"May you have happiness every year and peace every age," Zheng Ruqian said as he lay in bed, dreaming of eating a reunion dinner with soft, tender pork elbows braised in a rich sauce, aromatic stir-fried chicken, garlic-infused fried fish, and all sorts of other delicious foods, all of which were Zhang Auntie's specialties.
Unfortunately, just as he stuffed them into his mouth, he woke up and heard a milk-like voice nagging, "Second brother, here's your New Year's money. May you have happiness every year and peace every age."
It was really odd. Jiang Sheng was usually so stingy. How could she give him New Year's money?
Zheng Ruqian was greatly surprised. He slowly opened one eye and saw a purse by his pillow. Based on his estimate, there was at least fifty taels of silver inside.
Wow! This was no different from Jiang Sheng giving up half her life! Fifty taels was no small sum.
Just as Zheng Ruqian was about to jokingly call out, his throat was too dry, and he made a strange "huh-huh" sound instead.
Jiang Sheng was so startled that she immediately stood up, knocking over the stool she had been sitting on.
The brothers who were standing outside also swarmed in to see Zheng Ruqian with his eyes bright and alert. They all laughed.
"Second brother, you finally woke up," Jiang Sheng said with a pout, on the verge of tears. But she didn't want to be called a crybaby, so she forcibly swallowed her tears and sobbed, "I thought, I thought you wouldn't wake up. We have to eat the dumplings on the first day of the new year."
Zheng Ruqian's mouth was wide open as he continued to "huh-huh."
"Second brother, I won't scold you. I know you hurried back all for me. I remember everything," Jiang Sheng's nose felt more and more sour. "You need to get better soon so we can eat dumplings together."
Zheng Ruqian's eyes widened more and he "huh-huh'ed" even louder.
Jiang Sheng was confused.
Xu Mo coughed slightly and conjectured, "Could it be... second brother is thirsty?"
Jiang Sheng suddenly realized what was going on. She quickly brought over a cup of warm tea and held it to Zheng Ruqian's lips.
His parched throat that had gone dry for days was like a rain shower in spring. Zheng Ruqian drank it all in one gulp and was finally able to speak. "Jiang Sheng, you really are silly."
If it were any later, second brother would have died from exhaustion on the road instead of thirst.
"I was just overly concerned," Jiang Sheng finally threw a little tantrum. "Second brother, you really suffered these past two months."
"Yes, second brother. Jiang Sheng already took money and asked auntie to buy meat," Xu Mo teased. "She said she wants you to recuperate well."
Chang Yan also stuck his head out. "Fourth brother said he also wants to grab you some medicine so you can recover your health as soon as possible."
It felt so nice to be cared for by family.
Zheng Ruqian was just smiling contentedly when he heard the last sentence and his expression suddenly changed. He shook his head violently. "No, no no. I can eat meat but I won't drink medicine."
The whole family laughed.
"You have to drink it even if you don't want to. It has to taste bad in order to make sure you remember," Jiang Sheng finally threw a small tantrum. "If you dare disregard your body and rush on the road again in the future, I'll make you drink the most bitter medicine. Fourth brother, what's the most bitter thing again?"
Wen Zhiyun smiled mysteriously. "Of course it's gentian root."
Seeing Zheng Ruqian's expression change from stunned, to frightened, to panicked, the whole family roared with laughter again.
The laughter carried outside to the small courtyard.
The Gao brothers who were resting outside all revealed longing expressions.
On this hurried journey back, Zheng Ruqian had exerted great effort, gripping the horse whip the entire half journey without letting go.
The Gao brothers took turns rushing the remaining half. They also suffered hardships and grew thinner, but they were in relatively better condition.
Zhang Auntie brought them dumplings and tea. They were currently resting after eating their fill.
Gao Yan was young with few calluses on his hands. His palm skin had ruptured who knows how many times from gripping the reins throughout the journey. Now he was carefully tearing off the outermost layer of skin to reveal the indistinct flesh and blood underneath.
"What are you doing?" Wang Xiaozhu walked over holding gold sore medicine and stopped in front of the two brothers. "Even if blisters form, you just need to pop them. Tearing off the skin will make it heal slower."
Gao Yan didn't know what to do and retracted his hand. "I...I was just curious what the inside looked like."
"The inside is uncovered flesh," Wang Xiaozhu impatiently squatted down. "Hold out your hands. Little Doctor Wen told me to come wrap bandages for you."
After the two brothers had their hands wrapped in white, she instructed again, "Don't get the bandages wet when going home for New Year. Come back after Lantern Festival and I'll change them for you."
Gao Dawan expressed thanks from the side.
Yet Gao Yan blankly watched her graceful, slender backside and inexplicably asked, "You...aren't you going home for New Year?"
Although the two of them were late, they still needed to go back home eventually. Their employer even gave them two extra taels of silver as compensation and told them to rest sufficiently before taking the carriage back home again. It could be said they were given ample pride.
But this girl, who had always been busy at the clinic, seemed to never have left the courtyard before.
Wang Xiaozhu's footsteps paused slightly. Without turning back, she said, "I'm not going back. This is my home."
She left, taking the gauze and gold sore medicine with her.
The two brothers kept silent with lowered heads.
After a while, Gao Dawan forced out a laugh to break the silence. "It's nice to not have to travel thousands of miles back home. After my parents pass away, I'm also going to bring my wife and kids to Fengjing. Then I won't have to only see them twice a year anymore."
Gao Yan didn't reply. After a moment, Gao Dawan could only squeeze an "en" from his throat.
Who didn't want to stay by their family every day?
On the second day of the new year, the Gao brothers left driving the carriage, with their bonus silver, to go home for New Year.
Zheng Ruqian was also finally allowed to get out of bed and slowly ate his dumplings.
Zhang Auntie stood at his side chattering away about the master chef, chattering about the partnership between Jiuzhen Store and You Ran House.
Wang Xiaosong angrily tattled with great dissatisfaction about Shopkeeper Hao pilfering their stove.
Jiang Sheng was curious why he insisted on getting chestnuts from Hebei Commandery when Henan Prefecture's chestnuts were bigger and plumper.
The three people were talking at once, sounding like five hundred ducks singing. Even Xu Mo frowned at the clamor.
Yet Zheng Ruqian seemed unaware as he finished eating the last dumpling and wiped his mouth before saying, "One at a time. Xiaosong first."
From afar Chang Yan raised a brow, inexplicably feeling like second brother was starting to have the air of a family head.
Wang Xiaosong began chattering away in grievance. "Shopkeeper Hao went too far. He was the one who proposed two-tael roast ducks per order and settled the partnership first before suddenly raising ducks from Danyang Prefecture. Then he poached a master chef and severed business with us right after the ducks matured..."
"He should have said early on if he didn't want to partner anymore. We already prepared the leased properties and ice, thinking business would go on. No profit is a small matter, but the leased properties and ice are the greatest loss!"
Wang Xiaosong was aggrieved to the point of clutching his chest to catch his breath and calm himself.
He had assumed the family head would share his indignation and perhaps even impulsively go settle accounts with Shopkeeper Hao.
Yet unexpectedly, Zheng Ruqian just sipped some tea and calmly said, "Don't blame Shopkeeper Hao."
