The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 48: Heart-to-Heart

By the time Jiujiu returned from the Song residence, the sky was already darkening. Qiu Huanian had prepared dinner for everyone, and since the weather was hot, she made a pot of shui fan following the common northeastern practice.

Shui fan was made by cooking grains in a porridge-like manner until they were fully softened, then scooping them out with a large strainer and cooling them in cold water. When it was time to eat, a large basin would be placed on the table, and everyone could help themselves by scooping the cooled rice from the water.

This dish had the softness of porridge without being as thick, and the substance of dry rice while being much more refreshing and moist.

The cool, smooth shui fan was paired with tender eggplants that had been steamed, cooled, and torn into strips, finely shredded green peppers, hard-boiled eggs that had also been cooled in water, and just the right amount of red fermented tofu—simple yet delicious, a countryside meal perfect for beating the summer heat.

Halfway through the meal, there was a sudden knock on the courtyard door. When Du Yunse opened it, he was surprised to see a county yamen officer delivering a letter.

“The county magistrate invites you to the county office tomorrow for a discussion? What matter could be so urgent that a letter needs to be delivered this late?” Qiu Huanian came over to take a look after the officer left.

Du Yunse handed the letter to her. “Magistrate Wang’s letter is vague about the details. We’ll only know what it’s about once I get there.”

“Sigh, peaceful days are always too few and far between.” Qiu Huanian sighed before returning to her meal.

These past few days, he had readjusted his mindset. Whatever was to come, he would face it steadily. The most important thing was to take each step firmly.

The next morning, Du Yunse left early for the county town. With nothing much to do, Qiu Huanian took a walk to the fields while the sun was still mild.

The cotton plants on the three-acre plot had grown strong and healthy. After the red flowers had fallen, the branches were now laden with heavy cotton bolls. A few of them had already begun to dry out, indicating that the time for them to crack open and reveal their fluffy cotton was not far off.

The hired farmhands working in the field saw Qiu Huanian and set down their tools, greeting him with smiles.

In Du Family Village, some households had many family members but little land—just a few acres of dry fields were not enough to keep them fed. The able-bodied had to leave home to work and provide for their families. Since Qiu Huanian started hiring workers, these farmhands could now earn money while working close to home, no longer having to endure hardships elsewhere. They were all grateful to him and hoped that his family would continue to do well, so they could keep earning a livelihood.

Among the three workers he hired, two were brothers—one named Yun Ting, the other Yun Lei. Their family had not yet split up, with six brothers in total. The four elder brothers were already married with children, and their household had nearly twenty members but only four acres of dry land. These two younger ones had no choice but to work outside to make ends meet.

Yun Ting, already in his late twenties, had a square, ruddy face and was a solid, honest man. He was so strong that he could carry a hundred-pound sack of vinegar dregs with ease.

As Qiu Huanian watched Yun Ting applying fertilizer, he chuckled and said, “I heard from Auntie Qiuyan the other day that you’re getting married?”

Yun Ting’s face immediately turned an even deeper shade of red, and he stammered, unable to find the words to respond. His younger brother Yun Lei, who was working on the other side of the cotton field, shouted teasingly, “He’s already set to marry! It’s a young ge’er from Shangliang Village—he’s actually somewhat distantly related to you, Huanian. The wedding will be right after the autumn harvest.”

“Huanian, you should’ve seen my fifth brother when he first met him! He took one look at him, then jumped up and started pounding his chest, saying he’d make sure to give him a good life. Standing there all big and burly like a night demon, he nearly scared my future fifth sister-in-law to tears.”

Qiu Huanian had never heard this gossip before, but imagining the scene, he could barely hold back his laughter. If he laughed any more, Yun Ting might just bury his face in the dirt.

Despite his embarrassment, Yun Ting radiated joy. His age was already considered old for marriage in ancient times, but he had remained single because his family was poor. This time, thanks to the six taels of silver he had saved up while working for Qiu Huanian, he was able to arrange a match through a matchmaker.

Thinking of his betrothed xiao fu-lang, Yun Ting grinned foolishly. The young ge’er had indeed been startled at first, but after recovering, he had gifted Yun Ting a handkerchief he had embroidered himself and had even shyly told him not to overwork himself. He had said that he could spin thread and weave cloth, so once they married, they would surely be able to build a good life together.

