Chapter 69: An Endless Feast

In the deep of night, all was silent.

On the country road at the border of Dao Hua Village and Saltpeter Village, Kang Fuchuan stopped the ox, signaling Kang Hu to halt as well. “Huzi, let’s part ways with Liu Xing here,” he said. “We can’t let him walk us all the way home and then have to trek back himself. If we keep dragging him along, he’ll return terribly late.”

His wife would worry for his safety, just as Liu Xing’s family, no doubt, would be anxious as well. So, putting himself in Liu Xing’s shoes, he thought it best for them to part here.

As for inviting Liu Xing for a thank-you meal, there would be plenty of time for that in the future—they were relatives, after all, so there was no rush.

Hearing his father’s decision, Kang Hu quickly handed the ox’s lead rope back to Liu Xing. The black calf obediently knelt and lay down as Liu Xing reached out to pat it.

After Kang Fuchuan dismounted, he patted Liu Xing’s shoulder. “Ah, you’re a clever lad, much more promising than your second brother, Ziran. Only… your mother…” he trailed off abruptly, suddenly swallowing his words, and let Kang Hu help him away.

Liu Xing scratched his head in puzzlement at those words, half-inclined to chase after them for an explanation, but thought better of it. If his sixth uncle had wanted to say more, he wouldn’t have stopped there.

Seeing how late it was, Liu Xing simply led the black calf toward home.

At the foot of Stone Ox Mountain, on the grain-drying grounds, Zhou Qiuxiang waited anxiously with Guazi and Little Dot, straining their eyes down the country road.

Seeing that neither Liu Xing nor the black calf had returned, she turned to Liu Dazhao beside her. “It’s almost eleven! Go check at Qiuyuan’s house. If something happened to Liu Xing on the way, that would be terrible.”

“Liu Xing’s sixteen or seventeen; what could possibly happen?” Liu Dazhao grumbled, but nonetheless put on his coat, grabbed a flashlight, and headed toward Dao Hua Village.

He had barely walked ten meters when the robust silhouette of the black calf emerged on the road.

“Big brother’s back!” Guazi, sharp-eyed, dashed over at once.

“Wait for me!” Little Dot flailed after him.

When Zhou Qiuxiang saw that it really was Liu Xing, she was overjoyed. Hurrying forward, she scooped up Little Dot and followed after Guazi.

By the gate, Liu Ziran poked out her pretty head. “Big sister, Liu Xing really is back. Should we go greet him?”

“If you want to go, go on your own—why drag me along?” muttered Liu Dongju, busy making shoes in the main room.

“Then I’m going!” Biting her lip, Liu Ziran quickly ran down the road.

Liu Dongju could only shake her head. She knew her second sibling’s aloof ways all too well. Such enthusiasm for Liu Xing could only mean she needed his help with something.

But that was a good thing—otherwise, in the past, she could have gone an entire day after coming home for the holidays without saying a word to Liu Xing.

“Actually, I should go greet Liu Xing too,” Liu Dongju thought to herself, “since there’s still so much about shoemaking I don’t understand—I can’t afford to neglect him.” Smiling, she quickly stood up and ran outside.

Liu Ye, witnessing all this, could only roll his eyes. Still, he dared not complain, for he knew in his heart that Liu Xing’s abilities truly surpassed his own and were worthy of the family’s high regard.

On the grain-drying grounds, Liu Xing handed the black calf’s rope to his father. “Dad! Please take care of the ox for me. I need to wash up and eat—I’m exhausted.”

“Exhausted, my foot!” Liu Dazhao retorted, taking the rope. “Did you plow a field today? You’re spotless, not even a fleck of mud on you!”

“I didn’t plow, but I did something you couldn’t do.” Liu Xing smirked as he scooped up Guazi, who was snuggled at his feet.

“What’s that?” Liu Dazhao asked, bewildered.

Zhou Qiuxiang, Liu Dongju, and Liu Ziran all listened curiously.

“Today I took Sixth Uncle to see Doctor Wang. If nothing goes wrong, Uncle’s illness should be cured in a few days,” Liu Xing said, the smile fading from his face, his tone serious.

“You… are you serious?” Liu Dazhao stood dumbfounded, staring at Liu Xing in disbelief.

Zhou Qiuxiang was incredulous as well. After all, in the past two years, Liu Qiuyuan had sold nearly everything and borrowed from every relative possible to treat Kang Fuchuan’s illness. And now, just because Liu Xing took him to Doctor Wang, it was suddenly curable? How could that be?

“Dad, Mom, would I joke about something like this?” Liu Xing insisted.

“Then you go take care of the ox. I’m heading to your sixth aunt’s house to check,” Liu Dazhao said, handing the rope back to Liu Xing and hurrying off toward Dao Hua Village.

