Zhou Ning thought about how wonderful it would be if that were the case. “Our family has no silver.”

“We’ll have it someday.”

Shen Linchuan wanted to open a shop. Running a shop would definitely be more comfortable. Then his father could sell pork, and he could run a small business. Life at home would improve.

“Alright, alright. Quickly count out some copper coins. Stack them in bundles of a hundred. Let’s see how many we have.”

The two huddled together, counting, “One, two, three, four…”

Once counted, they strung them together with hemp rope. Listening to the coins clink against each other, Shen Linchuan felt overjoyed. Today was truly a good day—not only was it his first day in business, but he’d also earned three months’ worth of tuition!

“We actually made over three hundred wen!”

Zhou Ning was thrilled. After all, offal sold individually wasn’t worth much, and few people bought it. Yet today they’d earned nearly four hundred wen—almost as much as his father made in a day!

“That’s amazing!”

Shen Linchuan hadn’t expected such a haul either. He’d eaten and bought a few things today, so it was quite a profit.

In his good mood, and with them so close together, Shen Linchuan pulled Zhou Ning close and began kissing him. Zhou Ning obediently let him kiss him, his hands busy tugging at Shen Linchuan’s clothes. The sooner they finished, the sooner they could sleep.

Shen Linchuan had only intended a kiss, but Zhou Ning’s hands had already slipped beneath his clothes. Shen Linchuan felt his mind wandering, so he quickly released the person in his arms. “Alright, time to sleep. We have to get up early for town tomorrow.”

Zhou Ning blinked. “Not anymore?”

Shen Linchuan swallowed hard. “You’re not feeling well. Let’s wait a few days.”

Zhou Ning cut straight to the point. “Don’t worry about me. If we keep dragging this out, when will we ever have a baby? Kids my age are already running around everywhere.”

Shen Linchuan’s expression nearly cracked. He was truly single-minded about having a child!

“Be good. Go to sleep. You need to rest for a few days.”

Shen Linchuan gritted his teeth inwardly. What a blockhead.

He had some silver on him now. In a couple of days, he’d buy some illustrated books in town to look at. This blockhead didn’t care whether he was comfortable or not; he was single-minded and focused solely on having a baby with him. What a blockhead.

Shen Linchuan pulled Zhou Ning’s hand away. “Come on, let’s go to sleep.”

Only then did Zhou Ning reluctantly follow him back to the room. That night, Shen Linchuan still held Zhou Ning in his arms. Perhaps because he’d grown accustomed to holding him these past days, Zhou Ning fell asleep quickly, even finding it somewhat comfortable.

Shen Linchuan had just been teased into a state of arousal. He held the person close for a moment before calming down, then lowered his head to kiss the forehead of the person in his arms before closing his own eyes.

The next morning, he rose at the first crow of the rooster while the sky was still dim. His movement woke Zhou Ning. “Why are you getting up so early?”

“You can sleep in. It’s still early.”

The sky was still dark, the world shrouded in ink, though objects were now visible. Shen Linchuan had risen much earlier than usual. His books had been returned, and he couldn’t afford to slack off any longer. So he had added reading to his daily schedule.

But now, before dawn, it was too dark to read, so he rose early and took his carrying pole to fetch water. The well was empty at this hour. Shen Linchuan drew water, carried it home, and by the time he finished, daylight had broken. He then practiced a set of martial arts moves.

A thin sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead after the routine. Zhou Da, hearing the movement in the courtyard, rose and headed out to the fields early, hoe in hand.

Zhou Ning also got up. Seeing Shen Linchuan practicing his boxing in the courtyard, he busied himself in the kitchen. These days, Zhou Ning usually prepares breakfast, while Shen Linchuan handles lunch and dinner.

Some pork knuckle soup remained from last night, so Zhou Ning cooked some rice, intending to make rice porridge with the leftover soup.

