Wan Mingji descended the mountain with wild duck eggs and a little lamb, pondering over his essay as he walked. Upon returning home, he tied the lamb in the courtyard, thinking it was time to get a couple of dogs to keep as guard dogs.

The smell of goat milk was quite strong, so Wan Mingji needed to remove the odor first. He carefully squatted down to milk the goat, only to have the little lamb indignantly leave a few footprints on his clothes.

There were still some mung beans stored at home. Cooking mung beans with goat milk could help remove the odor, and filtering the mung beans would significantly reduce the smell.

Wan Xiuyue and Wan Xiubai returned from outside, catching a whiff of the milky aroma. Seeing the little lamb tied in the courtyard, they squatted down to pet its fur.

“Big brother, are you cooking goat milk?” Wan Xiuyue asked.

“It’s ready. If you want some, grab a bowl. I need to head out for a bit,” Wan Mingji said, carefully sealing the goat milk in a jar, packing it securely in his backpack along with the wild duck eggs.

“Hey…” Wan Xiuyue wanted to say more, but Wan Mingji had already walked away. He remarked, “Why is big brother in such a hurry?”

Wan Xiubai petted the little lamb’s head and shook his head with a smile.

*

Xie Qiaoyu was impulsive as ever. He had Xiao Yun get him a few peach saplings to plant in the courtyard. Now, he was digging the ground with a hoe, his face and hands covered in mud.

Yao He followed Xie Qiaoyu, digging a few times with her hoe.

“Young master, why not let them dig the holes, and you can just plant the trees?” Yao He suggested.

“Would it still be my tree if I didn’t plant it myself?” Xie Qiaoyu glared at Yao He with his dark eyes, enthusiastically digging, watering, and pressing the soil firmly, even stomping on it a few times.

Despite his usual charming demeanor, the famous beauty of Ningjiang County was now dressed in simple clothes, his long neck exposed like a pearl, with his nose smudged with gray mud, not at all like a great beauty.

Yet, even like this, he was still eye-catching.

“There’s one more sapling.”

Xie Qiaoyu brought over another peach sapling. It was said that planting peach trees could bring good luck, and the peach blossoms could be used to make rouge. He liked the scent of peach blossoms.

After planting the sapling, Xie Qiaoyu set up a table and a pair of chairs in the courtyard, with some pastries on top. He treated this courtyard as his home, naturally keeping it well-organized.

He tied his hair up high with a hairband, took out a jar to crush flower petals. By the pond, a few ducks waddled in the water, making quacking sounds.

“Third young master, someone is looking for you outside,” Xiao Yun ran over to report.

“Quick, bring me the food box I made,” Xie Qiaoyu had also made peach blossom cakes.

Wan Mingji waited outside, holding his jar of goat milk and wild duck eggs. Seeing the approaching figure, his palms sweated a bit, feeling a bit nervous.

But that moment of nervousness quickly vanished. He said, “Qiaoyu, this is goat milk we made at home, and some wild duck eggs I found on the mountain. I thought I’d bring them to you.”

No matter the time, his back was always straight, with a smile on his lips. Xie Qiaoyu had seen him fight at a funeral, his smile then was casual, but now it was warm.

His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head.

“I brought you something too, here,” Xie Qiaoyu handed him something without hesitation.

Xie Qiaoyu took Wan Mingji’s items, then whispered, “Let’s talk outside.”

Wan Mingji, holding the food box, had no objections. He followed Xie Qiaoyu, suddenly stepping forward to walk alongside him. Thinking of how brothers act, he instinctively reached out to put his arm around Xie Qiaoyu’s shoulder.

His arm froze in mid-air.

At the gate, Xiao Yun saw this and let out a gasp, which was quickly muffled by Yao He, who covered his mouth fiercely, “Don’t say anything.”

Xiao Yun quickly nodded.

Wan Mingji didn’t quite understand, but he felt it was awkward to put his arm around Xie Qiaoyu’s shoulder, even though they were both men.

“Wan Mingji, soon, I’ll be returning to the county town,” Xie Qiaoyu said, holding the jar of goat milk, looking at the person opposite him.

“That’s good. Your parents will worry about you. Things in the county town are better than on the estate,” Wan Mingji paused, realizing he wouldn’t see Xie Qiaoyu on the estate anymore.

Xie Qiaoyu: “…”

Are you made of wood?!

“Things in the county town are better, but the people aren’t as good as those on the estate,” Xie Qiaoyu hinted.

