Chapter 50 The year-end is just around the corner.

"Let me think... It was about a year ago, around this time of year when autumn was deepening." He withdrew his gaze, looked at Yu Man, and nodded slightly to her. "Come with me."

As he spoke, he turned and led the way to a separate wing room on the right side of the house. Pushing open the slightly ajar wooden door, a distinctive smell, a mixture of old bamboo, tung oil, parchment, and varnish, wafted out. This was clearly his workshop, where he made umbrellas.

The interior furnishings were simple yet orderly.

Several huge bamboo racks stood against the wall, on which bamboo of varying thicknesses, bundles of semi-finished umbrella ribs, and umbrella heads and handles of various sizes were piled up in different categories.

Two sturdy wooden workbenches are placed under the window. One of them has been worn smooth and shiny by the years, and various tools such as planes, chisels, carving knives, drills, and mallets are neatly arranged on it. Each tool is polished to a shine and placed with meticulous care, revealing the owner's rigorous and even somewhat demanding nature.

In the corner were several open earthenware jars, filled with mixed tung oil and an unknown black dye.

Uncle Yuquan's gaze swept over the workshop that had been with him for most of his life, finally settling on the slightly worn but well-maintained main workbench, and he continued:

“That day, someone came here, saying they wanted to commission an oil-paper umbrella for someone very important in their family.” He spoke calmly, “That young man…” He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, “was far too handsome, his features and bearing unlike those of an ordinary person. So I asked him, who he was and where he came from?”

"He didn't hide anything, saying he was a student from the academy on the mountain." Uncle Yuquan snorted softly, his three vertical lines deepening. "Upon hearing he was a scholar, I immediately disliked him. Most of these people are just doing it on a whim, thinking umbrella making is an elegant and interesting hobby, but they can't stand the tedium and give up after only a few days, wasting my time. Therefore, I flatly refused him at the time."

Yu Man listened quietly, but her gaze was unconsciously drawn to another workbench in the room that was slightly smaller and looked newer.

Although the workbench was clean, upon closer inspection, there were several engraving marks of varying depths along the edges, as if left by a beginner who hadn't mastered the force properly. The tools on the workbench were arranged in a manner that mimicked the main workbench, but subtle details still revealed their lack of skill. For example, the blades of the plane were not aligned in the same direction, and the handles of several carving knives showed shallow and uneven wear.

Uncle Yuquan followed her gaze and glanced at the assistant director. His facial features seemed to soften almost imperceptibly for a moment before returning to their usual rigid expression.

“But I never expected,” he continued, his tone tinged with surprise that he hadn’t anticipated at the time, “that young man, after being rejected, did not pester or give up. He actually moved out of the academy and rented a small courtyard not far from here.”

“From then on, he came almost every day, rain or shine. At first, he just stood outside the courtyard gate, silent and just watching. After watching for about seven or eight days, I got annoyed by his staring and asked him impatiently what he wanted to do. He said the same thing again: he wanted to learn how to make umbrellas and wanted to make an umbrella by his own hands.”

Uncle Yuquan walked to the main workbench, his rough fingers tracing a deep engraving on the surface.

"So I deliberately made things difficult for him. I pointed to the pile of purple bamboo that had just been cut from the back mountain and was still damp, and told him to split it into strips first. I told him that when he could split a bamboo pole into thirty-six strips of the same thickness that were not broken or split, then we could talk about learning the craft."

Splitting bamboo strips is the most tedious and demanding task in umbrella making, requiring both skill and patience.

A bamboo pole needs to be split evenly with a special bamboo-splitting knife, relying on the strength and skill of the wrist. Grab one bamboo pole and split it again to finally obtain the fine bamboo strips used to make umbrella ribs.

If the force is slightly uneven, the bamboo strips will break or become uneven in thickness, and most people find this step difficult.

“Ordinary people might not be able to succeed even if they worked for three to five days. I think that a scholar who is used to wielding a pen cannot endure this hardship. After hitting a few walls, he will naturally give up.”

