When Zhou Da demanded she pay with coins, Hu Caiyun’s expression darkened. Previously, she’d simply taken what she wanted. If outsiders were present, she’d claim she hadn’t brought coins and take the goods home, promising to return shortly with payment.

Everyone understood the truth—it was just a story for outsiders. Who didn’t know? Once Hu Caiyun took the goods, there was no way she’d bother bringing back coins.

By now, customers were trickling in at the stall. Auntie Wang, a neighbor of the Zhou family, approached carrying a bowl. Seeing Hu Caiyun unwilling to pay, she didn’t bother waiting. “Big Brother, chop me two big bones. I’m going home to stew some radishes.”

“Sure thing.”

Zhou Da picked up a cleanly trimmed marrow bone, swung his cleaver with a sharp crack, and split it cleanly in two. “Auntie Wang, five copper coins will do.”

“Thank you.”

Auntie Wang fished five copper coins from her sleeve and dropped them into the money box beside the counter. Being from the same village, she always got a discount when buying meat or offal from the Zhou family—cheaper than going to town.

After buying the large bones, Auntie Wang lingered to chat with Shen Linchuan. “Ning-ger’s husband, I’m your neighbor Auntie Wang. You might not recognize me yet.”

Zhou Ning interjected, “Auntie Wang made both our new clothes.”

Shen Linchuan smiled at her. The woman seemed quite kind. “Thank you, Auntie.”

“We’re neighbors, after all. I practically watched Ning-ger grow up. Besides, it wasn’t for free—your father paid me in copper coins.”

The onlookers included those buying pig’s blood and liver, both cheaper than meat. Spending a few copper coins meant they could at least have some meat.

Zhou Da was deboning pork nearby, while Zhou Ning helped sell offal.

Seeing the villagers about to leave after their purchases, Shen Linchuan hurriedly asked, “Second Auntie, do you still want that plum-blossom pork? Look how fine it is! Outsiders wouldn’t get such quality meat.”

Shen Linchuan’s raised voice drew the villagers, who had been heading home to cook, to pause and watch the commotion. Everyone knew Hu Caiyun never paid copper coins when she bought meat from Zhou Da.

Now that Zhou Da had a new son-in-law, Shen Linchuan—whether deliberately or out of ignorance—blatantly asked his aunt if she intended to buy the meat. Hu Caiyun was notoriously stingy, and with a scholar who’d passed the tongsheng exam in the house, she looked down her nose at everyone.

They were eager to see if this new son-in-law could squeeze a single coin out of Hu Caiyun.

Hu Caiyun reached out to take the meat. “I’ll take this home first. I’ll bring the coins over shortly. We’re family—would I really stiff you out of a few coins?”

“You still owe us from before,” Zhou Ning said. “You owe us quite a few taels.”

The Zhou family had taken meat so often over the years that Zhou Ning couldn’t even recall the exact amount owed. They must have eaten several pigs by now.

Shen Linchuan stepped forward with his knife, blocking Hu Caiyun’s hand. “Second Auntie, business has its rules. Hand it over first, or if it’s convenient, repay that silver first. Goodness gracious! That’s a lot of silver!” “

Shen Linchuan knew the Zhou family loved to take advantage. Over the years, they’d certainly eaten their fill of meat!

Not only would she not get away with taking the pork today, but she’d also have to pay back the silver she owed his family!

Shen Linchuan held the knife in his hand, a smile on his face. With just a slight flick of his wrist, he could flip the blade and slice Hu Caiyun’s hand open.

“Second Auntie, you can go home and prepare the silver you owe. Your nephew will pay you a visit another day.”

Hu Caiyun snorted and withdrew her hand from the knife. “Brother, look at this! This is your new son-in-law! How dare he speak to his elders like that!”

Zhou Da remained silent, continuing to cut his pork in muted focus.

Hu Caiyun had hoped Zhou Da would rebuke him, but he completely ignored her outburst.

