“Young master, there’s news from the fabric shop. Hu Zhanggui has come to repay the money,” Yao He said as she walked in.

Xie Qiaoyu immediately stood up. He had just heard the news that Wei Bowen didn’t pass the provincial exam, and he was already in a good mood. Now, with the news about Hu Zhanggui, he was even happier.

“Let’s go to the fabric shop.”

Hu Zhanggui had thought about finding another shop to work as a shopkeeper, but the owners would always ask why he was dismissed from the previous one. Unable to explain, he would receive suspicious looks. Over the past few months, he had taken on odd jobs to earn back the money he had embezzled. When he left, he still had some dignity, but returning to the fabric shop, he looked haggard.

“The boss said you need to return the money to him in person,” the shop assistant said.

Hu Zhanggui had no choice but to sit in the fabric shop and wait for Xie Qiaoyu, feeling a bit uneasy.

Xie Qiaoyu arrived quickly. Hu Zhanggui stood up and opened his mouth, “Boss…”

“This is the money I embezzled from the accounts,” Hu Zhanggui said, placing the broken silver and copper coins from his pocket onto the counter. “The boss can count it.”

“No need.”

Hu Zhanggui looked up, a bit stunned.

Xie Qiaoyu was actually a bit nervous too. He took a deep breath and pretended to be calm, “I trust you.”

Hu Zhanggui felt a bit emotional and bowed to Xie Qiaoyu, “Thank you, boss… third young master, it’s all my fault…”

“Since Hu Zhanggui has returned the money from the accounts, I would like to rehire you as the shopkeeper of the fabric shop. What do you think, Hu Zhanggui? If you’ve already found another boss, then I wish you a bright future, and we can let bygones be bygones,” Xie Qiaoyu said firmly.

Hu Zhanggui’s fingers trembled as he held the empty money bag. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, but the more he wiped, the more it went down, reaching his eyes, which began to glisten with tears. Perhaps not wanting to lose face, and with his pride at stake, Hu Zhanggui held back his tears.

Xie Qiaoyu’s gaze was steady, full of sincerity, and he didn’t show any sympathy when he saw Hu Zhanggui holding back his tears. This kind of gaze helped calm Hu Zhanggui’s emotions and gave him the respect he wanted. Hu Zhanggui knew this was a way to win people’s hearts, but he couldn’t help it. After facing many setbacks outside, returning to the familiar fabric shop made him realize how much he missed it and how reassuring it was.

Since Xie Qiaoyu trusted him so much, he felt a surge of determination and vowed not to betray Xie Qiaoyu’s trust.

He would repay this kindness with loyalty.

Hu Zhanggui took a step back, took a deep breath, and bowed, “Thank you for your trust, boss. I am willing to be the shopkeeper of the fabric shop.”

Xie Qiaoyu felt relieved.

Without wasting words, Xie Qiaoyu and Hu Zhanggui discussed the development of the fabric shop. Hu Zhanggui was pleasantly surprised to learn that there were new supply channels, “With new channels, we also need to hire some skilled embroiderers to make clothes.”

The two continued to chat, with Xie Qiaoyu having many ideas that Hu Zhanggui could follow. As it got late, Xie Qiaoyu finally took Yao He back to the mansion.

On the way, Xie Qiaoyu bought some sugar-roasted chestnuts, and the master and servant ate as they walked.

“Young master, you were really impressive today,” Yao He said, full of admiration.

“When am I not impressive?” Xie Qiaoyu replied proudly.

In truth, his back was soaked with sweat. If Hu Zhanggui had already found another job, he wouldn’t have been able to recruit him.

As they reached the entrance of the Xie Mansion, they saw a carriage parked there. Yao He went to inquire about it.

“Young master, it’s the second young master’s carriage,” Yao He found out from a familiar gatekeeper that the carriage was from the Wei Mansion.

Xie Qiaoyu walked along the corridor, “He should come.” Probably to ask Xie Yuan to find a job for Wei Bowen.

Xie Weixia and Wei Bowen walked side by side, with Xie Weixia a bit upset, “What does father mean? He won’t help you find a job?”

Wei Bowen gently patted his back, “Father means he still needs to see what the county magistrate thinks. I’m not insisting on getting a job at the county office. Let’s not make it difficult for father.”

“You are a juren. If not this time, then next time,” Xie Weixia said.

Wei Bowen replied, “That’s right. I will take the exam again. The county office isn’t just father’s domain. If he gets any news, he’ll definitely tell me.”

The two of them encountered Xie Qiaoyu head-on.

Xie Weixia snorted coldly, not even glancing at Xie Qiaoyu, and walked past him. Wei Bowen looked at Xie Qiaoyu a few times before quickly catching up with Xie Weixia.

