Chapter 9

Mr. Yu, a candidate for the imperial examination, hosted a banquet for the villagers on the 26th day. The Yu family invited all the villagers, aiming for a grand celebration.

In the Jiangnan region, scholars are respected and cherished. Even families who can barely afford to eat will send their children to study for a couple of years in private schools. Many people in the prefecture are literate.

Although studying is common, those who truly excel and achieve some level of official success are rare.

The Yu family is one of the prominent families in the village, being among the first settlers when Mingxun Village was founded. Their lineage has persisted through many generations.

Their ancestors were hunters, butchers, traders, and craftsmen. The Yu family enjoyed prosperity for two generations, but the unity among the descendants weakened, and they lacked successful offspring. The family’s glory declined when the third generation’s leader married into the Ji family, making them less influential.

Interestingly, the Ji family, also among the original settlers of Mingxun Village, did not initially match the Yu family’s status. However, in recent years, while the Yu family has declined, the Ji family seems to be on the rise

The two families, Yu and Sun, are both prominent in Mingxun Village, supporting the community for years. They have close ties but also engage in subtle competition and rivalry.

Returning to the Yu family, although they have faced difficulties in recent generations, they still have some ancestral assets, with land and property being their main source of wealth in the village. While they may not be extremely wealthy, they have enough to live comfortably.

The Yu family considers themselves one of the leading families in the village, and their standards for marriage are high.

In the previous generation of the Yu family, there were six siblings in total. Mr. Yu’s father was the fourth eldest, and despite his poor health, the family still wanted to find a suitable spouse for him. Initially, they had arranged a marriage with a family of decent means, but the prospective groom’s appearance was considered too plain. The Sun family’s eldest daughter then seduced Mr. Yu’s father, and they eloped before the wedding, causing embarrassment for the Yu family.

Feeling pressured, the Yu family reluctantly accepted the marriage. However, this union brought shame upon them in the village, and they had to compensate the family with whom they had originally arranged the marriage.

The Yu family deeply resented their daughter-in-law and had a strained relationship with her. Unfortunately, shortly after the Sun family’s daughter arrived, Mr. Yu’s father passed away. The Yu family blamed the Sun family for pressuring him into marriage, and after Mr. Yu’s father’s death, they neglected his widow and orphaned son, accusing the Sun family of causing their son’s demise.

The resentment towards the Sun family extended to other relatives of the Yu family, who became cold and distant towards them, showing little concern for their well-being.

Despite facing hardships for several years, the Sun family managed to send their son to school. When Mr. Yu passed the imperial examination, the Yu family’s attitude towards the Sun family changed drastically. Relatives who had previously refused to help suddenly offered financial support, and even those who had been hostile before now showed kindness and respect, sending gifts and expressing concern.

Although the Yu family still harbored some resentment towards the Sun family, they recognized the importance of maintaining good relations with their relatives. From an outsider’s perspective, the family appeared harmonious, as if they had never quarreled before.

With Mr. Yu’s success in the imperial examination, the entire Yu family rejoiced. They celebrated by setting off fireworks, honoring their ancestors, and hosting a grand feast. While one branch of the family did not contribute financially, the others showed great respect to the Sun family, seeking their opinion on various matters.

It’s no wonder the Yu family’s attitude changed so quickly. Not only does having a successful candidate in the family provide the opportunity for official positions, but it also offers tax exemptions. With their considerable land and resources, the Yu family stands to benefit greatly from this newfound status.

“You’ve only been away for two days, and yet the Yu family is still celebrating with fireworks,” remarked a villager.

During breakfast, the sound of firecrackers outside crackled. Mrs. Zhao talked to Huo Shu about some of the happenings among the prominent families in the village.

Mrs. Zhao had been going through difficult times. Her husband was bedridden, and her son had gone off for labor service with no news since. Dealing with worries about food and drink was one thing, but without a capable man to manage family affairs, the villagers often took advantage of her.

Therefore, whenever she was out, she never discussed other families’ matters, fearing it might lead to gossip.

A couple of years ago, when her husband was still alive, she could talk with him. But in recent years, she had been alone, with no one to speak to inside or outside the house.

Huo Shu was not a talkative person, nor was he one to engage in lengthy conversations. Mrs. Zhao was happy to share some village gossip with him.

She had initially thought Huo Shu might not be interested, but to her surprise, he occasionally chimed in with a few words.

For example: “How many branches does the Ji family have?”

“The eldest generation of the Ji family has eight siblings, four sons, and the fourth branch.”

Huo Shu listened quietly. Breakfast was simple, just rice porridge and pickled vegetables, but Mrs. Zhao’s pickled vegetables were well-made.

She had pickled tender long beans harvested in the summer, and now they tasted just right—crisp and savory.

“In this case, will the Yu family overshadow the Ji family?”

“With a scholar to protect them, the Yu family is bound to rise. It wouldn’t be surprising if they surpass the Ji family. But since the two families will likely intermarry, the competition might not be too intense. The Ji family’s fourth branch will also benefit.”

“Nevertheless, it’s what the fourth branch deserves. They’ve done a lot for Mr. Yu’s education.”

After a moment of silence, Huo Shu, who had no interest in these matters related to the Ji family, found himself inexplicably restless but still listened intently.

Hearing Mrs. Zhao’s words made him feel even more agitated for no apparent reason.

Huo Shu abruptly changed the subject, seemingly without reason, saying, “The pickled vegetables are delicious.”

Mrs. Zhao smiled, “Long before, Chang Sui also liked them. Your tastes match so well; it’s no wonder you’ve become sworn brothers.”

