“To teach at the county city academy?”
Yuan Zhao and Shi Zhangshi simultaneously cried out in shock. Although they had long known that after becoming a juren one could gain considerable power and influence, they did not expect someone to come seeking him for work this early.
Moreover, it was a position at the county academy. To them, this matter was practically like pies falling from the sky. They had thought they would have to wait until after the metropolitan examination ended, but had forgotten that becoming a juren already qualified them for such things.
Yuan Zhao was the first to react. “Such a good position should of course be accepted. The four of you working together can also look after each other. This is a good thing!”
Madam Shi also recovered from the enormous surprise and nodded repeatedly in agreement. “That’s right, son. This is a rare good opportunity. Even if you fail the metropolitan examination later, you can still continue teaching at the academy. How wonderful is that!”
Every month there would be grain stipends. If county offices lacked officials in the future, they could directly take office. With connections above them, they might even go to the capital and become some tiny official.
The待遇 for being a teacher was even better. Ah Yue would not need to worry about choosing an academy to study at in the future.
With such a good thing, if they hesitated, heaven itself ought to strike them with thunder.
Seeing him silent, Yuan Zhao understood he had concerns. “Are you thinking about Ah Yue?”
Shi Wuxiang sighed lightly. “I only just brought him back and said I would personally teach him, yet now there is such a position. If I make him return to the academy and run back and forth again, that would not be good either. But I also can’t just ignore him…”
“Why bother about him! He’s only taking the exam next year. What does that have to do with your exam this year?” Madam Shi immediately decided for him. “If the county academy allows you to bring him along to audit classes, then bring him. If they don’t allow it, then let him run back and forth to the academy himself so he won’t trouble you!”
She truly was his birth mother.
If anyone else had said such words, they would probably have been cursed behind their back.
For the county academy to recruit them to teach, such a simple matter as auditing classes would certainly be agreed to. Whether Ah Yue himself would agree was another matter.
“Then after returning home, I’ll discuss it with him,” Shi Wuxiang said.
Madam Shi answered a few times before going downstairs to help. If she did not help at her own eatery, she felt uncomfortable.
Only Yuan Zhao and Shi Wuxiang remained in the small private room.
Shi Wuxiang looked at Yuan Zhao with dark eyes, pondering what he was thinking at this moment. Yuan Zhao hummed happily, then accidentally met his gaze.
“W-what is it?”
“You want me to go to the county academy?” Shi Wuxiang asked.
Yuan Zhao did not understand what he meant and only obediently nodded. “Naturally you should go. This is an enormous good thing. You… don’t want to go?”
Looking at Shi Wuxiang’s expression, he saw no joy or sorrow. There was not the slightest happiness from being struck by such fortune. He really did seem unwilling?
He quickly explained, “Y-you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. It’s only a position after all. Don’t let our thoughts affect you. Your own thoughts are the most important!”
“You think I’m considering such things?” Shi Wuxiang could not help laughing mockingly. Raising a hand, he poked Yuan Zhao’s forehead. “I’m going to teach at the county academy. County academy—this means returning home only once a month. Yet you don’t have the slightest reaction?”
Only then did Yuan Zhao suddenly realize.
How had he forgotten this?
That was the county seat. Moreover, Ah Xiang was going there to teach. He could no longer visit every few days like before. Otherwise, what would that look like? Wouldn’t people laugh and gossip?
Yuan Zhao looked at him helplessly. “Th-then I… I’ll do like before… or maybe I can set up a stall in the county seat? Anyway it’s only for a few months. In the second month you’ll go take the metropolitan examination…”
Shi Wuxiang sighed softly and pulled him into his arms, comforting him gently. “Just now you were speaking so firmly, and now you can’t even say a complete sentence. It will soon be New Year anyway. Why should you still run back and forth? I’ll just endure it.”
“I…I also have to endure it?” Yuan Zhao looked at him innocently. His pretty face was nearly scrunched into a bun, clearly feeling terribly wronged.
“How about disguising yourself as my book boy and coming to the academy with me?” Shi Wuxiang rested his chin atop his head and softly proposed a solution.
But these words were only meant to coax Yuan Zhao.
Even if he truly allowed Yuan Zhao to go, he could not bear abandoning Yuan-ge’er just to follow him.
