Yun Cheng froze for a moment when asked.
He had just realized that Ye Yan wasn’t seriously studying for the imperial exams. His family was still working hard to earn money and support him, and yet he had been looking so glum.
He hadn’t even considered that he himself was still illiterate, lacking the means to read.
He fell silent briefly, those large, bright apricot-colored eyes fixed on Ye Yan, making him feel uneasy.
“You didn’t tell Yun Niang, did you?”
That’s when Yun Cheng understood.
Ye Yan was indeed secretly writing novels without his family knowing. Fortunately, Ye Yan didn’t ask how he had learned to read, so Yun Cheng let it go and asked directly, “You don’t study?”
Ye Yan, being asked like that, realized that the content of the manuscript had been discovered. He sighed, looking utterly dejected,
“I do study, but my family works so hard to support me, and I can’t earn money like Cun Shan. I don’t know what I’m good at, and I want to help, but I don’t know how…”
He hadn’t earned any money, and he had wasted a lot of paper. Since he hadn’t studied writing properly, he felt guilty, like a thief. On top of that, he simply couldn’t write well, and it made him irritable.
Ye Yan’s mental resilience wasn’t great, or perhaps he had long wanted to vent and speak to someone. Once he blurted it out, he continued talking aimlessly:
“I’ve written according to the popular story formats, but I can’t write divine goddesses, demon women, noble ladies, and I can’t make the wives ugly or abandon them either. Last night was my last attempt. I won’t get the payment for writing. Don’t tell anyone, or it’ll worry them too.”
It was like a senior high student, worried about the family’s finances, trying to revise while squeezing in side work. In the end, neither succeeded.
The exams failed, and no money was earned.
To Yun Cheng, knowing the family’s hardship, it would be better to bite the bullet and try, so that all the efforts during this period wouldn’t go to waste.
But being distracted at the wrong time, the crucial provincial exam failed, and the pressure multiplied, leaving the future bleak.
Yun Cheng didn’t say this aloud. Not everyone could perfectly control their emotions.
Looking at this tall young man crouched on the ground, poking the earth with a stick, the whole family worn down and hanging by a thread, yet enduring without complaint…
“You know what’s popular in stories, what does the wife have to do with it? Writing a novel doesn’t mean you’re really abandoning her.”
Ye Yan looked up at him, the black of his eyes ringed with red, blood vessels dense, “You don’t understand, it’s something I can’t even write down even if I want to.”
Yun Cheng truly didn’t understand. “If you really care for your cousin-in-law, it shouldn’t be just in words. You should take real actions. If you take the writing fee, how much less worry would she have?”
All else is abstract; money is tangible.
Ye Yan froze where he stood, speechless for a long moment.
Seeing that he wasn’t hopelessly lost, just well-intentioned but bungling, Yun Cheng didn’t dwell further. He left Ye Yan and went to find Liu Yun.
She had already shredded the paper, soaking it in two large basins of water. Because Yun Cheng hadn’t come over to check, she had cut it twice; now the winnowing tray held nothing but pulp.
Yun Cheng pinched a few handfuls, satisfied, “Soak the paper longer, then it’s ready to be pulped.”
Liu Yun pressed it several times with her hands to ensure all the pulp absorbed water, then wiped her hands and asked with a smile, “Want me to pour you a cup of sweet water?”
Yun Cheng didn’t want it, afraid that drinking water would mean going to the toilet, and wary of cavities.
But seeing Liu Yun’s anxious, earnest gaze, he softened. “Okay, thank you, cousin-in-law.”
He accepted it calmly, and she relaxed.
While the paper soaked, Yun Cheng continued sewing the cotton garment.
Liu Yun didn’t go to the side room to spin and weave that afternoon. She sat next to him, smoothing out the bamboo mat used for papermaking and sewing a seam around the edges of the cut reed mat to secure it.
Ye Yan, in no mood to read today, also helped. He found a smooth board, washed it clean, and set it aside to dry paper later.
Yun Cheng, inexperienced, pulped the paper in fifteen-minute intervals. Half an hour later, after Liu Yun had shredded the paper finely, the pulp was ready for papermaking.
Yun Cheng rolled up his sleeves, recalling the steps, and tried it once.
After forming the sheet, he lifted the bamboo mat, pressed it lightly onto a wooden board, then lifted the mat again. A single sheet stuck to the board.
It hadn’t dried yet, he didn’t know the thickness, nor whether the ink might bleed.
But the three of them present had shining eyes.
“Is it done?”
Ye Yan could hardly believe his eyes, circling the board several times, wanting to touch it, afraid to ruin it. He even wanted a brazier to dry it with fire, just to test if it could be used.
Liu Yun, more adept, saw the board was too small to make many sheets, and quickly brought out another bamboo mat to use.
Wet paper is sticky, and with the bamboo mat supported by rods and stones, it wouldn’t fall.
The family had a stove for when it got colder, and she lit a fire to dry the paper.
Yun Cheng couldn’t help nodding. Summer sun, winter fire, cousin-in-law was self-taught and skilled.
He suggested, “We can stack the sheets on the table first, and peel them later.”
