When they finally finished cleaning up, the two went home to warm up their meal. They went to bed late that night.
The three-piece wooden box set had been soaked for too long in the corrupted straw, and the inside was moldy and decayed. They left it in the backyard for now. When daylight came, Yun Cheng planned to wash it properly.
After tidying up, he picked up the handkerchief and tried comparing the characters from every angle, squinting to make out a few of them. To Ye Cunshan, he was still half illiterate, so he reached over to take a look.
In the corner of the handkerchief, there was an embroidered plum blossom and three small characters: Xiao Jin’er. The rest of the ink had run, the writing blurred and unreadable.
Yun Cheng made a decision. “Better wash it and keep it properly. Otherwise even the handkerchief will rot away.”
The jade fragments were taken by Ye Cunshan. Once he reached the county city, he wanted to see if a craftsman there could repair them.
The two of them were busy the entire day. Apart from the brief meeting in the morning, all their later exchanges were only short sentences to pass on a few words.
Ye Cunshan was leaving for the county city tomorrow. The duck feathers were fine, but the sheep’s wool still required many steps, and he would not have time to finish it himself. He said he would ask Cun Yin to help.
Yun Cheng felt embarrassed. He was already staying under Ye Cunshan’s roof and now was asking his younger brother to do work.
Ye Cunshan said, “He’s greedy for food anyway. Just think of it as earning his meals.”
Yun Cheng did not see it that way but since he truly did not know how to process wool, he decided that once everything was done, he would knit a wool sweater for Cun Yin in return.
The young man in this family could sew and embroider as well and Cun Yin was learning. If he took an interest, Yun Cheng could teach him how to knit.
That morning, Yun Cheng had also asked Ye Cunshan to write the four characters “Safe Travels.” He did not study anything else that day. After cleaning the wooden box set, he slipped quietly into his room, took some leftover scraps of cloth from old clothes, and cut two small diamond shapes. He was planning to sew a safety charm for Ye Cunshan, similar to the little pendants people in the modern world hung in their cars.
The cloth was dull gray, so he used colorful thread to add some color. Afraid he would not finish in time, he only stitched the words “Safe Travels” on both sides. He filled the inside with cotton left over from before, sewed it shut, and made a tassel from colored thread.
The tassel looked even brighter than the charm itself.
Yun Cheng pressed his lips together. He wondered whether Ye Cunshan would even accept something like this when he gave it to him.
Before dawn, when the sky was only beginning to pale, Ye Cunshan had already gotten up to beat pulp and make paper. After that, he spent a while with Yun Cheng, then took the wool to Cun Yin’s house so he could help.
Cun Yin was still sulking. Even after several days, his words carried a sour edge. “Brother, you’re one of those people they talk about, right? The kind who forgets his little brother once he has a wife.”
Ye Cunshan was not asking anyone to serve Yun Cheng. It was just that Yun Cheng did not know how to handle the wool, and the cold of early December would soon set in. Asking his own family for help was better than letting someone fall sick from the chill.
“Your sister-in-law said he’ll teach you how to knit a sweater. I don’t know a thing about that, so you’d better watch and learn.”
Cun Yin had seen Yun Cheng embroider before. The patterns were simple but the stitches were neat and fine. Even when using both hands, he could still glance over and chat. Cun Yin did not know anything about knitting but he trusted Yun Cheng’s skill.
“Alright then. Once I’m done, I’ll take it over to him.”
Their grandparents lived in the back rooms, and Ye Cunshan did not bother greeting them. He and his stepmother could not stand each other, and when he called out to his father, Ye Da, intending to tell him that he could move some firewood from his place, Ye Da only looked down with a sullen face, his expression dark, as though something had gotten under his skin.
Cun Yin covered his mouth and whispered, “He’s upset about the money.”
The so-called offering of wine and tea for the in-laws had only cost two taels of silver, nothing much at all. Ye Da had not cared but Chen Jinhua had gone out and bragged that she had given the couple twenty-five taels of silver.
