The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 96: Returning Home

Chapter 96: Returning Home

On the second morning of their marriage, Qiu Huanian slowly awoke in bed.

At some point during the night, he had lost consciousness, but now he felt refreshed and dressed in clean undergarments—likely the result of Du Yunse having bathed and changed him afterward.

Recalling the events of the previous night, Qiu Huanian’s lips—rosy and delicate—curved slightly, his heartbeat quickening.

His waist ached with weakness, his thighs tingled with numbness, and his limbs and fingertips were sore all over.

Yet, instinctively, Qiu Huanian reached out, his hand wandering from Du Yunse’s chest, continuing to explore with gentle, mischievous strokes.

His hand was soon caught and restrained.

“Hua Ge’er, you’re awake?”

“Mmm,” Qiu Huanian hummed lazily, his fingers slipping beneath the collar.

Du Yunse’s breath hitched, and his grip tightened.

Qiu Huanian mumbled irritably, “You touched me all over last night, left marks too, and now you’re being stingy.”

“If I indulged you further, Hua Ge’er might not leave this room today.”

The teasing warning had its intended effect. Qiu Huanian ceased his playful antics.

Du Yunse pulled him into a sitting position and massaged his back through the fabric of his undergarments. Qiu Huanian, feather-light in his embrace, rested against him with a soft hum of contentment.

Du Yunse pressed a kiss to the crown of his head and then to his forehead, wishing this peaceful moment could last forever.

He finally understood the truth in the saying, A night of spring is worth a thousand pieces of gold.

The joy of a wedding night and the triumph of passing the imperial exams—two of life’s greatest milestones—had converged, leaving Du Yunse with nothing more to wish for.

His hands, warm and deft, found every ache in Qiu Huanian’s body and eased it. Qiu Huanian, gradually soothed, murmured, “I always knew you had good stamina, but even so… last night went far beyond expectations.”

Du Yunse had lifted him single-handedly, igniting sparks with every motion, until Qiu Huanian clung to him, breathless and pleading for respite.

And every time he called Du Yunse husband, he had felt the intensity rise.

“It was Hua Ge’er who kept provoking me,” Du Yunse replied.

Qiu Huanian gave a noncommittal hum, as if he hadn’t heard.

Outside, daylight filtered in, though softened by the red wedding curtains.

“What time is it? It’s so quiet.”

“Just past the hour of Si. Aunt Jin came by earlier, but I told her not to disturb us.”

Nearly 11 a.m.? Qiu Huanian, having long adapted to the ancient schedule of early rising, had never slept so late since arriving in this world. A flush of embarrassment rose in him.

In a whisper filled with grievance, he muttered, “It’s all your fault.”

Du Yunse laughed, pinched his chin, and kissed him. “Alright, I take the blame.”

What exactly he was guilty of was left to interpretation.

Eventually, Qiu Huanian allowed Du Yunse to help him dress. Leaning on him for support, they slowly shuffled to the door. There, Qiu Huanian composed himself, let go of Du Yunse’s arm, adjusted his garments, and stepped outside with a calm facade.

Behind him, Du Yunse chuckled and shook his head.

In the courtyard, no one was in sight. Only Aunt Jin emerged from the kitchen upon hearing movement.

“Where is everyone?”

“Master Yun Cheng, Brother Ling, the young lady, and the young master all took the relatives out for a walk. They didn’t want to disturb the Township Lord and the master.”

With Du Yunse now a Juren, he had acquired the formal title of master.

Qiu Huanian still found the new titles strange, needing a moment to register them.

“Later, let’s have Aunt and the others come stay with us. The small courtyard on the east side can accommodate some of them. It’s expensive and uncomfortable to stay at an inn.”

Aunt Jin nodded, “I’ll tidy it up this afternoon.”

By noon, Jiu Jiu and the others had returned.

The second courtyard bustled with relatives from Du Village, tables set up for a cheerful communal meal—just like back in their hometown.

Bao Ren had brought Meng Fuyue along—not only to attend the wedding but also to visit their children after more than half a year apart.

“Yunse, Huanian, thank you both for taking such good care of Yun Cheng and Brother Ling. We are deeply grateful.”

Qiu Huanian smiled. “Brother Ling helped me quite a bit too. We’re all family—it’s natural to look after one another.”

Bao Ren continued, “Yunse said in his letter that he wishes to return to the village for ancestral rites. In Du Village, it’s been over ten generations since a Juren was born—let alone a Jieyuan. It’s worth a grand celebration.”

“Your father was ecstatic when he heard the news. The preparations are nearly complete. Just waiting on your return.”

Qiu Huanian glanced at Du Yunse.

Du Yunse thought for a moment. “We’ll return in five days.”

“Excellent! Du Village will finally have its moment of glory! Before we left, other Du families were already coming to our door, eager to connect with us and join the clan.”

—

Many of the relatives had come in pairs—like Yun Ting and Xia Xing, a young couple.

They had leased three mu of land from Qiu Huanian’s family and followed his instructions to plant cotton and grains. Previously, Qiu Huanian had written home, instructing them to sell the harvest and convert it to silver.

This year, several families in Du Village had attempted to grow cotton, but lacking systematic methods and guidance, their yields fell short—averaging around 150 jin per mu.

Yun Ting, more experienced after working for Qiu Huanian, had managed over 200 jin per mu—the best in the village.

“Why such a large disparity in yield?” Qiu Huanian inquired.

“Most villagers learned from me and Uncle Bao Ren. Some of it we didn’t recall clearly, and even when we did explain, not everyone followed instructions exactly.”

Such was the weakness of oral instruction—it depended heavily on the speaker’s clarity and the listener’s discipline.

Once the agricultural handbook was officially published and circulated, providing a standardized reference, these issues would be resolved.

