Chapter 115

With a lukewarm greeting, Shen Cui ushered him inside and informed Mu Er Pang and Mrs. Zhou.

Unfortunately, it was the time when Mrs. Zhou was out buying groceries—only for those in the academy, as other servants didn’t serve them; they managed their own daily lives.

Mu Er Pang put down his books and quickly stepped out of the classroom.

He had been in front of Shen Cui every day, so she didn’t notice any changes. But to Mu Yunchuan, his chubby younger brother seemed like a completely different person.

Previously, he resembled a short, chubby little boy, but now he had grown several inches taller, and much of the fat on his body had disappeared, no longer looking chubby.

With his narrow eyes, straight nose, and thin lips, he bore a strong resemblance to Mu Yunchuan, about five or six points similar. It was obvious to anyone that they were brothers.

If there was one major difference between the two, it would probably be the sincere and genuine smile that Mu Erpang possessed but Mu Yunchuan did not have.

Shen Cui and Mu Yunchuan hadn’t seen each other for a long time, and they were already distant.

But for Mu Er Pang, facing his elder brother, he didn’t show any unfamiliarity at all.

After approaching, he first called out “Big Brother,” then took the package from Mu Yunchuan’s shoulder and helped him carry it, asking as he led him inside, “Big Brother, have you had breakfast?”

Like Shen Cui, Mu Er Pang regarded this as the most ordinary greeting.

Mu Yunchuan had just answered this question for Shen Cui, so now he couldn’t help but smile a bit more as he repeated, “Yes, I have.”

Mu Er Pang welcomed him into the house and turned to Shen Cui with a pleading smile.

Understanding his meaning, Shen Cui smiled and said, “Got it. I’ll help you and Master Wei take a short break.”

“I’ll stay up a bit later tonight to make up for the time,” Mu Er Pang said, then turned to Mu Yunchuan, asking, “Big Brother, are you tired? Was it far from Lin Nan Prefecture?”

Mu Yunchuan noticed another change in him. Earlier, Mu Er Pang had inexplicably become smarter, but perhaps due to lack of experience in dealing with peers, he wasn’t particularly cheerful.

After three years, his temperament had become much more outgoing.

Facing a face so similar to his own, with eyes full of smiles and expectations, even Mu Yunchuan couldn’t feel any annoyance.

He patiently explained, “Lin Nan Prefecture is busier and larger than Qingzhou Prefecture. We traveled day and night, and it took about five or six days. But fortunately, my companion, Brother Cui, used his own carriage, so it wasn’t too exhausting.”

Shen Cui observed Mu Yunchuan’s mood and saw that he didn’t mind Mu Er Pang’s closeness, so she didn’t interfere.

She went out to help her chubby son request leave from Lao Buyu.

Lao Buyu said he already knew, “Erpang told me a few days ago that when his big brother came back, he would accompany him.”

Then why did she come to help request leave?

Shen Cui pondered for a moment and then realized—her chubby son knew that the relationship between him and Mu Yunchuan was awkward, so he came to act as a mediator to avoid them being alone together.

He had grown up and become more thoughtful and responsible.

Just as she finished speaking with Lao Buyu, she encountered Mrs. Zhou coming back from buying groceries.

Shen Cui took the basket from her and pushed her towards the main house. “Yunchuan is back. Go quickly.”

Although Mrs. Zhou had known for a few days that he would be back, the sudden news still caught her off guard.

She walked a few steps towards the main house dazedly, then hurriedly turned back and said, “I didn’t know my husband would be back today. I only bought a few common vegetables. I’ll go buy some more outside.”

Shen Cui chuckled and stopped her, “You don’t need to. I’ll ask the Wei family’s servants to help out. If they’re not available, I’ll go to the restaurant at the street corner and cook some dishes…”

Sensing Mrs. Zhou’s anxiety, Shen Cui gently patted her back and then pushed her forward. “Go on. This is home. I’ll be outside.”

Mrs. Zhou then went towards the main house as if walking on clouds.

At first, she walked slowly, but then she picked up speed, finally breaking into a small run.

Running outside, she heard the cheerful conversation between Mu Yunchuan and Mu Er Pang inside, confirming that her husband had indeed returned.

Her eyes teared up with emotion.

She tidied her not-so-disheveled hair bun and straightened her clothes before entering.

“Sister-in-law is back.” Mu Er Pang smiled perceptively and stood up, saying, “I should go back to class.”

Although Mrs. Zhou insisted that it wasn’t necessary, Mu Er Pang still considerately left, giving the couple some space.

While Mu Er Pang’s changes were expected by Mu Yunchuan, as the changes in young teenagers are often significant, Mrs. Zhou’s changes were completely unexpected.

Her appearance hadn’t changed much, but her temperament and demeanor had.

Previously, even when facing him, Mrs. Zhou had been somewhat timid, only daring to sneak glances at him with longing and caution when he wasn’t looking.

