Dawn came quickly, and the morning air was still damp when Yuan Zhao planned to go into the mountains again. Before he could leave, the poultry seller from yesterday arrived at the door with chirping chicks.
“Customer! I’ve brought your chicks!”
“You came just in time. If you were later, I’d already be gone,” Yuan Zhao said with a smile, welcoming him in.
The children immediately gathered around the chick basket, eager but afraid to touch them.
“Brother,” Yuan Yuan asked, “can I name them?”
“These are our family’s chickens—they should have names.”
Yuan Zhao laughed. “Don’t. If you get attached, how will you eat them later?”
“Good point. Then I’ll just wait to eat them!” Yuan Yuan swallowed.
The chicks: “…”
—
A few days passed quickly, and soon it was market day.
Yuan Zhao and Shi Wuxiang took the ox cart into town as usual. In the basket were dried mountain goods, and a borrowed book was carefully wrapped in cloth and held in his arms.
When they arrived, they parted ways as usual at the Fragrant Fragrance Restaurant. Shi Wuxiang always reminded him carefully, and Yuan Zhao had to promise several times that he would not get lost before he was finally pushed into the restaurant by the staff.
Yuan Zhao was about to return the book first when his goods were almost completely sold on the street before he even reached the bookshop.
It really was profitable.
The bookshop owner hadn’t arrived yet, so he simply sat nearby waiting.
Soon, Hu Lu and several other scholars arrived.
“Zhao Ge’er!”
“Good timing,” Hu Lu smiled, offering him food and conversation.
Yuan Zhao politely declined and prepared to leave, but Duan Cheng stopped him.
“Since you’re Wuxiang’s fellow villager, why don’t you come with us to the Fragrant Fragrance Restaurant? We’re going to meet him.”
Yuan Zhao agreed without much thought.
—
Inside the private room of the Fragrant Fragrance Restaurant, Shi Wuxiang entered—and immediately recognized familiar faces.
“Hu Lu?”
“And you are here too?” he said, looking at Duan Cheng.
Duan Cheng fanned himself lazily, eyes gleaming with mischief.
“Finally got to see you. That’s not easy.”
The room quickly turned lively with conversation, but Duan Cheng soon noticed something subtle—something about Shi Wuxiang’s attitude toward Yuan Zhao seemed… a little too natural.
Could it be—
Impossible. That little ge’er was nice, but clearly not suited for Shi Wuxiang.
Yet Duan Cheng’s curiosity only grew.
—
Outside the restaurant later, they unexpectedly ran into Cui Xiuxiu.
She looked at Shi Wuxiang with teary eyes.
“Brother Shi, are you really not coming back to the academy?”
Shi Wuxiang’s voice turned cold.
“I have never had any thoughts toward you. If it weren’t for your father’s past kindness, I wouldn’t even spare you a glance.”
The words were utterly indifferent.
Even Duan Cheng was stunned.
And in that moment, it became even clearer—
Shi Wuxiang was clearly protecting Yuan Zhao.
After dinner, Shi Wuxiang made an excuse to call Shi Qingyue into the room. He lifted his gaze and said, “If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush.”
Shi Qingyue had been holding it in for a long time, so he immediately poured everything out about what he had seen that day. At the end, he added, “I don’t believe Big Brother would say something like that. And that Cui Xiuxiu is not a good person. Big Brother can’t do anything that would let down Sister-in-law.”
Shi Wuxiang: “……”
Who exactly was spreading rumors every day?!
Author’s Note:
Shi Wuxiang: “I am truly speechless.”
Little Yuan Zhao: “Selling fish, selling fish, selling fish……”
Shi Wuxiang glances at him: “Idiot.”
Little Yuan Zhao scratches his itchy ear: “Who’s talking about me?”
Who? Who? Who?