Uncle Yuquan rarely praised him: "He really did come over every day, without saying a word, sitting on that stone stool in the corner of the yard, chopping bamboo over and over again. His hands were cut countless times by bamboo splinters, and the blood soaked through the cloth strips, but he would just bandage them casually and continue chopping."

“If it gets damaged, just replace it and start over. From sunrise to sunset, except for the occasional sip of water, he hardly stops. That patience doesn’t seem like that of a scholar, but rather like someone… born to do this.” Uncle Yuquan seemed to realize that his analogy was a bit strange, and paused for a moment.

“He chopped for a full half month.” The old man held up three fingers. “On the fifteenth day, he placed a bundle of chopped bamboo strips in front of me. I picked it up and looked at it…” He paused for a moment, “Thirty-six strips, each one of uniform thickness, tough but not brittle, smooth and without burrs. Even I, back in my day, chopped for two whole months and still might not have achieved this level of skill.”

Yu Man listened, clenching the corners of her sleeves.

"And then?" she couldn't help but ask softly, already vaguely guessing the ending.

"And then?" Uncle Yuquan glanced at her, walked to the side workbench, and picked up a uniquely shaped curved chisel. "Later, I allowed him to come in and learn the craft at this table. From polishing the umbrella ribs and drilling holes for tenons, to pasting the umbrella surface and brushing on oil to let it dry in the shade... he learned each step with utmost care."

"Making an umbrella involves seventy-two steps, each one intricate and demanding a calm mind, steady hands, and sharp eyes. He doesn't talk much, but his comprehension is exceptional. After I demonstrate once, he can imitate it almost perfectly. If he doesn't do it well, I don't need to say anything; he'll take it apart and redo it himself, once, twice, ten times... until he's satisfied."

Uncle Yuquan's tone was no longer the initial calm and distant one, but rather carried the subtle pride that only a craftsman would have when talking about his favorite disciple.

"I asked him why he insisted on learning this time-consuming and laborious craft. There are plenty of good umbrellas on the market. He was silent for a long time before saying..." Uncle Yuquan imitated Pei Ji's tone at the time, "'I want to make a unique umbrella by my own hands.'"

“He was particularly concerned about the ink color.” Uncle Yuquan pointed to several earthenware jars filled with dye in the corner. “Ordinary umbrella making would use ready-made ink blocks or dyes. But he refused, insisting on figuring it out himself. He tried using pine soot ink from different years, tried adding mineral powder… He failed countless times, and the discarded umbrella fabric piled up to half a person's height. I felt a pang of sympathy for the wood.”

"It can be said that hard work pays off." Uncle Yuquan's tone finally regained its calmness. "After nearly four months, from autumn to winter, he finally succeeded. It was this one in your basket."

His gaze fell once again on the black umbrella, full of admiration.

"This ink color is his unique formula, using aged pine soot ink, supplemented with a special mineral powder that he found, and repeatedly adjusted it using ancient methods to achieve this color. It is as black as night, yet it can reveal a faint blue hue under light. When rain falls on it, it is like pearls rolling on a jade plate, without seeping or leaking. The umbrella ribs are more durable than ordinary umbrellas."

"This dark-colored oiled paper umbrella," Uncle Yuquan said, looking at Yu Man, clearly enunciating each word, "I can assert that there is only one of its kind in the entire world. There is no other like it."

This also explains why he could recognize people by their umbrellas.

Yu Man looked down at the ink umbrella in the basket, her heart churning with emotion. After a moment, she solemnly thanked Uncle Yuquan: "Thank you for telling me, Uncle Yuquan. I will remember this kindness."

Then he slowly turned around and walked out of the room filled with the scent of bamboo and tung oil.

Out of curiosity, the young woman didn't leave immediately and vaguely overheard the whole thing. When she saw Yu Man come out with a complex and indescribable expression on her face, she couldn't help but step forward and exclaim, "What a thoughtful person! This thoughtfulness and patience are much better than my husband, who only knows how to bury himself in farming. He's never even whittled a single wooden hairpin for me!" Her tone was filled with undisguised envy.

