《My Sweet poor wife》


 Chapter 1: Can People be Retrieved?

    This is a story set in the Ming dynasty, in the village of Shuiqiao. A young man with a tall and thin build, but handsome looks, named Zhao Ce, sits under the eaves outside his room.


    He sighs while looking at the corners covered with moss, realizing that he has traveled back in time.


    Zhao Ce has just finished digesting the memories of the original owner of this body, who shares the same name as him. Unlike his previous life, where he has been protecting animals for nearly thirty years, in this body, he is just a 19-year-old poor scholar.


    As a scholar, his age is not considered young, but the original owner of this body had only started learning a year or two. At the age of 14, his father earned some money and decided to send him to school in the city.


    He arrived at the school wearing a plain cotton jacket that was better than what the villagers wore, looking excitedly at the city people.


    However, he soon realized the huge wealth gap between him and the city people. His classmates, who were sons of wealthy families, could casually throw money at their servants, which was more than his pocket money for several days. He began to feel discontented and his mind became more narrow.


    Although he had not learned many characters, his vision had become higher. He constantly thought about how he would become a high-ranking official in the future and enjoy a life of luxury.


    When he returned to the village, he looked down on the farmers and wore a long robe, carrying himself with a pretentious air of superiority, often using words that he didn''t even understand. If any of the village children came too close, he would scold them.


    Over time, the villagers began to distance themselves from him, even though they knew he was a scholar. He was no longer welcome in the village.


    However, his good fortune did not last long. When his parents were preparing to build a new house, they had an accident and both passed away. The original owner of this body, who had only learned a few characters and was daydreaming about becoming a high-ranking official through the imperial examination, was left in shock and confusion.


    The original master''s uncle pitied him for being a lonely person and helped him with the funeral arrangements.


    For the past two years, he had been helping the original master. He urged him to strive for success and study hard to comfort his deceased parents'' spirits. The original master was deeply moved and started to pull himself together.


    As a scholar, he refused to accept any handouts and assistance from his uncle''s family. He thought to himself that even if he was the only one left in his family, he must strive for success and not let the villagers ridicule him.


    So he worked hard, but unfortunately, he squandered all the money set aside for building a house in just two years. Last night, the original master was probably drunk and angry, and he died of anger, which allowed Zhao Ce to cross over to this world.


    Thinking about all of this, Zhao Ce felt a sense of desolation. "What kind of situation is this..." "A transmigration that started with a catastrophe."


    Looking at the soil falling from the wall, Zhao Ce shook his still-dizzy head. "Well, since I''m here, I should live well." "I have already eaten two bowls of porridge, so I can definitely survive."


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    He looked down at the original master''s bony body. "Although he is thin, he is still tall enough." "As long as he exercises more in the future, he can become a great leader again, and there shouldn''t be any problems."


    In the original master''s memory, although this Ming dynasty was different from the one in Zhao Ce''s original history, it was similar. Therefore, even though the original master had lost all of his family''s wealth, Zhao Ce was not afraid.


    He had a lot of knowledge in his mind, so it shouldn''t be a problem for him to escape poverty in this ancient world. Feeling a little more relaxed, Zhao Ce stood up from the ground and dusted off his clothes.


    "I always feel like I forgot something..."


    Zhao Ce furrowed his brow. "Never mind, I''ll go back to my room and take stock of what I still have."


    As he was about to head back, he heard a knock on the door.


    Zhao Ce walked over and opened it, revealing a middle-aged man with a weathered face standing outside.


    When the man saw Zhao Ce, his kindly face broke into a smile.


    The man was Zhao Youcai, the uncle of the original owner of the body Zhao Ce was currently inhabiting.


    Zhao Youcai was the village chief of Shuiqiao Village, and he commanded respect among the villagers.


    However, in front of his nephew, he couldn''t maintain his stern demeanor.


    He asked tentatively, "Ce''er, have you brought the person back?"


    Person? What person?


    Zhao Ce was momentarily confused.


    Zhao Youcai clarified, "Yesterday, didn''t you give the betrothal gifts to the matchmaker and say you were going to bring back a wife?"


