Zhou Ning felt his face flush and hurried away, though his awkward, stumbling gait drew another quiet chuckle from Shen Linchuan. Better not push him too far—he might snap and turn on me later.

Zhou Ning couldn’t recall the last time he’d eaten candied hawthorn berries. His father had liked to buy them for him, but the memory had grown hazy. Father and son—one a rough butcher, the other refusing to see himself as a ger—never paid attention to such trifles.

Though not expensive, Zhou Ning had never bought himself a string of candied hawthorn. He felt he was no longer a child—this was something for little kids. Shen Linchuan buying it for him made Zhou Ning quite happy.

Shen Linchuan hurried after them. “Ning-ger, give me a bite. I stuffed myself at lunch—a hawthorn would help settle my stomach.”

Zhou Ning hesitated to part with the skewers, but raised them toward Shen Linchuan. “Here.”

“You eat first.”

Zhou Ning shook his head. “You go first.”

Shen Linchuan chuckled and bit off the top hawthorn berry. The two largest berries were at the top of the skewer; the ones below gradually got smaller. The street vendor did this not only for appearance but also to save on costs.

After Shen Linchuan took the first one, Zhou Ning finally bit into his. He took a big bite, grateful the seeds had been removed. The sugar-coated hawthorn was sweet and tangy, and Zhou Ning quite liked it.

After eating one, Zhou Ning felt awkward continuing. As a butcher on the street, he often saw young gers, girls, or children eating candied hawthorn on sticks. People said he didn’t look like a ger, so Zhou Ning felt embarrassed eating it on the street. It felt a bit strange, so he held it all the way to his meat stall before finally taking a bite.

Shen Linchuan placed the seeds he’d bought into a basket. He could plant them as soon as he got home today. He sat down next to Zhou Ning. It was still early; the school was probably on its noon break right now. He’d head over a bit later.

As soon as Shen Linchuan sat down, Zhou Ning handed him the sugar-coated hawthorn. “Eat.”

Shen Linchuan refused. “I don’t like sour things. You eat it.”

Only then did Zhou Ning start eating again. He ate with care, taking one bite at a time, chewing slowly before swallowing. He liked it.

The two sat squeezed together. Zhou Da stood near the meat stall ahead, stealing several glances at them. His heart grew warmer with joy, watching the young couple so cozy together.

After resting a moment, they rose. Shen Linchuan called out, “Father, Ning-ger, and I will go fetch our things from the academy.”

“Alright, go ahead,” Zhou Da replied. But he called Shen Linchuan back. “Linchuan, if you miss it, you can continue your studies here. Your father can still afford it…”

Zhou Da feared Shen Linchuan might harbor resentment toward his son over the schooling matter. Though supporting a scholar was costly, he could certainly manage it.

“Father, my elder brother and sister-in-law are right. After all these years of study, it’s pointless to waste the silver. I’ll return home to study for another year and try. We’ll discuss it again next year.”

“Very well, very well.”

Seeing Shen Linchuan show no sign of reluctance, Zhou Da finally relaxed, watching the young couple walk away together.

Uncle Wang, who was making pancakes nearby, asked, “Is your son-in-law still studying?”

“Ah, he is. But now he wants to study at home.”

“That’s fine too. It’ll save the family some silver. It’s no easy task for country folk to support a scholar. I couldn’t afford it myself. My son wasn’t cut out for books anyway, ha ha ha. Passing on my pancake-making skills will at least put food on the table.”

Students had already begun trickling in before the two arrived. Spotting Shen Linchuan, they all shot him a glance. Most of the scholars here came from town families—those with shops or rental properties, far wealthier than Shen Linchuan’s mud-legged peasant background.

Many were dressed in fine silk robes, a stark contrast to Shen Linchuan’s faded blue scholar’s robe. Today, he wore Zhou Ning’s old short coat—a practical choice for manual labor.

Shen Linchuan was practically a fixture at the academy. With two or three dozen students enrolled, though few passed the Xiucai exams, one or two usually succeeded. They all attended the same academy—how could they not recognize each other?

Unfazed by the glances directed his way, Shen Linchuan confidently led Zhou Ning to the old master’s quarters. Knocking before entering, he found the teacher had just finished his meal in the backyard and was now gathering his teaching materials.

