9 Spring Wine Town

The man’s calm voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, fell into the room, and instantly, the atmosphere in the main hall seemed to be abruptly stifled.

The three members of the Zhou family stared at one another, wide-eyed, no one daring to make a sound. Sun Guiyun was so stunned she was left speechless.

After a long while, she finally snapped out of it, her voice dropping an octave as she muttered, "You child, are you teasing your aunt? A girl as spirited and lovely as your brother's fiancée is hard to find anywhere for miles around!"

As the words left her lips, Sun Guiyun seemed to realize something and collected her thoughts. She pointed at him, laughing, "Aha! I see, you just don't want to go to the meeting and are making excuses."

Huo Fang lowered his gaze, offering no reply. He simply reached out and picked up the black travel bag resting to his side. He pulled the zipper open with his fingertips and said quietly, "I came back to attend my brother's wedding. Don't worry about me, Aunt and Uncle."

As he spoke, Sun Guiyun and Zhou Qishan watched his movements as he drew objects from the bag. He pulled out several thick stacks of red envelopes! Each one was so stuffed that one dared not guess the amount of money inside. Stacked together, they formed a solid, brick-like pile.

Seeing this, the three Zhou family members widened their eyes in collective shock.

Huo Fang’s well-defined fingers placed the thick stacks of envelopes on the table, his tone steady: "Aunt, Uncle, for my brother’s wedding, this is the gift money from me as his elder brother. It totals eighty-eight thousand. Please accept it."

In Chunjiu Town, a generous wedding gift would at most reach one hundred and fifty yuan. But the gift from this nephew was eighty-eight thousand—a sum that exceeded the combined annual income of most village families! If this massive gesture were to get out, the entire town would be floored.

Zhou Qishan and Sun Guiyun were so shocked they couldn't speak, and Zhou Qingyuan gasped, equally stunned.

After a long moment, Zhou Qishan regained his composure and waved his hands vigorously, saying sternly, "This is nonsense! It is only proper for you to give a gift for your brother's wedding, but eighty-eight thousand? Take it back, we won't accept it!"

Sun Guiyun looked at Zhou Qishan, wanting to speak but hesitating, then nodded. "Yes, take the money back. This amount is simply too large."

Zhou Qingyuan swallowed hard, remaining silent.

Huo Fang smiled and said candidly, "For all these years, I’ve been busy away from home and couldn't find the time to visit you. I feel very guilty. I have always remembered the kindness you showed in raising me. So, for my brother's wedding, whatever amount I give is only right."

Huo Fang added, "Aunt, Uncle, please accept it. Whether it is a lot or a little, it is my sincere gesture."

Zhou Qishan and Sun Guiyun exchanged looks. After a long while, Zhou Qishan rubbed his face and hesitantly nodded, "Very well. Your brother will accept this generous gift."

Sun Guiyun quickly urged Zhou Qingyuan, "Hurry up and thank your brother."

Looking at the eighty-eight thousand on the table, Zhou Qingyuan took a deep breath. "Thank you, Big Brother!"

***

Ye Zhengjun, Ye Rui's father, was a veteran brewer who had worked at the Chunjiu Town winery for most of his life. Recently, the factory had been on a tight schedule, and he left early and returned late, often not arriving until nightfall.

No matter how late it was, Wang Fang would have a hot meal prepared for him, fearing he would exhaust himself otherwise.

For dinner, Wang Fang and her daughters, Ye Rui and Ye Tang, had eaten refreshing, chewy cold noodles. That night, she planned to mince pork and scallions to make dumplings for when Ye Zhengjun returned. Any leftovers would serve as breakfast the next day.

Wang Fang and Ye Rui were currently busy in the kitchen. Wang Fang was efficient, seasoning the pork and scallion filling until it was fragrant, and then began rolling out the dough. The rolling pin in her hand moved like a well-trained soldier, creating perfectly round and uniform wrappers.

Mother and daughter worked in tandem—one rolling, one wrapping. Ye Rui’s slender, fair fingers were dusted with fine flour as she focused on the task. The dumplings she fashioned were plump with neat, elegant pleats, looking like tiny gold ingots.

Watching her daughter’s handiwork, Wang Fang smiled, "My daughter’s dumplings are so festive and pretty; when your father comes home later, he probably won't even be able to bear eating them!"

