The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 30: Fortune and Misfortune

Qiu Huainan originally wanted to ask Du Yunse about the topics in the prefectural exam, but after a moment’s thought, he realized that those rigid essay questions taken from the Four Books or Xiaojing wouldn’t make any sense to him even if he heard them. And even if he understood, they’d be boring. His curiosity instantly vanished.

Compared to Qiu Huainan’s nervousness, Du Yunse remained completely composed, unfazed by either congratulations or pessimistic remarks. His calm demeanor was like a reassurance pill for Qiu Huainan.

Two more days passed, and the re-examination of the prefectural exam was completed. Now, all that was left was to wait for the educational commissioner to finish grading and announce the rankings. Meanwhile, the Huang sisters had arrived in Xiangping Prefecture. Qiu Huainan joined them in the back kitchen of Shuyi Restaurant, helping test new dishes that Madam Huang planned to present at the Hundred Flavors Competition.

Madam Huang was more than ten years older than her younger sister, Huang Erniang. One was the eldest sister, the other the youngest. Their family had been too poor in the past, and their mother accepted a five-tael silver betrothal gift to send Madam Huang off in a blind marriage to a man in the county town. It was only after she married that she realized what kind of hell she had stepped into.

Her husband already had an illegitimate child with a courtesan. Her mother-in-law was sharp and domineering, always ready to punish her with family discipline. Her father-in-law and sister-in-law were secretly having an affair… It was precisely because their family’s reputation was so bad that they couldn’t find a decent bride locally, forcing them to spend heavily to buy a wife from the countryside.

After enduring several beatings, Madam Huang refused to let her life be wasted away. She saved up money and sought someone to draft a petition, exposing the filth within her husband’s household. She took the matter to court and demanded a divorce, causing an uproar in Zhang County.

The county magistrate, finding her plight both pitiful and admirable, granted her divorce. But by then, she had nowhere to go. The people of Zhang County gossiped about her relentlessly, and her own mother, fearing disgrace, refused to let her return home—disowning her completely.

With only half a sorghum cake secretly given to her by her younger sister, Madam Huang boarded a merchant caravan with the last of her savings, bumping along with the cargo until she reached the prefectural city.

In Xiangping Prefecture, she started at the very bottom, working as a menial kitchen hand in a tavern. But thanks to her bold and loyal personality and her natural talent, she gradually honed exceptional culinary skills, making friends along the way. Eventually, she gained recognition in a Hundred Flavors Competition and saw her fortunes rise.

A few years ago, Madam Huang heard from fellow townspeople that her parents had both passed away. While she felt sorrowful, she was more worried about her younger sister’s situation. She hurried back home—only to catch her two younger brothers attempting to sell Huang Erniang to a human trafficker for money.

Furious, Madam Huang caused a huge scene and severed all ties with her family, taking her sister away from their birthplace.

Huang Erniang, however, had fallen in love with a county errand-runner and didn’t want to leave for Xiangping Prefecture. Understanding her sister’s wishes, Madam Huang decided to open a small restaurant in the county town and even purchased a spice shop as a dowry, staying in Zhang County to accompany her.

Having suffered the hardships of marrying far from home without support, she couldn’t bear to let her sister go through the same thing.

And later, Madam Huang was endlessly grateful for her decision.

Two years into the marriage, the errand-runner revealed his true nature—squandering Huang Erniang’s dowry money on prostitutes. When confronted, he had the audacity to blame the sisters, claiming that if Madam Huang weren’t so overbearing, Huang Erniang wouldn’t have followed her example and failed to behave like a proper wife. He insisted that this was why he sought “gentle and obedient” comfort elsewhere.

Huang Erniang, enraged, suffered a miscarriage. After recovering, she gritted her teeth and demanded a divorce, refusing to leave a single penny to her in-laws.

After that incident, the Huang sisters became infamous in Zhang County. Many people whispered behind their backs, calling them immoral and disgraceful.

But Madam Huang was no longer the desperate woman who had once left home in tears. She had money, skills, and an unyielding spirit. No one dared to insult her face-to-face—except for the likes of Wei Dexing, who occasionally made disgusting remarks. Otherwise, the sisters lived comfortably in town.

Now, in the Shuyi Restaurant’s back kitchen, a stove and cutting board had been specially prepared for them. Madam Huang took the lead as head chef, with Huang Erniang assisting, while Qiu Huainan watched from the side.

Typically, such secret family recipes wouldn’t be shared with outsiders. However, Madam Huang was grateful to Qiu Huainan for improving her red fermented tofu, which had solved a major problem for her. As thanks, she allowed him to observe.

