Is Lin Feng really a mensao?
After three years of living together, Su Ling had gained a deep insight into his personality.
Lin Feng was like a closed book, revealing only when prodded, and even then, questions were often left hanging in the air. Over the past six months, his silence seemed to deepen, leaving Su Ling to grapple with a growing sense of frustration and helplessness. With each passing day, the challenge of breaking through Lin Feng’s barriers weighed heavier on Su Ling’s shoulders, casting a shadow over their relationship.
“Alright, enough about him.” Noticing the crease of worry forming between Su Ling’s brows, Lin Zhou skillfully veered the conversation in a different direction. “How’s the rural dwelling? Are you adjusting well to it yet?”
“Not too shabby.” Su Ling took a moment to compose his thoughts before switching cameras to showcase every nook and cranny of the house to Lin Zhou.
As Lin Zhou peered through the screen, his eyes widened in sheer wonder at the exquisite interior decorations. His amazement was palpable, filling the air with a symphony of awe and admiration.
“Xiao Ling! You’ve hit the jackpot! These chairs, this table, those shelves, that folding screen, and even that porcelain vase in the corner! Aren’t they all antiques?”
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To think he would expect someone as frail and clueless about farming2 四体不勤，五谷不分 (sì tǐ bù qín, wǔ ɡǔ bù fēn): It is an idiom in Chinese that is rooted in traditional Chinese culture and farming practices.
“四体不勤” suggests that the person lacks physical stamina, while “五谷不分” implies that the individual lacks basic knowledge or understanding of the five major grains in traditional Chinese agriculture (namely rice, wheat, corn, millet, and beans).
Putting them together, it describes someone who lacks physical strength and endurance (四体不勤) and also lacks knowledge or understanding of basic things (五谷不分). as me to take up farming! It’s like asking a fish to climb a tree. You’d sooner find me face down in the dirt from sheer exhaustion than even dream of managing half an acre of land. It’s laughably unreliable, to say the least!
Lin Zhou remarked, “We can’t just let it go to waste now, can we? After all, idle time is idle time, so you might as well plant some flowers for fun!”
A bemused expression crossed Su Ling’s face as he chuckled, “Can planting flowers be equated to farming?”
After all, plants usually came in a single pot, so caring for them was simple enough — a little water, some fertilizer, and some sunlight on the balcony would do the trick. But farming? Now, that was a whole different story. It demanded sustained physical exertion over a long term, a task he knew he was not cut out for.
Lin Zhou proposed, “If you’re really not keen on doing the farming yourself, why not just rent it out to others?”
Su Ling replied with a thoughtful nod, “I’ll give it some thought.”
After a few more laughs shared and stories swapped, they bid farewell and tapped the end call button.
With a soft sigh escaping his lips, Su Ling’s gaze lingered on the darkened screen before he locked the door. Quietly, he made his way around the central wall in the hall and ascended the stairs.
In the stillness of the rural night, a profound quiet hung thick in the air, wrapping everything in an eerie stillness. With every cautious footfall on the wooden staircase, the aged boards groaned in protest, their creaks slicing through the quiet with a palpable tension.
This was Su Ling’s first time residing in such a remote and expansive estate, so he found it difficult to adapt. During the day, the presence of Li Dahai and Aunt Zhang provided him with a comforting sense of safety, leaving no room for fear. Now that he only had himself for company in the night, a spine-tingling chill crept up his spine as he headed up the narrow and elongated staircase.
With a heart racing as fast as a galloping horse, Su Ling whispered words like a mantra, “Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality,3 Core socialist values are a set of fundamental principles and beliefs that guide and promote socialist ideals within Chinese society. They have been officially endorsed by the Chinese Communist Party and are considered a key aspect of Chinese culture and social development.
The Core Socialist Values were officially introduced in China in 2012 and consist of 12 principles:
1. 富强 (fù qiáng) – Prosperity
2. 民主 (mín zhǔ) – Democracy
3. 文明 (wén míng) – Civility
4. 和谐 (hé xié) – Harmony
5. 自由 (zì yóu) – Freedom
6. 平等 (píng děng) – Equality
7. 公正 (gōng zhèng) – Justice
8. 法治 (fǎ zhì) – Rule of Law
9. 爱国 (ài guó) – Patriotism
10. 敬业 (jìng yè) – Dedication
11. 诚信 (chéng xìn) – Integrity
12. 友善 (yǒu shàn) – Friendship
You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_Socialist_Values …” With each syllable, he gathered courage and climbed the stairs to the second floor.
On the second floor, a trio of rooms awaited. At the heart stood the master bedroom, flanked by two adjacent rooms on either side.
According to Aunt Zhang, Second Grandfather used to occupy the master bedroom before his passing. With her seasoned wisdom, she advised that if Su Ling was even a smidge superstitious, he should consider renovating the room and letting in fresh air by opening the windows for two months. She implied this could serve as a preventative measure against any looming misfortune.
With that, Su Ling decided to settle into the bedroom nestled in the eastern corner for now, with plans to hire someone to renovate the master bedroom at a later date.
As for the second bedroom, it was modestly furnished with an old wardrobe pressed against the wall and a quaint wooden bed, just one meter and fifty centimeters wide. Resting upon the bed was a fresh set of bedding Su Ling had recently purchased from Aunt Zhang.
Only a few days back, Aunt Zhang poured her heart into crafting two quilts, stuffing them with fresh cotton. Originally intended to be saved for her son and daughter-in-law’s homecoming during the Lunar New Year, but fate intervened. With a tender heart, Aunt Zhang handed them over to Su Ling, whose needs could not wait.
Knowing that he could not simply take them for free, he purchased the quilts, along with matching quilt covers and bed sheets. In an instant, Aunt Zhang beamed with a broad smile and sweetened the deal with a tempting “buy two, get one free” offer. But that was not all — she even threw in a delightful surprise, an unused old pillow.
Tucked away in the quiet corner, Su Ling’s four suitcases were lined neatly against the wall. He opened one of them gingerly, unveiling the essentials for the evening. After a swift grab for his pajamas and underwear, he slipped into the bathroom for a refreshing wash.
When Second Grandfather renovated the ancestral house, he made sure to install a modernized bathroom in each bedroom. However, poor Su Ling found himself in a chilly predicament, as the lack of a water heater meant he had to brave a brisk rinse to freshen up.
Ty for the chapter!
It’s a pleasure! Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed the chaps so far <3
<3