Chapter 44: The New Home

This two-courtyard residence was divided into a front yard and a back yard. The outer walls were built of bricks and stone, very sturdy. The houses were much like most dwellings in Mayi—constructed in a rough yet towering manner, neither entirely new nor terribly old, looking as though they could stand for many years to come.

For Li Po and Li Chun, the rooms were somewhat too numerous, making it unnecessary for them to crowd into a single room to live. However, because the house was so vast, having just the two of them move in made it feel rather empty. The traces left by the previous occupants were already few; there were hardly any furnishings or utensils, leaving the two of them to acquire everything themselves.

Of course, what pleased Li Po the most was the kitchen. A large residence had this sole advantage: it could accommodate a proper kitchen. The former owner of this house had installed two cooking ranges—one large and one small. Clearly, the large range had been used by servants, while the small one was undoubtedly for the master.

The cooking utensils in the kitchen were already complete, having been brought over by him and Li Chun over the past few days. Although they were all half-new and half-old, lacking any festive air of moving into a brand-new home, their greatest virtues were being cheap and complete. Yet Li Po was still thinking of finding a blacksmith to forge an iron wok. Constantly eating steamed and boiled fare, while delicious enough in its own right, lacked the convenience, speed, and variety of stir-frying.

In truth, the older and the younger had their own plans for their new dwelling.

Li Chun intended to plant some crops and vegetables in the courtyard. Of course, planting some flowers and grass for decoration might be even better, but the two individuals who had just escaped from abject poverty lacked the leisure and refined taste for such things, focusing solely on the essentials of food, clothing, housing, and travel. Li Chun also planned to raise some chickens and ducks to harvest eggs for consumption.

Li Po heartily approved of this idea. Chickens and ducks not only produced eggs but provided meat as well. He cared not a whit for the messy, conventional rules of the people of this era; properly prepared, poultry was absolute top-tier delicacy among meats. Naturally, pork—shunned by the locals—was also on Li Po's menu, and quite high up at that.

However, having eaten mutton and beef for so many years, Li Po honestly wondered if he might vomit the moment he smelled pork. He had once heard someone say that people accustomed to abstaining from pork found the smell of it gamey and offensive, just as Han Chinese could easily detect the muttony odor on other people or in their food.

The two fellows had just moved into their new home, yet their very first priority was pondering what to eat. One had to admit: birds of a feather flock together.

Of course, besides food and drink, Li Po was also considering installing a heating flue. Having frozen through half the winter, he had fully tasted the bitterness of the cold. In his mind, keeping warm was a matter of great importance. A heating flue supplemented by a brick kang and a brazier would ensure they had no fear of freezing, no matter how cold the winter became.

This project was quite substantial and awaited his industrious efforts.

Their rooms adjoined each other, naturally both main rooms enjoying excellent natural lighting. The bedding and similar items had all been purchased anew, and the clothing on their backs was fresh as well. In short, much like their lives, the two fellows had taken on a completely renewed appearance. Walking through the city of Mayi, no one would ever guess that these two had been refugees just a short while ago.

Living in such a large house, servants were actually indispensable.

This was located within Mayi City, squarely in the residential area of wealthy families. The surrounding dwellings mostly belonged to county government clerks and officials—none of them held very high ranks, yet each maintained their own pomp and circumstance. To live in harmony with one's neighbors without showing a bit of pretense meant failing to blend into the surrounding environment.

Neither of them paid any attention to this, however. Having just escaped a wretched existence, they simply lacked the means to put on airs, nor did they wish for too much contact with their neighbors just yet.

Among the refugees, there were indeed solitary and helpless men and women who would gladly become slaves or servants at a single word from Li Po. Yet Li Po had not brought a single one along, for he thought much further ahead. To achieve a better life, one needed to completely sever ties with the period of being a refugee. Even if it could not be cut off cleanly, one had to keep as far away as possible. This revealed his ruthless and cold side, but it also radiated a certain wisdom and foresight.

Whether others knew of his past was their affair, but if one understood the reasoning yet refused to act upon it, that would be sheer stupidity.

Having moved into the new dwelling, they had not rejoiced for long before both felt a lingering sense of emptiness—a psychological effect brought on by uncertainty regarding their prospects and future.

Toward evening, Li Po called Li Chun to his side and asked, "Will you come with me to work in the county government office, or stay here at home?"

This child could be said to possess extraordinary natural talent. Despite her tender years, she had tasted every kind of hardship. Remaining by his side, within a few years he could forge her into an outstanding warrior, and in the future, she might very well surpass her master.

Yet regrettably... the boy had turned out to be a girl, leaving Li Po rather conflicted. Thus, on this day, he simply handed the choice over to Li Chun herself.

Accompanying him to the county government naturally meant she would learn things ordinary women could never hope to learn, and her future life would surely differ from that of other women. The gains and losses were hard to weigh clearly—otherwise, Li Po would not have tossed this burden over to Li Chun.

As for staying at home, things would be much simpler: the man tends to external affairs, the woman tends to internal ones, and eventually she would simply find a husband and be married off.

Li Chun's answer was actually within Li Po's expectations. The child tossed her head without the slightest hesitation, "Naturally I'll follow big brother. What would I stay at home for? The house isn't going to run away. Tomorrow, Xiao Chun will go to the human market and get a few dogs to guard our home and courtyard."

She was quite thorough in her planning.

Li Po rubbed her head and smiled, "Don't regret it in the future... Well, the county government is not the human market. There might not be fierce hounds, but there are plenty of vicious people. Do you remember what I told the others when we first opened our shop?"

Li Chun rubbed against Li Po's palm like a little kitten, narrowing her eyes comfortably. After thinking for just a brief moment, she replied, "I remember... Keep your head down while eating, keep your head up while walking, do more and speak less, Big Brother dislikes listening to petty neighborhood gossip..."

"Good, as long as you remember. Once you are in the county government, you must abide by their rules... Being diligent in your work and speaking little will always win people's favor."

Li Chun felt a bit apprehensive; having been sold to a wealthy household since childhood, she still carried psychological shadows. "Big Brother, when we go there, will people beat us for no reason?"

Li Po pursed his lips. This stubborn child never thought of the good, always anticipating the worst—and if you get beaten, it'll be your own doing.

Dissatisfied in his heart, his mouth naturally resorted to intimidation. "Since we are newcomers, it's not impossible that someone might bully us. How about... you stay at home instead?"

"No, no." Li Chun's head immediately shook like a rattle-drum.

"Then what shall we do if someone beats us?"

"Whatever Big Brother says we should do."

"The county government is full of big shots. If they beat us, we can only endure it. Do you still want to go?"

"I'm going."

"Hehe, as the old saying goes: one must suffer the bitterest of hardships to become a master above other men. If you can't even endure this little bit of hardship, we might as well leave the city and head into the mountains where we can at least live carefree. Don't you agree?"

"Big Brother speaks truly... but... we've already suffered quite a lot of hardship, you know."

Li Po, "............"