Ye Li went back to the west room and brought out Jiang Ji’s book chest.

At the very bottom of the trunk, he found Jiang Ji’s travel notes.

Jiang Ji had left in such a hurry that he hadn’t had time to buy pre-bound blank notebooks. Fortunately, Bao Beiyuan and Gong Lisheng had just sent over a set of writing implements—ink, paper, and inkstone—so Jiang Ji had used the white hemp paper inside to record his observations along the way.

Ye Li flipped through them briefly and was startled.

One ream of paper—seventy sheets—and Jiang Ji had actually used them all up!

But Jiang Ji had only been gone a little over a month—subtracting the eight days spent traveling and taking the exam, that left just over twenty days. Had he really written that much? Puzzled, he carried the stack of papers out of the west room.

Jiang Ji was standing at the cutting board, slicing tofu into cubes. Seeing Ye Li enter the kitchen holding his diary, he pointed to the small dining table behind him: “Sit down and read it. You can understand it, right?”

“Of course I can,” Ye Li nodded.

Jiang Ji’s handwriting was standard Guange style—a script with no connected strokes, written clearly stroke by stroke—so Ye Li had no trouble reading it at all. Besides, Jiang Ji wrote entirely in plain, everyday language.

Even if he didn’t recognize a few individual characters, he could follow along by piecing together the context. It was just that he wasn’t used to reading text written vertically.

Ye Li waved the paper in his hand. “Why did you write so much?” 

“So much?” Jiang Ji looked a bit surprised.

He actually felt he hadn’t written nearly enough.

All along the way, whatever caught his eye—as long as he wasn’t reading—his thoughts would inevitably drift back to Ye Li. And this was the result of his holding back.

If he’d let himself write freely, it would have been a thousand words and more.

“Since we’re staying at an inn this time, I didn’t have to share a dormitory. I had some free time at night, so I just jotted down a few things.”

“No wonder.”

Ye Li asked no further. He sat down at the small dining table and looked at the top sheet. The far right corner listed the date and the weather.

This first page was a note from the day Jiang Ji set out.

“Early morning, as the mule cart swayed back and forth, the southern gate of the county town grew blurry once more until it vanished from sight. Ye Li and the others standing at the gate were long out of view.

But compared to the last trip to the Prefectural City, my worries have only grown.”

Upon reading this, Ye Li tapped his index finger on the four characters “only more, not less,” feeling satisfied. This added concern, needless to say, was none other than himself, Ye Li.

He continued reading.

“The official road had been pounded back and forth for a year, leaving a continuous stretch of large potholes and small ruts, making for a terribly bumpy ride. If I were to travel far with Ye Li in the future, we should indeed take a boat.

The mule cart swayed along for a whole morning before stopping at a few tea stalls at noon.

The stalls offered all sorts of food; I bought a bowl of egg drop soup and two corn cakes for a total of six wen.

Hmm, the taste was just average, but the location was prime.

If Ye Li were to set up a stall here, it would surely be bustling with customers and packed to the brim. After lunch, we set off and traveled all the way to Gaotouzhuang.

Gaotouzhuang isn’t very big; a single main street runs north to south. There are two inns in the village, and their prices are quite steep.

A night in a dormitory costs eight wen, and a standard room costs sixty wen. Sharing a room with Brother Hou for one night came to thirty wen. For dinner, I had two corn cakes, a hard-boiled egg, and a serving of cold-tossed baby celery, totaling ten wen.

Hmm, it still had the advantage of location, but it wasn’t even half as good as Ye Li’s cooking.

However, even if Yezaopo had the advantage of location, Ye Li wouldn’t open a restaurant.

It’s too exhausting; he doesn’t like it.

Everything is just perfect now.”

Pausing here, Ye Li tapped his diary with a curled finger, thoroughly satisfied with the level of “Li” it contained. He looked at Jiang Ji standing before the cutting board.

Jiang Ji was wearing a blue short-sleeved outfit today; without a robe to hide them, his long legs were fully on display.

Compared to the excessive thinness of their first meeting, he had clearly put on some weight over the past six months, though he was still far from being burly; his overall build remained well-proportioned.

Although he was cutting tofu with his back to him, just seeing that tall, broad silhouette made Ye Li instinctively raise his diary to cover his face, trying to hide the upward curve of his lips.

Soon, Ye Li snapped back to his senses. What was he hiding?

He didn’t need to hide anything.

He and Jiang Ji were a legitimate married couple; he could be happy openly.