This time, without needing Liu Yun to move, Ye Yan ran to bring the dining table from the hall. The couple worked together to wipe it clean.
After finishing, Liu Yun wiped her hands, and the formerly weary, pale face finally showed genuine joy, cheeks flushed. She asked Yun Cheng, “The water is cool. Should I try?”
Yun Cheng guided them through the entire process, keeping no techniques to himself. He wasn’t used to manual labor, so whatever he said, they did.
When forming sheets, just scoop evenly, the amount determines thickness. Yun Cheng didn’t do this as well as Liu Yun because his hands were unsteady and cold.
Liu Yun made two bamboo mats; Ye Yan, watching enviously, also wanted to try.
Usually at home, Ye Yan did nothing. Villagers thought housework was for women or younger brothers; Ye Yan just wanted to help but had no one to agree.
After several tries, Liu Yun only glanced at him and let him do it.
Yun Cheng stuffed his freezing hands into the half-finished cotton garment, ignoring the young couple’s glances, thinking of Ye Cunshan.
When he returned, he would see the paper successfully made, he wondered what expression he would wear.
Ye Cunshan came late that morning, punished with three drinks by Du Zhichun. At the poetry gathering, he was uninterested in the courtesan he invited and was teased again.
Du Zhichun thought of Yun Cheng, asking, “Where’s that handsome young fellow from our hometown? Didn’t he come along?”
This made Ye Cunshan’s face pale, sure to be forced to drink.
Determined to resume studying, he went to see Master Du.
Du was also fond of wine. Smelling the alcohol on him, his mood lifted, and teacher and student shared a few small drinks.
Leaving the Du residence, Ye Cunshan’s steps were firm, his expression unchanged. His dark face even more severe than usual. Passersby instinctively gave way. On the surface, there was no sign of intoxication.
He first went to the tailor to submit embroidery work; the shopkeeper Wang inspected it routinely.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
The embroidery shop had regular stitchers, all relatives. Each month’s orders were limited; giving work to outsiders reduced work for their own stitchers.
Previously, Wang gave some embroidery work to Yun Cheng to please Du’s eldest young master. At the time, seeing him poorly dressed, Wang thought he would fail and end the collaboration.
Now, seeing the delicate stitches, the lifelike mandarin ducks, he was impressed.
Unfortunately, the eldest lady took the remaining work, and there was none left for Yun Cheng.
Wang gave Ye Cunshan a satisfied yet regretful smile, “The embroidery is excellent. The agreed one tael of silver, you just sign on the register.”
Ye Cunshan looked down. There were only a few names in the register; it had been just a few days since the last visit. Easy to find. Previously, Du Zhichun gave a deposit; Ye Cunshan signed for Yun Cheng.
He took up the brush, wrote Yun Cheng’s name again, and received three taels of silver from Wang. Flatly, he said, “Extra.”
Wang’s smile remained unchanged: “With the deposit, it’s just right.”
Ye Cunshan looked him in the eye, leaving Wang’s smile frozen. He took the silver and said, “He embroidered very well.”
Wang nodded awkwardly. “Yes… very well.”
A tall, dark-faced man, cold and expressionless, discussing embroidery with him, made sweat break out on his forehead. He had thought that if this strong man forced him, he’d have to comply and later complain to the Du family.
But Ye Cunshan only nodded in satisfaction and walked off.
Wang was left confused, muttering after a while, “What the hell.”
Ye Cunshan then returned books to the Du study and took a new one.
A shop assistant saw the title and stopped him. “Ye Gongzi, this book cannot be copied.”
Ye Cunshan put it into his pouch, cold and aloof, “I know.”
Seeing the assistant still blocking him, he frowned impatiently, “I’m taking it to study.”
The assistant muttered: “…Want me to read the title again?”
Ye Cunshan read it aloud: “Records of the Divine Lady Subduing Demons.”
The assistant noticed the alcohol smell but said nothing, letting Ye Cunshan wait while he informed Manager Yu in the back.
The Du bookshop always looked after students. They couldn’t let a drunken student wander freely in town. Manager Yu’s son escorted Ye Cunshan.
They wanted the book returned, but Ye Cunshan kept it protected. Yu’s son, unwilling to risk tearing pages in dispute, waved it off. “It’s fine. Ye Gongzi loves books; he won’t damage them. He’ll return it when sober.”
Thus, Yu’s assistant accompanied Ye Cunshan to buy rice, flour, pork ribs, and offal. When the basket was full, they even reached the dock to buy a bag of wool.
Standing there, slightly bewildered, Yu asked, “Ye Gongzi, anything else?”
Ye Cunshan’s eyes were even more blank, “Need to buy duck down.”
Yu: ??
Yu had never bought duck down; he just wanted to get the student gone. There were no ducks for sale in town. Thinking quickly, he brought Ye Cunshan to a restaurant and got a bag of duck down from the kitchen.
He thought that was it, but Ye Cunshan returned to the tailor shop, buying a cotton garment and boots.
Judging by the size, they were for someone else.
Yu muttered, “Drunk like this and still remembers to buy clothes for someone…”
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
A wild translator appears! Their weakness: coffee. ☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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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