As noon passed, fewer customers came.
Deep down, Yuan Zhao was reluctant for Shi Wuxiang to leave, but he still had work to do. He couldn’t help but remind him softly.
However, Shi Wuxiang said, “No rush. There’s nothing much today.”
How could there be no rush?
Yuan Zhao knew how exhausted Shi Wuxiang had been recently, buried in endless accounts. If not for the shop matters, he would not even rest—how could he suddenly say he was not busy?
But Yuan Zhao was not someone who pressed for answers. If Shi Wuxiang wanted to tell him, he would say it directly.
“Alright then, come help out!” Yuan Zhao raised an eyebrow at him.
Some students from the academy also came to buy food. Seeing Shi Wuxiang there, they were quite surprised, though it also seemed expected—after all, it was his husband’s stall.
“Brother Wuxiang, I heard you’ll be returning to the academy after the new year. Is that true?”
“Yes! We’ve been waiting to discuss scholarship with you. Will you return to your original class? Zhi Qi has been dismissed as instructor; I wonder which teacher will take over.”
“Maybe mixed classes would be better. It’d be great if we could all be together!”
Shi Wuxiang wore a gentle smile, but did not respond. He did not recognize these students, and even though they were still wearing academy uniforms during the break, he simply found it interesting.
Yuan Zhao instinctively wanted to be more enthusiastic since they were academy students, but seeing Shi Wuxiang’s indifference, he simply responded politely and changed the topic by asking about their dietary restrictions.
The students did not notice Shi Wuxiang’s coldness and left happily with their food.
Only then did Yuan Zhao quietly ask, “It seems like you don’t really like them?”
“We weren’t familiar back when I was at the academy,” Shi Wuxiang replied vaguely.
Yuan Zhao immediately understood. It was likely because Shi Wuxiang had recently been the subject of much attention, with rumors spreading that the county magistrate treated him favorably, so people naturally tried to get close—but some had clearly crossed boundaries.
These were minor matters. By the time they were about to close the stall, Shi Wuxiang still showed no sign of leaving, and Yuan Zhao finally sensed something was off.
“Ah Xiang, is it the wine house…?” he couldn’t help asking. Was he being dismissed?
“It’s not as serious as you think. I’ll explain everything when I get home,” Shi Wuxiang said, patting his shoulder. Then he looked up at Madam Shi Zhang and reassured her with a smile. “Mother, don’t worry. It’s not a big matter. Let’s head back first.”
Yuan Zhao squeezed his fingers, full of concern. “Then I’ll go back first. It’s fine if I don’t work. I can earn money. Don’t be upset because of this—I can support you…”
Shi Wuxiang couldn’t help but pinch his fingertip in return. “What’s there to be upset about? From tomorrow until I return to the academy, I can stay with you the whole time. Aren’t you happy?”
“Happy… heh!” Yuan Zhao immediately broke into a grin. “That’s great news! Then stop working. Just go tell the shopkeeper and come home with us now! How about that?”
Shi Wuxiang tapped his forehead. “A monk must ring his bell every day until the end of his term. Even on the last day, I can’t neglect my work. I’ll go back early. You all go ahead.”
“…Alright.”
Shi Wuxiang returned to the wine house. The servants all knew he was leaving, and each of them looked at him with complicated expressions.
He greeted them as usual with a smile and went upstairs. As soon as he entered the accounting room, he sensed the atmosphere was strange—though no one said anything, there was an inexplicable tension in the air.
Shi Wuxiang ignored it entirely and asked Sun Fu, “Sun Fu, have you fully gotten used to the work? Any questions left? Later I’ll need to take you to the owner to settle the accounts in person.”
One must leave a record when handling matters. He had already taught Sun Fu everything expected of an accountant, and Sun Fu had verbally confirmed he understood, but Shi Wuxiang still needed to ensure nothing could be pinned on him later.
If Sun Fu later told Yang Zixiang he had not been properly instructed, where would Shi Wuxiang go to argue his case?