Looking up, the teacher’s expression hardened. “So you remembered to show up!”

During the last school break, Shen Linchuan had vanished the moment he returned home and hadn’t shown his face for seven or eight days straight—showing not the slightest regard for his teacher!

Shen Linchuan stepped forward and bowed. “There were truly matters at home. I beg Master Fan’s forgiveness.”

“What important matters! Besides hanging around with Zhao Si’er and his lot, what else could be so urgent!”

This old Xiucai’s academy was merely adequate, run purely to scrape by. Otherwise, he wouldn’t tolerate disruptive students—he simply wanted to collect more tuition fees.

The old scholar wasn’t stupid. For students like Shen Linchuan—those from poor, powerless families who showed no ambition—he simply let them go. That way, he could collect tuition while saving himself the trouble. He focused his attention on the top few students, hoping one would pass the exams and become a Xiucai. Then his school could attract even more pupils.

Shen Linchuan spoke up directly: “My family faces hardship. After studying under you for all these years, I’ve made little progress. I intend to withdraw from school, which will also save my family some silver.”

Xiucai Fang froze, wondering if he’d been too harsh. His annual tuition was three taels of silver, plus holiday offerings—at least five taels a year. Now he’d lose another student.

Xiucai Fang’s face hardened. “You were never bright, and now you refuse to study altogether! When will you ever pass the exams? What a disgrace! Send for your brother and sister-in-law—I’ll speak with them myself!“

”Our family’s situation is truly dire. I’ve made up my mind—I simply cannot continue my studies. With only three months left in the term, Master, would you consider refunding part of my tuition? That way, I could buy some rice and flour for my family and help nourish my two young nephews.”

The Xiucai’s face darkened further. He’d intended to summon Shen Linchuan’s brother and sister-in-law to lecture him, yet Shen Linchuan not only refused to continue his studies but also demanded his tuition back!

“If you choose to leave, pack your things and go home. I’ve never heard of a student demanding their tuition back! Utterly unheard of!”

“After all these years of study, my family’s circumstances have grown truly dire.”

Laughter and chatter drifted from the doorway. The other students, hearing Shen Linchuan had returned, had come to watch the commotion, expecting him to be punished by the master. Instead, they found him demanding to withdraw and reclaim his tuition fees.

Several well-to-do young masters who “got along well” with Shen Linchuan also squeezed in. Zhao Si’er craned his neck to peer inside. “Hey, who’s that man beside Shen Linchuan? He’s even called for backup!”

“No idea. Can’t make out his face.”

Xiucai Fang barked, “Everyone back! Everyone back!”

Necks retracted, though no one actually left. They all quietly hid by the doorway to watch the spectacle. Who in town didn’t know this old Xiucai? He accepted students regardless of background, as long as they paid their tuition. Shen Linchuan was trying to get his money back? They were eager to see if the old Xiucai would give it up.

“Master, even in business, payment must be settled upfront. I haven’t studied for three months now—why won’t you return this silver? Every coin was painstakingly earned by my brother and sister-in-law, toiling in the fields.”

Xiucai Fang choked on his words, his beard trembling with fury. “You don’t even understand the principle of respecting teachers and honoring the way! All those years of study—it’s all gone to the dogs!”

Zhou Ning stepped forward. “Who are you calling a dog?”

“And who are you?”

The Xiucai was so thin he had to crane his neck to see either of them. Only when Zhou Ning stepped out did he realize it was a young ger.

“I’m his Fulang. We’re here to claim the silver together.”

A collective gasp rippled through the doorway. So Shen Linchuan hadn’t come to class because he’d gone home to get married! How impressive! But from his back, he looked like a man—tsk, who’d have thought he was actually a young ger.

The crowd at the entrance couldn’t contain their curiosity, straining to peek inside, eager to see what Shen Linchuan’s Fulang looked like. Zhao Si’er shoved aside the heads blocking his view. “Let me see! Let me see!”

The crowd at the entrance jostled into a tight mass. Just as Xiucai Fang was about to scold them, the pushing grew so intense that several people stumbled over the threshold and tumbled inside. Enraged, Xiucai Fang bellowed, “Get out!”

The men hurriedly lifted their robes and exited, though they lingered outside, refusing to leave. Just then, Zhou Ning glanced back and moved closer to Shen Linchuan. They were all scholars—why were they acting like the gossips and villagers at the village entrance, so eager for a spectacle?

