Chapter 16: Something Has Happened

In the Great Xia Dynasty, scholars and gentlemen were fond of keeping cats. Earlier, Xiuniang had seen a young master walking a yellow-and-white lion cat, even putting shoes on it, which struck her as amusing. She quietly told Song Sanlang and urged him to take a look.

Thinking his parents were whispering behind his back, Song Jingchen insisted on eavesdropping. Song Sanlang then promised to buy him a little tabby to raise.

On the way home, Song Jingchen was bubbling with excitement, asking nonstop.

“Father, how about we buy one tomorrow, okay?”

Song Sanlang smiled and replied, “That’s fine, but you must remember, once you bring it home, you’re its owner. You’ll need to care for it, feed it, and even clean up after it. All of these are responsibilities you must shoulder as its master.”

Song Jingchen rolled his eyes and asked, “Dad, does the little tabby’s poop smell really bad?”

“Hmm, very bad. I can’t stand the smell, and your mother even less so. So, it’ll be up to you, little Jingchen.”

Covering his little nose, Song Jingchen said, “Dad, I only like the little tabby, not its stinky poop.”

Song Sanlang said, “Well, that can’t be helped. If you like the good side of the tabby, you have to accept its bad side—even the parts you dislike. You need to think carefully if your affection for it is strong enough to make you willing to clean up its stinky poop.”

Song Jingchen furrowed his brows, torn. “Dad, if I don’t like it after buying, can I return it?”

Song Sanlang shook his head. “No. From the moment you decide to buy it, the little tabby’s fate is in your hands. You must take responsibility.”

Song Jingchen wilted. “Dad, I’m afraid of the smell.”

Song Sanlang said, “Then maybe we won’t buy it just yet. Think it over first.”

“No! I want to keep it!” Song Jingchen insisted.

“Are you sure you’ve thought it through?”

Song Jingchen turned to his mother. “Mom, make me a mask so when I clean up the stinky poop, I won’t smell it.”

Then he turned back to Song Sanlang, “And dad, buy me some incense to burn the poop first, then I can clean it.”

Xiuniang laughed quietly nearby.

Song Sanlang gritted his teeth: This kid sure puts on a show!

Xiuniang thought it wasn’t that complicated—there was a big vegetable garden at home, surely enough hiding places for the little tabby’s poop. But she could tell her husband was teaching their son a lesson, so she didn’t expose him.

…

After returning home, the family washed up and put the child to bed. Xiuniang then eagerly began working with a pile of fabric scraps she had bought, including several pieces of kesi silk embroidered with pretty patterns. She planned to make some round fans and asked Song Sanlang to help attach a few fan frames.

Song Sanlang smiled gently. It was just a few pieces of cloth, yet the young lady could be delighted for days—one moment she wanted to make a bellyband for their son, the next a sachet, and now fans.

Luckily, there were some leftover bamboo strips from basket weaving at home. Making a few fan frames was easy for Song Sanlang. He quickly crafted two round-moon shaped and one banana-leaf shaped fan ribs. The fan handles were a bit more troublesome, requiring careful smoothing.

Xiuniang looked at her husband with admiration and a hint of pride. “Sanlang, your hands are so skilled. You can build furniture, weave baskets, tie broom handles, weave mats, and now make toys for our Jingchen. I don’t know how much money you’ve saved our family.”

Song Sanlang looked up and smiled. “Not as much as your careful budgeting, my lady.”

Xiuniang said, “Money is saved little by little. Now that Jingchen is starting school, there will be many expenses ahead.”

“By the way, I wanted to ask—those vegetables you bought today weren’t cheap. You didn’t just pay for them out of your own pocket, did you?”

Song Sanlang chuckled softly, “I’m not that foolish. Besides, we always know where the money is.”

“That’s not certain. How do I know you don’t have a secret stash?” Xiuniang teased, shooting her husband a playful glance, then suddenly grew suspicious.

“Sanlang, you’re not hiding secret money from me, are you?”

Song Sanlang looked innocent and helpless. “Where would I hide it? I don’t drink or gamble. What use would secret money be?”

“That’s not true. I think you spent our money on those vegetables. You have to show me so I can be sure.” Saying so, Xiuniang tried to search him.

Song Sanlang pulled her onto his lap, held her down gently, and teased, “What are you trying to do?”

Leaning close, he whispered, “You’re feeling me up as if I were that chaste scholar Liu Xia Hui?”

“Sanlang, stop talking nonsense. I’m not trying to seduce you.” Xiuniang blushed fiercely.

“Shh, be quiet.” Song Sanlang covered her lips. “It’s not you seducing me—it’s me wanting you.”

“You’re the one—” Xiuniang barely got the words out before he pressed a light, teasing kiss to her lips.

She blushed deeply. Song Sanlang held her as he stood, speaking softly, “I’ll wash my hands. Wait for me.”

He laid her back on the bed, stroked her head soothingly, then left for the outer room.

In the small side chamber, Song Sanlang exhaled quietly, glanced around, then leapt up, hooking one hand on a beam. With the other, he took a small cloth pouch from his chest and placed it on the beam.

He wasn’t trying to deceive Xiuniang—it was just that her nagging was sometimes too much to bear. Like today, how could he possibly ask the matriarch for money?

The old lady always said she was penniless, but if she had anything extra, she wouldn’t have given away what mother left her. When their father was gravely ill, everything worth pawning had already been pawned.

As for the second brother, since he was a good man, he would see it through and not cause strife over a few hundred wen. He wasn’t the type to take advantage and would find other means.

If Xiuniang knew they spent six hundred wen on today’s food, she’d surely feel heartbroken. No need to upset her.

Just as Song Sanlang finished stashing the secret money, Xiuniang came in to wash her hands. She looked at him curiously. “Weren’t you going to wash your hands? Why are you spacing out?”

Song Sanlang replied, “Waiting for you.”

“You’re impossible! Why do you have to wait for me to wash my hands?”

“To save water.”

Xiuniang laughed helplessly. “Water is free. Our well has plenty.”

“Oh, you said to be thrifty, so I thought of saving water and forgot water doesn’t cost anything.”

“You really are a silly goose.” Xiuniang pinched his arm playfully.

Song Sanlang smiled.

The couple finished washing and went to bed. Just as they were about to extinguish the light, a sudden, urgent banging on the door pierced the quiet night, making their hearts jump.

“Sanlang, why is someone pounding the door so urgently?” Xiuniang sat up, uneasy.

“Stay inside. I’ll check.” Song Sanlang frowned, quickly dressed, and hurried to the front door.

He called out sharply, “Who’s there?”

“Is this the Song Jingmao household? Song Jingmao is in trouble!” a man outside shouted anxiously.

Hearing the commotion, Song Dalang hurried over. Upon hearing his eldest son was in trouble, he stumbled and was caught by Song Erlang.

“Big brother!”

Song Sanlang pulled open the door latch and opened it. Outside stood a young servant, face full of urgency.

“Song Jingmao is in trouble!”