“If anyone bullies you, you can tell me,” Wan Mingji sensed a different meaning in his words.

Who meant that? But… Xie Qiaoyu’s face flushed red, shyly lowering his head.

“Who said that? You can’t always fight. I don’t want you to get involved,” Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes rippled, seriously saying, “Fighting always leads to injuries.”

He had seen blood on Wan Mingji’s hands before and didn’t want him to get hurt.

For a moment, time seemed to pause. In the distance, the green mountains loomed. Wan Mingji didn’t know why, but he felt a bit soft-hearted, as if his bones had turned to jelly, and his heart warmed.

“I won’t. You don’t need to worry about me. I can do more than just fight,” Wan Mingji said softly.

This feeling was stranger than a brotherly relationship. Wan Mingji felt his heart racing, his heart pounding. He could clearly see Xie Qiaoyu’s features, clearer than ever before.

He suddenly realized Xie Qiaoyu was more beautiful than a star, no matter what he wore, he was just so good-looking. Holding the food box, Wan Mingji could guess what was inside, probably peach blossom cakes.

“I’ll be fine in the county town, don’t worry,” Xie Qiaoyu didn’t expect Wan Mingji to be so straightforward, his earlobes turning red with shyness, not daring to look at Wan Mingji.

What kind of man stares at someone like this? Wan Mingji, really, if you want to be a scholar, don’t go around fighting. Does he even understand? Who would want to marry someone like that?

Are you doing well? Wan Mingji thought to himself.

He remembered that Xie Qiaoyu was a concubine’s child at home. He had heard a lot of gossip about Xie Qiaoyu at the academy, given Xie Qiaoyu’s renowned beauty in Ningjiang County.

“I should go back. You should study hard and aim for first place,” Xie Qiaoyu encouraged him with a wave of his hand.

Take what?

Take what?

Wan Mingji’s heart suddenly cooled. Numb.

“I’m going back. Stop looking at me. I haven’t dressed up recently,” Xie Qiaoyu thought of his rustic attire, feeling speechless.

Xie Qiaoyu thought he had made things clear. He returned to the estate, opened the jar of goat milk, took a sip, and found the goat milk had no odor, just a faint fragrance.

He hugged the jar of goat milk.

Yao He watched as his young master drank the entire jar in a few gulps.

Yao He: “…” Big mouth, huh?

“Steam the duck eggs and eat them. I’ll eat them myself,” Xie Qiaoyu instructed.

Who cares about a duck egg? No one is fighting over it. Speaking of which, this Wan guy is really stingy.

Xie Qiaoyu lay on the soft couch. The first gift Wan Mingji gave him was already in his stomach. Though it wasn’t ornamental, it was quite practical.

After all, not just anyone could give away a dead rabbit.

“He said he’d fight for me, stand up for me.” The more Xie Qiaoyu thought about it, the redder his face became. He happily shook his legs, excitedly pounding the soft couch.

Yao He cautiously replied, “Young master, didn’t you dislike brutes the most?”

“He’s not a brute,” Xie Qiaoyu retorted, “He’s brave and smart. And look at him, tall and slender, handsome. Is that a brute?”

No, what does that have to do with looks?

Yao He’s head spun, feeling a bit pained.

“If you have time to spare, you might as well pack up. We’re going back to the county town,” Xie Qiaoyu didn’t have much to take, just his clothes and jewelry, and he instructed Xiao Yun to take care of his saplings.

Yao He admitted, “Young master, I only have a few clothes.”

The master and servant were both quite straightforward.

Xie Qiaoyu sat up, using his tools to crush peach petals, looking quite pleased.

“What’s it like to get married?”

“Young master, I haven’t been married.”

Xie Qiaoyu thought his personal servant was quite dense. He said, “You can imagine it even if you haven’t been married.”

Yao He thought carefully, “I don’t know. If the young master points someone out for me, I’ll marry him.”

“It has to be someone you like. I won’t randomly matchmake,” Xie Qiaoyu said with his hands on his hips.

“When we go back, we’ll have to deal with Xie Weixia,” Xie Qiaoyu thought more and more, feeling a bit indignant that fate was so unfair, letting Wei Bowen become a scholar while Wan Mingji had to wait three more years.

After a few days on the estate, Old Madam Xie took Xie Qiaoyu back to the county town. Knowing he was going back, Xie Qiaoyu stayed up late chatting with Yao He, and the next day, he caught up on sleep in the carriage.

