At first, he assumed the magistrate was joking. But there was no reason for him to fabricate such a discussion—if it never existed, why would the magistrate bring it up?
Unless… either his own memory was wrong, or something was wrong with the original body’s memories.
“You seem quite pleased and speak so highly of that young male. It must be him, then.” Magistrate Zheng did not dwell on the matter further. “I summoned you today partly for old times’ sake, and partly to ask about the Zhao family incident—what exactly happened?”
There was nothing to hide, so Shi Wuxiang explained everything in detail.
The more Magistrate Zheng listened, the angrier he became. He struck the table forcefully. “The Zhao family has truly gone mad! To slander a life-saving benefactor like this! When you return, make sure to properly comfort your partner. Doing good deeds should never be repaid with coldness!”
“Yes, Your Excellency.” Shi Wuxiang responded calmly.
Yuan Zhao was naturally kind-hearted and would not lose his resolve to help others because of one incident. Even in the future, he would still help those in danger.
However, he would need guidance. Kindness was a virtue—but it must not be exploited.
After all, he himself was not truly a kind person; he would always resort to more ruthless methods when necessary.
“That’s good,” Magistrate Zheng said with satisfaction. “And you—how have you been lately? I heard you left the academy. If you wish to study in the county academy, I can recommend you.”
Shi Wuxiang understood this was goodwill, but at the moment he only wanted to earn money and rebuild his home.
“Recently I have been working at an inn in town. My studies have not been neglected, but my family circumstances are difficult. If I return to the academy, I must first have financial stability,” he said frankly.
“As long as you understand your own situation,” the magistrate nodded.
He was very fond of Shi Wuxiang—talented, quick to learn, and able to integrate knowledge flexibly. Such a student was rare. As long as he still intended to pursue his studies, that was enough.
After a brief exchange, the magistrate did not detain him further. “I will have someone prepare tea leaves for you. If you like them, I’ll send more later.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
Shi Wuxiang did not refuse such small favors. Relationships were built through exchange; rejecting every kindness would make it difficult to receive greater goodwill later.
The magistrate admired this straightforwardness most—unlike those petty people who clearly wanted something but insisted on refusing it out of affectation.
In addition to tea, he also gifted writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, hoping to encourage Shi Wuxiang not to abandon his studies.
“Your Excellency, since we are from the same village, I would like to visit the prison,” Shi Wuxiang said.
“You are too kind-hearted. Do as you see fit,” Magistrate Zheng waved him off.
After expressing his thanks, Shi Wuxiang followed Zhang Dacheng and Wu Nian to the county jail.
The moment he stepped inside, a foul stench of dampness and decay hit him full in the face. His brows immediately furrowed as he instinctively covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve—rarely showing such visible discomfort.
Zhao Hu’s parents had already been punished with beatings and were lying inside groaning, while Zhao Hu’s mother continued muttering curses without pause.
In the dim prison light, no one could clearly see Shi Wuxiang’s expression, only hearing his calm voice.
“Thank you for enduring her endless cursing. Even her tongue doesn’t seem to fear being worn out.”
“Of course, of course,” the jailers quickly agreed, already understanding that this man was someone important.
After a few brief exchanges, Shi Wuxiang prepared to leave.
Zhang Dacheng and Wu Nian insisted on escorting him back. The jailers also respectfully saw them off.
Before leaving, Shi Wuxiang smiled lightly at the jailers. “They are my fellow villagers. Please take good care of them.”
“Of course! Of course!”
The jailers immediately agreed, carefully noting his tone and expression.
After leaving the prison, they returned to the village at dusk. Smoke rose from every household as people prepared dinner.
“Ah Xiang!”
Yuan Zhao, who had been checking the door repeatedly while cooking, immediately spotted him and ran over. “Are you hungry? Dinner is almost ready!”
As soon as Shi Wuxiang stepped down from the carriage, Yuan Zhao grabbed his arm. Not wanting to make the outsiders uncomfortable, he let him cling on naturally and handed him the items given by the magistrate.
“Would you two officials like to stay for a meal?” Shi Wuxiang asked politely.
