Going to the County Fair

 

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, preparing chickens and hurrying to the big fair.

 

Yesterday, the Jing family enjoyed a good meal, drank to their hearts’ content, and had a good night’s sleep. Today, they woke up a bit later than usual.

 

“Ah Yi, what time is it?” Chuxia was still half-asleep, his voice somewhat hoarse, don’t ask why, it’s a secret.

 

“No rush, it’s just the morning hours. Darling, you can sleep a little longer.”

 

Jing Yi was thinking, “It’s just 8 o’clock; which 18-year-old takes a day off and doesn’t sleep until noon?”

 

“Uh… it’s already past sunrise; maybe it’s time to get up,” Chuxia was struggling with morning drowsiness.

 

“Chuxia, is your throat not feeling well? Let me get you a glass of water,” Jing Yi said as he got out of bed, making sure not to let the warmth from the covers escape. He even tucked the edges of the blanket for Chuxia.

 

In the outer room, he felt the kettle, and it was still warm, probably indicating that Aunt Cui had come to replace the water in the morning.

 

“Here, darling, moisten your throat, and then you can go back to sleep,” Jing Yi brought the glass to Chuxia’s lips, almost ready to feed him.

 

“I can do it myself; I won’t stay up with you like this in the future. Hmph!” Chuxia remembered his flushed face from last night. This man, usually so gentle, became so fierce and intense in bed.

 

“Hmm? What happened last night? Little brother, tell me more,” Jing Yi pretended to be clueless, looking at Chuxia with a teasing and ambiguous look, just like a rascal.

 

“You!” Chuxia was a honest person, and he blushed deeply when asked. He gave Jing Yi a light punch on his shoulder.

 

Don’t ask! Accommodating all his requests and whims was already his limit!

 

“Alright, I’m sorry, I’ll stop. You finish the water first.” Jing Yi realized he shouldn’t push it too far; otherwise, he might not get the chance for a morning nap with his wife.

 

After Chuxia finished the water, Jing Yi put the glass away. When he returned, Chuxia quickly lifted the blanket to let him in. He didn’t want him to catch a cold.

 

After this little back-and-forth, the couple felt more awake, and sleep was no longer an option. Jing Yi held Chuxia in his arms, snugly and warmly, and neither of them wanted to get up.

 

“This year, are we going to the village fair, the Bai village big fair?” Chuxia thought about the tasks they had to complete today and asked.

 

“Yes, did you used to go to this big fair during the New Year before?” Jing Yi asked him.

 

“Yes, our Fuyang Town only has this one New Year fair. If we’re not strolling through Bai village, we’d go to some other small markets, or we might visit the town’s fair casually. I’ve been to the town fair when I was a child,” Chuxia said proudly.

 

“Haha, indeed, your father is quite capable!”

 

Jing Yi complimented Chuxia’s father. Even before Chuxia could respond, he continued, “So, my father-in-law picked a talented husband for his adorable little brother. When families unite, they open their doors together.”

 

Chuxia felt that something was off about this. Although the words seemed like praise, they still centered on his husband, and he couldn’t help but raise his head, give Jing Yi a playful eye roll, and then muttered “hmph.”

 

It was still early in the morning, and with last night’s delight, this particular eye roll, you could say it was cute.

 

Jing Yi was captivated by that one look and called him a “little rascal” before pouncing on Chuxia, showering hi. with affection and warmth. The morning soon got a bit warmer.

 

“No, you solve it yourself,” Chuxia was resolute.

 

“Help me out, Chuxia,” unable to resist the temptation, Jing managed to persuade Chuxia to assist him. It wasn’t too exhausting, but it required his efforts.

 

After their intimate moment, they returned to the previous topic. Jing Yi sensed that Chuxia wasn’t interested in the Bai village big fair anymore.

 

“Chuxia, what if we go to the county town instead?” Jing Yi suggested.

 

Chuxia’s eyes lit up for a moment, but after a second thought, he grew a little subdued. He declined, saying, “No, it’s too close to the New Year. There are many things to take care of at home. If we leave, it will be tiring for my parents.”

 

Jing Yi noticed the glimmer in his eyes and reassured him, “It’s not troublesome at all. There are many people at home now, and Mother and Father don’t need to do much. I’ll talk to them; you don’t have to worry, darling. I want to go; I haven’t been there yet.”

 

He wanted him to be less considerate; he wanted a carefree Chuxia.

 

During breakfast:

 

“Mother, today I’m going to the county town to see how much yew and Chinese soapberry are worth nowadays. I’ll take Chuxia with me to visit the county market. Do you need anything?”

 

Jing Yi asked for his mother’s permission.

 

“What? So hastily? Can’t you go after the New Year? It’s already the twenty-seventh; you can’t return in one day,” his mother seemed a bit unhappy. It was almost New Year, and what did her son want to do? Why not just have a peaceful New Year first?

 

“We’re going today, staying overnight, and we’ll be back tomorrow. There’s still plenty of time after the New Year. Why don’t you come with us, Mother? We can take you to explore the county town,” Jing Yi suggested.

 

“Forget it, I can’t stay away from home. You young couple can go. Don’t rush on the road, take good care of Xiaxia.” Although Jing’s mother was disappointed that she couldn’t go with them, she was still happy that her son was thinking about her.

 

Then she turned to instruct Chuxia, “Chuxia, be careful, take the main road.”

 

“Alright, Mother. We’ll bring back some trendy fabrics and jewelry from the county,” Chuxia nodded, his smile never leaving his lips.

 

“You and Father can rest assured; we’re taking Steward Tong and Gao Kun with us,” Jing Yi said.

 

“Why take Gao Kun? The half-grown kid can’t handle things. Take Renyi and go,” Jing’s father chimed in.

