Ch 63: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

The children nudged each other, hesitating for a while, until the oldest boy finally stepped forward and said, “Master, my name is… Li Yegou (Wild Dog).”

Shen Qing nearly choked on his own saliva.

Children who were sold by their families—unless their entire household had collapsed and they had no means of survival—were rarely the cherished ones. Although there was a rural belief that giving a child a crude name would make them easier to raise, Miao Shi herself had deeply regretted naming Shen Zhang with such a grand character, fearing that a simple farm boy might not be able to live up to it, which was why he had passed away so young.

But crude names weren’t usually this crude. Not even something like Gouzi (Doggy) or Goudan (Dog Egg), which, while not elegant, were at least given to children who were somewhat cherished.

The rest of the names were just as perfunctory: Liu Sangou (Three Dogs), Li Cao’er (Grass), Feng Shuigou (Ditch Water). The two little girls didn’t even have proper names—one was called Erniu (Second Girl), the other Liuy’a (Sixth Girl).

Shen Qing wasn’t a cultured man, so he wasn’t going to give them poetic and elegant names. But calling them Yegou and Shuigou? That was a bit much. After some thought, he asked them, “Would you like to change your names?”

The children exchanged glances. The brokers had taught them that when they were sold to a new household, it was normal for their master to rename them, and whatever name was given, they had to accept it. But no one had ever asked them if they wanted to change their names before.

Did they want to? Of course, they did. Who would willingly go through life called Yegou or Shuigou? Even back in their villages, they had been mocked by other children. They hesitated and fidgeted, but before Shen Qing’s patience ran out, they all nodded one after another.

“Do any of you have a name you’d like to be called? If you do, you can choose one for yourself. If not, I’ll pick for you—it might not be the best, but it’ll be better than what you have now.”

Silence again.

Finally, Li Cao’er hesitated for a long time before gathering the courage to ask, “Master, I’d like to be called Mudan (Peony)… is that okay?”

Li Cao’er was the fifth child in his family, born after three older sisters and an elder ger brother. When he was born, his parents saw that he was another ger and simply tossed him into a pile of straw. It was late autumn, and he lay there for half a day without freezing to death, still making weak, kitten-like cries by midnight. His mother finally relented and had his eldest sister bring him back inside.

But they had only saved his life—nothing more. He had been treated as insignificant ever since. Not that his older siblings had it any better.

Later, a bad harvest came, and his younger brother fell ill. Then, his mother finally gave birth to another son, the much-awaited sixth child. When a human broker came to the village to buy people, the first to be sold was Li Cao’er. His older siblings were already of working age and could bring in labor or future dowries, but at ten years old, he was in an awkward in-between stage—too young to be useful, too old to be coddled.

After being sold, he once overheard a broker say that the peony was the most noble flower in the world, the king of flowers, and the one worn by the empress every day.

He no longer wanted to be like grass, trampled underfoot. He wanted to be the most luxurious flower in the world.

Shen Qing was momentarily surprised. He thought Mudan was a bit of a strange name for a ger, but he was pleased that Li Cao’er had his own ideas. “Alright, from now on, your name is Mudan.”

With Mudan leading the way, Li Yegou also mustered up the courage to say, “I want to be called Li Shuming.”

This was the name of the scholar’s son in their village. The real Li Shuming was the same age as Li Yegou, but they had lived worlds apart. From the moment he was born, Li Shuming was the treasured son of the family. He began schooling at three years old and was naturally gifted in academics. His scholar father praised him endlessly, saying he was sure to bring glory to their family.

Li Yegou, meanwhile, was born into poverty, with parents who never had a kind word for him.

Shen Qing didn’t know the backstory, but there was no reason to refuse. As for the rest of the children, since they had no preferences, he chose names for them:

• Erniu became Manao (Agate).
• Liuy’a became Feicui (Jade).
• Liu Sangou, following Shuming’s name structure, became Liu Shuliang.
• Feng Shuigou, to match Mudan’s floral theme, became Haitang (Begonia).

If Shen Qing hadn’t spent so much time pretending to be a rich young master and eavesdropping outside Ruyifang, he might have only come up with names like Liuye (Willow Leaf) and Huaihua (Pagoda Tree Flower).

He also told them, “You’re still young. If one day you decide you want a different name, you can tell me.”

The children silently memorized their new names. With a new master and a new home, they were also starting new lives.

After letting them settle in, Shen Qing took Miao Shi shopping around town. First on the list was stocking up on grain—there were over twenty empty rooms in the house. After accounting for the ones set aside for the children, as much as they could fill, they would buy.

