The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 61: The Wolf Pack

Seeing Qiu Huanian enter the kitchen with his things, Meng Wudong put on his thick coat, picked up a machete, and said he was going to check the back mountain.

Chunsheng wanted to go along, but winter was different from summer and autumn—it was freezing cold, and the roads were covered in snow. Qiu Huanian wasn’t at ease, so he stopped him.

Chunsheng was a bit unhappy, so Qiu Huanian gave him a new task: to go to Yun Kang’s house and ask Hu Qiuyan if she had any extra small baskets and bring some back.

If she didn’t, he should ask Hu Qiuyan to weave a few.

Hearing that he could go find Yun Kang to play, Chunsheng happily ran off.

Qiu Huanian sorted the materials into categories and prepared to make popcorn.

The DIY popcorn commonly seen in modern times is usually a semi-finished product made with processed corn kernels—just tear open the package, put it in the microwave, and in a few minutes, it’s done.

In fact, natural corn kernels can also be used to make popcorn, but the process is slightly more complicated.

Qiu Huanian took a few ears of corn that had been harvested and stored in autumn, broke them in half, inserted a pair of scissors into the core, tapped and twisted them, and the cobs automatically split into several pieces, making it easy to remove the kernels.

To make popcorn, the corn kernels must be plump and round, and it’s best to hand-shell them rather than using a machine to improve the popping rate.

When Qiu Huanian harvested corn in the autumn, he only picked the best ones, making them perfect for popcorn.

He placed the corn kernels into a pot, heated them over medium fire, and stirred them evenly until they were hot. Then, he added a spoonful of salt and half a bowl of soybean oil.

Soon, the kernels started making crackling sounds in the pot, with some already impatiently bursting open into white blossoms.

Qiu Huanian quickly stirred the kernels a couple of times and pressed a thick wooden lid over the pot to prevent them from flying out and burning someone.

The fire roared in the stove, and the sound under the lid crackled like a dense rain shower, playing a wonderful and moving symphony.

Every minute or two, Qiu Huanian carefully lifted the lid slightly, creating a small gap through which he inserted an iron spatula to stir the popcorn, ensuring even heating and increasing the popping rate while preventing burning.

After a few minutes, the noise in the pot gradually died down, with only an occasional pop now and then.

Qiu Huanian turned off the fire and lifted the lid. What had once been a single layer of kernels at the bottom had now expanded into a full pot.

The white and slightly yellow popcorn was piled high in the pot, like clusters of light clouds.

Ignoring the heat, he picked up a few pieces with his fingertips and tossed them into his mouth. The familiar fluffy and slightly crispy texture made him squint in satisfaction and smile with delight.

Being able to eat popcorn even in ancient times was truly satisfying.

However, the current popcorn only had the mild sweetness of corn itself—it was not yet the final product.

Qiu Huanian covered the pot again to prevent the popcorn from absorbing moisture and turning soft.

He lit another stove, poured a bowl of water and an equal amount of sugar into a pot, and stirred it slowly over low heat.

This step was for making caramel, which required great care. Controlling the heat was crucial—if it was too low, the caramel would be too thin and wouldn’t coat well; if it was too high, the caramel would harden and turn bitter.

Caramel could be made with either water or oil. The latter was faster, but the former was easier to control.

To be on the safe side, Qiu Huanian chose to use water.

Gradually, the colorless sugar water in the pot turned into a rich amber syrup, with tiny bubbles continuously rising, filling the kitchen with the aroma of caramel.

Jiujiu rushed in from outside, holding a jar in her arms.

“Hua Gege, I bought the buffalo milk you asked for.”

There was only one family in Du’s village that raised buffaloes, and their milk production was limited. They usually kept it for themselves, so they were quite surprised when Jiujiu came to buy some.

Qiu Huanian took the jar of buffalo milk and poured half a bowl into the caramel syrup in the pot. As the caramel mixed with the milk, the already enticing aroma gained an added layer of rich creaminess.

Jiujiu sniffed the air and couldn’t help but say, “It smells so good.”

Qiu Huanian smiled, “Don’t rush, it’ll be ready soon.”

He didn’t turn off the fire. While the caramel and milk mixture was still liquid, he added the popcorn from the other pot and gently stirred it to ensure that each piece was evenly coated with caramel.

