Old Man Shen’s face darkened. He lowered his voice. “Keep it down!”
Of course he knew Hongye was the family’s hope. He couldn’t bear to give Yubai’s things to Yubai, either.
But if Yubai really went to another family to borrow brushes, ink, and paper, their family’s reputation would be ruined.
The monthly allowance from the clan school was meant for students to buy writing supplies. Medicine was something the family ought to pay for.
Using Shen Yubai’s school money to buy medicine might shut the Third Household[1]The family branch of the third son, Shen Yubai’s late father, including his widow and child. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717536_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717536_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); up, but it wouldn’t silence the clan.
Old Man Shen cared deeply about saving face.
He was the father of a man who had once been County Magistrate[2]An official who administered a county in imperial China, with responsibilities that could include local government and judicial affairs; details varied by dynasty. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717536_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717536_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, and now he hoped his grandson would become one, too.
If these things got out, it would hurt Hongye’s chances in the imperial examinations.
Old Man Shen didn’t want to explain any more to Madam Zheng. He said harshly, “If you still want your eldest grandson to have a chance at the imperial examinations, give Yubai what he asked for.”
Madam Zheng stamped her foot in anger, but still went to the eldest household’s room to fetch the brushes, ink, and paper. She shoved them all into Madam Luo’s arms.
Her narrow, slanted eyes glared at Shen Yubai. “Let’s see what you amount to!”
Shen Yubai cupped his hands to Madam Zheng. “Yubai will not disappoint Grandmother’s expectations.”
Madam Zheng was so furious she nearly fell backward. When she returned to her room, she slammed the door with a tremendous bang.
A shadow flashed past the window of the eldest household’s room.
Shen Yubai’s still-youthful face remained calm and unreadable. He led his mother back inside.
Madam Luo rubbed her hands against the sides of her clothes, still shaken. “Don’t anger your Grandfather and Grandmother again.”
“I only asked for some things that already belonged to me. Why would Grandfather and Grandmother be angry?”
Shen Yubai sat cross-legged on the bed.
Though he was feeling much better, walking so far today had still tired him out.
Madam Luo folded the quilt and placed it behind his back so he could lean against it more comfortably.
She knew she couldn’t argue with her son, but she was terribly anxious.
The Shen Residence had not divided the household; her parents-in-law controlled all the money and possessions in the home. If they angered them, a mere whim of theirs could make life miserable for a widow and her child.
Like today: even though Yubai wasn’t home, they could have set aside some food for him. But his grandmother had said that since Yubai had gone to the clan school, he must have eaten there, so there was no need to save him a meal.
Madam Luo was hungry, too.
After pouring Shen Yubai some tea and setting it beside the bed, Madam Luo slipped out of the room.
Shen Yubai opened his book and skimmed through it, familiarizing himself with the contents so he would be less likely to make mistakes when he copied it out later.
Just as he was about to pick up his brush, a transparent box appeared on the bed beside the scroll.
“This is called cake. The shop across from my school sells it. You’ve definitely never had any, so I’m sending you some to try.”
Shen Yubai set the transparent box on the kang table. Inside was a wedge-shaped pastry, covered with a layer of some white substance and decorated with pink flowers.
He examined it carefully and noticed two spoons at the bottom of the box.
Su Jin had told him that the material was called plastic.
He cautiously opened the box. A sweet, fragrant smell immediately filled his nostrils, and his stomach growled.
Shen Yubai studied the plastic spoon in his hand, wondering whether it would be strong enough to dig into the cake.
He tested it against the cake, and the spoon’s tip sank right in.
A flicker of surprise crossed Shen Yubai’s face. He scooped up a bite and put it in his mouth.
The cake’s sweetness spread across his tongue and instantly filled his mouth.
Shen Yubai gazed at the cake, eyes shining.
After dividing it into two portions, he happily ate his share.
When he took the last bite, a pang of reluctance rose in his heart.
Once he had finished, he covered the box and set it aside, then solemnly wrote Su Jin a thank-you letter, going out of his way to praise the cake as a delicacy fit for the mortal world.
