Chapter 43
It was New Year’s Eve.
The Ji family got up early and cleaned the house, inside and out. Then they cut out window decorations, pasted couplets, and hung lanterns.
After a busy morning, they ate lunch. Huang Manjing called Yuan Huiru over, and they prepared the evening meal together.
This included slaughtering chickens, gutting fish, and preparing vegetables. They were constantly moving in and out of the house. Some villagers ate their reunion dinner at noon. From just before noon until the afternoon, firecrackers could be heard intermittently.
Tao Yu was busy in the kitchen, and Huo Shu was not idle either. The task of slaughtering livestock and poultry was entrusted to him.
Once the whole chicken was cooked in the soup pot, it had to be taken out to offer sacrifices to ancestors.
Ji Yangzong carried the chicken and meat and led Huo Shu to worship the Kitchen God. They also had to set up a table with food and wine before the meal was ready, inviting ancestors and elders to eat first.
Afterward, they cleared the table and set up for the evening meal.
Although the dinner was prepared early, by the time everything was ready, it was already dark.
All the dishes were placed on the table, piled high. The New Year’s feast not only had many varieties but also larger portions than usual, in pursuit of “leaving abundance every year.”
Ji Yangzong lit a string of firecrackers in the yard. They crackled loudly for a long time, the red paper wrapped in gunpowder exploding into pieces like red flower petals scattered across the sky.
“Look how loud these firecrackers are, with no pauses! Next year will surely be prosperous!”
Ji Yangzong watched the firecrackers finish, hands behind his back, as the white smoke gradually cleared. He raised his hand and announced loudly, “Dinner!”
Huang Manjing invited Yuan Huiru, and Tao Yu pulled Huo Shu’s hand, running towards the main hall, “Quick, quick! It’s so cold, the food will get cold!”
After a few bites of food, Ji Yangzong brought out the wine and said to Huo Shu, “Finally, this year someone can drink a few cups with me. Come, come.”
New Year’s Eve was a festive occasion, so Huang Manjing didn’t pay attention to Ji Yangzong drinking.
Furthermore, the New Year’s Eve dinner was about eating for a long time. With some drinks and boasting, the meal naturally lasted longer.
Huo Shu did not refuse his father-in-law’s request. While drinking, he used one hand to peel shrimp for Tao Yu.
Towards the end of the meal, Tao Yu left the table with a very full stomach. Only two people were left drinking, and the dishes were re-heated.
Tao Yu, his mother, and Yuan Huiru set off some fireworks bought from the city in the yard, coincidentally aiding digestion.
The sound of firecrackers in the village at night was much more frequent than during the day, with the sounds erupting everywhere signaling that New Year’s Eve dinners were being enjoyed in various homes.
Looking towards Tongzhou City in the distance, wealthy and prominent families were setting off large fireworks. The sky above Tongzhou erupted with dazzling flowers in the dim twilight.
Tao Yu tilted his head back, gazing entranced. Suddenly, he felt a warmth on the back of his hand. He turned to see the person looking into the distance, “Why did you come out? Where’s Dad?”
Huo Shu had a slight smell of alcohol on him. “He said he was a bit tired and went to sleep first.”
Tao Yu couldn’t help but laugh, “Did you drink Dad under the table?”
Huo Shu withdrew his gaze, “Should I have gone easy on him?”
Tao Yu waved his hand, “Don’t you dare. Otherwise, he’ll think his drinking capacity is truly impressive and will definitely drag you to drink every time, and brag about it to others.”
Huo Shu rubbed Tao Yu’s hair and circled him with his arm. They watched the distant fireworks together in the night breeze.
For so many years, this was the first lively New Year Huo Shu had experienced. Although there were thousands of soldiers in the army who gathered around fires and roasted sheep, there was always a sense of desolation.
Soldiers, during such festivals, missed their families even more. How could it compare to the lights of countless homes and family reunions?
He hugged the person in his arms tighter and concluded: Jiangnan is very good.
“Oh, is it snowing?!”
Huang Manjing suddenly raised her hand and exclaimed.
“It is, isn’t it? Look at the pellets of snow.”
Yuan Huiru also noticed.
Fearing that the snow would get heavier and make the roads slippery, Huo Shu first sent Yuan Huiru back.
Tao Yu and Huang Manjing cleared the table.
