Shi Wuxiang looked at the medicine in his arms in a daze, then calmly picked it up and followed Yuan Zhao’s hand to hold his.
“What is this medicine? Why did you suddenly buy medicine?” he asked.
“Your body isn’t good. You can’t avoid treatment or delay it… so I bought this for you first. Try taking it for a few days. If it works, I’ll buy more for you.” Yuan Zhao said very generously.
Shi Wuxiang smiled helplessly. “It’s called avoiding medical treatment out of fear of illness.”
So that was what it was—tonic medicine for his health.
Shi Wuxiang did not ask further. Yuan Zhao had always been especially concerned about his health; he had even bought medicine for him before, and it seemed to have helped.
Madam Shi Zhang followed them inside and took the medicine to boil it.
Shi Wuxiang asked Yuan Zhao a few questions about the trip. Yuan Zhao avoided mentioning his conversation with He Jihua and only spoke about the rest.
“Why does this medicine smell so fishy?” Madam Shi Zhang frowned as she brought the bowl over. “Zhao-ge’er, did we get the wrong prescription? Is this really for nourishing the body?”
“It’s for nourishing the body,” Yuan Zhao replied calmly.
Then there should be no problem.
Shi Wuxiang also smelled the strong odor, but he did not think much of it and drank it in one gulp. However, this medicine was far harder to swallow than any before; it almost came back up immediately.
Yuan Zhao quickly patted his back and handed him a cup of tea. “Swallow it, swallow it… yes, just like that. It’s good for your body!”
The medicine made him extremely uncomfortable, so Shi Wuxiang did not even eat dinner and went straight back to rest.
Yuan Zhao cleaned up the kitchen, then even brought him a bowl of plain noodles. He leaned by the bedside and gently poked Shi Wuxiang’s arm.
“Ah Xiang, I made you a bowl of noodles. Do you want to eat a little?”
“No.”
“Are you feeling very unwell? Then maybe you should force yourself to vomit it out. If you throw it up, I won’t buy this kind of tonic again,” Yuan Zhao said, feeling guilty.
It didn’t matter if he was ill. As long as he was with Shi Wuxiang, even if they had no children and lived a quiet life together, he didn’t mind.
If no one wanted Shi Wuxiang, he would stay with him for life.
Shi Wuxiang let out a soft sigh. “It’s fine. I’ll recover in a bit. Is there a lot of noodle soup? I’ll drink some.”
“There is. I made extra soup for you.” Yuan Zhao quickly brought it over. Anticipating that he might feel unwell, he had not put in too many noodles, but there was plenty of broth.
Shi Wuxiang drank a few mouthfuls of the broth and finally felt a little better. Seeing Yuan Zhao looking so distressed that he seemed on the verge of tears, he instead let out a soft laugh.
“Why are you about to cry?” he teased. “I’ve recovered a bit now. In fact, the medicine doesn’t seem that bad anymore. If it doesn’t work, I’ll deal with you later.”
“…I really don’t know. It should work, right?” Yuan Zhao pouted. He didn’t say more—he was afraid that if Ah Xiang found out what the medicine actually was, he would refuse to take it.
“Then I’ll take it for a few more days.” Shi Wuxiang pinched his cheek. “It’s all my fault. If my body weren’t this sickly, you wouldn’t have to worry about me like this. In the end, it’s all on me.”
“It’s not like that… I’m sorry…” Yuan Zhao’s lips curled downward, and this time he really looked like he was about to cry.
Ah Xiang was comforting him without even knowing what he had taken. Yuan Zhao didn’t even know what to say anymore.
Shi Wuxiang opened his arms toward him. Yuan Zhao immediately and obediently threw himself into his embrace, resting his cheek against his chest. Listening to that steady, powerful heartbeat, he still couldn’t understand how someone like him could possibly be “unable.”
The one who was ill was Shi Wuxiang, yet the one being comforted was Yuan Zhao.
The two of them fell asleep in each other’s arms as usual.
