Chapter 78: The radio bursts with opera, a father‑daughter moment that warms the heart

After breakfast, Lu Qingshan went to fetch Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui to his house.

The sun rose higher, and early‑spring light spilled into the courtyard, warming everyone's hearts.

Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui arrived, their eyes tinged with a mix of doubt and anticipation.

"Tiezhu, Fugui, you're here."

Lu Qingshan warmly ushered them inside.

Jin Hu wagged his tail, circling at their feet; his size had clearly grown a ring larger than a month ago, and his eyes were keener.

"This little guy is growing fast!" Zhao Tiezhu crouched clumsily and patted Jin Hu's head, "In a couple more months we can take him up the mountain."

"Don't rush; let it put on more flesh and get sturdy, then we'll bring it up in summer," Lu Qingshan said, "but by then hunting up the mountain won't be that simple."

Liu Fugui scratched his head, "Brother Qing Shan, what do you mean?"

Lu Qingshan's eyes lit up, "We're going to form a real hunting squad! Dedicated to mountain hunts, capturing mountain game! Tiezhu will handle large prey, Fugui will manage traps and small game, and I'll be the captain, overseeing the whole operation."

Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui exchanged glances, excitement flashing in their eyes.

Lu Qingshan placed the prepared hundred‑jin bundle of grain coupons into two piles and pushed them before the two, "I sold the skins we brought back from the village; I kept the money for immediate needs. These coupons count as the extra bonus you earned from the last mountain trip—fifty jin each, as we agreed."

Both were stunned; then Zhao Tiezhu's honest face flushed bright red, and Liu Fugui's eyes widened, leaving him tongue‑tied.

"Q‑Qing Shan, this… this is too much, right?" Zhao Tiezhu scratched his head, glancing shyly at the stack of coupons.

"It's not too much; it's what you deserve," Lu Qingshan said firmly, "Here, take them, bring them home to add to your family's food supply. Tiezhu, is your mother's medicine money enough?"

At the mention of his mother, Zhao Tiezhu's eyes reddened, "Enough, enough, we still have money and coupons at home, enough to buy medicine for most of the year!"

Liu Fugui carefully gathered the coupons, his fingers trembling slightly, "Th‑thank you, Brother Qing Shan!"

They cradled the coupons like treasures, stowing them neatly into their close‑to‑body pockets.

In these times, having grain is better than having money; these coupons are literally lifelines.

"Brother Qing Shan, whenever you need anything, just give a shout; we'll be there at once!"

Zhao Tiezhu heartily patted his chest, the rough large hand thudding against his sternum with a muffled "pa pa" sound.

"Exactly, exactly—if you say go east, we'll never go west."

Liu Fugui pursed his lips in a smile, eyes narrowed to slits, showing a sly look, "Even if we enter the tiger's den, I'll still follow you, Brother Qing Shan."

"Enough already," Zhao Tiezhu gave Liu Fugui a shove, "If a tiger shows up, you'll be the first to vanish."

The three burst into laughter, and a rare lighthearted atmosphere filled the room.

Lu Qingshan wiped away tears of laughter, "Come to my place tomorrow if you're free; I'll teach you about some mountain herbs. After spring we'll go up the mountain—besides hunting, we'll need to watch for these valuable things."

"What herbs?" Liu Fugui stepped closer, a spark in his eyes.

"Ginseng? Deer antler? Bear bile?" he listed, his voice growing softer, as if afraid outsiders might hear those pricey words.

"Ginseng isn't that easy to find," Zhao Tiezhu rolled his eyes, "You must be talking about lingzhi, monkey head, and gastrodia, right?"

Lu Qingshan smiled without replying, just pointed his index finger at Liu Fugui's forehead, "You're quite the thinker; we'll discuss it tomorrow. First, take those coupons home and store them safely."

Both nodded repeatedly, excitement and anticipation written on their faces, cradling the coupons carefully as they took their leave.

After seeing Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui off, Lu Qingshan returned indoors and saw Lin Yue'e with Xiao Xue listening to an opera by the radio.

Lin Yue'e carefully turned the knob, and the opera's melody streamed from the radio; Xiao Xue listened entranced, mimicking the tune with lilting sounds.

"Ah—hey—"

Xiao Xue elongated the notes, imitating the opera's phrasing while waving her little hands, copying the stage movements.

Lin Yue'e was amused by her daughter's goofy performance, covering her mouth as she laughed, "Xiao Xue, what play are you singing?"

"I'm singing…" Xiao Xue tilted her head, thought a moment, then said seriously, "I'm singing the play about fighting a tiger!"

"Fighting a tiger?" Lin Yue'e was startled, then laughed again, "That's clearly 'Five Women Paying Longevity'; where's any tiger fighting?"

"I want to sing fighting a tiger!"

Xiao Xue pursed her lips, stubborn, "Father said he can fight the black bear; I also want to fight tigers! When I grow up I'll protect Mother!"

Jin Hu lay in the corner of the heated bed, ears alert; whenever the wind rustled leaves outside, he lifted his head to glance, and occasionally gave a low "wu‑wu" growl when Xiao Xue got too close, yet never actually bit her.

