The morning began with pork liver congee again. It was made according to Yun Cheng’s old taste. Normally, he would be tired of eating the same thing for two days in a row, yet now he found every meal delicious and satisfying.
That morning, Second Uncle Ye was heading to the county to sell off the remaining cloth, along with the extra bamboo baskets and pen holders at home.
Yun Cheng, calculating that the wool they had might not be enough, asked him to buy some more on his way back.
Following the old saying that a poor family should not hoard money but keep it circulating, Yun Cheng gave all their remaining silver and copper coins to Ye Cunshanto take along.
He kept not a single coin on himself, planning to get the money back once his uncle returned.
After seeing Second Uncle off, Yun Cheng and Liu Yun went to the mountains again.
Today, there was no housework to be done. They only needed to feed the poultry and collect the eggs. That alone was enough.
Ye Cunshan had been drying the paper for two days now, so they went to check if it had finished drying. Liu Yun said it might rain tomorrow and the dampness would return, so they should light a brazier and dry it further.
The two of them walked along the same winding river path as usual, chatting idly along the way.
Their conversation was focused entirely on papermaking. They were so deep in discussion that neither noticed the gossip echoing faintly behind them.
Someone’s voice carried over, long and drawn-out, both mocking and flattering. “Well, she’s a scholar’s wife after all…. ”
By now, word that Ye Cunshan was going on a trade trip had spread completely through the village, and few thought it would go well.
“Yun Guangshi has been doing escort work for two years already, hasn’t he? If it were that profitable, don’t you think he’d have gone solo by now?”
Even people from neighboring villages had tried their hand at the same trade. They spent money greasing palms all along the route, and though they managed to bring their goods back safely, the profit was slim.
At first, sales were good for a few days, but soon they were forced to slash prices just to sell.
After all the expenses and losses were tallied up, they ended up with nothing, even losing a bit of money.
Meanwhile, in the mountains, Liu Yun was explaining to Yun Cheng how to manage a household.
Her family had once been wealthy. Her mother-in-law had been kind to all three daughters-in-law, giving each of them their own small allowance for their household expenses.
Like Yun Cheng, Liu Yun’s husband was a scholar, so she had plenty of practical advice to offer. She talked about everything from clothing and food to household management, stationery, and frugality.
She spoke with earnest seriousness. “Don’t think I’m being long-winded. For families like ours, if you don’t live carefully and save wherever you can, things will only get harder later on.”
Yun Cheng listened attentively.
In his modern life, he had grown up well-off, buying everything online and preferring quality over thrift. His philosophy was simple, better to buy the best once than keep replacing cheaper things again and again.
But since arriving in this era, he has adapted quickly.
All he needed to remember was that he had no money, that he was poor, and that every single coin must be spent as if it were two. That was enough to keep him grounded.
So even when Ye Cunshan bought him a new set of clothes, though the gift made him happy, he didn’t dare to wear it often. He was afraid something might happen and he’d have no money for emergencies.
They chatted all the way home.
Under Liu Yun’s watchful eye, Yun Cheng went to collect the eggs. He was still a bit scared of the chickens, so he used his foot to nudge open the coop door first, tossed in a handful of feed, and waited for them to rush out before squatting down to pick.
Their chickens weren’t well-kept. Sometimes not even a single egg appeared in a day. Today, Yun Cheng found only one.
Liu Yun told him that eggs could also be taken to the county to sell. “Give it a few days and I’ll take you along. We can set up a little stall and sell egg cakes.”
Homemade egg cakes, she explained, could sell for several times the price of raw eggs.
Yun Cheng rubbed his nose, thinking about the traditional method. He had seen the process before, no egg beaters, only pure manual whipping. Just the thought of it made him tired.
Hopefully, Liu Yun wouldn’t insist on teaching him that.
Today, aside from checking the paper, they were also going to clean out the nearby thatched hut. It would serve as a temporary papermaking workshop.
The large iron pot needed for boiling had already been prepared by Ye Cunshan, something he had arranged quietly, without Yun Cheng even realizing.
