BYBOTE Chapter 57: The Startled Donkey

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Seeing the plum blossom mark on Han Xu’s hand darken while his own remained unchanged, Luo Fei almost forgot that his mark could change color as well. But why now? Was it because of the baby’s kick? Or was it just a coincidence?

Xi Yanqing couldn’t figure it out either, but the uncertainty made him even more uneasy. He gave Luo Fei the prenatal medicine he had obtained from Shi Shi just in case.

After taking it, Luo Fei didn’t feel anything unusual, but Xi Yanqing was still worried and called Doctor Liang over for a checkup.

“How is the baby, Uncle Liang?” Xi Yanqing held Luo Fei’s hand. His expression was calm, but his heart was tight with anxiety.

“They’re fine. Why wouldn’t they be?” Doctor Liang checked his pulse and observed Luo Fei’s complexion. “Erbao, do you feel any discomfort?”

“No, I feel great.” Luo Fei actually felt better than ever. He had a great appetite, always felt like sleeping at the right time, and everything seemed pleasing to the eye. He was just happy!

“You’re worrying too much, kid. Erbao is perfectly fine, and so is the little one.” Doctor Liang didn’t even write a prescription. “Just make sure he doesn’t catch a cold or get too hot, and everything will be fine.”

“That’s a relief. I was scared because his plum blossom mark suddenly changed color, and I was afraid something had happened to the baby or Erbao.” Xi Yanqing knew that without modern equipment, they couldn’t see what was going on with the baby, so he couldn’t be blamed for worrying. He was genuinely anxious.

“Oh, that flower? Erbao’s mother asked me about it before he got pregnant. I told her it was nothing to worry about. I’ve seen others with the same kind of mark, and they all had children. I never specifically asked when the color changed, but both the baby and the parent were always fine.” Doctor Liang got up. “In my opinion, you don’t need to pay too much attention to this. Just focus on taking good care of them.”

“Of course, we’ll take good care of them. Thank you for coming all this way again.” Xi Yanqing helped Doctor Liang up. “Let me walk you out.”

“Feeling reassured now?” Luo Fei smiled as Xi Yanqing returned after seeing the doctor off. “You worry too much.”

“I do not! You’re just too carefree.” Xi Yanqing tucked the blanket around Luo Fei. “Sleep now. At least I can relax a little.”

“Mm-hmm. Where’s my special pillow? Bring it here!” Luo Fei beckoned.

“Yes, my lord!” Xi Yanqing chuckled, took off his outer robe, and lay beside Luo Fei, carefully wrapping an arm around him so he could rest his head on it.

It was unclear when exactly this habit had started, but Luo Fei could only sleep soundly when he lay on his side, resting on Xi Yanqing’s arm.

Sure enough, before long, Luo Fei drifted off to sleep, his warm breath brushing against Xi Yanqing’s arm.

From that day on, Xi Yanqing developed a habit of frequently touching Luo Fei’s forehead to check if he had a fever or asking if he felt uncomfortable.

Doctor Liang’s advice had stuck with him—no getting cold, no getting too hot. In other words, no catching a cold.

That was how Xi Yanqing understood it.

He decided he’d ask Shi Shi about it later.

He had considered asking before about why Luo Fei’s plum blossom mark was so light. But at first, he hadn’t cared whether Luo Fei could have children or not. Later, when Luo Fei did conceive, he thought the color of the mark didn’t matter as long as Luo Fei was healthy. But now, he was genuinely curious.

During the New Year period, Shi Shi and Li Siyuan had stayed home because it was inconvenient for Li Siyuan to travel, but their household had constant visitors. The two had many friends, and their doorstep was practically worn down from all the coming and going.

It wasn’t until the tenth day of the new year that the flow of guests finally subsided, giving Shi Shi some free time. Coincidentally, that was also the day Xi Yanqing came to visit.