As expected—
Yuan Zhao considered it for a moment before shaking his head. “You’re going there to teach. What would it mean if I followed along? Besides, everyone there is male… but hearing you say such things to comfort me makes me very happy…”
“Good child.” Shi Wuxiang gently patted his back.
Yuan Zhao comfortably narrowed his eyes. Now when Ah Xiang called him “child,” he no longer became angry. He could hear the teasing in his words.
The matter was temporarily settled like this. Once they returned home, they only needed to ask Ah Yue what he thought.
“Going to the county academy?” Shi Qingyue was both shocked and delighted. “Can I go too?”
Shi Wuxiang nodded. “There’s no other way. If you don’t want to go…”
“I want to go, I want to go! That’s the county academy. It must be far better than our academy. But then Big Brother won’t personally teach me anymore, right?” Shi Qingyue’s eyes sparkled with joy and excitement. Now that he would have teachers, Big Brother surely would stop managing him.
“At that time, naturally your teachers will instruct you. As for me? I’ll only ask daily about your lessons, your recitation progress, how well you understand the classics, and whether your essays are well written,” Shi Wuxiang said gently.
He was already doing exactly the same things now. Teaching one person or teaching a group was all the same. Adding one more Shi Qingyue would just count as overtime.
Shi Qingyue was rendered speechless.
No matter where he went, he still could not escape his intelligent yet strict elder brother. Then he might as well go to the county seat!
“Understood. I’ll go with you.”
“Good. Then it’s settled.”
The matter was discussed to this point, and soon they began talking about other things.
Seeing Shi Qingyue gradually grow up made them very gratified. Their younger daughter was already fourteen. After another year of looking around, it would be time for marriage.
“Ranran is almost of marriageable age too. Recently many people have come to the eatery to chat with me, and all their words hint at wanting to arrange a match with her. One daughter in the family sought by a hundred households—that’s exactly it,” Madam Shi rambled.
Shi Qingran had not expected the topic to land on her. Her pretty little face instantly reddened, and she hurriedly carried Yuan-ge’er into the room to hide.
Shi Wuxiang frowned. “She’s only fourteen. Forget marriage—even matchmaking is out of the question! If anyone dares speak nonsense again, Mother can just tell them to come find me!”
Madam Shi looked at him in surprise. “I’m telling you this because I wanted you to help your younger sister look around. Wouldn’t finding some scholar whose background is known be best? Why are you suddenly throwing a tantrum?”
“Mother, waiting another two years wouldn’t hurt. If Ah Xiang is unwilling, then let’s delay it,” Yuan Zhao quickly smoothed things over. “Besides, fourteen really is still young. What if she gets tricked by someone with bad intentions? Better to wait another two years!”
“You only know how to indulge him.” Madam Shi looked disappointed. “In the Shi family, there has never been a husband or wife who only bows their head and yields.”
Yuan Zhao laughed foolishly twice. “Ah Xiang isn’t angry with you. He just thinks Ranran is still young and doesn’t yet have firm judgment. If she’s deceived by someone sweet-talking her, wouldn’t that ruin her whole life?”
Madam Shi snorted lightly. “Being young means being easily deceived. You were deceived by him too.”
After saying that, she could not even be bothered to look at their expressions and directly carried her sewing basket into the room.
Those words made Yuan Zhao somewhat uncomfortable. He subconsciously looked toward Shi Wuxiang and saw only a little helplessness on his face, without much emotion.
Now he somewhat understood Ah Xiang’s thoughts too. After all, if Yuan-ge’er were to start matchmaking two years later, he would also feel uncomfortable. It was too early. He was still a child.
“Mother didn’t mean anything bad, so why were you so fierce? If you want to lose your temper, do it with me. How can you lose your temper with Mother?” Yuan Zhao leaned close and lightly patted his shoulder in exaggerated surprise. “You’re really not behaving well, even less obedient than Ah Yue.”
Shi Qingyue, who had been hiding in the corner not daring to speak, immediately: “???”
Sister-in-law, you’ve become a stranger to me!
Only after hearing him mention it did Shi Wuxiang seem to remember such a person existed. His knife-like gaze instantly landed on Shi Qingyue.
He frowned. “Have you memorized all today’s lessons backwards and forwards? Finished your daily essay? Copied out all the classics? Yet you’re still sitting here stupidly?”
Shi Qingyue angrily stood up.
All he ever did was criticize him criticize him criticize him… Was he some punching bag?
Yet he did not dare retort. He could only stomp his foot to show dissatisfaction before angrily returning to his room.
