Chapter 10: At Least Two Out of Five  

Since it was the Lantern Festival today, the streets were naturally aglow with lights. As A Chou walked along, acquaintances greeted him now and then. He stopped by a lantern shop and bought several festive lanterns—rabbit lanterns, knowing Xijin and Mang Er both adored them. Thinking of Xijin’s fondness for snacks, he also picked up a variety of side dishes.  

After leaving the house, A Chou headed straight for the bustling streets. As the first month marked the beginning of the year’s festivities, the roads were already adorned with festive lanterns. Vendors, sightseers, and visitors paying New Year’s calls, all dressed in bright new clothes, crowded the thoroughfare.  

Preoccupied with his errand and wary of whatever schemes Sun Momo might be plotting, A Chou had no mind to linger. He made his way directly to East Street, purchasing two boxes of pastries along the way before seeking out Fang Ya.  

Fang Ya lived in a modest courtyard behind East Street.  

Upon arrival, they exchanged New Year’s greetings. When A Chou inquired about the property, Fang Ya first lamented the difficulties of his trade before getting to the point.  

“The old master of that household passed away, leaving only a young gentleman in charge—utterly inexperienced. He foolishly hired a private guarantor to sell the estate. The deal went through, but someone reported it. After much pleading, he managed to reclaim the property, though he was fined heavily. Now, his New Year has been anything but peaceful—frowning and fretting. Just yesterday, he came to me, begging me to find a buyer quickly so he can offload the estate.”  

Under Great Zhao’s laws, land and property transactions required an official guarantor. Violators were treated as thieves, and only those with a guarantor license appointed by the authorities could serve as official guarantors. Those caught using private guarantors faced severe penalties, including possible confiscation of assets.  

That the young master had resorted to a private guarantor spoke volumes about his naivety.  

A Chou said, “My wife has taken a liking to it and is quite eager. But our funds are tight at the moment. We were hoping to wait until business picks up next year before making the purchase.”  

Fang Ya shook his head. “That won’t do. The price is low now, and several buyers are already inquiring. Mark my words—this estate won’t last beyond Dragon Raising Its Head before it’s sold.”  

A Chou knew this was just a scare tactic—selling property was never that easy.  

Still, many things were unpredictable. The right buyer could appear at any moment, and the estate would be gone.  

Unlike buying meat or jewelry, where one item could replace another, good properties in prime locations rarely came on the market. Families who could scrape by seldom sold ancestral homes—doing so carried a poor reputation. Missing this chance might mean no other would come.  

Yet, money was indeed tight. After carefully considering the price, A Chou realized purchasing it now would strain their finances, making daily life difficult.  

Moreover, he couldn’t bear the thought of subjecting his family—especially Xijin, who had been pampered since childhood and was proud by nature—to a life of frugality and hardship.  

Unexpectedly, Fang Ya asked, “Have you heard of the Huo Family in the west of the city?”  

The Huo Family?  

A Chou glanced over coolly.

The property agent Fang Ya smiled and said, “The Huo Family is a scholarly household. Their second son, Huo Erlang, excels in his studies—it’s said he never forgets anything he reads, truly a man of extraordinary talent who writes with effortless speed. He’s now a probationary student at the Imperial Academy. Their family has also taken a liking to this residence and wants to buy it. The other day, I ran into Huo Erlang on the street, and he mentioned coming after the New Year to negotiate the price with the owner. If they reach an agreement, they’ll likely finalize the purchase.”

A Chou listened, almost suspecting the agent was doing this on purpose.

But those in the guarantor trade always wore smiles, believing harmony brought wealth. It was unlikely he’d deliberately cause trouble—he probably just didn’t know.

Back then, when the engagement between Huo Erlang and Xijin was called off, it wasn’t necessarily common knowledge throughout the city. Even if the agent had heard, he might not have connected it to A Chou.

Lost in thought, A Chou considered the house situation. If Huo Erlang was serious about buying it, what should he do?

Just then, another visitor arrived, seemingly about a rental dispute. A Chou stood up and excused himself.

After leaving, he went back to inspect the residence from the outside. The courtyard followed a traditional layout, not overly large but meticulously constructed. The walls were made of high-quality blue bricks, topped with glazed tiles and adorned with intricate carvings and paintings. Peering over the wall, he could see the screen wall, straight lattice windows, and corridors winding through the courtyard, all crafted from premium red sandalwood and rosewood—a level of refinement uncommon in ordinary homes.

What made it even more exceptional was its excellent feng shui. Just outside the residence, wells stood in both the eastern and western lanes—a rare and auspicious feature, not only convenient for daily use but also invaluable in case of fire.

Leaving the lane, A Chou purchased some festive gifts and paid a visit to Hu Zhanggui. The shopkeeper naturally invited him for a drink, but A Chou politely declined, citing matters at home.

