Yun Cheng thought for a moment. He and Ye Cunshan had already registered their names in the family records and had even attended a meal at the Ye household, meeting the family heads.
Yun Cheng knew that his eldest uncle’s family couldn’t sell him off. In his previous memories, the rascals who had teased or pursued him relentlessly were all men of no consequence, either commoners with no family or old bachelors, powerless against the Ye family.
They could only harass the weak.
That morning, Ye Cunshan had gone hunting, leaving Yun Cheng at home alone. No one came looking for him, so he simply nodded. “Alright, then.”
They had brought back ten handkerchiefs each to embroider. By evening, Yun Cheng had two left unfinished, so he went to Ye Cunshan’s room and sat by the lamp where Ye Cunshan was reading, carefully working on the embroidery.
Ye Cunshan had brought home a thin book he had already copied by hand. During the day, the ink dried under the sun, and in the evening, as they bound it together, he read aloud at Yun Cheng’s request.
Yun Cheng, piecing together the context and making guesses, could recognize some characters. Ye Cunshan guided him through the text, and he murmured along softly, trying to keep pace.
Watching Yun Cheng’s hands move skillfully over the delicate embroidery while quietly reciting the words, Ye Cunshan felt a growing sense of tenderness toward him. Yun Cheng’s frame was small, and the Yun family was poor.
He had grown thinner and smaller than most boys his age. By the warm light of the candle, his pale face seemed to glow softly, no longer sickly and haggard.
When Ye Cunshan paused in his reading, Yun Cheng looked up at him, puzzled, his almond-shaped eyes gentle and clear. Ye Cunshan simply shook his head and took over the wooden box to count all their money.
From the family division, Yun Cheng had twenty-two taels, with three from his grandmother and one from each of his parents. He also had six taels from selling land.
Ye Cunshan himself only had a few hundred wen in spare coins. If they returned the book the next day without a deposit, they could reclaim one tael.
The Du family’s study had its own printing workshop, so hand-copied books were not profitable.
They could copy the book, earn a small fee for the labor, and keep it for themselves. Returning the original would allow them to retrieve the deposit.
Previously, a young student, too greedy, had carelessly copied seven or eight books in a month. To prevent this, the study set a limit: one person could copy at most two books a month.
Ye Cunshan planned to choose one book to copy for study, as he had almost memorized the ones at home. In the cold of winter, hunting didn’t bring much profit, and he intended to take a boat to the prefecture city.
Yun Cheng did not approve. “You should go back to the academy. Tomorrow you’ll be visiting the Du family anyway. You could meet Mr. Du.”
Ye Cunshan didn’t respond.
Yun Cheng’s night blindness was severe; without a lamp, he was as good as blind. After Ye Cunshan saw him back to his room, he packed the things he needed for the county and finally went to sleep.
Both of them slept soundly through the night, while at the Ye and Yun households, everyone else turned restlessly.
At the Ye house, Chen Jinhua’s temper remained unsettled. The money had already been given away, this time, it could be treated as throwing it to the dogs but she still wanted to find some small annoyance to vent her anger.
Yet Cunyin wasn’t obedient. A boy, already more delicate than her daughter at eleven months, insisted on washing clothes with hot water himself.
When she refused, he went up the hill, and once done, he would chatter all afternoon about Yun Cheng and Ye Cunshan. It made her blood boil.
Ye Da was annoyed. “What are you doing?”
Chen Jinhua’s nature did not match Ye Cunshan’s unshakable calm. In Jinghe Village, with no roots or backing, even if she had schemes and desires, she would always act cautiously.
The boldest move she had made in the Ye household was to try to separate Ye Cunshan. At the time, she called Li Banxian, and the tense atmosphere had left her sweating nervously.
Fortunately, Ye Cunshan had retreated.
Ever since, the Ye family had harbored doubts. Once Ye Cunshan was out of sight for a long time, she whispered to the men, thinking that all farmers had some minor flaws.
The situation had settled. But now, dissatisfied, she was thinking about it again.
She said, “Cunshan’s fate… I wonder if it will affect Brother Cheng.”
The eldest son held a special position, and Ye Cunshan was far from an idle or useless man. Aside from Li Banxian’s fate-telling, the greatest friction with the Ye family was his refusal to marry. Once that was resolved, why worry about how it would affect a wife?
Ye Da’s face darkened. “Don’t let me hear any more rumors.”
Chen Jinhua sensed his anger and quickly nodded. “I understand. I’m just concerned.”
Yet a knot remained in her heart.