Ordinary popcorn tends to lose its crispness once it cools, but caramel-coated popcorn remains crunchy even after cooling, preserving its deliciousness.

By the time Qiu Huanian finished making the popcorn, Chunsheng had also returned. He had wanted to play with Yun Kang for a while longer, but knowing that Qiu Huanian was waiting for the small baskets, he didn’t delay.

Since willow branches weren’t available in this season, the small baskets Hu Qiuyan provided were woven from bamboo. Each had a capacity of about one liter and came in various designs—little crafts she had made in her free time and kept as decorations at home.

Qiu Huanian packed the popcorn into the baskets. The few ears of corn had yielded a total of six full baskets of caramel popcorn.

Chunsheng stared at the popcorn coated in golden brown caramel, his mouth practically watering.

“Go wash your hands. Once your hands are clean, you can eat,” Qiu Huanian called them over.

Washing hands directly with river water in winter was too cold, so Qiu Huanian set up a large insulated barrel in the kitchen, wrapped in layers of straw. Each time after cooking, he would use the residual heat from the pot to warm up half a barrel of water, leaving it for the family to use for washing.

Jiujiu and Chunsheng fetched some water and ran off to wash their hands, while Qiu Huanian picked up a small basket and went to the study.

Du Yunse was sitting at the desk, engrossed in his studies. His jet-black hair was casually tied up at the back of his head, with a few strands of blue-black hair draping over his shoulders, winding down and falling onto the snow-white paper.

His brow bones were sharp, his lips thin and light in color, and his features were as handsome as a painting.

The sound of Qiu Huanian pushing the door open was very light and did not disturb him.

Qiu Huanian stood by the door, admiring the scene of the beautiful man reading quietly for a while before deliberately raising his hand to knock on the door.

Du Yunse suddenly lifted his head, snapping out of his bookish world when he saw Qiu Huanian’s beaming smile.

“Classmate Du Yunse, it’s time for a break. Want to have some snacks?”

Du Yunse had already caught the scent of caramel and milk. He looked at Qiu Huanian’s hands hidden behind his back. “Hua ge’er has already made them?”

Qiu Huanian briskly walked up to the desk and suddenly lifted the small basket hidden behind him right in front of Du Yunse’s eyes.

“Ta-da!”

Qiu Huanian peeked out from behind the basket. “Quick, guess what this is.”

“…”

Du Yunse couldn’t help but smile. Hua ge’er like this was truly adorable.

Playing along, he picked out a piece of popcorn and examined it closely, noticing the remnants of corn husk.

“This is made from corn?”

“Yes, I plan to call it ‘popcorn.’ I haven’t seen anything like it around Zhang County. I wonder if other places have it.”

Du Yunse thought for a moment and shook his head. “I haven’t seen anything like it during my travels.”

Qiu Huanian was reassured. After all, the Yu Dynasty was a parallel world, and many things differed in their historical development compared to the modern world.

Since corn was also a kind of ‘mi’ (grain), calling it popcorn made perfect sense.

“Making popcorn is harder than making sorghum candy, and since no one saw me making it, anyone trying to imitate it won’t find it easy.”

“At the very least, we’ll definitely be able to sell it throughout this winter.”

Qiu Huanian spoke confidently. So what if Wei Dexing had used underhanded tactics to steal the sorghum candy recipe? He would definitely reclaim the market!

“Yunse, quickly try it while it’s hot. Although it still tastes good even after it cools with the caramel coating, it’s best when warm.”

Du Yunse’s hands were always clean. Every time before reading in the study, he would carefully wash them to avoid dirtying the books.

Qiu Huanian held up the small basket, and Du Yunse picked up a few pieces of popcorn and put them in his mouth. Under Qiu Huanian’s expectant gaze, he nodded. “The taste is excellent.”

Qiu Huanian placed the small basket to the side. “These are for you to eat slowly. People tend to get sluggish in winter, so make sure to take breaks. Balancing work and rest will make you more efficient.”

He took some paper from a nearby shelf for writing invitations. “Come on, write two invitations for me before continuing your reading.”

Du Yunse smiled. “So this popcorn isn’t really a ‘snack’ but a ‘bribe.’”

Qiu Huanian deliberately raised an eyebrow and tapped the desk. “Just tell me—are you eating or not? Are you writing or not?”