“You’re saying that right before Luo Fei’s plum blossom mark darkened, the baby kicked him?” Shi Shi asked, his expression unchanged, as if he were merely discussing breakfast.

“Yes, I was touching his belly at the time and felt it clearly.” Xi Yanqing couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

“That has nothing to do with the darkening of his mark,” Shi Shi said.

“But it does have something to do with your child’s gender.” Li Siyuan smiled. “Xi Yanqing, your first child is likely a boy.”

“How can you tell?”

“Typically, when a ger (a male capable of pregnancy) is born, their plum blossom mark has color, varying in intensity. However, it’s rare to see one as light as Luo Fei’s. Over the years, Shi Shi and I have met a few ge like him. For them, the mark doesn’t change color at first, but around four or five months into pregnancy, it does. Some change at six or seven months. If the mark turns red, the baby is a boy. If it stays the same, it’s a girl. If there’s only a slight change, then there’s a high chance of giving birth to another ger.” Li Siyuan continued, “I thought you hadn’t asked about it because you already knew.”

“We didn’t know. Many people in our village believe a light-colored mark means difficulty in conceiving.” Xi Yanqing thought back to Luo Fei’s past. The original Luo Fei had even attempted to drown himself over this belief. But looking at it now, he should actually be grateful—otherwise, he and Luo Fei might never have ended up together.

“There aren’t many ger to begin with, and ones like Luo Fei are even rarer. It’s not surprising that most people misunderstand. But a light-colored mark doesn’t mean infertility. Rather, it allows you to predict the baby’s gender in advance. Their ability to conceive is no different from other ger.”

“Thank you, Shi Shi, Li Siyuan, for clearing that up. We’ve been wondering about this for a long time.” Xi Yanqing smiled. “Now we can prepare clothes for the baby accordingly.” Before, they had made gender-neutral clothes without embroidery because they weren’t sure. Luo Fei would be thrilled to hear this—no more dilemma over making them pretty or handsome.

“I haven’t seen Luo Fei in a while. Once the weather warms up, I’ll have to visit him.” Li Siyuan stood up. “You two take your time chatting. I’ll check if Changle has woken up.”

Xi Yanqing nodded, then took out an envelope. Inside, he had written down the method for making ice cream, along with some new ideas. Some of these were his own, while others were Luo Fei’s, so he had decided to jot them all down.

Luo Fei would occasionally come up with new ideas. Just the other day, he had thought of adding grains to ice cream.

He remembered a type called “oatmeal ice cream” that had bits of oats inside, giving it a nice chew.

Then there was red bean ice cream, green bean ice cream—both could be made into a paste before freezing.

And let’s not forget the famous Laba porridge ice cream! Xi Yanqing remembered eating it when he was in elementary school. His favorite part was the big peanuts inside!

It was quite a long list, but Shi Shi was a fast reader. After scanning through it, he started discussing the details with Xi Yanqing.

“On the eighth, Fuyue Restaurant reopened, and their boss sent someone to ask if we could continue supplying ice cream. I was planning to ask if you had any new ideas. And here you are, handing me a whole bunch at once.” Shi Shi was impressed. “What exactly do you and Luo Fei have in your heads? The things you come up with are so bizarre, yet they make people look forward to them. Red bean paste ice cream? I would’ve never thought of that.”

"Because of time constraints, I haven't had much chance to experiment yet, but what's mentioned here definitely needs to be done." Xi Yanqing had even bought the beans. "However, right now, I have a problem that I need Brother Shi's help with."

"You need white powder, right?"

"Yes, it's getting warmer day by day, and soon, ice cream won't be able to stay frozen. But Luo Fei and I need to always have a way to freeze things while experimenting with these new ideas."

"I had already thought about this with Brother Li, so we planned to send a batch of white powder your way. That way, you can make ice and ice cream yourselves."

"That would be perfect," Xi Yanqing said. "I'm planning to build a new house this year, and I want to set up a small ice cellar in the yard specifically for developing ice cream."