    "You said she came from a good family but lived far away."


    He paused and asked, "I noticed you haven''t put up any red paper in your house. Is it because you don''t have enough money?"


    "I''ve brought you some more money for the wedding. It''s a big event, so you need to prepare properly."


    After Zhao Youcai reminded him, Zhao Ce remembered.


    He grimaced and thought to himself: I just said I forgot something, and it turns out to be this.


    In the past two years, the original owner of the body had been brought to a brothel in the city by his classmates who looked down on him.


    He became infatuated with a courtesan there, and all the family''s money was spent on the brothel.


    After the money his parents had saved up for building a house was gone, they had to sell off their land.


    And yet, he hadn''t even touched the hand of the courtesan...


    Yesterday, he heard that the courtesan was going to take in another patron.


    Since he was broke, he had to swallow his pride and ask his uncle for money.


    He lied and said that the marriage had been arranged by the matchmaker, and the bride was from a neighboring county.


    All he needed to do was pay the betrothal gifts, and he could bring her back.


    In ancient times, the government encouraged population growth and imposed fines on men who were not married by the age of 20 and women who were not married by the age of 16.


    And these fines were cumulative.


    So, whether poor or ugly or born into a wealthy family, everyone had to do their part to procreate and contribute to society.


    Zhao Ce was already 19 years old.


    Because of his previous estrangement from Zhao Youcai''s family, Zhao Youcai didn''t feel comfortable suggesting a match for him.


    As a result, when he suddenly asked for money to marry, Zhao Youcai was overjoyed.


    Without a second thought, he gave Zhao Ce five taels of silver, ignoring the objections of his own family, so that he could bring the bride back and prepare for the wedding.


    As expected, all the money was spent at the brothel...


    "Um, Uncle..."


    Zhao Ce hesitated. "About the person..."


    Zhao Youcai smelled the lingering scent of alcohol on Zhao Ce and was initially unhappy.


    But when he heard his nephew call him "Uncle," the wrinkles on his face softened into a smile.


    Since Zhao Ce''s parents had passed away, he refused the family''s help after a year and even refused to call Zhao Youcai "Uncle" due to various issues.


    Zhao Youcai felt his eyes moisten.


    He swallowed the words he wanted to say and cleared his throat, "Ahem," wiping away the tears from his eyes.


    "What happened to the person?"


    "Is she not pretty enough? That''s okay."


    "As long as she''s a reliable and capable person who can give birth, it''s fine."


    As they were talking, a young girl walked out of the room.


    She timidly said, "Hus...husband..."


    "We can eat now."


    She walked out of the room and was momentarily stunned to see Zhao Youcai and Zhao Ce at the door.


    The smile on Zhao Youcai''s face gradually disappeared as he looked at the thin young girl.


    Zhao Ce slapped his forehead.


    He had forgotten about this.

 Chapter 2: Thirty Pounds of Rice, Bringing Home a Young Bride

    In front of them was a young girl with pale, washed-out clothes that were clearly too big for her, with patches all over them.


    She wore a belt around her waist, and she looked thin and small.


    Her height was estimated to be up to Zhao Ce''s chest.


    She blinked her big eyes and looked at the two people in front of her, then quickly lowered her head.


    Only the long, black eyelashes were left, trembling lightly.


    "I... I have cooked the food..."


    Before Zhao Ce could speak, Zhao Youcai''s loud voice had already shouted, "Ce''er, who is this girl?"


    Actually, it was pointless for Zhao Youcai to ask.


    A lone man and a lone woman in a room, who else could it be?


    Zhao Youcai just couldn''t believe it.


    Five taels of silver!


    He had given Zhao Ce five taels of silver, and he wouldn''t really bring back such a small and delicate girl, would he?


    With five taels of silver, he could marry even the most beautiful girl in the city!


    This was their family''s income for a year!


    This little girl looked like a small bean sprout, obviously not easy to take care of.


    Zhao Youcai thought that his nephew was still young and inexperienced.


    He must have been deceived!