“Of course, I’ve understood everything. I can go with you now,” Sun Fu said with a faint smile. “You, however, are just trying to offload responsibility and leave. How enviable.”
Shi Wuxiang disliked people who could not speak properly.
He sneered, completely unbothered. “People without ability really do enjoy envying others.”
“Shi Wuxiang! What do you mean by that? I already knew you were someone who looks down on others! Having to work with you for a day is something I deeply resent. Since you’re leaving, then leave quickly!” Sun Fu snapped back, clearly provoked.
To Shi Wuxiang, such emotional outbursts carried no weight whatsoever. Zhang Xiang and Wen Hao, on the other hand, were secretly amused.
“Let’s go see the owner,” Shi Wuxiang said.
Sun Fu coldly snorted and followed him to Yang Zixiang.
Shi Wuxiang had already handed over all accounting duties and asked Sun Fu to repeat everything in front of Yang Zixiang and perform several calculations.
Everything went smoothly, leaving Yang Zixiang somewhat puzzled as to what Shi Wuxiang was doing.
Shi Wuxiang explained, “Since I am about to go to the academy, I am doing this in front of the owner to ensure our future dealings are clear, so there will be no misunderstandings about negligence.”
“I see. That is reasonable,” Yang Zixiang said. “From what I can tell, Mr. Shi has already handed everything over properly. If you are in a hurry to go home, you may collect your wages and leave now.”
“Many thanks, Owner,” Shi Wuxiang smiled. “My husband has been urging me since noon.”
Yang Zixiang admired him greatly. He openly doted on his husband without caring about rumors of being “henpecked.”
With that said, there was no reason to stop him further. Shi Wuxiang then departed directly.
Sun Fu frowned as he watched Shi Wuxiang’s departing figure. To him, Shi Wuxiang seemed utterly heartless—how could someone speak so matter-of-factly about drawing such a clear boundary?
Yang Zixiang was uneducated, yet he treated scholars with great respect. He believed a scholar’s arrogance was natural; the more aloof they were, the more upright their character must be. Because of this, he also held Sun Fu in somewhat higher regard.
That was precisely why he had been unusually tolerant toward Sun Fu—but not everyone was Shi Wuxiang.
“Since you’ve already gotten the hang of it, Mr. Sun, you can go back and continue your work,” Yang Zixiang said, putting on the posture of a proprietor.
Sun Fu disliked this attitude. At first, this shopkeeper had been quite warm toward him, but now his tone had changed. Still, Sun Fu said nothing. He took his account book and returned to work. As long as he did well, this owner would naturally come to value him the same way he valued Shi Wuxiang.
Shi Wuxiang returned to the accounting room and made a full round through it. Unlike in a previous life where leaving a job meant packing up belongings, he had nothing to take with him—no cup, no personal effects. He simply swept his sleeves and left empty-handed.
Zhang Xiang and Wen Hao already knew how difficult Sun Fu was to deal with, so they were especially reluctant to see Shi Wuxiang go. They even said they would meet again another day.
Shi Wuxiang naturally agreed. As long as they picked a time when everyone was free, it would be fine. After collecting his wages and exchanging a few words of idle conversation, he left in a relaxed manner.
The moment he was gone, Sun Fu returned.
“Where is Shi Wuxiang? What does he mean by leaving like that? Did he really go and say something in front of the owner? Does he think I’ll cause trouble for him?”
Zhang Xiang was already irritated. “What exactly are you getting so worked up about every day? Can you just do your job quietly? I’ve never met someone as exhausting as you!”
Sun Fu exploded like a lit firecracker. “You’re all in cahoots with him! He’s the one who chose to leave, yet you’re acting like I forced him out!”
“He did choose to leave,” Wen Hao said coldly. “Because he’s returning to the academy after the new year. You’re just sensitive because you think you forced him, so you’re overreacting. None of us think that way.”
Sun Fu froze.
The shopkeeper hadn’t told him that Shi Wuxiang was returning to the academy—only that he was opening a shop at home.
