiaoxing (Little Apricot)? He patted the child’s head and said to Sixth Uncle’s son, “You’ve done a good job raising him. He looks much healthier now. Let him run around here—it’s spacious and good for his health.”

“Ah, thank you, Ming Ge’er! It’s all thanks to the goat milk you provided. Without it, we couldn’t have raised him this well,” Sixth Uncle’s son said gratefully.

“Go on, then. We’re heading back. Goodbye, Xiaoxing!”

As they walked away, Tang Chunming seemed a little downcast. Li Feng noticed and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you upset after seeing that child?”

“Not at all,” Tang Chunming replied, shaking his head. “Sixth Uncle’s family is taking good care of him. It’s just… seeing him reminded me of Ah Lin when he first came to me. It’s heart – wrenching.”

Li Feng immediately understood. Ming Ge’er was referring to the time when he had first awakened in this body. Grasping Tang Chunming’s hand, Li Feng could empathize with him. When he first met Ah Lin, the child was timid and withdrawn. Thanks to Ming Ge’er’s care over the past six months, Ah Lin had gradually opened up.

Tang Chunming wasn’t one to dwell on emotions for long. Soon, he shook it off and suggested, “I feel like having fish. How about we bring some back?” He curled his finger mischievously, signaling to Li Feng that he wanted to take some fish from his spatial storage and pretend they had caught them from the river. Seeing Tang Chunming’s enthusiasm, Li Feng smiled and agreed. “Sure.”

To make it more convincing, the two took a detour to the riverbank. When they returned to the village, they carried six fish. They planned to cook two that evening and keep the rest in a bucket for the following days.

Before Tang Chunming could even mention it, Li Feng had already arranged for people to gather wild chestnuts from the depths of the back hills. Tang Chunming was delighted and invited everyone to help sort through the chestnuts to pick out the best ones. Although wild chestnuts were small, they were incredibly fragrant and glutinous when cooked. Tang Chunming, as always, was eager when it came to food.

Hearing that Tang Chunming was preparing something delicious, Da Mao and Er Mao couldn’t sit still after their lessons. They hovered around Tang Chunming excitedly, but he sent them off with another task: to collect small pebbles and wash them clean.

The chestnuts were washed clean, and each had a small cut made with scissors. This made them easier to flavor and eat. Tang Chunming first boiled the chestnuts in water and then took them out, happily preparing to stir-fry them.

“Mother, when can we eat them?” Ah Lin hovered around his mother. He had already sneaked one chestnut after they were boiled, but when he wanted more, Mother wouldn’t allow it. Like most children, the more he was denied, the more he craved it.

“Go check if your Uncle Feng is ready outside,” Tang Chunming instructed.

Ah Lin dashed off and quickly returned to the kitchen. Tang Chunming was scooping out the boiled chestnuts, having made plenty to share with everyone and to give away for fun.

“Mother, it’s ready. Uncle Feng asked me to tell you to come out,” Ah Lin said.

Tang Chunming patted his son’s cheek. “Alright, off you go. I’ll be right there.”

In the courtyard, an iron wok was set up over a fire. The cleaned pebbles were already preheating inside the wok, and a wooden-handled spatula was ready. Li Feng rolled up his sleeves, prepared to dive into the work. Tang Chunming poured some of the boiled chestnuts into the wok. As steam rose, Li Feng began stirring and flipping the chestnuts together with the hot pebbles.

Elder He stood nearby, holding a plate of osmanthus flowers. Smiling, he chatted while sprinkling the flowers into the wok. The steam carried the sweet aroma of osmanthus into the air.

Since the chestnuts had already been boiled, it didn’t take long for them to be ready. As the moisture evaporated from the continuous stirring, Tang Chunming sprinkled a bit of sugar into the wok. The sugar melted and coated the chestnuts. Once finished, Tang Chunming removed the firewood from the stove and poured the chestnuts and pebbles into a shallow tray. He then picked out the chestnuts from the pebbles.

Da Mao and Er Mao couldn’t wait, grabbing the steaming hot chestnuts to eat. The mouthwatering aroma had already made their mouths water. Ah Lin stared longingly, wanting to eat some too, but the chestnuts were too hot. Both Mother and Uncle Feng were watching, making sure he didn’t burn himself, telling him to wait until they cooled.