Lu Qingshan leaned against the doorway, watching the scene, a warm feeling rising in his chest, but memories of the wife and daughter he failed to protect in his past life made his gaze turn complex.

"Dad, come quick!" Xiao Xue spotted him, shouting as she rushed over.

Lu Qingshan scooped his daughter up, kissing her chubby little face, "If you ever learn to fight tigers, Xiao Xue, you must never bully your dad!"

"I only bully bad people!" Xiao Xue's eyes sparkled, "Dad is good, I'll protect Dad!"

After dinner, the three of them squeezed onto the warm heated bed. Lu Qingshan took out several crumpled old newspapers and sketched on them.

"The new house will be built on that spot at the western edge of the village, with a big courtyard: three main rooms, two side rooms on each east and west wing, and the back yard can have a shed for a few chickens and ducks."

Lu Qingshan explained while drawing.

"We'll also dig a well here; the water will be sweet."

He dotted the map, "Here we'll plant vegetables, and next to it a small garden for your mother to grow flowers."

"Flowers?" Lin Yue'e looked at him in surprise; in the village this is rare—farm families rarely waste land on flowers.

"Yes, plant flowers," Lu Qingshan said gently, "so our courtyard has color all year: morning glories in summer, chrysanthemums in autumn, winter plum in winter, and spring…"

"In spring we'll plant peonies!" Xiao Xue interjected suddenly, clapping her hands.

"It's not that easy to keep peonies alive," Lin Yue'e couldn't help laughing, "Peonies are quite precious."

"Then we'll plant winter jasmine," Lu Qingshan continued, "bright yellow, like Xiao Xue's smiling face."

"Dad, where's my room?" Xiao Xue nestled against Lu Qingshan's neck, eyes blinking wide.

"It's here, the west wing of the main house, the sunniest spot, prepared for our little princess Xiao Xue!"

Lu Qingshan pointed to a tiny square on the plan, "The room will also have a small desk for Xiao Xue to study at later."

"Can I keep a little rabbit?" Xiao Xue asked eagerly, eyes full of hope.

"Of course," Lu Qingshan nodded, "In a few days, I'll go up the mountain and catch a small wild rabbit for you, to raise in the courtyard."

Xiao Xue clapped her little hands happily, her eyes shining with yearning, "Will Jin Hu eat the little rabbit?"

"No," Lu Qingshan patted her head, "Dad will train them to become good friends."

"Also here, the main east wing, is the bedroom of your mother and me; if Xiao Xue gets scared later, she can come to dad and mom."

Lu Qingshan continued the tour, while Lin Yue'e listened beside him, a flush of pink spreading across her face.

"The west wing serves as kitchen and storage, the east wing has one room as a guest room, and one…" Lu Qingshan paused, glanced at Lin Yue'e, "one that will later house Xiao Xue's younger brother or sister."

Lin Yue'e's face reddened further, she lowered her head, unwilling to look at him, yet couldn't hide the smile at the corner of her mouth.

"I want a sister!" Xiao Xue immediately hugged Lu Qingshan's neck and shouted into his ear, "A brother would snatch my candy!"

"Alright, alright, we'll do as Xiao Xue says." Lu Qingshan laughed heartily, ruffling his daughter's hair.

In the tiny house, the opera on the radio had already switched to the night program, the announcer's low, steady voice reporting news from across the country.

Lu Qingshan carefully sketched the future home on paper with a pencil.

"Dad, can I call my little rabbit Tuan Tuan?"

Xiao Xue perched at the kang table, her little hand propping her chin, sleepy eyes half‑open yet still unwilling to go to sleep.

"Of course you can."

Lu Qingshan set down his pen, patted his daughter's head, "Tuan Tuan and Jin Hu—one round and plump, the other majestic—make a perfect pair."

Lin Yue'e spread the bedding and said softly, "Qing Shan, you dote on the children so much; it's not like before."

The words quieted the room for a moment.

Lu Qingshan looked at his wife, their gazes meeting; he saw the softness and tentative hope in Lin Yue'e's eyes, a careful anticipation.

Lin Yue'e, her face flushed, hurriedly interrupted, "Xiao Xue is here."

Lu Qingshan smiled, nodded, and lifted the already drowsy Xiao Xue, "Go sleep over Mom's side; tomorrow Dad will still teach you about the wheat seedlings and bean seedlings in the fields. Didn't you want to know how bean sprouts grow?"

"Mm," Xiao Xue replied softly, rubbing her eyes as she slipped into the quilt.

Lu Qingshan blew out the oil lamp, leaving only the faint glow of the stove fire in the room.

He walked to the foot of the kang, gently patting Xiao Xue through the blanket: "Tomorrow Dad will go to town to inquire about the new house and bring back some candy pieces."

"Also bring meat buns," Xiao Xue mumbled, her voice growing softer.

"Alright, I'll bring meat buns."

Jin Hu shifted at the corner of the kang, settled into a comfortable position and kept sleeping.

Moonlight filtered through the paper window, casting the three silhouettes onto the wall, quiet and warm.

The radio still emitted its low voice, like a silent lullaby, and the laughter of the three in the tiny house finally merged into the night's stillness.