Why should someone tainted by money still be allowed back into the academy?
Zhang Xiang and Wen Hao no longer bothered with him. They just wanted to finish their work quickly and leave; even looking at him was exhausting.
Shi Wuxiang, meanwhile, went around town before returning home, buying everything he could think of until the carriage was nearly full.
By the time he got back, the sky was still bright—rare for a winter day. Yuan Zhao was delighted and even felt like cooking more dishes.
He cooked while Shi Wuxiang helped beside him, chatting casually the whole time.
“What exactly happened? Did they really drive you away?” Yuan Zhao asked while chopping vegetables. The force of his knife on the cutting board made it sound as if he would chop someone the moment Shi Wuxiang said yes.
“It’s not that serious,” Shi Wuxiang said gently. “The owner knew I was going back to the academy after the new year, so he asked the shopkeeper to find someone suitable early. They found someone today, so I handed things over. I won’t need to go there anymore. It’s just right—I can focus on the shop during this time.”
Only then did Yuan Zhao relax. “Good. I thought they really kicked you out. If that were true, they’d be awful people.”
“The owner meant no harm. He’s just concerned about the county magistrate’s opinion and didn’t want to delay me,” Shi Wuxiang explained calmly. “I’ll cook this dish. You cut the pork into strips and coat it with flour.”
“Coat it with what?” Yuan Zhao looked horrified. More expensive food?
Shi Wuxiang replied evenly, “A dish for children.”
Yuan Zhao pouted but complied anyway, preparing everything as instructed.
Fortunately, they had stocked up on ingredients, or they wouldn’t even have enough seasonings.
The pork was marinated, coated in flour, and fried in oil. Yuan Zhao winced painfully at the sight of an entire pot of meat disappearing into oil, but comforted himself when he remembered the oil could be reused.
After frying it until golden, the pieces were fried again, then set aside. Next, the sauce was cooked until thick and glossy before the fried pork was tossed back in and coated evenly. Finally, sesame seeds were sprinkled on top.
A plate of sweet-and-sour “children’s dish” was finished.
“Smells kind of strong,” Yuan Zhao said hesitantly.
“Try it,” Shi Wuxiang said, lifting a piece to his lips. “If you like it, I’ll make it often.”
Yuan Zhao bit into it. The texture was crisp but not hard, and the flavor was sweet and tangy.
“It’s really good…” he said, genuinely surprised.
It felt like there was nothing Shi Wuxiang couldn’t do. Scholars really were amazing.
—
If Yuan Zhao liked it, Shi Wuxiang also quietly felt relieved. He was somewhat confident in this dish, and children usually liked this flavor.
“Ah Xiang, you’re amazing! I could eat two more bowls of rice!” Yuan Zhao grinned, reaching for more.
Shi Wuxiang stopped him. “Eat yours properly and put the rest aside.”
“Oh… fine!” Yuan Zhao obediently moved the dish away and continued helping.
Shi Wuxiang didn’t cook all his signature dishes at once; he still planned to save some for the New Year’s Eve meal.
After the meal, the whole family was warm and full.
Madam Shi Zhang smiled and teased, “My son’s cooking is so good. New Year’s Eve dinner will be yours and Zhao’er’s responsibility then.”
“That’s only right. I’ll make sure Yuan Yuan gains five pounds for the new year,” Shi Wuxiang joked.
The atmosphere was light and warm. Yuan Yuan puffed up proudly and declared he wanted to grow taller.
Yuan Zhao peeled an orange and fed him absently, already understanding why the child was so eager to grow up.
Shi Wuxiang noticed Yuan Zhao quietly lowering his gaze and, without warning, snatched the peeled orange from his hand.
“Hey! That’s mine!” Yuan Zhao protested.
“You didn’t eat it. You only like peeling it,” Shi Wuxiang said calmly, popping it into his mouth.
Yuan Zhao puffed up in protest and demanded it back. Shi Wuxiang could only laugh and peel another one for him.