Elder He, noticing Ah Lin’s pitiful look, couldn’t resist. He peeled one hot chestnut and handed it to Ah Lin, who beamed with joy and hugged Elder He’s leg, calling him “Grandpa” over and over with delight.

“Hey, don’t just stuff yourselves. Go see what your Mother and Father are up to,” Tang Chunming said, nudging Da Mao and Er Mao with his foot.

“Oh, we’ll go now!” The two boys hurried off, blowing on their chestnuts to cool them as they ran, their hands clutching a few pieces.

The crisp autumn air set the perfect mood. While Tang Chunming and his family enjoyed stir-fried chestnuts with osmanthus sugar in their courtyard, the Qian family was celebrating a wedding. With much fanfare, they welcomed the new bridegroom into their home. Many villagers had gone to join the festivities, eager to see the widow who had so captivated Qian Defu that he insisted on marrying him despite his parents’ objections.

Tang Chunming, however, had no ties to the Qian family. The previous scandal involving a certain brother’s divorce was indirectly connected to Tang Chunming, so the Qian family hadn’t invited him, especially since he was still in mourning and not yet allowed to attend such events. Tang Chunming himself wasn’t interested in the commotion. If he wanted to see a wedding, he could wait for his own.

Word spread quickly about the new bridegroom. His surname was Sun, and his previous husband’s family name was Qin. Because Sun Ge’er planned to remarry, the Qin family demanded the return of their farmland. They also intended to place Sun Ge’er’s six-year-old son under the care of Qin family elders until he came of age, at which point the farmland would be returned to the boy. While this arrangement wasn’t unfair by family standards, Sun Ge’er wouldn’t accept it. He caused a ruckus, insisting on keeping his son, as he didn’t trust the Qin family to care for him properly.

Eventually, the two parties reached a compromise. A written agreement stipulated that until the boy turned 18, the farmland would be jointly managed by the Qin family and Sun Ge’er. Afterward, it would officially be transferred to the boy. With this resolution, Sun Ge’er finally relented.

This meant that Sun Ge’er was bringing some land with him when he moved to Pingshan Village, along with a bride price of 15 taels of silver from Qian Defu. Moreover, as Qian Defu had already separated from his parents, the new couple wouldn’t be under his mother’s control. Their future life in the village looked comfortable, if not enviable.

However, times had changed. Even though some villagers expressed envy, many were simply watching the drama unfold. Sun Ge’er seemed to be no less capable than Zhang Lanhua, Qian Defu’s previous wife. Before even entering the Qian family, he had already gained full control over Qian Defu.

Qian Defu, dressed in brand-new clothes, beamed with joy, shedding the gloom that had hung over him. He was ecstatic. Zhang Lanhua’s disgraceful behavior had forced him to divorce him, which had caused him great embarrassment. Leaving Pingshan Village temporarily was his only option.

Though he harbored some resentment toward Tang Chunming and Li Feng, Qian Defu couldn’t openly blame them. Zhang Lanhua’s divorce followed the scandal involving the Huang family, making people suspect that Qian Defu had been cuckolded. The timing was too coincidental. Yet, the truth was something he couldn’t reveal, as it would only confirm their suspicions.

Unlike Zhang Lanhua, whose looks had initially satisfied him, Qian Defu’s new spouse not only had a pleasing appearance but also an agreeable temperament. This filled Qian Defu with pride and satisfaction. He believed the other men in the village would soon see that his new bride was superior to Tang Chunming in every way: better looks, better personality, and even a child on the way.

The thought of having a child made Qian Defu even happier. Compared to Zhang Lanhua, who had remained childless for years, Sun Ge’er seemed like a blessing. In the past, Qian Defu had endured ridicule for being unable to father a child, but now his fortunes were turning.

“Let’s go see the new ge’er!” The village children were oblivious to the adult drama and only cared about the excitement. They rushed to the bridal chamber to catch a glimpse of the new bridegroom. Teenagers and even some visiting brothers joined the crowd, curious to see the ge’er who had so quickly won Qian Defu’s heart.

Da Mao and Er Mao joined the commotion at the Qian family wedding, but Tang Chunming kept Ah Lin at home, feeling he was too young for the chaos. Instead, Tang Chunming entrusted him with the “important” task of looking after his younger sibling.

