Yuan Zhao even spent five hundred coins on a supposedly excellent wolf-hair brush. The handle was engraved with an elegant design—a flying crane. He fell for it at first sight.
Seeing his generous spending, the shop assistant no longer dared to be sarcastic. He became polite and even added a few extra sheets of paper as a bonus.
“Wait, young man!”
Yuan Zhao turned to see Hu Lu catching up with him. “What is it?”
Hu Lu smiled. “I didn’t realize earlier that you know Brother Wuxiang. The books for next year’s exam are sold out, but I happen to have two copies. If you need them, he can copy them out and return them to me later.”
“Really? That’s wonderful—thank you so much!” Yuan Zhao beamed. “Should I wait here? Or I can go with you to get them.”
Next year’s exam was approaching—there was no time to waste.
Seeing how much he cared about Shi Wuxiang, Hu Lu had wanted to tease him, but swallowed the words and instead asked carefully, “Though you’re from the same village, you seem especially supportive of him?”
Yuan Zhao didn’t catch the underlying meaning. He simply smiled. “Of course. He’s taken good care of my brother and me. I should repay him.”
“I see. Then I misunderstood.” Hu Lu quietly let out a breath of relief. “It’s still early. I’ll go home and get them now. You can walk around the market, and we’ll meet at the roasted chestnut stall in two quarters of an hour. How about that?”
Yuan Zhao nodded, no longer insisting.
The market was lively, selling everything imaginable—even early spring vegetables, though villagers usually grew their own.
Hu Lu soon returned, the two books wrapped carefully in coarse cloth.
“Take these back and have Brother Wuxiang copy them. Next market day, bring them to me—I’ll wait at the bookstore.”
That was ten days away.
Yuan Zhao felt a little embarrassed. “Isn’t that too much trouble? Ten days is a long time. Let me give you a deposit—otherwise I’ll feel bad.”
Hu Lu laughed awkwardly. “I trust Brother Wuxiang—and you. After all, a monk can run, but the temple cannot.”
“Then thank you so much!” Yuan Zhao said, handing him a small bag of chestnuts. “Here—this is for you, as thanks.”
It cost five coins—not much, but anything bought with money carried sincerity.
Hu Lu was unexpectedly touched. He could easily afford chestnuts, but these felt different.
“Thank you… though it may be abrupt, I don’t yet know your name.”
“My name is Yuan Zhao—Zhao as in sunlight. This is my younger brother, Yuan Yuan.”
Yuan Yuan shyly greeted him, “Hello, Brother Hu Lu.”
Hu Lu didn’t linger. They had already arranged to meet again.
With everything bought, Yuan Zhao prepared to return to the village. He had left the household matters to Madam Shi and the siblings—he needed to hurry back and take over.
He went to Xiangxiang Restaurant to meet Shi Wuxiang and, while there, told him about borrowing the books.
“Scholar Hu is really a good man. Once you finish copying them, I’ll return them to him on the next market day!”
“You even arranged to meet him again?” Shi Wuxiang looked a little surprised. “He is indeed gentle and kind. His family is fairly well-off. They moved to town like we did before, though their farmland back in the village is only leased out.”
“I see!” Yuan Zhao found it odd—why was he explaining so much? Still, he nodded along.
To Shi Wuxiang, that response sounded like Yuan Zhao also thought the man was good, which made him feel a little relieved.
Even so, there were still things he felt he had to say.
“You’re still young. Don’t believe everything others say, and don’t get too close to people so easily.”
Yuan Zhao’s cheeks flushed at once. “What do you mean? You don’t want me getting close to other people?”
At that age, when feelings were just beginning to bloom, even a little kindness from the person you liked could make you wonder—did they like you too? Did they think you were good? Even if you already knew your own worth, you still cared about how they saw you…
Shi Wuxiang stiffened. Looking into those hopeful eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh, nor could he go along with Yuan Zhao’s assumptions.
“You’re still young. I’m just worried you might be deceived. There’s no other meaning. Don’t misunderstand,” he said.
“Who cares what I think!” Yuan Zhao snapped angrily.
He hoisted the basket of rice and flour onto his back and turned to leave. But the load was heavy, and his mind wasn’t on it—he nearly toppled backward. Shi Wuxiang quickly steadied him from behind, or he would have fallen flat on his back.
Embarrassed and annoyed, Yuan Zhao adjusted the basket, pretended it wasn’t heavy, and left with Yuan Yuan—without even sparing Shi Wuxiang a glance.