He could make this dish himself in the future, but he wasn’t allowed to sell it.

First, Madam Huang took tender tofu that had been brined but not yet pressed and mixed it with fermented tofu, mashing it into a fine paste. She then brought out a freshly slaughtered young rooster and a high-quality slab of pork belly, coating them evenly with the tofu paste before setting them aside to marinate.

Meanwhile, Huang Erniang washed large bones and prepared boiling water. Madam Huang added the bones, ham, and fried chicken skin to the pot, along with a small slice of ginger to create a clear and flavorful broth.

One must never add too much ginger to broth, or it would overpower the dish.

Qiu Huainan watched as Madam Huang worked with masterful ease, feeling like he had learned a great deal just by observing.

Once the chicken was fully marinated, she carefully scraped off the tofu paste and sliced the meat into thin, uniform layers while keeping the base intact—so the chicken retained its shape.

Next, Huang Erniang heated soybean oil and infused it with fragrant spices, green onions, and ginger. Once it reached the right temperature, Madam Huang repeatedly ladled the hot oil over the chicken, causing the delicate meat slices to crisp up slightly at the edges—forming what looked like layers of beautiful feathers.

Then, she deep-fried the pork belly, cut it into large chunks, and stuffed it back inside the chicken along with the tender tofu, sealing the cavity with thin twigs.

Finally, the chicken was gently simmered in the prepared broth, allowing all the flavors to meld together.

For the finishing touch, she brushed the chicken with a glaze made from red fermented tofu, sprinkled it with minced garlic, and drizzled it with hot oil.

The kitchen was filled with an intoxicating aroma, drawing curious guests from the inn, eager to know what was being cooked.

“Huage’er, you name this dish,” Madam Huang said.

“Me?” Qiu Huainan was surprised.

“It’s for the Hundred Flavors Competition! I can’t just call it ‘fermented tofu chicken with pork stuffing.’ You’ve seen how it’s made—help me come up with a good name!”

Having spent years making lifestyle videos, Qiu Huainan was skilled at naming things. He filtered out all the joke names in his head and quickly thought of a fitting one.

“How about Cai Feng Wo Xia Yun?” (Colorful Phoenix Nesting in Rosy Clouds)

“The red fermented tofu looks like rosy clouds, while the chicken symbolizes a phoenix—a sign of scholarly success. The tofu and pork stuffing can represent the phrase ‘A scholar’s knowledge shines from within’, which perfectly fits the competition’s theme.”

Madam Huang laughed and nodded repeatedly. “Good, this name is excellent.”

For a prestigious dish like this, it had to not only be visually appealing and delicious but also carry an auspicious meaning and a good omen in order to gain fame and sell well.

Madam Huang could already envision how, if this dish earned the praise of the scholar gentlemen at the Hundred Flavors Trial, its connotations of “a belly full of knowledge exudes elegance” and “achieving top honors” would make it wildly popular in Xiangping Prefecture.

She placed the dish on the table and called everyone to eat together.

The dish was exquisitely presented and filled the air with an enticing aroma, making it almost too beautiful to disturb with chopsticks.

Qiu Huanian used his chopsticks to slice open the vibrant red “phoenix” exterior, picked up a piece of crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside chicken, and placed it in Du Yunse’s bowl.

“Try it—eating this will bring you top honors in the exams.”

Du Yunse smiled with his eyes and obediently ate the chicken, drawing laughter from everyone at the table.

“Everyone says our Young Master Du is the reincarnation of the Star of Literary Talent—he hardly needs a dish to secure his top rank.”

“When Young Master Du becomes a presented scholar and truly achieves top honors, this dish will bask in his glory.”

“By then, Hua-ge’er, you must invite me to the celebratory feast!”

Qiu Huanian was amused. “I’ll agree on his behalf—when he achieves top honors, he must endorse this dish, ‘The Phoenix Rests Upon Rosy Clouds’!”

Du Yunse watched Qiu Huanian with gentle, smiling eyes, saying nothing.

The dish was quickly devoured, with everyone singing its praises. Even Zheng Yiwan and Shu Huacai, who had tasted many delicacies over the years, were full of admiration.

“As expected of Madam Huang’s skills! This dish is both novel and delicious, surpassing even those made by the top chefs of Xiangping Prefecture’s grandest restaurants. I won’t exaggerate—at this year’s Hundred Flavors Trial, ‘The Phoenix Rests Upon Rosy Clouds’ is sure to take first place!”

…

In the blink of an eye, it was the eve of the results announcement. That night, Qiu Huanian had a vague and fragmented nightmare. After waking up, he found it impossible to fall back asleep. He tossed and turned on the heated brick bed several times before Du Yunse also opened his eyes.