“Dad!” Liu Xing called after him. He should have known better than to mention it to someone so impetuous.

“Slow down!” Zhou Qiuxiang called worriedly.

“I know, you all go home. I’ll be back soon!” Liu Dazhao disappeared into the night.

With no other choice, Liu Xing led the black calf to the cowshed.

Zhou Qiuxiang and Liu Dongju exchanged a glance, then returned home with Little Dot in tow.

But Liu Ziran did not return; instead, she caught up with Liu Xing at a brisk pace. “Little brother, wait for me.”

“Huh? What’s up?” Liu Xing turned to her.

“Well…” Liu Ziran hesitated, embarrassed.

“Come on, Second Sister, what’s there between us that you can’t say?” Liu Xing smiled.

“All right, then! Last week you made me a pair of sandals, didn’t you? My roommates all love them—really love them. Could you make a few pairs for them, too?” she asked, biting her lip and looking at him hopefully. When he didn’t seem angry, she added, “Don’t worry, they’ll pay. I’ve already collected the money—two yuan per pair.”

That price…

Liu Xing couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, but outwardly he said nothing. “Oh, since they’re your classmates, I won’t take their money. I’ll make them, but just this once—no more after that.”

The sandals he’d made for Liu Ziran, though a bit lacking in materials, were exquisite in craftsmanship—top-notch, whether now or in the eighties. Two yuan a pair was a steal.

So he had to make his terms clear, to avoid every girl from No. 8 High coming to him for sandals—it wasn’t worth the trouble.

Of course, he didn’t blame Liu Ziran. She was, after all, just a naïve high school girl, unaware of his thoughts.

Hearing his promise, Liu Ziran nodded happily.

“Wait here with Second Sister for a moment,” Liu Xing said, putting Guazi down and heading to the cowshed.

After locking up the black calf, he returned with Liu Ziran and Guazi, and they walked home together.

...

Back home, Liu Xing ate, bathed, and went straight to bed. He had no energy for shoemaking.

After all, the afternoon’s trek with Kang Fuchuan to see Doctor Wang had left him thoroughly exhausted.

When he awoke, it was already past nine in the morning.

In the main room, Liu Dongju and Liu Ziran were diligently crafting shoe soles, while Guazi and Little Dot played nearby.

Seeing Liu Xing get up, the two little ones immediately rushed over.

“Uncle, Uncle! I want to eat softshell turtle today. Will you take me to catch some?” Little Dot hugged Liu Xing’s right leg, beaming.

“I want to go too!” Guazi claimed his left leg without hesitation.

Liu Dongju could only shake her head at the sight.

Liu Ziran laughed. “You two! If you want Liu Xing to catch turtles, at least let him wash up and have breakfast first. Otherwise, how will he have the strength?”

At once, Guazi and Little Dot released Liu Xing.

“What clingy little devils,” Liu Ziran teased.

Liu Xing didn’t mind. He glanced outside. “Where are Mom and Dad?”

“Dad’s gone to plow Sixth Aunt’s field,” Liu Dongju replied.

“Mom’s in the vegetable plot,” Liu Ziran added.

“Oh.” Liu Xing turned and headed to the kitchen for breakfast.

Soon, he emerged with a large bowl of chicken stewed with honey dates. “Sis, didn’t I say yesterday that the old hen your mother-in-law gave you must be returned? How did you stew it while I was asleep?”

“Mom stewed it, not me,” Liu Dongju explained with a smile.

“Huh?” Liu Xing was confused. By rights, Mother knew what was going on and that the chicken from Li Qing shouldn’t be eaten—why had she changed her mind?

“Don’t be puzzled. This morning your brother-in-law came by and said Zhao Wuliang was released, along with over a dozen villagers from Old House Village who’d been detained. You can eat that old hen without worry—what you and Chief Wu discussed yesterday worked, and worked well,” Liu Dongju explained.

“But still, isn’t it a bit much to have stewed hen for breakfast? That’s too much nourishment all at once,” Liu Xing said, half laughing, half crying.

“That’s not my concern—it’s already cooked,” Liu Dongju laughed.

Liu Ziran smiled too. Her little brother had really changed lately. In the past, if there was stewed hen, he would have rolled up his sleeves and dug in without a second thought.

“Uncle, if you can’t finish, I’ll help you,” Little Dot said, nibbling her finger and edging closer to Liu Xing.

“Me too,” Guazi said, eyeing the fragrant drumstick in Liu Xing’s bowl, mouth watering.

“Haha, you little gluttons. All right, you eat it.” Liu Xing set the big bowl on the wooden stool and returned to the kitchen to make another breakfast.

Liu Dongju and Liu Ziran exchanged glances, momentarily at a loss for words.

———

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