The moment his lips touched Ye Li’s soft ones, Jiang Ji’s heart fluttered. With practiced ease, he parted his lips, while one hand slid to his back, pulling him closer into his embrace.

Ye Li’s longing was no less intense than his own. In that moment, his heart fluttered slightly, and he instinctively pressed himself closer to him.

After being apart for over a month, their bodies pressed tightly together, their arms wrapped around each other. Their tongues danced in unison, their breaths intertwined, and their hearts were both overflowing with emotion, leaving them dizzy with intoxication.

All they could feel was that having each other was so good, so very good.

When the long kiss ended, Ye Li’s cheeks were flushed, and his breathing was uneven.

He was sitting on Jiang Ji’s lap. Sensing his reaction, he smiled triumphantly and deliberately rubbed against him there with force. Jiang Ji let out a sharp “Ow!”—his expression seemed to show pain, yet it was mixed with pleasure.

Knowing Ye Li had done it on purpose, he glanced at the iron pot, which was already steaming. The water was hot. It was time for a bath.

He said, “Let’s go take a bath. It’ll be the perfect chance to try out the new bath beans we bought.”

But to his surprise, Ye Li rubbed against his lower abdomen with even more force, then said, “What’s the rush? I haven’t finished speaking yet.” Seeing how much internal conflict this man was having over this matter, Ye Li was reminded of something.

Besides, they were about to build the Warm Pavilion—that was a major expense. If they didn’t get everything out in the open tonight, they’d have to go through the same back-and-forth again in a few days. So Ye Li said, “You’re just being too formal, too polite.”

“We’re husband and wife. Cash, debts, and status—they’re all shared, aren’t they?”

Jiang Ji：“……”

Was he really lecturing him at a time like this?

All right.

Ye Li wanted him to remember. To remember it forever. Ye Li didn’t like him acting so distant.

Though he was pleased inside, he couldn’t help but explain, “I’m a man; I have my pride.” Especially in front of Ye Li.

He had his pride.

“But you’re not living off me, and you don’t boss me around in public to save face. You’ve done quite well.”

Ye Li offered a compliment first, then asked, half-seriously, half-jokingly, “If you value this so much, then once you pass the provincial exams, your whole family will be under your protection. At that point, will I have to feel just as guilty, insecure, and dependent on your approval as you do now?”

He had previously refused to reveal his background precisely because he feared that once Jiang Ji passed the provincial examination, he would be held hostage by this secret. But to Jiang Ji, this accusation was far too serious.

He had never entertained such a thought, not even for a moment! He shook his head in denial. “Of course not!”

“Am I the sort of petty man who becomes arrogant the moment he gains power?”

“There you go. Now I support you, and later you’ll look out for me. We’re both contributing to this household—it’s just a matter of who goes first.”

Ye Li was satisfied inwardly, but outwardly he snorted and jabbed his finger at his chest: “If it were me, once I became the wife of a Juren, that status would belong entirely to me.”

“I’d go out every day flaunting that title, lording it over others, and bullying people under someone else’s authority. I wouldn’t stand on ceremony with you.” “……”

Jiang Ji had lost the urgency he’d felt moments before; now he just found it amusing.

“Then I’ll work hard to pass the Juren exams and come back, so you can go out and lord it over everyone.” “Is that really my point?” Ye Li protested.

Jiang Ji took his hand and said softly, “I know what you mean. From now on, I won’t treat you like a stranger when it comes to cash.”

“Well, we’ll see how you behave from now on. Otherwise, you’re just going to turn on me after you pass the exam.”

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. “…All right, all right.” Jiang Ji couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

He really, truly remembered!

Ye Li was now completely satisfied. He leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips, smiling as he said, “My dear husband, let’s go take a bath.” His mood had shifted so quickly, yet Jiang Ji felt as if he’d drunk honey. He loved this helplessly endearing streak in Ye Li the most.

He pulled Ye Li close, first gazing at him with bright eyes, then lightly licking his lips before pulling back slightly. He saw Ye Li smiling radiantly at him.