“I’ll go to the city later to buy some cloth and, while I’m at it, some flour to make dumplings. How about I make some dumplings with sour beans and fresh meat filling for you?”

Huo Shu didn’t refuse Mrs. Zhao’s kindness and simply replied.

Seeing Huo Shu’s willingness, Mrs. Zhao felt happy.

She glanced outside and saw that the clouds were still lingering, and the wind was chilly. Even though it wasn’t raining, it seemed like it would be an overcast day.

“When the autumn rain comes, the weather will turn cold. Fortunately, the grains have almost dried. A shower in autumn brings a chill. We must prepare the autumn clothes in advance; otherwise, we’ll be caught off guard when the weather suddenly turns cold.”

For the past two years, Yuan Huiru had been sewing clothes from scraps of fabric. She endured the autumn and winter with dry clothes, constantly coughing during the winter. Now that their situation had improved slightly, there was no need to be so strict anymore.

She looked back at Huo Shu, dressed in a coarse hemp short jacket. Although it had no patches, it appeared worn out.

“You always dress lightly. Auntie will make you a thicker set of clothes.”

Huo Shu flicked his jacket, “I’m used to it, not cold. Auntie doesn’t need to bother.”

“The temperatures differ between the north and south. A little carelessness can lead to illness. Besides, it’s no trouble for Auntie. Women enjoy making clothes, and it brings joy to the family.”

Huo Shu paused with his chopsticks when Mrs. Zhao said this, but he didn’t refuse anymore. Instead, he put down his chopsticks and reached for his purse, “Then I’ll trouble Auntie.”

Mrs. Zhao stopped his hand from taking out money, “Auntie will make it for you. When autumn comes, which family doesn’t make clothes for their children? There’s no need for children to pay for it.”

These days, she had noticed that Huo Shu wasn’t a slovenly person, but he only had a couple of sets of clothes to change into, which probably meant he didn’t have much money.

Considering her own situation, she hadn’t squandered the money Chang Sui had saved. To send a few hundred taels of silver from afar showed a lot of sincerity.

Huo Shu said, “I have money.”

Mrs. Zhao stubbornly pushed back his purse, “Save your money well. You’re not even married yet. There will be plenty of expenses in the future. It’s not easy to save money in the army. Spend it on necessities.”

Huo Shu sighed softly as he saw the gold coins peeking out from inside his purse.

After dinner, Mrs. Zhao took a basket and an oil-paper umbrella and went to the city.

Huo Shu did a set of punches in the courtyard, then split some firewood and put it into the stove room. It was still early.

The dark clouds refused to disperse, making it unsuitable for drying grains. There was nothing much else to do.

The Zhao family didn’t have much land, and in the past few years, they had even sold some of it due to financial difficulties.

Now they only had about three to five acres of land left, and Mrs. Zhao had almost finished tending to the crops by herself.

It was now past breakfast time, and the weather felt stifling.

Huo Shu sat in the house for a while, feeling at a loss with the long hairpin in his hand, so he put it away again.

With nothing to do, he decided to go out despite his thin clothing.

In the water villages of Jiangnan, there were many canals and rivers, making it easier to catch fish and shrimp when the weather was stifling.

In the northern regions where sandstorms were common, there were fewer canals and rivers. In the past, he was just an ordinary person, and it was Zhao Chang Sui who taught him how to swim in the lake.

Since there was an opportunity, why not enjoy it?

Just as Huo Shu stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw a familiar figure looking around outside. His eyebrows furrowed, “Is there something?”

Ji Taoyu looked at the person at the door and hurried over, handing over a food box with both hands.

Seeing this, Huo Shu’s eyebrows relaxed.

“You kept your promise. But coming over like this might give others the wrong impression, as if we’re meeting secretly.”

Taoyu’s face turned red at his words, “I’m not like that. Since the food has been delivered, I’ll go back first.”

Huo Shu watched her turn and leave, feeling a tightness in his heart. He picked up the food box and said, “Wait.”

Taoyu paused in her steps, “Is there anything else?”

“You said you’d help me find someone? Since you’re here, I’m at a loss as to where to start.”

With his back against the door, Huo Shu said, “Auntie has gone out. Come in.”

“Go… go in?”

Ji Taoyu widened her eyes. He knew he had an engagement, and with no one at home, calling him to be together was inappropriate.

Seeing her resistance, Huo Shu furrowed his brows, “What else can I do for you?”

Taoyu frowned. If things were to escalate, she wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

“It’s not appropriate. If someone sees us together, it would be bad.”

Huo Shu raised an eyebrow, “Are you afraid of gossip reaching your future husband’s ears?”

Ji Taoyu’s eyebrows twitched. Why was this person speaking so bluntly today?

He pinched his clothes, “It wouldn’t be good for anyone’s ears.”

Huo Shu noticed the young man hanging his head, speaking much quieter with an odd expression.

North and south were different after all. In the northern regions, where war raged, survival was paramount, and etiquette wasn’t as important. Men and women mingling freely and even drinking together was common.

In the south, where it was peaceful, etiquette was valued more. Although there was no strict prohibition on interactions between men and women, it was limited to those who were unmarried. Since Ji Taoyu already had an engagement and his future in-laws were semi-scholars, they naturally adhered more to propriety.

However, the more he saw Taoyu like this, the more peculiar his mood became. What was the point of making things difficult for a defenseless young man?

“Well, forget it. Thanks anyway.”

Huo Shu raised the food box.

“Go back.”

Huo Shu took a few steps, but then heard the person behind him hesitating and suggesting:

“How about I go back first, and then you come to my house, and we discuss how to find someone? My father is the head of our family, and villagers often come to our house to discuss matters. There won’t be any gossip. How about it?”