Chang'an was plowing the field at home with a grumbling mule, while Old Gu Six walked along the coastline for five or six days before finding a small fishing village.
After asking the villagers for directions, he walked for two more days before reaching the town.
The town mostly sold seafood products. He found a stove and charcoal at a general store.
Since he had come all this way, he decided to buy more things to take back. He also bought some clothes and six pairs of shoes for Chang'an.
"Shopkeeper, do you have that red cloak in a size for a ten-year-old child?" he asked.
"No, but you can look at other items. Our shop also has red jackets and skirts," replied the shopkeeper.
"Thank you, that won't be necessary. Just wrap up this cloak for me," he said. He'd buy it now, and his daughter could wear it when she grew bigger.
As he left the clothing shop, he thought he heard someone calling him.
Looking back, it turned out to be Wan Ke.
"How is it that I see you everywhere?" Old Gu Six asked.
Wan Ke rolled his eyes dramatically. Wasn't that what he should be saying?
"Are you lost again? Where's your daughter? Did you lose her while fleeing from famine?" Wan Ke inquired.
"You might get lost, but I'd never lose my daughter," Old Gu Six retorted.
Seeing him carrying a load of goods on a shoulder pole and a basket on his back, Wan Ke suggested, "Want to sit for a while at the teahouse up ahead?"
"No, I don't have time," Old Gu Six declined. He had been away for many days, and his daughter was alone at home.
"I have time. Where are you living now? I'll come visit," Wan Ke persisted, following Old Gu Six with a determination that suggested he wouldn't give up until he achieved his goal.
Old Gu Six put down his load and said impatiently, "Stop following me. My home is very far and not suitable for visitors."
"A bit of distance is no problem. Take me to see your place. If it's suitable, we could be neighbors," Wan Ke replied, his expression serious and not seeming to be joking.
Seeing his earnest demeanor, Old Gu Six asked, "You're not working as an escort anymore?"
"No, I've quit," Wan Ke answered, without explaining why. However, Old Gu Six had his suspicions.
The outside world was too chaotic, and with those in power behaving badly, strong young men like escorts were prime candidates for the battlefield.
"My place only has room for me and my daughter. You'll have to find somewhere else," Old Gu Six said. That small valley couldn't accommodate too many people.
Seeing that Old Gu Six was also serious, Wan Ke knew that no amount of persistence would work.
"Alright then. Next time you come to town, visit me. I live in the small fishing village up ahead," Wan Ke conceded.
Then Old Gu Six discovered that they were heading in the same direction. After two days, they reached the small fishing village where he had asked for directions earlier.
"Old Six, it seems we live in the same direction. Why don't you come have lunch at my place before continuing on?" Wan Ke offered.
Old Gu Six was about to refuse, but then he remembered that their house didn't have a kang bed-stove. Since Wan Ke lived in the village, his house should have one.
He nodded and followed Wan Ke home, mainly wanting to learn the technique of building a kang. With a kang, his daughter wouldn't be cold in winter.
Wan Ke wasn't married. His family hadn't divided the household, so he lived with his two elder brothers and their wives, his nephews, and his elderly mother.
Eleven people lived in a small courtyard with only three rooms, which looked very crowded. With not enough rooms, Wan Ke slept in the firewood shed.
Wan's Eldest Sister-in-law saw Wan Ke bring a guest home and was very welcoming, calling for Wan's Second Sister-in-law to prepare lunch.
Old Gu Six hadn't really intended to eat lunch at Wan Ke's house and quickly tried to stop Wan's Eldest Sister-in-law, "Sister, don't trouble yourself. I just came to familiarize myself with the place today."
"It's almost noon. How can you come to someone's home and leave without eating?" Wan's Eldest Sister-in-law said with a laugh, efficiently tying on an apron and heading to the kitchen.
Wan Ke held Old Gu Six back, "Eating a meal won't delay you much. Sit down and have a cup of tea to rest a bit."
