Xiu'er was more meticulous. She tidied up the shop inside and out.
She wiped each dust-covered stone carving clean and restacked any that had been piled crookedly.
Da Niu was quieter and strong. He chopped firewood, carried water, and moved heavy things, but never said much.
During this time, Qin Ming continued carving his stones.
Only now, there was occasionally an extra bowl of hot tea beside his workbench.
Xiu'er had put it there.
Without a word, she replaced it whenever it went cold and never said much.
In April, a letter came from the south.
Da Niu's distant uncle had established himself there and sent word for them to come over.
The two stood before Qin Ming, clutching the corners of their bundles, unable to speak for a long while.
Da Niu was the first to speak.
"Boss, we..."
Qin Ming nodded.
"Go."
Xiu'er's eyes reddened. She took a small cloth pouch from her clothes and set it beside the workbench.
"This is the wages the boss gave us before. We never touched it. Please take it back."
Qin Ming did not look at the pouch.
"Will you have enough for the journey?"
Xiu'er froze for a moment, then lowered her head. "Enough."
Da Niu suddenly dropped to his knees and kowtowed.
Xiu'er knelt down as well.
Qin Ming did not stop them. He handed Xiu'er's cloth pouch back to them.
"Take it with you."
"Boss!"
"Take it."
Da Niu accepted it with both hands. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, but he could not say anything.
When they reached the mouth of the alley, Xiu'er turned back and gazed deeply at that door without a signboard.
Qin Ming returned to his bamboo chair and lowered his head to carve stone again.
The courtyard was empty once more.