“No need, no need! We still have duties to attend to! We’ll visit next time!” Zhang Dacheng said quickly, dragging Wu Nian away.
Seeing them leave, Shi Wuxiang led Yuan Zhao back into the courtyard.
The broken fence had already been repaired. The damaged pieces had been stacked by the firewood pile, ready to be burned later.
Shi Wuxiang glanced at it, a trace of cold intent flashing in his eyes.
Someone had almost destroyed his home.
“What are these? Things you bought? You don’t have salary yet—do you still have money left?” Yuan Zhao asked anxiously, worried that Shi Wuxiang was tightening his belt too much, afraid he might not even have money for tea with old acquaintances.
“It was tea and a set of the Four Treasures of the Study from the magistrate,” he said.
Yuan Zhao blinked. “What are the Four Treasures of the Study? Some kind of pastry?”
Shi Wuxiang let out a helpless laugh. “They’re brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—not something edible. I’ll buy you pastries tomorrow. It’s too late today.”
“I’m not greedy!” Yuan Zhao’s face flushed as he hurried to explain.
“Mm, you’re not greedy. It’s me who wants to buy them for you,” Shi Wuxiang said softly. Then he tilted his chin toward him. “Hurry and check on your pot.”
“Oh no! My meat!”
Fortunately, it was just in time. The pot of braised meat and vegetables hadn’t been ruined. Paired with freshly steamed soft buns, it was absolutely delicious.
The only downside of summer meals was the heat. By the time they finished eating, everyone was drenched in sweat and looked thoroughly disheveled.
After dinner, the family sat in the courtyard chatting.
Madam Shi Zhangshi was overjoyed to learn that the magistrate still thought highly of Shi Wuxiang. As long as the magistrate had expectations of her son, it meant he still had a future.
In her good mood, she even embroidered a few extra cherries onto her handkerchiefs, making them look delicate and charming.
Slap!
Shi Wuxiang expressionlessly killed a mosquito that had landed on him, not even scratching afterward, as if nothing had happened.
In contrast, Yuan Zhao was being bitten terribly, and even Yuan Yuan was not spared.
“Scratch my back…” Yuan Zhao turned around. “Look at all these bumps on my neck. I can’t reach them anymore.”
One hand was busy scratching his own leg while the other helped Yuan Yuan scratch his back—he was completely overwhelmed.
Shi Wuxiang sighed. “You really are a burden.”
Still, he reached out and scratched his neck for him. Fortunately, Yuan Zhao wasn’t ticklish—otherwise Shi Wuxiang would have been tempted to knock him out.
After just a couple of scratches, Shi Wuxiang noticed something was wrong. He looked down at his own fingers, and his calm expression cracked.
“Yuan Zhao, when was the last time you bathed?”
“I wash myself every day!”
Shi Wuxiang held out his hand so he could see the dirt under his fingernails. “Do you think telling lies makes your nose grow longer? Is this what ‘washing every day’ looks like?”
“You—lower your voice!” Yuan Zhao glanced around nervously. “I really do wash every day! I wipe myself down with water!”
“If you don’t scrub properly, does that even count as clean?” Shi Wuxiang said helplessly. “Go back inside right now.”
Yuan Zhao blinked. “You’re not going to hit me just because I don’t scrub myself, are you?”
“I’m going to bathe you.”
“…Oh. Huh??”
Even in summer, Madam Shi Zhangshi was used to boiling hot water, since even wiping down required warm water. This made things convenient for Shi Wuxiang and Yuan Zhao.
As a male with the status of a “little male spouse,” Yuan Zhao had always washed himself since childhood. The Yuan family had never cared for him or Yuan Yuan, so he would take the child to the river, finding a hidden spot to rinse themselves in shallow water.
So being scrubbed by someone else was a first.
And especially by his own husband.
“I can do it myself! I’m not Yuan Yuan!” Yuan Zhao said, too embarrassed to even look at him.
Just from those few scratches earlier, he already knew how dirty he was. How could he possibly let Shi Wuxiang scrub him?
Besides, there was a difference between men and little male spouses!