Late at night, Shi Wuxiang woke up feeling uncomfortably hot. His throat was dry, and when he looked over, Yuan Zhao had already abandoned him, sleeping curled up against the wall.
Shi Wuxiang lightly patted his backside. The soft, springy feel in his palm made him feel even more restless for reasons he couldn’t quite explain.
He got up and drank a cup of cold tea, but it did nothing to ease the irritation. In the end, he simply took the entire teapot outside and drank from it directly.
The night wind carried a faint chill, yet he still felt uneasy. He had never experienced such intense restlessness before in his life, as if he had been drugged.
He walked over to the well, drew up a bucket of water, and poured it straight over his head.
The icy shock finally suppressed the heat in his body—and also scattered that inexplicable urge.
He stripped off his soaked outer garment, dried himself off, and returned to the room under the moonlight.
But the moment his gaze fell on Yuan Zhao, who was still pressed against the wall sleeping, something that had been ignored before suddenly surged up in full force.
Long eyelashes, bright eyes, soft, moist lips, a slender waist—and… Shi Wuxiang stared at his own palm. It felt as if something warm and pliant was still pulsing there, demanding, urging him to get closer.
Damn it.
He cursed under his breath.
Turning back out, he poured another bucket of well water over himself.
What kind of beast was he, getting worked up over someone not yet of age?
But this was not normal for him. The timing made it hard not to suspect the evening meal—or more precisely, the medicine he had drunk.
He had only had a few mouthfuls of noodle broth besides it.
The medicine.
That fishy-smelling medicine.
Shi Wuxiang’s expression darkened. He went to the kitchen and checked the leftover dregs. Even if he wasn’t very familiar with medicinal herbs, he could still recognize that it was indeed a tonic.
Just… not the kind of “tonic” he had assumed.
What on earth was that little brain thinking about all day?
After speaking with Zhou He for a few sentences, it had turned into this. Were those two people assuming he was impotent and trying to “treat” him?
Looking at the medicine stored in the cabinet, Shi Wuxiang felt a headache coming on. He needed to hide it—and not let Yuan Zhao notice anything wrong.
Wait… wasn’t he going to the academy tomorrow?
At that thought, Shi Wuxiang immediately relaxed. No matter how capable Yuan Zhao was, he couldn’t possibly keep watch over him drinking medicine at the academy.
With that in mind, he pulled the sleeping Yuan Zhao into his arms and squeezed his cheeks hard.
Yuan Zhao, still half-asleep, blinked blearily.
“Ah Xiang… even when you’re dark you still look good. I dreamed of you again…”
Shi Wuxiang’s irritation vanished instantly.
“…Did you put honey on your mouth?”
“I didn’t—”
“Alright, alright, you didn’t. You’re dreaming. Go back to sleep.” He patted Yuan Zhao’s back. “Sleep.”
Yuan Zhao, already drowsy, nestled into his arms and fell back asleep.
The next morning, Shi Wuxiang was woken by Yuan Zhao. Seeing the sunlight streaming in, he realized it was already quite late and quickly got up.
“Didn’t you sleep well last night?” Yuan Zhao asked worriedly.
“I had a dream. Didn’t rest properly.” Shi Wuxiang looked at him, his tone oddly dull.
Yuan Zhao grinned. “I had a dream too, but I felt fine. It must be because your body isn’t well. I’ve already packed your medicine—remember to take it at the academy.”
Shi Wuxiang gave a slight nod. “Got it.”
Shi Qingyue had not yet received news from the academy, so he remained at home studying and looking after the younger siblings. Yuan Zhao personally drove the carriage, sending Madam Shi Zhang to the food stall first, then taking Shi Wuxiang to the academy.
Many carriages and carts were already gathered at the entrance—families sending off students.
Shi Wuxiang carried all the bags Yuan Zhao had prepared, while Yuan Zhao carefully held the precious medicine.
Inside the dormitory, students were already present while servants helped make the beds.
“Brother Wuxiang is here.”
