Chapter 35.1

The next day, Li Hehua planned to close her stall early to take Shulin to buy brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. She would then escort him to Master Gu’s school to formally enroll him and pay the tutor’s fee, so he could begin his studies the following day.

Li Hehua had hoped to close her stall early, but today was unusually busy. It was a market day coinciding with a double-numbered date, and many merchant ships had docked at the harbor, bringing crowds of travelers ashore to rest and eat. Li Hehua and Dahe were overwhelmed, and even Daya had to help out between selling pastries.

Li Hehua had just finished cooking a bowl of dumplings. Seeing Dahe busy clearing tables and unable to deliver it, she set down her ladle and prepared to carry it herself. However, the bowl was so full that the broth nearly reached the rim. When Li Hehua touched the bowl, she burned her hand and quickly grabbed her ear in shock.

Just as she was about to wrap a cloth around her hand to carry the bowl, a pair of large hands suddenly lifted it from the side.

Startled, Li Hehua looked up to see Zhang Tieshan had already swiftly placed the dumplings before the customer.

*How does he always appear out of nowhere?*

Li Hehua asked him, “What brings you here?” Was he here to sell more game again?

Zhang Tieshan gave her a casual glance. “Weren’t you taking Shulin to pay respects to Teacher Gu at the academy today? I’ll take you both.” He couldn’t bear the thought of a woman taking a child alone to buy gifts and pay respects to a teacher. This woman had already done so much for Shulin.

So he was worried about her taking Shulin to meet the teacher. Li Hehua nodded and said nothing more, turning back to her work.

The next customer ordered fish-fragrant shredded pork over rice. Li Hehua took out the fish-fragrant pork she’d stir-fried the night before and the rice she’d cooked that morning, quickly assembling a bowl of the dish. Just as she was about to call Dahe to take it to the customer, Zhang Tieshan’s rough hands snatched the bowl away again.

Li Hehua frowned slightly, wanting to stop him, but he had already delivered the bowl to the customer.

When Zhang Tieshan returned, Li Hehua quickly said, “Zhang Tieshan, don’t bother helping. Take Shulin and sit down.” How could she let him help? They weren’t close, and she hadn’t hired him as an assistant.

Zhang Tieshan looked at her. “You’re so busy here. Can you manage on your own?”

She was indeed overwhelmed, but…

Zhang Tieshan ignored her and turned to help Dahe clear the table.

Li Hehua opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She resolved never to let him lift a finger again; it simply wasn’t right.

With Zhang Tieshan’s help, everyone’s workload eased considerably. By late afternoon, the customers had gradually dwindled, allowing them to finally catch their breath.

Noticing the lateness of the hour, Li Hehua quickly cooked several bowls of noodles in the prepared pork rib broth. “Come on, everyone, eat some noodles quickly. You must be starving. You’ve all worked so hard today.”

Dahe, who had been ravenous, immediately grabbed a bowl and began wolfing down the noodles. After his first bite, he sighed contentedly. “Aunt Hehua, the best part of every day is when we close up and I get to eat your food. It’s so delicious!”

Li Hehua chuckled at Dahe’s rapturous expression and patted his shoulder. “Enough with the flattery, Dahe. Go sit down and eat properly. It’s not good to eat standing up.”

As Dahe shuffled toward the table, he muttered, “Aunt Hehua, I’m not flattering you. Your food really is that good. Even my mother says I’ve gained weight these past few days.”

Li Hehua smiled to herself, thinking it was good that Zhang Tieshan had gained weight. It was uncomfortable to see a grown man so thin he weighed less than a young girl.

She ladled a heaping bowl of noodles for Zhang Tieshan, deliberately adding several pieces of pork ribs. “Eat up,” she said. “Thank you so much for today.”

Zhang Tieshan silently took the bowl and sat down to eat.

A small amount of noodles remained in the pot. Li Hehua scooped them into a small bowl—just enough for a serving—and brought it to the table to eat with them.

Zhang Tieshan paused mid-bite, his gaze fixed on Li Hehua’s bowl, his brow furrowed.

Li Hehua looked up, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Why are you staring?”

Zhang Tieshan nodded toward her bowl with his chin. “Is there not enough noodles?” Why had she given them such generous portions while taking so little for herself?

