To be fair, Zhou Er’s family was being unreasonable, too. I’ve seen bridal banquets held separately for the bride’s family, but never one held just for the groom’s own kin.

While Zhou Er and Hu Caiyun exchanged a few extra words, the meat on their table was nearly snatched clean by the other families!

The two quickly grabbed their chopsticks to join the scramble. It wasn’t that Zhou Er’s family lacked meat, though they supported a scholar, Zhou Da contributed his share of labor and never skimped on silver or other expenses.

Whenever Zhou Youcheng needed tuition fees or stationery supplies, he’d approach Zhou Da for silver, arguing that since Zhou Da had no sons, if Zhou Youcheng passed the exams, their family would share in the glory. As fellow Zhou kin, they should split the costs equally.

Zhou Da said little. Producing a scholar in the countryside was no small feat. Should Zhou Youcheng truly pass the exams, it would bring honor to the entire Zhou family. With only this one ger, Zhou Da hoped that if Zhou Youcheng succeeded, he might look out for his own Ning-ger.

Zhou Da didn’t object. He never skimped on the silver and other expenses. After all, Zhou Er’s household alone couldn’t possibly afford to support a scholar. The hardships involved went without saying.

At Shen Linchuan and Zhou Ning’s table, the meal proceeded in perfect harmony. While the dishes at the outer tables were all finished, theirs still had leftovers.

Shen Dasao wanted her two children to have something special. She smiled apologetically, “Uncle Zhou, may we take these dishes home?”

Uncle Zhou grunted in acknowledgment. “The dishes have been touched. I’ll have Ning-ger pack some clean ones for you later.”

By now, everyone had finished eating. The Zhou family of three came out to see their guests off. Clan members stayed behind to help—some washing dishes, others returning tables and benches. With many hands, the work was done swiftly, and soon everything was tidied up.

By then, Zhou Youcheng was nowhere to be seen in the courtyard. He’d left right after the meal. Today, he’d lost all face. A scholar like him, publicly called out by the village chief for not knowing the rules, Zhou Youcheng seethed with resentment.

Just wait until he passes the exams and becomes a scholar! Then these mud-legged peasants would see! How dare they mock him!

Zhou Ning pitched in to help with the cleanup. He fetched a basket and packed two bowls of the steamed pork belly, then wrapped a portion of the braised ribs in oil-proof paper. Spotting more meat on the table, he grabbed a knife and sliced off a large chunk—a good two or three pounds.

Zhou Ning noticed Shen Linchuan standing at the kitchen doorway, smiling gently at him. Zhou Ning’s heart skipped a beat. Regardless of anything else, this scholar was quite handsome—more so than anyone he’d ever met before.

“Is that enough?” Zhou Ning asked, looking up.

Shen Lichuan chuckled softly. “Enough, enough. The basket’s nearly full.”

This young ger was far too straightforward. He’d packed in all that meat—raw and cooked—filling the basket to the brim.

Shen Lichuan came in and draped a half-worn steaming cloth over the basket. Zhou Ning looked at him questioningly. “Why cover it?”

“So your second uncle’s family won’t get jealous.”

Zhou Ning nodded earnestly. “Mhm.”

“Aren’t we supposed to send some over to your second uncle’s place later?”

Zhou Ning frowned slightly. “By all accounts, we should.”

“Well, I’m not playing by the rules. They ruined our offering table—no way are we giving them any. We’re keeping it all for ourselves.”

Without another word, Shen Linchuan covered the dishes on the table with the cloth. He stashed the large leftover piece of pork in the cupboard, too.

Shen Linchuan looked up to find the little ger staring blankly at him. Then the ger smiled, and Shen Linchuan smiled back. “Come on, let’s walk my brother and sister-in-law home.”

“Alright.” Zhou Ning emerged carrying a basket.

Shen Linchuan lingered behind to secure the kitchen door. It was fastened with nothing more than a rope tied to a stick—a simple lock that could be opened with a single strike, depending on how thick or thin one’s skin was.

The courtyard had been tidied up, and most of the villagers from their clan had already left. Zhou Dazheng was chatting with Brother Shen. Zhou Ning walked over and handed the basket to Sister-in-law Shen. “Sister-in-law, this is for you.”

“Oh.” Shen Dasao took it, stumbling slightly under its weight. What on earth was packed inside to make it so heavy?

Seeing Shen Linchuan approach, his big brother pulled him aside.

“Linchuan, you’re part of the Zhou family now. Don’t blame us—our family has its hardships. After all these years, stop struggling. Just live well with Ning-ger.”

“Both father and son in the Zhou household seem honest and kind. You won’t go hungry here. And as for your studies, don’t waste your silver on books. Just live a good life.”

Shen Linchuan’s elder brother feared that if Linchuan pursued his studies, he might end up draining the Zhou family dry like he had his own. Better to abandon those books and avoid such destitution.

Shen Linchuan nodded. He understood his brother’s words. “Brother, rest assured. I know.”

“Good, as long as you understand.”

Shen Linchuan didn’t share his true thoughts with his elder brother. He still harbored ambitions of pursuing the imperial examinations. Yet, the original owner had spent eight years studying at the town academy without even passing the lower-level exams.

He had made up his mind. He wouldn’t continue his studies at the academy. Withdrawing and studying at home would serve the same purpose. There was still a year left before next year’s prefectural exams—plenty of time.

Hearing Shen Linchuan’s words, his elder brother finally relaxed. “I only want what’s best for you. Don’t hold it against me.”

After the betrothal, his family sent Shen Linchuan to the Zhou household. He had put up quite a fuss, clearly disapproving of the Zhou family’s ger. Now, speaking like this, perhaps he had come to terms with it.

