TATSD Chapter 71

The next day was August 15th, the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Both of them woke up early, and after washing up, they skipped breakfast and went straight to work in the kitchen.

For the past few days, Ji Wei had been turning day and night upside down, busy making mooncakes and planning to sell them. He hadn’t been getting enough sleep, eating properly, or even having time to cook proper meals.

Taking advantage of this rare day, Ji Wei bought a good amount of meat and vegetables, planning to reward both himself and Liu Yimian.

Just as he placed the marinated chicken into the preheated bread oven, there was a knock at the door.

This was strange.

Who would be out running around on the Mid-Autumn Festival instead of preparing at home?

Thinking it might be someone coming to buy mooncakes, Ji Wei opened the door, only to find a simply dressed young man who looked somewhat familiar standing outside.

Ji Wei was sure he had met the young man before, but couldn’t recall exactly when.

The young man, dressed in a blue cotton robe, bowed to Ji Wei, holding a blue netted bag in his hand. Even though he wasn’t moving, the bag trembled slightly.

As soon as he saw Ji Wei, the young man respectfully greeted him and stated his purpose.

“This was sent by Master Lu. They are freshly caught crabs, still lively.” The servant lifted the bag, and through the fine blue mesh, Ji Wei could see the crabs inside, their limbs tied up. They were large and looked quite expensive.

“Master Lu is too kind. It must have taken over an hour to come from Da Xi Town,” Ji Wei said, thanking the servant as he accepted the crabs. The servant was about to leave after completing his task when Ji Wei called him back.

“Wait here for a moment, I’ll be right back.”

Ji Wei took the crabs inside and called for Liu Yimian, asking if he had any money on him.

Since they were at home and busy with work, they hadn’t been carrying their coin pouches. But Liu Yimian was always careful and thoughtful.

“I’ve got some. Just a moment, Ji-ge,” Liu Yimian said. He was cutting meat, his hands greasy, so he wiped them clean with a cloth before untying the money pouch from his waist. “How much do you need?”

“Ten coins should do,” Ji Wei replied.

Liu Yimian counted out ten copper coins and handed them over, curious. “Who brought the crabs? They look so fresh.”

“They were sent by Magistrate Lu. It’s a long trip, so I need to show some appreciation,” Ji Wei said, taking the coins to the servant.

The servant was overjoyed, thanking Ji Wei profusely.

For him, delivering the crabs was simply an errand assigned by Lu Zhanhong, but getting a tip was like a gift from the heavens, something extra and unexpected.

“Thank you, Master Ji! Wishing you a wonderful Mid-Autumn Festival and all the best!”

“You’d better get going. The sun will be high soon, and it’ll get hot,” Ji Wei said, waving goodbye as the servant hurried off, disappearing down West Alley. Ji Wei shook his head and went back into the kitchen.

By noon, there were ten dishes prepared, including roast chicken, sweet and sour ribs, steamed meatballs, fried eggplant rolls, vinegar-braised pork, braised bamboo shoots, crispy pork belly, crab-stuffed oranges, and steamed crabs.

As was customary during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Ji Wei needed to pay respects to his deceased parents.

With only Ji Wei and Liu Yimian at home, Ji Wei pulled Liu Yimian along, and the two knelt before the ancestral tablets to honor his parents.

Liu Yimian was merely handing over the incense when, suddenly, Ji Wei grabbed his wrist. Startled, he let out a small cry and knelt beside him.

“Ji-ge?” Liu Yimian looked at Ji Wei’s profile in confusion, still holding the three lit sticks of incense awkwardly in his hand.

“What are you standing there for?” Ji Wei reached for the incense, noticed there were only three sticks, and glanced at the dazed Liu Yimian. He flicked his forehead and said, “What are you thinking about, looking like you’ve lost your soul? Why are you only holding three sticks? If you’re going to make an offering, am I not supposed to do it too?”

“… Do I need to make an offering as well?” Liu Yimian pointed at himself with his left hand, his lips slightly parted in disbelief.

“Why wouldn’t you? Don’t forget, you’re part of the Ji family now,” Ji Wei said, pulling out three more incense sticks, lighting them at the candle flame, and kneeling back down to his original position. “Besides, you’re now a member of the Ji household.”

Though the original Ji Wei was no longer there, Ji Wei had taken over his body, and during holidays like this, it was only right to honor his parents on his behalf.

It was a simple gesture, but it was a way of repaying the debt of taking over his physical body.

Raising the three sticks of incense in his hand, Ji Wei silently recited his wishes.

First, he wished for both his and Liu Yimian’s good health.

Second, he hoped Liu Yimian would pass the upcoming county school entrance exam.

Third, he prayed for his business to thrive and to build a successful brand.

Just as he was about to bow, he noticed from the corner of his eye that Liu Yimian still hadn’t snapped out of his daze. He gently tapped him on the arm, waking Liu Yimian up. Finally, the two bowed three times together and placed their incense into the burner.

“What were you thinking about just now?” Ji Wei asked casually.

Liu Yimian remained silent for a moment, biting his lower lip, hesitant.

Even though Ji Wei had bought him into the household, without an official status, Liu Yimian had never truly considered himself a part of the Ji family.

Now, with Ji Wei asking him to kneel and honor his late parents, Liu Yimian couldn’t help but wonder what this gesture meant. Was he overthinking it? The thoughts swirling in his mind were relentless, and difficult to control.