Old Gu Six sat down and casually asked, "Do you know how to build a kang?"
"I don't. This house already had a kang when we moved in. But I can take you to look at it if you want to see if you can figure it out?" Wan Ke offered.
However, reality proved that not everything can be learned just by looking.
Wan Old Lady returned from outside carrying a basket. "Little Gu, you're here! If you want to learn how to build a kang, have San'er take you to Old Uncle Fang's house. I heard he built all the kangs in the village."
"Madam Wan, it's been a while. How is your health?" Old Gu Six greeted her.
"I'm very well. Now that we live close by, we should visit each other often," she said, assuming Old Gu Six also lived in the village and thinking that frequent visits between neighbors could foster good relationships.
"Certainly, I'll follow your advice," Old Gu Six agreed.
Building a kang was a skilled craft. People made a living from this skill, so even if Old Gu Six asked, they might not be willing to teach him.
However, it was still worth a try. Without a proper gift, Old Gu Six planned to use silver to open the door.
Wan Ke led him on a fifteen-minute walk to Old Uncle Fang's house. Old Uncle Fang's family was small, just him and his two grandsons. His son and daughter-in-law had gone out to sea years ago and never returned.
Wan Ke explained their purpose, "Uncle Fang, sorry to disturb you. My friend here wants to learn about building a kang. He lives far away, so it's too troublesome to invite someone to build one. He wants to build one himself."
Old Gu Six handed over the prepared silver.
Old Uncle Fang didn't refuse. He still had two grandsons to raise and couldn't afford to turn down the offer.
He weighed the pouch, quite satisfied with its heft.
"Alright, come with me," he said.
He didn't make things difficult for Old Gu Six. He took him into the room and, pointing at the kang, explained in detail, covering all the important points to note.
With Old Uncle Fang's instruction, Old Gu Six suddenly understood, immediately visualizing the structural framework of the kang in his mind.
When leaving, Old Gu Six gave Old Uncle Fang an extra two taels of silver, then returned to Wan's house where the whole family was waiting for them to eat.
The Wan family's living conditions were quite good, so the lunch was quite sumptuous: a pot of old hen soup, a bowl of stir-fried meat slices, a plate of steamed cured pork, and a plate of braised fish chunks.
The staple foods were rice and steamed white wheat buns.
Old Gu Six only ate until he was half full, then stopped. If he ate his fill, the Wan family wouldn't have enough to eat.
"Little Gu, eat more. Don't be shy. Treat this as your own home," Wan Old Lady said, seeing him put down his chopsticks. Worried he hadn't eaten enough, she quickly stood up to get him another bowl of rice.
Fortunately, Old Gu Six was quick enough to stop her. "Madam, don't worry. I wouldn't stand on ceremony with you. I'm truly full."
After lunch, Old Gu Six stayed a while longer and gave half of the pastries he had bought for Chang'an to the Wan family.
It felt awkward to come empty-handed and still eat a meal.
Wan Ke saw him out of the village, noting the direction he took, thinking of finding a time to visit Old Six's home as well.
This time, Old Gu Six didn't get lost. He followed the coastline all the way back home.
Then he saw his daughter covered in mud, with the mule grumbling beside her. He didn't know what it was cursing about.
He felt the mule's curses must be quite dirty, and wondered if it would be appropriate for him to laugh now.
Chang'an's face was covered in mud. Seeing Old Gu Six return, she grinned foolishly, "Dad, you're back!"
Old Gu Six coughed lightly, suppressing the urge to burst out laughing. "Daughter, do you want to go back and wash up and change your clothes first?"
Chang'an nodded and ran back home, entering her special space. Old Gu Six put down his things and led the mule to the small river to help it bathe.
The small river had widened considerably, and the land had all been plowed. It must have been his daughter's handiwork.
It would be perfect for planting wheat in the spring, though he wasn't sure if the soil here was suitable for growing grain.