Li Hehua glanced at her bowl and understood. “It’s not that there isn’t enough,” she explained. “I just don’t eat much. Someone trying to lose weight can’t eat like a normal person, or they’ll never slim down.”

Dahe, hearing this, looked up from his own bowl and chimed in, “That’s right! Aunt Hehua always eats so little. It makes me feel hungry just watching her. But she has lost a lot of weight—she’s much slimmer than when I first met her.”

Women always delight in being told they’ve lost weight, and Li Hehua chuckled happily. Even though she knew she’d slimmed down, hearing it from others still brought her joy. That’s just how women are…

Li Hehua surreptitiously tugged at her clothes. This new outfit, custom-made at the clothier just a while ago, had fit her perfectly. But these past few days, it had started to feel loose again, proof that she was still losing weight. She figured it wouldn’t be long before this set of clothes became too big as well.

A smile curled at the corners of Li Hehua’s mouth. She was pleased.

Zhang Tieshan’s brow, however, remained furrowed. No wonder she’d lost so much weight—she’d been starving herself. He knew firsthand how miserable it was to go hungry. Was she putting herself through this every day?

He glanced at Li Hehua again. She wasn’t exactly fat now, just a little plump, but not unattractive. Why was she treating herself this way?

Zhang Tieshan wanted to tell her to stop starving herself, but remembering he was essentially a stranger to her, he kept silent and lowered his head to devour his noodles.

After finishing their meal, they packed up the stall. Dahe returned to the village, while Li Hehua took the little one and Zhang Tieshan to Master Gu’s academy.

On the way to the academy, Li Hehua first took the little one to a shop selling the Four Treasures of the Study. She picked out the smallest-sized book chest for him—the equivalent of a schoolbag in this era. Li Hehua had initially considered making him a modern backpack, but her terrible sewing skills forced her to abandon the idea.

After selecting the book chest, Li Hehua bought the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone he would need for reading and writing, along with the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surname, and Thousand Character Classic—the three foundational texts collectively known as the “Three Family Village,” essential for a child’s early education. Although the little one was going to study painting, basic literacy was still necessary, so she had to purchase these items.

As the shopkeeper tallied the bill, Li Hehua reached for her purse. Zhang Tieshan, however, had already pulled out his money and paid. Li Hehua quickly grabbed his arm. “Zhang Tieshan, don’t pay! I’ll cover this!”

Zhang Tieshan ignored her, handing the money to the shopkeeper, who cheerfully accepted it. “What does it matter which spouse pays?” he teased. “No need to argue…”

Li Hehua: “……” How did we become a married couple again?

Still, a man and a woman buying school supplies for a child could easily lead to misunderstandings. Li Hehua resolved to be more careful in the future. This era was different from modern times; men and women still needed to maintain a proper distance.

Stepping out of the bookstore, Li Hehua immediately pulled out her purse and handed Zhang Tieshan the money. “This is for the books we just bought. You’ve already paid the tutor’s fee, so I’ll cover the cost of the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. As Shulin’s mother, it’s my responsibility.”

Now that she was Shulin’s mother, it was only right that she buy things for him. There was no reason for Zhang Tieshan to shoulder the burden alone. As a farmer and hunter, he earned every penny through hard labor—how could he afford to support a scholar? Besides, he had already given her several taels of silver last time, and this book purchase would nearly exhaust another tael.

Zhang Tieshan’s brow furrowed. Holding Shulin close, he looked at her sternly. “Shulin is my son. It’s my duty to pay for his education. Don’t mention this again.”

“But you…”

Zhang Tieshan interrupted her, pointing to the basket she carried. “Didn’t you already spend money?”

The basket contained Li Hehua’s gifts for Teacher Gu: not expensive items, but homemade delicacies. Besides the earthenware pot chicken, there were pastries and her own brewed wine—gifts Teacher Gu would surely accept.

Though these items hadn’t cost much, Zhang Tieshan insisted she had already spent money. Li Hehua fell silent, at a loss for words.

If worse comes to worst, she could always buy the little one another one later.

The three of them arrived at Teacher Gu’s school. Though called a school, it was actually his family residence. The front courtyard had been converted into a classroom, while the family lived in the back.

Li Hehua knocked on the door. Soon, an old man answered. Upon learning they had brought a child to enroll, he ushered them inside and led them to a guest reception room before going to fetch Master Gu.