Breakfast was easy to prepare—just simmering the clay pot over the fire. and he had little else to do. By now, Shen Linchuan had taken a book and was reciting from it in a corner of the courtyard. Zhou Ning couldn’t make out what he was reciting, but Shen Linchuan’s voice was pleasant—deep and slightly husky.

A smile spread across Zhou Ning’s face as he picked up a small broom and began sweeping the courtyard leisurely.

When Zhou Da returned, Shen Linchuan finally closed his book. Zhou Da didn’t ask, but his admiration for this son-in-law grew even more. They’d known each other’s circumstances when they were courting, but now it seemed some things couldn’t be fully trusted.

What a fine scholar! Everyone knew scholars were aloof, yet his son-in-law cooked meals himself, showing not a shred of scholarly pretension. Zhou Da grew ever more pleased with Shen Linchuan.

For breakfast, Zhou Ning prepared rice porridge with pork knuckle soup. He poured steamed rice into the simmering broth, added chopped shepherd’s purse greens, and served it—a simple yet satisfying meal. Zhou Ning cracked two eggs into the pot. When serving, he deliberately gave Shen Linchuan extra egg strands in his bowl.

The three sat in the courtyard to eat. Shen Linchuan immediately noticed his bowl had more egg strands. He reached out to swap bowls with Zhou Ning. Zhou Ning protested and tried to snatch his bowl back. Shen Linchuan quickly took a sip of soup from his bowl. “Alright, let’s eat. With three of us working hard at home, it wouldn’t be right for me to hog all the good stuff.“

”You’re not hogging anything.“ 

Shen Linchuan teased, ”You’re favoring me so much—aren’t you afraid Father will get jealous?“

Zhou Da laughed heartily. ”Father won’t mind. Now that you’re studying at home, Linchuan, your studies are demanding. You should eat well.”

“But it still can’t compare to how hard you and Ning-ger work.”

After eating, the three packed their things and headed to town. Along the way, Shen Linchuan didn’t idle. He silently reviewed the books he’d read that morning. The Four Books and Five Classics were essential for the Xiucai exam, and he also needed to study numerous historical texts and commentaries by contemporary Confucian masters.

Fortunately, his original self had studied these texts for years. Even if his grasp was only superficial, it was still better than knowing nothing at all. Reciting them now felt considerably easier.

He dared not be complacent. The imperial examinations were no trivial matter. Becoming a Xiucai was merely the first stepping stone on the path to officialdom. Their teacher, Xiucai Fang, had held the title of Xiucai for over thirty years, yet remained just that—a Xiucai. Every three years, he journeyed to the prefectural capital of Nanling to take the Juren exams, but after all these years, he still hadn’t succeeded.

Shen Linchuan helped push the cart while silently reciting in his mind. Before he knew it, the hour-long journey to town had passed. Once in town, they bustled about setting up their small stall. Since the pork stall was busy in the morning, Zhou Ning went to help there, leaving Shen Linchuan to manage his own stall—a task he handled quite efficiently on his own.

The second time around felt much smoother. Shen Linchuan called out his wares with practiced ease, “Grilled pork offal, folks~.”

Old Wang from the pancake stall next door called out, “Young Shen, do you have any pork jowl left? Give me some stuff to stuff in my pancakes.”

“Uncle Wang, we sold out of pork jowl yesterday. Why not try these offal bits? They’re quite tasty too.”

“Alright, give me some then. I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“Sure thing, I’ll mix some up for you.” Shen Linchuan hawked his wares with practiced ease. 

Soon enough, another customer arrived: “A pound of pork head meat, please. I’ve been craving it all day—it’s just too delicious.”

When yet another customer asked for pork head meat, Shen Linchuan explained, “We sold out yesterday. But we still have pork offal—it’s delicious too. Give it a try.” Shen Linchuan was quite pleased—today’s customers were noticeably more plentiful than yesterday’s.

Hearing there was no pork head meat, the customer seemed disappointed. Shen Linchuan told him when it would be available, suggesting he come early that day. After tasting the offal, which was indeed tasty, the man bought a pound and left.

