Wu Cai’e cursed the old woman precisely to make Zhao Qingshu think it wasn’t her fault. The old woman had been unfairly blamed, and she wasn’t happy about it either. “Madam, you only gave me those copper coins. Where am I supposed to buy good chicken and meat with that?”

Wu Cai’e cursed again, “You old hag, get back to cooking!”

Only then did the old woman drag her ingredients off to cook.

She cursed a few more times in the kitchen. Don’t think she didn’t know what Wu Cai’e was up to. She’d hooked herself to a scholar—Zhao Qingshu, no less. Back when her own Master Song sent silver to the Zhao family for his education, Wu Cai’e had been stingy with the money, refusing to let outsiders spend it. They’d fought over it countless times.

After Zhao Qingshu passed the preliminary exams, he became engaged to Song Ning. This only fueled Wu Cai’e’s resentment. Whenever Zhao Qingshu came bearing gifts during festivals, she gave him the cold shoulder, even mocking him for “living off the Song family’s coattails.”

Now that Zhao Qingshu had passed the lower-level imperial examination, she had snatched away that match. Zhao Qingshu had become her good son-in-law once more.

The old woman muttered under her breath, “That Zhao Qingshu isn’t worth a damn. He’s just after the Song family’s twenty taels dowry. Master treated him well before, but he’s an ungrateful, treacherous dog. Pah!”

They’re all cut from the same cloth—no one’s better than the other!

During the Song family meal, Zhao Qingshu was seated at the head of the table. Wu Cai’e fawned over him, urging him to eat while asking about his plans to take the provincial exams next year. “Qingshu, you must study hard. Don’t disappoint the Song family’s investment in you.”

Zhao Qingshu felt uneasy hearing this. Over the years, he’d been sponsored by Master Song and later became betrothed to Song Ning. His classmates never missed an opportunity to mock him for living off a young man’s generosity.

Wu Cai’e’s words were a direct jab at his weakness. Zhao Qingshu felt she was blatantly using his debt of gratitude to pressure him, making him even more uneasy. Moreover, he disliked Song Baozhu’s coarse and vulgar nature, though he couldn’t deny that she brought a substantial dowry.

Zhao Qingshu’s heart was heavy with sorrow. He felt more and more that life’s blessings could never be had together. If only he could marry Ning-ger! Seeing Ning-ger marry such a poor hunter today, Zhao Qingshu made up his mind: once he passed the provincial exams and became a juren, he would marry Ning-ger as his second wife.

By then, even if Song Baozhu caused a scene, she wouldn’t be able to control him.

After eating, Song Ning and his husband lingered for a while before preparing to leave. Granny Zhang refused to accept the eggs and chicken Song Ning brought. Song Ning insisted on leaving them behind, but after some back-and-forth, he finally relented and took the chicken back.

Only then did Granny Zhang agree, adding a string of cured pork from the kitchen and two more bundles of longan and red dates.

Wei Hu strapped Song Ning’s large bundle of books to his back. Song Ning’s shoulder basket was already packed to the brim. Grandma Zhang and the others saw them off at the door. “Take your time on the road. When you come to town, don’t forget to visit your old lady.”

Song Ning replied, “Grandma, go inside. I’m perfectly fine.”

Song Ning was in high spirits after his trip to town today. Having eaten his fill, he strolled leisurely toward the town entrance with Wei Hu.

“Grandma Zhang has been incredibly kind to me. A couple of years back, Brother Banzi wanted to bring her home to live in comfort, but Grandma Zhang couldn’t bear to leave me behind. After my father passed away, she became even more attached to me. It wasn’t until I got married that she finally returned home.”

“Mhm.” Wei Hu listened intently. “When you come to town later, I’ll accompany you to see Grandma Zhang.”

Song Ning nodded in agreement, offering Wei Hu a smile. Though he’d married into the countryside, Wei Hu treated him exceptionally well.

They reached the town entrance. This time, Wei Hu refused to ride the oxcart, insisting only on placing the bundle of books atop it—a bundle that had cost three copper coins.

Song Ning, being sharp, knew exactly why, but he went along with it.

When they got home, Chen Cuihua gasped at the sight of all the things they brought back. Song Ning’s stepmother didn’t seem like the generous type.

“Why on earth did you bring back chickens? And cured meat too?”

Song Ning recounted the day’s events. Chen Cuihua laughed so hard she slapped her thigh, lamenting that they hadn’t warned her earlier so she could prepare snacks for the children.

“You didn’t give her a taste? That stepmother of yours is heartless.”

Now that they’d made this trip, they probably wouldn’t be in contact again. Though they were a wealthy family in town, Chen Cuihua didn’t want to associate with them. Losing this connection meant losing a relative, and they weren’t good people anyway.

Chen Cuihua saw Wei Hu carefully unload a large bundle of items onto the table. She was busy sewing winter clothes for Song Ning at the moment. Spotting the bundle, she walked over. “What on earth is this?”

“Mother, these are some of my old books.”

Wei Hu unfolded the bedsheet covering them. Inside were dozens of Song Ning’s books. They’d packed them all hastily when leaving the Song residence, now piled together in a heap.

Chen Cuihua gasped. “So many books! Young Master Ning, you actually know how to read?”

“My father sent me to school for a few years when he was still alive.”