A wave of sweetness washed over him. He cupped Ye Li’s face and kissed her again, sucking, licking, and nibbling until she was breathless. Only then was he willing to let go. The main event was yet to come.

There was no time to waste.

He went to lock the courtyard gate. Ye Li first scooped hot water into a wooden tub; the water was too hot, so she had to mix in some cold water. Then he went back to the room to fetch the bath beans.

After some deliberation, he chose one with a peach blossom scent and one with an orange scent.

When he came out of the main hall, Jiang Ji had already carried the two buckets of water to the small shed.

It was nearly late autumn, and the nighttime temperatures were low. The stuffy, airless shed finally served a purpose: it could trap some heat. But even so, showering like this was still cold.

The two didn’t linger, moving as swiftly as the fleeting scents of peach and orange. Due to technical limitations, both scents were faint; once applied to the skin and rinsed off, the fragrance vanished. But Ye Li was still delighted. To be able to smell both scents at this time of year, Jiang Ji had truly put thought into it.

After washing, he cupped Jiang Ji’s face and kissed him deeply, then wrapped himself in a large towel and returned to the west room.

The bamboo mat on the kang had long since been removed, replaced by a soft cotton mattress. Now, even if they knelt and moved about, Ye Li’s knees wouldn’t be left with jarring marks.

But there were pros and cons. It was cold, so he couldn’t have Ye Li lean against the back of a chair and open herself up like before. They’d have to wrap themselves in the quilt.

Fortunately, they had no intention of trying any fancy positions tonight. After being apart for so long, they naturally wanted to face each other and gaze into one another’s eyes. Wrapped in the quilt, it didn’t matter who was on top or bottom—they could still hold each other’s bodies and kiss each other’s lips.

And there was no need for any wild passion; with their hearts brimming with tenderness, they simply wanted to hold each other and prolong this moment—endlessly. There was nothing better in the world.

When it was over, both physically and emotionally satisfied, they remained in each other’s arms, kissing tenderly for a while longer before finally washing up and lying back down. Exhausted, yet exhilarated.

So they slept late and woke up late.

The next day, they were startled awake by Jiang Dahu pounding on the door. Opening their eyes, the room was pitch black.

Ye Li’s head was pounding with sleepiness. He grunted twice, and Jiang Ji hurriedly said, “You sleep. I’ll go open the door.” Ye Li was satisfied with that and let himself drift back into slumber.

Jiang Ji felt his way to get dressed and step off the bed, then lit the oil lamp. He turned to glance at the bed behind him. Ye Li was completely curled up under the covers, with only the top of his head peeking out.

He couldn’t help but walk over and tuck the quilt down a bit. When Ye Li’s face came into view, a single glance was enough to bring a smile to his eyes. He gave Ye Li’s lips a light kiss before stepping out of the main room to open the courtyard gate.

“Second Uncle, wait a moment, I’ll be right there.”

Jiang Dahu hadn’t expected him to be back yet; he was overjoyed and hurried to the door to peek into the courtyard: “When did you get back?”

“I arrived at the South Gate yesterday evening and happened to run into Brother Liang and Brother Wen; they brought me back.”

As Jiang Ji spoke, he unlocked the gate and slid the bolt aside. Before he could even reach out, Jiang Dahu eagerly pushed the gate open and stepped inside.

It was pitch black, and he couldn’t see clearly, but that didn’t dampen Jiang Dahu’s joy. He was so happy that he kept patting Jiang Ji on the shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. The day before yesterday, when the messenger arrived with the good news, he happened to be away.

Upon returning and hearing the news, he was utterly frustrated. He had rushed to the private school to inquire about the results, only to find that the messenger had come straight to their home. Ye Li and Bao Beiyuan comforted him repeatedly, even bringing up Jiang Ji—after all, Jiang Ji had also missed the announcement.

Besides, there’s still the provincial examination to come.

Jiang Ji is still young; his chances of passing the provincial examination are very high! Compared to passing the provincial exam, the news of passing the Xiucai exam is a minor matter.

These words struck a chord with him, and his frustration melted away, replaced by renewed joy. He went to the gravesite to share the good news with Jiang Dahai and his ancestors, and then he eagerly awaited Jiang Ji’s return.