Shi Wuxiang rolled up his sleeves. “In my eyes, there’s no difference between you two.”
Yuan Zhao grew indignant. “There is a difference! I’m already married! You can’t treat me like a child anymore!”
“Who said only children get scrubbing?” Shi Wuxiang found the key point and began to coax him easily. “If a couple has a good relationship, scrubbing each other’s backs every day is normal. You’re the one overthinking it. There’s nothing embarrassing about it. Or do you not want to have a good relationship with me?”
Yuan Zhao grinned sheepishly. “I do.”
Shi Wuxiang raised a brow in satisfaction. “Then go in.”
Totally fooled, Yuan Zhao shyly and excitedly got into the bath tub. The hot water made his mosquito bites itch even more, and he couldn’t help scratching hard—scraping off quite a bit of grime.
Yuan Zhao: “……”
Even he felt disgusted with himself.
Shi Wuxiang prepared everything and, once Yuan Zhao had soaked enough, began scrubbing.
The scene was somewhat disastrous. Shi Wuxiang didn’t dare look too closely and just focused on scrubbing diligently. He even thought that if society were more open-minded, he could open a bathhouse.
The originally clear water turned murky. After rinsing again, Yuan Zhao was shocked to discover that his skin looked noticeably fairer.
“Ah Xiang! Ah Xiang! Look at me! Am I whiter?” He lifted his arms proudly. “Look!”
“…You really are,” Shi Wuxiang said, laughing helplessly. “Turns out you weren’t naturally dark—you were just dirty. From now on, you’re not allowed to just wipe yourself with water. You must scrub properly, understand?”
“Mm, got it,” Yuan Zhao replied obediently, still marveling at his newfound “whiteness.”
Shi Wuxiang was exhausted. He even had to carry out the bathwater, feeling like it was too filthy to even use for watering plants.
It really did feel like parenting. His arms ached, and he almost collapsed onto the bed immediately after.
“If you’re going to sleep, I can help you wash too!” Yuan Zhao sat beside him. “I’m strong—I can scrub you!”
“No need,” Shi Wuxiang refused.
Truthfully, he didn’t need it. He was already very clean.
That night, everyone was exhausted. Yuan Zhao fell asleep the moment he hit the bed.
The next morning, Yuan Zhao woke early and started making breakfast. The morning air was cool, and he prepared a simple meal of hot soup, steamed buns, and pickles.
After breakfast, Madam Shi Zhangshi came out with a small bundle, handing it over nervously.
“These are the handkerchiefs I embroidered.”
“I’ll go to town with you,” Yuan Zhao said. “I’ll also buy more scrap cloth while I’m there. I want to see if I can find something I can do for work.”
Shi Wuxiang did not object. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know… but I can’t just do nothing.”
He couldn’t rely entirely on Shi Wuxiang’s salary. That alone would never be enough for rebuilding a house.
“I might sell dumplings? Buns? Noodles?” Yuan Zhao listed everything he had seen others sell in town.
Shi Wuxiang’s eyes moved slightly. “You want to sell food?”
That opened many possibilities—there were many dishes that could be adapted with lower costs. At the very least, he hadn’t seen anyone selling pancakes yet; that might work well.
“I don’t really have any other skills… cooking seems okay,” Yuan Zhao admitted honestly. He didn’t have special talents, but he was willing to learn and try.
“I’ll look for some cookbooks later and teach you,” Shi Wuxiang said. “Don’t rush.”
Yuan Zhao was amazed. “You even have books for cooking? No wonder people say books contain gold and jade… they even teach you how to cook!”
“That saying is ‘Within books are golden houses, and within books are beauties like jade,’” Shi Wuxiang corrected calmly.
“Isn’t it all just money?” Yuan Zhao huffed.
They arrived at the cloth shop after a short walk, while Shi Wuxiang headed straight to the restaurant—he had taken leave yesterday, so he needed to return early today as a sign of respect.
“You’re bringing tea and the Four Treasures of the Study from the magistrate?” Yuan Zhao said.
“Mm.”
Yuan Zhao blinked. “What are the Four Treasures of the Study? Some kind of snack?”