Wanting to be helpful, Yun Cheng took the opportunity to subtly ask Liu Yun about Li Bansian, the so-called fortune-teller, by first steering the topic toward Ye Cunshan.
Liu Yun, naturally, chose her words carefully.
She glossed over the less flattering details, how Ye Cunshan once got obsessed with hero dramas, wanting to be a general and challenging everyone to sparring matches, even fighting the frail scholar Ye Yan.
Instead, she focused on his strengths. “He’s got a strong build and plenty of energy,” she said lightly.
But when it came to praising his diligence and intelligence, she spoke endlessly.
Yun Cheng, however, filtered out most of it automatically.
Not that he didn’t believe in Ye Cunshan’s good qualities, but Liu Yun’s tone sounded suspiciously like she was using the same compliments she usually reserved for Ye Yan. It didn’t seem entirely reliable.
Besides, he could ask Ye Cunshan about those things himself later. Today’s main topic was Li Bansian.
Before asking, Yun Cheng even mentally calculated how much goodwill he might lose if the question offended her. If things went poorly, he could always make it up during their papermaking work later.
The paper wasn’t fully dry yet, and Liu Yun prepared to light the fire to finish baking it.
To avoid wasting firewood, she asked Yun Cheng to bring over the quilts to dry too. “Once it starts raining, it’ll be ten days or half a month before the sun comes out again. The bedding will all get damp.”
This errand delayed their conversation a bit. After a round of busy work, they finally sat by the fire again, resuming their talk.
Liu Yun pulled out some fabric and a needle from her pocket, starting to sew as they chatted.
Yun Cheng felt a faint dread watching her.
He really hoped Ye Cunshan would succeed in business, he didn’t want to live such a hard, frugal life.
Of course, he would do his part to help.
But for now, he had to deal with Li Bansian.
“Sister-in-law,” he began carefully, “I wanted to ask you about someone.”
Without looking up from her stitching, Liu Yun said, “Go ahead.”
“Do you know Li Bansian?” Yun Cheng asked directly. “Is he accurate with his fortune-telling? What kind of reputation does he have in the village?”
From Liu Yun’s expression, it was obvious she had grievances against the man.
Still, mindful of the times, she didn’t dare speak too freely. “He’s… fine, I suppose.”
Then she added, “Mother once asked him to read the fortunes for the three brothers’ marriages. He said our family can’t marry women. If we do, it’ll ruin Yan’s scholarly fate and he’ll never pass the exams.”
Yun Cheng fell silent, speechless.
He wanted to say something but didn’t dare, afraid of hurting her feelings.
Liu Yun sighed softly. “It’s nothing now. Mother gave him the money anyway, then went right ahead and found proper brides for all three of them.”
She was one of those brides herself.
Her smile was faint and bitter. “He’s tight-lipped though. Never spread a word of what he says.”
Because of that, no one ever accused her of being bad luck or ruining Ye Yan’s chances at success.
But that same superstition had left her with a deep guilt. She worked tirelessly, never resting, always afraid that if she slacked off even a little, it would bring misfortune to her husband’s studies.
When Yun Cheng was ill in his past life, his parents had also turned to fortune-tellers and temples, making donations and praying for peace. He knew well that doctors cured diseases, while priests merely soothed hearts.
So to him, this Li Bansian had no integrity at all, taking money to spout nonsense.
He comforted Liu Yun gently. “Brother Yan is probably just under too much pressure. Maybe when we start papermaking again, have him come along and help out. It’ll do him good to relax a bit.”
Liu Yun nodded in agreement.
She could feel the change in the household lately. Ever since they turned old paper into new, the atmosphere had brightened.
Little Chan had started to act her age, coquettish and playful again. It was only then they realized they’d neglected her for too long, and that she didn’t even speak fluently yet.
And Ye Yan, he was no longer the weary figure who spent all day hunched over his desk. His eyes were clear again, sharp and bright.
Liu Yun thought he looked almost the same as when they had first married, vibrant, full of energy.