A wind picked up, and the snow gradually changed from round pellets to fine, uneven flakes.
Ji Yangzong, mindful of staying up to guard the night, woke up after a short nap, and the snow had already become quite heavy.
The straw hat Huo Shu brought back was also covered with a thin layer of snow.
As soon as it started snowing, the air felt at least two degrees colder. Tao Yu had also wanted to stay up, but he found his hands and feet were too stiff and cold. After soaking his feet, he retreated to his room.
Huo Shu carried a charcoal basin into the room. Tao Yu, while his hands and feet were still warm, crawled into bed early.
Given the snow, even if they didn’t go out to see the spectacle tonight, the next morning would surely be covered in snow. It was better to sleep early and get up early.
“Come here.”
Whether it was because of the cold snow or the feeling of cold associated with snow, Tao Yu felt the bedding was much colder than usual. As his hands and feet touched the quilt, he shivered from the cold.
Huo Shu got into bed as requested.
Tao Yu quickly snuggled into Huo Shu’s embrace, “Sleep early. We still have to go to the ancestral graves tomorrow morning.”
Huo Shu responded and blew out the candle by the cabinet.
The room was plunged into darkness, but the sound of firecrackers outside continued to explode enthusiastically. The sound of the wilderness, the sound of firecrackers for ten miles around could be heard.
They crackled and crackled incessantly.
Huo Shu felt the person in his arms squirming. “Can’t sleep?”
Tao Yu poked his head out from Huo Shu’s body, “Can you sleep?”
Huo Shu closed his eyes. “Mmm.”
Tao Yu couldn’t believe it, “You can sleep with all this noise?”
Seeing that Huo Shu didn’t respond for a while, Tao Yu quietly shrunk back, “Alright, I was going to suggest that if you also couldn’t sleep, we could try that thing you brought back the day before yesterday.”
Tao Yu had already rummaged through and studied the small box brought back from the clinic. There were a few bottles of ointment with a faint smell and a very smooth texture.
In addition, there were several jade cylinders of varying sizes, polished smooth.
Tao Yu felt too embarrassed to ponder their specific uses. In short, they were for that purpose.
Although he had brought the items back, he had been too busy with New Year’s preparations to think about them. Tao Yu had secretly placed them in a hidden corner.
Upon hearing this, Huo Shu’s eyes immediately opened in the darkness.
“If you can’t sleep, you can try them if you want.”
Tao Yu narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. He knew it!
“But aren’t you sleepy? Go to sleep, or you won’t be able to wake up tomorrow.”
“Whether I sleep early or late, I can wake up.”
“Whether you sleep early or late, you won’t be able to wake up. There’s no difference.”
Tao Yu pouted and pinched Huo Shu’s only pinchable spot, “Why are you so annoying when you talk?”
Huo Shu quietly grabbed the malicious hand on his chest, “Then, did I say something wrong?”
Tao Yu ignored his words and heard Huo Shu ask, “Shall I get them?”
“Mmm.”
Tao Yu replied softly, then asked, “Do you know how to use them?”
“The doctor told me.”
Huo Shu got up, lit the lamp, and went to get the box.
Tao Yu thought that the doctor had given instructions, no wonder he took so long to come out that day.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but blush. He curled up in the quilt, only his head peeking out from under the curtain to watch what Huo Shu would do.
Unexpectedly, the man walked over directly with the box, holding jade cylinders of different thicknesses, and asked, “Which one do you want?”
When the things were lying in the box, he didn’t feel too much about them. But today, somehow, when they were in Huo Shu’s hands, holding them took on a different meaning.
His face felt a little hot, and he was inexplicably excited. “I, I don’t know. Didn’t the doctor tell you everything?”
Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly. The doctor had said to take it slow, step by step. However, the sizes of these jade cylinders were all smaller than his, so any of them would be according to the doctor’s orders.
However, considering Tao Yu’s body, he didn’t pick the largest one. He chose one of medium size and asked Tao Yu, “This one?”
Tao Yu quickly responded and hid back under the bed.
The layers of curtains were drawn down, and the candlelight became dim. It was better not to extinguish it.
A strange yet familiar sensation made Tao Yu subconsciously nervous. He instinctively clutched the corner of the quilt.