Take the exam again? Didn’t he take it with Wan Mingji?

Xie Qiaoyu clenched his fingers. The Bodhisattva finally showed mercy; Wei Bowen should not have passed.

Tomorrow, he would give the books he bought to Wan Mingji, encouraging him to work hard and keep Wei Bowen down.

Xie Qiaoyu returned to the courtyard in a good mood.

“I’ll go to the small kitchen to make some pastries first,” he said enthusiastically, rolling up his sleeves.

To capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach. Xie Qiaoyu thought of the days he spent honing his cooking skills at the village, feeling more determined.

Yao He: “…”

Pastries are fine, just don’t cook a meal.

Xie Qiaoyu arranged the pastries he made on a plate and covered the food box.

“Wan Mingji, come propose soon,” Xie Qiaoyu said, holding his face.

He was quite capable of enduring hardships and should be able to adapt to life in the village. Xie Qiaoyu thought that he might have to wash dishes, cook, and do laundry himself in the village, and he sighed.

He could endure temporary hardships for a better future of wealth and prosperity.

Besides, he and Wan Mingji had come this far, and he didn’t want to look for anyone else. He hoped Wan Mingji wouldn’t disappoint him. In his eyes, Wan Mingji had always been a principled, extraordinarily handsome, and honest man.

If someone hit him and he fought back, it was the other’s fault. If someone belittled him and he retaliated, it was the other’s rudeness. If he hit someone, it was definitely the other’s fault. Wan Mingji was just a man who endured humiliation and worked hard at his studies.

He even bit Wan Mingji’s hand, and Wan Mingji didn’t get angry.

.

Xie Yuan was still in Xie Furen’s courtyard, feeling a bit of a headache. The positions in the county office were limited, and placing a juren in one wasn’t difficult, but there were some interests involved. Moreover, he discovered that Wei Bowen’s ambition wasn’t just to get a job in the county office.

He wanted to focus on his studies and earn a higher title. This made Xie Yuan appreciate him. There were many juren, but many hadn’t secured official positions. Wei Bowen’s ambition was commendable. Besides, it was only his first attempt, and reaching the palace examination was rare.

Xie Zhi had reached the palace examination, and Xie Yuan felt a bit proud.

“How difficult is it to find a job for Bowen?” Xie Furen asked gently, not pressing.

“Furen, Bowen wants to take the exam again, so there’s no rush for a job. Having a job might hinder his studies,” Xie Yuan shook his head. “Bowen’s ambition is a good thing.”

“You should guide Weixia more. Rushing to bring Bowen here, what kind of behavior is that? It lacks the demeanor of a noble young master!” Xie Yuan said with some criticism.

After Xie Yuan left, Xie Furen sipped her tea, deep in thought. What Xie Yuan said made sense. Bowen should take the exam again, and it’s best not to let a job hold him back. The Xie Mansion had given Xie Weixia a generous dowry, with many land deeds and shops. Xie Furen had also privately given Xie Weixia a lot of cash. She even gave Xie Weixia her own dowry shop, so they shouldn’t worry about food and clothing.

Tian Mama came in from outside, “Furen, Lin Limu will arrive tomorrow.”

Xie Furen’s spirits lifted.

Finally, he was coming. Soon, she could get rid of that troublemaker Xie Qiaoyu. When she first heard that Old Madam Xie had given one of her shops to Xie Qiaoyu, Xie Furen was almost furious. She had schemed to have Old Madam Xie take Xie Qiaoyu back to the village, but it ended up benefiting Xie Qiaoyu?!

That little brat even changed the fabric shop’s supply source directly. He really had the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard!

In high-ranking families, which illegitimate child dared to oppose their legitimate mother like this?

“Tomorrow, I’ll take Xie Qiaoyu to the banquet,” Xie Furen sneered.

She knew Xie Qiaoyu was proud, so she would trample him underfoot.

“Yes, Furen,” Tian Mama replied, feeling a bit gleeful herself.

In the early spring, the morning sky was dim, with a lot of fog. Wan Mingji squinted at the road ahead, about to buy two buns before heading to Dongtian Academy to study.

Xie Qiaoyu got up early, carrying a food box, and kept watching Qingshui Alley.

“Wan Mingji!” He saw a tall figure and waved excitedly.

Hearing someone call him, Wan Mingji quickly looked over. Seeing Xie Qiaoyu wearing a bamboo hat, he ran over.

Even with the bamboo hat, Wan Mingji recognized him at a glance, especially since Xie Qiaoyu called out to him.

“What are you doing here? It’s not safe,” Wan Mingji said.