As she spoke, seeing that Yu Man seemed dazed, she told her to wait a moment, then hurriedly turned and went back to her own courtyard. A short while later, she returned with seven or eight bright red, plump, round persimmons scooped from her clothes and stuffed them into Yu Man's arms, her smile simple and warm: "They all grew on our own tree, they're not worth much! Take them, they're sweet! I hope you and your kindred spirit will have a long and happy life together, and that everything will go smoothly for you in the future!"

Perhaps it's easier to open up to unfamiliar strangers. Holding the heavy, ripe persimmons, Yu Man looked into her aunt's sincere eyes, and the confusion she had been suppressing quietly surfaced in her heart. She sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Thank you for your kindness, Aunt. But... there are still too many things between him and me. The road ahead... may not be as prosperous and smooth as these persimmons."

Seeing her dejected expression, the young woman assumed the young couple had quarreled and wanted to offer some words of comfort. She patted Yu Man's arm, her tone carrying the straightforwardness and clarity characteristic of a rural woman:

"Pshaw! I thought it was something serious! When two people live together, it all boils down to whether you care about me or I care about you, and whether we're both willing to put in the effort! No two dishes can go without some friction. The important thing is whether the feelings are still there!"

She paused, observing Yu Man's expression. Seeing that she wasn't offended, she continued, "Your auntie has been through this, and I can tell you still care about him. Since you both still have feelings for each other, what obstacle can't you overcome? If you truly think he's wonderful in every way, and he treats you with genuine affection, then cherish what you have now and don't wait until it's too late to regret it! Of course..."

She changed the subject, displaying a carefree attitude, "If we really can't get along and feel stifled, then we should break up! There are plenty of good men in the world, why hang ourselves on one tree? For us women, the most important thing is to be independent and live a happy life!"

These words, simple and unadorned, carried a free and unrestrained boldness and magnanimity that grew from the fields. Yu Man was taken aback for a moment, then her lips curved slightly, and she sincerely thanked her again: "Auntie, thank you so much."

When the young woman saw her smile, she felt a little embarrassed and waved her hand, saying, "Don't thank me! Go home quickly, it's getting late, don't worry your family."

When Yu Man returned to the food stall carrying the persimmons and the ink umbrella, Xue Han was about to discuss the new drinks with her when she saw Yu Man go straight into the kitchen. Judging from her posture, she was going to argue with You Ziyin again. Xue Han shook her head helplessly, knowing that she couldn't persuade her, so she simply said goodbye and left.

In the kitchen, Yu Man put away her things, tied on her cloth skirt, washed her hands, and focused intently on processing the prepared ingredients. The steaming glutinous rice emitted white vapor, shimmering on her face. She skillfully mixed the yeast and sealed the jar. After finishing, she carefully carried the mud-sealed jar into the cellar and placed it in a cool, well-ventilated corner.

Time flies, and another month has passed in the blink of an eye. Xue Han noticed something strange—in the past, when Yu Man brewed "Wanderer's Song," he would eagerly go to Kaifeng to check on it after ten days or so, never giving up despite repeated attempts. But this time, with the month almost over, the jar of wine in the cellar remained completely still. Looking at Yu Man, who was diligently calculating accounts behind the counter, she couldn't help but ask, "Master, how's that 'Wanderer's Song' going this time?"

Yu Man didn't even look up, her pen still moving, and calmly replied, "I haven't gone to see it. No rush, let's wait a few more days."

Xue Han was surprised and thought to herself: Could it be that he is confident this time? He is so calm and composed.

Unexpectedly, this wait lasted until the end of the year.

The streets along Changjie Street in Dongqing County were no longer as they usually were. Bright red lanterns hung in front of every shop, and brand-new Spring Festival couplets and imposing door gods were pasted everywhere. The vibrant red almost warmed the pristine white of the snow.

On New Year's Eve, before dawn, the fields were still shrouded in darkness, with only one or two firecrackers occasionally exploding in the distance, like stars flashing by.