Huo Shu held the waist of the person beneath him, probing inch by inch. With the ointment, the smaller key was much easier. It was already a significant improvement compared to before.
He was not a person who liked to fantasize, so he could only imagine with the help of external objects.
“Hiss, it’s so cold!”
Huo Shu concentrated, “Where is it cold?”
Tao Yu’s legs felt weak. He reached out and stopped Huo Shu’s movement, his eyes reddening, “Where else could it be?”
Upon hearing this, Huo Shu had to stop his movements and wrap Tao Yu tightly in the quilt. The wind and snow were still outside, and catching a cold during the festive season would be a loss.
“Besides being cold, does it hurt?”
Tao Yu pulled the quilt to cover his face, too embarrassed to lie naked from the waist down and look at Huo Shu’s face, “It’s okay.”
“Then I’ll try another one.”
Tao Yu quickly threw off the quilt, “Cold!”
The ointment, besides being lubricating, also contained medicine to reduce swelling, making it much colder than ordinary ointments. The jade cylinder was also cold. With the two combined, it was naturally extremely cold.
Huo Shu said, “Then let’s warm it up before using it.”
Tao Yu paused for a moment, then cleared his throat and nodded.
Huo Shu wrapped the jade cylinder, tucked it under his arm to warm it, and lay back down on the bed.
Tao Yu snuggled close to him, too embarrassed to say anything more at this moment.
Huo Shu couldn’t help but frown and ponder when he would be able to do it himself.
However, given the current momentum, the situation was very good. With diligent practice, it shouldn’t be long.
Huo Shu reached out and touched the jade cylinder. It had already warmed up a bit. Once it was warmer, even with the ointment, it wouldn’t be so cold.
After a quarter of an hour, Huo Shu turned over, “Come on.”
However, the person snuggled against him did not respond. Seeing him curled up to one side, breathing evenly as if he had fallen asleep, Huo Shu paused with the jade cylinder in his hand.
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t sleep?”
Even in the dappled light of the bed curtains, Tao Yu’s fair skin was visible. Perhaps because of his weak constitution, even his eyebrows were a little faint, and his hair was as soft as soaked silk threads.
Huo Shu watched for a while, saw the person sniffle softly, and instinctively nuzzled into his embrace, stretching his feet under Huo Shu’s calves.
He discarded the object in his hand onto the cabinet by the bed and, with an arm around the soft young man, let the sounds of firecrackers outside roar, cherishing only the warmth of the person in his arms.
The next day, Tao Yu felt the room was blindingly bright. He rubbed his eyes and sat up from his sleep. As expected, the space beside him was empty.
He tentatively called out, but no one answered.
Tao Yu’s legs felt a little sore and weak as he tried to get up, thinking that it was the first day of the New Year, and he shouldn’t oversleep.
He went to the edge of the bed as usual, preparing to pick up his clothes to put them on. As he moved his leg, a section of his calf was exposed. Seeing his bare lower leg, his eyes widened. He suddenly remembered what had happened last night and quickly tucked his leg back in.
Fortunately, he found his underpants in the corner of the bed and quickly put them on, ignoring the cold.
He had wondered why the quilt felt so close to his skin last night and why it seemed a bit drafty, but he hadn’t realized he was naked.
He got up with a flushed face, intending to find his outer clothes first. However, as he emerged from the curtain, his eyes immediately fell on the items on the cabinet by the bed.
The jade cylinder used last night was displayed so brazenly!
Tao Yu forgot about putting on his clothes. With a burning face, he frantically put the items back into the box.
This Huo Shu really didn’t know how to put things away. It was one thing for him to leave his clothes lying around, but he treated everything the same!
What if someone came in and saw them? It would be disastrous. He clearly had no sense of shame!
Huang Manjing was about to call Tao Yu to eat dumplings when she saw him emerge from the room with a grumpy expression.
“It’s early in the morning, why are you so angry?”
“Where is Huo Shu!”
Tao Yu asked fiercely. He was determined to have a good talk with him today.
“We have guests at home. Your father and Huo Shu are talking with them.”
Huang Manjing said, “Didn’t your father visit a few households before the New Year to talk about people going out to do business?”
Upon hearing this, Tao Yu immediately forgot his anger and quickly asked, “They came to report back on the first day of the New Year?”