As he ate, Shi Wuxiang mentioned the wine house matters. No one objected; since he was returning to the academy anyway, it was natural to prepare early.
“Before the New Year, Ah Yue and I will go into town to handle the shop repairs. As for Ran Ran, will you stay home or go with us?” he asked.
“I’ll stay home,” Ran Ran said obediently. “Someone has to keep the house warm.”
Yuan Zhao immediately rejected any idea of her staying alone. “No. A child needs someone to look after her.”
Madam Shi Zhang only smiled, watching them. She did not interfere at all.
Ran Ran had no choice but to agree.
After all, if the whole family returned late and the stove had gone out, it would take too long to warm the house again—and she did not want to freeze.
“It’s fine, I still have something to ask Madam Tian anyway,” Yuanzhao said. He needed to ask whether she had any old clothes or scrap cloth that could no longer be worn.
Shi Wuxiang immediately understood what he was thinking in that instant. He hadn’t expected Yuanzhao to be so attentive—he had casually mentioned it before, yet Yuanzhao had remembered it.
Just like that, the matter was settled. After finishing the roasted oranges, the family each returned to their rooms.
Once back in his room, Yuanzhao no longer stayed beside Shi Wuxiang while he studied. After washing up, he quickly burrowed into the warm quilt, even pulling it over his head, facing the wall as if trying to reduce his own presence as much as possible.
Shi Wuxiang knew he wasn’t throwing a tantrum, so he didn’t intend to pay it much mind. He sat down at the desk and continued reading, absorbing knowledge effortlessly.
Yuanzhao struggled under the quilt for a long while, turning over and over like a restless little creature. Even after all that, he still failed to draw Shi Wuxiang’s attention. A faint sense of disappointment rose in him.
“Ah Xiang…”
“Speak.” Shi Wuxiang responded.
“Did you not realize I was sulking?” Yuanzhao asked, a bit resentful yet also careful.
Shi Wuxiang gave a quiet “Mm.” “I noticed. But that’s not something I can resolve for you. Yuanzhao, you know what I mean.”
The faint liveliness in Yuanzhao’s heart immediately settled back down, no longer restless.
How could he forget? When Ah Xiang had spoken so gently before—acknowledging his identity, agreeing there would only be him—he had never once said he liked him… It was he who had overstepped.
“I understand,” Yuanzhao said softly. He quickly adjusted his emotions. “Are you still not sleeping? Then I’ll sleep first.”
“You sleep first.”
“Mm.”
Yuanzhao tucked himself deeper into the quilt, no longer leaning toward Shi Wuxiang’s side like before. Facing the wall, he took a deep breath, exhaled all his emotions, and slowly drifted into sleep.
After hearing his steady breathing, Shi Wuxiang let out a faint sigh and closed the book. He walked to the heated bed and lay down, turning slightly to look at Yuanzhao’s thin back.
He felt apologetic for his earlier coldness, but he truly could not allow Yuanzhao to fall further into misunderstanding. It would not be good for him to sink deeper. Of course, he himself was not without fault for indulging him too much.
Even he did not know what to do with Yuanzhao. He could not even bring himself to distance himself, which made him look like someone deliberately stringing Yuanzhao along.
Of course he would try to like Yuanzhao, but Yuanzhao was still too young—so young that if he harbored any improper thoughts, he would deserve to be dragged away for punishment.
Shi Wuxiang sighed again, and in the end pulled Yuanzhao into his arms. He couldn’t let him sleep facing the wall like that.
Even though Yuanzhao had not figured things out yet, Ah Xiang had been very good to him. He should not let his emotions affect the other person. That was the last thing he wanted—and also the thing he should be most careful about.
The next morning, both groups prepared and set off toward the town.
Yuanzhao still went to set up his stall, his expression no different from usual, so much so that no one in the family noticed anything off.
Shi Wuxiang, meanwhile, took Shi Qingyue to Xiangxiang Restaurant to find Six, who had previously agreed to help him gather information.
