He wiped his tears as he left the academy. Just as he finished, he ran into Steward Ma.
“Boss Yuan! What brings you here today? Has Shi Wuxiang returned?” Steward Ma greeted warmly. “I was just about to visit your shop!”
Yuan Zhao smiled and nodded. “Is it about the business?”
“It is just as you said. The dining hall has already managed to make the flatbread according to your recipe, and they can prepare the fillings as well. So starting tomorrow, we’ll need you to deliver the sauce,” Ma Fu said.
“That’s only right. I can cook up the sauce tonight and bring it over tomorrow,” Yuan Zhao replied. Then he remembered something else. “Manager Ma, be sure to store the sauce properly. If it develops any strange smell, you must not eat it.”
Ma Fu’s expression turned serious. “Rest assured. After the incident with the dining hall before, where some innocent students fell ill, we’ve been extremely strict about this.”
“That’s good,” Yuan Zhao said.
Ma Fu had wanted to chat a bit longer, but seeing that something seemed off with Yuan Zhao, he did not dare affect his mood or delay him. After a few more words, they parted ways.
Yuan Zhao hurried back to the shop in his carriage. It was the busiest time of day, so he tied the horse in the back courtyard and quickly got to work, lest his thoughts drift back to that person again.
Business at the shop was especially good. Perhaps because going upstairs felt inconvenient for ordinary folk, the upper floor gradually filled with well-dressed young ladies and gentlemen, each attended by servants, which saved the shop’s staff some effort.
Yuan Zhao would often give a little extra snack to familiar customers. It was a way to attract business—once these regulars got a good deal, they would go out of their way to spread the word for him.
After closing the shop and tidying up, he returned to the village.
This time, however, Shi Wuxiang did not come back with him.
With two men missing from the household, everyone felt a bit unaccustomed. Even when cooking, they followed their usual portions, only to end up with plenty of leftovers.
Shi Qingran’s eyes turned red. “With Second Brother not at home, no one’s eating the leftovers anymore. I wonder if he’s getting enough to eat at the academy.”
“I went to see him today,” Yuan Zhao quickly reassured her. “He still has some money on hand. If the dining hall isn’t enough, he can just spend extra to buy more food. Next time, I’ll take you all to visit him, alright?”
“Mhm!” Shi Qingran nodded vigorously.
Yuan Yuan, on the other hand, didn’t feel much. As long as he could stay by his brother’s side, he was content—so long as his brother didn’t leave, nothing frightened him.
After everything was settled, the family returned to their rooms.
Yuan Zhao had been exhausted, but once he lay down, he found himself unable to sleep. Staring at the small lucky charm hanging by the bedside, he eventually pulled the covers over his head in silence.
—
Meanwhile, as soon as Shi Wuxiang returned to the academy, he became the center of attention. Right after class, Cheng Du and Fu Ying crowded around his desk, and even Hu Lu came over to greet him with a smile.
“We’ve finally been waiting for you. Ever since something happened to Cui Qi, the academy combined two classes into one. Saves them the trouble of finding another instructor,” Cheng Du said.
After all, the current instructors were well known to the academy. Bringing in someone new might introduce unforeseen issues. These students were all taking the provincial exam this autumn—any problems would have a significant impact on the academy.
Even with the two classes combined, there were only about fifty students, all preparing for the exam. They understood their own responsibilities, so the number of people made little difference to them.
Because of the previous incident, the academy had dismissed quite a few students, and some had transferred elsewhere. As a result, enrollment this year would likely suffer.
“I heard your family shop has opened. How’s business?” Cheng Du asked.
Shi Wuxiang, eager to promote it, smiled. “Business is good. We used to only sell wraps and egg pancakes at the stall, but now we have more variety—some special snacks only regular customers can buy.”
“Really? Then do we count as regulars? Can we get those new snacks you mentioned…?” Cheng Du pressed, also speaking on behalf of the other students.
They all knew how delicious Shi Wuxiang’s food had been. Now that he had opened a shop, there must be even more good things to eat.
“Of course you count. Anyone from before the shop opened does. Those snacks are deep-fried—chicken legs, chicken meat—served with sweet or spicy sauce. The taste is quite good,” Shi Wuxiang said.
“I want some!” Cheng Du blurted. “Treat me!”
“I’m at the academy now—how could I treat you?” Shi Wuxiang laughed. “A-Zhao will come in a couple of days. I’ll have him make some and bring it over for you. Will that do?”
“Yes, yes!”
Not just Cheng Du—even the surrounding students chimed in. Deep-fried chicken sounded delicious just thinking about it.
—
When it was time for lunch, the students no longer resisted going to eat. After all, the dining hall had been rectified under the county magistrate’s orders—it wouldn’t be as bad or overpriced as before.
