Chapter 9.9 We Have a Home Now
The neighbor, Aunt Wang, was a kind-hearted woman. When she learned that the two had no parents and were being targeted by their uncle's family, she felt sorry for them and took good care of them.
They not only lent them brooms and buckets, but also brought their husbands and two children, who were resting at home, to help them.
Six people swept dust, shoveled weeds, and wrung out spider webs in and around the yard, like a big cleaning before the Lunar New Year. They cleaned every corner spotless in just one day.
That evening, Yuezhi wanted to cook a delicious meal to thank Aunt Wang's family for their help, but the only large pot in her own kitchen was rusted and leaking. So, amidst Aunt Wang's hearty laughter, she went to her house, borrowed her kitchen, and cooked a pot of oily and shiny preserved meat rice with her own rice, cured meat, and cured fish.
In the north, people mainly eat corn, beans, and wheat. White rice is a rare commodity, and cured meat and sausages are meat dishes that only families with a surplus of money can afford.
When Yuezhi brought the large pot of rice into the house, Wang Miaomiao smelled the delicious aroma and her mouth watered immediately. However, due to her mother's glare, she didn't rudely rush over to grab the rice.
The family sat upright, with Grandpa Wang in the main seat, Yuezhi and Grandma Wang on one side, Wang Miaomiao and her brother Wang Qiushi on the other side, and the youngest, Pei Heng, at the lower end.
"This is so delicious, Sister Yuezhi, are you really not the head chef of the restaurant?"
Wang Miaomiao kept shoveling rice into her mouth, praising it as she ate, her love for the preserved meat rice evident in her words.
Wang Qiushi cleared his throat twice, signaling his younger sister to tone down her eating posture. But no matter how much she tried to restrain herself, she still looked like a mud monkey in front of the dignified and gentle Yuezhi.
Throughout the meal, Wang Qiushi's eyes didn't linger on the food; he couldn't help but glance at Yuezhi's face.
She is so beautiful.
Unaware of the gaze directed at her from across the table, Yuezhi was even more unaware that the boy of similar age at the table had already praised her in his heart as a fairy descended from heaven.
Pei Heng did notice the strange look Wang Qiushi gave Yuezhi, but the cleaning today was exhausting. He had never done so much work before, and his young body couldn't handle it. All he wanted to do was eat and sleep, so he didn't investigate further.
The Wang family members were all very generous. After a day of getting along and a meal, Aunt Wang was already happily holding Yuezhi's hand, telling her to come and get anything she needed.
Wang Miaomiao even hugged Yuezhi tightly, refusing to let her go home, insisting that she stay overnight and play pebbles together.
Aunt Wang also advised the two, "Your windows are drafty and the kang (heated brick bed) isn't warm enough. Why don't you stay at my house for a couple of days and go back to live there once the house is repaired?"
At this moment, Pei Heng was already sleepy and closed his eyes, leaning against Yue Zhi. Wang Miaomiao, who was only one year older than him, poked his nose through Yue Zhi.
Pei Heng sniffed and muttered, "Insolence."
Everyone around was stunned. Yuezhi knew something was wrong and was just about to explain when she heard the Wang family laughing.
"This kid is really something. He talks like an official in his sleep. No wonder he's literate and educated. He's bound to be a high-ranking official in the future."
“Mother, Xiao Aheng is just as fair-skinned and beautiful as Sister Yuezhi, but they don’t look alike at all.”
"Are other people's siblings like you and your brother? They all look like your father, dark-skinned and strong, cut from the same mold. Oh dear, they didn't inherit any of my good qualities at all."
Wang Miaomiao was unconvinced and held onto Yuezhi tightly, saying, "I don't care. If I can sleep next to Sister Yuezhi, maybe I'll become prettier tomorrow."
The mother and daughter tried to persuade her for a long time, but the charcoal fire inside was burning brightly, making Yuezhi drowsy.
Seeing that Pei Heng was almost asleep, she had no choice but to nod in agreement.
