“Act normal.”

Jiang Ji’s long eyebrows furrowed slightly, his expression stern.

Act normal?

Ye Li protested vehemently in his mind.

He was acting coy and sweet precisely to spare the pride of an eighteen-year-old scholar!

As someone who’d been there, he knew boys this age were sensitive about their image. So he deliberately played the weak, submissive role to give his husband an easy way out.

And now this doesn’t work?

Fine.

He had another approach.

With that thought, Ye Li’s demeanor shifted: “Am I not normal?”

He thrust his right hand forward, jabbing Jiang Ji’s shoulder several times with force, his voice thick with resentment: “Jiang Ji, you don’t recognize me once you pull up your pants, do you?!”

“?”

That accusation was far too serious.

Jiang Ji immediately protested: “When did I ever…”

“You are now!”

Ye Li cut him off, jabbing his shoulder again. “Who was it kissing me last night until my tongue ached? Who was it pounding into me so hard my butt still hurts?!”

“!”

How could he bring this up so casually in broad daylight?!

Jiang Ji instinctively glanced toward the courtyard gate.

Seeing it tightly shut, he quietly exhaled in relief.

“Why the guilty look? Isn’t what I said true?”

Seeing his reaction, Ye Li pressed his advantage: “You’ve done everything with me, yet now you want to distance yourself? Are you just waiting to pass the Xiucai exam before kicking me to the curb?”

“Do you look down on me and plan to marry some rich, beautiful woman? Are you going to be a Chen Shimei?!”

The barrage of questions left Jiang Ji with a headache.

Besides, this was pure slander!

He had just answered this question last night!

He shook his head. “I haven’t. But who is Chen Shimei?”

This question cut off Ye Li’s fierce momentum.

Ye Li’s spirit weakened.

Fortunately, while he hadn’t concocted a story about how he learned to make tofu, he was well-prepared for minor details like Chen Shimei.

He pointed his finger toward the direction of Baxian Town: “He’s a scoundrel, a character from traditional opera. I heard about him when I was in town, overhearing some passing merchants chatting. They said this Chen Shimei was the top scholar in the imperial exams…”

He rattled off the explanation.

By the end, he glared at Jiang Ji: “You’re acting so distant—are you trying to be like him?!”

“I’ve changed my ways, but you still won’t consider building a life with me, is that it?!”

Jiang Ji: “…”

He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I haven’t.”

“You work hard for your money. Keep it for yourself. Once I return to the private school, hire someone to turn the millstone.”

Last night, he’d noticed several hard, thick calluses on Ye Li’s palms…

Caught off guard by the words “hire someone to turn the millstone,” Ye Li froze for a moment before a smile crept into his heart.

He hadn’t even had time to play the victim and bring up the subject before his cheap husband volunteered.

Seems he cares about me after all.

But outwardly, he only sneered coldly: “Hiring someone to turn the millstone won’t cost much. Saving it is just a pure waste of time.”

“Besides, if you go take odd jobs or do other things and fail to pass the Xiucai exam, do you think I’ll just sit back and do nothing?”

At these words, Jiang Ji’s expression shifted slightly.

Just then, Ye Li snorted again and slapped his thigh hard. “I’ll tear this house apart!”

The threat sent a chill down Jiang Ji’s spine. He knew Ye Li was capable of such a thing.

Before Ye Li could speak further, he blurted out, “Fine! From now on, you’ll fund my studies!”

This reaction nearly made Ye Li burst out laughing.

He pinched his palm hard to stifle the amusement, then said sternly, “You should’ve agreed ages ago. You made me waste so much breath.”

“Then let’s discuss the specific terms.”

“Though my daily earnings are steady, I’ve only been at this for a short while. I still owe my second uncle money.”

“I plan to repay my debt to him within the next couple of days.”

The large stone mill cost about three hundred wen, while the tofu molds were less than a hundred wen.

Additionally, Jiang Dahu had lent him fifty wen in cash.

Altogether, it came to over four hundred wen.

“After paying off the debt, I’ll set aside thirty wen daily. You’ll return every ten days, and upon your return, I’ll give you three hundred wen. That makes nine hundred wen a month.”

“When you go to the Prefectural Capital, I’ll give you some more then. How does that sound?”

Jiang Ji shook his head. “No need. Just give it to me before the exams.”

Why make it so complicated?

“You have no trust in me? Rather than worry, I might change my mind; I’d rather hand the money over to you first. Only when you’re at ease can you study properly.”

“…Fine.”

Jiang Ji wore an expression that said, whatever you say.

“Then it’s settled.”

Ye Li finally smiled again.

He wrapped his arm around Jiang Ji’s with a cheerful grin. “My dear husband, I’m off to press tofu. Remember, we’re family now.”

With that, before Jiang Ji could register another look of utter bewilderment, Ye Li leaned in swiftly and planted a quick peck on his lips before scrambling to his feet and running off.