Old Wang from next door, starving from the aroma, grabbed a freshly baked flatbread and handed it over. “Brother Shen, just put it in my bread.”

“Sure thing. Saves me the trouble of wrapping it in oil paper.” Shen Linchuan sliced some for Uncle Wang, seasoned with red chili oil and cilantro. It went well sandwiched in the flatbread, and the offal filling wasn’t too heavy. Shen Linchuan charged five copper coins.

Seeing this, others realized they could eat the pancakes this way too. The pancakes were cheap—just three wens each—so grabbing one meant skipping breakfast at home. Watching the Pancake King eat like this, some ordered pancakes themselves. “Get me one too, with less offal. I just want a taste.”

Many quickly copied the pancake king’s style, stuffing their own pancakes. This way was indeed delicious! Best of all, it wasn’t expensive—three wen for a plain pancake, five wen with less offal. Either way, it was a hearty, savory treat.

Those short on coins asked for less, while those with money to spare asked for more—it all came down to personal preference. Before long, Shen Linchuan’s little stall drew quite a crowd.

Shen Linchuan had a good memory. He noticed that most of today’s customers were repeat buyers from yesterday. It showed that even though people weren’t overly fond of pork offal, a well-made dish could still attract loyal patrons.

That’s how business works. Once a crowd gathers, whether they buy or not, people come just for the buzz. Before long, his stall was surrounded. “What’s this? That aroma is absolutely irresistible!”

“Pig offal! It’s fragrant!”

“Pig offal? Can that even taste good?”

“You haven’t tried it! This guy knows how to cook it. I had some yesterday, and it was so good I came back today the moment I caught the scent.”

Hearing the praise, others grew curious and called out, “Let me try some first! If it’s good, I’ll buy some too.”

“Don’t push! Don’t push! Fresh batch just arrived—enough for everyone, everyone!”

Shen Linchuan kept his hands busy while calling out to customers. His little stall was now livelier than the meat stall. With things calming down at the meat counter, Zhou Ning came over to help Shen Linchuan collect coins.

Business today was significantly better than yesterday. However, it seemed most customers were laborers heading out for work early in the morning. Passing through the market, they’d grab a pancake and some red-oil pork offal.

Wives and Fulang rushed to buy fresh meat and vegetables early. Though some stopped to ask what was being sold, upon hearing it was pork offal, most turned and walked away, muttering under their breath, “Can you even eat that stuff?”

But that didn’t stop Shen Linchuan’s business from booming. Listening to the clatter of copper coins landing in the wooden box, Shen Linchuan couldn’t have been happier.

“Hey, boss! Do you still have yesterday’s pork head meat?” someone called out loudly.

“Sold out yesterday. More in two days.”

“Oh man, why didn’t you make more?”

Shen Linchuan explained with a smile, “One pig only has one head. It’s just for our own household.”

Someone recognized Zhou Ning, who was helping nearby. “Oh! So you’re Brother Ning’s husband! No wonder! Butcher Zhou only slaughters a pig every three or four days.“

Shen Linchuan’s business was booming today. A whole pot of pork offal sold out in just over half an hour, leaving some latecomers who wanted to try it empty-handed.

”What? Sold out? I was just about to try some!“

”Come back next time, everyone. Come back next time.”

After wrapping up, the two packed up their stall and sat down in the back. Zhou Ning brought Shen Linchuan some water. “Business is even better today than yesterday.”

“See? Most of the customers buying these offal stews were men. The wives and Fulang turned tail and walked away the moment they heard it was offal stew. Even though it sold well, I can’t help but feel we could have made even more.”

Shen Linchuan pondered how to earn more silver. Offal wasn’t exactly high-class fare—maybe he should make something more universally appealing. But he put the thought aside for now, grabbing a book to read in the back while Zhou Ning went to help out at the front.