Yuan Zhao lightly pushed Shi Wuxiang. “Why are you taking your temper out on him? Ah Yue is already very sensible. You’re truly bad.”
“Isn’t it good that I’m not taking my temper out on you?” Shi Wuxiang turned sideways to look at him.
“How can that be the same? Husband and wife quarreling is normal. The aunties in the village all beat and scold their husbands all the time. That means their relationship is good!” Everything Yuan Zhao had seen was like that. It seemed only then was life considered good.
A family noisy and bickering together somehow felt lively.
Shi Wuxiang pondered for a long while before saying, “Every family has its own way of living. You don’t need to stare at how others live. As long as our family lives well, that’s enough. Comparisons only make happiness slip away.”
At this moment, Yuan Zhao still did not quite understand those words.
Happiness was happiness. How could it quietly slip away?
But he still cooperatively nodded. While he did not yet have firm ideas of his own, he only needed to listen to Ah Xiang and follow his lead.
The next day, Shi Wuxiang and the others personally went to the academy to tell the headmaster about the matter. As expected, everyone was willing to go. After all, being teachers at the provincial city academy truly was an excellent opportunity.
The headmaster then separately gave them the official contracts sent by the county academy and instructed them to begin teaching there tomorrow. After all, New Year was approaching, so naturally the more days they could teach, the better.
Once they left, they would remain at the county academy until New Year before returning home. Yuan Zhao worried terribly and wished he could pack every single thing in the house for Shi Wuxiang to bring along.
“The meat sauce is your favorite. I packed two jars for you. When the time comes, share them with Cheng Du and the others.”
“I also picked the thickest bedding for you to bring. It’s all made from newly fluffed cotton. Mother already finished making thick new cotton shoes too. She originally wanted you to wear them during New Year, but wearing them now is fine too.”
“Bring more clothes. In the dead of winter it won’t be convenient for you to wash them yourself, so just spend the money and hire an old woman to do the laundry. Cheng Du and the others will definitely do the same. Don’t be reluctant to spend money.”
He rambled on and on while Shi Wuxiang repeatedly nodded, indicating he understood everything he said.
After packing everything up, Yuan Zhao hired a driver to take them by carriage to the county seat. After saying farewell to the family, Shi Wuxiang left with Shi Qingyue.
Houde Academy.
The academy was located farther away than the academy in town. This was also so the scholars would not be disturbed by the busy market streets and to cut off thoughts of them sneaking out to fool around.
But even so, those who refused to study properly still refused to study properly. Nothing would change.
The headmaster already knew they were coming and brought all the teachers to wait at the academy gates to welcome them. The scene made it seem as though they were some extraordinary important figures.
“They’re here, they’re here!” The headmaster happily went forward to greet them, warmly grabbing Shi Wuxiang’s hand. “This must be the Provincial First Scholar? Truly as handsome as Pan An and overflowing with talent! Gentlemen, please follow us inside. Classrooms have already been arranged for all four of you.”
Shi Wuxiang smiled as he quietly pulled his hand back and politely asked, “May we first put down our luggage? There are still many things that need organizing.”
The headmaster immediately nodded repeatedly. “Of course, of course. I’ll lead the four of you there. The carriage can come inside as well. Hmm? Why is there also a ge’er?”
His tone instantly became impatient, and he immediately prepared to have someone drive Yuan Zhao out. Shi Wuxiang stepped forward to stop him.
“This is my husband, Yuan Zhao. He specially came to see me off today and will leave shortly,” Shi Wuxiang explained. “My body is weak and I cannot do without my husband’s care. In the future he may often come visit me, so I hope Headmaster can be understanding.”
Shi Wuxiang did not know whether Yuan Zhao would truly come, but if he did come once or twice, Shi Wuxiang did not want others barking orders and pointing fingers at him.
Once the headmaster heard this, he immediately understood. Shi Wuxiang was clearly protecting him. The headmaster also realized his own earlier attitude had been poor. But since these men had been specially invited by him, naturally such a small matter could be accommodated.
The teachers’ dormitories at the academy were usually large communal sleeping quarters, but Houde Academy specially arranged a separate room for the four of them. Moreover, the room had been cleaned especially neatly and thoroughly. The treatment was already quite good.
“Then you all settle in first. Later, come to the study so we can speak in detail,” the headmaster said.
