Chapter 139

When Xu Ran brought the clothes back for Du Xin, he found that Du Xin had already fallen asleep, and it was not proper to wake him up. Therefore, Xu Ran just went out and asked the waiter to bring him buckets of hot water after he woke up and prepare a meal.

Xu Ran left the inn after saying this. It was a completely coincidence to meet Du Xin today. Xu Ran didn’t intend to help him at first, but he thought about the days they spent together during the exam. They were already friends and they should help each other as much as possible. Anyone could be in trouble after all.

However, Xu Ran always felt that Du Xin was a little strange, but he couldn’t tell why, so he stopped thinking. Anyway, he had no plans to come to the town recently.

…

As soon as Xu Ran arrived home, he heard his little Baozi shouting.

Xu Ran felt that Baozi’s voice was particularly good and penetrative. It could be heard from far away, and everyone could be awakened at night.

In this case, Xu Ran felt that it was necessary to lower the child’s voice.

On the other hand, Baozi was easily satisfied. As long as he was full and had no piss, he would be obedient.

Xu Ran knew that many people who babysat children professionally lived with children based on a synchronized schedule in modern times, especially sleeping. He thought that his family could do this as well, but the candidates were not easy to choose. Only he and Shao Yu were competent, but it was his baby after all and Xu Ran wanted to take care of the kid himself. He discussed with Liu Tong and decide to do it on his own. Liu Tong would replace him after recovering from childbirth.

Liu Tong was fine with that, but he was worried that Xu Ran would be too tired if he could not sleep during the day.

Xu Ran said, “It doesn’t matter. I’ll get used to it soon. I’m afraid I won’t be able to get back to normal easily.”

“I’ll call you then.” Liu Tong said with a smile.

They set this matter finally. From then on, Xu Ran would deal with his things in the morning and at night, and sleep with Baozi at other time.

What a dedicated dad!

At supper, Xu Ran told them about this and no one had any objection. One person must be specially selected to take care of the kid and Xu Ran and Liu Tong were naturally the best candidates.

Xu Ran reminded Shao Yu and Gao Quan that if someone sent a gift at this time, the gift and the name should be recorded and the favor would be returned in the future.

Shao Yu and Gao Quan nodded with no objection.

Sausage smoking was handed over to Mr. Hu. He played Chinese chess with his friends every day while smoking meat. What a comforting life!

In order to prevent people from stealing the sausage, two dogs guarded the door in turn all the time. Mr. Hu’s chess players were also trustworthy and there was nothing to worry about.

As for the bacon, it needed to be salted for a month before it could be taken out of the barrel and smoked, because the meat could get salty and be stored longer only by this way.

It was December now, and the family prepared to do Spring Festival shopping and cook the Laba Porridge. These things were handed over to Shao Yu. Shao Yu must have done these things before and accepted the task without hesitation.

After all the work in the family had been distributed, Xu Ran could concentrate on accompanying his baby.

From the next day, Xu Ran began to take care of Baozi and Liu Tong alone. He even cooked all the meals. Of course, he could sleep, but not long. After all, he needed to adapt the first day.

The child was not naughty during the day, but he was very energetic in the evening. He opened his eyes and looked around with no definite objection.

Xu Ran just accompanied him all the time. He checked whether he had pissed or not. He fed him with hot ewe milk when he opened his mouth. Occasionally, Xu Ran would doze for a while if he felt sleepy. Luckily, the kid didn’t cry at all that night, and all the family slept well.

Time flied and it was the eighth day of lunar December, which was called Laba, a lively traditional festival. The children still remembered the Laba Song they had learnt last year. Tangtang and Guoguo took the lead and sang this song all around the village and sponged the Laba porridge in other families.

It snowed earlier this year, and it had started on the night of Laba. The next day, when people got up, it was already white on the ground.

Xu An came to see Xu Ran with finished chess that day. Xu Ran was sleeping soundly at that time and was not happy when he was suddenly awakened. However, when he heard that Xu An came to send chess, he immediately got high-spirited because it was time to make a fortune.

Xu Ran asked Liu Tong to watch the kids, dressed himself up and went downstairs to see Xu An. Xu An brought a lot of chess with different sizes.

Xu Ran checked them and felt satisfied. He asked, “Xu An, have you given them a holiday?”

Xu An nodded, “Yes. It’s almost Spring Festival, so it’s time to go back home. I think it is the first year and there is enough chess, so I gave them a holiday.”

“I agree with you. How about those apprentices? Will they come again next year? “Xu Ran asked.

“Some will, but not all, I think. They chopped trees for days and it was tiresome. Some people might not want to come.”