Six said, “Go straight down West Main Street and turn right at the end. There’s a place there that does this kind of work. Just tell them what you want, and they can make it exactly as requested. They don’t even close during the New Year!”
“That’s ideal. I hope it can be completed within this period,” Shi Wuxiang said.
“No problem at all!” Six grinned. “Their family is trying to save money to marry off their son, so they’re eager for work. They don’t rest even during festivals!”
“Very well. Thank you. I’ll treat you to a drink another time,” Shi Wuxiang said politely.
Six scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. “No need for drinks. I actually have something else I might need your help with.”
Shi Wuxiang lowered his gaze. “Speak freely.”
“I have a brother looking for work. Since you’re opening a shop, I wondered if you might need help,” Six said cautiously but sincerely. “If you do, I’ll tell him to prepare and come after the New Year. If not, just say so—I won’t take offense. I know I’m asking too much.”
Shi Wuxiang considered it. “What kind of person is your brother?”
Six immediately understood there was room for discussion. “He’s not as talkative as I am, but he’s very reliable!”
“I understand. If I have time tomorrow, let him come by the stall so I can meet him in person,” Shi Wuxiang said, without giving a definite answer yet.
Six quickly nodded, repeatedly thanking him, clearly pleased just to have been given the opportunity.
After parting with him, Shi Wuxiang went to find the workshop. Following the alley to its end, before even reaching the door, he already heard arguing from inside.
“If there are three sons at home, we have to find a way to get them wives! A few days of rest won’t matter—we need to earn more money!”
“Earn money, earn money, all you ever think about is money! Do you even care about your body? If you keep exhausting yourself, even if you earn money, it’ll all be spent on your health anyway!”
“…I can’t argue with you!”
Shi Qingyue stepped forward, listened for a moment, then pointed at the worn wooden door. “Brother, it should be here.”
Shi Wuxiang nodded slightly. “Knock.”
Shi Qingyue immediately knocked. The arguing inside stopped at once. Soon, hurried footsteps approached, and someone muttered that work had probably arrived.
The door opened to reveal a middle-aged man with dark, weathered skin and a slightly hunched posture—clearly someone worn down by hardship. He looked visibly nervous upon seeing Shi Wuxiang and Shi Qingyue, sensing their unusual bearing.
“What can I do for you?” the man asked anxiously. A woman who had been arguing with him also came over, and three teenage boys of varying heights stood in the shabby courtyard behind them.
Shi Qingyue said, “We heard you take work even during the New Year without rest. We have a shop that needs renovation.”
“Yes, yes! Please come in!” The man hurriedly invited them in. “Our place is simple. Please tell us what shop it is and how you want it done.”
Shi Wuxiang handed over a set of drawings. “This is the shop at the street corner. See if you can do it. If so, I’ll take you there to inspect it.”
“You want to leave part of the upper floor for sleeping?” The man studied the drawing carefully. He pointed at the kitchen area, a bit embarrassed. “Sir, I don’t quite understand this part. Is this supposed to be… an open-facing design? What does that mean?”
“It’s for simple food we sell,” Shi Wuxiang explained. “We need customers to see how it’s made. So this area will be open. The lower part will still be enclosed, but the upper half should be visible.”
The man nodded repeatedly. “I understand now. This is doable. Please take us to see the shop—we’re all here. If there’s no problem, we can start work today!”
From earlier, Shi Wuxiang had already heard that their arguments were over money. For poor families, everything came down to survival. If they could earn enough, there would naturally be fewer worries.
He glanced at the three young men behind them; one of them was clearly of marriageable age by local standards, which explained their urgency.
Since Shi Wuxiang also wanted the shop opened soon after the New Year, he did not refuse and led them to the storefront.
When the family saw such a well-located shop, they were stunned. They knew this place well from passing by, never expecting it to already belong to someone—and even more, to be entrusted to them for renovation.
Shi Wuxiang opened the door and let them in. Dust had accumulated from long disuse. He coughed lightly, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief.
Shi Qingyue said, “Just follow the drawings. If there’s anything unclear, feel free to ask.”