He wasn’t sure whether the villagers would be willing or unwilling to go on business with Huo Shu. It was, after all, a dangerous profession far from home, and the journey was long. Men with wives and children at home would generally not abandon their families unless they were desperate.
“I’ll come to eat later.”
With that, Tao Yu slipped away to the study where his father was meeting and talking.
He hid by the window and saw five men at their home. The youngest was in his early twenties, and the oldest was in his thirties.
“We’ve come to wish Uncle Ji a happy New Year.”
The eldest man, who was leading the group, carried a basket of eggs. Although they had no direct kinship with the Ji family, they addressed him affectionately.
The other four companions also presented fruits and gifts they had brought.
Although these were not valuable items, it was a great joy of the New Year, and it was not proper to visit someone’s house empty-handed.
“Just come and sit. Don’t bring anything.”
Ji Yangzong said this, but he didn’t refuse too politely. If he refused the New Year’s gifts, it would make them feel estranged and think he looked down on them.
“Have some tea and fruits. Sit down. You are not outsiders, so don’t be so formal.”
“On the first day of the New Year, every family visits relatives and offers sacrifices to their ancestors. We are disturbing you again today, and we feel quite apologetic.”
The leading man said, “Uncle Ji, the matter you discussed with us before the New Year has been on our minds. We have been thinking about it these past few days, and since it is a major undertaking at the beginning of the year, we want to settle it early for peace of mind.”
“We wonder if the matter that Uncle Ji mentioned at home about Brother Huo wanting to lead people out for business is true.”
“I would never joke about such a significant matter.”
Ji Yangzong glanced at Huo Shu, who was sitting beside him, and said, “My son-in-law wants to venture out for a few years. I think it would be beneficial to have more people to help when going out. Nowadays, the world is unstable, and people’s lives are becoming increasingly difficult. If this continues, I’m afraid even the few acres of land won’t be sustainable.”
“You are all people of good character and steady temperament in the village. I have seen it over the years. If you also have the desire to venture out, I would be a thousand percent reassured. However, going out is certainly not as peaceful as staying in the village. It is entirely up to your own wishes.”
His words resonated with the men. The ever-increasing taxes were suffocating them, ordinary people.
Even though their hands and feet were good, and they were willing to work hard in the fields, their lives were not satisfactory.
There was only so much land, and the grain yield was limited. In the early years, when the government’s taxes were lenient, they could somehow get by.
But now, the government’s exploitation had deepened year by year. The names of increased taxes were visibly multiplying. No matter how many grievances the common people had, they could only grit their teeth and pay.
Year after year, their lives, which were once sufficient to eat and drink, had become a matter of saving on food and clothing, and even borrowing money to get by.
How could this not cause anxiety?
In the end, men in their twenties couldn’t save enough for a bride price to get married, and daughters and sons from farming families either went to wealthy families as servants or were engaged as concubines to wealthy families.
It was simply a vicious cycle.
In earlier years, many children from farming families were reluctant to be sent out to be ordered around, to be looked down upon. Everyone still valued face.
But in recent years, such practices had become increasingly common. They only worried about selling their children, where could they still manage the pretense of pride?
The population was becoming increasingly worthless. The number of people selling their fields and land had increased year after year, and countless people had become tenant farmers.
Wealthy families found it increasingly easier to consolidate land.
It was heard that in Fan Village, which had experienced banditry this year, many people were selling their land. The bride price for girls and sons in the village was significantly lower than elsewhere.
They thought that getting married was better than being a servant.
The families of the men who came were not doing well in the village. Upon learning of an avenue from Ji Yangzong, they deliberated for a few days and then rushed over to report back.
“No one knows what new taxes will appear this year. However, sticking to those few acres of thin land with the current taxes, life is already difficult. To put it bluntly, if there is a natural disaster, even selling the land might not be enough to eat a full meal. Since there is a new way out, we are all willing to venture out.”
“Brother Huo Shu is from the front lines and is Uncle Ji’s son-in-law. We are certainly at ease following him. We will fully follow Brother Huo Shu’s arrangements and follow him with all our hearts.”
Ji Yangzong did not commit. Since they had come, it meant they wanted to do this business. There was nothing more to say.
He looked at Huo Shu and said, “These people are going out with you, so see if it’s acceptable.”
Then he turned to the villagers and said, “My son-in-law has been in the army for a long time and is not good at those convoluted things. He speaks directly. If there is anything that offends you, please do not take offense.”