Now that Jiang Ji had truly returned, his heart was so full of joy that he didn’t know what to say—all he could do was laugh heartily. Jiang Liu was happy too; as she ground the grain, she asked Jiang Ji all about his time in the Prefectural City.

Jiang Ji answered her questions one by one, then went into the room to bring out the gifts he had bought: a padded jacket and a bolt of cloth. The remaining two bolts of cloth were for the Ye family.

Upon seeing the gifts, Jiang Dahu grumbled about the expense, but his hands immediately untied the bundles and pulled out the jacket. The jacket was quite heavy. Although Jiang Ji wouldn’t say exactly how much cash was spent, he could roughly estimate the price in his mind.

“To buy such an expensive garment for me—Xiao Ji must truly care about his Uncle!” But it was simply too expensive!

He felt both delighted and a little heartbroken. In the end, persuaded by Jiang Ji and Jiang Liu, he put the jacket on to try it out. Besides, he couldn’t return it now.

Now that the family’s circumstances had improved, there was no need to sell the coat to make cash.

He had no choice but to wear it.

The coat was roomy enough to fit another cotton jacket underneath, so even on a heavy snow day, he wouldn’t feel the cold.

Running his fingers over the fine fur on the outside, he was overjoyed yet still felt a pang of regret over the cash spent: “You could just buy any old cotton-padded jacket to wear. A rough-and-tumble guy like me—how could I possibly deserve such an expensive coat?”

Jiang Ji smiled and said, “Second Uncle, you’ve worked hard and diligently your whole life—how could you not deserve a coat like this?” Those words brought a lump to Jiang Dahu’s throat.

Xiao Ji is such a sensible boy!

He had been about to say, out of habit, that a son was still the most reliable, but then he suddenly thought of the family’s mule cart and quickly swallowed the words before they left his mouth. Well, Xiao Liu and Yu-ger aren’t half bad either.

All his children are good kids!

Jiang Liu, standing nearby, was surprised to see that he hadn’t uttered any sexist remarks.

But Jiang Liu wouldn’t bring that up herself. She held the bolt of cloth and examined it closely, growing happier the more she looked at it.

Winter was approaching, and her mother was planning to make new padded jackets for her and Yu-ger—after all, the family’s circumstances had improved. But she felt they’d just bought the mule cart, and their old jackets were still wearable enough, so she refused.

But she never expected her cousin to have bought fabric all the way from the Prefectural City!

A bolt of fabric like this was more than enough to make new padded jackets for all three of them!

With the leftover fabric, she could even make little jackets for Xiao Mai and Ya-ger.

But since even Xiao Mai and Ya-ger were getting them, and her Brother Li wasn’t good with a needle, she decided to go ahead and make jackets for him and her brother Ji as well. This winter, everyone will be happy wearing their new jackets.

So she said enthusiastically, “Brother Ji, have you bought fabric for Brother Li yet? Since it’s quiet in the winter, I’ll work on it with Mother and Yu-ger—we can finish the jackets for both of our families before winter sets in.”

“…I bought him something else.”

Jiang Ji shook his head.

“Then you should buy some more fabric. You’re a Xiucai now; you ought to get yourself a new cotton robe and a new overcoat.”

Hearing this, Jiang Dahu, who was standing nearby, immediately nodded. “Right, right, right. You’re a Xiucai—and a government-sponsored student at that. You’re going to study at the county academy.”    

“You’ve brought great honor to our family; you need to get some new clothes.”

Jiang Ji pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll discuss it with Ye Li.”

He and Ye Li still had to fulfill the promise they’d made—to take Xiao Mai and Ya-ger to the county seat for a visit. They’d buy some fabric then.

Once Jiang Liu had finished getting excited, she took the fabric down to the mill to have it spun.

Jiang Dahu refused to go back. He took off his jacket and pressed him for details about everything that had happened along the way. Of course, they couldn’t avoid mentioning Bao Beiyuan.

On the day the messenger arrived, Bao Beiyuan had been running a fever on and off, and it wasn’t until early yesterday morning that his condition stabilized. Yesterday evening, Bao Beiyuan wanted to return to the city, but he wouldn’t allow it.