When the two boys returned, they animatedly described the scene at the Qian family home. They didn’t have much to say about the new ge’er but had strong opinions about the Qin family boy who came along with him. Da Mao, being two years older than the six-year-old boy, was indifferent, but Er Mao, only a year older, had been hoping to make friends and maybe play together in the future. However, he ended up feeling slighted, returning with a sour expression. It wasn’t until Tang Chunming made him a cup of fruit syrup that he finally smiled again.

“Aunty Ming, that boy wouldn’t share any snacks or fruits with us,” Er Mao complained, still somewhat upset. “He said they all belonged to his family, and if anyone tried to take them, he’d hit them.” Er Mao had promised to bring back some treats for Ah Lin but returned empty-handed.

According to custom, when a new ge’er joined a family, they were expected to share sunflower seeds, fruits, or snacks with visiting children as a gesture of goodwill. But the children who eagerly went to see the new ge’er all returned disappointed.

“Alright, off you go and play,” interrupted Shen Fulang, swatting Er Mao lightly on the bottom. “You’ve had plenty of snacks here with Aunty Ming anyway.” He herded the kids outside to play.

“You’re here? Weren’t you supposed to be at the Qian family’s feast?” Tang Chunming asked in surprise. Shen Fulang’s attendance was expected, as a formal guest of honor, given the relationship between the households. Both Tang Chunming and Zhang Xiu assumed Shen Fulang would be busy all day.

“I wasn’t interested in the chaos,” Shen Fulang said nonchalantly. “With my husband there, I took the chance to sneak away for a bit.” He wasn’t particularly fond of the gossip he’d overheard about the new Ge’er, which had already given him a poor first impression.

“Did you see him? What’s he like? Tell us—does he really look as good as everyone says?” Zhang Xiu asked eagerly. If it weren’t for his mixed feelings about the Qian family, he might have gone himself to check out the new ge’er.

“He’s not as stunning as they make him out to be,” Shen Fulang said, unimpressed. “You’ll all see him soon enough. He’s pale and delicate, speaks softly—but it’s just not my thing.” Shen Fulang hugged his arms and gave a mock shiver. “Maybe that’s the kind of thing men like, but I much prefer being around folks like you, Ming Ge’er and Zhang Xiu. Much more comfortable.”

Zhang Xiu burst into laughter. “Ming Ge’er, just look at him! Now I know—this ge’er is nothing like us. Better to keep our distance in the future.”

Tang Chunming also laughed, Amused by Shen Fulang’s reaction. From the description, he figured the new ge’er must be quite effeminate—so much so that even Shen Fulang, a local, found it uncomfortable. Tang Chunming, who was only “pretending” to be a ge’er, felt he would find it even harder to handle.

Tang Chunming didn’t expect to encounter the new ge’er anytime soon. Unlike other ge’ers who gathered by the riverside to wash clothes, Tang Chunming preferred the convenience of using well water at home. Besides taking care of his son or venturing into the hills, his interactions were limited to just a few nearby households.

That day, after cooking lunch, Tang Chunming noticed that Li Feng still hadn’t returned. Assuming he was delayed in the back mountain, Tang Chunming packed the food into a basket and decided to take it to him. Little Ah Sen had already fallen asleep after drinking goat’s milk, and Ah Lin stayed home to eat lunch with his grandfather. With the basket in hand, Tang Chunming headed out.

The path to the back mountain didn’t go through the village; instead, it started with a turn just outside their courtyard. Along the way, he sometimes encountered people working in the nearby fields, but it was already midday, and the fields were deserted. Tang Chunming walked briskly, the food having been transferred into his personal storage space to keep it warm. The basket now held only a covered cloth on top, so no one could see what was underneath.

However, midway, someone suddenly appeared, startling Tang Chunming. Before he could say anything, the person spoke first. “Are you the Ming Ge’er from that household? I’ve heard people mention you several times recently. I was planning to visit, but I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

The speaker was dressed in a simple cotton robe and skirt with a subtle floral pattern. They were petite and delicate, with fair skin and a small, refined face—quite different from the usual sons of farming families. At first glance, Tang Chunming immediately knew who it was. The description perfectly matched the one Shen Fulang had given: this had to be Qian Defu’s new spouse. As soon as he spoke, with his soft and gentle voice, Tang Chunming couldn’t help but shiver slightly. It was disconcerting, almost confusing, how out of place this person seemed.