Chen Cuihua was utterly astonished. “Good heavens! All these books! Don’t damage them. Keep them safe. I’ve never heard of any boy or girl in our village whose mother could read. This is remarkable!”

“I don’t know many characters myself,” Song Ning replied modestly.

“That’s still impressive! In our village, only the village chief’s family and that carpenter’s kid in town get to study and learn to read. Country folk can’t afford to send their children to school. They usually only get to study for a couple of years to learn the basics before they’re pulled out.”

Country folk held scholars in high esteem. Chen Cuihua hadn’t expected Song Ning to be literate—her own son-in-law was an educated man! She grew even more convinced that if Ning’s stepmother hadn’t feigned poverty, such a fine young man would never have ended up marrying into her family.

Chen Cuihua had never seen so many books before. She carefully picked one up and opened it. The densely packed characters were unfamiliar to her, yet simply holding the book filled her with delight.

Song Ning picked up a miscellaneous book. “Mother, look at this one. It has woodblock prints inside.”

Chen Cuihua took it and saw vivid little figures drawn inside. “Oh! I never imagined there’d be people in a book!”

Chen Cuihua, who had never held a book before, was overjoyed at this first encounter. She cradled it carefully, afraid of damaging it.

“Who would’ve thought a peasant woman like me would ever get to hold a book?” Chen Cuihua smiled. “We’ll have to keep this safe. When you and Hu-zi have children someday, we can show it to our own kids.”

Song Ning felt a flush of embarrassment. He hadn’t thought much about it when he brought the books home today. These volumes were his cherished possessions. But hearing his mother speak, it made sense—reading was an expensive pursuit. When he and Brother Wei Hu had children someday, he could teach them to read and write.

Song Ning organized his books in the main hall while Wei Hu went to clean the east room. The east room stored farming tools and harvested rice. Wei Hu moved the tools aside. “Ning, put your books in the east room. I’ve cleared it out for you to use as a study.”

Though Wei Hu was an illiterate laborer, he possessed a thoughtful nature.

Song Ning’s eyes crinkled. “Brother Wei Hu, thank you.”

Chen Cuihua had stopped sewing clothes for the moment and helped Wei Hu clear out the east room. Clapping her hands, she said, “We don’t have a desk in this house either. I saw bookcases at the bookstore. Wei Hu, go to the carpenter and have him make a set of chairs and a bookshelf for Ning-ger to use.”

“Mother, it’s unnecessary. Our dining table will suffice.”

Song Ning dreaded spending more silver. Since arriving at the Wei household, he’d already spent heavily on clothes and the return visit to his family. He couldn’t bear to spend more on tables, chairs, or bookshelves.

Chen Cuihua patted Song Ning’s hand. “You were raised as a well-educated young master, literate and all. I know marrying Wei Hu is a hardship for you. Your family didn’t provide much for your wedding either. Having a set of furniture made won’t cost much silver.”

Song Ning felt warmth in his heart. “Mother, thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for, child? We’re all family.”

The east room was quite spacious and bright. Wei Hu had moved all the clutter to the livestock shed in the backyard, leaving only a few neatly stacked sacks of rice. This room would be reserved for Song Ning as his study.

Song Ning felt delighted. For now, his books were temporarily stored in a wooden chest at the foot of his bed. Once the writing desk and bookshelves were ready, he would move them to the east room.

Along with writing implements like brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, he had also brought back his paintings—all already mounted. When Song Ning opened them, Chen Cuihua gasped in admiration, “Ning-ger, you painted these? Truly remarkable!”

“Just something I painted when I had free time.”

“They’re truly beautiful. Hu-zi, look—didn’t Ning-ger paint them wonderfully?”

Wei Hu hummed in agreement and praised, “They’re exceptionally well done.”

Chen Cuihua smiled and said, “Our family hall happens to be without a hanging scroll. I noticed the village chief’s main room has one, but it doesn’t seem as detailed as what Ning-ger painted. This landscape piece is quite good and large—perfect for hanging in our family hall.”

Song Ning assumed his mother was just flattering him to make him happy, so he hung the painting in the central hall.

Hearing this, Wei Hu fetched a stool and pulled a nail from the wall. The central hall faced the main door directly. Visitors entering the house would immediately see this space. In rural homes, it was usually bare; only wealthier families would hang a central hall painting.

These central hall paintings were expensive. The cheaper ones cost one or two taels, while the more expensive ones could reach dozens or even hundreds of taels. How could rural families afford such things? They were just mud-legged peasants pretending to be literate and refined, only to be laughed at by others.

Chen Cuihua selected the largest landscape painting and hung it right in the center of the main hall. It was nearly half a meter long and looked quite large, but once on the wall, it seemed smaller and even a bit petty.

Song Ning brought out a pair of framed couplets. “Mother, the central painting is meant to have couplets on either side. Let’s hang these.”

Chen Cuihua smiled. “Alright. I agree it looks a bit small. Hu-zi, take down two more nails.”

Wei Hu removed two more nails and hung the couplets. Now the central painting looked much more imposing. Chen Cuihua gazed at it with satisfaction. “I think our home has gained a certain… what’s that word again? Ah, yes, yes, yes! It’s ‘scholarly fragrance’! Hahaha!”

Song Ning smiled too. He’d never been praised like this before.

After hanging the painting, Wei Hu headed to Master Ma, the carpenter’s place in the village, to order a desk and other furnishings.