Huo Shu was indeed not afraid of offending people. He would say whatever he had to say directly.
While they were talking with Ji Yangzong, he had already sized them up.
These were all village folk. They had strong physiques from working in the fields for years, and they were in their prime. As long as they had no disabilities, there were no major issues.
He said, “From Tongzhou to the prefectural capital of Beiyu, even on horseback, it takes a month’s journey. If carrying goods, three to two months is normal. Moreover, the places we pass through are not always peaceful. The possibility of encountering villains on the road is not small. Putting one’s head on one’s belt is not a joke.”
“I cannot guarantee that those who go out alive will return alive. Speak clearly with your parents and wives, so that people have psychological preparation. If anyone dares to risk their life, come and sign and press your fingerprints after the fifteenth.”
Huo Shu’s words were harsh. He did not mix in any talk about earning a fortune or returning home in glory by following him. His intention was to intimidate.
From the moment they learned they were going north for business, they had some idea in their hearts. However, hearing these words so coldly spoken by the leader still made the men fall silent. For a moment, no one answered.
Seeing this, Ji Yangzong said, “The words have been spoken here. You can go back and think it over carefully. This is not a matter of forced purchase or sale, nor is it about paying taxes. You must do what you think is best for yourself.”
After seeing off the men, Ji Yangzong stood in the snow and sighed slightly.
Huo Shu turned back. Just as he was about to sweep a path through the accumulated snow in the yard, he saw Tao Yu standing outside, hands in his pockets, staring blankly into the distance, his expression not looking good.
“It’s just a way of managing people. Don’t overthink it.”
Tao Yu rubbed his hands and nodded slightly.
His mood suddenly became a bit somber. However, Huo Shu’s affairs were showing some progress, and he was the one who agreed to let him engage in this business. If he had second thoughts midway, wouldn’t that make things difficult for him?
“Let’s eat dumplings. I’m hungry. It’s already snowed so much outside. I can enjoy the snow when we go to offer sacrifices to the ancestors later.”
Tao Yu, seemingly unbothered, pulled Huo Shu towards the house, “Everyone will come out soon. If the snow is trampled, it won’t look good.”
“Mmm.”
On the first day of the New Year, they visited relatives and friends every day. The Ji family visited seven relatives, both near and far.
There was delicious food and wine every day. Before the New Year celebrations were even over, Tao Yu realized he had gained three pounds.
On the twelfth day, Ge Liang brought five people to see Huo Shu.
Two of them were younger, around twenty years old. The other three were older, at least thirty. And because they were farmers who had worked for years, they looked older than their actual age.
Under Ge Liang’s guidance, regardless of age or seniority, they all called Huo Shu “Brother Huo.”
“They are all people who can work hard and endure hardship. I have carefully inspected each of them beforehand. There are no problems.”
Huo Shu said, “Did they sign the agreement?”
Ge Liang replied, “They all followed Brother Huo’s instructions. Originally there were ten people, but hearing about the responsibility for their own lives, they got scared and only six signed.”
Huo Shu nodded. After all, Ge Liang had grown up in the village. The villagers knew him well, and it was easier to find people through him.
Even with Ji Yangzong’s guarantee, it was still about following him for business, so the villagers were more hesitant.
However, it was good to screen out those with concerns early on, making them easier to manage.
“If there are no problems, that’s good. Since we have to travel through mountains and rivers, we also need some skills.”
Huo Shu said in a low voice, “We need to train them a bit.”
Ge Liang immediately became vigilant. He understood Huo Shu’s intentions. Carrying goods, it was inevitable that they would be targeted by ill-intentioned people, and there might be direct confrontations.
If the guards were not skilled enough, they would inevitably lose goods. Preliminary training would make things smoother later.
However, the government prohibited the gathering of people and the raising of private armies.
Their group of about ten people was not considered such. It was just that both he and Huo Shu were returnees from the front lines. If they were to train people, they would certainly use the methods of the military camp.
Tongzhou also had stationed troops. If they were not careful, they might easily attract the attention of the authorities, so they had to be extremely cautious.
“Yes, I understand.”
Huo Shu said, “After we see if we can add two more people, you will be responsible for their training. I will go and handle the matter of picking up the goods.”
“Okay.”