Hu Zhanggui chuckled knowingly. “Your wife is a rare beauty, a celestial maiden even Ru City seldom sees. But she’s willful and keeps you on a tight leash—I figured you wouldn’t dare drink!”

A Chou replied, “She doesn’t actually mind such things. Truthfully, I just don’t care for alcohol.”

With a look that said he understood perfectly, Hu Zhanggui laughed heartily. “That’s just as well! As the saying goes, ‘A strong exterior is nothing compared to a strong interior.’ With a virtuous wife at home, your life is steady and secure!”

A Chou didn’t bother explaining further. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he took his leave.

He then headed to the bustling market stalls in the southern part of East Street. With the festival in full swing, the stalls were brimming with crown combs, head ornaments, collars, wipes, decorative items, and all sorts of auspicious New Year goods—everything one could need.

A Chou bought quail, rabbit, and crab, then had some mutton weighed. Next, he visited the lantern market and picked out an assortment of festive lanterns.

Xijin loved beautiful, exquisite things, so he chose a boneless glass lantern with a design of grass stretching to the sky and a five-colored beaded lantern adorned with tassels. For Mang Er, he bought a cleverly crafted rabbit lantern.

On his way back, he passed by a shoe and sock shop and wandered in casually. There, he spotted a pair of shoes.

In Great Zhao, women practiced foot-binding to achieve slender feet. Xijin, being delicate, had cried after just a few days of binding, and her mother, unable to bear it, let her stop.

Truthfully, it didn’t matter—Xijin’s feet were naturally slender and lovely, more so than many bound feet. But because of this, her shoes and socks had to be custom-made by her maids, as standard sizes didn’t fit.

Yet this pair of shoes—

A Chou could tell at a glance that the size was just right for Xijin.  

When they first married, he had finally gotten his wish—young and full of vigor, he had obtained a stunningly beautiful wife he could never have dared to dream of in his previous station. How could he possibly restrain himself? Naturally, he indulged his desires, sparing neither day nor night.  

She was delicate by nature, her body as tender as molded water, and it was her first time—she didn’t understand much and was timid. After a few rounds of this, she grew annoyed and would turn her face away at night, refusing to let him near her.  

At the time, the weather was cold. Seeing her feet were chilly, he cradled her jade-like feet in his arms to warm them, coaxing her gently as he slowly kissed them, taking the pearl-like toes into his mouth and savoring them until they turned from pale pink to a deep rosy hue.  

Under his teasing, she gradually became aroused and even took the initiative herself.  

Because of all this, he naturally remembered the exact shape and size of those delicate feet.  

This pair of shoes was also quite beautiful—a pink satin surface, the soles embroidered with white magnolias, the toes sharply tapered into a slightly upturned phoenix head adorned with pearls of excellent quality.  

Holding the shoes in his hands, he imagined Xijin wearing them, the pearls swaying with each step—it would surely be a lovely sight.  

And Xijin had always adored bright, exquisite things. She would probably like these shoes.  

So he asked the price. It was a bit steep—four hundred coppers.  

After all, an ordinary satin shoe usually cost only one or two hundred coppers.  

He glanced at the shoes again and bought them anyway.  

This trip had already cost him quite a bit of silver, and he didn’t have much left. With most of his purchases complete, he headed back.  

But who would have thought he’d run into someone familiar—none other than Xi Yu.  

When Xi Yu saw A Chou, her eyes lit up with a smile as she greeted him with delight, “Brother-in-law, what are you doing here alone?”  

A Chou’s expression remained indifferent. “Just running some errands.”  

Xi Yu’s gaze swept over the items he had bought, and she said with a smile, “Brother-in-law is so busy. You only returned yesterday, and today you’re already out shopping. Sister is truly blessed—everyone says she’s got the best luck.”  

A Chou ignored her. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first. Your sister is waiting.”  

Xi Yu said, “I’m heading back too. Let’s go together.”  

Since they were family and going the same way, A Chou couldn’t very well refuse. So the two walked together.  

Xi Yu chattered away, while A Chou remained silent.  

With a gentle smile, Xi Yu said, “Lately, while you’ve been away on business, I’ve been keeping Sister company often. She seems to be living quite carefree—all thanks to your hard work and devotion to her.”  

A Chou said nothing.  

Xi Yu continued sweetly, “You know, Sister has been spoiled since childhood—everyone knows how willful she can be. If anything comes up, Brother-in-law, you should just indulge her a little.”  

At this, A Chou finally turned his head to look at her. His gaze fixed on Xi Yu as he said, “That’s not for you to say.”  

Xi Yu froze, her smile stiffening.  

She looked up to see A Chou’s cold eyes sweeping over her. His eyes were long, the inner folds thin, and when he looked at someone like this, there was an air of aloof disdain.  

