Old Man Yang’s face was all wrinkled as he stomped his feet in frustration: “You want paulownia wood again, with carved characters and painted lacquer? Go ask around the entire Bianjing city—where can you find that this cheap? That’s good wood, you know!”
Shen Miao bowed slightly. “Sir, you’re a kind-hearted man. You’ve seen it yourself—my family just suffered a disaster, and I have two children to feed and care for. Every bit I can save helps! I’ll be back in a few days to ask you for doors and windows too! Our business together is a long-term one. You see, I just ordered wooden utensils from you yesterday, and now I’m back to commission a cart. It’s not just because I value your craftsmanship, but also because I respect you as a person!”
Old Man Yang’s darkened face flushed faintly, and his chin lifted quietly. He glanced at the collapsed wall behind Shen Miao and the charred house frame, then sighed deeply. “Alright, alright. Being kind to others is being kind to oneself. Let’s say two hundred wen. You’re a young woman with children—truly not easy.”
Shen Miao was overjoyed—she hadn’t expected to save another thirty wen! She quickly clasped her hands in thanks. “Many thanks, sir! I keep my word—I’ll definitely come back for doors and windows!”
Old Man Yang smiled too. “It’s a promise. No backing out.”
Shen Miao wholeheartedly agreed, grinning as she said, “Next time you come for some cakes, I’ll give you a discount!”
The day before, Shen Miao had already told Old Man Yang what kind of cart she wanted. As a seasoned carpenter, he was a skilled draftsman. After hearing her just once, he meticulously drew up the plans. Then Shen Miao worked with him to refine every detail:
Two rear wheels, each wrapped with anti-slip hemp rope. The front of the cart would have a T-shaped support leg and a curved handle. Around the cart’s platform, four wooden poles would support a bamboo canopy, topped with a vertical wooden sign carved with the words “Shen’s Bakery” in bold red paint. Between “Shen’s” and “Tang Bing” (a type of pancake), there would be a carved bowl motif.
The cart’s side platform would be extended and joined with mortise and tenon joints, so when set up, it could serve as an extra table, folding down neatly when not in use. Near the cart’s center of gravity, a round recess would be carved out so that bowls holding food could be securely placed without tipping over during the cart’s movement.
Underneath the platform, two wooden hooks would be installed to hang wicker baskets, perfect for holding bowls, chopsticks, and condiments.
Additionally, the entire cart would be coated with waterproof paulownia oil varnish to protect it from rain and mildew.
After hearing all this, Old Man Yang looked at Shen Miao silently for a long while. His gaze was a mix of grievance over her stinginess and a hint of uncertainty. “Madam, this cart is no ordinary job. It’s quite complicated to make... Do you have a budget in mind? How much copper coins are you prepared to spend?”
Shen Miao gave an awkward smile, her eyes darting as she spun a tempting vision for Old Man Yang: “Oh, sir, don’t think I’m taking advantage of you. Just do your best work, and when the time comes, carve ‘Old Man Yang’s Woodworks’ in big letters on the cart wheel. I’ll set it up right on Jinliang Bridge. Whenever anyone asks, I’ll just send them to you. With that, you won’t have to worry about customers not coming. It’s a win-win for both of us, isn’t it?”
Old Man Yang said nothing, only puffing on his dry tobacco with a rhythmic “patter-patter.” He hesitated for a long while before finally saying, “Let this old man think it over. I’ll bring the goods tomorrow, then we’ll talk more.”
Shen Miao let him mull it over and took her leave. She was confident Old Man Yang would agree—after all, his apprentices had been nodding eagerly as she spoke, clearly tempted by the idea.
Sure enough, early the next morning, the deal was settled.
Old Man Yang said it would take him and his three apprentices half a month of day and night work to finish the order. Shen Miao agreed and paid a deposit of one hundred wen. Naturally, this was a custom order—no ready-made goods. These days, even without a cart, it didn’t matter; she could make and sell lighter items instead.
After Old Man Yang left, Shen Miao picked up a few bamboo poles. The day was bright and clear, the spring sun warm and gentle. The back courtyard of the Shen family house was bathed in sunlight—perfect for growing flowers and vegetables. Standing on the porch steps, she squinted at the sun, thinking how well suited this yard was for planting. She resolved to clear two patches of land here when she had time, then go to the market to buy some chicks and vegetable seeds. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
While calculating the market days in her mind, she propped the bamboo poles against the mud wall. Taking advantage of the moment, she took down the bedding Aunt Gu had lent to Ji Brother and laid it out to wash, spreading the cotton quilt core over the poles to dry.
She boiled a bucket of water and sent Ji Brother and Sister Xiang one after another to a secluded spot at the back of the house to wash up, helping them remove their outer clothes for washing.
Halfway through, the cotton dealer arrived with the bedding. He was visibly shocked that anyone could be living in such a house, and he seemed to recognize Father Shen. While bringing the bedding inside, he sighed to Shen Miao, “Your parents truly suffered terrible misfortune. And then the flood came afterward… such a hard fate.”
“Yes, yes,” Shen Miao echoed, sighing with him for a while. The cotton dealer kindly said, “Back when I ate soup cakes at your father’s place, he always gave me some scraps. Poor folks like me came to eat, and he never charged extra for the flour soup. He was a good man! From now on, if this quilt gets too hard to sleep on, just bring it to me. When I spin cotton with you, I won’t charge a single copper coin!”
That was a relief. Shen Miao invited him in for a bowl of water before seeing him out.
