Wan Mingji was diligently studying at Dongtian Academy. This academy was quite prestigious in the Da Qi Dynasty, having produced one top scholar, two second-place scholars, and three third-place scholars, with the highest official position reaching that of a minister.

The masters at the academy were also extraordinary. Master Tan taught policy discussions and Confucian classics, and he also delved into the teachings of Huang-Lao. Master Meng, who taught poetry, was unrestrained and knowledgeable about various poets, making his classes lively and humorous, much to the students’ delight.

Master Chen, who taught archery and horsemanship, was a skilled archer and quite handsome, attracting many admirers. However, he was rather arrogant and dismissive of the students, considering them weaklings.

Wan Mingji absorbed the knowledge at Dongtian Academy like a sponge, learning Confucian principles, poetry, policy discussions, and national governance. Master Chen even privately taught him military strategies. He carried calligraphy sheets with him and practiced whenever he could. To save paper, he carved famous calligraphy into wood, allowing him to practice without worrying about paper.

Among the masters, Master Chen was particularly fond of Wan Mingji, often taking him horseback riding and teaching him military strategies.

“War is a matter of great importance to the state, the ground of death and life, the path of survival and destruction, and must be thoroughly examined,” Master Chen said. “Military strategies can be applied anywhere, connecting people and governance.”

“Law is the curve, the official path, the main use,” Master Chen advised. “You should memorize the Da Qi laws; it will save you trouble and might become your weapon.”

Wan Mingji, thoughtful, respectfully thanked Master Chen, “Thank you for your guidance, Master.”

“Let’s go hunt a rabbit,” Master Chen, satisfied with Wan Mingji’s attitude, laughed heartily and suggested hunting.

After hunting, Wan Mingji returned to Qingshui Alley.

“Langjun! Over here.”

“Buy candied hawthorn! Sweet and sour!”

“Clang, clang, clang!” The sound of blacksmithing echoed.

Children’s laughter mixed in as Wan Mingji returned to the courtyard. He poured cold water over himself, dried off with a towel, changed clothes, and took a large basin to wash clothes.

If seen by others, they might be shocked. No matter if they were commoners or officials, which man would cook and wash clothes himself? It was considered shameful.

But Wan Mingji didn’t care about face. He was used to cooking and washing for himself, and though he initially struggled with lighting fires, he had improved a lot.

His cooking was just average, edible but nothing special.

After hanging the clothes to dry, he climbed a ladder to sit on the roof and gaze at the stars.

“In a few days, it’s time to go back.”

Dongtian Academy was going on break, and Wan Mingji planned to stay home for a long time. He wanted to improve life for Li Yun, Wan Xiuyue, and Wan Xiubai, renovate the house, and buy some items.

Wan Mingji had gotten used to the lack of entertainment in ancient times. As he looked at the moon, he suddenly felt poetic but realized he couldn’t compose a poem.

“That’s normal, not everyone is a great poet,” Wan Mingji comforted himself.

The next morning, Wan Mingji went to the academy again.

“Wan, Wan brother, morning,” Tan Qianhou greeted, his eyes bright like a little tail following Wan Mingji.

“Morning, Tan brother,” Wan Mingji replied.

“Wan, brother, this, this, is for you,” Tan Qianhou offered a meat bun to Wan Mingji.

“Tan brother, I’ve already eaten,” Wan Mingji said helplessly.

Tan Qianhou lowered his head in disappointment.

Tan Qianhou had been bullied in the academy’s woods when Wan Mingji saved him, and since then, Tan Qianhou had stuck to him.

He stuttered, and the scholars looked down on him, but he was the son of an old friend of Master Chen, who treated him like a son.

Master Chen’s fondness for Wan Mingji might also be due to this. Wan Mingji saw Tan Qianhou as a younger brother and never minded his stuttering, finding it somewhat endearing.

When Xie Jiuling, Xie Zhi, and Xue Zian learned about this, they were shocked, with Xue Zian even shivering on the spot.

“Wan brother must be joking,” Wei Bowen, who usually disdained talking to Wan Mingji, said. But since Xie Zhi and Xie Jiuling were close to him, Wei Bowen had to lower himself to talk to Wan Mingji.

Previously, Xie Zhi, Xie Jiuling, and Xue Zian hadn’t interacted with Wan Mingji, but after some events during a year of study, they grew closer, sometimes leaving Wei Bowen feeling left out.

Since Wan Mingji returned from mourning, Xie Zhi inviting him to share a carriage was telling.

Wan Mingji didn’t argue; he didn’t need others’ approval for what he cared about. He smiled and changed the subject.

Wei Bowen felt a bit frustrated.