That handkerchief had been kept close to Yun Ting’s heart ever since, warm against his skin, its presence filling him with boundless energy as he worked.

After the autumn harvest, he would finally be able to marry and start a family…

…

Since Du Yunse was not home that day, the children stayed in the study to review their lessons on their own. After Jiujiu finished her calligraphy practice, Qiu Huanian happened to have picked half a basket of pears. Since pears did not last long in summer, they could only be given away. Seeing this, Jiujiu eagerly volunteered to help deliver them. Chi Qinghe, who had never explored the village in the northeast before, also wanted to go along.

In the end, Chi Qinghe set out with her main maid, Qiao Yin, and the carriage driver. The four of them walked along the village path together, drawing the attention of many villagers.

After they had walked a distance, the villagers began whispering amongst themselves.

“So that’s the daughter of Scholar Song’s family? She looks just like a painting, as if she’d scatter in the wind.”

“She’s a true noble lady! Even going out for a simple trip, she brings two attendants. Tsk, tsk, tsk. People like us couldn’t dream of that in a hundred lifetimes.”

“Jiujiu is chatting and laughing with her, and she doesn’t seem the least bit overshadowed…”

“I think Miss Song is naturally gentle and kind, like an immortal descended from the heavens. They say the jade bracelet Zi Rong brought back belonged to another noble lady—how is it that one lady can be so different from another?”

…

Chi Qinghe vaguely sensed the villagers’ stares and murmured conversations, making her slightly uneasy. But soon, she was captivated by the tiny weeds by the roadside, the sparrows on the branches, the small puddles on the ground, and the earthen walls and mud-brick houses she had never seen before. With Jiujiu providing just the right explanations, she gradually began to ask questions herself.

Beneath the blue sky and white clouds, among the mud walls and green willows, the knot in Chi Qinghe’s heart, which had never loosened before, finally began to ease—just a little.

The group arrived at the chieftain’s house. Ye Taohong was picking fruit in the garden. When she saw them, she came out to greet them.

“Jiujiu, you’re here to deliver pears again today? Oh my, this must be Miss Chi. She truly looks like a beauty from a painting.”

Chi Qinghe shyly covered her mouth with a handkerchief and softly said, “Auntie, good day.”

Ye Taohong’s smile deepened. “My maiden family is from Taohua Town. We’re somewhat related by kinship. Come in and have a seat. I’ll call Cunlan.”

She lifted the basket in her hands. “I just picked some crisp jujubes from our trees. These unripe ones are crunchy and refreshing, only available this time of year. Jiujiu, take some home with you later.”

The group entered the courtyard. During the day, most people were out working in the fields, with only a few children remaining at home. Ye Taohong had them greet Chi Qinghe before sending them off to play elsewhere.

Cunlan emerged from the back, patting grass leaves off her clothes, lowering her head and standing silently behind her mother. Ye Taohong was still chatting and laughing with the guests, unaware of her daughter’s unusual behavior, but Jiujiu noticed and furrowed her brows with concern.

“Cunlan, what were you doing just now?” Jiujiu asked while looking elsewhere.

Cunlan kept her head down, staring at the tips of her shoes. “Changing the straw in the duck pen. The last batch was sold off, and my mother plans to raise a new flock of ducklings.”

Jiujiu cleared her throat lightly. “I’m free today. How about I help you?”

Cunlan shook her head repeatedly. “No, no, you can’t do that.”

Ye Taohong chuckled. “Exactly, how could we let a guest do work? There’s no rush with the duck pen. Cunlan, go play with Jiujiu first.”

Cunlan remained silent for a moment, and Jiujiu didn’t know what to say either. The two young girls lowered their heads, both staring at the ground.

Chi Qinghe observed them, her eyes flickering with thought. After a moment, she softly said, “Is the duck pen in the back? May I take a look?”

“Well… that place isn’t very clean…” Ye Taohong hesitated. The young lady’s dress was made of the finest silk and satin. What if it got dirty or torn?