"Sounds good. If you need any help, just let me know." Shi Shi put the document Xi Yanqing gave him into an envelope and secured it before discussing the profit-sharing arrangement with Xi Yanqing.

They had already agreed before the New Year that Xi Yanqing and Luo Fei would get a ten percent share of the net profits from the ice-making business. Ten percent might not seem like much, but Shi Shi was the one bearing the initial investment—building the ice cellar, establishing connections, and even registering the business. Yes, even selling ice required registration, just like setting up a company.

In short, Shi Shi was taking on the most risk and doing the most work, so a ten percent cut was actually quite fair for Xi Yanqing. As for the ice cream portion, Shi Shi planned to give Xi Yanqing and Luo Fei a bigger share since they were not only providing the recipes but would also come up with new ideas in the future. He decided they would get twenty percent of the net profit from ice cream sales.

Xi Yanqing had no objections and signed the contract with Shi Shi.

Originally, Xi Yanqing didn't think a written agreement was necessary, but Shi Shi was meticulous, so he prepared two copies of the contract, clearly outlining that they would receive ten percent of net profits from ice-making and twenty percent from ice cream sales. Both parties sealed the contract with their signatures.

It definitely made everything feel more official.

Xi Yanqing put the contract away. When he left the Shi residence, he felt as if he were embarking on a new journey.

"How did it go, Brother Xi? All done?" Jing Rong asked. He had come with Xi Yanqing today to see if any restaurants in town were willing to buy mutton.

"All done. What about you?"

"I asked around. The managers of several restaurants said they already have regular suppliers for their mutton, and they only sell about two or three sheep per month. Not many customers order mutton, and as the weather gets warmer, demand will only drop further." Jing Rong rarely showed frustration, but he did now. "There are only four or five well-established restaurants in town, and none of them are willing to take it. I doubt the smaller ones will either."

"Did you try Fuyue Restaurant?"

"Yes, I spoke with the manager, but I didn't meet the owner."

"Come on, let's go again. You haven't had lunch yet, have you?" Shi Shi had invited Xi Yanqing to stay for lunch, but he declined, thinking about Jing Rong’s situation. Now, it seemed like a good opportunity to have a meal at Fuyue Restaurant and also pay New Year’s respects to the owner and manager.

"Oh, if it isn't Brother Xi?" Manager Hong was sharp-eyed and spotted Xi Yanqing before he even stepped inside. "What brings you here today? Did you bring ice cream again?" Manager Hong glanced behind Xi Yanqing but saw no sign of ice cream, only the person he had met that morning.

"No ice cream today. I brought a friend along—we’re just here to have a meal," Xi Yanqing said as he found a quiet place to sit. "Please have your staff serve us one portion of every mutton dish you have."

"All mutton?!" Manager Hong looked puzzled and glanced at Jing Rong, who hadn’t spoken since entering. "Brother Xi, what’s the meaning of this?"

"Just tasting the flavors, nothing more. Don’t overthink it. Just do as I asked. Also, bring us two bowls of plain noodles," Xi Yanqing said, then asked Jing Rong, "Is that okay?"

"Sure. But isn’t ordering all the mutton dishes a bit too much?" The restaurant had all its dish names carved onto wooden boards hanging on the wall. Jing Rong had seen them earlier and knew there were five different mutton dishes. He and Xi Yanqing definitely wouldn’t be able to finish them all. If Luo Yong were here, maybe they could.

"It’s not too much," Xi Yanqing said to Manager Hong. "Also, please tell the kitchen to serve half of each dish at the table and pack up the other half for me to take home to my wife."

"Of course, no problem. Please sit tight."

Not long after, a server brought over some tea—and even an extra plate of snacks.

Xi Yanqing and Jing Rong weren’t ones to be overly polite. They had been running around all morning and were tired, so they enjoyed some tea and snacks while they waited. During this time, Jing Rong asked, puzzled, "Brother Xi, why order so much mutton?"