Shi Wuxiang laughed helplessly. “Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Not food. I’ll buy you snacks tomorrow. It’s too late today.”
“I’m not greedy!” Yuan Zhao protested, his face turning red.
“Mm, you’re not greedy. I just want to buy them for you,” Shi Wuxiang said softly, then lifted his chin toward him. “Go check on your pot.”
“Ah! My meat!”
Luckily, it was just in time. The pot of braised meat and vegetables hadn’t been ruined. Paired with freshly steamed soft buns, it tasted especially delicious.
The only downside of summer meals was the heat. By the end of eating, everyone was sweating and looking a little messy.
After dinner, the family sat in the courtyard chatting.
Madam Shi Zhangshi was delighted to hear that the magistrate still valued Shi Wuxiang. As long as the magistrate still had expectations for her son, it meant his future was still promising.
In her good mood, she even stitched a few extra cherry motifs onto the handkerchiefs, making them look even more delicate and charming.
Slap!
Shi Wuxiang expressionlessly killed a mosquito, not even pausing to scratch himself, as if nothing had happened.
By contrast, Yuan Zhao was being bitten badly, and even Yuan Yuan was not spared.
“Scratch my back…” Yuan Zhao turned around. “Look at all these bumps on my neck. I can’t reach them anymore.”
One hand was scratching his own leg while the other helped Yuan Yuan scratch his back—he was completely overwhelmed.
Shi Wuxiang sighed. “You really are troublesome.”
Still, he reached out and scratched his neck for him. Fortunately, Yuan Zhao wasn’t ticklish, or Shi Wuxiang would have lost his patience immediately.
After only a few scratches, Shi Wuxiang noticed something was wrong. He looked at his fingers, and his usually calm expression cracked.
“Yuan Zhao, when was the last time you bathed?”
“I wash myself every day!”
Shi Wuxiang held out his hand, showing him the dirt under his fingernails. “Does lying make your nose grow longer? Is this what ‘washing every day’ looks like?”
“You—lower your voice!” Yuan Zhao glanced around nervously. “I really do wash every day! I wipe myself down with water!”
“If you don’t scrub properly, does that even count as clean?” Shi Wuxiang said helplessly. “Go back inside right now.”
Yuan Zhao stared. “You’re not going to hit me just because I didn’t scrub properly, are you?”
“I’m going to bathe you.”
“…Oh. Huh??”
Even in summer, Madam Shi Zhangshi habitually boiled hot water, so washing was never a problem. It made things easy for Shi Wuxiang and Yuan Zhao.
As a male spouse, Yuan Zhao had always washed himself since he was young. The Yuan family never cared for him or Yuan Yuan, so he often took the child to the river, finding a hidden shallow spot to rinse themselves.
So being scrubbed by someone else was a first.
And especially by his own husband.
“I can do it myself! I’m not Yuan Yuan!” Yuan Zhao said, flushed with embarrassment.
Just from those few scratches earlier, he already realized how dirty he must be. How could he possibly let Shi Wuxiang scrub him?
Moreover, there was still the matter of propriety between men and male spouses.
Shi Wuxiang rolled up his sleeves. “In my eyes, there’s no difference between you two.”
Yuan Zhao grew indignant. “There is! I’m already married! You can’t treat me like a child anymore!”
“Who said only children can be scrubbed?” Shi Wuxiang found the key point and coaxed him smoothly. “If a couple has a good relationship, scrubbing each other is normal. You’re the one making it awkward. Or do you not want a good relationship with me?”
Yuan Zhao laughed sheepishly. “I do.”
Shi Wuxiang raised a brow in satisfaction. “Then go inside.”
Totally fooled, Yuan Zhao happily and shyly got into the wooden tub. The hot water made his mosquito bites itch even more, and he couldn’t help scratching hard—scraping off quite a bit of grime.
Yuan Zhao: “……”
He suddenly felt disgusted with himself.
Shi Wuxiang prepared everything. Once Yuan Zhao had soaked enough, he started scrubbing.
The scene was somewhat disastrous. Shi Wuxiang didn’t dare look too closely and just focused on scrubbing hard. He even thought that if society were more open-minded, he could open a bathhouse.