“How did the cotton sell?”

“Just as Hua Ge’er predicted—after Zhang County started growing cotton, prices fell. With no way to transport it far, the clan leader found a reputable merchant, and everyone sold it collectively for 140 wen per jin.”

After taxes, the yield from three mu amounted to 31 taels. Under their 30-70 profit split, Yun Ting and Xia Xing received 9 taels, while Qiu Huanian received 22.

Qiu Huanian placed the silver aside and asked, “Your family is large, and land is scarce. With five brothers, property will eventually be divided. What are your plans?”

The couple exchanged glances. “What does Hua Ge’er suggest?”

“Once Yunse is assigned an official post, I’ll have even less time to manage land in Du Village. If you’re willing, you can purchase these three mu from me at 3 taels per mu.”

The land was near the village, fertile, and conveniently located—an appealing offer.

Still, they hesitated. “Land near the village is now 4 to 5 taels per mu. After Yunse became a Jieyuan, prices soared.”

Qiu Huanian chuckled. Du Yunse had turned their village into a sought-after school district—naturally, land values followed.

“For the sake of friendship, let’s keep it at 3 taels. But manage it well. Land is a farmer’s lifeline. Don’t get tempted to flip it just because prices are high.”

“We understand! We’ll bring the silver to you.”

Their harvest earnings were enough to buy the land, and with Xia Xing’s wool-spinning skills and Yun Ting’s diligence, they would not be left destitute.

Afterward, Qiu Huanian asked, “Everyone came as a family—why did Aunt Qiuyan come alone with Yun Kang?”

He had wondered earlier but refrained from asking.

Yun Ting and Xia Xing exchanged uneasy looks.

“Something happened?” Qiu Huanian’s brow furrowed.

He wasn’t close to Hu Qiuyan’s husband, Du Baoshan, though they occasionally interacted through her.

“Uncle Baoshan is a cousin of Uncle Baoyan—your father-in-law. So your families are quite close.”

Qiu Huanian nodded. Hu Qiuyan had mentioned this when they first met.

“After Yunse passed the Jieyuan exam, people rushed to Du Village to curry favor. Though the clan leader and Uncle Baoren tried to curb it, Uncle Baoshan still accepted many gifts.”

“Before we left, Aunt Qiuyan quarreled with him over it. That’s why he didn’t come.”

Qiu Huanian fell silent.

Rather than anger, he felt a sense of helpless melancholy.

Baoshan had always been clever and personable. While not flawless, he was decent. But people, after all, were susceptible to change…

“Hua Ge’er, don’t worry. With the clan leader watching, he won’t dare stir real trouble.”

Qiu Huanian nodded. He wasn’t afraid—but this trip back would be the moment to address unresolved matters.

In the ancient world, officials could not easily sever ties with their ancestral clans. Du Yunse and Du Village were intertwined. Rather than let things fester, better to establish order now.

Later, Qiu Huanian brought up the issue with Du Yunse, who set down his brush and drew Qiu Huanian into his lap.

“Am I heavy?”

“Not at all.” Du Yunse kissed his cheek and held him tighter.

After consummating their marriage, they remained discreet in public but inseparable in private.

Leaning over, Qiu Huanian peered at the sheets of paper beside them.

“Clan rules?”

“Yes. Without structure, there is no peace. Until now, everything depended on the clan leader’s word. Naturally, that led to favoritism and disputes.”

The three pages covered everything—marriage, funerals, elder care, property, conflict, and punishment—all written with clarity and balance.

It was more than a legal document; it was a refined literary work—fitting, coming from a Jieyuan.

“There’s nothing I’d change,” Qiu Huanian said. “Let’s present it after the ancestral rites. If there are no objections, the clan leader can begin enforcing it.”

“You’re the most respected person in the village now. Who would object?”

As their return approached, Qiu Huanian busied himself with preparations. Accustomed to city life, he packed thoroughly—clothing, bedding, stoves, lamps, writing supplies, toiletries, cooking tools, spices—filling an entire cart.

He remembered teasing Min Leyi for traveling with such a load. Now it was his turn.

He also arranged carriages for the village guests returning with them, footing the expense generously.

Wei Liuhua and the others had stayed in his home, and he had given them spending money to explore the city.

He stretched and leaned into Du Yunse. “We still need return gifts and thank-yous for everyone who came to congratulate us.”

Du Yunse stroked his back. “You’ve worked hard.”

“With help, it’s not hard. I quite enjoy doing this.”

Qiu Huanian laughed. “First visit to the city, second visit… now, returning home in glory.”

“There’s an old saying: returning poor is like wearing finery in the dark.”

“Well, now I’m bringing back a Jieyuan husband. Of course, I want everyone to be envious.”

Du Yunse brushed his hair aside and pinched his pink ear.

“They should envy me—for having Huanian.”

—

Soon, it was time to depart.

Yun Cheng and Meng Yuanling were returning too, so Qiu Huanian asked his friend Zhu Jingwei to watch over the house.

Zhu Jingwei promised to send Auntie Qiao to guard the courtyard.

Naishuang, the cat, was sent to stay with Su Xinbai, who, though housebound, was delighted to have her companionship—though he didn’t say so.

Three carriages were packed: one for Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse, one for Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng, and one for luggage. Jin San drove, with two hired coachmen. Shanhu accompanied Jiu Jiu, and Aunt Jin managed the supplies.

As they prepared to leave, Wei Liuhua said with a smile, “Hua Ge’er’s household truly looks like a prosperous family now.”

Meng Fuyue added, “A Township Lord and a Juren—naturally, they are.”

Qiu Huanian laughed, “Stop teasing me. Aren’t you still calling me Auntie and Sister-in-law?”

Everyone laughed, though Hu Qiuyan’s smile was tinged with something more complex.