Hearing her mother’s teasing, Ye Rui felt a bit embarrassed. "Mom, how could Dad not bear to eat them? You're exaggerating."

Wang Fang didn't stop rolling the dough. She smiled, glanced out the kitchen window, and continued, "It’s getting late, your father will be back soon. Finish these last few, then wash up and go to your room to rest."

Ye Rui resisted, "You’re still rolling, there are plenty left. I’ll finish before I head in."

"That won't do," Wang Fang fretted. "You have important business tomorrow. You’re leaving early with Qingyuan and his cousin to buy the 'three golds' in the county town. Get to bed early so you don't oversleep."

"Qingyuan's cousin returned specifically for the wedding, so he will inevitably be putting in a lot of effort. We couldn't pay much attention to your aunt's enthusiasm this afternoon, but tomorrow, it's your first time meeting this cousin, so you must mind your manners."

Ye Rui paused while pleating a dumpling. She bit her lip and whispered, "Mom, I met Big Brother tonight."

Wang Fang: "What? You’ve already met?"

Ye Rui’s long lashes fluttered, her face warming. "I met Qingyuan, and on the way back, I learned the cousin had driven into town, so we crossed paths."

Although Ye Rui and Zhou Qingyuan were officially engaged, she felt shy mentioning their evening rendezvous in front of her mother.

Knowing her daughter was thin-skinned, Wang Fang saw her bashful expression and smiled, deciding not to pry further into the couple's meeting. She only asked, "What is Qingyuan’s cousin like? Is he easy to get along with?"

Ye Rui placed a plump dumpling on the tray and blinked, the image of her "brother-in-law" flashing through her mind. The man was tall and sturdy, with broad shoulders and a sharp, cold, and stern countenance. He looked unapproachable. Yet, when he noticed her discomfort while opening the car door and stepped in to help, she realized that while he seemed icy and dangerous, he was actually quite attentive.

Thinking of this, Ye Rui blinked and replied honestly, "He looks intimidating on the outside, but he’s actually very kind. I even caught a ride in his car tonight, and he dropped me off at our front door."

Hearing this, Wang Fang nodded with a smile.

***

In the kitchen, the mother and daughter continued to chat. After Ye Rui quickly wrapped another row of dumplings, Wang Fang refused to let her continue, urging her to go to bed.

Ye Rui sighed softly and agreed. She turned and left the kitchen, heading to wash up. Before retiring, she stopped by her younger brother’s room to check on him, fearing he might be hiding under the covers playing. The light in Ye Tang’s room was already out, and it was quiet, so she turned and headed to her own bedroom with peace of mind.

The night was deep. In the vastness of Chunjiu Town, most lights had been extinguished, save for a few. In the Ye household, the kitchen light remained on, waiting for the father to return. Simultaneously, at the Zhou household, the lights in Sun Guiyun and Zhou Qishan’s room were still burning.

***

Knowing Huo Fang was returning to Chunjiu, the Zhou family had prepared in advance. Sun Guiyun had cleaned out a spare room and made the bed days ago. After chatting in the main hall for a while, the family decided to rest, given the nephew’s exhausting journey.

However, the light in Sun Guiyun and Zhou Qishan’s bedroom stayed on.

Sun Guiyun patted her chest, glancing at a large rosewood wardrobe against the eastern wall, and lowered her voice. "Is it safe to lock the money Xiao Fang gave us in the box and hide it under the cabinet?"

Zhou Qishan took off his reading glasses. "There’s never been any thievery in this town; why wouldn't it be safe?"

"That may be, but this is eighty-eight thousand! How many years would our traditional medicine clinic have to work to earn that much? And we're just keeping it in the house?" Sun Guiyun fretted. "I say, let Qingyuan take it to the county town tomorrow and put it in the bank!"

Zhou Qishan frowned. "He just gave it to us tonight; if we rush to deposit it tomorrow while they are both in the county, where will I, his uncle, hide my face?"

Sun Guiyun rolled her eyes. "So what if we deposit it? You're too obsessed with appearances!"

Zhou Qishan pulled back the covers and lay down, refusing. "We’ll talk about the bank later. The engagement, the wedding banquet, the cigarettes and alcohol—it all costs money. We've already given Qingyuan a good portion of our savings for the 'three golds' tomorrow. There isn't much left."