Auntie Wang chimed in from the side, “Hu Caiyun, do you even want this meat? It’s prime cuts—look how fresh and plump it is!”

Furious, Hu Caiyun turned and stormed off. That good-for-nothing Shen Lichuan! Just a spineless son-in-law who married into the family, and he dares to boss her around!

The crowd, having had their fill of the spectacle, dispersed. As they watched Shen Lichuan, their opinions of him began to shift.

Just this morning, they’d heard the village gossip about how Zhou Youcheng’s son-in-law could barely carry a bucket of water without spilling it. Yet now, Hu Caiyun couldn’t even get the upper hand against him. Yesterday, Zhou Youcheng and Zhou Fang had been publicly humiliated—they’d thought it was an accident, but now it seemed perhaps it wasn’t.

After the crowd dispersed, Zhou Ning breathed a sigh of relief. At least his second aunt hadn’t gotten away with taking his family’s meat for nothing. He smiled at Shen Linchuan—this scholar sure had a way with words.

Shen Linchuan discreetly hooked Zhou Ning’s finger. “Don’t be polite with them from now on. Father works so hard; we can’t let them take advantage.”

Zhou Da burst into laughter. “You really are the one to handle things, Linchuan.”

“Father, why didn’t you say anything before? We’ve been letting them take advantage of us for so long.”

Zhou Da gave an awkward chuckle. “Son, I couldn’t bring myself to ask. They’re family, after all.”

“Besides Uncle Er’s family, are there any other households in the village that owe us copper coins?”

“There’s also…”

Shen Linchuan’s eyes widened. How on earth did these two do business? He’d only asked casually, never expecting there were actually people still owing them copper coins!

“This won’t do, Father. Our family’s barely scraping by. Let’s discuss it over dinner. Tomorrow, I’m going to collect those coins!”

After spending ages preparing the pig, Shen Linchuan and Zhou Ning washed out the offal. These innards sold cheaply—even after scrubbing them clean with such effort, they wouldn’t fetch more than a few copper coins. Shen Linchuan had an idea forming in his mind, but with so much to do now, he’d have to work on it later.

Having just slaughtered the pig today, Shen Linchuan was already growing weary of eating meat these past two days. Spotting some bamboo shoots in the kitchen, he stir-fried them in pork fat for dinner. He also scooped some pickled mustard greens from the jar, planning to make a refreshing, grease-cutting stew of pickled greens and pig’s blood.

Shen Linchuan was a skilled cook. He tossed pork lard into the wok with scallions, ginger, and dried chilies, then stir-fried shredded pickled cabbage before adding water. Cutting in chunks of pig’s blood completed the dish. The aroma was so enticing that Zhou Ning kept peeking over while tending the fire.

Zhou Da had finished butchering the pig and was carrying it out to the yard. Before he even reached the kitchen, the aroma wafted to him. “Linchuan’s cooking again tonight, huh?”

“Dad, dinner’s almost ready. Wash up and come eat.”

“Alright.”

For the main dish, Shen Linchuan made kang cakes. No oil needed—just press them directly onto the hot pan. It saved oil, and later they could be soaked in the pickled cabbage and pig’s blood sauce.

Three people, two dishes. Though no meat was visible, both stir-fries were wonderfully fragrant. Shen Linchuan served each of them a bowl. “Eat!”

Zhou Ning scooped a piece of pig’s blood onto his spoon and popped it into his mouth. The heat made him pause, but he couldn’t bear to spit it out. Shen Linchuan gasped, “Spit it out quickly! Did it burn you? Let me see.”

Zhou Ning chewed a couple of times before swallowing. “No.”

“Eat slower. That pig’s blood is piping hot.”

Shen Linchuan watched his husband with a smile, finding him ever more endearing—dazed and clumsy, yet surprisingly strong.

Tsk. Such a fine ger was now his husband. Those others were blind, unable to appreciate his ger’s beauty. To him, Shen Linchuan, this was undeniably a handsome, sunny young lad.