Su Jin burst out laughing.
She and Shen Yubai had chatted a lot over the past ten days or so, and she knew he loved sweets. When she passed the cake shop outside her school today, she had spent a hefty 38 yuan on this cake.
Everyone at school loved that bakery’s cakes, but no one praised them as extravagantly as Shen Yubai did.
After they chatted a little more, Su Jin learned that Shen Yubai hadn’t eaten lunch.
“You’re sick. How could they bear to leave you without even a meal?”
“They wanted my inkstone last time, and I refused to give it to them. Today they’re giving me a small punishment.”
Just reading Shen Yubai’s calm account made Su Jin angry.
The Shen Residence had taken all three years of Shen Yubai’s monthly allowance, and now they were coveting his precious inkstone, too?!
What a bizarre family!
“Have they always bullied you like this? Can’t you move out?”
The reply came soon. “In the Dayue Dynasty, there is no such thing as severing ties with one’s family. Showing disrespect to one’s elders would ruin my future. Even if I went home to farm, people would point fingers at me, and I would have no place in the clan.”
Su Jin felt stifled.
In ancient times, a single word—filial piety—could crush a person.
The father was the son’s guiding authority.
And here, “father” meant Shen Yubai’s grandfather.
What a mess!
“Does your mother just endure it all in silence?”
Su Jin wasn’t even sure why she asked.
Perhaps some part of her wished her own Mom would protect her, too.
Mom had a life of her own and couldn’t spare much energy for Su Jin.
At the thought of that familiar figure, a flicker of confusion crossed Su Jin’s eyes. She quickly pushed it aside.
Because Shen Yubai’s letter had arrived.
“The Dayue Dynasty is different from your era. Women have no voice. Since my father died, I am the only one she can rely on. Once I grow up and pass the imperial examinations, she will finally have a chance to hold her head high. But now that I am gravely ill, her life in the Shen Residence has become even harder.”
Su Jin felt a jumble of emotions.
A father who died young, a mother who let others walk all over her, and him, left broken.
“Your mother could secretly save some food for you.”
Shen Yubai smiled when he read that.
Women in the future were indeed treated well; they could even think of something like that.
He picked up his brush and wrote, “If I have no lunch, where would she get any food?”
When Su Jin received the letter, she stared so hard at the words it was as if she could bore a hole through the paper.
Madam Luo had been going hungry, too?
The mother had to work from morning till night, while the son was still sickly.
How could the Shen Residence have the nerve to deny these two a meal?
Hmph.
If the Shen Residence wouldn’t feed them, she would!
Su Jin immediately ordered two takeout meals and sent them through to the other side. Then, still fuming, she wrote him a whole letter.
The tempting aroma of food filled the air around him, and Su Jin’s letter was in his hands.
Just from the words on the page, Shen Yubai could imagine how angry Su Jin was.
“What could I send you that would let you teach the Shen family a lesson and vent your anger?”
As he ran his fingers over the paper, the corners of Shen Yubai’s mouth lifted.
That single smile seemed to fill the dim room with brilliant light.
He picked up his brush again, the smile in his eyes deepening. “There’s nothing else I need. I must trouble you for medicine, Miss.”
He already owed her his life. How could he ask her for anything more?
Simply copying historical texts was no way to repay Miss Su Jin’s kindness. Once he had recovered, he would do everything in his power to find a way to repair the scroll for her!
She was only a student, so she probably didn’t have much money. She had been helping him so much lately; she must be struggling to make ends meet.
Shen Yubai picked up his brush again. “You’ve sent me so much medicine and food lately. It must have cost you quite a lot. Do you still have enough money? I have some copper coins here. I wonder if they can be used in your world?”
When that letter appeared in front of Su Jin, she threw her head back and wailed.
Money.
She really didn’t have much left.
Usually, she only had a thousand yuan a month for living expenses. She used to get by by being careful, but now she was feeding three people, and her money was slipping away as if it had grown legs.
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