"There will be countless expenses. We might need to break into that money. If we put it all in the bank and can't get it out when we need to pay for the wedding, do you expect me to go begging?"

Sun Guiyun fell silent. After a long while, she muttered, "Fine, fine, I understand."

She extinguished the light and felt her way into bed. But the elderly couple lay there, unable to sleep. After all, their nephew had just returned from afar and handed them a massive fortune; no one could just drift off to sleep.

Sun Guiyun exhaled deeply, musing in wonder, "Old Zhou, what exactly does Xiao Fang do out there? I can't fathom how he has such deep pockets." She sighed repeatedly, "That child, growing up without parents, has really made something of himself!" She couldn't help but add, "It's a good thing he spent a few years with us when he was little. Now that he's successful, he's a boy who knows how to be grateful..."

Zhou Qishan lay with his eyes open, sighing gloomily. "Because of Qingyuan’s wedding expenses, we’ll keep this gift, but from now on, as his elders, we must not casually take his money. His parents are gone, and he hasn't settled down or married yet; he’ll have plenty of his own expenses in the future."

Sun Guiyun was displeased. "What kind of talk is that? As his elders, how could we constantly use his money?"

Zhou Qishan hummed, saying no more. But Sun Guiyun continued, "I recall Xiao Fang was in the military for quite a few years. What is he actually doing out there now? You still haven't told me."

"Xiao Fang is his own boss. He opened a boxing gym."

"A boxing gym?" Sun Guiyun was confused. "What’s that?"

Zhou Qishan chuckled. "You wouldn't understand anyway. Just remember that our nephew is a boss."

Sun Guiyun huffed. "You old man, don't put on airs. You don't know what a boxing gym is either!"

Zhou Qishan coughed and stayed silent. Sun Guiyun didn't care what a "boxing gym" was, but the thought of her nephew being a big boss stirred her mind again. She murmured, "My nephew isn't young anymore, and his life's affairs aren't settled. He doesn't even have a woman by his side. As his aunt, I must take charge of this, don't you think?"

Zhou Qishan knew what she was planning. "You’re still hung up on your Sun family niece, wanting to play matchmaker. But tonight in the hall, Xiao Fang made it clear he has no such intentions."

Sun Guiyun grew angry and shouted, "He hasn't even met the girl, how can you say he has no intentions? You just don't want to see your nephew do well! You don't want to see my niece do well! If they could become a couple, it would be a perfect marriage of two families! Stop talking nonsense!"

Zhou Qishan was scolded so thoroughly he struggled to breathe, but he was no match for Sun Guiyun’s sharp tongue. After a long while, he gasped and replied, "Huo Fang values 'eye appeal.' The bride-to-be caught his eye, but look at your niece—among those I've seen, who can compare to Ye Rui?"

Though this was a blatant fact, it only made Sun Guiyun angrier. She sat up abruptly, pointing her finger, and blurted out, "Fine! Zhou Qishan! You look down on my niece because of your nephew! But what, are you hoping your future daughter-in-law will run off with your nephew instead?"

As her shouting died down, Zhou Qishan’s face changed. "It’s the middle of the night, why are you yelling? At your age! You’re getting more and more irrational!" Zhou Qishan sighed heavily, unable to do anything about her, and turned his back. "Fine! If you want to waste your energy matchmaking, I won't stop you. But whether it succeeds—whether you can get your niece and Huo Fang together—that depends on your own ability!"

Sun Guiyun settled down, lying back. "My nephew's life events are for me, his aunt, to manage. You just stay out of it!"

***

In the gentle breeze of the Chunjiu Town night, the elderly Zhou couple finally quieted down. On the other side, in the Ye courtyard, Ye Rui was already fast asleep.

As the morning light dawned, Ye Rui rubbed her eyes, pushed back the light quilt, and climbed out of bed in a daze. She walked to the wardrobe to change. Opening the door, she looked at the neatly folded clothes. Thinking of the trip to the county town, her long lashes fluttered, and she gently took out a beloved outfit to change into.

Once dressed, Ye Rui stepped out of her room to wash up in the yard. Just as she filled the basin with water, movement came from the room across the way—it was Ye Tang waking up with a yawn.

Ye Rui wiped her face with a damp towel, looked at her brother, and smiled, "You’re quite obedient today, not staying in bed."