With that thought, he set down the diary, stood up, took two steps toward Jiang Ji, and wrapped his arms around Jiang Ji’s waist. Jiang Ji paused with the kitchen knife in his hand and turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Kiss me,” Ye Li demanded without hesitation.

Jiang Ji smiled at the request, leaned down, and gave his lips a light peck. That wasn’t nearly enough.

Ye Li was feeling quite content inside.

“Let’s kiss a little longer,” he said again.

At those words, Jiang Ji’s eyebrows arched slightly. What had he seen?

Looking into Ye Li’s smiling eyes, he asked nothing. He simply set down the kitchen knife, pulled Ye Li into his arms, and kissed her again.

Earlier, while washing jujubes for Jiang Ya, the two had eaten a few. Now, as their tongues touched, they sensed that lingering hint of sweetness, and their hearts grew sweet as well. Instinctively, they deepened the kiss.

When the kiss ended, they pulled back slightly. Gazing into each other’s sparkling eyes, they both smiled at the same time. Jiang Ji raised a finger to tap Ye Li’s nose. “What did you see?”

“I saw how you made your way to Gaotouzhuang, and I also saw pages filled with Ye Li.” A look of pride flashed across Ye Li’s face as she spoke. “Were you thinking of me the whole way here?”

“Yes. What about you?” Jiang Ji asked in return.

“Me?” Ye Li shook her head with a smile. “I was busy with other things that day; I didn’t have much time to think about you.”

“…What was it?” Jiang Ji’s tone was calm, but the arms wrapped around Ye Li tightened instinctively.

Ye Li chuckled inwardly and pointed to the vegetable garden not far away. “I was planning to build a few rooms on the west side of the garden. I was busy with that that day.” 

“Building a house?” Jiang Ji was surprised and looked in the direction he was pointing.

When Ye Liang and Ye Wen had walked him home the previous evening, they hadn’t mentioned a word about this.

“What made you decide to build houses?” he asked. “I’m afraid of the cold, so I want to build something warm.”

Ye Li described his plan in detail, concluding, “If you have any suggestions, we can discuss them further.” But before Jiang Ji could speak, he asked, “By the way, do you have any thoughts on the cash situation?”

“No, I don’t have any opinions. If you want to build it, just go ahead.”

Jiang Ji quickly shook his head.

How could he dare have any objections?

If he did, Ye Li would think he was harboring the same treacherous intentions as Chen Shimei. Ye Li was naturally satisfied with his answer.

Indeed, all that talking last night hadn’t been in vain.

Ye Li smiled and said, “Then give it some thought over the next couple of days. Let’s aim to have it built and move in before winter sets in.”

“Hmm…”

Jiang Ji actually fell deep in thought.

As Ye Li had suggested, the three rooms would be arranged with the two larger ones on either side and the smaller one in the middle. The larger rooms would be for Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya, while the smaller one in the middle would be for the two of them. In the smaller room, Ye Li had designated a spot for a bathtub.

He even planned to put a desk by the window so he’d have a place to study. However, he was due to report to the county school next month.

As a scholarship student, he was entitled to free lodging at the county academy. He had three days off each month.

He still had to keep taking higher-level exams, so naturally he couldn’t stay at home all the time. Whether or not he set up that desk didn’t really matter.

Besides, in the dead of winter, it’s freezing by the window; even if he really wanted to study, he’d sit on the kang to do so.

So he said, “There’s no need to set up a desk; I won’t be using it. According to the government regulations, scholarship students must take an annual examination every two years. If their scores are unsatisfactory, they can no longer hold the position of scholar-on-stipend.”

“I’ll still be away from home most of the time. Let’s build the new house according to your wishes; whatever you decide is fine with me.”

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly dousing half of Ye Li’s deep affection.

Although Ye Li was already familiar with the rules of the county academy, hearing these words come directly from Jiang Ji’s mouth still pained him. This long-distance relationship would have to continue!

But he couldn’t let his emotions show.

As an adult, no matter how reluctant he felt, he wouldn’t throw a tantrum.

A Xiucai could only be exempt from personal corvée labor; though he had the privilege of not kneeling before officials, he was essentially still an ordinary commoner, not having transcended his social class. Only by passing the provincial examination and becoming a Juren—a gentleman with the qualifications to hold office—could he protect the family estate he had worked so hard to secure.

Therefore, Jiang Ji must continue to strive for higher levels in the examinations.

Whether he passed or not, he had to give it his all first.

So, feigning nonchalance, he said, “Alright, you keep cutting the tofu. I’ll think it over.” His tone was calm, but the subtle shifts in his emotions were impossible to hide from Jiang Ji, who was watching him intently.

