Fang Muyang showed great enthusiasm for furniture making, spending perhaps more time working downstairs than sleeping.

Except at mealtimes, Fei Ni rarely saw him.

Soon, their home gained two chairs. Once the clear varnish dried, they would be ready to use after some airing.

The chairs were simple in design, but Fei Ni liked them very much – though this had nothing to do with the tiny carved figurine of her on the backrest. It was so small you couldn’t see it without looking carefully.

Their next-door neighbor came to inspect the chairs, “Xiao Fei, your husband is skilled. Someone just borrowed coupons from me today to buy chrome-plated folding chairs. If you don’t have coupons, why try to be fashionable? Making your chairs like you did is both sturdy and economical.”

The implication was that Fang Muyang’s chairs were inferior to chrome-plated ones – a second choice for those who couldn’t afford the chrome-plated chairs.

Fei Ni smiled and said, “I think she should still buy the chrome-plated chairs. You can buy those anywhere – it’s just a matter of saving up more coupons. But our chairs? Most people couldn’t make these. Looking simple and being simple to make are two different things.” She wasn’t defending Fang Muyang, just her aesthetic judgment.

Her lack of modesty made Wang Xiaoman think she was just being sour grapes. Sure, chrome-plated chairs were available everywhere, but you needed both coupons and money. Who would make their chairs if they could afford chrome-plated ones?

However, Wang Xiaoman only said, “You two have such a good relationship.” Implying that Fei Ni’s judgment was clouded by emotion, unable to see the truth.

After making the two chairs, Fang Muyang prepared to make a sofa.

Fei Ni didn’t approve of making a sofa, since it served the same function as chairs. With chairs, they no longer needed substitutes, and besides, a sofa would take up too much space. Once they added a low cabinet and placed a piano, the room would be too crowded.

Fang Muyang asked Fei Ni, “When do you plan to buy a sofa?”

Fei Ni didn’t respond. Her savings in the bank were enough to buy a piano, but the neighbors’ noises had shown her how thin the walls were. Everyone would hear whatever she played, and she’d only be able to play a few pieces all year round. Just recently, someone at the factory had been criticized and lost their bonus for listening to Yao Li’s songs at home – reported by none other than their neighbor. Spending so much money on a piano only to let it sit unused would be even more frustrating. This was why she hadn’t committed to buying one.

“How much more do you need for the piano?”

“It’s not about the money.” Though it was somewhat related – if she had a few thousand yuan, she wouldn’t mind buying a piano just for display.

Fei Ni suggested to Fang Muyang, “Make the low cabinet first – we need that now. We can discuss the sofa later.”

The low cabinet was essential – it could store things and serve as a desk and dining table. The sewing machine was too narrow for dining; their hands often touched when they ate together.

However, Fang Muyang didn’t listen to Fei Ni. Instead of making the cabinet, he started on the sofa first. By the time Fei Ni found out, he had already built the sofa frame overnight.

Friday evening, Fei Ni brought food home from the cafeteria, and they sat face to face eating dinner.

Three dishes: potatoes, Chinese cabbage, and pork ribs. The ribs in one lunch box, potatoes, and cabbage in another.

When Fei Ni reached for the cabbage, her chopsticks collided with Fang Muyang’s again – something that wouldn’t happen if they had the low cabinet. Usually, she would withdraw first, but she hated doing that. This time she didn’t pull back, and neither did he, quickly picking up the cabbage from under her chopsticks and putting it in his mouth.

Fang Muyang placed a piece of rib in her bowl, and Fei Ni said, “I can serve myself.”

“I haven’t seen you take any for so long.”

“Mind your own business. People seeing you eat like this might think we’re always hungry, and then they’ll pity me too.”

Their hands touched again while reaching for food, and Fei Ni couldn’t help saying, “Put the sofa on hold. Even though you’ve built the frame and have the springs, we still don’t have the upholstery fabric and cushioning. Make the low cabinet first.” He had wood and springs, but even with money, he couldn’t buy sofa fabric without fabric coupons. Fei Ni knew his situation well – he needed her hard-earned fabric coupons just to buy pants, let alone make a sofa.

Fang Muyang fell silent, and Fei Ni assumed he had taken her words to heart.

Fei Ni asked him, “Did you buy the wool fabric with the coupons I gave you?” She had planned to make pants for him, and when Fang Muyang said he’d buy them himself, she had given him both the coupons and money for the fabric.

“I bought pants a few days ago, so we won’t make any now.”

“Those pants…” Better not mention it – those pants were secondhand from the consignment store, too loose until she helped alter them. They fit after alterations but were too thin for the current weather. Fei Ni added, “If you haven’t bought the fabric, give me back the coupons, and I’ll buy it for you.”

“I used the coupons – didn’t you say we needed fabric for the sofa?”

“Are you saying you used the coupons I gave you to buy sofa fabric?” Fei Ni’s voice involuntarily rose.