Jiang Ji: “…”

He was utterly dumbfounded.

This was in the courtyard!

Ye Li wasn’t just talking—he actually dared to kiss him?

But the faint warmth and softness on his lips made him recall last night’s passionate embrace.

Now his face burned, his ears flushed crimson.

Sucking in a breath, he grabbed Jiang Ya’s little shirt and began wringing it vigorously.

He was in broad daylight, calm down!

After his fleeting kiss, Ye Li vanished. Once he finished his chores in the kitchen, he didn’t head to the well but went straight back to the west room.

He needed to carefully plan his next steps.

Though the tofu puffs sold well, if he’d had a choice back then, he truly wouldn’t have picked this trade.

It was too time-consuming!

And currently, the daily earnings are limited.

Over a hundred wen a day—after paying the hired help and the cheap husband—just a hundred wen remained.

A hundred wen a day meant three taels of silver a month.

With his casual eating and drinking, how much could he possibly save?

He needed to find another way to make money besides tofu puffs.

Truth be told, he knew how to make plenty of other soy products.

But not tofu!

Across the entire Yezaopo Village, his was the only tofu shop.

So, he had to look elsewhere.

What could he sell?

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

As he tossed and turned on the kang, footsteps echoed outside. They made their way into the main hall, finally stopping at the western room’s doorway.

Jiang Ji’s deep voice sounded: “Ye Li?”

“Come in.” Ye Li sat up.

The door opened, but Jiang Ji only stood in the doorway.

He looked at Ye Li, pressed his lips together briefly, then asked, “You… really intend to hire someone to turn the millstone?”

“Yes. You get drenched in sweat just turning it. Imagine how I’d feel.”

Ye Li patted the spot beside him. “Sit. This room belongs to you anyway.”

Jiang Ji considered this, then lifted his leg and strode over to the kang in a few strides.

He sat down beside Ye Li and asked, “Do you have anyone in mind?”

“No. Do you?” Ye Li stared at him curiously.

The gaze wasn’t actually intense, but he still instinctively avoided Ye Li’s eyes, shifting his look to the high-legged wooden table beside them.

“Not really. Yesterday, when I visited Second Uncle, he was scolding Xiao Liu for being too picky. He’d arranged a match for her, but she refused.”

“You know Second Uncle’s temper. I advised him to wait until after my provincial exams. If I pass and become a Xiucai, Xiao Liu’s family would have some standing. They might find a better match.”

“But I can’t guarantee I’ll pass the county exams. So I was thinking… if you hire someone, you could consider Xiao Liu.”

“If she could earn wages, have her own private money, then no matter who she marries in the future, she’d have more confidence.”

Having said this, before Ye Li could respond, he immediately added, “Of course, I’m just throwing it out there. Who you hire is entirely up to you.”

Truthfully, he didn’t want to ask Ye Li for this.

He knew Jiang Liu was a delicate young woman, unsuited for such heavy labor.

But compared to securing Jiang Liu’s future, his pride meant nothing.

He wanted to give her an extra layer of security.

If he failed the exams, Jiang Liu would still have a source of income.

Ye Li truly hadn’t expected his cheap husband to recommend Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu was sixteen this year.

A girl so young, grinding grain for him?

That was ridiculous!

But this was the first time his cheap husband had offered his advice.

Moreover, it concerned Jiang Liu’s future.

Tsk tsk, who would’ve thought the cheap husband would show such responsibility and thoughtfulness toward his cousin?

What a fine young man.

He hit the jackpot!

Satisfied, he smiled and said, “Then have Xiao Liu come over. I’ll ask her if she’s willing.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ji finally turned to him: “Then I’ll go to Second Uncle’s place at noon.”

“Alright, bring some tofu along.”

Ye Li responded.

Jiang Ji nodded. “I’ll go sharpen the sickle now. The bedsheets are washed.”

He started to rise.

Ye Li acted swiftly, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Wait!”

“What is it?” Jiang Ji stiffened slightly.

“I want to kiss you. You’re so diligent and responsible to your family. I’ll fry a few eggs for lunch and give you an extra piece!”

Ye Li leaned in to kiss Jiang Ji’s lips.

He was utterly satisfied with his bargain husband now.

Compared to the earlier kiss that felt like a sneak attack, his movements were slower this time.

If Jiang Ji had wanted to dodge, he could have easily avoided it.

But as Ye Li leaned in, Jiang Ji’s ink-black pupils flicked slightly. Then, unexpectedly, he leaned forward and gave Ye Li’s lips a soft, deliberate peck.

Seeing Ye Li’s eyes widen, Jiang Ji felt his face grow warm. He averted his gaze, muttered a quick “Thanks,” then swiftly stood up and strode out of the west room.

His retreating figure bore a distinct air of hasty escape.

Ye Li: “…”

He burst into laughter, flopping backward and rolling across the kang while hugging his quilt.

Good husband.

Truly a good husband.