Zhou Da beamed as he chatted with his son: “Linchuan really knows his stuff—even offal sells like hotcakes.”

“Shen Linchuan just realized people might look down on pig offal, so he thought of making something everyone loves.”

“True. Town folk are a cut above country folk. They wouldn’t give pig offal a second glance.”

Not far away, the cloth shop owner kept craning his neck to watch. When he saw Shen Linchuan packing up, he let out a regretful sigh. Fulang tugged him away. “It’s just offal—nothing special. If you have meat, why crave that stuff?”

“I never said I wanted to eat it. I just wanted to smell it—that aroma is truly irresistible.”

“Stop blocking the doorway and making a spectacle of yourself. Here, dust off the counter.” His fulang shoved a feather duster into his hands, craning his own neck to peer in the same direction.

“See that man? Ning-ger’s new husband. He doesn’t look half bad. Zhou Da sure knows how to pick ’em. Found Ning-ger quite a handsome young man for a son-in-law.”

The cloth shop proprietor, surnamed Lu, noticed his Fulang eyeing another man with a touch of jealousy. He tugged him closer. “Look who’s talking. What are you staring at?”

Fulang clicked his tongue. “Fine, it’s just some pork offal. You got upset when I wouldn’t let you eat it. I’ll go get some meat cut for you. How about we have roasted meat for lunch?”

Lu, the shopkeeper, swept listlessly with a feather duster. “I don’t really feel like roasted meat. Just buy some and fry it in oil.”

“Got it, got it. You’re such a fusspot.”

Lu Fulang had been curious to see what Ning-ger’s husband looked like anyway. Since he needed to buy meat for home, he grabbed his basket and headed out. “Zhou Da, give me a cut of meat—more lean, please.”

Zhou Da held up a hind leg for him to see. “Lu Fulang, how about this hind leg? It’s got a bit of fat clinging to it—smells delicious.”

“Alright, give me two pounds.”

As Lu Fulang came over to have the meat cut, he couldn’t help glancing at Shen Linchuan. Seeing Shen Linchuan reading, he realized he was actually a scholar. Lu Fulang whispered, “Uncle Zhou, you found a good husband for Ning-ger. He’s even literate!”

Zhou Da laughed heartily and said, “Ning-ger chose him himself.”

Satisfied, Lu Fulang left and later told Manager Lu, “Ning-ger’s husband is a son-in-law, right? And he’s literate! Zhou Da really has connections—he found a good match for Ning-ger.”

“Uncle Zhou’s meat stall has been open for over ten years. He’s got some savings stashed away. Regardless of what kind of person he is, I see he’s quite skilled at making food.”

Lu Fulang shot him a disapproving glare. “Don’t you dare eat that pig’s offal.”

Mr. Lu stammered, “I never said I would.”

A five- or six-year-old child dashed out of the room. Spotting the basket in his stepfather’s hand, he peered inside. Spotting a piece of meat, he declared, “Dad, I don’t want boiled meat. I want fried meat!”

“You’re just like your father, always craving something. You turn your nose up at boiled meat, yet those beggar kids on the street can’t even get their hands on it. And here you are, being picky at two years old.”

Lu Fulang agreed, planning to coat the meat in batter and fry it for lunch.

Shen Linchuan had sat behind the stall reading all morning. By afternoon, the crowd had thinned. Zhou Da, worried about the market’s noise, sent Shen Linchuan and the others home first, leaving him alone to watch the stall.

The two packed up their things and headed back. Zhou Ning carried a basket on his back, worried his father might struggle pushing the cart alone with so much weight.

Shen Linchuan offered to take the basket, but Zhou Ning eyed him skeptically. “Are you sure you can handle it?”

“Of course I can. I might not be as strong as you now, but who knows about the future?”

As he spoke, Shen Linchuan subtly stood beside Zhou Ning to compare heights. He seemed slightly taller than his Fulang, didn’t he? Probably. Shen Linchuan consoled himself. Zhou Ning had always been more robust than him. How could a few days of training make him shoot up like a bamboo shoot?