Shen Linchuan kept insisting his family was struggling. These three months amounted to seven hundred and fifty wen, hard-earned by his brother and sister-in-law. Besides, this old Xiucai was a snob. After all these years of studying here, he didn’t care about the original student anymore. As long as the tuition was paid, that was all that mattered.

Shen Linchuan wanted to retrieve this silver and return it to his brother and sister-in-law. Over half a tael of silver! Not only could they afford meat, but they could also buy new clothes for the two little ones.

Xiucai Fang tried to leave but was stopped by Shen Linchuan. “Master, please give this silver to me.”

“Shen Linchuan, how dare you stop me! If others learn of this—this disrespect for teachers and the way—what will become of your reputation as a scholar?”

“Master, have you ever seen a teacher demand silver from his students? If word gets out you took it directly, what face would you have left as a teacher?”

“What! Shen Linchuan, did he actually demand money from you?” Zhou Ning’s eyes widened. “I’ve never heard of any master demanding money or goods from a student!”

Xiucai Fang was flushed crimson with anger. With this youngster shouting in front of so many students, what face did he have left?

Xiucai Fang trembled as he fumbled for the key at his waist. He opened a drawer and pulled out several strings of copper coins. “Seven hundred wen. Get out! Shen Linchuan, once you step out my door, I’ll make sure no school in this town will take you!”

“Master, that’s still fifty wen short.”

Zhou Ning glared, too. “Hurry up and give it.”

Xiucai Fang counted out the coins for both of them. Shen Linchuan took them, bowed with a smile, and said, “Thank you, Master.”

This made Xiucai Fang so furious that his face turned red and his neck bulged.

Outside, someone remarked, “No wonder he looked familiar—isn’t that the butcher boy from the market?”

“Which pork butcher?”

“Oh, the one in the East Market! I think his surname is Zhou. I’ve never seen a young ger selling pork before. Who’d have thought he’d marry Shen Linchuan? Ha ha ha! With Shen Linchuan’s spineless nature, I wonder if he can even keep his Fulang in line! Ha ha ha!”

Zhao Si glanced over. Hey, it really was that butcher’s ger! He’d seen him before—that ger was quite famous. He didn’t look like a ger at all!

The onlookers grew even more amused. Who’d have thought this unmarriageable ger would end up with that good-for-nothing Shen Linchuan?

After collecting the copper coins, Shen Linchuan and his bride emerged. Their classmates gathered around, teasing, “Oh my! Shen Linchuan, you’re married now?”

Seven or eight of them laughed and joked together, their eyes roaming up and down the couple with obvious mischief.

“You actually married the butcher’s ger! Hahaha!”

Shen Linchuan’s face remained smiling, but his leg shot out, kicking the man hard enough to send him sprawling. “Show some respect.”

The man yelped as he hit the ground. This was Zhang Dong, who had previously groveled alongside the original Shen Linchuan to flatter Zhao Si’er and the others. Now that Shen Linchuan was leaving, he was the first to come mock him.

“You!”

Zhou Ning raised his fist. “Your skinny frame weighs less than half a pig from my place. Try to touch him if you dare.”

Shen Linchuan crossed his arms smugly. “Laugh all you want. I dare anyone here to lay a finger on my Fulang. And remember, I’m the one who married into this family. My Fulang makes the decisions. Anyone want to test that?”

No one dared move. This young man was notorious in town—his slaughter knife wielded with such force that it made him seem taller than most of them. They weren’t afraid to fight Shen Linchuan, but facing Zhou Ning? That was another story.

Shen Linchuan led Zhou Ning into the schoolhouse. His seat was at the very back. Shen Linchuan gathered all his books, then went to another courtyard to pack up his old clothes and bedding. By the time they emerged, both boys were laden with belongings.

After handling this matter, Shen Linchuan felt quite pleased. He didn’t mind skipping Xiucai Fang’s academy—he could study at home for a year and take the exams next year.

“Ning-ger, I plan to send these seven hundred and fifty wen to my brother and sister-in-law when I have the chance.”

“Mhm, that’s only right,” Zhou Ning nodded. He added, “I always thought scholars were well-read and reasonable, but it turns out they’re just like everyone else. Even the master demanded money.”