“Did you pay them?” asked Xu Ran.

Xu An nodded, “Yes, but some people expected it was an easy job to be a carpenter, which was why they came. However, they found that it was quite bitter after they arrived and they couldn’t hang in there.”

Xu Ran waved his hand, “We don’t need these people anyway. Just accept guys that want to work hard here. Next year, we won’t do those petty businesses. We’ll get the wheelbarrows. After all, we can earn more by digging bamboo shoots.”

Xu An nodded. “I’m with you on that, but we have to wait until next spring.”

“Right. On the other hand, about the dried bamboo shoots, I’ve already found buyers and we should be able to get the money soon. The four families will share it evenly. You should tell Xu Fa and Xu Zhen about this.”

Xu An nodded, “Okay, you check these chess pieces then. If there’s no problem, I’ll go back. Wu Mei is busy with Spring Festival shopping these days and I have to go back to help him.”

Xu Ran waved his hand, “It’s okay, you can go back. I’ll keep them for a while. I’ll send you the money after I go to the town in a few days.”

“Don’t worry about the money. We’re not in a hurry to get it now. You can give me when the time comes. I’ll go back now. You’re so sleepy and you’d better go to bed now.”

Xu An left after saying this. Xu Ran didn’t send him off because he couldn’t even open his eyes.

He went to the room and slept like a log for a forenoon. After that, Xu Ran came back to his senses and asked Liu Tong to watch the kids. Then, he went to see the chess.

Xu An did do it according to his requirements. The big ones were not thick. Maybe the small ones were not carved pproperly, so they looked a little rough. But as long as it was not used by a meticulous person, there should be no problem.

It was the ninth day of lunar December, just the right time to go to the town. Many people went to do Spring Festival shopping recently and there must be many people on the street now.

However, Xu Ran had difficulty in setting the price of the chess.

It was something new in this era, but maybe too novel for people here. After all, they didn’t even know how to play the game. Although there were instruction booklets, they couldn’t pick it up in a short time. Most importantly, many people couldn’t read…

Xu Ran got a little annoyed and scratched his head.

Xu Ran thought about it and decided to go to the town first. He would set a stall and teach them hand-to-hand by the side of the road if necessary. He wouldn’t charge, but he wouldn’t give the booklets for free.

The booklets would be sold to some rich people along with the chess. People from rich families could read normally.

Xu Ran put away his chess and went upstairs to look for Liu Tong.

Just as he was about to speak, Liu Tong beat him to it, “Ran, I’ll take care of Baozi. Go ahead and do your work. I’ve been lying in bed for more than ten days and my wound is healed. As long as I don’t go out, it’s fine.”

Liu Tong was always a diligent person. This pregnancy period was probably the dullest period of his life. Since his wound didn’t hurt so much and he could get out of bed, he would wander in the room every day.

Xu Ran thought that it was warm inside the room and he was busy now. Tongtong would get recovered at the end of the month and it would be almost time to celebrate Spring Fetsival.

So, Xu Ran agreed, “Tongtong, watch the child temporarily then. If you feel tired, you can hand it over to Shao Yu. I’ll probably always run to the town these days.”

Liu Tong nodded, “All right, go. We’re fine at home. We can take care of ourselves.”

…

After negotiating with Liu Tong, Xu Ran took a few sets of chess to the town in the afternoon. He went to Qin Shuwu’s fruit shop first. It was almost Spring Festival and the business of this fruit shop was better.

Even Qin Shuwu himself was busy weighing fruits and collecting money.

Xu Ran stood there and waited for a while. When there were fewer customers, Qin Shuwu turned around and greeted him.

“What brings you by here today. Are you here to collect the booklets?” asked Qin Shuwu.

Xu Ran shook his head, “No. It’s just that the chess is ready. I come to the town today to take a try and see how it goes.”

Qin Shuwu wiped his hand with the handkerchief and walked over to Xu Ran, “What do you plan to do?”

“You said you’d introduce some friends to me, remember? You friends could read, right?”

Qin Shuwu nodded, “They could read, but not much. Are you going to sell the booklet and chess together to them?”

“No, no.” Xu Ran stretched out his finger and waved, “Naturally, I sell chess and give booklets for free. I can even instruct them on site.”

“Good idea. In that case, I’ll ask them out today. There is a teahouse in front of us, and you can meet them there. However, you should pay for the tea.”

Xu Ran smiled, “That’s for sure. Thank you, Brother Qin. I’ll go to the teahouse to book a table then. You can bring them over later!”

Qin Shuwu patted his chest, “Okay, count on me. You can go now!”

Xu Ran smiled and turned away.

–