He wanted to ask Ji Wei directly but felt a bit too timid. In the end, he just shook his head, suppressing the joy bubbling up inside, and said sheepishly, “I just got distracted for a moment. Ji-ge, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. What wish did you make?” Ji Wei asked.

Liu Yimian glanced at Ji Wei’s back, then shyly looked away. He whispered, “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

Before they sat down for the meal, Liu Yimian tugged on Ji Wei’s sleeve and asked if he had grown taller recently.

Ji Wei, not thinking much of it, casually measured with his hand.

Sure enough, Liu Yimian, who had previously only reached his shoulder, now came up to his chin.

“It looks like your daily milk drinking and jump rope exercises are paying off. You’ve grown nearly two inches!” Ji Wei remarked.

Liu Yimian reached up, measuring the space between Ji Wei’s chin and ear, and smiled modestly.

“Ji-ge, I’m less than two inches away.”

“Huh?”

Ji Wei was about to sit down when he heard Liu Yimian’s words, taken aback. He hadn’t fully processed it before Liu Yimian had already seated himself next to him, grabbing a pair of clean chopsticks to serve food.

“I just tried one of the steamed meatballs. As you said, Ji-ge, the mushrooms make it extra savory. Plus, with the sticky rice wrapping, it’s soft, chewy, and full of flavor in every bite,” Liu Yimian said happily, chattering away by Ji Wei’s side.

Ji Wei had just taken a bite of a meatball when it hit him—he finally remembered the bet he and Liu Yimian had made.

Liu Yimian was reminding him of that.

Ji Wei glanced at him, noticing Liu Yimian’s face was glowing with happiness, his cheeks slightly flushed. For a moment, Ji Wei felt a bit guilty.

Of all things, why had they bet on this?

Even for a young man, as long as he’s in his growth phase, with proper nutrition and exercise, he can grow as fast as bamboo shoots.

Ji Wei had underestimated that.

Deep in thought, Ji Wei accidentally choked on his food.

He leaned on the table with his left hand, coughing loudly. Startled, Liu Yimian quickly ran to pour a bowl of milk tea and handed it to him, gently patting Ji Wei’s back as he drank.

“Ji-ge, what were you thinking about? You choked while eating! Luckily it wasn’t a fishbone, otherwise, who knows what might’ve happened,” Liu Yimian scolded softly.

“I’m fine, don’t worry. Who hasn’t choked while eating? I’m good now.” Ji Wei tore off the two drumsticks and wings from the roast chicken and placed them in Liu Yimian’s bowl, gesturing for him to eat.

Liu Yimian picked one drumstick and one wing, then placed them back in Ji Wei’s bowl, shaking his head. “Ji-ge, let’s eat together. I’ll only eat if you eat too. You said we’re family, how could I eat alone?”

Hearing the word “alone,” Ji Wei nearly spat out his milk tea, stifling a laugh. He glanced at the lavish spread on the table and the half-eaten, plump roast chicken, letting out a resigned sigh.

“Alright, alright, we’ll eat together.”

The roast chicken had been marinated overnight and then smoked in the oven for half an hour. Its bones were tender, the skin crispy, and the meat juicy with a sweet hint of spice and a delicate honey flavor, perfectly seasoned.

Even though the two ate heartily, there was still plenty of food left.

Ji Wei had already promised Liu Yimian that they would go see the Lantern Festival that evening. After tidying up the table, they each took a bath and put on the new clothes Liu Yimian had personally sewn.

Ji Wei tucked his money pouch into his chest but then seemed to remember something. He opened the pouch and pulled out two red hand-woven bracelets he had slipped in the day before, calling Liu Yimian over.

“With your fair skin, this will look good on you.”

The intricate “Ruyi” knot, paired with the red and gold-threaded string, had a unique charm to it.

Liu Yimian covered his mouth, afraid he might gasp out loud. He glanced at Ji Wei, then at the bracelet. Seeing his expression, Ji Wei thought Liu Yimian didn’t like it and was about to put it away when Liu Yimian darted forward, snatching the bracelet from his hand and quickly putting it on his wrist.

“Ji-ge, does it look good?” Liu Yimian’s wrist was slender, and the red and gold string made his pale skin appear even more delicate.

He held out his wrist and shook it slightly. Ji Wei nodded approvingly and then took out the other red bracelet from the pouch, handing it to him.

“It looks great. Here, take this one too.”

Liu Yimian, his face flushed, stomped his foot in embarrassment. Thinking Ji Wei was teasing him, he muttered, “Ji-ge, you’re joking again. These Ruyi bracelets come in pairs, one for each person. There’s no sense in me wearing two.”

He took the second bracelet, lifted Ji Wei’s hand, turned his palm upward, and adjusted the knot to fit his wrist, tying it securely around Ji Wei’s wrist.

“See? Only with both of us wearing them does it make a proper Ruyi knot.”

Liu Yimian placed his wrist, adorned with the bracelet, next to Ji Wei’s.

Though it didn’t suit Ji Wei as perfectly as it did Liu Yimian, the bracelet still looked good on him, not out of place at all.

Seeing how delighted Liu Yimian was, Ji Wei couldn’t help but smile too. Any lingering discomfort he had instantly vanished, replaced with warmth.

“Alright then, I’ll wear it.”

“Let’s go out and see the lanterns!”