Refined rice, white flour, various beans… There was no longer any need to worry about what the villagers might think. Shen Qing bought everything in bulk, sending cartloads of grain straight to the new residence. He also purchased two shi of fresh soybeans.

Meanwhile, Miao Shi focused on selecting fabric to make clothes for the children. Being frugal by nature, she picked sturdy, warm materials rather than fashionable ones. Discounted dyed fabrics with minor flaws would do fine as inner linings. She also bought a large bundle of new cotton and sewing supplies like needles, scissors, and thimbles, along with other daily necessities.

All of these were sent directly to their new home.

Word quickly spread through town that Shen Qing had finally purchased property. The shopkeepers he frequented all congratulated him. Shen Qing kept his words brief, picked up the tofu-making equipment he had ordered earlier, bought a large stone mill, and then set off with Miao Shi for Shiqu Village.

As soon as they left, the town’s gossip mills started turning.

“I saw them heading out of town toward the villages. That young master is living in a village?”

“That woman must be from a village too… but which one? And what is she to him? Did anyone see her face? What if she’s his wife or concubine? There are quite a few families interested in making a match with that young master—this news would break some hearts.”

A clerk from the fabric store waved a hand dismissively. “No, she must be an older woman. The way she picked out fabric, she looked like someone used to thrift and budgeting.” That was putting it mildly—her shopping habits clearly showed she had come from a poor background. “Not at all like that young master’s way of spending.”

“How do you know she’s an older woman?” someone perked up. The veil was so long it covered her entire figure—how could he tell? “Did you see her face?”

“No, but I saw her hands. When she was selecting fabric, I got a glimpse—those were hands used to farm work.” The clerk was used to dealing with wealthy ladies and could tell the difference.

“Stop speculating,” said the real estate broker who had handled the deal. “She’s his aunt.”

He turned to the innkeeper. “Book me a fine banquet tonight—I need to entertain the county office clerks.”

Seeing that he knew the inside story, everyone crowded around, eager to pour him tea and offer snacks. “Tell us more!”

The broker thought for a moment and then shared his analysis.

“That young master said his aunt was mourning in the village. Her husband probably died, leaving her struggling, so her wealthy nephew stepped in to help.”

“I must say, this young master is truly a filial and generous man. Not only did he buy a house for his aunt, but he also purchased several young servants from me to attend to her. There are people who wouldn’t even treat their own mothers this well! In the future, all his aunt has to do is rent out a few shopfronts at the front of the house, and she’ll have more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of her days!”

The people around him listened with fascination, believing every word.

“So his aunt is from a village down south? Do we know which one? Can she make decisions on his behalf?” Someone smacked their lips in thought. “Even if she can’t, she could at least act as a matchmaker. To be honest, my neighbor has a niece who’s been eyeing this young master for a while. She wouldn’t mind being a concubine, and the dowry wouldn’t be an issue—she just lacks a connection to introduce her…”

The broker, having enjoyed his snacks and tea, stood up and dusted off his robes. “Ah, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave!”

He had no qualms about sharing his own speculations, but he wouldn’t dare reveal any actual information from Shen Qing’s household registration. What if he angered the young master and lost his business? He was counting on securing that East Mountain deal and making a fortune!

——

Meanwhile, Shen Qing was completely unaware that in the short span of an afternoon, his reputation in town had been further embellished. Now, he was seen as a filial and generous man—but one who was weak in handling family disputes. As he arrived in Shiqu Village with a cart full of supplies, his entrance caused just as much of a stir there.

Not to mention, the massive stone mill he brought was impossible to ignore!

Shiqu Village did have stone mills, as did most villages. The communal mill was village property, so individual households rarely needed their own.

It was fine for occasional use, like grinding wheat or sweet potato starch. But if someone were to monopolize the village’s communal stone mill every day for business, it wouldn’t take long before the entire village started complaining. So having a personal mill was the best option.

“Qing Ge’er, why did you haul such a massive mill? Is this for your uncle’s family?” Some villagers circled around the stone mill, examining it. Though it wasn’t quite as large as their communal one, it was still impressive. “What are you buying this thing for? Isn’t the village mill big enough for your uncles to use?”

Shen Qing seized the opportunity to make an announcement. “My uncles are opening a tofu workshop. If you ever want tofu, you can buy it from them. We’ll give a discount to fellow villagers, and it’ll be much more convenient than going all the way to town!”

“What? Your uncles are opening a tofu workshop?” The villagers were stunned. “But no one in your uncle’s family knows how to make tofu!”

Shen Qing chose not to answer that and instead focused on drumming up business. “We’ll be making a small batch tomorrow for everyone to try. If you like it, we’ll keep producing more. Come by early in the morning to get a taste!”

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