“Senior Shi, you even brought Yuan Boss with you? Is he here as your attendant?”
“You came early.” Shi Wuxiang replied warmly. “How could I afford a servant like him? My family is busy.”
Yuan Zhao’s face turned bright red instantly.
He wanted to cover Shi Wuxiang’s mouth but held back, maintaining composure in front of the other students. No matter what his husband said, he only needed to listen quietly.
Shi Wuxiang began changing the bedding himself. Yuan Zhao sat nearby, swinging his legs casually, completely different from the others.
The students exchanged amused glances. They had not expected Shi Wuxiang to be so domestic. But since he was always the most diligent one, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
“Alright, I’ll see you out.” Shi Wuxiang finished and turned to him, calmly taking the medicine and putting it away.
“Don’t forget,” Yuan Zhao reminded softly.
Shi Wuxiang nodded.
After exchanging farewells, Yuan Zhao finally left reluctantly with the carriage.
Once he was gone, Shi Wuxiang had not even returned to the dorm when he ran into Cheng Du, Fu Ying, and Hu Lu.
“We were just about to find you,” Hu Lu said. “The headmaster is summoning us for a discussion.”
“Let’s go.”
The four of them were the academy’s top students. Shi Wuxiang in particular had returned to first place after re-entering school; the rankings among the rest rotated between the other three.
The sudden summons felt related to their results.
After leaving the headmaster’s study, all four of them were still slightly stunned.
It was indeed related to academics—but not in the way they expected.
Due to the drought, urgent talent was needed. Orders had been passed down layer by layer, and academies from various towns were required to select students to go to the county academy, where they would study alongside county students in a newly formed class and compete for excellence.
And their academy had chosen the four of them.
“I still can’t believe it. Is this real?” Cheng Du muttered.
Fu Ying immediately pinched him. “Want me to tear your flesh off?”
“Then I’ll ignore you. Ah Xiang, are you going?” Cheng Du asked.
“No.” Shi Wuxiang answered firmly. “What we’ve learned here is already sufficient. Going to the county means constant travel every month—too time-consuming, too inconvenient.”
Cheng Du clicked his tongue. “I knew asking you was pointless. The one who finds it inconvenient is your husband, right?”
Shi Wuxiang paused.
That was true. He couldn’t refute it.
But he also meant what he said.
Studying here was already enough. Going to the county academy would only divide his focus. And those students were mostly from wealthy or noble families—conflicts were inevitable, and distractions would follow.
Of course, part of his reluctance was also personal.
If he stayed in town, he could see Yuan Zhao every few days. In the county, even that would be difficult.
“These are just my thoughts,” Shi Wuxiang said. “If you want to go, then go. Don’t let my opinion affect you.”
Their relationships were good, but even so, boundaries mattered. He could not take responsibility for others’ choices.
But Cheng Du and the others were much simpler about it.
“Forget everything else. We’re from the same academy. If you’re not going, then we’re not going either,” Fu Ying said.
“Agreed,” Hu Lu added. “If we’re missing one person, it just won’t feel right.”
“Then we’ll report back to the headmaster that none of us are going,” Fu Ying concluded.
The three of them had not gone very far when they quickly made a decision and turned back to refuse the headmaster’s proposal, asking him to send other students instead.
The headmaster not only did not get angry, he actually let out a sigh of relief. “Then I will select other students.”
“It would be good to choose some quick-witted ones,” said Shi Wuxiang. “Let them go and learn more about how the county academies are managed. What they see and hear will all be useful later.”
“Very well.” The headmaster understood his meaning.
There was clearly something unusual about the sudden cooperation between the various academies in the county town. It was likely not as simple as merely needing talent from above.
Shi Wuxiang and the others returned to the dormitory again. Not long after, they heard that the headmaster had summoned other students to the study. Soon after that, several students happily went off to pack their clothes and books.
Yuan Zhao still maintained his schedule of going every two or three days, just as before, with nothing changed. The only difference was that this time, when the day came, he did not go. Instead, he had a restaurant waiter deliver his meal for him.