Elsewhere, in Yun Renyi’s household, the eldest son, Yun Guangshi, had returned from the county. The first thing he asked was, “Has Yun Cheng’s indentured contract been signed?”
Guangshi worked in the Wang family in the county. The Wang household, wealthy merchants in Weixian, managed cloth shops and tailor workshops.
They often needed people to travel to nearby counties to check on new patterns and dyeing techniques, selecting a team of strong men for protection. Yun Guangshi had been chosen, as had Yun Cheng.
Back then, Yun Cheng was too young, and with his father alive and protective, he had managed to avoid being taken by the Wang family.
Two years ago, Guangshi had no interest in that path, considering it too risky. If Yun Cheng went to the county to make a scene, the whole family could end up in jail.
So he had deferred, letting his younger cousin grow for a couple more years before taking him to meet the master in the county.
Now, the Wang family had continued their plans, and with the boat team needing leaders, Guangshi wanted to compete for a position. He became anxious.
Yun Renyi and Li Qiujv, unaware of the Wang family’s changes, replied vaguely. “Didn’t you say before that you wouldn’t go to the Wang family and would find him another person, maybe even with more silver?”
Guangshi, understanding his parents, knew this meant nothing had been settled.
Only after pressing did he learn that Yun Cheng had, without notifying anyone, already paired up with Ye Cunshan. He clenched his fists in frustration. “If this isn’t resolved properly, my whole assignment is at risk!”
The family had four children; he was the only one with prospects. Mentioning his work only made Yun Renyi and Li Qiujv nervous. In their anxiety, they began cursing, waking the other three children.
The household had no peace all night.
Ye Cunshan rose early, filling his basket with rabbits, a large bundle of mushrooms, and seasonal vegetables from the garden. He packed two books and the handkerchiefs Yun Cheng had embroidered separately into a small pouch.
He also planned to buy rice and flour. The remaining coarse rice at home was cooked, and the flatbreads were thicker than usual. Each person had a boiled egg.
Yun Cheng woke just in time for breakfast, feeling a little embarrassed. Ye Cunshan didn’t mind. “If you’re worried, you could go see Cunyin. He’s learning embroidery and making clothes now. You could even teach him a bit.”
Yun Cheng had been embroidering for two days and had not heard a single compliment from Ye Cunshan. Now, he smiled and asked, “Do you think I did well?”
Ye Cunshan didn’t hold back. “You did very well. Especially the mandarin ducks, they look like they’re swimming in water.”
Yun Cheng smiled, then sighed regretfully. “I didn’t have time to do other patterns. I wonder if I can take on other embroidery work this time.”
Without reaching the tailor shop, both remained silent as they weren’t sure about it, so the atmosphere was heavy.
After Ye Cunshan left, Yun Cheng washed the dishes and tidied the room. Most of his belongings were already in his room. Without a wardrobe at home, he stored everything in a bamboo chest.
Because his new body was frail, he had to prepare his winter clothes in advance. Yun Cheng only had three padded jackets. In previous years, relying on his thin frame, he wore all three at once in the cold.
He went out rarely and usually hid under the covers to stay warm. He could not, under any circumstances, rely on Ye Cunshan to coddle him. He could learn to do chores, but he could not expect constant care.
Sighing, Yun Cheng muttered, “Why didn’t I think to have him buy some goose feathers or wool…”
With no choice, he took apart his padded jackets, carefully selecting the cotton and sewing it into one thick winter coat. He planned to wear it for the season and use the remaining two lighter jackets as outer covers for easier washing.
Just as he was busy, voices came from the courtyard outside. From the sound, they were rowdy and familiar.
“Yun Cheng? Come out! Your brothers know you’re home!”
Yun Cheng was no longer the timid, obedient boy he once had been. To everyone’s surprise, he dared to speak the most vulgar words directly to Ye Cunshan. Leaning against the door panel without a shred of shame, he rattled off their lowly, despicable threats at an alarming speed.
Originally, the men had thought to take advantage of Yun Cheng’s weak, fearful nature to squeeze out some money for liquor.
In the end, however, the three of them had even been forced to promise to chop firewood for his family for a day, otherwise, they joked, they wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed.
Putting down his work, Yun Cheng noticed the sharp scissors at his side. Grabbing them, he went to the main hall, shouting through the door panel, “What are you doing here?”
Outside stood the usual band of idle men who often harassed Yun Cheng, men of no consequence, including a few old bachelors in their thirties and forties.