Now that Jiang Ji was back, he asked him to go check on Bao Beiyuan. Jiang Ji agreed.

To be honest, given Bao Beiyuan’s relentless drive, Jiang Ji felt it was only a matter of time before something happened to him. Fortunately, this time he’d fainted at home; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

By the time Jiang Ji and Jiang Dahu arrived home, the rooster had crowed three times. At this hour, even during the off-season, every household was already up. Liang Erxiang had already prepared breakfast.

Bao Beiyuan was up as well.

However, being in a strange place with no one he knew—and with Jiang Yu, a young man of marriageable age, in the house—he could only sit in the room, staring blankly into space. Now that Jiang Ji had arrived, seeing a familiar face finally brought a glow to his face, still recovering from a serious illness.

Liang Erxiang and Jiang Yu were also delighted to see Jiang Ji. Liang Erxiang offered to serve a meal, and Jiang Ji accepted.

The group sat down at the table and chatted as they ate.

The meal passed quickly. As the sky began to lighten, Jiang Ji, thinking of Ye Li, prepared to head home. Bao Beiyuan hurried to follow him.

The two walked along the quiet village path. Bao Beiyuan’s joy was undiminished; he slung an arm around Jiang Ji’s shoulder and said with a smile, “Way to go, Brother Ji! Now I’ve got a Xiucai for a brother too!”

“Now that you’ve accepted me as a brother, I’m going to have to start bossing you around.”

Jiang Ji raised an eyebrow.

Upon hearing this, Bao Beiyuan’s smile faded slightly.

Back then, he’d been in such a daze from his illness that he’d asked Ye Li to help him choose a match. Now that his mind was clear, he had no intention of going back on his word.

Just look at Brother Ji beside him—his parents passed away before him, leaving behind two younger brothers, yet he passed the Xiucai examination in just six years, bringing comfort to the spirits of Uncle and Aunt Jiang in heaven.

And what about him?

He was already sixteen when his father passed away. He had cash to his name.

Yet he punished himself for half a year, nearly losing his life in the process. Comparing oneself to others truly makes one feel inadequate.

He wouldn’t be able to pass the exam to become a Xiucai now.

But starting a family was his father’s dying wish, and that was far simpler than passing the imperial exams. He, too, wanted to comfort his father’s spirit in heaven, so that his father could rest in peace.

So he took a deep breath and said with a smile, “Go ahead and draw. Draw well. I’m counting on you and Brother Li to matchmake a good marriage for me, so I can enjoy a little honeyed bliss myself.”

“Alright, Ye Li and I will start looking right away. What kind of person are you looking for?”

Seeing that he hadn’t changed his mind, Jiang Ji quickly seized the moment.

Bao Beiyuan replied immediately, “Someone who won’t look down on me. I have no elders to rely on, no fields, and no estate. She can’t be lazy; she has to help me make herbal tea and beverages. She can have a bit of a temper, but she has to be sincere with me.” 

“You’ve actually given this some thought?” Jiang Ji asked in surprise.

“Of course. I’m serious.”

Jiang Ji was truly reassured now: “Alright, I’ll definitely find someone for you.”

“Then you and Brother Li will sit at the head table,” Bao Beiyuan said with a grin. At the mention of Ye Li, Jiang Ji’s gaze softened considerably.

He looked toward his own home and couldn’t help but quicken his pace. Ye Li must be up by now.

Ye Li had indeed woken up.

He’d taken a nap, which had relieved much of his fatigue. When Jiang Ji brought Bao Beiyuan back, he was sitting in front of the stove, tending the fire. Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya, the two busy bees, were once again straining the soybean pulp.

So Jiang Ji and Bao Beiyuan washed their hands and stepped forward to help.

Working together, the four of them quickly finished filtering a whole bucket of soybean pulp. Jiang Ji went over to the stone mill to swap out the bucket.

Bao Beiyuan stood in front of the kitchen. He glanced at Jiang Liu and silently admired him. He often ground glutinous rice flour himself.

He knew just how grueling the work was.