Then she circled back to the topic. “His full name is Li Dadao. He’s from my village. Over there, the Liu family’s the dominant one, just like the Ye family here in Jinghe. Outsiders don’t have it easy. I’m not sure whether he studied under a monk or a Taoist, since people say both, but he’s managed to make a decent living from it.”
“Your brother Ning’s mother, Aunt Liu, and your uncle’s wife, Li Qiujü, they’re all from my village too,” she added.
Yun Cheng didn’t know who this Ning was, but he recognized Aunt Liu. She was always the first to sneer at him whenever he stepped outside, her temper rising out of nowhere.
He asked, “And Mother? I mean, Cunshan’s stepmother, what about her?”
“She’s an outsider,” Liu Yun said simply.
Yun Cheng kept asking question after question, how far apart the two villages were, whether Li Bansian often came to Jinghe, whether clients visited him or he went door to door, whether he ever set up a fortune-telling stall in the county, how much he charged, and if everyone really kept his words secret afterward.
Liu Yun eventually began to sweat from all the questioning. “What are you planning to do?” she asked.
The way he was asking didn’t sound like someone looking for a fortune, it sounded like someone preparing to pick a fight.
Yun Cheng didn’t tell her the truth. “It’s just… with Ye Cunshan away, I’m a little worried.”
Liu Yun immediately softened. “Then don’t waste money on that man. I can teach you a few prayers instead, they’re more useful.”
Yun Cheng nodded obediently, though his mind was already busy plotting how to deal with Li Bansian.
In a feudal society, spreading superstition like that caused too much harm.
Ye Cunshan might look indifferent on the surface, but Yun Cheng knew he took things to heart. That night at dinner, his face had been dark with displeasure, silent and brooding.
He might not be brilliant, but he was far from foolish.
If Li Bansian really had any ability, let him try predicting the misfortune coming his own way.
Later that afternoon, as they cleaned up the thatched hut, inspiration suddenly struck Yun Cheng.
That man who used to follow Chen Jinhua around, Li the Hunter, his surname was also Li. Could Chen Jinhua have met Li Bansian through that connection?
Meanwhile, in her own home, Chen Jinhua sneezed suddenly and called for Cun Yin to bring her some water.
Cun Yin had been sorting through a bag of wool all day, exhausted and irritable.
When he handed her the cup, Chen Jinhua still found fault. “You’re covered in wool. Don’t let any of it fall into my tea.”
Following his brother’s advice, Cun Yin waited until she once again started praising some single men from the Xu family, and then deliberately raised his voice and asked dramatically, “Really? They’re that good? They don’t hit their wives, right? Are you sure?”
His words carried straight to the elders’ ears.
Grandmother Liu Cuiying came storming in and scolded Chen Jinhua for gossiping and meddling in Cun Yin’s marriage matters.
After she left, Chen Jinhua took her anger out on Cun Yin, ordering him around nonstop.
He wanted to protest but had no right, she was pregnant, and he was the only younger one in the house to help her.
Several times he wanted to slip away to Yun Cheng’s place to rest, but he never found the chance.
Finally, frustration overwhelmed him, and tears welled in his eyes. “You’re bullying me just because my brother isn’t home!”
Chen Jinhua thought to herself, Your brother’s already out of the picture, so what’s a little bullying to you?
Then she turned to Ye Da, crying pitifully. “If I didn’t feel sorry for Cun Yin, worried he’d catch a cold, I wouldn’t have gone down to the river to wash clothes in this freezing weather. And now, even when I ask for a cup of tea, I have to worry about wool falling in.”
The words before didn’t matter much, but that mention of wool caught Ye Da’s attention.
His face darkened. “He’s got no wife, does he? Since when is it a brother’s duty to serve his sister-in-law? Send him back!”
Cun Yin couldn’t be happier to hear that. He wiped his tears, grabbed the bag of wool, and ran straight out the door.
Chen Jinhua’s face turned green with fury.
This man, did he truly not understand what she meant at all?
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
This is your completely normal and non-suspicious request to buy coffee.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
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