Pretentious, just a fallen noble. If not for Xie Jiuling and Xie Zhi, who would care about you? Wei Bowen was jealous of Wan Mingji’s camaraderie with Xie Jiuling, the son of a prefect, whose mother’s family were high officials in the capital, and he himself was the top youth in Ningjiang County, with a promising future.

What right did Wan Mingji have to be brothers with such a favored child of heaven? Acting all impressive! Just a spoiled brat, a brute!

Wan Mingji didn’t care about Wei Bowen; he just rarely talked to him, as Wei Bowen instinctively made him uncomfortable.

In a few days, Wan Mingji would return to Linshui Village. He bought some seeds and farming tools to take back.

He examined the farm tools in the shop, feeling eager. As a science student, he had strong hands-on skills.

“Shopkeeper, how much for these?”

“Two taels of silver.”

He took some knives and many farm tools, buying extra to take them apart and study their mechanisms.

He nodded, packed his belongings, and planned to take an ox cart back, then another from Shuifuzhen to the village.

*

Xie Qiaoyu, carrying his bundle, was heading to the village in Shuifuzhen. Xie Weixia had gotten up early to see him off.

“Xie Qiaoyu, let’s see how you show off this time, country boy,” Xie Weixia said smugly.

“Should I ask Grandmother to take you too?” Xie Qiaoyu retorted with a smile.

Xie Weixia didn’t want to go to Shuifuzhen. Grandmother loved farming, which he didn’t like. As the son of a county magistrate, it would be laughable to be seen as a farmer. Besides, the countryside wasn’t nurturing, and he feared hardship.

“Alright, how much longer are you two going to chat? It’s time to go,” Old Madam Xie said with a stern face.

Xie Weixia happily saw Xie Qiaoyu off, and Xie Furen and Xie Yuan also bid farewell to Old Madam Xie. She said, “I’ll keep Qiaoyu with me for a few months before sending him back.”

Xie Yuan didn’t dare say much. His son was fulfilling filial duties for him, so he was happy not to go to the countryside. The young one could gain experience, and with Grandmother’s guidance, it was a blessing.

“Yes, Mother,” Xie Yuan and Xie Furen replied humbly.

A few months before returning? Xie Qiaoyu lowered his head, looking dejected.

The carriage wheels rolled towards Shuifuzhen, and Xie Qiaoyu rummaged through his bundle. Knowing he was going to Shuifuzhen, Xie Yuan had given him thirty taels of silver, which he brought along, along with his cosmetics, hairpins, and three old outfits.

In the village, he wouldn’t meet many people and would have to farm, so he didn’t want to dirty his nice clothes.

The carriage reached Shuifuzhen, and Xie Qiaoyu observed it. It wasn’t as bustling as the county town, but the shops were well-stocked. However, they didn’t stop in Shuifuzhen but headed to the village.

The Xie family’s village was close to Linshui Village, with vegetables, rice, and fruit trees, so they didn’t spend much on food. At the village gate, Xie Qiaoyu felt anxious, hearing Liu Mama say, “Third Young Master, it’s time to get off.”

Without Yao He by his side, Xie Qiaoyu stepped out alone, seeing the villagers waiting and greeting Old Madam Xie.

“Old Madam, Third Young Master, we received the message earlier and have been preparing. Please come in,” the village steward said with a respectful smile.

“Qiaoyu, come here. This is Steward Bai. If you need anything in the village, you can find him,” Old Madam Xie called him over.

“Greetings, Third Young Master. This is Xiao Yun, who will take you to your room.”

Xie Qiaoyu glanced at Old Madam Xie, who waved her hand, “Go on, come back for the meal later.”

Xie Qiaoyu was led to his room, where he placed his bundle on the table and lay on the bed. Old Madam Xie hadn’t even let him bring Yao He, leaving him alone in the village, feeling scared.

His mind tended to wander, so he checked if the door could be locked. Once he confirmed it could, he put his clothes in the cabinet and tidied the dressing table.

From now on, he was just a country boy, boohoo. Before leaving, his father had told him to fulfill filial duties with Old Madam Xie. His father was too naive; he feared being tormented by Grandmother.

He changed into his nice clothes, put his beautiful hairpins in a box, and wore old clothes, pinning his hair with a wooden pin. His bright face looked fresh and clean.

After tidying the room, he obediently went to find Old Madam Xie.

He was always a sensible young master.

Old Madam Xie sat in the main hall talking to Steward Bai. Seeing Xie Qiaoyu, she was surprised, then noticed his attire and was stunned.

She had prepared for Xie Qiaoyu to throw a tantrum, as Xie Furen had said he was mischievous and a troublemaker. But he had cleaned himself up as soon as he arrived.

“Grandmother, good day,” Xie Qiaoyu said obediently, his face rosy and pretty.

“Alright, no need for so many formalities in the village. Sit down. Steward Bai, serve the meal.”