Now, although her heart and eyes were still filled with him, after locking eyes with him, she appeared excited and joyful, her gaze open and unafraid.

“Husband… you seem to have lost weight. Studying must have been hard,” Mrs. Zhou choked out as soon as she spoke, unable to contain her emotions.

Mu Yunchuan reached out to Mrs. Zhou, pulling her to sit beside him. “You, too…”

He wanted to say “You’ve lost weight too,” but the fact was that Mrs. Zhou hadn’t lost weight. Instead, she had become slightly plumper, no longer appearing as thin and worn as before.

Her face was now more attractive due to the healthy plumpness, exuding a scholarly air.

He also wanted to say “You’ve been through a lot too,” but Mrs. Zhou’s hands were no longer as rough and scarred as he remembered.

They now possessed the softness and warmth expected of someone her age.

So the words stuck in his throat, and he changed his tune. “You’ve worried about me. You won’t have to in the future.”

Mrs. Zhou wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, laughing through her tears. “Joyous days shouldn’t be spent crying.”

Without waiting for Mu Yunchuan to ask, she continued, “I’ve been doing well these past few years, especially well. Mother and Er Pang have treated me very well…”

Mrs. Zhou recounted many recent events, although she had already mentioned most of them in the letters she wrote to Mu Yunchuan.

However, he had an excellent memory and wouldn’t forget.

Still, he listened patiently. He was used to multitasking while reading, so although he was listening, his mind wandered.

He couldn’t help but think that Mrs. Zhou used to call Shen Cui “Mother,” a term not commonly used among rural people.

She only called her that because he did call Shen Cui “Mother,” so Mrs. Zhou followed suit.

At the time, his intention was for Mrs. Zhou to keep an eye on Shen Cui and prevent her from doing anything unpleasant again.

But now, looking at it, it seemed like he had pushed Mrs. Zhou towards Shen Cui, making her one of Shen Cui’s people?

After Mrs. Zhou finished speaking, she looked at Mu Yunchuan expectantly, waiting for him to talk about his own experiences over the years.

After all, his previous letters had only mentioned his safety without detailing his circumstances.

Facing Mrs. Zhou, Mu Yunchuan always felt particularly soft-hearted. After pondering for a while, he said, “I’ve been studying at the Prefectural Academy, and my performance in the exams has been consistently good. So I’ve been enjoying the benefits of being a recipient of government rice and monetary subsidies. I’ve also made new friends at the Prefectural Academy, and when I went to Lin Nan Prefecture to prepare for the exams, I was also taken care of by them… The days have been quite good, with no major changes or troubles to speak of. There isn’t much else to say, really.”

Hearing Mu Yunchuan’s answer, Mrs. Zhou was genuinely pleased.

She had almost forgotten when was the last time Mu Yunchuan spoke to her at such length.

She wasn’t trying to pry into things Mu Yunchuan couldn’t share with outsiders.

She simply wanted to hear some everyday details from him, which already satisfied her.

After chatting for nearly twenty minutes, Mrs. Zhou quickly stood up, saying she would go help Shen Cui, and then briskly headed to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Shen Cui had already asked the servants of the Wei family to buy more vegetables and was rolling up her sleeves to start washing and chopping.

Seeing Mrs. Zhou coming over with a slightly red-eyed smile, Shen Cui raised an eyebrow curiously. “That’s it? Why don’t you stay a bit longer?”

After all, Shen Cui thought that even if they weren’t husband and wife, but close friends, they hadn’t seen each other for so long that they could talk for a long time.

Mrs. Zhou’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Talking alone like this in broad daylight feels improper.”

“In our own home, with no one else around, what’s there to be afraid of?” Shen Cui replied.

In a good mood, Mrs. Zhou teased with a mischievous smile, ” Im afraid that mother would cook by himself “

Shen Cui chuckled and pushed her playfully. “My cooking skills may not be great, but I won’t make you sick!”

Mrs. Zhou finished washing her hands and grabbed the knife from Shen Cui’s hand. “You rest, let me do it… I want to cook a few more meals for you.”

If Mrs. Zhou were to accompany Mu Yunchuan to the capital later, and if Mu Yunchuan did not have any unexpected changes, it might be a long time before the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law met again.

Feeling touched, Shen Cui relinquished her spot at the cutting board.

Since she wasn’t needed in the kitchen, Shen Cui rolled down her sleeves and left.

When she returned to the main room, Mu Er Pang had already left the classroom again and was talking to Mu Yunchuan.

Shen Cui listened contentedly from the side, enjoying the leisurely moment.

Not long after, Mrs. Zhou had prepared lunch, and the family started eating earlier than usual.

During the meal, conversations flowed smoothly between the others and Mu Yunchuan, neither too awkward nor overly enthusiastic.

After lunch, Mu Er Pang, who had taken half of the morning off, went back to his class.

Shen Cui asked Mrs. Zhou to take Mu Yunchuan for a break and gave her an encouraging look.