Jiang Ji pursed his lips, cupped his face, and said apologetically, “From now on, I’m afraid you’ll have to work hard for me.” 

Ye Li: “……”

Once Jiang Ji called him out on it, he stopped putting on a show, and his face fell.

He poked Jiang Ji in the chest. “Let’s just pretend we’re getting a fresh start every month after a short separation. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? It keeps things fresh.”

If you can’t resist it, you might as well enjoy it.

These words, an attempt to find humor in a difficult situation, made Ye Li’s lips curl slightly.

But it was a bittersweet smile, so Jiang Ji quickly reined in his laughter and simply stared at him intently. He stared back at Ye Li.

After a moment of this mutual gaze, they both finally smiled again.

Jiang Ji lowered her head and gave his lips a quick peck. “I’ll keep cutting the tofu.”

“Go ahead, go ahead. I’ll take this time to really think through the layout of our new home.”

Ye Li stood motionless.

Jiang Ji hummed in acknowledgment, picked up the kitchen knife, and got to work, letting Ye Li hold him. Ye Li’s thoughts had indeed turned to the house.

They’d have to buy bricks in the next few days and aim to break ground within a week; if the snow fell early this year, it would delay the construction schedule.

Since Jiang Ji didn’t need a desk for studying, they wouldn’t put one in. Considering that Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya would also need to bathe in a tub, they might as well build a separate bathroom.

The bathing room would also have a heated brick platform—after all, he could afford to burn firewood.

This way, the small heated alcove in the middle can be made a bit smaller.

When Jiang Mai gets older, the little guy will surely care about privacy, so the doors to these rooms will all open outward, not through Jiang Mai’s room.

At that time, they’ll build the walls thicker to provide both warmth and soundproofing.

As Ye Li thought this through, he discussed it with Jiang Ji. While they chatted, Jiang Ji finished cutting all the tofu, ready to be fried. Since the weather had cooled, the large iron pot remained in the kitchen; there was no need to move it back under the shed.

With the kitchen to shield them, the two continued to hold each other close, reluctant to let go.

It wasn’t until Ye Liang and Ye Wen returned with the oxcart that the two straightened their clothes and got down to work properly. When Ye Liang and Ye Wen returned for the second time, Bao Beiyuan came back with Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya as well.

With cornstalks around, the three of them went out ostensibly to gather firewood, but in reality, they were off shooting birds with slingshots.

After a busy afternoon, the three of them dragged back three bundles of firewood, along with a spotted dove and three sparrows.

Back then, there was no such thing as wildlife conservation; both of these birds fed on grain, so as soon as the three of them walked through the door, they started clamoring to roast the meat for dinner that night.

Ye Li didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Upon learning that one of the sparrows had been shot by Jiang Mai, he even praised him lavishly, making Jiang Mai’s little face flush with delight as he kept hiding behind Bao Beiyuan.

Jiang Ya, however, didn’t care one way or the other. After all, he’d already finished the dates in his big pouch, and he’d get to eat more meat tonight! He ran back to the kitchen, grabbed a batch of fried dough snacks, and munched on them while watching Ye Li explain to Bao Beiyuan and Jiang Mai how to prepare the “beggar’s bird.”

The method was simple and didn’t risk burning, so Bao Beiyuan and Jiang Mai were quite intrigued.

“Xiao Mai, you and Ya-ger go dig up some dirt and mud. I’ll clean these four birds,” Bao Beiyuan said. “Forget it, I’ll do it. You rest.”

Ye Li reached out to take the four birds.

Bao Beiyuan had only just recovered, and after running around all afternoon, Ye Li was worried he might not be able to handle it.

Bao Beiyuan smiled and dodged his hand. “Brother Li, it tastes better when we roast them ourselves! You just give us some pointers from the sidelines.” 

“Look at you, being so polite again,” Ye Li said helplessly.

“I’m telling the truth. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Bao Beiyuan shook his head.

He had to find something to do, after all.

Ye Li couldn’t persuade him otherwise, so he had to bring out a small stove to heat water for plucking the birds.

At this time of year, there were only withered lotus leaves, so Ye Li gathered some corn husks instead—after all, sparrows are small, and turtle doves aren’t much bigger.

After a flurry of activity, by the time Bao Beiyuan had coated the four birds in mud and tossed them into the fire to roast, the fried tofu puffs were ready. Ye Liang and Ye Wen loaded the tofu puffs, the padded jacket Jiang Ji had bought, and the bolts of cloth onto the oxcart; they were ready to head home. Tomorrow they would sell the tofu puffs first, and then the whole family would come over to celebrate.