Shen Linchuan chuckled. “Scholars are human too. Take that old Xiucai—nothing but a money-grubbing old codger. Besides the annual tuition, you have to send him holiday gifts five or six times a year. He looks down on the fruits and vegetables from the countryside, demanding chickens, ducks, fish, game, and cloth instead.”

Forget the tuition fees—just the seasonal gifts alone cost a fortune every year. Especially during the New Year, the Xiucai wouldn’t even accept a single chicken; you had to add a fish to the gift. Those wealthier families who ran shops would also send a piece of cotton or silk brocade, which pleased the Xiucai even more.

Shen Linchuan recalled a particularly difficult year when his family could only afford a basket of pastries and a sack of vegetables and fruits for the holiday. Though not as grand as the New Year celebrations, it was still passable.

The original host knew Xiucai was greedy and also valued appearances. Feeling the gift was too meager to present, he caused a scene at home, complaining the offering was inadequate. Little did he know his brother and sister-in-law’s family was barely scraping by, and these items were squeezed from their meager resources.

After much persuasion, the original self finally carried the gifts to town. As expected, Xiucai Fang nitpicked them. The next day, he deliberately picked on the original self for failing to recite a passage, publicly slapping his hands until he was satisfied.

Shen Linchuan thought of this and silently clicked his tongue. Xiucai Fang was a teacher, but certainly not a good one.

The two returned laden with large and small bundles. Zhou Da saw them and hurried over to take them, exclaiming, “So many things!”

With fewer people in the afternoon, customers trickled in at the stall. Shen Linchuan and Zhou Ning helped tend to it. As the sun began to set, they packed up and headed home.

Today, with the addition of the offal stall, the cart was already heavily laden. Shen Linchuan also brought back his things from the academy, piling the cart high with goods in every available space.

As they passed the village entrance, several people glanced over. Recognizing Shen Linchuan’s belongings, the Zhou family—who didn’t reside in town—and Granny Diao, still resentful over Shen Linchuan and Zhou Ning’s earlier disturbance at her home, deliberately called out loudly, “Zhou Da! Where did you get these rags? Look at that cotton stuffing poking out!”

“Granny Diao, they’re mine! I told you back then we’re poor, but you wouldn’t believe me. We’re all in the same village—you’ve got copper coins, yet you still begrudge us. Sigh.”

Granny Diao was momentarily stumped. She’d intended to mock the Zhou family, but this little brat was sharp-tongued and turned the tables on her.

The three pushed the cart away. At the village entrance, onlookers murmured, “Has the Zhou family truly run out of money? They’re even stopping Shen Linchuan from studying.”

“Who knows? Zhou Da runs the butcher shop. His family lives the best life in our village.”

“But didn’t Shen Linchuan say it himself when he came to collect from Granny Diao? Their family had no money left, and he couldn’t continue his studies. I reckon it must be true.” A fulang gave Granny Diao a nudge. “Granny Diao, that’s what he said at your place that day, right?”

Granny Diao rolled her eyes. “How should I know?”

Shen Linchuan and the others weren’t idle after returning home. They unloaded everything from the cart, stowing unsold meat in the kitchen. Shen Linchuan’s old mattress and books were placed in the east room, where Zhou Ning carried them inside. That mattress would need washing and mending when they found the time.

Before nightfall, Shen Linchuan got to work. He sorted the seeds they’d bought and laid them out on the ground. He’d already tilled the soil in the courtyard days ago; all that remained was to make ridges and plant the vegetables.

Zhou Ning came to help. One dug holes while the other dropped seeds into them. Cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers just needed planting in rows—one type per furrow. Spinach and cilantro were simply scattered on the ground, then lightly raked with a small rake. Finally, they sprinkled water over everything, ready to wait for growth.

It was truly an agrarian instinct ingrained in his bones. As he finished preparing this patch of garden, Shen Linchuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. Once the sprouts emerged, his courtyard would look even more beautiful, and they wouldn’t have to buy vegetables anymore.

“I planted extra eggplants this year. When they’re ready, I’ll stir-fry them for you—just as good as anything you’d get at a banquet.”

Zhou Ning nodded thoughtfully, resolving to tend their family garden with care. Their plot had been too small before—he and his father were too busy to manage it properly, so they’d only planted a few random vegetables. But Shen Linchuan clearly loved gardening; he’d completely transformed their vegetable patch.