When she returned, Ji Brother had already laid out the bedding. The room was filled with the warm, fresh scent of new cotton. Sister Xiang, wearing only her undergarments, happily kicked off her shoes and rolled around on the quilt.
The wooden door panel of the front shop at the Shen family’s place was only singed black, but still solid. Shen Miao knocked on it piece by piece, and it held firm. So she added a wedge of rotten wood on the bolt, making it impossible to move. With the bolt firmly secured, the shopfront could no longer be opened.
Thus, the shop was completely transformed into a room for the daily living of the three siblings.
Turning back, she saw Sister Xiang had stuck a pinwheel shaped like a little painted horse by the bedside, and she smiled knowingly.
Though simple and rough, this home was finally starting to look decent.
Shen Miao then pulled out the cloth she had bought last night. She had Ji Brother and Sister Xiang stand up as she held the fabric to measure them. Using a needle and thread, she made marks with a few stitches, then sat down by the bed to start sewing.
She didn’t plan to embroider—just cut and stitched according to the style of their previous clothes. At first, Shen Miao was a bit clumsy with the needle and thread, but after a few stitches, her body seemed to recall its old skill, and she grew faster and more confident. The children’s clothes required less fabric and were quicker to sew than adult garments.
While she worked, Ji Brother, after taking his medicine, practiced writing with a wooden stick in the yard. Perhaps because Shen Miao had returned, the burden on his shoulders and the worries in his heart seemed to lighten immediately. His illness improved rapidly; he hadn’t had a fever since yesterday and today, only a slight cough remained.
Sister Xiang was also thoughtful, helping Shen Miao separate the threads and stretch the fabric. Shen Miao sewed until midday, finishing the edges and buttonholes, and first completed Sister Xiang’s outer garment. At last, the child no longer had to run around wearing just an undershirt.
When Sister Xiang tried on her new clothes, the pale yellow color brought a rosy glow to her cheeks, making her look like a plump little peanut. She hadn’t worn new clothes in who knows how long. Overjoyed, her little face flushed red as she spun around like a cheerful little magpie, then happily clung to Shen Miao’s neck, refusing to let go.
“Let go! I’m getting out of breath. Step back a bit so I can see if it fits well,” Shen Miao laughed, pulling Sister Xiang off her and tugging at the sleeve, nodding with approval.
It was her first time making clothes, so the stitches were a bit rough, but the fit was decent.
At noon, Shen Miao had planned to make a simple bowl of noodles, but didn’t light the fire. Aunt Gu came by to return a ceramic water jar, bringing with her some millet porridge inside and a few flatbreads for them.
Shen Miao tried to refuse several times but couldn’t succeed, so she accepted. Sigh, these debts of kindness seemed to pile up endlessly!
Before leaving, Aunt Gu couldn’t hold back tears and took Shen Miao’s hand, saying, “...Such a hard-luck child!”
It seemed Aunt Gu knew that Shen Miao had been sent away by marriage. Shen Miao herself didn’t feel ashamed or pitiful. The truly unfortunate one was Eldest Sister Shen, who had died with endless regret.
At noon, Ji Brother and Sister Xiang lay down to sleep in the warm, soft new bedding. Shen Miao didn’t like midday naps, so she sat under the warm afternoon sun and continued to hastily sew Ji Brother’s outer shirt.
By the time the two of them woke up, the pottery shop clerk had already come by carrying his shoulder pole with deliveries, even throwing in a few earthenware dishes as a gift. Shen Miao thanked him and inquired about which supplier offered the best deals on charcoal and ironware. The clerk, blushing upon seeing Shen Miao, stammered awkwardly before managing to get his words out clearly.
Once everything was settled, Shen Miao had Ji Brother and Sister Xiang dressed neatly in their new clothes for the day. She then called Sister Xiang over and had her sit on the round stool, carefully braiding two plump buns on the little girl's head. She even pinned on a pair of butterfly silk flowers from her own trunk.
Shen Ji watched intently and suddenly asked with keen curiosity, “Sister, are you taking us out today?”
Shen Miao pulled Sister Xiang up, glancing left and right. The six-year-old little darling looked irresistibly adorable no matter how she was dressed. Satisfied, she nodded, “Yes. I think your health is good enough now. There’s no time like the present—we’ll go to Eldest Uncle’s house today to set things straight.”
Shen Ji’s mood sank immediately. “Aunt is sharp-tongued and harsh. I’m afraid you’ll get hurt, Sister.”
Shen Miao turned around in surprise. This child was actually worried about her?
Shen Ji, feeling a bit embarrassed under her gaze, looked down at his toes. After a moment, he suddenly lifted his head with a resolute look and said, “The teacher once said, a gentleman must conduct himself with propriety and never speak foul words to lose his dignity. But if Aunt insults you, Sister... I will definitely stand up and shout back for you!”
Shen Miao burst out laughing.
This child, though a bit slow with his studies, wasn’t completely clueless.
Her heart warmed, as if ever since she left the Rong family, all the people she had met in this unfamiliar world were kind. Shen Miao habitually reached out to ruffle Ji Brother’s hair, and this time, he didn’t dodge.
“Don’t worry. We’re not going to fight. Even if they mistreat you and Sister Xiang, I haven’t been home for three years. Now that I’m back, it’s only right and proper to visit Eldest Uncle and pay my respects. Besides...”
Shen Miao bent down and gently rubbed Ji Brother’s nose, raising an eyebrow.
“How do you know your sister can’t win an argument?”