Even so, many students returned to their dorms to fetch jars of homemade pickled tofu and preserved vegetables to accompany their meals.
Shi Wuxiang raised an eyebrow at the sight of all those jars.
The food had indeed improved, but for the sake of the students’ health, it remained very light.
Taro stewed with cabbage, stir-fried bamboo shoots, and two steamed buns.
As A-Yue would say: not a trace of meat—eat enough of this and you’d grow thinner by the day.
Shi Wuxiang, having grown accustomed to better meals, had almost forgotten what academy food was like. Even after improvements, it was still far from providing meat at every meal, which inevitably left the body unsatisfied.
“No matter. In a couple of days, the dining hall will start selling wraps,” Shi Wuxiang said, sipping the taro-cabbage soup. It had a slight sweetness that made it easier to swallow.
“Brother Wuxiang, is that true?”
“You mean your family’s wraps?”
“The ones before were awful—just thinking about them makes me uncomfortable.”
Shi Wuxiang smiled and nodded. “Manager Ma discussed it with my husband before the new year. They likely met today. Just wait a couple more days.”
“That would be wonderful!”
“Now that you mention it, I’m already craving the taste. The crispy bits inside were especially good. I wonder if the academy can replicate that flavor?”
“We’ll just have to try it. If it doesn’t work, we’ll have the academy hire Brother Wuxiang’s husband, haha…”
Shi Wuxiang laughed along. If the students had such thoughts, all the better—who wouldn’t want a profitable business?
—
Life at the academy was monotonous: study, eat, repeat.
Since Shi Wuxiang’s return, the instructor, aware that he had fallen behind, often called on him for extra explanations. His understanding of the text was thorough, and even his writing had gained a certain grounded quality.
To put it simply, his earlier essays had been ornate and flowery; now they were more plain, but rich in substance.
The instructor handed out his essay in class and praised it repeatedly. “Shi Wuxiang’s composition is quite good. You may all pass it around and read it carefully.”
Though he said “quite good,” his expression made it clear—this was the best in the class.
The students eagerly received the paper, crowding together to read, murmuring in admiration.
Hu Lu, seated beside Shi Wuxiang, instinctively glanced at him. Shi Wuxiang, seemingly accustomed to praise, remained unmoved.
If one said they were not envious, it would be a lie. But Hu Lu knew he could not compare.
Talent and diligence like that were not easily surpassed.
Noticing his gaze, Shi Wuxiang turned. “Do you have something to say?”
Just then, the essay reached Hu Lu. After skimming it, he cast aside his hesitation and said earnestly, “Brother Wuxiang, this essay is truly excellent. May I copy it?”
“Of course,” Shi Wuxiang nodded.
“Your writing has improved even further,” Hu Lu sighed.
Remembering that Hu Lu had once lent him notes, Shi Wuxiang said, “If you don’t mind, we can study together more often.”
“Thank you!” Hu Lu replied immediately.
—
Outside, Yuan Zhao set down a heavy food box and quietly sat in the pavilion, listening to all the praise. He planned to tell his mother later—A-Xiang was truly remarkable.
He peeked inside again. Soon, a bell rang, and Yuan Zhao quickly stood, lifting the food box and craning his neck to look.
Students streamed out—some heading to the dorms, others to the dining hall. Yuan Zhao searched until he spotted Shi Wuxiang’s tall figure.
He waved and called out loudly, “A-Xiang!”
Shi Wuxiang, walking with Cheng Du and the others, suddenly heard the familiar voice. Looking over, he saw the waving hand and the bobbing little head.
A smile instantly appeared in his eyes. He handed his utensils to Cheng Du and strode quickly toward him.
“When did you get here? Your face is all red from the cold.” Shi Wuxiang’s voice softened with concern as he gently brushed the flush on Yuan Zhao’s cheeks, then took his hands into his own and breathed warm air over them.
“I didn’t wait long. I had just arrived when I heard the instructor praising your essay,” Yuan Zhao replied to each question in turn. “I also applied the medicine before coming out. I asked Manager Ma about the meals—since they’re so light and bland, I figured you probably aren’t used to them, so I came specially to improve your diet.”
He smiled as he gestured toward the food box set beside him.
Hearing that he hadn’t waited long, Shi Wuxiang relaxed.
The corridor was meant for students to pass through, and their closeness had already drawn quite a bit of attention—not to mention they were blocking the way. So Shi Wuxiang took his hand and led him to sit under another corridor.
Yuan Zhao said, “If you eat out here, you’ll just fill your stomach with cold wind. Take the food box inside and eat at the academy. I’ll head back now.”
“No—”
“Don’t go!”