Du Yunse obediently nodded. “I rely on Hua ge’er for food and lodging now, so of course, I’ll do whatever Hua ge’er says.”

Qiu Huanian stifled his laughter, coughed lightly, and kept a serious face. “That’s more like it. Write two invitations—one for Scholar Song’s household and one for Magistrate Wang. Tell them we’ve been experimenting with food during the idle winter and have come up with something called ‘popcorn.’ Invite them to try it.”

Du Yunse picked up his brush, carefully choosing his words. “And subtly ask them to praise it?”

“You understand me well, Yunse.” Qiu Huanian grinned. “If they could also serve it to guests during gatherings and praise it publicly, that would be even better.”

He curved his eyes, and his beautiful lips lifted into an excited smile, like a clever and adorable little fox.

Du Yunse couldn’t help but lift his hand and gently wipe away a tiny piece of popcorn crumb from the corner of Qiu Huanian’s lips, then, as if bewitched, placed it into his mouth.

It was a sweet, milky taste.

…

About half an hour later, Meng Wudong returned from the back mountain, carrying nothing but half a bundle of firewood.

“In winter, the animals in the mountains all hide away—the small ones get eaten by the big ones, and the big ones are hard to catch…” He unloaded the firewood as he spoke. “Oh right, I saw signs of a wolf pack in the mountains. Hua ge’er, you all need to be careful. If the wolves get too hungry and come into the village, they’ll not only kill livestock but could also take human lives.”

From the memories of the original owner, Qiu Huanian knew that if a wolf pack entered the village in winter, casualties were inevitable, and his heart tensed up.

“Your courtyard walls are high and solid. As long as you stay inside, the wolves won’t be able to get in,” Meng Wudong reassured him. “Just make sure not to go out after dark.”

Qiu Huanian nodded and planned to add some protective measures to the courtyard wall later.

Meng Wudong tried the popcorn Qiu Huanian made and was immediately amazed. Even in modern times, high-fat, high-sugar puffed snacks were hard to resist—let alone in ancient times when food options were limited.

The moment the popcorn entered his mouth, it was like Columbus discovering the New World!

“Hua ge’er, how are you planning to sell this popcorn?” Meng Wudong asked eagerly. He couldn’t believe that people with money could resist buying this!

“Popcorn is tricky to make and uses expensive ingredients, so it won’t be as cheap as sorghum candy.” Qiu Huanian had already done the calculations. “I’m thinking of selling a one-sheng portion for sixty wen.”

A sheng of popcorn required two ears of corn, one liang of sugar, one liang of oil, three liang of buffalo milk, and a small amount of salt, which was negligible. The cost price was about thirty wen, and with the usual food industry profit margin of 50%, Qiu Huanian set the price at sixty wen.

“Sixty wen? That’s as much as mutton costs!” Meng Wudong exclaimed. “This stuff is expensive.”

“It’s made with sugar, oil, and milk—of course, it’s expensive.” Qiu Huanian chuckled. “Besides, it’s not meant for everyone to afford. Our goal is to force the shops in the county to continue buying sorghum candy from us in order to get their hands on popcorn.”

By the time popcorn became a craze in Zhang County, shopkeepers would be desperate to stock it, fearing their customers would go to other stores.

Then, sorry—not buying the required amount of sorghum candy? No popcorn for you.

“Hua ge’er, I am truly impressed!” Meng Wudong felt as if a whole new world had opened up to him. So this was what Hua ge’er meant by “bundled sales.”

What a brilliant strategy. Meng Wudong vaguely felt that if he followed this line of thinking, he could come up with many more ideas.

“But Hua ge’er, how do we let people know about the popcorn in the beginning?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already made arrangements.”

Previously, sorghum candy had gained popularity throughout Zhang County by riding the momentum of the Peach Blossom Banquet. This time, popcorn could completely follow the same method, using celebrity influence for promotion.

Given the friendships between their families and Du Yunse’s prospects, it was likely that once Scholar Song and County Magistrate Wang received the letters, they would be happy to help.

Selling popcorn could also boost the sales of sorghum candy. Moreover, the entire sales channel for popcorn was essentially prearranged by Qiu Huanian. Meng Wudong voluntarily chose not to take a share and offered to help Qiu Huanian handle the matter along the way.