Shen Linchuan tiptoed over and stood on his toes. Perfect—he could now see the top of Fulang’s head.

Zhou Ning felt Shen Linchuan wasn’t as strong as him, so he refused to let him carry the backpack. Zhou Ning shouldered it himself and walked on, Shen Linchuan hurrying to catch up. They returned early; some households hadn’t even finished their noon meal yet. They’d eaten in town, so no cooking was needed upon their return.

Shen Linchuan understood his father’s concern—fearing it might distract him from his studies, he’d sent them back early.

As soon as they returned, Shen Linchuan took a wooden comb and pulled his hair into a high ponytail. This only accentuated his dashing, handsome features, making him look every inch the elegant young gentleman.

Zhou Ning had just laid out straw mats in the courtyard when he went inside to fetch Shen Linchuan’s old mattress from yesterday. With nothing to do this afternoon, it was the perfect time to take it apart for washing.

Zhou Ning slipped off his shoes and began unpicking the stitches with scissors. Shen Linchuan, having finished his high ponytail, approached. “Ning-ger, stand up.”

Zhou Ning looked up at him. “What is it?”

“Stand up for a moment. Quickly.”

Zhou Ning was busy and didn’t bother to respond. Shen Linchuan insisted on grabbing him and pulling him up. “Stand straight. Stand straight.”

Shen Linchuan pretended nonchalance as he moved closer. With his hair pulled into a high ponytail, he now looked taller than his Fulang. Satisfied, Shen Linchuan decided to keep the high ponytail from now on—after all, Ning-ger liked using hairpins or ribbons to style his hair.

Only after comparing heights did Shen Linchuan leave, taking his books and returning to his studies.

Zhou Ning, baffled by Shen Linchuan’s antics, came over and made him stand up briefly before walking away just as mysteriously. Scholars were beyond his comprehension. Was Shen Linchuan trying to show off his new hairstyle?

The two men busied themselves separately—one indoors, the other in the courtyard. Shen Linchuan sat by the main hall doorway, reading aloud from his book. The spot was bright and airy; when his eyes grew tired, he could gaze at the distant trees and flowers.

Zhou Ning had already taken down the old mattress cover. The quilt cover had two holes, but they could be mended later. The cotton inside was still good. The mattress was quite thick; after fluffing the cotton again, it would be warm enough for winter.

After removing the quilt cover, Zhou Ning placed it in a wooden basin and went back to the kitchen to continue his chores.

Shen Linchuan, parched from reading, went to the kitchen to fetch water. He saw Zhou Ning sitting by the small stove, stoking the fire and boiling something. Shen Linchuan peered over. “Soap nuts?”

Zhou Ning hummed in acknowledgment. “I’ll go wash the quilt cover.”

“Why not use soap bean powder? We still have some at home.”

“That’s expensive.”

Shen Linchuan felt embarrassed. At home, they used soap powder for washing hair and bathing—he’d even used it once when doing laundry!

No wonder Zhou Ning boiled soapberry water to wash the quilt cover. A cover that big would require a lot of soap powder.

Seeing the soapberry decoction nearly ready, Zhou Ning poured the liquid into a wooden basin and carried it to the village stream to wash the quilt cover.

Shen Linchuan returned to his room to continue studying. As an eight-year-old Tongsheng, if he failed to pass next year and become a Xiucai, people would already be mocking Ning-ger for marrying a useless husband. If he failed again, who knew how many would secretly ridicule his family?

Zhou Ning had always been somewhat solitary. In the village, aside from exchanging a few words with Zhang Xiaoyi, he had few friends. Girls his age were usually married off early.

When people went to the riverbank to wash clothes, they would gather in small groups upon seeing acquaintances, chatting idly while scrubbing. Before Zhou Ning even reached the shore, he overheard gossip about his family. One voice sounded particularly familiar.