Jiang Liu, a frail young woman, had actually managed to do this for half a year—truly remarkable. Soon, Ye Li had breakfast ready.

Jiang Ji took over the grinding handle and told Jiang Liu to go eat.

This time, Jiang Liu didn’t hesitate; she washed her hands and went to the kitchen.

Bao Beiyuan had already eaten. With nothing else to do, he stood under the awning watching Jiang Ji turn the millstone.

Ye Li had something to tell him. Carrying her bowl, he came out of the kitchen: “Earlier, I asked Brother Sheng to pass a message to you—I’d like you to rent a shop. What do you think?”

Upon hearing this, Bao Beiyuan couldn’t help but scratch his head. “If I open a shop, business might not be as good as it is now.” His regular customers had grown accustomed to him delivering goods to their doorsteps.

If he opened a shop, they might not be willing to make the trip anymore.

“But you’re working too hard on your own. Why don’t you find an assistant? Someone who’d just help with deliveries.”

Ye Li suggested.

“Hmm…” Bao Beiyuan was tempted.

It was true—ever since he’d gotten the stove, pushing the handcart alone had left him on edge every time, terrified of taking a spill. If someone were there to steady it, it would save him a lot of effort.

“Then I’ll go back and ask Brother Sheng.”

If someone were willing to do a half-day’s work for ten wen a day, it wouldn’t cost much.

Seeing that he had agreed, Ye Li felt reassured. After breakfast, Jiang Liu went home beaming with joy.

With the fabric in hand, the three of them—mother and daughters—set to work making cotton coats that very day.

Bao Beiyuan wanted to leave again, but Jiang Ji and Ye Li wouldn’t let him. They insisted he rest another day and return to the county seat only once he was fully recovered. With nothing else to do, he eventually took Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya out to cut grass.

Of course, Jiang Mai had his slingshot slung around his waist. Jiang Ya, however, wasn’t carrying her large pouch.

They worked quickly and were back in no time.

By then, the villagers had heard that Jiang Ji had returned—Jiang Dahu was strutting about the village in his rabbit fur coat, praising Jiang Ji’s filial piety to everyone he met. So, that morning, people from every household came over to visit for a while.

Some carried bundles of firewood, others brought a bunch of vegetables; none came empty-handed, though the gifts were not valuable. It was the thought that counted, and Ye Li couldn’t bring himself to refuse, so he accepted them all.

During this time, Ye Liang and Ye Wen also arrived.

Yesterday, they had only cut down the cornstalks and hadn’t yet hauled them home, so after they arrived, they set down a pork hind leg and, without resting, immediately drove the oxcart out to the fields to get to work.

At noon, Ye Li stewed the entire ham.

It was a huge pot full—besides the meat, she’d added radishes, tofu, and sweet potato noodles.

He was a skilled cook, and everyone ate so heartily that they couldn’t even look up from their bowls; they had to loosen their belts three times and still couldn’t finish it all. The leftovers were naturally saved for dinner.

After lunch, Ye Wen and Ye Liang headed back to the fields.

Jiang Ji wanted to go too, but the two brothers wouldn’t have it; they insisted he stay home to help Ye Li fry the fried tofu puffs. Bao Beiyuan also took Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya out again.

Since the slingshot hadn’t worked that morning, the three of them decided to head up the mountain to try again.

This time, Jiang Ya had slung his large pouch over his shoulder; he’d packed some dates inside to eat if he got hungry. Soon, only Jiang Ji and Ye Li remained in the courtyard.

After a bustling morning, it suddenly grew quiet. Ye Li stood at the courtyard gate, watching Bao Beiyuan, Jiang Mai, and Jiang Ya walk away, and couldn’t help but stretch.

Seeing this, Jiang Ji said, “You rest first; I’ll slice the fried tofu puffs and the skewers.”  

“You’ve never sliced the skewers before—I’ll do it,” Ye Li shook his head.

“Hmm… Why don’t you take a look at the notes I took on this trip?” Jiang Ji pointed toward the main hall. Upon hearing this, Ye Li’s eyes lit up.

Oh, right—he’d completely forgotten about that little treasure.