Even if it was to bring some back for his brother Qi, it didn’t have to be all mutton. They had already eaten plenty of it over the New Year, and Qi didn’t particularly love it—he just found it okay.

Xi Yanqing replied, "I want to compare the flavors with what your brother Qi makes."

What he actually meant was that if they couldn’t sell raw mutton, maybe they could try selling cooked mutton instead. But since Luo Fei wasn’t here, he couldn’t say for sure whether these dishes were better or worse than what Luo Fei made, so he kept that thought to himself.

Xi Yanqing figured that since Luo Fei had grown up in a wealthy family, he had eaten a wide variety of foods and traveled to many places, so his understanding of different dishes was surely extensive. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to come up with so many new ideas at home. What if they applied this creativity to mutton dishes?

Fu Yue Lou’s mutton dishes included braised lamb ribs, lamb stew with radish, hand-pulled lamb, roasted lamb leg, and scallion-flavored lamb slices.

According to Manager Hong, these were their best-selling dishes, and other restaurants in town offered similar ones.

Looking at the dishes, Xi Yanqing thought they looked good, but after tasting them, he honestly felt they weren’t as delicious as the ones Luo Fei made. Although it was all mutton, the restaurant’s dishes had a stronger gamy taste, and the meat was a bit tough.

Jing Rong noticed this too—the mutton here wasn’t as good as what they had back home, and it certainly couldn’t compare to Luo Fei’s cooking. But since they were in someone else’s restaurant, he kept his thoughts to himself.

Xi Yanqing took a few bites of each dish but ended up finishing the entire bowl of plain noodles. Then he asked Manager Hong, "Manager Hong, do all the restaurants in town source their mutton from the same place?"

"Pretty much. Why do you ask, Brother Xi?"

Xi Yanqing smiled. "Just curious. Please settle the bill."

Manager Hong calculated the total and sighed. "Brother Xi, I didn’t realize earlier that this young man was your friend. But regarding the mutton, I really can’t make the decision. We’ve been sourcing from Yun Ji Meat Shop for over two years now, and switching suppliers isn’t something we can do on a whim. Every trade has its own rules, you know?"

Xi Yanqing was familiar with Yun Ji Meat Shop. He had bought meat there before—it was the largest butcher shop in town, offering a full selection at reasonable prices. As for quality, it was similar to other places. However, whether it was due to breed differences or something else, the mutton they ate today didn’t seem as fresh and tender as the ones they had at home.

"I just had my brother here ask around, but I understand your point," Xi Yanqing said as he collected the packed mutton. "There might not be ice cream for a while, but we should have some in the coming weeks. Boss Shi will probably reach out to you about it. Take care, and I’ll be on my way."

"Alright, alright. Come by anytime!" Manager Hong saw them out.

"Manager Hong, those two who just left—where are they from?" A young man in his twenties, holding a cup of wine, asked after watching Xi Yanqing and Jing Rong leave. "I don’t think I’ve seen them before."

"Young Master Luo, you’ve been coming to my humble shop less frequently lately. Perhaps you haven't seen him before. That tall man over there is a friend of Boss Shi," Manager Hong said respectfully. "The ice cream we used to sell here was made by him."

"Oh? Is that so? Do you know where he lives?"

"He said he lives in Huaping Village, but I’m not sure about the exact details."

"Shi Shi would have a friend like that?" A young man with a displeased expression glanced toward the door and sneered. "He looks downright poor."

Manager Hong frowned slightly at those words but didn’t refute them. It wasn’t that he agreed with the young man's view—it was just that he couldn’t afford to offend the Luo family's second young master. Years ago, the second young master of the Luo family was saved by Shi Shi, and ever since, he had been fixated on marrying him. But Shi Shi was in love with Li Siyuan instead, which had made the second young master of the Luo family furious. Now, at twenty-two, he was still unmarried. Who knew what he was dreaming about?