“Shen Linchuan? He’s just a half-baked scholar. He might be related to us, but when something happens in the future, he’ll still have to rely on our family’s achievements.”

“Not necessarily. Shen Linchuan is a Tongsheng too. Who knows? He might pass and become a Xiucai someday.”

“Him? Just wait and see. If he could really pass, would the Shen family disown him? I think Zhou Da is being foolish. Shen Linchuan has only been here a short while, yet he’s charmed him so much he’d disown his own brother.”

Hu Caiyun spoke up amidst the crowd, her heart brimming with resentment. Before Shen Linchuan arrived, her family never went without meat. Now, even a single piece was out of the question.

“Hmph! My son, Youcheng, is already a Tongsheng. Once he passes and becomes an Xiucai, his family will reap the benefits! Relying on that good-for-nothing Shen Linchuan? You’d have better luck counting on my son, Youcheng!”

Zhou Ning frowned upon hearing this, then descended carrying a wooden basin. The surrounding area fell quiet. Hu Caiyun continued ranting about Shen Linchuan being a useless scholar. Someone bumped into her, causing her to lift her head. “What’s going on here?”

Someone greeted him with a smile. “Ning-ger, you’re here to wash clothes too?”

Zhou Ning hummed in acknowledgment. Only then did Hu Caiyun turn and notice he’d arrived unnoticed.

Gossiping behind someone’s back didn’t faze Hu Caiyun in the slightest. Spotting Zhou Ning, she continued, “Ning-ger, Second Aunt only speaks for your good. We’re family, after all. That Shen Linchuan has barely been here a few days. Look at your family now—he’s running the show. He’s just a son-in-law by marriage! You’re far too soft, letting some in-law climb over our Zhou family.“

”Second Aunt, you still owe my family money for the meat.”

Hu Caiyun’s expression darkened the moment Zhou Ning mentioned the meat debt. “We’re family. I’ve helped your household countless times. When your father passed, you even stayed at my place for a while. A few pieces of meat? Why dwell on it so long?”

“Second Aunt, you said it was bought. I remember clearly—the meat my father gave your family doesn’t count.”

Hu Caiyun was momentarily speechless. Zhou Ning, usually quiet, had just publicly humiliated her in front of everyone!

“Second Aunt, remember to pay it back. My family needs it.” Zhou Ning picked up the wooden basin and started to leave, then turned back to add, “Second Aunt, don’t speak ill of Shen Linchuan. He never did anything to you.”

With that, Zhou Ning found a secluded spot and began washing clothes by himself. Hu Caiyun seethed with fury. Not only was her family no longer needed, but even a junior like Zhou Ning dared humiliate her publicly!

Someone who disliked Hu Caiyun deliberately asked, “Hu Caiyun, how much meat did your family eat from the eldest brother’s house? Over the years, you must have had at least one pig, right?”

“Mind your own laundry! What business is it of yours?”

Hu Caiyun lived quite the life of luxury in the village. While most families couldn’t afford meat, hers and the Zhou family were close kin—meat was never in short supply. Zhou Youcheng, being an educated man, especially after passing the Tongsheng exams two years prior, had made her even more proud. She walked around looking down her nose at everyone.

Zhou Ning never liked crowding into gatherings. He’d heard the village gossip before—that he was an old ger who’d never marry. It didn’t bother him. As long as he lived well, that was all that mattered.

His Second Aunt had often accused him of being too picky in front of him. The families she’d arranged for him either had health issues or expected him to be a second husband. Not only did he refuse, but even his father wouldn’t agree.

He hadn’t paid it much mind, but today, when his Second Aunt mentioned Shen Linchuan, he couldn’t help but speak up.

Zhou Ning sat silently on a stone, rubbing the quilt cover. With his strong hands, he soon scrubbed it clean. Carrying the basin, he headed home.

By the time he returned, Shen Linchuan was already bustling about in the kitchen. His father would be back soon, too. Zhou Ning hung the washed quilt cover in the courtyard, then turned and went back into the kitchen to help.