The man carefully reviewed every detail with them until everything was clarified, and only then did he feel at ease enough to begin.
“We’ll record all expenses. We’ll refund or supplement as needed,” Shi Wuxiang said. “Or do you need part of the funds now?”
“We’ll keep detailed records. If there’s any shortfall, we’ll let you know,” the man said somewhat embarrassedly. “We just don’t have that much money on hand.”
“That’s fine.”
Shi Wuxiang gave them one tael of silver in advance. “My partner is at the stall on the street market selling flatbreads. If you need more money, just tell him.”
“Understood, understood. Don’t worry, sir.”
After giving a few more instructions, Shi Wuxiang left with Shi Qingyue. These arrangements were only preliminary; from tomorrow onward, they would supervise the work more closely to handle any issues immediately.
When they returned to the stall, Yuanzhao nodded at them with a smile before continuing his work.
“I’ll help,” Shi Wuxiang said.
“No need. Ranran is at home alone. You two should go back and check on her,” Yuanzhao refused directly. “Or Qingyue can stay and switch with Yuan Ge’er.”
Shi Qingyue immediately smiled and nodded. “Alright, then I’ll stay—actually I kind of miss little Ran’er. Or maybe I should go back home and let Brother Da switch with Brother Yuan? Haha!”
He hadn’t even finished speaking when his gaze collided with his elder brother’s. A strong survival instinct made him instantly change his words, afraid that if he hesitated even a second longer, a lecture would land on his head.
Shi Wuxiang smiled with satisfaction.
Yuan Zhao lowered his eyes and continued making rolled pancakes, not commenting on whether the arrangement was acceptable or not. He didn’t seem inclined to refuse.
“Alright then, I’ll head back first with little Yuan. Mother, I’m leaving!” Shi Qingyue said quickly, shooting Yuan Wan a meaningful look and dragging him away in a hurry.
Even if he were foolish, he could tell that his brother and sister-in-law were clearly in another argument again. It must be some kind of hard-to-say disagreement—otherwise his elder brother wouldn’t be silently glaring at him like that.
Tsk tsk tsk!
He was clearly the one bullying people, yet they were the ones suffering the consequences. Such immature adults!
“Second Brother, did my brother and Big Brother get into a fight?” Yuan Wan asked softly. He was more sensitive than most children, and although he didn’t know what had happened, he could sense something unusual.
“It’s probably not exactly a fight, more like a little quarrel,” Shi Qingyue comforted him earnestly. “But don’t be afraid, they’ll make up soon.”
He didn’t realize his comfort missed the mark. Yuan Wan knew that the most authoritative person in the family was Shi Wuxiang. If his brother had argued with him, he would definitely be the one at a disadvantage.
Yuan Wan didn’t know when his brother planned to leave, but if they were going to leave, he needed to start preparing early.
“Brother A’Yue,” he called out.
“Yeah? What is it?” Shi Qingyue responded cheerfully. “Are you thirsty or hungry? Or do you need to stop to pee?”
Yuan Wan said, “None of those. I just want to ask—are there other towns around here? Are there any good places with nice people?”
He needed to take his brother somewhere with good people, somewhere they wouldn’t be bullied. And also, a place where his brother could find a new husband who could read and earn money!
Shi Qingyue only thought he was being curious, so he explained, “Qingshui Town is just a small town in Mingqu County. Mingqu County has many villages and towns, but they’re all pretty similar. There’s no place with only good people or only bad people—everywhere has both.”
“Then where are there peach blossoms?” Yuan Wan continued asking.
“Peach blossoms…” Shi Qingyue thought for a moment. “I’ve heard of a place called Xingtao Village in Yangma Town. That village makes a living selling fruit. In spring, it’s full of apricot blossoms and peach blossoms—it should be very beautiful.”
Yuan Wan thoughtfully nodded and quietly remembered the place, thinking that one day he would go there with his brother. Even just seeing the apricot and peach blossoms would be good.
