July 11, the second quarter of Shen Hour.
Wei Nisheng left the Ministry of Personnel after work. Cui Fu was already waiting at the mouth of the lane with the carriage.
Before climbing aboard, he remembered something and told Cui Fu,
"Make a detour to that iced cheese shop outside the Qinhuai Banks."
"You're buying iced cheese, young master?"
"To cool us down. In another two months, autumn's chill will be here, and we won't be able to enjoy it anymore."
Cui Fu grinned and drew the reins, turning the carriage onto the main street.
West Peace Gate, the small courtyard of the Wei Residence.
The carriage stopped outside the courtyard gate. As Wei Nisheng stepped down, he heard the cheerful bustle of domestic life within.
Books lay spread across bamboo mats in the courtyard.
Feng Shu was crouching beside the piles with Qu Niang and Qingluo, brushing the dust from their covers one by one.
At the sound of footsteps, Fu Niang looked up. Seeing him, her eyes curved into a smile before anything else.
"You're rather late coming home today, my dear Wei."
Wei Nisheng walked over and set the food box containing the iced cheese on the stone table.
"From that shop outside the Qinhuai Banks."
Fu Niang's eyes brightened, but she insisted on maintaining her composure. "Why did you only buy this much? Isn't Cui Fu having any?"
"Cui Fu's teeth are bothering him."
In the distance, Cui Fu was unhitching the carriage. He nearly choked at those words, then clutched his cheek and said with a pained expression,
"That's right, madam! I have a toothache."
"What an act!" Fu Niang doubled over laughing. She took the iced cheese and scooped up a spoonful. Its coolness slipped down her throat, and she narrowed her eyes