Qiaoyin, who stood beside Chi Qinghe, chuckled. “Auntie, don’t worry. My lady grew up in a residence, so everything outside seems fascinating to her. What you find ordinary, she actually loves dearly.”

Left with no choice, Ye Taohong said, “Then, Cunlan, take Miss Chi over to have a look. Be careful not to let her bump into anything.”

Cunlan and Jiujiu simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally found something to do, so they walked toward the back, keeping an appropriate distance between them.

The duck pen was located in a corner at the base of the wall, surrounded by a finely woven willow fence about two feet high. Next to it was a small door that was used to let the ducks out for grazing.

Cunlan had already cleaned the duck pen earlier, laying down a layer of straw, making the area look neat and tidy. Seven or eight little ducklings were confined in a narrow-mouthed basket, not yet released.

Chi Qinghe curiously leaned in to look at the ducklings. They flapped their wings and lifted their heads to call out, startling her into stepping back instinctively. Seeing this, Cunlan quickly moved the basket a little further away.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Chi Qinghe asked Cunlan, “Aren’t ducks supposed to live in water? Since they’re this small, how long do you have to raise them before they start laying eggs?”

Cunlan answered skillfully, “Young ducklings are easy to raise, but they can also die easily, so we have to keep them penned up for a few days first. Once they grow a little bigger, we have to herd them to the small river in the back every day. After four or five months, they mature and start laying eggs. Ducks don’t lay as many eggs as chickens, but duck eggs sell for more than chicken eggs, and duck meat is pricier too.”

“Herding ducks? That must be fun,” Chi Qinghe said.

Cunlan replied in a dull tone, “You just use a whip to drive them out, let them swim in the river, and then drive them back before nightfall.”

Chi Qinghe imagined the scene and sighed softly. “Leading white-feathered flocks at dawn, bringing the ducks home at dusk… It’s just like something from the poems of the Five Willow Gentleman.”

Cunlan didn’t understand the reference, nor did she know who the Five Willow Gentleman was, but she more or less gathered that Chi Qinghe was praising something. Somehow, her mood relaxed slightly.

She pointed at the ducks and said, “My mother makes the best salted duck eggs and smoked duck racks. When they’re ready, we’ll bring you some.”

“And… and Jiujiu once mentioned that duck down can be used to make clothes. I’ve been saving up the down, so I could try making something.”

Jiujiu blinked rapidly upon hearing Cunlan finally address her by name. “Call me when you try it.”

“…Alright.”

The two young girls glanced in opposite directions, neither speaking first.

Chi Qinghe pursed her lips and smiled. “I always thought I was among the more capable young women my age, but after meeting you two, I realized I had been like a frog at the bottom of a well.”

Cunlan had heard Jiujiu explain that phrase before and was startled by Chi Qinghe’s words. Jiujiu was one thing, but how could an illiterate village girl like her deserve such praise?

“Miss Chi, please don’t joke like that.”

“I’m not joking, I mean it.” Chi Qinghe lowered her eyes and said, “I’m five or six years older than you, yet I’ve never been able to ease my family’s burdens. Instead, I’ve always made my parents worry about me and fret over my future…”

“But when I look at you two, so young yet already taking responsibility for your own worlds, I can’t help but think… Compared to you, aren’t I just like those characters in books—people mocked for being clumsy with their hands and ignorant of how to grow crops?”

“No wonder my aunt told me to truly observe those around me and to learn from Jiujiu.”

“Only now do I realize, as beautiful as poetry is, it is still just poetry…”

Chi Qinghe had only meant to speak casually, but as she continued, emotions welled up in her chest, and tears shimmered in her eyes.

Standing on foreign soil, recalling her parents and homeland—whom she might never see again—Chi Qinghe finally felt a different kind of ache, one she had never known before.

It was the pain of growing up, the pain of understanding she had to move forward yet still grieving the separation.

“Miss Chi?”

“I’m fine. You’re Jiujiu’s cousin, so just call me Sister Qinghe, like she does.”

“Sister Qinghe, shall I take you to the orchard to see the jujube trees?” Cunlan didn’t understand what Chi Qinghe had been through, nor did she know how to comfort her. All she could do was offer this clumsy suggestion.