 

“This little guy is smart; he can handle it. We’re starting to train him now,” Jing Yi insisted.

 

Gao Kun was short for his age due to previous malnutrition, but his frame was large, and with improved nutrition, he was sure to grow into a tall young man. He had bright, intelligent eyes and was perceptive, with a touch of determination. Jing Yi was very satisfied.

 

After breakfast, they didn’t delay. They got into a carriage and set off, taking Steward Tong and Gao Kun with them.

 

Today, there was no sunshine, and the weather was a bit cold and gloomy. Steward Tong was wearing a straw raincoat, so it could block the wind, and he didn’t feel too cold. Jing Yi suggested that Gao Kun come inside the carriage to keep warmer. However, Gao Kun adamantly refused, saying that there were distinctions between higher and lower ranks, and he did not want to enter.

 

“You’re not that young; you have your own responsibilities. It gets very cold riding on the front of the carriage, and I don’t have a small raincoat for you,” Jing Yi told him.

 

“Thank you for your kind offer, but I’m not cold. I’ll sit on the carriage shaft next to Uncle Tong. The journey is long, and you and Master can stretch your legs comfortably,” Gao Kun insisted.

 

He was willing to endure a bit of cold to ensure the comfort of his benefactors.

 

“In that case, do as you wish, and if you get cold, come inside the carriage,” Jing Yi said, and he left Gao Kun to it.

 

Seeing that he wouldn’t come inside, Chuxia fetched a thin blanket for Gao Kun from the carriage and said, “Be obedient; wrap yourself in this thin blanket. We’ll have to take care of you if you fall ill.”

 

This time, Gao Kun didn’t refuse. He accepted the blanket with reddened eyes. He knew that if he truly fell ill, his two benefactors would take care of him, so he didn’t want to cause any trouble for them.

 

“Steward Tong, it’s cold to drive the carriage. Let’s take a break and warm up halfway,” Chuxia said to Steward Tong.

 

“Alright, Master, please go back inside; it’s cold outside,” Steward Tong said. After Chuxia went into the carriage and settled in, he picked up the whip and accelerated the pace.

 

They travelled at a brisk pace and finally arrived in the county town around 1:00 PM. Since Fuyang Town also fell under Anchang County’s jurisdiction, the city gate officials were lenient. When they saw Jing Yi’s identification proving he was from Fuyang Town, they checked his papers and let him through.

 

For both Chuxia and Jing Yi, and even for Steward Tong and Gao Kun, this was their first visit to Anchang County. They were essentially four strangers in a new place.

 

However, it didn’t matter. To people who had strolled all the way from Qingzhou Prefecture, Anchang County, at first glance, was just a place two to three times larger than Fuyang Town. On the surface, there wasn’t much that seemed special about it.

 

Since entering the city, Jing Yi opened the front curtain of the carriage and began to observe as he walked.

 

He didn’t immediately look for an inn but instead instructed Steward Tong, their steward, to find a street-front restaurant named “Drunkard’s Pavilion,” which had a great location, high foot traffic, and a diverse range of customers.

 

The carriage had just stopped in front of the restaurant when a waiter came out to greet them, saying, “Hello, how many in your party? Our first floor is a bit noisy, the second floor has private rooms, and the third floor has private dining rooms.”

 

Steward Tong, didn’t respond. He simply pulled back the curtain and helped Jing Yi and Chuxia down from the carriage.

 

“Arranging a private room on the second floor is fine for the four of us,” Jing Yi decided as he jumped down from the carriage, and once steady, he turned to assist Chuxia.

 

“All right, four esteemed guests, please follow me to the second floor!” The waiter led Jing Yi and the others upstairs and instructed the staff to take care of their carriage in the backyard.

 

Jing Yi was satisfied when he saw this. It was clear that this restaurant knew how to do business. Attentive service made people feel comfortable, and there was no need for excessive small talk.

 

Once Jing Yi and Chuxia were seated on the second floor, they noticed that Steward Tong and Gao Kun were still standing, neither sitting nor moving. So, they let them be, and Chuxia and Jing Yi decided to take a nearby private dining room with the screen removed to make it less formal. This way, everyone could relax.

 

Jing Yi hadn’t considered the situation thoroughly. It wasn’t just about rank; Chuxia was still a young ger, and he realized he should have been more considerate.

 

“Great, we’ll have Tea-infused Chicken, Stir-fried Three Delicacies, and also a dish of Sweet and Sour White Cabbage. Do you have any fresh vegetable recommendations?” Jing Yi decided to order some dishes unique to the county.

 

“You’re in luck, esteemed guests. Just yesterday, there was an ice-fishing event on the Qingzhou River’s main channel. They caught a lot of fish and shrimp. Our restaurant is known for Steamed Fish and Sautéed Shrimp,” the waiter said enthusiastically.

 

“Oh, that sounds great! In our town, we have a branch of the Qingzhou River, so we have fish but not many shrimp. In that case, add a dish of Sautéed Shrimp,” Jing Yi responded to the waiter with a couple of words of small talk.

 

“Chuxia, are these dishes okay for you? Would you like something to drink?” Jing Yi asked Chuxia. He knew that Chuxia loved chicken, and today was the 27th day, which meant it was a day to eat chicken.

 

“That’s fine, and I’ll have a Pumpkin and Chinese Wolfberry Sweet Soup for warmth,” Chuxia blinked at Jing Yi.

 

This was something Chuxia had discovered unintentionally. He knew that Jing Yi loved soup. Whenever there was hot soup on the table at home, regardless of it being sweet or savory, Jing Yi could eat an extra half-bowl of rice.

 

“Sure, we’re set then. We want the same dishes for both of our tables,” Jing Yi instructed the waiter.