Cheng Du suddenly popped out with Fu Ying, grinning. “How can you just leave? Come eat in the dining hall with us! Besides, we’ve got something we need your help with.”
Yuan Zhao instinctively looked at Shi Wuxiang, silently asking for his opinion. It didn’t really matter to him whether he stayed or left—he was just worried about causing trouble, since he had come without prior notice.
“That works,” Shi Wuxiang said, standing up. One hand carried the food box, the other held Yuan Zhao’s.
The three of them headed to the dining hall together and happened to find empty seats as they entered, so they sat down right away.
Not wanting to disturb the young couple, Cheng Du and Fu Ying volunteered to go get food.
“Eat with us. I made quite a lot on purpose,” Yuan Zhao said as he opened the food box, taking out dish after dish. “I specially borrowed this insulated box—it’s heavy. Since I came all this way, I figured I might as well make more.”
The box had three tiers. Though it looked large, the insulation layer inside reduced the space, but that didn’t limit Yuan Zhao.
Using smaller plates, he prepared four dishes. The bottom tier held two large bowls of rice, topped with a bit of meat sauce and some refreshing pickled vegetables.
The moment the box was opened, the aroma spread everywhere. Cheng Du took a deep, blissful sniff, practically wishing he could eat himself into being fat in one bite.
“It smells amazing! What dishes are these?” he couldn’t help asking. Even Fu Ying blinked curiously.
Yuan Zhao explained, “This red one is sweet-and-sour pork—more on the sweet side. This one is shredded pork in fish-flavored sauce—there’s no fish, just meat and vegetables! And there’s spicy diced chicken, plus stir-fried greens. You’ve got to eat some vegetables too.”
“Can we really eat this?”
“Of course. A-Xiang can’t finish it all himself.”
Shi Wuxiang chuckled softly. “Let’s eat together.”
Fu Ying added, “Then we’ll go get some soup.” They couldn’t just freeload entirely.
The sweet, sour, and spicy aromas filled the otherwise plain dining hall. The students who had already been watching them now grew even more envious—some even jealous.
“Boss Yuan is delivering food for them? And such good food too—aren’t they afraid it’ll upset their stomachs?”
“That’s Brother Wuxiang’s husband. Who else would he bring it for?”
“Look at that meat—thick and tender! And those chunks—so plump and delicious. Unlike us, stuck eating this… they’re definitely going to get diarrhea!”
“They definitely will!”
Surrounded by a pack of green-eyed “wolves,” Shi Wuxiang ate with perfect composure, even sharing utensils with Yuan Zhao—making others even more envious.
Yuan Zhao had already eaten before coming, so after a few bites he stopped. He turned his head to observe the dining hall, only to meet dozens of eyes staring at him—like they wanted to devour him.
Instinctively, he leaned closer to Shi Wuxiang, not daring to look around anymore, afraid of angering the students. After all, this wasn’t a place where a young ger was expected to be.
“What’s wrong?” Shi Wuxiang gently patted his back. “Why are you trembling? Are you cold?”
“They’re all glaring at me,” Yuan Zhao whispered, lifting his chin to speak near his ear, nodding lightly as he met his gaze.
Taking him seriously, Shi Wuxiang followed his earlier glance—and met those glowing, wolfish eyes.
He couldn’t help laughing. “They’re just envious, not glaring at you. Ignore them.”
“Oh… okay!” Yuan Zhao nodded.
The three of them finished all the food. Cheng Du and Fu Ying diligently helped carry the dishes over to be washed—they couldn’t just eat for free.
After packing everything up, Yuan Zhao prepared to leave.
But before he could, the classmates—who had already finished eating but hadn’t left—surrounded him.
“Boss Yuan! We’ve got something we need your help with!”
Only then did Shi Wuxiang remember what his classmates had mentioned earlier. After such a satisfying meal, he had completely forgotten.
Cheng Du and Fu Ying, too, had forgotten about their earlier craving for fried chicken.
Realizing this, the two of them quickly joined the others, looking at Yuan Zhao eagerly.
Yuan Zhao, good-natured as ever, listened and found out they just wanted him to deliver food. After asking what they wanted, he agreed.
“In the future, if you want anything, just tell me in advance. I can come every three to five days,” Yuan Zhao said with a smile. These were all customers—he wouldn’t mind coming even more often!
“You should set fixed days,” Shi Wuxiang reminded. “If not, it’ll get chaotic, and there’ll be endless trouble.”
The students all agreed.
“Then write down your orders today,” Yuan Zhao said. “I’ll have my staff deliver them tomorrow at noon, and after that, we’ll come every two days.”
“Alright, we’ll go get paper and brushes!”
“Hurry, hurry!”
Soon, the students had written down their names and orders. Though Yuan Zhao couldn’t recognize all the complex characters, he knew everything sold in the shop, so it wasn’t difficult.