“Many thanks for your understanding, Headmaster.”
The headmaster left with the other teachers.
Yuan Zhao immediately began helping them organize their things. He spread the bedding on the sleeping platform. The soft, sturdy cotton quilts would be very warm to sleep under. The clothes were folded and placed into the wardrobe, and the washing items were placed neatly in the corner out of the way.
The servants of the other men also cleaned up efficiently, and soon everything was finished.
“Ah Yue will temporarily stay with you all. You must keep a close eye on his studies, otherwise Mother will worry,” Yuan Zhao said while patting Shi Qingyue. “You should properly audit classes at the academy and stop always playing around with others.”
Living together with Big Brother and being supervised by him every day—
Just thinking about it frightened Shi Qingyue. How could he possibly still fool around with others every day? He could barely cope with Big Brother alone!
“I’ll watch him carefully. Don’t worry,” Shi Wuxiang said, glancing at Shi Qingyue.
Shi Qingyue immediately nodded obediently again and again.
“Then that’s good. I’ll head back first. I can’t stay here too long. When I have time later, I’ll come visit you… all,” Yuan Zhao said.
“Alright. I’ll walk you out.” Shi Wuxiang held his hand and gently rubbed his fingertips. “Rest at home whenever you can. It’s alright even if you don’t come visit me. The conditions at the county academy are much better than in town, so don’t worry about me.”
Yuan Zhao nodded reluctantly. “If your body feels unwell, see a doctor immediately. Don’t drag it out. Ah Yue, you must take good care of your elder brother.”
Shi Qingyue: “…???”
Shi Qingyue sighed softly. “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law.”
Yuan Zhao steeled his heart, climbed into the carriage, and told the driver to leave. Yet after traveling some distance, he still could not resist lifting the curtain to look back. Seeing Shi Wuxiang standing there like a stone monument, he hurriedly waved for him to go back inside.
After returning to the eatery, Yuan Zhao felt absentminded. He had wanted to rest against the front counter for a while, but feared affecting the guests’ moods, so he instead went upstairs to the small private room.
Lu Xiu paused in surprise before carrying a pot of tea upstairs.
“Why did Mister Lu come up?” Yuan Zhao asked awkwardly. He had originally wanted to lie down directly, but now he had no choice but to sit up and greet him with a smile.
“I saw that Boss seemed rather dispirited, so I thought to bring up a pot of hot tea,” Lu Xiu softly said. “Is it because Mister Shi went to the county seat that you’re unhappy?”
Yuan Zhao looked at him in surprise. “That’s not it. Going to the county seat is a good thing. Why would I be unhappy? I’m only worried about him. He’s always physically weak, and now he’s so far from home. If he gets sick, we won’t even know immediately.”
Lu Xiu looked into his eyes. Through those eyes, he could see deep affection and worry, joy and painstaking concern—all for a single person.
How could he not envy that?
And he finally understood. He liked Yuan Zhao, but what he liked was the Yuan Zhao who loved Shi Wuxiang.
Warmth, sincerity, deep affection… those were exactly what he envied most and wanted most. Yet eyes filled with such emotions would never fall upon him.
“Mister Shi isn’t a child. I don’t think there’s any need to worry so much,” Lu Xiu said, unable to understand. He had never experienced such things before and only felt envy and awkwardness.
“Only children deserve to be worried about?” Yuan Zhao found him somewhat strange. “Naturally I worry because he’s my husband. He deserves to be worried over, so I worry.”
Lu Xiu completely fell silent.
Then had someone like him, who had never received concern from his family, done something wrong?
Yuan Zhao turned to look at him. “Mister Lu, is your health alright now? If you feel uncomfortable, you can go back and rest for a day.”
“I’m not… Why suddenly ask that?” Lu Xiu looked somewhat blank, not understanding why Yuan Zhao had suddenly begun caring about him.
“You’re not a child either, but I still care enough to ask after you. You also deserve to be cared about.” Yuan Zhao met his gaze, warmth shining softly in his eyes. “It’s because of our relationship. The most you can receive from me is this sort of surface-level concern, but in the future someone who cares for you more deeply will appear.”
Lu Xiu’s chest trembled violently. The roaring in his ears instantly drowned out all other sounds. He could hear nothing else, yet clearly understood that his secret had been discovered. Even so, the other man did not despise him.
He had even kindly told him that lacking concern from others was not his fault. It was only that the people who would sincerely care about him had yet to arrive.