Yu Man had quietly gotten up. She was wrapped in a thick cotton cloak, with a soft fur trim around the collar, which made her face appear even smaller. As she pushed open the door, a blast of biting cold air hit her, making her shiver slightly and fully awake.

In the courtyard, the snow from last night had stopped, and a layer of even white covered the ground and eaves, reflecting the lingering night and giving off a faint blue light. She stepped on the crunching fresh snow, bypassed the quiet main room, and walked familiarly to that inconspicuous corner of the backyard—the wooden door leading to the cellar.

"Squeak—"

The heavy wooden planks were lifted, releasing a scent of earth and vegetables. She pulled her cloak tighter and began to descend the narrow earthen steps.

The cellar was bitterly cold, and breath turned into white mist. The dim yellow light barely illuminated the small space, where radishes and cabbages were piled up in the corner for the winter, along with rows of mud-sealed wine jars.

Her gaze fell directly on the jar placed alone at the innermost part.

Yu Man stopped in front of the altar.

"Do you think it will work this time?" she whispered to the system in her mind.

The system's electronic voice remained completely flat: "Host, this is brewing wine, not some grand, groundbreaking undertaking. Success depends on microbial fermentation, not your will."

Yu Man rolled her eyes, too lazy to argue with it. She took a deep breath, held it, and with a hint of barely suppressed tension, carefully pried open the hard mud seal.

The moment the mud seal was broken, a clear and uniquely aged aroma of wine wafted out, instantly overpowering all other scents.

The aroma was rich yet not cloying, elegant and long-lasting, completely different from any of the failed products she had ever smelled before!

It's done!

Yu Man's eyes suddenly lit up, and a surge of joy welled up in her heart. She murmured to herself, with a hint of disbelief and teasing, "Could it be that I'm more suited to the world of cultivation? A world where enlightenment and breakthroughs happen naturally?"

System: [...Headquarters has not opened this type of service channel. Wait, host, why did you put the lid back on? Don't you want to try it?]

“I won’t try it.” Yu Man answered crisply and gently resealed the clay seal. “This is the first successful jar of ‘Wanderer’s Song,’ it’s extremely precious and must be kept.”

System: 【...Stingy!】

Ignoring the system's complaints, Yu Man patted the wine jar in high spirits, a smile he couldn't suppress playing on his lips, and turned to leave the cellar.

As evening fell, the Yu family courtyard became even more lively and warm. Deng Sanniang, with her large pregnant belly, looked at her eldest daughter's ever-present smile and quietly nudged Yu Chengfu beside her with her elbow, giving him a meaningful look.

Upon receiving the signal, Yu Chengfu coughed lightly and tried to speak in his somewhat clumsy but elegant manner: "It seems that the New Year is the best time to get through this year. When our Aman smiles, it feels like the whole room is brightened up. It's more effective than lighting ten oil lamps!"

Yu Man was picking up food when she heard this and paused. She looked up at her father and couldn't help but laugh: "...Dad, why are you getting so sarcastic these days? Did you learn that from the plays?"

One sentence made the whole family burst into laughter.

After the meal, Deng San Niang was helped back to her room to rest by Yu Chengfu. Xiu Xiu clamored to roast sweet potatoes in the stove. Yu Man went out of the main room alone, opened the door, leaned against the door, looked at the small snowflakes that had begun to fall in the courtyard, and took a breath, feeling the chill.

The system spoke up at the opportune moment: [Happy New Year, Host!]

Yu Man gazed at the bright moonlight and gently exhaled a puff of white breath: "Happy New Year."

Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the end of the street. The streets were almost deserted on New Year's Eve, with only the faint sound of firecrackers in the distance and the light shining from the windows of every house. She didn't know what she was hoping for, but she knew in her heart that Xunyang was far from Laizhou, a journey that couldn't be easily made.