“Hua-ge’er, what’s wrong?”

“Did I wake you? It’s nothing, go back to sleep.” Qiu Huanian pulled the blanket up to his chin.

Du Yunse was lying an arm’s length away. The moonlight from outside streamed through the window, casting his silhouette in soft light.

That silhouette moved, sat up, and leaned toward Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian felt a warm, dry hand press against his forehead. The slightly calloused palm touching his smooth skin sent a subtle shiver through him.

Du Yunse’s voice, hoarser than during the day, came from above his head. “Good, no fever.”

But Qiu Huanian felt as though his face was hot enough to fry an egg. He struggled a little, but the effect only made it seem like he was nuzzling into Du Yunse’s palm.

“I’m really fine. You should sleep. Tomorrow we have to check the results and attend the Hundred Flavors Trial—we still have to write poetry to review the dishes.”

Du Yunse pulled the blanket up and lay back down beside Qiu Huanian. The moonlight he had blocked out once again shone down, illuminating Qiu Huanian’s fair and delicate face.

“I’ve already slept enough. I’ll keep you company for a while.”

Du Yunse traced every detail of the person in front of him with his gaze, his voice husky and gentle. “Are you nervous?”

“A little.” Qiu Huanian turned halfway onto his side, resting his hand under his face on the pillow. His eyes were bright. “Do you think you’ll be the top-ranked scholar of the academy?”

He had wanted to ask this question for a long time but hadn’t dared, afraid of pressuring Du Yunse. Now, on the eve of the results announcement, he finally found the chance.

Du Yunse chuckled softly. “So this is what’s been on Hua-ge’er’s mind these past few days.”

Qiu Huanian, a little embarrassed, retorted stubbornly, “I’m the one asking—just answer my question!”

“Hua-ge’er wants the truth?”

“Of course.”

Du Yunse reached out and gently brushed away a few stray strands of hair that had fallen over Qiu Huanian’s upturned nose, his fingertips briefly tapping his brow.

That tiny, crimson mole was like a flickering flame, igniting as his touch left it.

“I will be the top-ranked scholar.”

Qiu Huanian was momentarily stunned, not even noticing Du Yunse’s slightly bold gesture.

In public, Du Yunse was always composed, courteous, and unfazed. But when he said these words, his youthful confidence shone like a razor-sharp blade reflecting cold light.

For a brief moment, Qiu Huanian’s heartbeat pounded like a drum.

This man—every new thing he learned about him made his heart race even more.

Qiu Huanian exhaled lightly, his breath trembling from excitement and overwhelming emotion.

“Du Yunse, I…”

I want to kiss you.

But the words never left his lips. Instead, he buried his face into the pillow, leaving only his flushed ears exposed.

He frantically reminded himself: This is ancient times! This is ancient times!

Qiu Huanian heard Du Yunse chuckle softly beside him—a sound like spring water splashing against rugged cliffs, making his heart even more chaotic.

“Huanian…” Du Yunse murmured with a sigh.

He placed his hand on the nape of Qiu Huanian’s pale, slender neck, feeling the pulse of his blood and the pounding of his heart.

Du Yunse’s fingers tightened slightly, eliciting a visible shiver from the person beneath him.

He leaned down, murmuring something by Qiu Huanian’s ear, his gaze deep and lingering as he reluctantly withdrew his hand.

“There’s still time before dawn. Hua-ge’er, now that you’re not worried anymore, try to get some rest.”

He didn’t cross the line any further and lay back down.

Qiu Huanian kept his face buried in the pillow, unmoving for a long time. Hearing no further sounds from Du Yunse’s side, he slowly relaxed.

But the words Du Yunse had whispered in his ear kept echoing in his mind—

“I am fond of you.”

Qiu Huanian stiffly turned onto his side, facing away from Du Yunse, his heart screaming internally like a groundhog.

As a modern person, he had actually been outdone by an ancient scholar!

Du Yunse opened his eyes, watching his turned back, the corners of his lips curving up slightly.

Hua ge’er’s skin was indeed too thin.

…

Early the next morning, Qiu Huanian got up. Zheng Yiwan from the main courtyard heard the commotion and came over. Standing by the door between the two courtyards, he chuckled and said, “Look at those dark circles under your eyes—ah, to be young.”

Shu Huacai chimed in, “Don’t just talk about Hua ge’er. Even I couldn’t sleep well last night, thinking about today’s ranking announcement.”

Qiu Huanian was too embarrassed to admit the real reason he hadn’t slept well. He could only let them assume it was due to nerves over the ranking results, which had left dark circles under his eyes.