“Yes, Old Madam,” Steward Bai replied.

Soon, Steward Bai brought the food, and Xie Qiaoyu curiously peeked. It was simple farm dishes: four dishes and a soup.

Stir-fried cabbage, bamboo shoots, a meat dish, cold cucumber salad, and loofah soup.

“Eat,” Old Madam Xie said, satisfied, tasting the familiar flavors.

Xie Qiaoyu, disheartened, picked the only meat dish.

To his surprise, the meat was delicious, and his eyes lit up.

He tried the cabbage, which was light but fragrant and crisp.

He picked the cold cucumber salad.

Old Madam Xie noticed his bright eyes and found it amusing.

Usually, she ate alone in the village, with Steward Bai’s children and grandchildren around. Seeing Xie Qiaoyu, she realized she wouldn’t have to eat alone anymore.

“Let’s have chicken soup tonight,” Old Madam Xie said.

Xie Qiaoyu responded brightly, “Okay!”

Old Madam Xie saw his childlike nature and sighed. At fifteen, he was still a child.

*

After the meal, Xie Qiaoyu strolled by the pond, where fish and lotus flowers thrived. He left the courtyard, seeing many fields. From the highest step, he saw people bending over, busy in the fields.

The mountains were high, the water clear, and a gentle breeze blew.

The people working in the fields were Xie family’s tenants and others, all noticing Xie Qiaoyu.

“Is that the Third Young Master Steward Bai told us to take good care of?” a tenant asked.

“He’s so good-looking. If only my son were raised like that, he’d have no trouble finding a match.”

“The county magistrate’s son looks different, raised delicately, unlike us country folk. I just hope the Third Young Master lets us work well during the harvest and doesn’t keep ordering us around,” a woman said.

“Such gossip, better tend to the fields and go home early. I need to check on the kids.”

“The south is flooding, many are displaced. Let’s hope our weather stays favorable,” an old man sighed.

After finishing their work, the tenants looked up to find Xie Qiaoyu gone.

Xie Qiaoyu returned to the courtyard, where Old Madam Xie had changed into light clothes. Seeing him, she smiled, “I was just about to find you. Take this sickle and come cut grass with me.”

Xie Qiaoyu: “???”

Steward Bai handed him a large sickle, which he almost couldn’t hold.

“Give him a smaller sickle.”

Steward Bai handed over a smaller one, kindly advising, “This is my grandson’s sickle, very light.”

Xie Qiaoyu: “Steward Bai, how old is your grandson?”

Steward Bai: “Eight.”

Feeling dejected, Xie Qiaoyu took the sickle and followed Old Madam Xie. She was spry, calling him forward, “Let’s start cutting grass.”

Old Madam Xie demonstrated, and Xie Qiaoyu began cutting. His fingers were pale, and after a while, he was exhausted and panting.

Old Madam Xie quickly filled a basket, while Xie Qiaoyu only managed a third. His basket was smaller than usual, and he sighed, continuing to cut grass.

After cutting halfway, Old Madam Xie called it a day, “That’s enough for today.”

Xie Qiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief.

Nearby, there were small yellow and red wild fruits. Old Madam Xie went to pick them, and Xie Qiaoyu followed, secretly sniffing one.

“Don’t worry, it’s safe to eat. These are wild fruits.”

Hearing this, Xie Qiaoyu wiped it with his sleeve and cautiously took a bite, his face scrunching up from the sourness.

“You didn’t pick a good one,” Old Madam Xie said.

After cutting grass, Xie Qiaoyu drank a bowl of hot chicken soup and fell asleep.

He slept soundly, a small bundle on the big bed, a white hand extending, still smelling of ointment.

On the second day at the village, Xie Qiaoyu followed Old Madam Xie to cut grass again, crying at night as he applied ointment.

“Tomorrow morning, take Xiao Yun and explore the village. He’s familiar with the area. In the afternoon, we’ll go up the mountain,” Old Madam Xie said, pleased with his obedience, feeling comforted by having a grandson around.

“Yes, Grandmother,” Xie Qiaoyu, adaptable, ate more meals.

He wanted to explore the village, but by noon the next day, it started raining and thundering, so he could only watch the fish in the pond. The fish leaped, the water rippling. He was glad not to go up the mountain.

He rested his head, watching the fish, feeling sleepy.

“Third Young Master, someone’s sheltering from the rain under the eaves,” Xiao Yun reported. Such small matters wouldn’t disturb Old Madam Xie, so he came to ask him.

“I’ll go see. We should invite them in to shelter from the rain,” Xie Qiaoyu, eager for something to do, said.

He opened the door, speaking softly, “Since you’re sheltering from the rain, please come in.”

He opened the door without seeing who was outside.

The sky was dark with lightning and thunder.