Shen Linchuan was busy wrapping dumplings inside. Having finished harvesting the leeks from the vegetable patch this time, he smiled at Zhou Ning when he saw him return. “They’re washed?”

“They’re washed.”

Zhou Ning bent over to knead the dough for Shen Linchuan while he chopped the leeks nearby. He scrambled four eggs and tossed them in, chopped the glass noodles finely, sprinkled in some freshly ground five-spice powder, added a bit of the family’s lard, and finally seasoned it with a pinch of salt.

The leeks were fragrant to begin with, and after seasoning, they gave off an even more delightful aroma. Zhou Ning had already rolled out quite a few dumpling wrappers. Smelling the fragrance, he sniffed secretly. Why was Shen Linchuan’s cooking so delicious?

The two sat facing each other and began wrapping dumplings. Shen Linchuan deliberately leaned his head closer to Zhou Ning. “What’s wrong? Not happy? Did someone pick on you when you were out?” “

”No.“

”You say no, but your face is as stiff as our wooden door.”

Hearing Shen Linchuan say this, Zhou Ning quickly tugged at the corners of his mouth to relax his expression. Though he wasn’t talkative, he tended to purse her lips when unhappy—a habit Shen Linchuan had noticed without him realizing it.

“Who did you run into when you went out to wash the bedding?”

“Second Aunt. She was gossiping about you.”

Shen Linchuan felt a warm surge in his heart. So he’d been protecting him. “It’s fine. We’ll just remember it for now. Later, we’ll gossip about her too.”

“Second Aunt just can’t keep her mouth shut. She gossiped about me before; now she’s gossiping about you.”

Shen Linchuan chuckled. “It’s just that our family won’t let her take advantage anymore. She’s upset about that.”

Zhou Ning ground her foot on the ground. “Second Aunt set me up on blind dates before, saying I was too picky. Like I’m not even good-looking to begin with, and I still have to be choosy.”

Shen Linchuan’s eyes widened at this. “Nonsense! Who says you’re not pretty? You’re quite lovely. Don’t listen to her rambling. She hasn’t even arranged matches for her own daughter or son, yet she’s meddling in ours.”

Shen Linchuan knew without thinking that Hu Caiyun’s eagerness stemmed solely from wanting to marry someone off. Once the family faced the prospect of dying out, if Zhou Ning were married off, the second son’s family would likely pressure his father to fund Zhou Youcheng’s education alone. Using elder care as an excuse, they wouldn’t feel satisfied until they’d milked every last drop.

Recalling the original story’s plot, Shen Linchuan remembered how the protagonist, coveting wealth in town, ran off with a widow. Soon after, Zhou Da fell gravely ill and died. The second son’s family forced Zhou Ning to carry the coffin, demanding half the estate. Zhou Ning endured endless gossip from villagers, living a lonely, miserable life until his death.

The thought twisted Shen Linchuan’s heart. Not a single soul in Zhou Er’s family was decent!

It seemed Hu Caiyun had spent years verbally undermining his Fulang. Though he was quiet by nature, years of her suppression had left him somewhat sensitive.

Shen Linchuan deftly wrapped a bun, snipped it twice with scissors, then rolled it into shape before presenting it to Zhou Ning. “See? A little rabbit bun. I’ll steam it for you.”

Zhou Ning felt a bit embarrassed—he wasn’t a child, after all.

He replied awkwardly, “It doesn’t look like one at all.”

“How isn’t it? It’s dead on! I’ll find two red beans to add.”

Shen Linchuan coaxed Zhou Ning with a smile, pressing two red beans into the bun. “See? Perfectly like one now.”

Zhou Ning’s mood lifted. “It still doesn’t look like one.”

Truthfully, it was quite similar. Shen Linchuan’s nimble hands had shaped a plump, adorable little rabbit.

Shen Linchuan’s eyes drooped. “Alright then. I thought I made it look pretty good.”