The originally clear water quickly turned murky. After rinsing again, Yuan Zhao was shocked to discover that his skin looked noticeably fairer.
“Ah Xiang! Ah Xiang! Look at me! Am I whiter?” He lifted his arms eagerly. “Look!”
“…You really are,” Shi Wuxiang said with a helpless laugh. “Turns out you weren’t naturally dark—you were just dirty. From now on, no more just wiping with water. You must scrub properly.”
“Mm, I know!” Yuan Zhao replied obediently, still fascinated by his “new” fairness.
Shi Wuxiang was exhausted. He even had to dump out the bathwater, feeling like it was too filthy to even use for watering plants.
It really felt like he had raised a child. His arms ached so badly he nearly collapsed onto the bed.
“You going to sleep?” Yuan Zhao sat beside him. “I haven’t washed you yet! I can scrub you too—I’m strong!”
“No need,” Shi Wuxiang refused.
Truthfully, he was already clean enough.
That night, everyone was exhausted. Yuan Zhao fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed.
The next morning, Yuan Zhao got up early to cook breakfast. The morning air was cool, and he made a simple meal of hot soup, steamed buns, and pickles.
After breakfast, Madam Shi Zhangshi brought out a small bundle.
“These are the handkerchiefs I embroidered.”
“I’ll go to town with you,” Yuan Zhao said. “I’ll also buy more scrap cloth while I’m there. I want to see if I can find something I can do for work.”
Shi Wuxiang did not object. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know… but I can’t just do nothing.”
He couldn’t rely entirely on Shi Wuxiang’s monthly wages. That would never be enough to build a house.
“I might sell dumplings? Buns? Noodles?” Yuan Zhao listed everything he could think of.
Shi Wuxiang’s eyes flickered slightly. “You want to sell food?”
That opened up many possibilities—there were plenty of foods that could be made cheaply. At the very least, he hadn’t seen anyone selling pancakes; that might work.
“I don’t really have any other skills… cooking is the only thing I can do,” Yuan Zhao admitted honestly. But he was willing to learn and try.
“I’ll look for some cookbooks later and teach you,” Shi Wuxiang said. “Don’t rush.”
Yuan Zhao was amazed. “You even have cookbooks? No wonder people say books contain gold and jade… they even teach cooking!”
“It’s ‘within books are golden houses, within books are beauties like jade,’” Shi Wuxiang corrected calmly.
“Isn’t it all just money?” Yuan Zhao muttered.
They reached the cloth shop after a short walk, while Shi Wuxiang headed straight to the restaurant—having taken leave yesterday, he needed to return early today as courtesy.
He said, “It was tea and the Four Treasures of the Study from the magistrate.”
Yuan Zhao blinked. “What are the Four Treasures of the Study? Some kind of snack?”
Shi Wuxiang couldn’t help laughing. “Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Not food. I’ll buy you snacks tomorrow. It’s too late today.”
“I’m not greedy!” Yuan Zhao protested, his ears turning red.
“Mm, you’re not greedy. I just want to buy them for you,” Shi Wuxiang said softly. He tilted his chin. “Now go check your pot.”
“Ah! My meat!”
Fortunately, it was just in time—the pot of braised meat and vegetables hadn’t been ruined. Paired with freshly steamed soft buns, it was especially fragrant and delicious.
The only drawback of summer meals was the heat. By the time they finished eating, everyone was drenched in sweat, looking rather disheveled.
After the meal, the family sat in the courtyard chatting.
Madam Shi Zhangshi was delighted upon hearing that the magistrate still held Shi Wuxiang in regard. As long as the magistrate still had expectations for her son, his future would not be without promise.
In her good mood, she even stitched a few extra cherry motifs onto the handkerchiefs, making them look small and lovely.
Smack.
Shi Wuxiang expressionlessly killed a mosquito, not even pausing to scratch, as though it meant nothing.
By contrast, Yuan Zhao was being bitten miserably, and even Yuan Yuan was not spared.
“Scratch my back…” Yuan Zhao turned around. “Look at all these bumps on my neck. I can’t reach them anymore.”