On the other side.
From the very beginning, Madam Shi Zhang had sensed something was off. Normally Shi Wuxiang would loudly greet anyone he saw, but today he only nodded with a faint smile and didn’t say a single extra word to him.
She endured the awkward, cold atmosphere helplessly. Fortunately, the customers were lively, otherwise she would have been unable to resist exposing the strange “peace” between them.
“Speaking of which, you all don’t know this,” Madam Shi Zhang said. “A while ago, Aunt Liu told me her eldest son had a big argument with his wife. The daughter-in-law even took the child back to her parents’ home…”
“Was it that serious?” Yuan Zhao was surprised. “They even went back with the child? That must mean she was really angry.”
“Yes,” Madam Shi Zhang continued. “They said it was because Da Sen didn’t discuss things with her, but he was actually worried about her and didn’t want her to stress. In the end, they just ended up in conflict… there’s no married couple that doesn’t argue. Once you talk things through, it’s fine.”
Everything she said was true—but it was a story from years ago. Not exactly false, just not current.
“Yeah, that’s true—” Yuan Zhao spoke quickly, but he immediately realized what she meant.
It was clearly a roundabout way of telling them to talk things out, but for some reason, he felt uncomfortable, as if he were the one throwing a tantrum.
Shi Wuxiang had been quietly watching him. Seeing the subtle frustration on his face turn into a hint of disappointment, he guessed he had fallen into an emotional dead end.
“It’s just a small matter, not worth arguing over,” Shi Wuxiang quickly added. “Just talk it through.”
“Yes, exactly,” Yuan Zhao forced a smile, his eyes narrowing into thin crescents, making it impossible to see the emotions beneath.
It seemed like everything was fine again.
Shi Wuxiang subconsciously reached out, intending to pinch his cheek, but Yuan Zhao just happened to lower his head to brush off some vegetable scraps, as if he hadn’t noticed the hand at all.
Shi Wuxiang’s expression flickered. His heart skipped a beat.
“Zhao-ge’er, Brother Wuxiang.”
Soon, a customer arrived and broke the strange atmosphere—and it was an acquaintance.
The one who would respectfully address Shi Wuxiang as “Brother Wuxiang” like this was only Hu Lu. His gaze was complicated as he looked at Yuan Zhao, but he ultimately suppressed his emotions.
Yuan Zhao, however, was pleasantly surprised. “Scholar Hu! It’s been so long since I saw you. I didn’t see you at your stall outside the academy before either. Are you here to buy a wrap? I’ll give it to you for free!”
He still remembered that Hu Lu had once lent his books to Shi Wuxiang right after they met—he was a very good person.
“Thank you, but I’ll pay,” Hu Lu said gently with a smile. “My mother likes your pancakes. She’s been ill recently and can’t get up, so I came to buy some for her.”
“I see. I’ll make it right away,” Yuan Zhao said quickly.
Hu Lu’s gaze lightly rested on Yuan Zhao, filled with regret and unwillingness.
“Congratulations to Brother Wuxiang for entering the academy after the New Year. I heard the two schools will merge. I’ll be counting on your guidance,” Hu Lu said calmly, his words respectful, yet full of admiration for Shi Wuxiang.
They were people who had struggled with all their effort just to pass the scholar examination, while Shi Wuxiang had stepped into the academy with ease.
Shi Wuxiang responded warmly. “We’ll look out for each other. There’s no need for such formalities. The academy will also have wraps in the future—please support us.”
“Of course,” Hu Lu smiled.
“I’m done, Scholar Hu.” Yuan Zhao handed him the wrapped pancake. “I’ll give you some tofu as well. Take it back for your aunt. I hope she recovers soon.”
Hu Lu nodded gently. “Thank you for your trouble.”
“No need to be polite. I hope your mother gets well soon.”
“Alright.”
Hu Lu left with a smile. Yuan Zhao also wore a light smile on his face, completely different from his earlier low mood.
“Seeing him makes you happy?”
Shi Wuxiang asked directly.