Back in Ningjiang County, Old Madam Xie patted Xie Qiaoyu’s hand, “We’re here.”

Xie Qiaoyu had returned to his usual attire, wearing fine clothes and a hairpin, stepping gracefully out of the carriage, presenting himself as a proper young master.

If Old Madam Xie hadn’t seen Xie Qiaoyu fall into a mud pit on the estate, she wouldn’t have been able to compare him to the young man before her.

Xie Yuan was busy at the county office, while Xie Furen and Xie Weixia waited for Old Madam Xie. Xie Furen was very respectful, and Xie Weixia gave Xie Qiaoyu a provocative smile as he got off the carriage.

“Alright, let’s go inside first,” Old Madam Xie said.

“Yes, mother. The courtyard has been cleaned, and Weixia’s wedding is in three days. The groom has also returned from the capital,” Xie Furen said obediently.

Xie Weixia lagged behind Xie Furen, lowering his voice, “Brother Wei is really amazing, now he’s a scholar.”

Xie Qiaoyu responded perfunctorily, “Oh.”

“I’ll be a scholar’s husband soon. Who will you marry? My mother will decide,” Xie Weixia said with a smile, “You know a concubine’s child can’t compare to a legitimate one. Brother Wei made the right choice. Could you have gotten Brother Wei to the capital? Do you have a legitimate scholar brother?”

“Stay away from my brother. I’m his only full brother. What are you to him?!” Xie Weixia couldn’t stand Xie Qiaoyu clinging to Xie Zhi. Xie Zhi was his brother, not Xie Qiaoyu’s.

Xie Qiaoyu: “Do you really not know what happened between you and Wei Bowen?”

“So what? We’re getting married,” Xie Weixia said nonchalantly.

“Xie Qiaoyu, your father is under my mother’s thumb, and you won’t surpass me.”

Xie Qiaoyu calmed down, smiling, “I used to correspond with Wei Bowen. If you anger me, I don’t mind making those letters public.”

“Xie Qiaoyu, you…” Xie Weixia’s face changed dramatically.

“Xie Weixia, a man who can be taken by you can be taken by others. I can’t see how much Wei Bowen likes you,” Xie Qiaoyu said softly.

“Xie Qiaoyu, you…” Xie Weixia was furious.

“Young master, the third young master is provoking you!” Xie Weixia’s servant quickly stopped him.

“What kind of behavior is this bickering!” Old Madam Xie said coldly.

Xie Qiaoyu and Xie Weixia didn’t dare speak. Xie Weixia was so angry his eyes were red, wishing he could tear Xie Qiaoyu apart. Seeing Xie Weixia’s stance, Xie Qiaoyu quickly slipped to Old Madam Xie’s side.

After dinner, Xie Furen and Old Madam Xie had more to discuss, leaving Xie Weixia behind. Xie Qiaoyu went to find his father.

“How was it with Laofuren?”

“I learned a lot,” Xie Qiaoyu felt living on the estate was quite enjoyable.

After chatting with his father, Xie Qiaoyu lay in bed feeling a bit depressed. If he truly didn’t care about anything, it would be fine, but he cared deeply.

He cared about wealth and fame, about surpassing Xie Weixia. He didn’t have much affection for Wei Bowen, but he couldn’t swallow his pride.

“Xie Weixia will be smug again.”

And what Xie Weixia said today about Xie Zhi being his only brother, Xie Qiaoyu understood. He just wanted a brother who cared for him.

He had called Wan Mingji brother, but Wan Mingji couldn’t be his brother.

Meanwhile, Wan Mingji was at home reading. A villager came in to ask him about farming tools. He saw the Wan family’s grass-cutting tool, and with a push, the rice fell quickly.

“The water in the field needs to be drained, or the cart will easily get stuck,” Wan Mingji showed the villager his grass-cutting cart, “I used twenty-five sickles on the left and twenty-five on the right. I measured the distance between our rice plants, so these sickles are spaced accordingly. There’s an adjustment here to extend or shorten the handle, making it easier to cut rice or grass.”

“You’re right, but our village can’t afford to make this cart,” the villager said, troubled.

“That’s easy. The village head can organize the villagers, and each household can contribute some money for communal use,” Wan Mingji suggested.

The villager thought it was a good idea and immediately stood up, “Wan boy, I’ll go find the village head!”

“Sounds good.”

The village was busy with the autumn harvest, and Wan Mingji was no exception. He went to the estate to check, learning that Xie Qiaoyu had already left, and he still had things he hadn’t given him.