One hand was scratching his own leg while the other helped Yuan Yuan—he was completely overwhelmed.
Shi Wuxiang sighed. “You really are a burden.”
Still, he reached out and scratched his neck for him. Fortunately, Yuan Zhao was not ticklish; otherwise, Shi Wuxiang might have lost his patience on the spot.
After only a couple of scratches, Shi Wuxiang suddenly paused. He looked down at his fingers, his calm expression cracking for the first time.
“Yuan Zhao, when was the last time you bathed?”
“I wash myself every day!”
Shi Wuxiang held out his hand, showing the dirt under his nails. “Does lying make your nose grow longer? Is this what ‘washing every day’ looks like?”
“You—lower your voice!” Yuan Zhao glanced around guiltily. “I really do wash every day! I wipe myself down with water!”
“If you don’t scrub properly, does that count as clean?” Shi Wuxiang sighed helplessly. “Go inside right now.”
Yuan Zhao blinked. “You’re not going to hit me just because I didn’t scrub properly, are you?”
“I’m going to bathe you.”
“…Oh. Huh??”
Even in summer, Madam Shi Zhangshi always kept hot water ready. That made bathing convenient for both Shi Wuxiang and Yuan Zhao.
As a male spouse, Yuan Zhao had always washed himself since childhood. The Yuan family never cared for him or Yuan Yuan, so he would take the child to the river and wash them in a hidden shallow spot.
So being scrubbed by someone else was entirely new.
And especially by his own husband.
“I can do it myself! I’m not Yuan Yuan!” Yuan Zhao said, flushed with embarrassment.
Just from those few scratches earlier, he already knew how much grime was on him. How could he possibly let Shi Wuxiang scrub him?
Besides, there was still the distinction between men and male spouses!
Shi Wuxiang rolled up his sleeves. “In my eyes, there’s no difference between you and him.”
Yuan Zhao grew indignant. “There is! I’m already married! You can’t treat me like a child anymore!”
“Who said only children get scrubbed?” Shi Wuxiang found the key point and coaxed him effortlessly. “If a couple has a good relationship, scrubbing each other is normal. You’re the one overthinking it. Or do you not want a good relationship with me?”
Yuan Zhao grinned sheepishly. “I do.”
Shi Wuxiang raised a brow in satisfaction. “Then go in.”
Completely persuaded, Yuan Zhao shyly climbed into the wooden tub. The hot water made his mosquito bites itch even more, and he scratched hard, peeling off quite a bit of grime.
Yuan Zhao: “……”
He suddenly felt disgusted with himself.
Shi Wuxiang prepared everything. Once Yuan Zhao had soaked long enough, he began scrubbing.
The scene was somewhat disastrous. Shi Wuxiang didn’t dare look too closely and just focused on scrubbing. He even thought that if this world were more open-minded, he could open a bathhouse.
The originally clear water quickly turned murky. After rinsing again, Yuan Zhao was shocked to discover that his skin looked noticeably fairer.
“Ah Xiang! Ah Xiang! Look at me! Am I whiter?” He lifted his arms eagerly.
“…You really are,” Shi Wuxiang said with a helpless laugh. “Turns out you weren’t naturally dark—you were just dirty. From now on, no more just wiping with water. You must scrub properly.”
“Mm, I know!” Yuan Zhao replied obediently, still fascinated by his newfound “whiteness.”
Shi Wuxiang was exhausted. He even had to dump out the bathwater, feeling it was too filthy to even use for watering crops.
It really felt like raising a child. His arms ached so badly he nearly collapsed onto the bed.
“You going to sleep?” Yuan Zhao sat beside him. “I haven’t washed you yet! I can scrub you too—I’ve got strength!”
“No need,” Shi Wuxiang refused.
Truthfully, he was already clean enough.
That night, everyone slept early from exhaustion. Yuan Zhao fell asleep the moment he lay down.
The next morning, he woke early to cook. The morning air was cool, and he made a simple breakfast of hot soup, steamed buns, and pickles.
After breakfast, Madam Shi Zhangshi brought out a small bundle of handkerchiefs.