After collecting the papers, he left the academy under Shi Wuxiang’s watchful gaze.
—
By the time he returned, the shop was already wrapping up for the day, and the staff were waiting for him.
Waving the stack of papers, Yuan Zhao grinned. “These are orders from the academy. We need to prepare more ingredients—and have Zhao San send over more chickens. We need to deliver by noon tomorrow.”
Hearing this, the staff quickly looked over the papers. Even without reading carefully, they could see the dense writing—full of student orders.
Chen Yishu said, “Then Xiuying, Xiaocao, and I will go buy everything and prepare the extra ingredients before we leave.”
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”
—
Business at the shop only grew better. With Shi Wuxiang’s suggestions, Yuan Zhao introduced many new dishes—some he had never even seen before, but if A-Xiang said to make them, he did.
As the weather warmed, they adjusted the shop hours, opening later and closing later as well, without affecting business.
They even started a delivery service, with Big Dog leading his group. They carefully confirmed each order with customers before leaving, earning plenty of praise.
With the whole family focused on the shop, they couldn’t tend the fields themselves. Following Shi Wuxiang’s advice, Yuan Zhao hired villagers to farm the land, paying them wages while keeping ownership of the harvest.
Perhaps because life was no longer as exhausting, Yuan Zhao seemed to grow like spring willow shoots—taller, more refined. His complexion, once darkened by the sun, gradually brightened after a restful winter, making his features stand out even more. Even in coarse brown cloth, he looked good.
“The shop’s doing well—why are you still dressed like that?” the accountant, Lu Xiu, asked without looking up from the ledger.
“I’m heading back to the village later to check the fields. No need for fine clothes,” Yuan Zhao replied with a smile. “Besides, I think coarse cloth is just fine.”
Lu Xiu glanced at him again, this time longer, then nodded. The owner looked good no matter what he wore.
Yuan Zhao didn’t notice his gaze. His thoughts were entirely on waiting for Shi Wuxiang to return so the family could go home together.
“Master Shi is back.”
At Lu Xiu’s words, Yuan Zhao immediately turned toward the door.
“A-Xiang!” He hurried over, looking him up and down. “You seem taller again. Are you eating well at the academy? How are your studies? Any recent exams?”
Shi Wuxiang took his hand and led him upstairs to a private room, answering as they walked.
“I’ve grown a bit.”
“I’m eating well.”
“There was a test. No decline.”
“You go visit me every few days—why are you still asking all this?”
Yuan Zhao pouted. “What do you mean? Are you annoyed with me?”
Shi Wuxiang laughed softly and quickly helped him sit, unwrapping a piece of candy and handing it to him. “Young master, you’re exaggerating. How would I dare?”
“You’re always sweet-talking me. You’re not even this humble in front of the magistrate,” Yuan Zhao huffed, though he still took the candy.
“What were you talking about with Mr. Lu just now?” Shi Wuxiang suddenly asked.
Yuan Zhao tucked the candy into his left cheek, puffing it out as he faced him. “Nothing much. He just asked why I still wear coarse clothes even though we’re making money. I said I’m going to the fields. That’s all. Why?”
Shi Wuxiang lowered his brows slightly and smiled. “Just asking casually. That Mr. Lu… doesn’t seem to have a family yet?”
Hearing this, Yuan Zhao immediately began sizing him up, following his evasive movements with his eyes. His tone turned unusually serious. “You’re acting strange. Why are you worrying about Mr. Lu’s affairs? Ranran is still young!”
“You’re talking nonsense again,” Shi Wuxiang scolded lightly. “All you do all day is let your imagination run wild.”
“You’re the one not speaking properly, and now you’re trying to control what I think?” Yuan Zhao retorted, then seemed amused by himself and even chuckled twice.
Shi Wuxiang clicked his tongue and reached out to pinch his cheek firmly. “Look at you. Spring’s here and you’ve lost your senses too, have you? All you do is talk back to me. Careful, or I’ll deal with you.”
“Then go ahead and deal with me,” Yuan Zhao said with a grin, not the least bit annoyed despite the sting.
“Such a thick skin.” Shi Wuxiang couldn’t help laughing. After letting go, he gently rubbed the spot twice. “Talk back again and I really will deal with you.”
Yuan Zhao pouted, but didn’t take him seriously at all. After all, with so many times before, not once had he ever actually been “dealt with.”
Shi Wuxiang knew it himself—those words had no real intimidation behind them. Saying them was one thing; actually hitting him was another.
The two rested upstairs for a while. Soon, noise rose from downstairs—it was time to close up.
Shi Wuxiang took his hand and led him down. After everything was tidied up, they returned to the village.