He was preparing to move his whole family into town.
From early morning he had been packing. Bedding and clothes were all loaded into the carriage, along with other daily necessities, and that was more or less enough.
After all, the townhouse in the town had already been prepared. Bringing a few sets of clothing for changing was sufficient. If anything was missing later, they could always go back to the village to fetch it. They were not abandoning the village house.
Although they had kept a low profile, the villagers still found out. After all, the family usually went to town early every day, but this time they were moving slowly with a carriage—anyone could tell something was happening.
The villagers had no ill intent, but they still asked a few questions, and that was how they learned the truth.
The carriage soon arrived at the residence. The original plaque had already been taken down, and the new one had not yet been hung, leaving the entrance temporarily empty.
Yuan Zhao jumped down first and helped everyone down. Madam Shi Zhang and the others had never been to this residence before. Seeing such a fine house, their breathing quickened. Spending a little over a hundred taels on such a place suddenly felt entirely reasonable.
“Let’s go inside and take a look,” Yuan Zhao said with a smile, a hint of pride in his expression. This was their family home after all.
He led them inside, and only then did they realize how much more spacious it was compared to their previous home. Each person had their own bedroom, and there was also a beautiful backyard where flowers could be planted, even a small vegetable patch if they wished.
“The bedrooms are arranged according to your preferences,” Yuan Zhao said as he brought them to each room. “If there’s anything you don’t like, just say so. We can have someone come and adjust it later.”
Having endured hardship before, simply having their own rooms was already more than enough. Not to mention everything had been arranged according to their tastes—it suited them perfectly.
One by one, they happily carried their belongings into their rooms.
Yuan Zhao first helped tidy up their rooms. Because two people shared a larger room, he had chosen the biggest one.
He spread out the bedding, folded clothes into the wardrobe, wiped everything inside and out, and only then went to help the others.
Jia Xiaomei was not idle either. After tidying her small room, she went out to clean the courtyard. She was diligent and quick-handed, helping Yuan Zhao with the work as well.
After a full day of work, they finally completed the move.
Yuan Zhao rubbed his shoulders and smiled. “Let’s cook more food tonight—rice, dumplings, steamed fish, braised chicken, and a soup. How does that sound?”
“Just cook a bit of everything, but in smaller portions,” Madam Shi Zhang said with a smile. Returning to the town again, she felt a rare sense of pride.
When they had previously returned to the village in defeat, they had cut off contact with many acquaintances and endured plenty of sarcasm. Now that Shi Wuxiang had returned to the academy and Yuan Zhao was running a shop, their life had become prosperous again. Those same people no longer dared to speak carelessly in front of her.
After moving to town, Yuan Zhao made a special trip to the academy to see Shi Wuxiang. He also prepared extra food from their moving meal and asked him to share it with Cheng Du and the others.
Yuan Zhao’s mind was entirely on making money. In order not to disturb Shi Wuxiang’s studies, he reduced the number of visits to the academy, but he still regularly sent meals to improve his diet.
He had asked Lu Xiu before. A trip to the provincial capital for the imperial examination required a great deal of money—expenses for lodging, food, and travel would only increase, never decrease.
The money in the bank was enough, but he could not take it all, and he also worried that the shop might need funds while they were away.
Following Shi Wuxiang’s guidance, the eatery’s offerings had become more and more diverse. It truly lived up to its name.
Duowei Eatery.
Inside, the flavors were rich and varied.
Business became better and better, and naturally profits increased as well. While managing the shop, Yuan Zhao also worried about Shi Wuxiang. As the departure date drew closer, he became increasingly anxious.
He even lost weight, no longer as dark and thin as before, but now looking rather haggard.
“You… boss, you should really rest more,” Lu Xiu said, looking at him in shock. How could a person manage to lose weight every single day?
“Do I look uglier again?” Yuan Zhao cupped his face with a mournful expression, though his round eyes still sparkled brightly, making him look somewhat endearing.