Hearing his sister, Ye Tang mumbled, "Your brother is always obedient..." Before he could finish, he caught sight of Ye Rui. His eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "Sister! You look so beautiful today!"

Ye Tang was young, but he was bright and agile. He knew that in Chunjiu Town, both he and his sister were blessed with good looks. Usually, his sister didn't dress up for work at the factory, but today, the change in appearance struck him with great impact.

Ye Rui was wearing a pale yellow top with a ruffled collar. Against her fair skin, the bright color made her look white as snow, her features elegant and refined.

Ye Tang gave her a thumbs up. "Sister! You look so beautiful today, like a fairy!" He then muttered, "Qingyuan is lucky to be able to marry you; he should be laughing to himself."

Ye Rui scolded him lightly, "You have such a sweet tongue."

Ye Tang laughed, brushed his teeth, and mumbled, "Sister, are you going to the county town soon?"

Ye Rui hung up the towel and smiled, "I'll bring you back the chestnut cakes you love."

Ye Tang replied happily, "Thanks, Sister!"

***

With the siblings heading out—one to school, one to the county—the morning was early. Wang Fang was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. The dumplings from the night before were boiled in a steaming pot, and she had prepared a sour and spicy soup base with soy sauce, aged vinegar, chili oil, and white sesame seeds.

The dumplings were thin-skinned and full of flavor; one bite of the pork and scallion filling was delicious enough to swallow your tongue. Paired with the hot, sour, and spicy soup, it was a meal unmatched by any restaurant. Even though Ye Rui usually had a modest appetite in the morning, she finished the entire bowl.

Wang Fang watched her daughter finish, put down her chopsticks, and instructed, "Take your little bag and go to the Zhou house now; don't make them wait. When you get to the shop, pick whatever style of 'three golds' you like."

Thinking that after buying the jewelry, the wedding date would officially be set, Ye Rui’s pale cheeks warmed. She bit her lip and obediently said, "Okay."

Wang Fang smiled, "Go on, don't be late."

Ye Rui nodded, returned to her room to stash a few more items in her bag, then left the house and headed toward the Zhou residence.

Meanwhile, at the Zhou house, they had just finished breakfast. Zhou Qishan and Sun Guiyun gave Zhou Qingyuan a few final instructions. Zhou Qingyuan nodded and waved, "Mom, Dad, I know! Don't worry."

He looked at Huo Fang, eager. "Big Brother, Rui is always punctual. She’ll be here any minute. Let’s go outside and wait for her." Besides waiting for his fiancée, Zhou Qingyuan had another motive: he wanted to get another close look at Huo Fang’s imposing car parked outside.

Huo Fang raised an eyebrow and hummed in agreement.

Stepping out into the yard, Zhou Qingyuan walked around the SUV, observing it with envious eyes. Huo Fang lowered his gaze, ignoring him, and pulled a cigarette from his pocket, biting it between his lips. He struck a lighter, the flame flared, and he stood to the side, exhaling a plume of smoke.

Just then, a female voice called out, "Qingyuan!" A small figure ran toward him. When Zhou Qingyuan saw who it was, his expression shifted drastically. He panicked, "Xu Xiaoni, why are you here!"

Xu Xiaoni was petite, wearing her hair in two braids. She smiled, her tone coquettish, "Qingyuan, I want to go to the county town today too..."

Before she could finish, Zhou Qingyuan instinctively glanced at Huo Fang, grabbed Xu Xiaoni’s arm, and pulled her toward the shade of a distant tree.

Huo Fang smoked leisurely, his expression indifferent to his cousin pulling and tugging at a woman who was not his fiancée.

Just then, he caught sight of his "sister-in-law" in his field of vision. The woman was wearing a pale yellow ruffled top and light-colored jeans, walking toward them through the morning mist. Her neck was slender, her skin fair, and she looked refined and otherworldly.

Huo Fang’s dark eyes locked onto her. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and a second later, his well-defined fingers crushed the cigarette butt.

"..."

Ye Rui walked toward the Zhou house, never expecting that before she saw her fiancé, she would first encounter the "brother-in-law."

Their eyes met.

Ye Rui looked at the man’s sharp, cold brows, exhaled softly, bit her damp lips, and asked in a small voice, her long lashes fluttering, "Good morning, Big Brother. Is Qingyuan inside?"