Qiu Huanian made another batch of popcorn and sent it along with the letters to Scholar Song and County Magistrate Wang. Within a few days, Meng Wudong brought back good news—several shops had already come back to negotiate business deals.

“I estimated how much sorghum candy they could sell and set the conditions accordingly. I didn’t ask for more than necessary. Business is about harmony and making money together. As long as Wei Dexing’s products don’t sell, that’s enough.”

When Meng Wudong arrived, Qiu Huanian was directing Du Yunse to move a large vat of buffalo milk. Seeing this, Meng Wudong stepped forward to lend a hand.

The milk production of the village’s buffalo wasn’t enough to meet demand, so Qiu Huanian had sourced additional supplies from nearby villages. This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone taking advantage and jacking up prices. Besides, it was winter, and buffalo milk could be stored for a long time without spoiling.

Meng Wudong had never received professional training, but he was naturally skilled at dealing with people. He also had a keen ability to observe and learn, showing a strong talent for business. Before long, popcorn was selling like hotcakes, and the sales of sorghum candy returned to the expected levels for winter.

The wholesale price of popcorn was 60 wen per liter. Once it reached the shops and was resold, the price rose to 75 wen—more expensive than mutton—making it something many people couldn’t afford.

But this high-fat, high-sugar treat wasn’t just beloved by children; even adults craved it. It was crispy and light, giving almost no sense of fullness, making it easy to finish an entire basket before realizing it. In Zhang County, wealthier families who could afford it often bought a liter a day to take home.

The sales of popcorn exceeded Qiu Huanian’s expectations. Each day, he could sell 20 to 30 liters, making a pure profit off the wealthy.

By the end of the month, his earnings had exceeded 20 taels of silver!

However, this was mainly because the cold winter made high-fat, high-sugar foods more desirable. Additionally, popcorn was still a novelty, so once the initial excitement wore off, sales would naturally decline.

With winter expenses for heating and lighting, Qiu Huanian had already spent quite a lot of money. Now that he finally had a significant income, he carefully counted his silver, wrapped up a total of 120 taels, and stored it in the deepest part of the cabinet, planning to use it when he traveled to the prefectural city.

The money he earned after this would be set aside for New Year’s preparations, purchasing auxiliary medicines from prescription lists, as well as buying lamp oil for lighting and charcoal for hand warmers. After adding up all these miscellaneous expenses, there wouldn’t be much left.

As the year-end approached, the weather grew colder day by day. In the mornings and evenings, a bucket of water splashed onto the ground would freeze into a thin layer of ice within just a few breaths.

In Zhang County’s county town, the household of Wei Dexing, the shopkeeper of Wei’s Condiment Store, was shrouded in gloom.

At the entrance of the rear courtyard’s side room, yet another pile of tea dregs had been dumped. Zirong sat before a bright bronze mirror, combing her hair. Yuchuan, stepping around the tea dregs with pursed lips, entered the room.

“That woman from the main house sent her maid to dump things here again. If she really wants to cause trouble, she should do it openly. What’s the point of all these sneaky little tricks?”

Zirong lazily leaned against the chair with her snow-white arms. The charcoal fire in the room was burning warmly, and she was only wearing a single-layer garment, her slender figure fully revealed.

“She knows well enough that she’s old and worn out. She gave birth to a son and still ran away, causing Master to suffer disgrace. She won’t get any benefits from me.” Zirong spoke carelessly, then casually instructed, “Keep an eye on Lansheng these days, don’t make trouble with the main wife. Master is already troubled over the sorghum candy and popcorn business—don’t let him remember that we have anything to do with it, or we might end up as the targets of his anger.”

Yuchuan pursed her lips in discontent but still forced herself to take in Zirong’s words.

She didn’t like the Wei household. Even though it was ten times better than Widow Zhuang’s home, it still couldn’t compare to the life she had before. Back in the Bai family in the capital, a house like this was nothing more than quarters for servants with some status.

More importantly, in the Bai family, even though she was an illegitimate daughter, she was still a young lady whom the servants feared and respected. Her legitimate mother had distant ties to the Second Prince’s consort, so even she had to show them some courtesy.

