Li Menglan had originally planned to head straight home after delivering the seasonings to Zhao Ji Restaurant, but with two important personages coming to her house tomorrow, she had to buy more vegetables… and poultry like chickens and ducks couldn’t be left out either.
At the thought of the extra silver she’d have to spend shortly, Li Menglan felt a faint ache in her temples. “Big Brother, have Second Brother take what we’ve already bought back to the ox cart first. Then come with me to check out the market.”
“Little Sister, haven’t we already bought a lot of stuff? Why do we need to buy more?” Li Zhihao shot Li Menglan a puzzled glance.
Alas… This younger brother of his had always been missing a string. Li Zhiming rolled his eyes slightly at Li Zhihao. “Second Brother, Old Master Zhao and Young Master Zhao are both coming to our house as guests tomorrow. Naturally, the food won’t be enough.”
Li Zhiming explained to Li Zhihao, “Little Sister originally only bought pork and fish. That’s enough to entertain the uncles in the village, but using that to receive Old Master Zhao and Young Master Zhao… that would be a bit discourteous.”
“Hmph… I think that Zhao family grandfather and grandson are purely looking for trouble for no reason.” Li Zhihao glanced at Li Menglan, who didn’t look very energetic, and said indignantly, “Little Sister… how about we just ignore them? What do you think?”
Li Zhihao offered Li Menglan a suggestion.
“Second Brother, stop messing around and giving Little Sister random bad ideas.” Li Zhiming glared at Li Zhihao. “Don’t you dare spout such nonsense again in the future. The dishes Little Sister came up with are all sold to the Zhao family. Our family only has what we have today because of them. Remember—don’t let me hear you say that again.”
Worried that Li Zhihao’s loose lips might offend their major patron, Li Zhiming repeatedly cautioned him, still not entirely at ease.
“Oh… I understand, Big Brother. Then you go with Little Sister to see what else needs to be bought. I’ll take the pork back to the ox cart first and wait for you at the town entrance.”
Li Zhihao was already thirteen. In ancient times, families of good standing would already have begun marriage discussions at this age. Li Zhihao wasn’t ignorant of propriety—he was just a bit too straightforward. To put it plainly, he was a kid who spoke his mind without any malice or scheming.
“Dad, Grandpa, Grandpa, we’re back.” As soon as the ox cart reached the entrance of their nearly completed courtyard, Li Menglan keenly spotted Li Dazhu, Li Fujin, and Old Man Zhang carrying baskets on shoulder-poles walking out from inside.
“Hehe… good, you’re back.” Li Dazhu, this honest country man, wore his signature smile as always.
Old Man Zhang was startled by the fully loaded ox cart not far behind Li Menglan. “Lass Lan, good heavens… why did you buy so many things today?”
Li Fujin was standing behind Old Man Zhang and couldn’t see the ox cart. Hearing his in-law’s words, he hastily stretched his neck to look outside. One glance and he was equally shocked: “Good granddaughter, your maternal grandpa is right. How did you buy so many things in town today? Aren’t you afraid they’ll spoil at home?”
“Grandpa, Grandpa, it’s fine.” Li Menglan stepped forward in a few quick strides and explained to her grandfathers, “The weather isn’t too hot right now. The pork can keep for a couple more days and won’t spoil so easily.”
“Dad, Father-in-law, don’t go carry pebbles anymore. I figure we’re almost done anyway; I can handle the rest alone. You two stay here and chat with Lass Lan instead!”
The Li men had originally planned to go to the Yun River to carry pebbles. Li Dazhu had never wanted his father and father-in-law, both advanced in years, to do such heavy labor. Now that Li Menglan was back, it was the perfect opportunity for the two old men to set down their burdens.
“That’s right! Grandpa, Grandpa, let Dad carry the pebbles.” Li Menglan picked up on her father’s cue, smiling as she reached out to link arms with Li Fujin and Old Man Zhang on either side. “Grandpas, come help me.”
As Li Zhiming and Li Zhihao carried the items from the ox cart into the courtyard one by one, the yard filled with a hubbub of voices.
“Yo, Zhiming, Zhihao are back! Goodness gracious, you two brothers didn’t move the entire Qingshui Town back with you, did you?” The speaker was Li Dajun, who watched the busy brothers with a jealous expression.
“Uncle Dajun, you really love to joke.” Li Zhiming reached out and tugged at Li Zhihao, who looked ready to explode, speaking in an indifferent tone.
“Zhiming, your Uncle Dajun has always been like this. Don’t pay him any mind.” Li Damao had quite a headache over his good-for-nothing younger brother.
“Uncle Damao, it’s fine.”
This Li Dajun wasn’t a decent person, but Li Damao and Li Dashi were quite good. Most of the people in Shangliang Village didn’t bother with Li Dajun for the sake of these two brothers.
Wang Tiezhu walked over with a smile. “Eldest, Second, why did you spend so much silver today? You youngsters don’t know the hardships of running a household. Tomorrow, Uncle will have your auntie come over to help out, lest your mother and sister get overwhelmed.”
“I’ll thank you in advance, then, Uncle Wang.”
The Li and Wang families had always been close, so no one would gossip over his words.
Once Wang Tiezhu spoke up, Wang Tongzhu and Wang Tongtou also said they would have their wives come help. Naturally, Li Zhiming and Li Zhihao thanked them one by one.
Meanwhile, Li Menglan also explained to her grandfathers the reason for buying so much food, informing them that Old Master Zhao and Zhao Qingyun would be coming to their house.
And so… amid the uneasy emotions of the Li and Zhang families, the Li family finally welcomed the grand and solemn occasion of the roof-beam raising.
Li Menglan looked up to see the main beam wrapped in red cloth being raised to the roof. This meant their new house was completed. Ordinary families always chose early morning for the roof-beam raising, and the Li family was no exception.
Li Menglan’s father, Li Dazhu, and her younger maternal uncle, Zhang Wenli, each sat on opposite sides of the roof beam holding pastries. A string of firecrackers hung high from the center of the main beam.
The nearly completed house was packed with men, women, and old folk from Shangliang Village. The roof-beam raising came with the custom of scrambling for sweets, which was always a lively affair.
Moreover… today, the Li family wasn’t just raising the beam on one room. All four rooms were having their beams raised simultaneously, so naturally more villagers came than for ordinary families’ ceremonies.
Li Dazhu glanced at the crowded villagers below and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Kids and elders, step back a bit. Be careful not to get hurt when we light the firecrackers later.”
Amidst the villagers’ laughter, the deafening sound of firecrackers rang out with a series of pops and bangs.
“Raising the beam!”
With the shout of the beam-raising cry, pastries rained down densely from the roof.
The children swarmed forward, laughing and scrambling to grab them. The adults were more composed, merely bending down to pick up what fell nearby.
By the time all four houses had their beams raised, it was almost noon—well past breakfast time. Fortunately, since pastries were thrown during the ceremony, everyone’s stomachs weren’t very empty.