Lu Xiu’s lips parted, but in the end he swallowed his words and changed his tone instead. “Perhaps you should meet with Mr. Shi. If he knew you were neglecting your health like this, he would be angry.”
“Better not. If I go see him now, I’ll only disturb his studies. Making money is more practical,” Yuan Zhao said, standing beside him and fiddling with an abacus. “We’ll be staying in the provincial capital until the results are announced. We need to prepare enough silver. Prices there are high—how could three or five hundred taels possibly be enough?”
Lu Xiu’s usually calm expression cracked for a moment. Three to five hundred taels not enough? Then what did he, who once went to the provincial capital with only a few dozen taels, count as?
“You should still discuss this with Mr. Shi,” Lu Xiu said helplessly, though his tone carried a restrained indulgence.
“Ah Xiang’s health is not good. He needs the best food and care. Whether or not he passes the exam is secondary—if something happens to his health, what then?” Yuan Zhao sighed, resting his chin on his hand. “I must give him the best.”
Jealousy.
A bitter feeling rose in Lu Xiu’s heart. He had many things he wanted to say, but he had no right to feel resentment or jealousy, so he could only swallow it all down.
He had read such love stories in novels. No one could resist such pure and wholehearted affection. No one could help but like it.
Watching Yuan Zhao devote himself so completely to Shi Wuxiang, with no one else in his eyes, Lu Xiu found that he liked this version of Yuan Zhao.
Yuan Zhao tilted his head. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing,” Lu Xiu replied softly.
Yuan Zhao did not press further. Instead, he thought of what Lu Xiu had said earlier. He did miss Ah Xiang a little—he had not seen him for half a month. He would have to wait until Shi Wuxiang’s break.
In the blink of an eye, Shi Wuxiang’s rest day arrived.
Yuan Zhao came to pick him up joyfully. Shi Wuxiang had originally been in a good mood, but after seeing Yuan Zhao’s face, he could no longer smile.
“What happened to you? Dark circles under your eyes, and you’ve lost weight again,” Shi Wuxiang said, cupping his face and frowning deeply. Not even the most difficult problems he had studied could make him look this troubled.
“I just haven’t been sleeping well…” Yuan Zhao also touched his own face. “Do I look very ugly now?”
Shi Wuxiang sighed. “Not ugly, just very haggard. Let’s go home.”
He personally drove the carriage. Yuan Zhao sat at the front beside him, the two of them chatting casually as they went.
Soon, Yuan Zhao fell silent.
Shi Wuxiang noticed that Yuan Zhao’s body was pressed lightly against his back, his head resting against him. He could hear steady breathing, warm air seeping through thin clothing onto his back.
Shi Wuxiang did not stop the carriage. He simply drove on toward home.
When they arrived, the others had not yet returned. He lifted Yuan Zhao with one arm, carried him on his back, and brought him inside. With steady steps, he placed him on the bed before returning to stable the horse.
Yuan Zhao slept deeply and peacefully, not even waking to the noise when Madam Shi Zhang and the others returned.
“He’s been exhausted lately. He hasn’t rested properly for half a month. I often hear him getting up late at night, and it’s all for you,” Madam Shi Zhang said softly. “I even heard him telling Accountant Lu that a trip to the provincial capital would cost at least three hundred taels, and he’s been preparing everything for you.”
These words made Shi Wuxiang’s heart ache with both bitterness and warmth. He was not afraid of hardship. Studying was already a shortcut for him. He simply did not expect Yuan Zhao to consider everything so carefully.
No wonder he had lost so much weight—he had been worrying about all these things. It was exhausting him.
“You—”
“I already tried to persuade him, but I think he misses you so much he can’t sleep. As his mother, I can’t do anything about that,” Madam Shi Zhang said, rolling her eyes at him before heading off to cook. She would make something Yuan Zhao liked to eat.
Now that everyone was finally home, they could eat and rest properly.