“I made some pastries last night and reheated them this morning. I wanted to give them to you,” Xie Qiaoyu said, lifting the curtain and looking at Wan Mingji with bright eyes.

“I have food. You didn’t have to go to the trouble,” Wan Mingji said softly, thinking about how Xie Qiaoyu had made pastries for him last night. “Making pastries at night is bad for your eyes.”

Xie Qiaoyu’s cheeks turned red.

Trouble? He was just making pastries; how was that trouble? Was he really that concerned about him?

“It’s nothing. You should eat it before it gets cold,” Xie Qiaoyu said expectantly.

Wan Mingji held the food box tightly and agreed. He opened it to find steaming pastries inside. The white steam made his fingers feel hot as he reached in.

He wasn’t sure if it was the steam or his heart that was burning.

Wan Mingji picked up a piece of pastry and put it in his mouth.

“Is it good?” Xie Qiaoyu asked, thinking Wan Mingji looked so handsome.

“It’s good,” Wan Mingji said, taking another piece. Xie Qiaoyu visibly brightened.

“Did you eat?”

“Of course I did. You can’t eat meat, so don’t skimp on food,” Xie Qiaoyu advised.

Today, he wore a white shirt with a golden outer robe, his hair tied with a jade crown, looking fair and beautiful, exuding nobility. Others might look tacky in a golden robe, but not him.

“Also, I bought you a hairpin. While tying your hair with a ribbon is fine, using a hairpin will make others take you more seriously,” Xie Qiaoyu complained. “Many people judge by appearance. You’re so outstanding; don’t let this affect you.”

Wan Mingji paused, quickly stuffing the pastry into his mouth.

So strange.

He never felt this indescribable feeling with others, just goosebumps all over, an unspeakable awkwardness.

Xie Qiaoyu’s tone was gentle, “Eat slowly.”

Wan Mingji choked, “Cough, cough, cough.”

A gentle force patted his back, and Xie Qiaoyu said, “I told you to eat slowly, but you didn’t listen.”

Hey, Wan Mingji’s back muscles were so smooth.

Wan Mingji: “…”

Wan Mingji spoke with difficulty, “I mean, Brother Xie…”

Xie Qiaoyu: “I’m wearing a bamboo hat; no one will recognize me.”

Meaning Wan Mingji didn’t need to hide his identity.

“I mean, you’re so good to me…”

“Isn’t that how it should be?” Xie Qiaoyu replied matter-of-factly. Who else should he be good to if not his lover?

Wan Mingji continued, “How about we become brothers?”

Xie Qiaoyu was surprised, “Are you serious?”

Wan Mingji nodded heavily.

Xie Qiaoyu felt a bit unreal, gritting his teeth. He even suspected Wan Mingji was joking. He had never seen anyone become brothers with a ge’er.

And Wan Mingji had said he would stand up for him and that he understood.

Xie Qiaoyu’s hand on Wan Mingji’s back gave a hard thump, almost knocking the wind out of Wan Mingji!

“Have you ever seen anyone become brothers with a ge’er?” Xie Qiaoyu pressed the hairpin against Wan Mingji’s back.

Wan Mingji’s scalp tingled.

“…”

Xie Qiaoyu felt upset, his nose tingling, “You blockhead! You can be alone for the rest of your life!”

Was he that bad? Wan Mingji avoided him and even wanted to use the excuse of being brothers. It’s not like he had to be with him. I see you as my husband, and you want to be sworn brothers!

Xie Qiaoyu was really angry. He had dressed up nicely today, full of…

He released the hairpin, wiped his face, and ran off.

Wan Mingji instinctively chased after him!

“Xie…” He couldn’t call out Xie Qiaoyu’s name, “Young Master Xie!”

Hearing this, Xie Qiaoyu got even angrier.

Wan Mingji caught up and cornered him against a wall, one hand braced against the wall, trapping him.

Xie Qiaoyu: “!!!”

“Wan Mingji, why are you still following me?” Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes were filled with tears.

Wan Mingji had never seen a man cry, and he was at a loss, “Don’t be like this. I mean, I’ll be good to you, like a brother.”

Xie Qiaoyu clenched his fists, looking at Wan Mingji’s handsome face, calming himself.

Suddenly, he leaned in, planting a kiss on Wan Mingji’s lips, his eyes full of anger, his eyes red with fury.

He fiercely bit Wan Mingji’s lips.

“Do brothers kiss you too?” Xie Qiaoyu panted.

Wan Mingji’s heart was pounding, like it was about to leap out of his chest, his ears turning bright red, his body tense.

“Wan Mingji, your heartbeat is too loud.”