Seeing him like this, she was reminded of her past life.  

A Chou had later become emperor—a lofty ruler far beyond the reach of ordinary people.  

After A Chou ascended the throne, she had the fortune to visit Yanjing City, entering the palace to pay respects to Xijin. There, she had seen A Chou again.

At that time, A Chou had already ascended to the throne as the Son of Heaven. He had just returned from the morning court, dressed in a crimson gauze robe embroidered with nine dragons and cloud patterns, his face beneath the twenty-four beam Tongtian crown still as handsome as jade, exuding such nobility that one dared not look directly at him.

Having lived a second life, she had observed him like this before he rose to prominence and suddenly realized—whether as a male matrilineal marriage partner or later as an emperor—he had always remained unchanged.  

Years earlier, when he was thirteen or fourteen, someone had tried to take advantage of his good looks and coax him into becoming a kept man, but he had deftly avoided such advances.  

A Chou had always gone about things quietly, almost unnoticed, yet he was never one to remain in obscurity.  

So now, she swallowed her pride, enduring his disdain, and still managed a gentle smile as she said, “Brother-in-law, you jest. I was only teasing.”  

A Chou: “Oh?”  

Xi Yu: “Because… because I worry about my sister. After all, she’s my own flesh and blood. She’s willful and bold in her actions, sometimes careless. I fear outsiders might misunderstand and spread rumors. I wouldn’t want you to misunderstand her too.”  

A Chou replied indifferently, “Speak plainly. I’m listening.”  

Xi Yu hesitated, feigning reluctance before sighing, “Well, it’s nothing, really—just idle gossip. They say that when you’re away, she… has some involvement with Huo Erlang. But of course, that couldn’t be true!”  

A Chou: “Your sister isn’t that kind of person.”  

Xi Yu nodded quickly. “I naturally believe in her. But Huo Erlang has never married, and people say he still harbors feelings for her. Of course, my sister surely has no such thoughts!”  

A Chou suddenly asked, “Did you wait here just to tell me this?”  

Xi Yu stiffened, startled by the icy calm in his eyes—as if he had already seen through everything.  

Before she could recover, A Chou pressed, “Who told you I’d be here?”  

Flustered, Xi Yu shook her head. “It was just a coincidence! Who would deliberately inform me? It’s not as if this is some grand matter!”  

A Chou gave a faint nod. “Good.”  

With that, he walked away without another word.  

Xi Yu stared at his retreating figure, suddenly feeling foolish.  

These two—their temperaments were impossible to please!  

Truly, the heavens must be blind—how else could these two have become emperor and empress? What right did they have?  

************  

When A Chou returned home, the house was already prepared.  

Xijin shot him a soft glare. “You’re back so late! Any later, and we wouldn’t have been able to count on you!”  

A Chou: “I bought many things—could barely carry them all.”  

Xijin glanced at the bundles in his hands. Indeed, there were quite a few. Impressed that he had managed to bring them all back, she let the matter drop.  

A Chou set the items down. “I also bought you a pair of shoes—they’re in that bamboo basket, wrapped in paper to keep them clean.”  

Xijin waved it off. “Why waste money on shoes? Who knows if they’ll even fit?”  

She then called for the maids and servants to start arranging everything. It was a festival day, and every corner needed tidying. By evening, they would light the kitchen god lamp.

A Chou and Xijin arranged various offerings for the Kitchen God together—lactose balls, soap cake, mashed bean paste balls, dripping butter abalone snail, and fresh and cooked stuffed lotus root, all placed on red fortune character porcelain plates. These were paired with auspicious items like persimmons, tangerines, and cypress branches for good luck.

Xijin kept calling out orders—now telling A Chou to fetch the brocade cloth, now urging him to hurry with the incense and candles.

A Chou had no choice but to rush back and forth, kept busy by her demands. When he went inside to fetch the new flint, he inadvertently noticed a book on the table, weighed down by a back comb.

Just from the exposed corner, A Chou recognized it—a popular romance novel circulating in the markets.

He moved the comb aside and flipped through it. The story was about a charming young wife left alone in her boudoir and a burly loafer, filled with suggestive illustrations and blunt language that would make most readers blush and their hearts race.

Remembering what Xijin had said that night, he skimmed through until he found the phrase “wrap warm, moist, fragrant, and soft.” It turned out to be the loafer’s words to the young wife during their passionate affair, praising her as such.

There was even an annotation explaining that the phrase described women—”wrap” meaning firm and solid.

It also noted that while women should be “wrap warm, moist, fragrant, and soft,” men must be “handsome like Pan An, virile like a donkey, rich like Deng Tong, attentive and free.”