Now, mindful of Ye Cunshan, they dared not touch Yun Cheng, though they had other reasons for being here.
“Did we hear you got married and received twenty-five taels?”
Their eyes were on the money.
Inside, a hoarse-voiced man barked a threat. “We don’t want much. Give us five taels now, and we won’t trouble you again. If you don’t, we’ll tell Ye Cunshan that we’ve been to you!”
Yun Cheng froze. ???
He couldn’t help laughing at how ridiculous it sounded. The tension that had tightened his chest moments before was completely swept away by their stupidity.
He had wanted to threaten them back, but his survival instinct kicked in. Memories of vicious criminals harming their victims flashed through his mind, and he forced himself to stay quiet.
When pressed to hand over the money, Yun Cheng said, “Ye Cunshan took all the silver. I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”
To make it sound convincing, he added in a trembling voice, “Please… don’t tell him!”
Meanwhile, Ye Cunshan, who had set off without any silver, had walked out into the yard. He heard Yun Cheng’s voice just as he reached the courtyard.
Kicking open the half-closed gate, his face darkened. “Don’t tell me… what?”
Ye Cunshan was a farmer’s son, not a scholar prone to weakness. Having grown up working the fields, his body was strong, his movements quick.
Before the family division, he was the eldest grandson, well-fed, and tall and sturdy. When his expression darkened, his wheat-colored skin seemed to darken even more. His eyes radiated a coldness that could cut like a knife.
The three men who had come to extort money, all of them surnamed Zhang, Wu, and Liu, saw him return. The eldest, Wu Dali, was the largest and most imposing.
The other two, smaller but sharper, immediately hid behind Wu Dali, unable to come up with any excuses. Clever Wu Dali spoke for them: “They insisted on coming to play with Yun Cheng. I couldn’t stop them!”
Inside, Yun Cheng recognized the voice and mercilessly called him out. “He’s the one asking me for money! That’s the one talking!”
Ye Cunshan set down his basket and clasped his hands, knuckles cracking audibly, a clear sign that his hands were itching for a fight. “How much do you want?”
The three idlers had gambled recklessly, thinking they could at least escape a beating. But in Jinghe Village, people did not tolerate injustice, and the Ye family was fiercely protected. Those who ran today would still find life unbearable in the village tomorrow.
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[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · I Shall Go With YouChapter 2 · You Are ResponsibleChapter 3 · Just make A DoChapter 4 · You Have To Hold MeChapter 5 · Live A Good LifeChapter 6 · Meet The ParentsChapter 7 · Lucky for My husbandChapter 8 · ThreatenChapter 9 · Turning Waste paper into NewChapter 10 · New Paper!Chapter 11 · He will look good in thisChapter 12 · Too HonestChapter 13 · Make Him HappyChapter 14 · WorshipChapter 15 · Feeling Sorry for moneyChapter 16 · I’m so reluctant to leave you.Chapter 17 · My feelings for him are no longer pure.Chapter 18 · Thinking about helping him in some wayChapter 19 · Buy one for my husbandChapter 20 · Cause troubleChapter 21 · Aftermath of the incidentChapter 22 · He led him home obediently.Chapter 23 · Why are you hugging me?Chapter 24 Part 1 · Sweet TalkingChapter 24 Part 2 · Sweet TalkingChapter 25 · You are my drean ManChapter 26 · I don’t fall for flirtingChapter 27 Part 1 · Teaching You How to Like MeChapter 27 Part 2 · Teaching You How to Like MeChapter 28 Part 1 · Picking up kid from schoolChapter 28 Part 2 · Picking up kid from schoolChapter 29 Part 1 · I Have a FriendChapter 29 Part 2 · I Have a FriendChapter 30 Part 1 · Pampering My HusbandChapter 30 Part 2 · Pampering My HusbandChapter 31 Part 1 · Don’t compare yourself with othersChapter 31 Part 2 · Don’t compare yourself with othersChapter 32 Part 1 · Come here and kiss me yourselfChapter 32 Part 2 · Come here and kiss me yourselfChapter 33 Part 1 · Let me explainChapter 33 Part 2 · Let me explainChapter 