Choice

That night, the Zhang family was livelier than they had been at any time since the New Year.

The stone weighing on everyone's hearts had temporarily been cast aside. At dinner, Zhang Cai even poured himself several cups of wine to celebrate his sons' recovery. Afterward, everyone busied themselves with farm work beneath the oil lamp, eagerly discussing how to plant the crops after spring began, how to fertilize the newly opened fields on the slope, and how the three brothers, Zhang Xiaolong, Zhang Xiaohu, and Zhang Xiaolong, would divide their work. It was as though spring plowing would begin tomorrow, and they looked ahead to a landscape brimming with hope.

Under the flickering lamplight, no one noticed the desolation written across Liu Qian's face.

Nor did anyone notice Zhang Xiaohua's thoughtful gaze.

At daybreak the next morning, Liu Qian got up with great reluctance. Tossing and turning over gains and losses all night, she had actually suffered from insomnia, only falling asleep when the sky was faintly brightening. When she rose, she found her eyes somewhat red and her complexion poor. Guo Sufi even asked her with concern whether she was ill.

After breakfast, everyone went about their own tasks. It was already the second month, and the weather had warmed. Zhang Cai and the others inspected the farm tools to see whether any were broken and needed repair. The seeds in the cellar also had to be taken out and aired in the sun. Seeing that the ice in the river had melted, the ground in the fields should also have thawed enough to plow. Spring was coming.

Just as Liu Qian was helping Guo Sufi spread the crop seeds beneath the sun to dry, she suddenly heard someone call, "Qianqian~"

What a familiar voice. She hurriedly raised her head, her gaze passing over the Zhang family's still-low wall, and saw her father, her uncle Liu the Butcher, and her cousin Liu Yueyue, who had already reached the entrance.

She cried out in delight, "Father~" Then, like a little swallow, she flew to the gate and seized her father's hand. She had not seen her family for nearly half a month—how could she not miss them? Seeing them so suddenly, her eyes reddened and her nose stung.

Liu Yueyue said from beside her, "Sister, I'm here too. Didn't you see me?"

Liu Qian took her hand as well and said, "I saw you. How could I not? I only have one younger sister as beautiful as a celestial maiden. How could I fail to see you?"

Liu Yueyue giggled. "Sister, look at you. You haven't seen Father for only a few days, and your eyes are already red. Don't ever say I'm the one who cries again—you're no better. Oh my, your complexion is so poor. Could it be that you've been suffering here? But no, that can't be right. Your skin seems finer than before, and much fairer too. You've even filled out a tiny bit. How is it that after barely ten days apart, your beauty is actually about to catch up to mine?"

Liu Qian scolded fondly, "You little girl, always trying to fool me with sweet words."

Liu Yueyue grew anxious. "Really, Sister, I'm not making it up. If you don't believe me, go look in a mirror."

Liu Qian's heart stirred, and she said no more.

How could Mr. Liu and Liu the Butcher have noticed such things? They merely assumed the two girls were joking around.

At this moment, Zhang Cai also came out with his family to greet them.

Mr. Liu hurried forward and bowed, asking Zhang Cai, "Brother, it has been many days. Has your health greatly improved?"

Zhang Cai returned the salute. "Thanks to your blessings, younger brother, I'm well now. Look—I've even thrown away my crutch."

Then he had Zhang Xiaolong, Zhang Xiaohu, and Zhang Xiaohua step forward in turn to pay their respects.

Mr. Liu had met them all on his previous visit, but the two elder brothers had been lying sick in bed then. Now, seeing these two dignified young men, he could not help but praise them inwardly. Though these two children are ordinary in appearance, their spirit is contained within rather than flaunted. They have never studied, yet they possess such bearing. They can be taught. He quickly helped the three of them up and said with a smile, "My two worthy nephews, your injuries seem much improved as well. Congratulations, congratulations. Still, Xiaolong, you injured your muscles and bones, so you must take greater care. Rest for a hundred days or so before working again. Do not harm your body for the sake of the farm work right before your eyes. Ah, yes—how have you removed the splints after only ten days or so?"

Zhang Xiaolong moved his arm and said, "I will heed Uncle's advice. Look, this arm of mine is already largely fine. Though I cannot do heavy work yet, I expect that in a few more days, ordinary farm work should not be a problem."

Liu the Butcher cut in, "Worthy nephew, your body truly is unusually sturdy. Wang Er from our village fell on his backside while chopping firewood in the mountains and had to lie in bed for half a year. Yet you've recovered after only a few days? Let me have a look."

As he spoke, he moved to grab Zhang Xiaolong's arm. Liu Qian became anxious at once and hurriedly blocked her uncle's hand, reproaching him, "Uncle, those hands of yours are used to handling fat pigs weighing a hundred jin or more. Xiaolong's arm has only just healed. If you grab him like that, don't ruin his arm again."

Liu the Butcher awkwardly withdrew his hand and laughed at himself. "Then I won't look. I won't."

Liu Yueyue seemed to have noticed something. She nudged Liu Qian with her elbow, blinked at her, and gave a mischievous smile.

Liu Qian's face heated, and her hands and feet suddenly felt awkward.