Seeing Chi Qinghe’s heartbroken expression just moments ago, Cunlan felt both confusion and a vague sense of understanding.

She had always thought that someone like Chi Qinghe, a lady with maids to serve her and knowledge of poetry and etiquette, must live a life like that of an immortal.

But just now, she suddenly realized that even young ladies like her didn’t always live happily and sometimes even envied people like her.

So Jiujiu… Did she also have new troubles now that Cunlan couldn’t even begin to understand?

Cunlan led Jiujiu and Chi Qinghe to the orchard to pick green jujubes. The chieftain’s orchard had four or five jujube trees, all just over a person’s height. The crisp jujubes, tinged with red among the green, hung in clusters, looking particularly enticing.

Chi Qinghe hesitated for a moment before eagerly picking jujubes with a basket in hand. Even when she accidentally pricked her fingers on the tree’s thorns, she remained happily engrossed in her task.

When they were about to leave, Jiujiu and Chi Qinghe each took half a basket of green jujubes. Chi Qinghe removed a silk flower adorned with pearl tassels from her hair, intending to give it to Cunlan, but Cunlan refused.

“I ate your jujubes, so you should take my flower. It’s not about the value, but the sentiment. Friends should exchange gifts.”

Cunlan still pushed the silk flower back. She hesitated, glanced at Jiujiu, and rubbed the hem of her clothes with both hands before saying, “Then… could I trade it for a book on basic literacy?”

“You want to learn to read, Cunlan?”

“If it’s too expensive, borrowing is fine, or just don’t—”

“How could that be? It’s just a thin Mongolian book. If we talk about price, it’s not even as valuable as my silk flower. Besides, I already said earlier that there’s no need to count the cost for this.”

“I’ll bring it for you next time I come. I visit Du Family Village often. If there’s anything you don’t understand, aside from asking Jiujiu, you can also ask me. Jiujiu said you’re her closest friend in the village, so there’s no need to be polite with us.”

Upon hearing this, Cunlan’s nose suddenly stung with emotion. “This is too, too much trouble for you all.”

“The sages often say ‘teaching others tirelessly.’ I just love teaching people to read. If you don’t believe me, ask Qiaoyin?”

Qiaoyin laughed and chimed in, “My lady is just like that. Others love reading, but she gets even happier than they do. If it weren’t for the fact that I really don’t have the brains for it, she would’ve wanted to teach me into a scholar by now.”

“Qiaoyin…” Chi Qinghe lowered her head in embarrassment.

Cunlan finally relaxed completely and also started to laugh.

…

In the afternoon, a carriage from the Song Residence took Chi Qinghe away. Watching the carriage leave the village, Cunlan dawdled her way toward Jiujiu’s house.

Halfway there, she saw Jiujiu also heading in her direction. The two little girls’ eyes lit up when they saw each other, but then they both looked at the sky, at the ground—anywhere but at the other person.

“Shall we talk by the riverbank?”

“Sure, I happen to need to cut more grass.”

“I need to cut grass too. Chunsheng has been slacking off again these past few days.”

The two of them giggled, went home to grab their machetes and baskets, and headed together to the river behind the village.

Once they reached a secluded spot, Cunlan scuffed the ground with her foot and spoke softly, “I was wrong the other day. I’m here to apologize.”

Jiujiu started speaking at almost the same time, “I know you must have been going through something difficult. I shouldn’t have been mad at you.”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Jiujiu asked while cutting grass, “Why did you change your mind about studying again?”

“It’s not about studying. I just want to recognize some words, so I don’t end up being unable to read letters or contracts and get cheated in the future.”

Cunlan swiftly cut the grass, her lowered bangs covering her eyes. “I’m not like you. I mean that seriously, not out of spite. Your family is small, and both your older brothers are capable. Your eldest brother is practically a literary star descended to earth. You can study alongside Chunsheng.”

“But my family… My grandfather had three sons and two daughters. Among all the family members, my eldest uncle’s family is the eldest branch, and my eldest cousin Yun Cheng is promising. He holds the highest status at home. My third uncle’s family had three sons in a row, and my grandfather is most biased toward them. Only our second branch is stuck in the middle—not many sons, no outstanding abilities—just a burden.”

