Chapter 30: A Favored Son of Heaven Shouldn’t Be Like This

The weather was gloomy today. Even at midday, the sun couldn’t break through the clouds.

As the villagers would say, “The weather’s about to change. It’ll snow soon.”

The He Family had stockpiled a fair amount of firewood, but Mother He still worried it wouldn’t be enough—especially since they had to take some to town each day.

“Grandma, I’ll go with you,” He Xingchen said, grabbing his small hatchet and trailing after Mother He.

This would likely be Mother He’s last trip to the mountain before the snow fell. Once winter set in, gathering firewood would become nearly impossible.

“Mother, just take him,” Wan Xu said from the doorway. She was bundled in a thick padded coat, hands tucked into her sleeves. Lately, she’d grown more sensitive to the cold and rarely left the house. “He’s been cooped up for too long. He needs to stretch his legs. Besides, he’s strong and healthy.”

Mother He had hesitated, remembering how He Ningwen had come down with a fever on their last mountain trip. But with Wan Xu’s insistence, she relented.

Before they set off, Wan Xu bundled He Xingchen tightly in his thickest padded coat and warm hat.

“Wan Xu, I’ve locked the door,” Mother He said, securing the bamboo gate. “If we’re not back by nightfall, don’t open it even if you hear noises.”

The He Family had been under surveillance recently, and Mother He was taking extra precautions.

“Alright, Mother,” Wan Xu replied, heading back inside the moment she heard the lock click. Even short walks left her exhausted now that her belly had grown heavy.

A stove warmed the room, though the windows and doors weren’t tightly sealed. Wan Xu settled into the draft-sheltered corner of the kang.

“Tired? Rest today and put down your embroidery,” He Songyuan said, shifting to make space for her.

Wan Xu embroidered daily. If they weren’t trying to save money, she’d probably be stitching by lamplight into the night.

“It’s not tiring at all. It’s just a little embroidery,” Wan Xu replied with a smile, pulling a quilt over her lap. “But what about you? Why are you studying? Didn’t Second Brother bring that book back yesterday?”

He Songyuan had just finished a page. He set down his brush and gestured to the book. “It’s a study guide for the Prefectural Exam. Second Brother has no use for it.”

He hadn’t slept well the night before. When He Yunhuai got up with a lamp, he’d assumed his brother was studying. Only now did he realize—He Yunhuai wasn’t studying at all. He’d been copying books to earn money.

“I thought Second Brother might be thinking of…” Wan Xu trailed off, lowering her voice, “…continuing the imperial exams.”

Though their father’s misfortune had cost him his position, He Yunhuai still held the title of Talented Scholar.

Whether his brother still harbored hopes of continuing the exams, He Songyuan couldn’t say.

“Second Brother goes to town by day and copies books late into the night. As the elder brother, I can’t just sit around,” He Songyuan said. A hint of pride crept into his voice. “He still writes in the style I taught him years ago. Now, when we copy together, no one can tell it’s two different hands.”

Wan Xu believed him, but since the book had been brought home by Second Brother, it wouldn’t feel right to copy it without telling him. “You should let him know when he gets back,” she said.

“Of course,” He Songyuan replied, rubbing his wrist before continuing.

Outside the courtyard, Mother He spotted Second Aunt He.

Fate was cruel. Second Aunt He, whose leg had only just healed, had ventured out for the first time—only to run into them.

Neither woman spoke. Mother He took He Xingchen’s hand and led him toward the mountain.

“Bad luck,” Second Aunt He muttered under her breath, watching them walk away. Her limp kept her far behind.

Mother He, too far ahead to hear, wouldn’t have cared even if she had. Her mind was focused on gathering enough firewood to last until after the New Year.

“Grandma, look! There’s bamboo here too!” He Xingchen shouted happily, pointing to a grove ahead.

“Chop some small ones, but don’t wander off,” Mother He instructed. “Grandma will be over here collecting firewood.” She didn’t expect him to help much. As long as he stayed close, she was fine letting him play.

He Xingchen ran into the bamboo grove. He found a short stalk and began chopping at its base with his small hatchet. It wasn’t too tiring, and it let him have a bit of fun.

Mother He turned her attention back to the firewood. She quickly gathered two bundles—placing the shorter one in her back basket and laying the longer one across the top—ready for a single trip down the mountain.

“Grandma, look what I found!” He Xingchen called. While chopping, he’d spotted a sharp point sticking out of the soil. He dug it up to reveal a short, plump object wrapped in bamboo sheaths.

Mother He came to check. “It’s a winter bamboo shoot!” she exclaimed. “These grow under bamboo groves. Look around—there might be more.”

She hadn’t expected to find any today. In the Prefectural City, winter bamboo shoots were expensive delicacies, though they offered little edible flesh.