34 Part 1 · Little SecretChapter 34 Part 2 · Little SecretChapter 35 Part 1 · Going to the New Year MarketChapter 35 Part 2 · Going to the New Year MarketChapter 36 Part 1 · Please coax his little husbandChapter 36 Part 2 · Please coax his little husbandChapter 37 Part 1 · I want you to pamper meChapter 37 Part 2 · I want you to pamper meChapter 38 Part 1 · He wants to marry into the family!Chapter 38 Part 2 · He wants to marry into the family!Chapter 39 Part 1 · This is a separate priceChapter 39 Part 2 · This is a separate priceChapter 40 Part 1 · Husband, children, and a warm bedChapter 40 Part 2 · Husband, children, and a warm bedChapter 41 Part 1 · Biting SpringChapter 41 Part 2 · Biting SpringChapter 42 Part 1 · Isn’t managing you the important thing?Chapter 42 Part 2 · Isn’t managing you the important thing?Chapter 43 · Shameless!Chapter 44 Part 1 · Head of the HouseholdChapter 44 Part 2 · Head of the HouseholdChapter 45 · DatingChapter 45 Part 2 · DatingChapter 46 · You Were the One Who Got HookedChapter 47 · I Like Being Looked AfterChapter 48 · A Weighty AffectionChapter 49 · Go On, Say It AgainChapter 50 · There’s plenty of time in the futureChapter 51 · Karma and RetributionChapter 52 · Playing the “Villain”Chapter 53 · I’ll Be Very Gentle!Chapter 54 · Rural RomanceChapter 55 · Don’t CryChapter 56 · Unable to Afford TuitionChapter 57 · Coax MeChapter 58 · Do You Want Me to Keep You Company?Chapter 59 · You’re Not Good EnoughChapter 60 · WoofChapter 61 Part 1 · Are the Words “I Love You” Too Hot for Your Mouth?Chapter 61 Part 2 · Are the Words “I Love You” Too Hot for Your Mouth?Chapter 62 · My skin gets itchy if I don’t take care of it for a day.Chapter 63 · ClingyChapter 64 · Night TalkChapter 65 · Top Scholar TransmigrationChapter 66 · Imperial examinationsChapter 67 · Exams Over!Chapter 68 · You’re making fun of me as soon as you get back?Chapter 69 · Shameless!Chapter 70 · Truly unbelievableChapter 71 · One taelChapter 72 · Did you draw one for my brother?Chapter 73 · Bad LuckChapter 74 · Look like youChapter 75 · You’re so clingyChapter 76 · Careful your elder brother doesn’t beat you upChapter 77 · If you’re going to hit me, then just hit meChapter 78 · Cheng GegeChapter 79 · Thank you, DidiChapter 80 · Poor scholars from humble backgrounds usually have strong prideChapter 81 · Twenty two?Chapter 82 · Have you started preparing a new book yet?Chapter 83 · We’re PoorChapter 84 · I Still can’t believeChapter 85 Part 1 · But What happened in the end?Chapter 85 Part 2 · But What happened in the End?Chapter 86 · I’m a little kidChapter 87 · The person in this painting is my younger brotherChapter 88 · Yun Xiaocheng Even Has This SkillChapter 89 Part 1 · Preparations Before DepartureChapter 89 Part 2 · Preparations Before DepartureChapter 90 Part 1 · On the Road, a Transitional ChapterChapter 90 Part 2 · On the Road, a Transitional ChapterChapter 91 Part 1 · NarrativeChapter 91 Part 2 · NarrativeChapter 92 · Narrative, transitional chapterChapter 93 · Make you happyChapter 94 Part 1 · Burial and AdmonitionChapter 94 Part 2 · Burial and AdmonitionChapter 95 · Song Jin said she was very good to Cheng HuilanChapter 96 · She has a good older brother.Chapter 97 · Simplicity is the bestChapter 98 · HomecomingChapter 99 Part 1 · Going homeChapter 99 Part 2 · Going HomeChapter 100 Part 1 · AugustChapter 100 Part 2 · AugustChapter 101 Part 1 · How come you’re pregnant but still have such a slim waist?Chapter 101 Part 2 · How come you’re pregnant but still have such a slim waist?Chapter 102 · This is the love you have for me.Chapter 103 Part 1 · SeptemberChapter 103 Part 2 · SeptemberChapter 103 Part 3 · SeptemberChapter 104 Part 1 · Ye Xiaoshan, you’re so shamelessChapter 104 Part 2 · Ye Xiaoshan, you’re so shamelessChapter 105 · Ye Xiaoshan, what are you doing?Chapter 106 Part 1 · Daily lifeChapter 106 Part 2 · Daily lifeChapter 107 · The novel has many plotsChapter 108 Part 1 · Daily life + novel plotChapter 108 Part 2 · Daily life + novel plotChapter 109 · Monthly Exams and Daily RoutineChapter 110 · Mainly exams