After the brothers spoke, the Zhou family saw the four of them out. Zhou Da laughed heartily, “Brother Linchuan, from now on, we’re family. If you need anything, just come over. Meat? We’re butchers—we’ve got plenty. Come and get it anytime.”

Shen Dage acknowledged the offer politely. They’d invited them to take meat—how could they actually refuse? Who would take advantage like that? Every family had to make ends meet.

Most people had left by now, leaving only Zhou Er and his wife in the courtyard. Zhou Ning tugged Shen Linchuan discreetly. When Shen Linchuan turned, he saw Hu Caiyun opening the door to his kitchen!

“Auntie, what are you doing?” Shen Linchuan called out.

Hu Caiyun smiled. “Oh, well, your sister Fang hasn’t eaten yet. I thought since this is ready-made, I’d just bring her a bowl. Saves me having to cook for her.”

Zhou Da responded, “You…” Just take it.

Before Zhou Da could finish speaking, Zhou Ning tugged his sleeve from behind, pulling him into a deep bow. Zhou Da glanced back, and Zhou Ning quickly let go, having pulled too hard.

“Father, the vegetables are gone—we gave them all to Big Brother and Sister-in-law,” Zhou Ning stated matter-of-factly.

“Oh dear, you child.”

Shen Linchuan chimed in, “Father, we just packed all the vegetables for Big Brother and Sister-in-law and forgot to save any for Uncle’s family. We even gave them all the meat to carry home.”

“No! How could you take it all for your family?!” Hu Caiyun snapped angrily.

“But they’re my eldest brother and sister-in-law, Father. Can’t I take it?” Shen Linchuan looked at Zhou Da with an innocent expression.

“Of course you can! Your father told you to take it. Second Sister-in-law, look at the situation we’re in. You should hurry home and see how Fang’er is doing. She’s an unmarried girl, and after the village head spoke to her like that, it’s embarrassing for her.”

Shen Linchuan felt like laughing. His father had meant well, trying to comfort her, but instead of soothing her, he’d ended up embarrassing her further.

Hu Caiyun snorted and stormed off, face flushed. Everyone had said it was gone—she couldn’t very well go rummaging through the house now.

Frustrated at failing to get the better of Zhou’s family, Hu Caiyun seethed inwardly. “What gives Shen Linchuan the right to hand over our family’s belongings to his mother’s side? Pfft! He’s just a son-in-law!”

Zhou Er, though silent, was no fool. While Hu Caiyun usually led the charge in their arguments, he was shrewd. “That piece of meat is the least of our worries. Now that our eldest brother’s family has a scholar too, I fear we can’t afford to support two scholars in our two households.”

Hu Caiyun’s eyebrows shot up at this. “If Shen Linchuan were truly gifted, wouldn’t his elder brother and sister-in-law have pushed him toward the Zhou family? He’s just an eight-year-old tongsheng—how could he ever surpass our Yu Cheng?”

Hu Caiyun looked down on Shen Linchuan from the bottom of her heart. Even if the eldest brother now had a son-in-law, they still had to support her family’s Youcheng in his studies. When her family’s Youcheng became a high official someday, wouldn’t the Zhou family’s eldest brother reap the benefits too?

Zhou Er thought the same. What kind of scholar could Shen Lichuan be? He was just an outsider bearing the Shen surname. The Zhou family’s prestige still depended on their own Youcheng to shine.

The couple returned home, seething with resentment. Shen Linchuan had arrived, and everything that should have belonged to them was gone. If he dared interfere with Youcheng’s studies, they’d skin that little brat alive!

Truly, in all these years, this was the first time they’d suffered such a great loss at the hands of the eldest son’s family—and in front of the entire village, no less!

Meanwhile, the Shen family of four had also left Dayangshu Village. Shen Dasao clutched her basket tightly. Its contents were heavy and covered securely. She didn’t stop until they were out of the village. She wouldn’t lift the lid where people could see, afraid they’d accuse her family of taking advantage of the Zhous.

There was no need to guess—there was definitely meat inside. Ning-ger’s father was a butcher; how could they possibly have skimped on meat?

As Shen Dasao prepared to lift the steaming cloth covering the basket, Shen Huzi and Shen Xiaoyu peered inside, clinging to the sides. Shen Huzi sniffed the air. “Mom, Uncle must have given us meat! I can smell it!”

Shen Xiaoyu poked his little head closer to sniff. “Mom, we get to eat meat again when we get home!”

Even though they were stuffed from the banquet today, they still craved meat. How wonderful it would be to have meat every day!

Shen Dasao feared the two greedy little ones might knock the basket over. She gave them a gentle scolding. “Let go, both of you! Look at you two, such weaklings! Let Mother see what’s inside. It’s so heavy—I wonder what they packed in there.”

Shen Dasao lifted the steaming cloth. “Wow! So much meat!”

The sight of all that meat made Shen Huzi’s eyes light up. “Mom, so much meat!”

Shen Dage glanced over, too. “They gave us this much meat? How many wen is this whole basket worth?”

Shen Dasao’s face broke into a wide smile. “It was so heavy to carry! I thought there must be something else in the basket besides meat. Who knew it was all meat!”

Two bowls of steamed meat, plus a paper-wrapped oil-soaked package—clearly meat too, the grease seeping through—and a huge hanging piece of meat. The basket was packed to the brim. No wonder it felt so heavy!

“That Ning-ger really is a solid fellow. His dad told him to pack meat for us, and he actually packed this much! What a good ger!” Auntie Shen sighed as she spoke. “He’s a good ger, but I worry that Shen Linchuan might take advantage of his honesty.”

“Uncle Zhou’s slaughter knife isn’t for show. If we can’t handle Linchuan, maybe Uncle Zhou can.”