Once everything was done, it was time to cook. Shen Linchuan washed his hands and came out. Spotting a few radishes left in the house, he stewed them with pig’s trotters for dinner, complemented by a cold-tossed purslane salad.

The pork knuckle stew simmered for quite a while, so by the time they sat down to eat, night had already fallen. Shen Linchuan brought out the meal—the main dish was yesterday’s leftover elm-seed cornbread, warmed up to pair perfectly with the stew.

Knowing Zhou Ning and his father both preferred stronger flavors, Shen Linchuan added a dipping sauce to the mild radish and pork knuckle soup. He chopped scallions, garlic, cilantro, chili powder, and sesame seeds, drizzled in a spoonful of rapeseed oil, and gave it a simple seasoning. This made it quite flavorful.

A large bowl of pork knuckle and radish soup sat before each of them. Shen Linchuan enthusiastically encouraged them, “Try the broth—it’s quite savory.”

Pork knuckles weren’t highly regarded by many. Wealthy families considered them too lowly for formal occasions, while ordinary households felt they offered little meat, making them hard to sell. Yet pork knuckles were rich in collagen, and stewed in soup, they were incredibly nourishing.

Zhou Ning graciously picked up a piece of pork knuckle, dipped it in the sauce, and placed it on a mulberry leaf steamed bun. Expecting a strange taste, he was surprised to find the knuckle tender and glutinous. Shen Linchuan’s sauce was delicious too—who knew braised pork knuckle could taste this good?

Zhou Da also dug in. “Wow, Linchuan, your cooking skills are seriously impressive. These pigs’ feet are… yes, yes. I’ve never had pig’s trotters this good before.”

Shen Linchuan took a sip of the broth from his bowl. This stewed pig’s trotter soup was easy to prepare. Locals didn’t often eat it—first, because of limited seasonings, and second, because they didn’t know how to remove the gamey taste. But now that it was ready, the soup tasted wonderfully fresh.

The entire clay pot of soup was polished off by the three of them, and even the dipping sauce in the middle bowl was finished. After eating, they each returned to their rooms to rest.

Shen Linchuan went to the east room to organize his old books. The original owner had studied for many years, so naturally, there were quite a few books. Shen Linchuan flipped through them and got a rough idea. He planned to take the county-level examination next year.

Studying required considerable silver, so Shen Linchuan also planned to earn some through small business ventures to fund his future studies. For now, he was running a small operation, though none of the capital came from his own pocket—his father had explicitly told him not to spend a single coin.

After organizing the books, Shen Linchuan stepped outside. It was his first day in business. Though the operation was a bit clumsy, he managed to sell everything by early afternoon. He wasn’t sure how many copper coins he’d earned today.

Zhou Ning finished washing up in the courtyard and came over. He brushed his teeth with a willow twig dipped in coarse salt. Not only was the twig easy to find, but it cost nothing—far better than spending copper coins on a toothbrush.

“Ning-ger, come here.”

Seeing him enter, Shen Linchuan emerged holding the money box. “I wonder how many copper coins we made today.”

Zhou Ning was quite curious too—Shen Linchuan’s roasted pork offal wasn’t exactly cheap.

Shen Linchuan clattered the coins out of the box. Just looking at the pile, it was quite a lot. Unable to contain his excitement, he pulled Zhou Ning over to sit at the table and start counting.

“You know how to count coins, right?”

“Of course I do. I help my dad collect them.” Zhou Ning glanced at Shen Linchuan. Counting coins? Who couldn’t do that? He wasn’t a three-year-old.

Shen Linchuan smiled. “Then, when I have time, I’ll teach you to read.”

“I don’t need to know how to read. It won’t be useful.”

Shen Linchuan squeezed closer to Zhou Ning. “How could it not be useful? If we open a shop someday, you’ll be the one managing the accounts.”

“Open a shop?”

Zhou Ning had never even considered it. He and his father hadn’t even managed to buy livestock over the years. Opening a shop in town was the last thing on his mind.

“Exactly. Look, even though we sell the same goods at the market, we’re exposed to the wind and sun. How could that compare to the comfort of a shop? When Father gets too old, we’ll open a butcher shop. We can even hire a helper to assist with the work.”