He had long known Yuan Zhao was very charming.
“Many thanks, Boss, for easing my heart. Then I shall quietly wait for that day,” Lu Xiu said with a relieved smile. The other man had preserved his dignity, so he too had to accept the graceful exit. Otherwise, he would never be able to step down.
Yuan Zhao said nothing more to him, and Lu Xiu tactfully left.
Only after the door closed did Yuan Zhao finally slump weakly against the couch, patting his chest with lingering fear.
He wasn’t some irresistible treasure bun, so why did this keep happening!
Thankfully Ah Xiang did not know. What if he misunderstood?
Yuan Zhao did not brood over the matter for long. Knowing was knowing. Within a few breaths, he tossed it to the back of his mind. Besides, with New Year approaching, the eatery’s business was excellent, and he still needed to prepare holiday goods.
The eatery bustled noisily every day. Many young ladies and young masters especially loved the hotpot skewers. Each visit they ordered huge amounts and slowly ate upstairs while chatting as they ate. Sometimes if they felt they had occupied the room too long, they would even pay extra silver, which was naturally good for the shop.
Managing the eatery’s current business was already difficult enough, so Yuan Zhao did not dare make any rash moves for the moment. He feared that if Ah Xiang one day truly went to the capital to become an official, their family savings and travel funds might not be enough.
But…
Why was he thinking about such things?
If such a day truly came, the one accompanying Ah Xiang and the family on the journey would certainly no longer be him. He only wanted to earn more money so the Shi family would never again live the bitter life they once had.
Not to mention that he himself would also need to take some money away. He could not let Yuan-ge’er suffer hardship either.
.
Only after Shi Wuxiang and the others arrived at Houde Academy did they understand why the headmaster had been so desperate to recruit new teachers. They also became even more grateful that they had never come to the county academy to study back then.
Some students relied on their wealthy family backgrounds and refused to study properly. The poorer students who genuinely wished to study were bullied by them and could not fully focus on learning. There were also several complete troublemakers who existed solely to disgust others.
No wonder the students from their old academy had been bullied after coming to the county academy. Once the troublemakers got moving, even rice porridge would be stirred into mud.
“I want to leave. Why must I suffer here?” Cheng Du muttered to himself while sprawled across the communal sleeping platform, looking deeply shaken. “They can’t even memorize literary classics and commentaries. Were their brains pasted onto couplets with glue?”
Shi Wuxiang also had a headache. They clustered together in groups every day, making it difficult even to discipline individuals separately. Still, occasionally battling wits with those people could be considered interesting.
“The homework I assign is either not turned in at all, or some people scribble nonsense carelessly,” Fu Ying also said miserably. “Why can’t these students be like the ones at our academy?”
Even those who had been forced into studying would only disturb others who also disliked studying. None of them dragged the diligent students into trouble.
Hu Lu had the softest temperament. He had long since lost all strength and methods, only leaning silently against the chair.
Shi Wuxiang smiled. “If you see them as trouble, then they are trouble. But if you treat them like a fart, then once it’s released, it’s gone.”
“That’s a crude way of putting it.” Cheng Du slowly sat up. “You’ve thought of a solution?”
“We only came here to teach and pass on knowledge. As long as we do our own jobs well, that’s enough.” Shi Wuxiang saw the matter very clearly. “The students at this academy were already a pile of rat droppings before we arrived. Even if they still refuse to improve, others will only say that these rotten blocks of wood could not even be saved by newly certified juren. What does that have to do with us?”
Hu Lu hesitated slightly. “Wouldn’t that be somewhat inappropriate? We did come here to teach, after all. If the students are like this, we can hardly escape blame.”
Shi Wuxiang smiled. “Just wait and see. They themselves will beg us to teach seriously.”
Some cheap-skinned people simply loved causing trouble. If you constantly disciplined them, they would feel proud of their own importance. But if you truly ignored them, they would instead become anxious and shamelessly come crawling back themselves.
Hearing this, the other three understood. Though they still had some doubts, if it truly was a good method, then ignoring them for a few days was naturally no problem.
It would also save them from enduring endless disturbances every day and having their moods ruined.
After that, they no longer called students out by name every day. They simply taught normally, assigned homework, and left once finished.
At first the students were delighted, but after half a month passed and they had learned nothing while students in other classes had already memorized the classics fluently, they finally became anxious.