The kang (heated brick bed) in the Wang family is a large kang. When Grandpa Wang's parents were still alive, there was more than enough room for the six family members to sleep on it in winter. Now, with Yuezhi and Peiheng added, it is still quite spacious.
Wang Miaomiao insisted on sleeping next to Yuezhi, and before anyone could notice, Pei Heng was carried to his side by Wang Qiushi.
This is the Wang family's rule for sleeping on a kang (heated brick bed): boys sleep with boys, and girls sleep with girls.
Yuezhi didn't think anything was wrong at first, but then she thought about it and was afraid that he would mumble some strange "sleep talk" that others might hear, so she quickly took him back from Wang Qiushi's arms.
He explained, "If he wakes up at night and can't see me, he'll cry and make a fuss."
Wang Qiushi didn't ask any further questions, but simply nodded. When he turned his face away, his wheat-colored cheeks were flushed red.
The candles were blown out, and the family went to bed.
The heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) was cozy and warm, while the cold wind howled outside the window but didn't reach my face; the room was quiet and comfortable.
With Pei Heng supporting her left hand and Wang Miaomiao holding her right, Yue Zhi's body grew heavier and heavier from the day's exhaustion, and she soon drifted off to sleep.
*
The house needs repairs, furniture, pots and pans, grains, meat and vegetables, firewood, candles and other items.
When Yuezhi woke up, only she and her two children were left on the kang (a heated brick bed).
After getting off the kang (heated brick bed), putting on her padded jacket, and combing her hair, Wang Da Niang, who had gotten up early, was already back from her outing when she returned.
“Yuezhi, I asked around for you. Old Liu in the village can get people to do the house repairs. He can get six or seven people and they can fix your house in no more than three days.”
"Really?" Yuezhi breathed a sigh of relief; this had really helped her a lot.
“It’s terribly cold in winter, so everyone can’t go to the fields or into the mountains. They’re all just sitting at home doing nothing. If there’s work to be done, they’ll all be eager to come.”
Aunt Wang smiled and handed her a hot towel to wipe her face before continuing her story.
“In our village, the usual price is ten coins per person per day, which includes two meals. Bricks and tiles are paid separately. But I noticed that it's difficult for you to cook at home, so I negotiated with them and offered fourteen coins per day. Do you think this price is acceptable?”
Yuezhi didn't know the market price, but she could feel the warmth and kindness of Aunt Wang and her family towards her and Pei Heng, so she naturally trusted the price Aunt Wang offered.
“Okay, you know more than I do and you’re willing to help me. I’m so lucky to have a neighbor like you.”
Aunt Wang smiled broadly at her praise, "It's no big deal. I'm just staying at home with nothing to do anyway. Seeing how lonely you and your brother are, I'll help you out. It's also a way to do good for my child."
"With a good mother like you, Miaomiao and Brother Wang are bound to be successful, and their future is bright."
Yuezhi spent more than five years in the palace. Besides her embroidery skills and wealth, what she improved most was her sweet tongue.
Aunt Wang is almost forty years old, and after only spending a short time with her, her smile has become as sweet as a young girl's.
“I’ve heated up some cornbread. Eat a few while it’s hot. After Qiu Shi finishes chopping firewood, have him drive the oxcart to take you to Yanjing City to buy things. Settle down in your new home as soon as possible so you can live a peaceful life.”
"Okay!" Yuezhi quickly tidied herself up, ate breakfast, and then combed the hair of Wang Miaomiao and Pei Heng, who had just gotten up.
Seeing that Pei Heng was not in good spirits early in the morning, and it was cold outside, she did not ask him to come along. Instead, she let the two children stay at the Wang family's house, and she got on the oxcart and went into the city with Wang Qiushi.
*
Four days later, Yuezhi brought Pei Heng back to their renovated home from the Wang family.
Pushing open the brand-new gate, the east wing, which had collapsed halfway, was rebuilt. The kitchen was filled with cooking utensils and bowls, and the rice and flour jars were full. Cured meat and sausages hung on the walls. The bathroom was filled with basins and wooden tubs. The main room also had tables, chairs, and benches. A set of cabinets was placed in the inner room to store clothes and bedding.