Fortunately, Mr. Liu spotted Zhang Xiaohua at that moment. He affectionately patted his head and said, "Xiaohua, after only a few days apart, you've grown quite a bit taller again. I think that by the end of this year, you'll catch up to your two older brothers. And looking at your eyes, they're brimming with spirit. You seem much more sensible too."

That was no lie. When Mr. Liu had first met Zhang Xiaohua, he had just been beaten by the local bully and was worried over his father's and brothers' injuries, so naturally he had looked gloomy and listless. Now that his family's injuries had greatly improved, he was naturally in a good mood. There were also reasons unknown to others, so he naturally appeared different from before.

Zhang Xiaohua was quite well-behaved. Looking up, he said, "Uncle, it is all thanks to Sister Liu. Not only did she take care of Eldest Brother and help Mother with the housework, she also told me many lessons and taught me many characters. With her good influence, I naturally became more sensible."

These words delighted Mr. Liu greatly. He laughed heartily and said, "Good child, good child! Brother, I truly envy you for having such fine children."

Zhang Cai said modestly, "We have been lax in teaching them, and they have read little and know few characters. You flatter us, younger brother."

But Mr. Liu disagreed. "Not at all, not at all. This is innate temperament, not something that can be cultivated afterward. Even if your family possessed riches beyond measure, it would still be difficult to have such fine sons."

Liu the Butcher complained, "The two of you should stop flattering each other. We all know one another. After walking all morning, my throat is so thirsty it's about to smoke. Hurry inside and give us some water."

Zhang Cai and Mr. Liu both burst into laughter. Zhang Cai quickly ushered everyone into the main hall.

Once everyone had sat down to talk, Guo Sufi and Liu Qian went to boil water and make tea. Liu Yueyue followed them as well.

While the water had yet to boil and Guo Sufi was inside fetching tea leaves, Liu Yueyue quietly asked Liu Qian, "Sister, do you have some interest in that Zhang Xiaolong?"

Liu Qian's face reddened. "What interest? I don't."

Liu Yueyue teased her, "Just look at that shy face of yours, those peach-blossom eyes. Anyone can tell spring has come to your heart. Are you still refusing to confess?"

Liu Qian said, "You little girl, why do you have so many flowery words? Didn't you come here to see Zhang Xiaohu?"

Hearing that, Liu Yueyue became serious as well. "Sister, you are mistaken. Have you forgotten what we used to say? Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu may be good men, and they saved us, but our dream was to marry a scholar learned enough to fill five carts, elegant and unrestrained, handsome and dashing. The two of them work the land; for their whole lives, they will scrape food from the fields. Must we become peasant women for our whole lives too? At first, I was very grateful to Zhang Xiaohu, and I truly did have a favorable impression of him—I do not deny that even now. But afterward, I thought it over carefully. I do not want to leap into this fire pit. Sister, you must think it through too. This concerns an entire lifetime. If you choose wrong, it will be too late for regret."

Liu Qian's smile faded as well, and she said solemnly, "Yes, Yueyue. That is precisely why I am so hesitant. Though I hope my husband will be a scholar, in all these years, among all the scholars I have met, none has left an impression on me as deep as Zhang Xiaolong, this farmer. He possesses a temperament and courage that most people do not have. We have known each other for barely a month, yet this brief time has left an impression deeper than decades with many others. I cannot explain what I feel in my heart. It is something words cannot describe. In truth, your choice is not wrong, and neither is mine. Everyone has their own freedom and must make their own choice."

Liu Yueyue gave a bitter smile. "Sister, I only hope your choice is not wrong. In the future..."

Liu Qian cut her off. "It is too early to speak of that. I have not made my final choice yet."

Liu Yueyue did not press further. The two of them fell silent.

Before long, Guo Sufi brought out the tea leaves, and the water came to a boil. Liu Qian brewed the tea, and the three returned to the main hall together.

The people in the main hall were laughing and chatting, their conversation in full swing.

Liu Qian poured tea for everyone, then sat down without a word, lost in her own thoughts.

The Zhang family was accustomed to drinking this tea and did not pay it any mind. Liu the Butcher drank like an ox, without tasting its flavor at all. As for Liu Yueyue, she too seemed preoccupied. She absentmindedly took a sip and set down her cup, not even noticing the seemingly casual glance Zhang Xiaohu cast her way.

Only Mr. Liu first took an absentminded sip, then his expression changed drastically. Unable to believe it, he took a second sip and frowned deeply. Then he smelled the fragrance rising from the teacup and took a third sip. Only then did astonishment fill his face, just as he was about to speak.

Zhang Cai saw Mr. Liu take those three sips and hurriedly asked, "Younger brother, is there something wrong with the tea? Does it not taste good?"

Mr. Liu said, "No. It is not that it tastes bad—it tastes too good. Brother, what kind of tea is this?"

Zhang Cai said awkwardly, "Younger brother, I do not know either. Our family never drank tea before. Liu Qian brought this tea from your home."

Mr. Liu turned to Liu Qian and asked, "Qianqian, is this tea brought from home?"

Liu Qian was lost in her thoughts. Hearing her father call to her, she hurriedly said, "What is it, Father? What did you ask me?"