Her logic was simple: if the money could not be recovered, she might as well earn a reputation for generosity. After splitting the household, she had been scolded plenty.
When Ye Da went out and people teased him about being so generous, he finally learned that Ye Cunshan had left carrying a full basket and two large bags to his second uncle’s house.
Ever since Ye Cunshan had passed the county exam and become a scholar, people had often compared Ye Da and Ye Ershu. Everyone said that when it came to raising sons, Ye Da could not hold a candle to his cousin.
They said he was stingy and lazy, that even after splitting the family, he and Chen Jinhua were still being criticized.
The last time he had gone to Ye Gen’s house to say the engagement would not work out, Ye Gen had kept him there for two hours, lecturing him the whole time.
The shame of it still burned in his ears.
Ye Da never thought he had done anything wrong. What was the point of having children if not to support you in old age?
He had not even begun to enjoy the blessings of having a son and yet he was being scolded for it and after hearing Li Bansian’s fortune-telling about his own fate, how could he not start thinking of himself?
He did not even need to think hard to guess what those two brothers were whispering about. In a tone dripping with sarcasm, he said, “What are you doing here? Go on, head to your second uncle’s.”
Ye Cunshan was indeed on his way there. “That’s where I’m going.”
Cun Yin burst out laughing, shoulders shaking and before Ye Da could explode, he grabbed Ye Cunshan and ran.
Their village had always been casual about names. People were often called after flowers, trees, or stones. Most of them shared the surname Ye, so to tell them apart, they added children’s or relatives’ names to distinguish one from another.
For instance, there was Ye Cunshan’s father, and Ye Yan’s father.
Although Ye Ershu’s name suggested he was younger in rank, he was actually Ye Da’s cousin, older than him in years.
His family worked hard all year and lived frugally. Everyone was overworked, even three year old Chan-jie was skinny and small, the baby fat nearly gone from her cheeks.
Ye Cunshan avoided bothering them with personal matters when he could.
The papermaking, however, was something that would benefit both families. It was mutual aid, which was why he came.
Cun Yin refused to stay outside. He insisted on tagging along, playing with little Chan-jie in the courtyard while glancing at the paper drying in the yard. “How many sheets did you get wet? You’re still drying them?”
Liu Yun gave him two pieces of rice cake and said, “Paper dries slower in winter. These two days have been cloudy too, no sunshine.”
Inside, Ye Cunshan was talking to Ye Yan about another batch of papermaking experiments that would need their help. Ye Yan agreed readily.
When Ye Cunshan mentioned Yun Cheng staying over, Ye Yan had no objections. His place was spacious. After his two older brothers and their families had moved out, two small courtyards still remained empty.
He only worried Yun Cheng might not be used to the environment. “My house is at the head of the village. Everyone coming and going can see clearly. This papermaking method of yours, are you planning to share it with the whole village?”
Ye Cunshan and Ye Yan both belonged to the Ye clan, and in a clan village, the boundaries between families were always blurred.
For example, when the government distributed farmland quotas, the Ye families always managed to buy a few extra plots of so-called “wasteland” at low prices. Everyone helped one another, and life stayed good.
If Yun Cheng had grown up in this village and been taken care of by its people, Ye Yan could have spoken on his behalf.
But now, he could not.
“It’s Yun Cheng’s idea. We’ll test it out first, then bring in a few reliable people. I’ll invite Wang Zu as well, he can keep the peace.”
His phrasing was gentle but Ye Yan understood right away.
Reliable people meant those who had not bullied or mocked the Yun family when they fell on hard times.
And Wang Zu, the eldest son of the clan head, was someone with enough standing to silence gossip.
“If that’s the plan, what comes next?”
Ye Cunshan explained the steps Yun Cheng had laid out, and only then did Ye Yan realize he was planning to go to the county city.
He wanted to advise him against it but held his tongue.