After the meal, Zhou Ning cleared the dishes. Zhou Da tried to slip away back to his room, but Shen Linchuan, still seated, cleared his throat. “Father, Ning-ger, let’s discuss our family matters.”

Zhou Da chuckled. “Linchuan, it’s late. Get some rest. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”

Zhou Da feared being scolded. His son-in-law might look bookish and frail, but when he frowned, he carried an unexpected authority. For some reason, Zhou Da felt a twinge of unease, dreading Shen Linchuan’s rebuke—though he knew it was unlikely.

The village debts were a tangled mess to begin with. Some poor folks, craving meat, would come asking to buy on credit. Being all part of the same village, Zhou Da couldn’t bring himself to refuse and just agreed.

“Father, sit down. Just a moment for tea won’t delay anything.”

Zhou Ning finished washing the dishes and sat silently beside Shen Linchuan. With everyone present, Shen Linchuan began his questioning. “Father, roughly how many copper coins does each household owe us?”

Zhou Da recounted everything in detail. The debts were scattered—some owed twenty or thirty coins, others over a hundred. It had only been three months since the New Year, yet they were nearly two taels in debt!

That meant roughly ten households. Shen Linchuan frowned as he listened. Thankfully, most were law-abiding, but there were those with thick skin who simply refused to pay.

Zhou Da cleared his throat. “Father collects once a year. Those who have it, give it.”

“So these are accumulated from before?”

Zhou Da nodded. “Just those few habitual defaulters.”

Shen Linchuan understood. “Father, I get it. I won’t put you in a difficult position. For the trustworthy households, we’ll collect at year’s end. As for these few who refuse to pay, tomorrow I’ll have Ning-ger take me to identify them.”

Shen Linchuan wouldn’t offend the entire village upon arrival. Most were trustworthy; it was just those few deadbeats who had to be dealt with. They were bullying the honest Zhou family, after all.

Zhou Ning sat beside Shen Linchuan, nodding earnestly. “I remember.”

“Well, Linchuan… they’re all our own villagers. Don’t make things too awkward.”

“I know, Father. Rest assured—I’m a scholar now.”

At this point, Shen Linchuan explained everything. “Father, I’m studying in town now, right? The tuition fees are due when the wheat harvest comes in…”

Zhou Daman replied, “I know, son. I won’t stop you from studying. How much is it? I still have some silver on hand. We should be able to cover the tuition.”

“Father, that’s not what I meant. I meant that once I’m married, I’ll go back to town and retrieve my books. I don’t want to study anymore.”

Zhou Ning also looked up at Shen Linchuan. “You’re quitting?”

Was it because he felt his family couldn’t afford it anymore? Or was it because Shen Linchuan had become a son-in-law, and he feared his classmates would mock him?

“How can that be? If you truly don’t want to, we can continue your studies.“ Zhou Da had only withdrawn because he feared Shen Linchuan would feel uncomfortable. After studying for over a decade, coming to his home only to be barred from learning… this…

”Father, Ning-ger, please hear me out. That’s not what I meant. What I meant was, after withdrawing, I’ll study at home. That damn school—I’ve been attending it all these years without passing the Xiucai exam. Clearly, it’s no good.”

That school cost three taels of silver in tuition alone, plus holiday gifts and such that inevitably added another few taels. Not to mention the cost of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. He remembered that the old Xiucai running the school was a snob. Better off not going there.

Shen Linchuan continued, “I plan to study at home on my own, which will save us all that money. If by some stroke of luck I pass the Xiucai exam next year, it won’t be too late to return to the academy then.”

After Shen Lichuan explained, Zhou Da finally understood his son-in-law genuinely cared for his family. Overwhelmed with emotion, he immediately laid bare their financial situation: “After setting aside capital for the business, Father still has five taels of silver. It’s not much, but it’s some savings.”

Father and son stared at him with eyes burning bright. He’d merely spoken a few heartfelt words, yet they’d revealed their entire financial situation.