It gets dark early these days, so as soon as the two brothers left, Ye Li set about making dinner.

There was still plenty of the braised meat left over from lunch. Ye Li cut a few pieces of radish into the pot, added some sweet potato noodles, and fried some corn cakes on the edge of the pot, and dinner was ready.

Unusually, Jiang Mai focused on eating the bird meat tonight; the pork was neglected in his presence.

Jiang Ya, on the other hand, was fair to all; after gnawing on a sparrow, he happily went back to eating the pork. During this dinner, everyone once again ate until their mouths were dripping with grease.

After dinner, Jiang Mai was reluctant to let Bao Beiyuan leave.

But if Bao Beiyuan stayed, Jiang Ya would have to sleep with Ye Li and Jiang Ji.

Bao Beiyuan was no clueless fool; he firmly declined Jiang Mai’s plea to stay and returned to Jiang Dahu’s home. Jiang Mai was a bit downcast.

Sigh.

His older brother didn’t have time to play with him; it would’ve been great if Brother Bao had stayed at their house. After Bao Beiyuan left, Jiang Ji urged Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya to go wash up.

They’d been excited all day and were indeed exhausted; they fell asleep the moment they got on the kang.

Jiang Ji and Ye Li had been busy all day and were tired as well.

But it was still early.

So Ye Li propped a pillow behind him, leaned against the wall, and continued flipping through Jiang Ji’s diary. Jiang Ji wrapped his arms around him, reading along with him and offering occasional explanations.

Over the past six months, the two had spent more time apart than together. Jiang Ji rarely had time off; during the day, he was either doing farm work or busy with other tasks. At night, once they were on the kang, the two, lost in the pleasures of the flesh, acted more than they spoke.

For the first time, the two of them were like this—on a quiet night, they snuggled together, not talking about the mundane details of daily life at home, but instead discussing distant lands and the sights and sounds along the way that had nothing to do with them.

As a result, Ye Li, who had intended to flip through a few pages before sleeping, found herself growing more and more alert as they talked. He ended up reading half the diary before finally lying down to sleep at Jiang Ji’s urging.

Once the room was plunged into darkness, fatigue washed over him again, and Ye Li couldn’t help but yawn.

“Go to sleep.” Jiang Ji pulled him closer into his arms. Ye Li said nothing, but simply held Jiang Ji tighter.

He felt a bit reluctant to let the moment end. Right now, his mind was filled with thoughts of the Prefectural City—that ordinary little ancient town that, because of Jiang Ji, had inexplicably taken on a special charm. At the next provincial examination, he would definitely go with Jiang Ji!

The next day, after breakfast, Bao Beiyuan set off for the city, with Jiang Mai bidding him a reluctant farewell. His illness had set back his business by several days, and this month’s profits would take a significant hit.

He also had to make a trip to the noodle shop to avoid worrying Gong Lisheng, who might have noticed he hadn’t been selling herbal tea and beverages during his absence. Meanwhile, Ye Wen had taken Liu Yi to town; he went shopping while Liu Yi set up his stall.

Today, Liu Yi hadn’t prepared tofu, radishes, or Chinese cabbage; he only sold fried tofu puffs and large skewers, so he packed up quickly.

The couple returned home to find Ye Daji, Ye Liang, Ye Wen, and Tang Yu had already packed up. So the whole family locked the courtyard gate and boarded the oxcart to head for Yezaopo.

By the time they reached the Jiang household, it was nearly noon.

When Ye Daji saw Jiang Ji, he was so overjoyed he didn’t know what to say. Then he thought of Jiang Dahai, and his nose grew sore as he wiped away his tears.

Jiang Ji felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

The fact that his parents could not witness this scene with their own eyes was a lifelong source of pain for him.

Ye Li watched from the side. After a moment’s hesitation, he took his hand in front of everyone. At that, Ye Liang couldn’t bear to watch and, without further delay, motioned for everyone to go pay their respects at the gravesite first. So the group went to the ancestral graves to pay their respects to Jiang Dahai and Mother Jiang.

After the ceremony and a good cry, they finally returned home to celebrate.

With Liu Yi and Tang Yu helping out, Ye Li could finally take a break today; all she had to do was give orders. Today’s feast featured meat and fish, as lavish as a New Year’s celebration.

After all the hustle and bustle, once the meal was served, Ye Li even opened a jar of rice wine. Such a joyous occasion deserved to be celebrated with fine food and drink.