“If I were to study like you, even if I didn’t die from the work, I’d drown in the spit of everyone talking behind my back.”

“Right now, our family is only paying for Yun Cheng to study. How could there possibly be a chance for me?”

Jiujiu frowned slightly. “If you come to learn from me every day, using the paper I’ve already used, without spending money on books or supplies, would that still not work?”

Cunlan’s throat tightened. After a moment, she whispered, “I have so much work to do every day. Even if I finish it early, if they see me idling, they still won’t be happy.”

“I… I was never meant for this in the first place…”

Jiujiu angrily slammed her basket of cut grass onto the ground. “You weren’t thinking like this before! When I asked if you wanted to study, you were so happy. What happened? Why won’t you even tell me?”

“Jiujiu, just stop asking, okay? Even if you knew, what difference would it make?” Cunlan sniffled as she spoke softly.

Jiujiu took a deep breath, and her voice choked up as well. “No, I insist on asking. At least let me have peace of mind.”

“In the past, my mother didn’t like interacting with the villagers, and I never had any friends. I was timid, afraid to speak to others. You were the first one to pull me along to play. We’re from the same clan, and in my heart, I see you as my real sister. But now you’re treating me like an outsider.”

“You’ve been avoiding me these past few days, refusing to see me. Do you know how awful that felt? Worse than when you returned the book and said you would never study again.”

After all, Jiujiu was still a child, and Cunlan had been by her side as she grew and changed. The more she spoke, the more upset and wronged she felt, struggling to keep her tears from falling.

“Hua-gege noticed something was wrong, but I didn’t tell him. I wanted to wait for you to make up with me and explain it yourself. This is our secret. We don’t need the adults to interfere.”

“I… I…” Cunlan listened to Jiujiu’s words, and then she remembered what Chi Qinghe had said earlier: “Jiujiu said you’re her best friend in the village.” At that moment, her heart burned with guilt, and tears burst from her eyes.

The two little girls stood by the gently flowing river in the setting sun, surrounded by the fresh scent of newly cut grass, watching each other cry. Neither knew how long they cried, but at some point, one of them suddenly laughed, and the other quickly followed.

“My little brother stopped crying like this when he was three. This is so embarrassing,” Cunlan muttered.

“In my house, only Chunsheng cries. I never cry,” Jiujiu said as she wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

Cunlan tidied up the grass she had messed up earlier and let out a long breath. “I feel so much better after crying. It’s like the weight on my chest is gone…”

“So hurry up and talk already.”

Cunlan sat down and picked up a long blade of grass to weave a grasshopper. “I always knew that someone at home wouldn’t like me studying. At first, I got excited and secretly asked you to teach me, sneaking around at home. But in the end, Yun Zhe found out.”

“Your third uncle’s eldest son? He’s a few days older than you, right?”

Cunlan nodded. “Back then, my third aunt and my mother were pregnant around the same time, and Yun Zhe was born just a few days before me. After Yun Cheng passed the county exam, Grandfather thought our family had a chance in the imperial exams and planned to send Yun Zhe to study. But my mother wasn’t happy about it, so it never happened.”

“Why wasn’t your aunt willing?” Jiujiu remembered that Ye Taohong had always been warm and enthusiastic.

“Yun Zhe and I were born around the same time, but he was a son, and I was a daughter. So back then, most of the family’s resources were given to my third aunt and Yun Zhe. She drank fresh goat milk every day, while my mother barely got a few eggs during her postpartum recovery. She has held a grudge ever since.”

“Also, studying costs a lot. If Yun Zhe goes to school, our family’s money will be used too. Even if every household eventually gets to send one child, my little brother is only three years old. Who knows how long it would take before it’s his turn?”

…

By the time Qiu Huanian had waited half the day, Du Yunse finally returned home under the sunset. The moment Qiu Huanian heard the door open, he hurried to ask, “What did Magistrate Wang say?”

Du Yunse knew that Qiu Huanian was anxious to hear the result, so he kept it brief. “The imperial envoy inspecting the border has arrived in Xiangping Prefecture and is said to be close to the Second Prince. The imperial court is drafting labor conscription in Zhang County and the surrounding counties—one person per household, with no exceptions.”