Fang Muyang served her another portion of food, “You’re so clever. We’ll sort out the pants when the other half of my payment arrives.”

His composure angered Fei Ni, “Fang Muyang, how could you do this? Who gave you permission to use my coupons for something else?” His long legs needed more fabric for pants, and the coupons from the old lady weren’t enough, so she had secretly bought more with money. All so he could dress properly. But instead of making pants, he insisted on making an unnecessary sofa. She had wanted him to make the low cabinet first.

But that wasn’t the most important thing – what mattered was that Fang Muyang said he would listen to her, and said such nice things, but did something else entirely. He had completely ignored her words.

Fang Muyang maintained his tone: “Don’t be angry, I’ll pay you back later, alright?” He gave her another piece of rib, “Have some more.”

“Your monthly allowance isn’t even as high as my salary, and you can only afford secondhand pants. How will you pay me back? You just talk nicely.”

Someone had spread rumors that her husband had nothing, but he was tall and strong – though thin, he was powerful enough to move wood and make furniture all by himself. Today in the bathhouse, someone mentioned her, saying she had chosen her husband for his height and strength. She was forced to hear a deeper meaning in their laughter and tone.

She would rather have them say she married for money and housing.

Someone asked about the height difference between her and her husband, saying too much difference between men and women wasn’t good. Daytime was fine, but at night… That comment must have had another meaning, and though she didn’t catch it, there wouldn’t have been laughter if there wasn’t some innuendo.

She kept her mouth shut, not saying a word.

She couldn’t even show her anger, because Fang Muyang was indeed tall and strong – that was fact. If she got angry, others would only say she was being defensive because they had hit upon the truth. Besides, arguing with someone while bathing would only make things more awkward. An unclothed person has no right to anger, and if she stayed silent for a minute and didn’t respond, they would move on to other topics. If she lost her temper, everyone in the bathhouse would stare at her, and under those gazes, nothing could be hidden. The next time she bathed, those looks would follow her, searching for marks left by the tall, strong man. Unless she stopped using the public bathhouse – but without a bathroom at home, where else could she go?

Her silence indeed led to a change of topic.

Someone told others to be serious, reminding them there were unmarried women present, so they shouldn’t say everything.

The implication is that if only married women like Fei Ni were present, they could say whatever they wanted.

She had married willingly but hadn’t expected these side effects. Before marriage, even when others made crude jokes, they rarely teased her. But after marriage, people assumed she had become a different person overnight.

She had thought home would be better, but he wouldn’t let her have peace there either. She had been teased at the factory, and now that embarrassment returned to her. Had she married Fang Muyang for his height and strength? The more she thought about it, the more ashamed she felt. Only his height was visible. She hated how tall he was – not only did it waste fabric, but it also provided fodder for rumors.

Originally, even when scolding him, she wouldn’t have pointed out his shortcomings.

She regretted it as soon as she said it. She had been in the right, so why stoop to mocking him about that? One shouldn’t mock others’ weaknesses, especially about earning less. He had many faults, but it wasn’t his fault that his talent couldn’t be converted into actual benefits.

Fei Ni’s words created a brief silence. But she didn’t want to apologize to them – he was wrong first.

Her lips opened and closed, but no words came out.

Fang Muyang spoke first: “Don’t I still have my illustration payment? When the other half comes, I’ll give it all to you, okay?” Fang Muyang seemed unbothered by having this fact pointed out. He reached out to touch Fei Ni’s shoulder, trying to comfort her, but she dodged, and he accidentally touched her neck.

She stood up immediately.

“Keep it yourself.” Fei Ni stood and opened the camphor wood chest, taking out a package. She placed the money inside directly in front of Fang Muyang, “Manage your own money. I shouldn’t interfere. Consider the fabric coupons a gift – you don’t need to repay me.”

She had managed him beyond their proper boundaries, beyond their supposed relationship.

Fang Muyang didn’t take his money but picked up the two lunch boxes instead.

“Why are you taking mine?”

“I ate your ribs, so naturally I should wash the boxes.”

Fei Ni snatched back the boxes, “From now on, we’ll each eat our food.”

They entered the washroom one after another. Fang Muyang only rinsed his lunch box with water, showing no intention of washing it properly. Usually, Fei Ni would tell him to use dish soap, and he would, though he always used too much. But now they were each managing their affairs.

Water splashed on his sleeve, but Fei Ni pretended not to see – after all, they were each managing their affairs.

They had always washed their lunch boxes separately, but to Wang Xiaoman, it looked like a sign of their good relationship – two people who couldn’t even afford bowls, washing together. It was sickeningly sweet.

Wang Xiaoman’s appetite had decreased lately and couldn’t stand such a sweet scene. She left with her washed bowls without looking at Fei Ni and her husband.

Fei Ni was partly responsible for the spread of rumors. If she had given all the washing to Fang Muyang, others would have thought she was with him because he was hardworking and diligent – after all, he could make furniture and take on all the dishwashing. But she insisted on going with him.