A Chou studied it carefully. “Pan” referred to beauty rivaling Pan An, “donkey” to virility, “Deng” to wealth like the Han Dynasty tycoon Deng Tong, “attentive” to being submissive, and “free” to having ample leisure for tenderness.

He frowned slightly.

Xijin enjoyed reading such books, indulging in the romantic escapades within, believing the world should have such dashing figures and that she deserved a love story so moving it could shake heaven and earth—

Of course, without any hardship, poverty, or suffering. She wanted luxury and comfort, only needing to strike an elegant pose while wallowing in melancholy.

Naturally, A Chou didn’t believe in such tales—they were fabrications meant to entertain.

But since Xijin liked them, he wanted to understand what they were about and why she was so fond of them.

Just as he was reading, Xijin walked in.

Seeing him secretly engrossed in her novel, she stomped her foot. “We’re busy running around outside, and here you are lounging around like a lord!”

A Chou set the book down. “I’m trying to improve—all for your sake.”

Xijin: “What?”

A Chou: “I’m learning what ‘wrap warm, moist, fragrant, and soft’ means, and what it takes to be ‘handsome like Pan An, virile like a donkey, rich like Deng Tong, attentive and free.'”

Xijin: “…”

She shot him a sidelong glance and snorted. “No matter how much you learn, you’ll only ever manage two out of five—’Pan’ and ‘donkey’!”

A Chou replied seriously, “At least I have two. The last three can be learned and improved, but the first two are innate—no amount of effort can change that.”

Xijin thought about it and realized he had a point. He did possess Pan An’s looks—before their marriage, many young women in Ru City had shown interest in him, and even some wealthy men were said to have coveted him.

And he certainly had the “donkey’s” assets—something no amount of money could buy!

As for the remaining three—”Deng,” “attentive,” and “free”—well, those could be cultivated over time.

She suddenly felt content, thinking this husband of hers had some merits. Having slowly adapted from an innocent maiden who knew nothing of marital affairs, she could now barely keep up with him.  

With such… assets, she’d have her work cut out for her in this lifetime.  

Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she teased, “You certainly know your own strengths!”  

After three years of marriage, A Chou could read her thoughts at a glance.  

But now wasn’t the time—he was busy. He’d have to coax her during the day and wait until evening when she was in high spirits. The night would be long then.  

So he said, “I’ll go tidy up first. Later, you can try on the shoes I bought.”  

Xijin: “Actually, everything’s already tidied. As for the shoes—I’ll try them. If they don’t fit, you better return them right away. No point wasting silver like that. Do you think my money grows on trees?”  

A Chou listened, then fetched the shoes wrapped in yellow paper, carefully unwrapping layer after layer.  

When Xijin saw the satin shoes, her eyes lit up instantly, followed by a delighted “Ah!”  

A Chou watched her expression closely. Her reaction made it clear she was thrilled—he hadn’t chosen wrong.  

Xijin eagerly snatched the shoes from A Chou’s hands. “Let me see, let me see!”  

She turned them over in her hands, examining them. “The fabric is excellent, and these pearls—such fine, large ones!”  

A Chou: “Mm, try them on.”  

He was confident in his judgment, but shoes still needed to be worn to be sure.  

Xijin hurriedly slipped them on, and to her delight, they fit perfectly. “How did you manage to find shoes that fit so well? They’re just right for me!”  

She took a few steps around the room, then went to admire herself in the mirror. She felt like a delicate maiden swaying in the breeze, each step radiating elegance—no one in the world could compare.  

Her heart swelled with joy, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the shoes!  

Gazing at her reflection, she said happily, “A Chou, you’ve finally done something good! How much did these shoes cost? They must’ve been expensive!”  

Just looking at the fabric, pearls, and craftsmanship, they were clearly not cheap.  

Seeing her delight, A Chou replied, “They’re pricier than ordinary shoes, but as long as they suit you, it’s worth it.”  

Xijin didn’t press further, nodding vigorously. “Mhm, mhm! I love them! These shoes are wonderful! You’ve got a good eye—how did you pick such a perfect pair?”  

Her sweet words flowed freely, one after another, bringing a faint smile to A Chou’s lips.  

Eager to show off, Xijin said she wanted to visit Second Aunt’s house right away.  

A Chou watched her, amused—she was like a child flaunting new clothes during the New Year, fluttering about like a butterfly desperate to display its beauty.  

He chuckled. “Alright, I’ll stay home with Zhou Fu and the others to hang the lanterns.”  

But inwardly, he thought: If he didn’t earn more silver soon, they’d have to forget about buying that house.  

Otherwise, he’d never have splurged on these four-hundred-coin shoes—and Xijin wouldn’t be this happy now.  

As for Huo Erlang, let him buy it if he wanted.  

Besides, Huo Erlang might not even have the silver for that house.