Ever since Madam Huang and Huang Erniang had moved in, the population of the Shu residence had grown, and the kitchen was put to good use again. Madam Huang woke up early to prepare breakfast and called everyone to the main courtyard to eat.

“The rankings won’t be posted until the hour of Si(9-11am). Today will be a busy day, so come eat first.”

Madam Huang’s culinary skills were extraordinary. Even simple home-cooked dishes were exceptionally delicious. The pastries and porridge were carefully plated with decorative touches, making the meal a delight for everyone gathered.

As they ate, Shu Huacai remarked, “The entrance of the examination hall will definitely be packed with people today. I’ve sent Shu Wu ahead to check things out. There’s no need for Young Master Du and Hua ge’er to squeeze through the crowd.”

Qiu Huanian wanted to say something, but Du Yunse had already agreed first.

“You don’t look well. Eat something and rest a little longer.” Du Yunse picked up a crispy fried river fish and placed it in Qiu Huanian’s bowl. The golden, crispy river fish paired perfectly with porridge.

Huang Erniang also added, “Hua ge’er, your face looks so pale. Go get some rest.”

Qiu Huanian touched his face. Ever since he got up this morning, he had indeed felt groggy, and his body was completely lacking strength.

After breakfast, Du Yunse urged Qiu Huanian to go back to the heated bed to continue sleeping, while he himself sat by the window reading.

Qiu Huanian couldn’t sleep well. Every now and then, he wanted to ask what time it was. Seeing this, Du Yunse simply took a book and came to sit beside him on the bed.

“I really can’t fall asleep…” Qiu Huanian met Du Yunse’s serious gaze and awkwardly murmured.

Du Yunse sighed, reached out, and gently closed Qiu Huanian’s eyes, blocking the light from outside.

“I’ll read to you, alright?”

Qiu Huanian nodded vaguely. Du Yunse opened the travelogue he had specifically chosen and began reading in a deep, steady voice.

His voice was light and pleasant, with a magnetic quality to its tone. It was even more soothing than the most popular ASMR audio Qiu Huanian had listened to in his past life. As he listened to the tales of landscapes and people from the travelogue, he gradually fell into a trance-like state, hovering between wakefulness and sleep, his body and mind slowly relaxing.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when suddenly, he heard Shu Wu’s voice.

Startled, he immediately woke up. Shu Wu had run in from the main courtyard, excitement written all over his face.

“Congratulations, Young Master Du! Congratulations, Scholar!” He shouted joyfully, drawing the attention of everyone in the courtyard. “Young Master Du ranked first in the Xiangping Prefecture academy exam! He is the top scorer!”

“Everyone outside is saying that this is what they call a ‘Little Three Yuan’!”

Qiu Huanian was so excited that he tried to get up from the bed, but the moment he lifted his head too quickly, his vision went completely dark, and all his strength vanished.

Just before he lost consciousness, he heard Du Yunse’s anxious voice and felt himself being caught in a warm and firm embrace.

“Huanian!”

…

Qiu Huanian woke up to the bitter taste of medicinal soup. His mind was still in a haze when he heard multiple footsteps rushing toward him.

“He’s awake! He’s awake!”

“Hua-ge’er is awake!”

He struggled to blink his heavy eyelids and felt someone gripping his hand tightly, almost painfully so.

His lips were dry and cracked. He barely managed to utter a single word. “Hurts.”

Du Yunse froze for a moment, then quickly released his grip. His eyes were slightly red as he wiped the thin layer of sweat from Qiu Huanian’s forehead. “Hua-ge’er, I…”

He felt deeply guilty.

Qiu Huanian’s head was still throbbing. He noticed that he was still lying on the heated bed, surrounded by the Huang sisters and the Shu couple. He asked, “What happened to me? How long was I unconscious?”

An unfamiliar, elderly voice answered, “Less than an hour. Your body is weak, and you have not taken proper care of it. The sudden joy and shock caused an intense emotional outburst, leading to this episode.”

Qiu Huanian felt slightly better. With Du Yunse’s help, he sat up and leaned against him.

The speaker was an elderly man, nearly seventy years old, with white hair and a long beard that partially obscured his face. His eyes were sharp and piercing, and he held a slender silver needle in his hand.

Qiu Huanian guessed he was a physician. Seeing the cold glint of the needle and the old doctor’s intense gaze, he felt inexplicably nervous.

Du Yunse gently tucked a few strands of hair behind Qiu Huanian’s ear. “Hua-ge’er, this is Doctor Gu. He was once a renowned imperial physician. After retiring, he opened a medical clinic in Xiangping Prefecture. When you suddenly fainted, his son was out treating patients elsewhere. I had to plead repeatedly before the doctor agreed to come in person.”