The eldest young master of the Luo family shot his younger brother a glare. "Can you not be so sharp-tongued? If you keep this up, I won’t take you out with me next time."

Only then did the second young master of the Luo family shift his attention back to his food.

Meanwhile, Xi Yanqing was completely unaware that someone had looked down on his “poor appearance.” After returning home, he unloaded all the things he had bought in town for Luo Fei—sesame candy, osmanthus cake, and a few feet of fabric for the baby. The fabric was in colors more suitable for a boy. As for the lamb, he didn’t bring it out just yet.

Luo Fei touched the fabric and asked, "Why are you buying more fabric? Haven’t we already made enough clothes and diapers for the baby?"

Xi Yanqing shared what Shi Shi and Li Siyuan had told him. "We can make bigger clothes, for autumn or winter."

Earlier, Luo Fei had only made summer clothes, since the baby was expected to be born at the end of the sixth lunar month, a time when it would certainly be hot.

Luo Fei was skeptical. "Really? You think you can tell the baby’s gender just from a flower?"

"That’s what Brother Shi and Brother Li said," Xi Yanqing chuckled. "If he really is a little tiger, then he’ll be afraid of heat and love to eat meat."

"Speaking of meat..." Luo Fei sniffed at Xi Yanqing. "Qing-ge, you reek of lamb."

"You can smell that?!" Xi Yanqing was surprised. "I walked all the way home in the cold wind, and you can still smell it? Are you a bloodhound?"

"I’m not the one born in the Year of the Dog—your son is. If anyone should have a keen nose, it should be him," Luo Fei teased. "Anyway, what made you think of eating lamb? Did you seal the deal with Jing Rong?"

"No. Things aren’t going smoothly on Jing Rong’s end," Xi Yanqing sighed. "The restaurants in town don’t sell much lamb, and the ones that do already have regular suppliers. Convincing them to buy Jing Rong’s lamb won’t be easy."

He pressed down on Luo Fei’s hand. "So, I bought a few lamb dishes from Fuyue Restaurant. You can try them later and see if they give you any ideas."

"Why not just sell hot pot?" Luo Fei suggested.

"Hot pot is best in winter, but there aren’t enough fresh vegetables here during that season. Also, if we really open a hot pot restaurant, who would manage it?" Xi Yanqing pointed out. "Jing Rong needs to focus on raising sheep, and we wouldn’t have time to run it ourselves. So who would take charge?"

"Then what should we do? Just give up on selling lamb?"

"Of course not. I was thinking we could try making lamb jerky—dried meat that lasts longer and can be eaten as a snack."

"Oh, that’s a great idea!" Luo Fei’s eyes lit up. "We still have some lamb left from what Jing Rong gave us last time. I’ll try making some! Qing-ge, go bring the lamb inside to defrost."

"Got it. Do you need anything else?"

"Wait, actually, don’t defrost it just yet. Let’s do it tomorrow. I want to go visit Han Xu first."

Han Xu was due to give birth soon, and since Luo Fei hadn’t been able to go out much, it had been a while since they last met.

The last time Luo Fei saw Han Xu, his belly was already huge, like he had a basin strapped to his front. Luo Fei had been a little shocked at the sight, mostly because he realized he would be in the same situation soon. The thought made him nervous, so he decided to visit Han Xu more often—maybe seeing it a few times would help him get used to it?

But as it turned out, no matter what day Luo Fei chose to visit Han Xu, that day should not have been the one—because Han Xu went into labor early, that very morning.

By the time Luo Fei arrived at the Han residence, he could already hear Han Xu’s agonized screams from outside the gate. The sound scared him so much that he immediately grabbed Xi Yanqing’s arm.

"Qing-ge, can I return this? I want a refund! Please, let me return this!"

Aaaaaaaaaah! Not even pigs being slaughtered screamed as loud as Han Xu!

T/N: Please give support on my ko-fi page, it's a big help, thank you🌰🌰🌰