Encouraged, He Xingchen resumed digging. He only stopped when his basket was full.

With firewood and shoots in tow, they headed down the mountain with lighter steps.

Around midday, the Academy students were dismissed from class.

Though the Academy served meals, they were famously bad. Anything with a hint of meat was gone in an instant.

Gu Xueyan was just about to buy food when Wang Shishu blocked his path.

“Brother Gu, stop right there,” Wang Shishu said. He’d been punished at home the night before and had waited all morning to confront him.

“Want to eat together?” Gu Xueyan asked calmly, showing no guilt.

Seeing his composure, Wang Shishu’s anger faltered.

“Even if you’re engaged, you shouldn’t report everything to my eldest sister,” Wang Shishu said resentfully. “You told her, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Gu Xueyan replied flatly.

“You—!” Wang Shishu’s hand trembled. “He just talked to me for a bit.”

Seeing scholars passing by, Gu Xueyan pulled him behind a rockery.

“You helped him when his family fell on hard times. Then he clung to you, expecting support for everything. You should keep your distance,” he said.

Gu Xueyan shouldn’t have known this. But since the Wang Family was involved, Wang Shishu’s sister must have told him.

“It’s not exactly how she described it. Anyway, I helped because I wanted to. It was just a few taels of silver,” Wang Shishu said.

The Wang Family was well-off in Huai’an Town, which was why they’d sent him to study in the Prefectural City.

“I still don’t know what happened to the He Family, but I know Brother He’s character,” he continued. “Everyone talks about that incident, but none of you realize—the person behind it was from the Prefectural City Academy. I was bullied by him too.”

He hadn’t meant to bring this up. Back then, alone in a strange city, life had been hard. He never told his family; he didn’t want to worry them.

At Donglin Academy, his meals were stolen and his brushes snapped—for no reason other than that he was poor, from a backwater town, and lacked connections.

The students pitied him but did nothing. One bully in particular thrived on tormenting the poor.

Only He Yunhuai had dared stand up for him. After that, the bully never bothered him again.

Compared to that, what were a few taels of silver?

Gu Xueyan fell silent.

“I know you mean well, Brother Gu,” Wang Shishu said at last. “Never mind. Let’s eat. Just promise me you won’t tell my sister what I said today.”

“Alright.”

They left the Academy, looking for a simple meal.

A crowd had gathered near a food stall. They couldn’t see what was being sold, but judging by the commotion, it had to be good.

“Shall we check it out?” Wang Shishu asked.

Gu Xueyan didn’t mind. “Sure.”

“I’ll have the meat noodle soup, extra sliced pork!”

“Meat-braised noodles for me—I’ve paid already!”

“Same—meat slice noodles. Could I get more broth?”

He Yunhuai was swamped. Apparently, a kind-hearted student had tried his noodles, returned to the Academy, and raved about them.

Soon, word had spread, and a crowd gathered.

Luckily, Su Yian had prepped all the noodles before leaving. He Yunhuai just needed to cook them.

It sounded simple, but every portion had to be exact. No one could feel shortchanged.

He’d already served several bowls. His hands moved with practiced ease.

“This one’s yours, with extra broth. These three are sausage noodles. These two are meat-braised. All equal,” he said, handing out bowls.

Alone at the stall, he couldn’t step away. If someone tampered with the broth, it could ruin everything.

Thankfully, the customers were understanding. They took turns without fuss.

Wang Shishu stood outside the crowd, watching the former Academy prodigy ladling soup with one hand and wielding chopsticks with the other. Bitterness rose in his throat.

This shouldn’t be happening, he thought, his hand clenching under his sleeve.

Gu Xueyan squinted at the stall, silent for a long moment. “I truly misjudged him.”

“There’s quite a crowd. Let’s come back tomorrow,” Wang Shishu said. He couldn’t bring himself to face He Yunhuai—not for noodles.

This felt different than when he’d bought He Yunhuai’s book.

He Yunhuai, head lowered, worked steadily. He felt eyes on him, burning with intensity. But when he looked up, he couldn’t find the source.

That was the scene Su Yian and the others walked into.

A crowd surrounded He Yunhuai. Steam flushed his cheeks as he moved efficiently, serving noodles.

“Sister Su, look! Second Brother is really selling noodles!” He Ningwen exclaimed with genuine delight.

“I told you he could do it,” Su Yian said, patting her on the shoulder. “Now we can relax. The business isn’t lost.”

Midday was the busiest time. The two didn’t linger to watch the spectacle but quickly washed their hands and joined in to help.

He Yunhuai frowned as someone suddenly approached him. He was about to speak when he turned and saw Su Yian standing beside him.

“You’re back,” he said, the coldness in his gaze melting into a faint smile.