All the windows in the house have been reinforced, a new layer of window paper has been laid, and a thick layer of oil paper has been added on the outside of the window paper to prevent wind.
A cold wind was blowing outside, but standing inside, you couldn't feel a breath of wind.
Looking at her brand-new home, Yuezhi was filled with joy.
Wang Qiushi was a hard worker. I only asked him to help move furniture, but I didn't expect him to even make the kang (a heated brick bed). There was a leather layer, two mattresses, a sheet, and two thick and soft quilts on top.
She reached out and stroked the grayish-blue quilt cover. The fabric was slightly rough and couldn't compare to the colorful quilt cover she had in the palace. But this was hers, and she could use it as long as she wanted without worrying about it being taken away or reclaimed.
The wandering, aimless heart has found its home at this moment.
She looked at Pei Heng excitedly: "This time, we really have a home."
A clean, comfortable, warm, and safe home.
Seeing her happy, Pei Heng felt that this courtyard was a thousand times better than the palace he used to live in. Although it was small, it could accommodate him and Yuezhi. Although there were few things, it was enough.
The distant imperial city and the memories of being bound by constraints vanished into the past.
From this day forward, in his heart and soul, there will only be him, Yuezhi, and their home.
That evening, he took the initiative to light a fire to heat the kang (a traditional heated bed).
After staying at the Wang family's house for a few days, the previously ignorant and useless crown prince learned from Wang Miaomiao and Wang Qiushi how to fetch water, chop firewood, start a fire, and air out quilts...
He started his education early and was highly intelligent. He learned to read, ride, and shoot quickly, and he was even more adept at doing manual labor that didn't require much thinking. He could master it after just one lesson.
By the fire, Yuezhi steamed a pot of buns, stewed the young rooster she had bought that day with wild mushrooms, and made two large bowls of chicken stew with mushrooms. She also used the broth from the stewed chicken to cook a large piece of tofu, which was also divided into two bowls.
The Wang family helped them a lot in settling into their new home. The two of them served stewed tofu and chicken with mushrooms, and also brought eight large steamed buns, delivering them to the Wang family before mealtime.
As soon as Wang Miaomiao opened the door, she smelled the enticing aroma of chicken. Like a little puppy, she invited the two of them inside, running and calling out as she went.
"Mother, Sister Yuezhi and Aheng brought us a huge bowl of meat!"
Aunt Wang poked her head out of the house, "What are you yelling about? Do you want everyone to know that your sister is giving you special treats?"
Wang Miaomiao quickly covered her mouth and muttered softly, "There's also tofu and white flour steamed buns. The last time our family ate white flour steamed buns was before the New Year."
The Wang family has two children to raise and is also saving money for their son's wedding, so their life is inevitably tight.
Aunt Wang smiled apologetically at Yuezhi, put down what she was holding, and got up to take the vegetables and steamed buns from the two of them.
"You're too kind."
"We were able to move into our new home so quickly thanks to the help of Auntie's family. Yuezhi's cooking is also especially delicious. Please don't be shy, try some of it."
Pei Heng thanked Granny Wang earnestly, like a little adult. He already looked like a Guanyin Bodhisattva, and now, with his posture upright, he exuded a noble air that was rare among ordinary people, making people happy to see him.
"Okay, okay, we'll definitely try Yuezhi's cooking."
Aunt Wang wanted the two to stay for dinner, but they declined, saying there was still food warming in the pot at home.
Back home, the two quickly finished their meal.
Yuezhi carried the hot water from the large pot to the large tub in the bathhouse, intending to undress Pei Heng and give him a bath.
Pei Heng readily agreed to take a bath, but now that Yue Zhi had taken off his cotton-padded coat, even though he was wearing two layers underneath, he felt empty and restrained, not letting her take any more off.
He squatted down on the ground, saying, "I don't want you to wash me."
Yuezhi asked, puzzled, "There are no eunuchs here. If I don't wash you, who will?"
Pei Heng hardened his stance, "I'll wash it myself!"
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