She sighed softly, about to turn and go back into the house, when she suddenly heard a slightly hoarse voice, clearly weary from travel, tentatively asking from outside the courtyard gate:

"Excuse me... are you Madam Yu Man?"

Yu Man's heart skipped a beat, and she turned around abruptly. Standing outside the courtyard gate was a man leading a horse, his face unfamiliar, his brow furrowed with weariness. She composed herself and replied, "I am. And you are?"

Seeing that he had found the right person, the man visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He took out an exquisitely crafted and heavy eight-treasure box from his baggage on horseback, handed it over with both hands, and said respectfully, "Your subordinate is ordered by the master to deliver this item to Lady Yu."

Yu Man took the heavy box; it was icy cold to the touch.

She looked up at the person who had come to her and couldn't help but ask, "Is he... doing well over there?"

The man shook his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face: "I am only responsible for delivering the item. I know nothing about the master's current situation."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Yu Man's eyes, then she asked, "Did he... have anything else to tell me?"

The man thought for a moment, then earnestly repeated, "The Lord said: 'May the New Year be peaceful, only tomorrow will bring peace.'"

May the New Year bring peace and tranquility, and may tomorrow bring even greater happiness...

Yu Man savored the eight characters, a faint, genuine smile involuntarily curving her lips. She said "Thank you for your hard work" to the weary messenger, then turned and took out the red envelope she had prepared for Xiu Xiu as a New Year's gift, placing it in his hand: "It's the New Year, and I'm sorry to have troubled you to make this trip. I hope you can share in the joy. I also wish you a Happy New Year."

The messenger could not refuse and finally accepted it gratefully. After bowing again, he led his horse and disappeared into the snowy night.

Yu Man carried the eight-treasure box back into the house and gently opened it under the lamp.

On the first shelf were two hair combs placed side by side. One was made of mutton-fat white jade, with fine, even teeth, the jade itself warm and flawless to the touch, and carved with a simple yet exquisitely crafted lotus scroll pattern, exceptionally elegant. The other was a sandalwood comb, its hard wood and delicate grain polished to a mirror-like smoothness, gleaming with a subtle luster. Several orchids were inlaid with silver wire on the back of the comb, giving it a refined and ethereal feel. Beside it was a small note with familiar, bold handwriting: "Each has its own beauty, and it's hard to say which is better. I guess you'll like them both, so I'm giving them to you."

Looking at the two hair combs, so different in style yet equally exquisite, Yu Man couldn't help but chuckle softly. This person...

Lifting the second layer, she found a box filled with neatly stacked gold and silver ingots. Yu Man blinked, thinking to herself: To be honest, she felt that there were probably very few people in the world who could refuse such a simple and straightforward gesture.

The last layer was a package of tea snacks carefully wrapped in oiled paper. They were shaped like familiar plum blossoms, just the kind Pei Ji often made. A note was attached beside them: "I owe you a table of delicacies; I'll make it up to you another day. This will satisfy your cravings in the meantime." Yu Man picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, savoring it carefully. It still had a crumbly texture, but the sweetness that was usually just right, only five parts, now felt like a full ten parts.

Just then, Xiuxiu's cheerful voice came from inside: "Sister! The sweet potatoes are ready! Come in and eat!"

"It's here!" Yu Manyang responded, carefully closing the box.

Next year will definitely be a good year.

She turned and pushed open the door, gently closing it to shut out the chill and snow outside. However, the clear moonlight stubbornly shone through the window paper, gently spreading in and casting a silvery glow on the floor.

As the year draws to a close, everything is renewed. The ice and snow melt, and spring is gradually emerging. Yu Man's long-considered plan becomes increasingly clear—she wants to open "Manxin Food Shop" in the prefectural capital!

This decision was not made on a whim. She carefully considered the restaurant's current reputation, stable customer flow, unique dishes, and the advantages that Xue Han's addition would bring to the beverage business. She also secretly inquired about the market and business practices from several familiar and trustworthy restaurant owners in the prefecture before finally making the final decision.

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Author's Note: We'll reunite in the next chapter! [Milk Tea emoji]