Shi Wuxiang let out a soft laugh.
He put his hands on his hips.
He clicked his tongue lightly.
Then he turned and went upstairs, thinking Yuan Zhao was disobedient—yet also finding that lively, temperamental side of him unexpectedly vivid, like a boy truly in his teens.
—
Yuan Zhao wasn’t foolish enough to carry all that weight home on foot. He paid two copper coins to ride an ox cart—faster and easier.
Once home, he stored everything in the woodshed where it was dry and wouldn’t get damp.
“You bought all this?” Madam Shi’s kind face lit up with delight. “Together with what we already had, this will last us for months!”
Yuan Zhao smiled. “I also bought quite a bit of cloth. I’m no good with sewing, so I’ll have to trouble you to make the clothes.”
“That’s nothing,” she said.
But when she took out the bolts of cloth, even she was a little surprised.
“Why so much? And this fabric—it’s so fine. Is it for Ah Xiang?”
Yuan Zhao nodded. “The scholars in town all dress like this. He’s working there now, so he can’t look shabby. I also borrowed some books from one of his former classmates—once he copies them, I’ll return them.”
Madam Shi didn’t know what to say.
She had thought this marriage—arranged to ward off misfortune—only needed compatible birth charts. As long as Shi Wuxiang woke up, everything else didn’t matter. Even if Yuan Zhao demanded money and left, she would have agreed.
She never expected someone this good.
Taking Yuan Zhao’s still-rough but no longer bleeding hands, she said with emotion, “Good child. I know you’re kind. Even with how hard things are at home, you still think of Ah Xiang. I treat you like my own son. If he ever bullies you, just tell me—I’ll stand up for you.”
For Yuan Zhao, who had lost his parents long ago and never truly known familial warmth, those words struck deep.
His clear eyes reddened instantly. His once thin, dark face had begun to fill out, his features growing more defined. Even the faint mole between his brows had gained a touch of color.
He couldn’t say it was all because of the Shi family—but without them, it would have been hard to improve his life with Yuan Yuan.
“They won’t bully me,” he said, wiping his tears, forcing a bright smile.
Because he doesn’t like me anyway.
Madam Shi patted his hand gently. “Good child. It’s Ah Xiang who doesn’t understand.”
Yuan Zhao quickly shook his head. “No, he’s very good. Let’s sort these things out! And you should make yourself some new clothes too—you’ll look the best in the village!”
Shi Wuxiang just didn’t like him—that wasn’t some great fault. He hadn’t treated him badly. He was still a good person.
—
The house was filled with rare joy.
There was enough food, enough cloth for several sets of clothing—everyone was happy, especially Yuan Yuan, who had never owned new clothes before.
—
That evening, Yuan Zhao waited at the village entrance with a torch, as usual.
When Shi Wuxiang returned, Yuan Zhao served him warm food—plenty of vegetables, two large steamed buns, and a bowl of porridge.
“It’s getting warmer,” Yuan Zhao said. “You should finish everything. Food might spoil overnight, and we don’t even have a well.”
“Next time I get paid, we’ll dig one,” Shi Wuxiang replied.
Yuan Zhao nodded, then noticed his pale expression. “Are you feeling unwell? You don’t look good. Are you going to faint again?”
“…Yes. I’ll be fine after I sleep,” Shi Wuxiang said, his voice less steady than usual.
“Don’t faint! Finish eating—I’ll help you to bed!”
Shi Wuxiang quickly finished his meal and was supported back to the room. Watching Yuan Zhao busy himself fetching water, he finally spoke the words he had been holding back.
“There are things I must say. I never intended to marry a man. And you’re still young—I’ve always thought of you as a younger brother.”
Yuan Zhao froze.
“These days, you’ve taken good care of me. I can earn money now, and though I can’t repay you fully, I can support you until you turn eighteen. Then… you should leave. All right?”
“All right?”
Yuan Zhao flung the footcloth onto his knee.
“You should just faint already! Not a single word you said sounds good to me!”
Shi Wuxiang choked. “You—you have no respect for elders!”
—
That night, Yuan Zhao ignored him completely.
He even took up most of the bed, leaving Shi Wuxiang barely any space.
“You call this respecting your elder?” Shi Wuxiang said, half amused.
“You’re older—you should give way,” Yuan Zhao snorted.
In the end, he still shifted over a little.