They were brothers; he could speak freely. He grumbled a few words about Ye Da, then noticed Ye Cunshan smiling. “That’s strange. You used to hate it when I talked about him.”
Ye Cunshan still did not like it much after all, that was his father but there was nothing he could do about it. Thinking of his father’s attitude earlier that day only made him laugh.
A grown man still sulking like a child. Impossible to look at.
He was leaving tomorrow anyway. Once everything was settled, there was no point in lingering.
Before leaving, he added awkwardly, “Yun Cheng isn’t very handy at chores. Please tell sister-in-law not to mind too much.”
Ye Yan had already heard his mother mention that several times. He knew Yun Cheng wasn’t skilled with housework.
They said there was no woman at his home, no elder brother to teach him, and his father was mute, spending every day farming and hunting. It was already impressive the boy could even speak properly.
If he were only coming to stay, Ye Yan’s mother would definitely have taught him some household tasks, maybe a few simple dishes. But now that they knew he could make paper, she would treat him like a little treasure.
By the time Ye Cunshan left, a small tail was following behind him again.
Cun Yin insisted on going home with him. “Mother’s been in a bad mood lately. She told me to wash clothes by the river. I went, I did! But then I came back and washed the rest with warm water. She started yelling, said I was pampered and refused to work.”
Then she complained that her pregnant body had been chilled by the river water, that she felt aches everywhere. He served her all the time yet she still compared him to her stepdaughter, saying he was worse in every way.
And she had the nerve to claim that spoiled boys like him, no one would want to marry him in future.
Cun Yin could count plenty of people who already wanted to marry him, but he was too lazy to argue.
Ye Cunshan, who had raised him since he was small, turned dark-faced. He had underestimated how petty Chen Jinhua could be. The fact that she and that miserly father of his could live together was indeed fate.
“Did she mention any men to you lately?”
Cun Yin, still young and carefree but not stupid, started counting them off on his fingers one by one. The more he named, the darker Ye Cunshan’s expression became.
Their stepsister Li Tao had married into the neighboring Liu family, a household of butchers. They were rich but rough-tempered, their bodies reeking of blood. Violence ran in the family.
Before Li Tao married, Ye Cunshan had tried to stop it more than once, but Chen Jinhua would not listen. “We’re separated now,” she had said, “it’s none of your business.”
Since Li Tao and he were close in age and not related by blood, his defense of her had sparked unpleasant gossip from Chen Jinhua.
Li Tao had lived in poverty for years under Chen Jinhua’s care. When she came to Ye Da’s house, she finally got to eat meat and eggs now and then. Having tasted comfort, she was desperate to cling to it. The Liu family’s wealth and steady meat supply tempted her so much that she insisted on marrying in, no matter what.
For now, her life was tolerable.
But hearing the kind of men Chen Jinhua praised to Cun Yin, all from the Liu family, filled Ye Cunshan with disgust.
So she was just like Yun Cheng’s aunt, always scheming for bride price and silver. Did she plan to take that silver into her coffin?
Good thing Cun Yin was still young; there was time yet.
“If she ever praises another man to you, go straight to our grandparents. Say it loud so everyone hears.”
Cun Yin nodded quickly, his eyes bright.
At home, Yun Cheng was feeding the rabbit. The creature was lazy and dim-witted, but once it had food and a warm nest, it seemed perfectly content.
When the rabbit hole opened, Yun Cheng worried it would escape, but instead, the silly thing was fighting with the chickens over cabbage leaves.
The hens pecked it until it hopped in circles, and Yun Cheng could not help thinking of that day when he reached into the coop for eggs and the mother hen glared at him. Feeling sympathetic, he picked up the rabbit and fed it by hand.
No one could resist something so soft and furry.
When Cun Yin came in and saw the rabbit, his eyes lit up. “It’s so cute!” he said over and over, then looked at Yun Cheng with longing. “Sister-in-law, I’ll help you with the wool if you give me the rabbit. I’m just short of a bit of fur to trim my winter jacket.”
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE 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