Doctor Gu let out a cold huff. “If not for your teacher speaking a fair word for me before the emperor, I might never have had the chance to return home. Consider this visit a small repayment of that favor.”

Qiu Huanian wanted to thank him, but Doctor Gu waved his hand dismissively. “Just focus on recuperating. With a body like yours, if you were born into a wealthy family, you would have been given constant medicinal care, and even then, there’s no guarantee you’d be in good health. But look at you, growing up in a poor household and still managing to survive until now—consider yourself lucky.”

Qiu Huanian’s heart stirred. He asked, “Doctor, what is my exact condition?”

From his inherited memories, he knew that this body had suffered from deficiencies since birth. His childhood in the Qiu family was one of constant hunger, cold, and beatings. He had been so frail that he was constantly on the verge of death, surviving purely on sheer will.

After being sold to the Du family village and bought by Widow Li, he had at least been able to eat and sleep well, without suffering beatings or excessive labor. That was the only reason his health had improved somewhat, though he remained sickly.

Since Qiu Huanian transmigrated, he had noticed that his body was better than in the original owner’s memories. Though he still had little strength and tired easily, he no longer experienced frequent dizzy spells or blackouts. He had assumed it was a benefit of transmigration and hadn’t given it much thought.

But now, after suddenly fainting and hearing Doctor Gu’s diagnosis, he realized the situation might not be so simple.

Doctor Gu stroked his long beard. “You were born with deficiencies, and without proper care in your early years, you should not have survived past the age of twenty.”

“But in the past year, it seems you’ve encountered some miraculous fortune—your body suddenly strengthened as if you had taken an elixir. However, that effect has already worn off. Your foundation is still weak, and you are constantly deteriorating internally. If you do not take great care of yourself, your lifespan will still be affected.”

Qiu Huanian was in awe of the doctor’s insight. His transmigration itself was like a miraculous “elixir,” but he had assumed its effects were permanent. Now it seemed it had only provided temporary relief.

His eyes flickered. “Once, when I got lost in the mountains, I stumbled upon a lone ginseng plant. I was so hungry that I dug it up and ate it. No matter how I tried later, I couldn’t find that place again. Thinking back, that ginseng must have been the miraculous medicine you spoke of.”

Doctor Gu chuckled twice, making no comment on whether he believed him.

Du Yunse, however, had turned pale at the doctor’s words—phrases like “should not have survived past twenty” and “lifespan will still be affected” had struck him deeply. His arms tightened around Qiu Huanian, holding him as if afraid he would slip away.

Qiu Huanian patted him twice, trying to reassure him. “Don’t worry, the doctor said that with proper care, I’ll be fine.”

Doctor Gu looked at them and did not give false hope. “Even with proper care, there is only a chance. And the kind of care required is not something an ordinary household can afford.”

“Everyone else should step out for now. I have something to discuss with him privately.”

After the Huang sisters and the Shu couple left the room, Doctor Gu turned to Du Yunse. “Why are you still here?”

Du Yunse met his gaze squarely. “Hua-ge’er is my husband. I must hear this.”

Seeing Doctor Gu’s questioning look, Qiu Huanian cleared his throat. “You can speak freely.”

Doctor Gu sighed. “Since you insist, I will say no more.”

“I know your so-called miraculous encounter was not just a ginseng plant, but I won’t pry. As a physician, my concern is only your well-being, not your secrets. I only need to know—can others obtain this miracle?”

Qiu Huanian replied solemnly, “I was simply lucky. No one else in this entire empire will ever experience the same thing.”

The phenomenon of two nearly identical individuals swapping souls at the brink of death was a once-in-a-billion anomaly. It could never be replicated.

Doctor Gu, both disappointed and relieved, warned them, “These words must never leave this room. If they do, disaster will surely follow.”

Du Yunse promised secrecy and then anxiously asked, “Doctor Gu, please tell me how to properly care for Hua-ge’er.”

Doctor Gu said, “Recovery is not achieved overnight. It requires long-term, consistent care. First, he must not overwork himself. Second, he must not suffer emotional distress. Lastly, he must be nourished with the most precious supplements available.”

Qiu Huanian couldn’t help but ask, “How precious?”

“As precious as possible. There is no upper limit.”

“…”

Doctor Gu looked at Du Yunse meaningfully. “I know your abilities. With your future prospects, acquiring these rare supplements won’t be an issue—that is Hua-ge’er’s fortune.”

“But perhaps, it is also his misfortune.”