Upon hearing this, Qiaoyun realized Song Huihui was involved as well. She sighed and said, "Everyone in that Song family—every single one of them—is just waiting to trick you into pressing your thumbprint on something. It’s a good thing you’re not as foolish as you used to be, or they would have been the death of you."
Qiaoyun looked deeply worried. "With such a mountain of debt, how will you ever pay it off?"
Du Chunzhi smiled. "Let’s not think about that for now. Time to eat!"
Yu Qing had brought a large crew, all skilled hands, and the work progressed rapidly. In just over two hours, the entire roof had been retiled. Soon after, those working on the roof joined the wall-builders, and by the time the sun began to set, half of the brick wall was already standing.
Yu Qing fanned himself with a straw hat, eyeing the peony pattern embedded in the brickwork with immense self-satisfaction. "Auntie, looks good, doesn't it? The decorative bricks?"
Du Chunzhi nodded, though she thought to herself: *It looks nice, sure, but it’s expensive too! Does a farmyard really need something like this?*
Yu Qing was incredibly glib. "Auntie Du, you’re even prettier than the peonies!"
Du Chunzhi was expressionless. "What kind of peony? A black one?"
"..."
Yu Qing quickly changed the subject. "We came late today and couldn't finish, but we'll be back tomorrow morning. The rest of the bricks are piled over there; they won't go missing. Brother Liu will surely keep an eye on them for you."
Du Chunzhi scoffed inwardly: *Is he obligated to?*
"Auntie, I'm heading out. Boys, let’s go!"
As the craftsmen left the village in a group, Du Chunzhi looked at her new tiles and the striking, oversized peony on the wall, feeling a sense of satisfaction. She was living a second life—she ought to live it differently!
She swept the yard again, planning how to tidy up once the wall was finished tomorrow.
When the villagers heard she had built a brick wall, they all flocked over to watch. Widow Zhao said sourly, "That wall is almost as nice as the village head's. Look at her go. Du Chunzhi!" she shouted across the wall. "Where did you get the silver? Did you go and extort Song Yao again?"
"I bought it on credit," Du Chunzhi replied, picking up rocks from the yard. "If you’ve got nothing better to do, come in and help me work."
Widow Zhao turned on her heel and left. "Now she’s ordering me around? If this keeps up, she’ll be thinking she can touch the sky!"
Meanwhile, Yu Qing sent the others back to Cuilin Town, while he hurried to the ferry landing to wait for Brother Liu.
Brother Liu steered the boat back, waited for the villagers to disembark safely, and then stepped off himself.
"Brother Liu," Yu Qing trotted up to claim credit. "I’ve taken care of everything for you."
Brother Liu frowned slightly. "Taken care of what?"
"Fixing the wall for Auntie Du. At your word, we’d go through fire and water. That wall looks fantastic—neat and beautiful. Auntie Du will surely be satisfied."
Brother Liu’s unease grew. "What exactly did your father tell you?"
Yu Qing straightened his face, mimicking his father’s tone. "Go to Songjia Village and fix a wall, right next to your Brother Liu’s place. Do a good job; don’t embarrass our trade."
The boy grinned. "Even though my father didn't say much, I couldn't lose face for you since I was in Songjia Village. Luckily, I was quick on my feet and brought several cartloads of green bricks and new tiles to give Auntie Du a proper renovation!"
Brother Liu asked coolly, "She didn't die of shock, did she?"
"She was a bit surprised, but I’m a smooth talker. I just said, 'Since we’re here, Auntie, just use them, and put it all on Brother Liu’s tab.' My aunt is just like my aunt—calm and collected, not petty at all."
"Hmm."
"Brother Liu," Yu Qing continued, "all the leftover bricks are piled at your place. I told Auntie you’d keep an eye on them. Also, I fixed her stove."
"And that’s on my tab too?"
Yu Qing gave a goofy smile. "I just said it casually. Heh, are you satisfied?"
Satisfied? This was nothing but trouble.
If a boatman could be brothers with a brick-kiln owner in town and even charge things to his name, he’d have to explain himself to everyone who asked. Besides, they were just neighbors in the same village; a small favor was one thing, but the costs of the renovation were hers to bear. What was this nonsense about putting it on his tab?
Brother Liu glanced at Yu Qing. The young man was still too young, his head filled with the plots of storybooks.
"Fine. I’ll go drink with your father some other day."
"You got it!" The boy left for the county seat after his boasting. Brother Liu felt a headache coming on thinking about the boy’s unauthorized actions.
Fixing a dozen taels’ worth of brick walls for a farm woman who had just separated from her husband—if Du Chunzhi hadn’t fainted, it was only because she was tough.
He walked slowly toward his house, stepping through the sunset. As he neared home, he saw two people standing at his door: Du Chunzhi and the Cultivated Talent, Song Rusong.
Du Chunzhi said, "Brother Liu, the wall is already built, and since Yu Qing had good intentions, I’ll accept it. But the boy has a sense of loyalty, and I cannot be muddled. How could the silver for this wall be put on your tab? Besides, since he bought the materials on credit, the kiln needs peace of mind. I’ve asked the Cultivated Talent here to help me write an IOU. I’ll go to town tomorrow after the wall is finished. Is that alright with you?"
Brother Liu was surprised and couldn't help but look at Du Chunzhi more closely.
In the years he had spent in the countryside, he had grown accustomed to all kinds of villagers. Due to poverty, some were calculating, some were greedy, and others, though kind and sensible, were timid because of their limited experience.
This woman was different. She understood right from wrong, was bold, and had a clear head. She wasn’t greedy, nor did she shirk responsibility. Moreover, her physical strength could rank first among the women of Songjia Village.
He nodded and invited them in. The Cultivated Talent wrote the IOU in duplicate, and after finishing, he handed it to Du Chunzhi.
"Better to leave it with Brother Liu. We’ll go tomorrow once the wall is done."
Brother Liu thought for a moment and said, "There’s no rush. Yu Qing’s father is away today; a few days later will be fine."
*A few days later?* Du Chunzhi thought to herself, *in a few days, I probably won’t even need this IOU.*
The next day, Yu Qing brought his men back and finished the remaining wall in just one morning. After returning home the day before, he had become increasingly pleased with how he’d handled things, and today, he was even more energetic. The group of young men spent the time chopping an entire pile of firewood.
Yesterday, Du Chunzhi had been caught off guard by debt collectors and her mind had been a mess, so she hadn't prepared much for lunch. This morning, she had gone out with Qiaoyun and Xinghua to shop, spending over a hundred coins to ensure the young men were well-fed.
In the afternoon, she went to the fields alone. She had tended the two acres of the Song family’s land so well that the grain was enough for the whole family to eat, with a bit left over to exchange for silver.
Du Chunzhi worked in the fields for a while, returned home to soak her calloused hands in hot water, and then brought out the new silk threads and brocade she had bought.
The Dragon Boat Festival was approaching. For a craftswoman, these days were the time to earn a profit from making "Aihu" (lucky tiger charms).
Du Chunzhi didn’t plan to churn out a bunch of low-profit items; she would make only two—the most exquisite lucky tigers!
These two little tigers would have the finest fur, the cutest eyes, and be embellished with sparkling beads.
In her previous life, she had been sold because of the two young ladies of the Wang family. So, taking a little interest from the little trinkets they loved—that wasn’t asking for too much, was it?