But after arriving at the Wei family, she became an unwanted outsider with a different surname, a burden dragged halfway into the household. The Wei family’s servants didn’t respect her, and the main wife—an old, bitter shrew—never stopped making life difficult for them.

The only thing that brought Yuchuan some comfort was that in the Bai family, much of her status and reputation came from her younger brother. Now that she was in the Wei family, Wei Dexing actually favored her more than Lansheng.

This barely soothed her crumbling self-esteem, but it was still far from enough.

“Did you find out anything from the front courtyard? When will Master be coming over tonight?” Zirong asked Yuchuan.

Going from a favored concubine of a wealthy merchant under the Second Prince’s command in the capital to the secretly kept concubine of a mere seasoning shop owner in Zhang County—Zirong was, of course, unwilling to accept such a fate. But to avoid living a miserable life in the countryside, she was willing to do anything.

Yuchuan relayed the information she had painstakingly gathered, “The New Year is almost here. I heard that a group of people from Zhang County who were serving forced labor were granted clemency and released. Among them, someone even made a contribution. The county magistrate is very pleased and is planning some kind of banquet. Master has been busy all day trying to get involved, so he’ll probably be home very late tonight.”

“I see.” Zirong nodded and looked toward her daughter.

Yuchuan resembled her mother, with delicate and refined features. She was at that in-between age, already developing alluring peach blossom eyes, and her pointed chin carried a charm that made one want to grasp and play with it.

Zirong recalled some of Wei Dexing’s probing words in private.

“Yuchuan, come here.”

Zirong picked out a red begonia velvet flower from her jewelry box and pinned it onto Yuchuan’s jet-black hair. Then she took out some rouge, scooped a bit with her long nails, rubbed it between her fingers, and applied it lightly to Yuchuan’s cheeks and lips.

Yuchuan looked at herself in the bronze mirror. With this mature styling, she suddenly appeared several years older, looking like a proper young beauty.

Zirong squinted her eyes, examining her for a moment. “Go play now, but keep an eye on Lansheng and don’t cause trouble.”

Yuchuan happily skipped away. Zirong watched her figure disappear beyond the door before turning back to continue combing her own hair.

…

As New Year’s Eve approached, the year was coming to an end, and the village was beginning to take on a festive atmosphere.

Qiu Huanian bought over a dozen sheets of red paper and cut them up, handing them to Du Yunse to write Spring Festival couplets and “Fu” characters. Meanwhile, he took a pair of scissors and cut out window decorations, decorating the house beautifully. Even the stables and chicken coop were adorned with smaller versions of couplets.

One read: “A mule may not be a horse, but it’s still worth a thousand gold. A man may have nothing, yet he can travel ten thousand miles.”
Another read: “Don’t say a farmer’s home lacks a phoenix, in a prosperous year, there’s enough eggs to treat guests.” (*Note 1)

When Qiu Huanian read them aloud, Du Yunse almost lost his grip on his brush, but in the end, he earnestly wrote them as requested and pasted them in the backyard.

The bold and rustic handwriting paired with the humorous couplets made Qiu Huanian chuckle every time he passed by.

Though few in the village were literate, everyone followed the custom of pasting couplets. Many villagers came to ask Du Yunse to write couplets for them. Du Yunse and Yun Cheng, who had returned from the county school, discussed the matter and decided to set aside an afternoon. Together, they sat in the study and wrote couplets for all the villagers who came seeking them.

The red paper was provided at their own expense, and they charged nothing for their work.

As the weather grew colder, most of the wild game in the mountains had been hunted down. Wolves began moving toward human settlements, and traces of their activity had already been spotted just a few hundred meters outside Du Village—more and more, and closer and closer.

When the clan leader learned of this, he sent his two sons and Yun Cheng to go door-to-door, checking the walls of each household. If any had gaps, they gathered people to repair them immediately to avoid future regrets.

Baoren came to Qiu Huanian’s house and clicked his tongue in amazement as he looked at the courtyard wall.

“Hua ge’er, what did you put around this wall?”

“I bought broken ceramic tiles from a kiln in the county, fixed them in place with mud, and lined them along the top of the wall—it’s for defense against wolves.”

In modern rural areas, people often put shards of glass on walls to deter thieves. Since Qiu Huanian couldn’t get glass, he used broken tiles as a substitute.