“I’ll go to town with you,” Yuan Zhao said. “I’ll also buy more scrap cloth. I want to find something I can do for work.”
Shi Wuxiang did not object. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know… but I can’t just do nothing.”
He couldn’t rely entirely on Shi Wuxiang’s income. That alone would never be enough to build a house.
“I might sell dumplings? Buns? Noodles?” Yuan Zhao listed everything he could think of.
Shi Wuxiang’s eyes moved slightly. “You want to sell food?”
That opened many possibilities. At the very least, he hadn’t seen anyone selling pancakes yet.
“I don’t really have other skills… cooking is about all I can do,” Yuan Zhao admitted. But he was willing to learn.
“I’ll look for some cookbooks later and teach you,” Shi Wuxiang said. “Don’t rush.”
Yuan Zhao was amazed. “You even have cookbooks? No wonder people say books contain gold and jade… they even teach cooking!”
“It’s ‘within books are golden houses, within books are beauties like jade,’” Shi Wuxiang corrected calmly.
“Isn’t it all just money?” Yuan Zhao muttered.
They soon reached the cloth shop, while Shi Wuxiang headed straight to the restaurant—having taken leave yesterday, he needed to return early.
Shi Wuxiang’s plan for a frying pan was the only real difficulty. He needed a craftsman to forge a proper set, otherwise it would be far too inconvenient.
Thinking of this, he quickly drew up a design and headed into the alley to find an old smith.
Even with the original body’s memories, they were limited to the academy and home, so he had no familiarity with the streets. He asked the innkeeper for directions before finally locating the workshop at the end of the alley.
He handed over the drawing and explained briefly; the old smith understood immediately.
“This isn’t difficult. Come back in five days.”
“How much will it cost?” Shi Wuxiang asked cautiously.
“One tael of silver. But you must pay a hundred copper coins upfront.”
Shi Wuxiang silently felt the weight of poverty. Just yesterday he had confidently told Yuan Zhao he didn’t need spare money—and today, reality proved otherwise.
“I didn’t bring enough copper coins—” he began, then paused as he found a small piece of silver in his pouch.
He chuckled softly. He had no idea when that silly boy had slipped it in. He hadn’t even noticed.
There was truly no one more considerate than Yuan Zhao.
The smith weighed the silver and handed back the change, accepting the job.
With that settled, Shi Wuxiang headed back, already thinking about how to sell the pancakes later. Yuan Zhao was clever—he should manage on his own.
Just as he stepped onto the main street—
“Senior Brother…”
A sickly sweet voice rang out.
Shi Wuxiang immediately recognized it. Even back in the academy, before she had started associating with Li Jingwei, she used to call him that.
Uncomfortable then, still uncomfortable now.
“Miss Cui, I believe I have already made myself very clear,” Shi Wuxiang said flatly, unwilling to waste time.
But Cui Xiu raised her chin and stepped closer, studying him. “Senior Brother, I heard you married in the countryside—is it true?”
“It is,” Shi Wuxiang said calmly. “So do not bother me again, unless you wish your reputation ruined.”
“You really married that mud-footed villager?!” Cui Xiu’s expression twisted in disbelief.
Shi Wuxiang glanced at her. “And how would you know?”
“My fiancé told me,” she said coldly. “You don’t actually like him, do you? You used to treat me well—wasn’t that because you liked me? I’ve regretted choosing Li Jingwei. Can’t you look at me again?”
“I have no intention of taking concubines,” Shi Wuxiang said directly. “And I feel nothing for you. If you continue harassing me, I will personally speak to your father about your upbringing.”
“You—how heartless!”
Shi Wuxiang did not look back and left immediately.
He had not expected Yuan Zhao to have already told others about their marriage—but if it protected him, then so be it. He only kept it quiet before because he feared it might affect Yuan Zhao’s future reputation.
That boy, of course, had no awareness of such things.
Cui Xiu and her father would remain troublesome. The Cui family patriarch was kind when he treated you as one of his own—but ruthless and dismissive when he did not.
Shi Wuxiang sighed and pushed the matter aside for now.