Zhou Ning hurriedly said, “It looks like it! It looks like it! I was just teasing you!”

“You little rascal, Ning! You’re getting more and more mischievous. How dare you lie to your husband? Your punishment is to eat two extra rabbit-shaped buns today!”

Zhou Ning finally cracked a smile at the teasing, and Shen Linchuan also wore a smile, though mentally noting down a debt for Zhou Er’s family. By the last batch, all the buns were rabbit-shaped. Zhou Ning’s weren’t quite lifelike, but with ears cut out, they resembled little long-eared monsters—adorably ugly.

By the time Zhou Da returned, the buns were nearly done steaming. The courtyard filled with the aroma of wheat mingled with leeks. Zhou Da unloaded the contents of his wheelbarrow into the kitchen. “Buns are ready—leek filling, meat, or plain?”

“Father, Shen Linchuan made leek and egg buns.” Zhou Ning’s voice carried a hint of excitement he hadn’t even noticed himself.

”I haven’t had buns in ages. It smells delicious.“

Dinner that night was white steamed buns paired with a bowl of sour vegetable soup. Zhou Da stared blankly at the basket of rabbits with their big eyes. He picked one up to examine it—actually pretty easy to tell apart—” Rabbit?”

Shen Linchuan’s buns looked authentic, while Zhou Ning’s turned into little monsters with two eyes after steaming. Shen Linchuan picked the nicest ones for Zhou Ning. “Hurry up and eat—these freshly steamed buns are the best.”

Zhou Da couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of the pot full of little rabbit buns. He knew instantly that Shen Linchuan was just playing with his little ger.

Fresh out of the steamer, the buns were soft and fluffy, stuffed full of filling. A bite of the bun followed by a sip of the sour vegetable soup made his stomach feel so much better.

Shen Linchuan deliberately picked one of Zhou Ning’s clown-shaped buns and bit off the little monster’s head in one go. Zhou Ning felt a bit embarrassed and secretly slipped a prettier bun into Shen Linchuan’s hand, making Shen Linchuan’s eyes crinkle with laughter.

“Do they taste okay?”

Zhou Ning nodded obediently, “Delicious.”

“I was going to add some dried shrimp, but we didn’t have any at home. Next time I go to the market, I’ll see if I can find some. They’d be perfect for soup or adding a special freshness to vegetarian buns.”

“Little river shrimp? I know where we can catch some. When we have free time, the two of us can go catch them.”

Shen Linchuan perked up at the idea of catching river shrimp. “Sounds good!”

It would be a perfect chance to take his Fulang out for some fresh air.

Zhou Da added from the side, “Those little shrimp are everywhere in the water. You don’t even have to go far—they’re right in the little ditch by our place. They’re not much to eat, no meat at all. Kids usually catch them to feed the chickens and ducks. Just grab our basket and go fishing.”

“Alright, then tomorrow Ning-ger and I will go get some.”

Zhou Ning nodded enthusiastically beside him. Having stuffed himself with two extra rabbit buns today, his belly was round as a ball. He took Dahuang out for a stroll while Shen Linchuan lit an oil lamp and began drafting his policy essay in the east room.

The household’s pork supply was nearly depleted. The next day, Zhou Da went alone to town after breakfast to sell the last of it. He returned promptly after the sale. Zhou Da had originally planned to collect more pork in the afternoon, but Shen Linchuan dissuaded him. Work when you should, rest when you must—even the strongest body couldn’t endure such relentless toil.

As usual, Shen Linchuan rose before dawn to fetch water, then practiced his boxing before reading his morning lessons. By breakfast, the sun had risen, heralding another bright and sunny day.

Zhou Ning hung yesterday’s washed quilt cover out to dry in the courtyard. She fetched a bucket and two round wicker baskets. “Shen Linchuan, are you going to catch river shrimp? Or staying home to read?”

“Let’s go. Work and rest in balance. I still don’t know where our land is. This is a good chance to go take a look.”