As for what she was encouraging her for, Mrs. Zhou quickly understood.

Mrs. Zhou lived in the rear house, where the lighting was a bit dimmer compared to the front, but because the overall size of the house was large, it was quiet and serene, unlike the rear house in the smaller courtyard, which could be noisy.

Moreover, there were two separate rooms, one for bathing and the other for using the toilet, so she didn’t have to share with others.

In such large houses, the rear houses were usually for the daughters of the family.

At a glance, Mu Yunchuan knew that Mrs. Zhou was telling the truth. Shen Cui really treated her like a daughter.

When Mrs. Zhou was cooking, she had already heated up the hot water, so she mentioned the bathing room for him to take a bath.

After bathing, Mu Yunchuan washed away his exhaustion, but instead of resting, he took out a book from his bag and started reading.

Seeing that he didn’t lay down to rest, Mrs. Zhou took a deep breath and asked, “By the way, when does my husband plan to go to the capital for the exam?”

“The provincial examination and the spring imperial examination will be held in February of next year. However, the journey to the capital is long, and it may take more than a month just to travel. Moreover, the climate there is different from here. I plan to go before winter sets in, to get used to it early,” Mu Yunchuan replied gently.

“Before winter sets in, that’s not far off,” Mrs. Zhou calculated the time in her mind.

Since she knew he would be leaving again soon, it was time to discuss that matter.

Mu Yunchuan also knew that he owed her, so he spoke even more gently, “Next year will be the last year.”

It would be the last year of their separation as husband and wife.

Mrs. Zhou glanced in the direction where Shen Cui was not far away, knowing that she was nearby. With courage, she asked, “Then… can I go with you? In these years, Mother doesn’t let me contribute to the household expenses, and you don’t ask me to send money over. Although the money I earn is not much, I’ve been saving it carefully. After three years, I have accumulated a small sum. It should be enough for one more person. I want to go with you to take the capital.”

Mu Yunchuan was somewhat surprised by her sudden request. After all, in his impression, Mrs. Zhou, even though her appearance had changed slightly, should still have the same temperament as before and wouldn’t actively make any requests.

“You don’t need to worry about the money,” Mu Yunchuan said.

He had been staying in Linan Prefecture, dealing with the wealthy local gentry who wanted to establish relationships with him while also working with a large bookstore to publish his collection of poetry and essays.

He had planned this for a while. However, previously, he was only relatively well-known in Yongning County, Qingzhou Prefecture.

Although Qingzhou Prefecture was prosperous, it couldn’t be compared to the flourishing literary scene in Linan Prefecture.

Even if he collaborated on publishing, he wouldn’t earn much money.

But things would be different if he became the top scholar.

So, he had compiled his poems and essays into a book, negotiated a deal, and signed a contract, with the other party readily paying him a hundred taels of silver in advance.

Later, they would also share profits according to the accounts.

Now that he was already a Jinshi (top scholar), he wasn’t afraid of the other party playing tricks, and he didn’t have to worry about future income.

Recalling the brief eye contact between Shen Cui and Mrs. Zhou earlier, Mu Yunchuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table and asked, “Was it Mother who suggested this?”

“Yes… It was my own idea,” Mrs. Zhou didn’t lie, especially not in front of him. She started to stutter when she lied.

Mu Yunchuan didn’t expose her lie, just continued to look at her.

Under his discerning gaze, Mrs. Zhou knew she couldn’t hide it and explained, “Mother hinted at it, but I did think of it myself. Earlier, I wasn’t doing well. I was always worried that you weren’t doing well outside, unable to eat or sleep for several days. Mother said I lacked… a sense of security? She said it was because we’ve been apart for too long. She really didn’t have any bad intentions like before. She has really changed, truly!”

Afraid that Mu Yunchuan might misunderstand Shen Cui, Mrs. Zhou’s eyes turned red again.

This time, it was out of urgency!

Mu Yunchuan comforted her, “I understand. She treats you well. She is indeed different from before.”

Perhaps it could be said that she had changed since the year Shen Cui started encouraging Mu Er Pang to study.

Otherwise, if Shen Cui still had her previous foolish and toxic demeanor, Mu Yunchuan wouldn’t feel at ease letting Mrs. Zhou be close to her.

Likewise, if Shen Cui was still the same as before, having completely won over Mrs. Zhou’s heart, she wouldn’t easily allow Mrs. Zhou to come to him now.

Instead, she should find a way to keep Mrs. Zhou by her side for a long time—after all, when it came to him, besides the label of “filial piety,” Shen Cui had no other leverage.

She couldn’t control him, but by controlling Mrs. Zhou, she could make him wary both inside and out.

After thinking for a while, he agreed, “It’s just meeting one year earlier after all. If you’re not afraid of hardship, we’ll go to the capital together.”

Mrs. Zhou was certainly not afraid of any hardship. She wiped away her tears and smiled, letting Mu Yunchuan rest alone for a while before briskly going to share this good news with Shen Cui!