“Uncle Baoren, see if there are any weak spots. I’ll fix them.”

“No need to fix anything—you’ve practically built a fortress here.” Baoren shook his head repeatedly. “Not only is this wall too high for a wolf to jump over, but even if it did, its paws would get torn to shreds by all these sharp edges you’ve set up.”

Inspired by Qiu Huanian’s tile wall, some families—starting with the clan leader’s household—began replicating the design.

However, while tile walls were effective, not everyone could afford them. Some families didn’t even have the money to build proper courtyard walls and had to rely on the clan leader’s support, let alone buy broken tiles.

After Baoren and the others finished inspecting the village walls, just two days later, Qiu Huanian was woken up in the middle of the night by a strange noise outside.

He hurriedly threw on a coat, opened the door, and peeked out from behind the curtain. Du Yunse, who was still reading in the study, also heard the commotion and came outside, immediately pushing Qiu Huanian back inside.

“Get dressed properly. I’ll go check the gate.”

Qiu Huanian was anxious, so he hastily fastened his thick winter clothes layer by layer, put on his little fur boots, and rushed outside.

Du Yunse stood behind the tightly shut Ruyi Gate, his expression solemn under the pale moonlight.

“What’s happening outside? What’s the situation?” Qiu Huanian whispered.

“The wolf pack has entered the village.”

Author’s Note:

(*Note 1: The first couplet is completely made up, and the second one is slightly altered—I’m sure you can all tell which part was changed, haha.)

 

The two couplets are:

1. 騾非馬也值千金，人無它亦行萬里
   “A mule may not be a horse, but it’s still worth a thousand gold. A man may have nothing, yet he can travel ten thousand miles.”
   
   Meaning: This couplet plays on the idea that even if something (or someone) isn’t the most prestigious or ideal (a mule vs. a horse, a poor person vs. a wealthy one), it still has its own value and capabilities. A mule isn’t as noble as a horse, but it is still useful and valuable. Similarly, a person may not have material wealth, but they can still go far in life through effort and perseverance.
2. 莫道農家無彩鳳，豐年留客足雞蛋
   “Don’t say a farmer’s home lacks a phoenix, in a prosperous year, there’s enough eggs to treat guests.”
   
   Meaning: This is a humorous twist on a traditional couplet. It suggests that even though a farmer’s home may not seem grand or luxurious (no “phoenix” as a symbol of nobility and wealth), in a good harvest year, there is still enough food (such as eggs) to treat guests well. It emphasizes hospitality and contentment with simple but sufficient resources.

What the author is trying to say:

The couplets reflect Qiu Huanian’s lighthearted and humorous personality. He chooses phrases that are both witty and slightly self-deprecating, showing that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. The first one suggests resilience and making the best of what one has, while the second one playfully acknowledges the simplicity of rural life but highlights that even simple folk have their own way of welcoming guests with warmth.

The second couplet, “莫道農家無彩鳳，豐年留客足雞蛋”, is a variation of a well-known rural saying:

Original version:
“莫道農家無寶玉，豐年留客足雞豚”
(“Don’t say a farmer’s home has no treasures; in a good year, they have enough chickens and pigs to treat guests.”)

Changes Qiu Huanian made:

1. “無寶玉” (no treasures) → “無彩鳳” (no phoenix)
   • “寶玉” (precious jade) refers to valuable things, while “彩鳳” (colorful phoenix) adds a more poetic and humorous touch.
2. “雞豚” (chickens and pigs) → “雞蛋” (eggs)
   • Instead of offering meat (which is a luxury), Qiu Huanian jokingly downgrades it to just eggs, emphasizing the simplicity of his home.

For the first couplet, “騾非馬也值千金，人無它亦行萬里”, it doesn’t have a direct original version, but it seems to be inspired by classic proverbs about mules and perseverance:

• “騾非馬” (a mule is not a horse) – This echoes sayings that contrast mules and horses in Chinese literature, where horses are noble but mules are practical and hardworking.
• “行萬里” (travel ten thousand miles) – A common phrase in Chinese proverbs about perseverance, like “讀萬卷書，行萬里路” (“Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles”), emphasizing experience and learning.

So, while the first couplet seems to be an original creation, it borrows elements from traditional sayings. The second couplet is a humorous twist on a classic rural phrase.