Although he harbored preconceived notions from what others had said—and was also not keen on interacting with the Qian family—Tang Chunming decided to be polite. He thought of himself as a grown man and had no intention of fussing over trivialities with such a “delicate” type. So, he nodded and said, “I’m Tang Chunming from the Tang family over there,” gesturing in the direction of his home, which the other had pointed to earlier. “You must be Sun Ge’er from the Qian family. I’m on my way to bring food to someone in the mountains, so I’ll leave you to your walk.” With that, Tang Chunming prepared to leave, thinking, Just as Zhang Xiu said, we’re not the same kind of people, and there’s no need for unnecessary chatter.

However, the other person didn’t seem to catch the hint. Sun Ge’er followed along behind him, speaking in a slow, soft tone: “People said Ming Ge’er was good-looking, but now that I’ve seen you, I realize they were understating it. At first glance, I thought you were a city ge’er. And that house—it’s the kind I’ve only ever seen in the city. I hear your man is very capable; you’re truly blessed.”

His words, slow and gentle, combined with his equally slow pace, tested Tang Chunming’s patience. Finally, Tang Chunming stopped, turned to face him, and asked, “Is Sun Ge’er heading to the mountain?”

This was private land—since the boundaries had been marked, villagers rarely came here unless they were just curious. Everyone understood that private property was different from uncultivated land. Tang Chunming wasn’t about to let this drag on.

These words were unmistakably direct and, perhaps, a bit curt. The ge’er clutched his handkerchief, showing a careful expression as he said timidly: “I just wanted to talk with Ming Ge’er. After all, we’re both ge’ers who married into the village from elsewhere…”

“Please,” Tang Chunming waved his hand dismissively, “now’s really not the time for chatting. The weather isn’t warm, and the food won’t wait. I’m quick on my feet, so I won’t wait for you either.” Without sparing another glance at ge’er’s reaction, he strode off, widening the distance between them with determined steps.

Tang Chunming walked with a firm, brisk stride, exuding a bold and confident energy that seemed completely unrelated to a typical ge’er’s demeanor. His words were so straightforward that even if the ge’er behind him had the thickest skin, there was no excuse to keep following. Clutching his handkerchief, the ge’er’s face took on a somewhat unpleasant expression. Ever since marrying into Pingshan Village, he had made an effort to ingratiate himself. No matter what people might say behind his back, no one had dared to embarrass him to his face—until now.

Before moving to Pingshan Village, he had done his homework, learning which families were influential and worth befriending. The family he heard most about was the one that, like his own, consisted of a widow ge’er with a child after the husband’s death. In fact, he believed he owed his marriage into the Qian family to that household. Though he didn’t know all the details, it was clear that the dismissal of the previous ge’er was tied to that household. Moreover, the rumors surrounding Tang Chunming were plentiful: not only had he allegedly attracted a man during his mourning period, but there were also others coming to propose marriage. To Sun Ge’er, this indicated they should have much in common. With his skills, building rapport with Tang Chunming should’ve been a piece of cake. Yet, he hadn’t even managed a proper conversation before being thoroughly humiliated.

Such a seductive face, but so rude and coarse, Sun Ge’er thought disdainfully, feeling a pang of contempt. That man must’ve only been drawn to his face. But a pretty face alone won’t hold onto a man forever. Otherwise, why would Qian Defu’s previous ge’er have been cast aside? In the end, it’s because the man’s heart strayed. No one who can casually take out hundreds of taels of silver will stay loyal to someone like him. When it came to understanding men, Sun Ge’er prided himself on being far more knowledgeable than others.

Still, he felt an unshakable bitterness. His past experiences had taught him that the most reliable thing was money in his own hands. Men, no matter how sweet their words sounded, were untrustworthy. Many times, he could’ve remarried, but he wouldn’t settle for someone mediocre. Finally, he had secured Qian Defu—a man who wasn’t too bad-looking, had some money, and was easy to manipulate.

He had been feeling quite pleased with himself—until he compared himself to Tang Chunming. Qian Defu had only given him a dowry of a dozen taels of silver, while Tang Chunming’s man had bought an entire mountain. Sun Ge’er bit his lip. Why is there such a huge gap between people? I don’t believe I’m any worse than Ming Ge’er—just unlucky to have not met that kind of man. Otherwise, who knows who’d be more enviable now?