    When Zhao Ce saw Zhao Youcai shouting, the girl''s small body trembled in fear.


    Zhao Ce quickly said, "Uncle, there seems to be a misunderstanding here."


    When Zhao Ce was sitting outside the room reminiscing about the past, he realized he had forgotten something.


    He had forgotten that there was a new member in the family.


    Yesterday, the original owner had gone to a brothel and spent all his money, and he was upset.


    He remembered taking five taels of silver from Zhao Youcai and telling him to bring the bride back home quickly.


    When he was drunk on the way back, he met this young girl who was about to be taken away by her family to find a matchmaker to get married.


    Seeing that the girl was quite pretty, he used the remaining money in his pocket to marry her, just to complete the task.


    One hand giving the betrothal gifts, one hand giving the wedding invitation.


    This transaction... this marriage was thus completed.


    The girl had no idea where she had stayed last night and started working in the kitchen early in the morning.


    Zhao Youcai stopped and looked at Zhao Ce when he heard the words of misunderstanding. "What misunderstanding?"


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    "Could it be that the official matchmaker tricked you?"


    "No, that''s not it. The official matchmaker wouldn''t deceive people. Did you secretly find some unreliable matchmakers?"


    "No, whoever it is, we''ll take this person out of the city and find a matchmaker to explain!"


    "Five taels of silver to bring back such a skinny bride, how can that work?"


    Zhao Youcai said as he turned to call for people.


    In this day and age, unless you''re too poor to afford anything. Otherwise, who would marry such a thin bride?


    A bride this thin, not to mention the difficulty of giving birth, is difficult to sustain on her own!


    The little girl in the room listened to his words and looked at Zhao Ce with some anxiety. "Husband..."


    After yelling, she seemed to remember something. She quickly lowered her head.


    She had only been in her husband''s house for one night, and now she was going to be sent back?


    If she was sent back, she would definitely not be able to marry again.


    With the character of her uncle''s family, she would probably make her go find a place to hang herself.


    Thinking like this, her big eyes suddenly became misty.


    Zhao Ce looked at the pitiful look in the little girl''s eyes and quickly pulled Zhao Youcai, saying, "Uncle, I''m feeling a little dizzy now."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll straighten this out first."


    Zhao Youcai asked nervously, "Dizzy?"


    "Is it because you''ve been studying too hard?"


    He said, "You take a break first, and Uncle will come back with people in the afternoon."


    "These matchmakers, it''s really unreasonable!"


    Zhao Ce persuaded and pretended to be sick. He finally convinced his uncle to leave.


    Zhao Ce sighed. He really didn''t know how to explain it, so he had to take it slowly.


    Turning to look at the little girl behind him, the little girl also looked up at him.


    She had a pair of big eyes with watery light, but she quickly lowered her head again.


    Zhao Ce felt that something was wrong, but he didn''t think too much about it.


    He asked, "What''s your name?"


    Su Caier lowered her eyes, and her dark, long eyelashes fluttered before she said sadly, "My name is Su Caier."


    "Yesterday, my husband brought me back on the way."


    Her voice was small and soft, with a hint of trembling due to nervousness.


    Yesterday, she was brought back by her aunt and cousin, who said she was almost 16 years old and could not stay in the village anymore.


    No matter what, she had to be married off yesterday.


    On the way to the official matchmaker, Su Caier had thought of dying countless times.


    On this day, she was going to be married off, and who could she marry?


    It was nothing more than some widowers who were temperamental and couldn''t really find a wife.


    She is not someone who knows nothing. In the past, there was a man from a village who couldn''t find a wife after his first wife died because he had beaten her to death.


    His reputation was so bad that no one dared to marry him. Fortunately, she met her husband halfway.


    He didn''t mind her appearance and gave the betrothal gifts to her aunt instead, and brought her back home. Although it was technically a purchase, it still meant that she was his wife.


    As they walked home together, it got late and there were no people on the road. Her husband was too drunk and simply stumbled towards home, falling asleep as soon as they got there. The next morning, she woke up early and did all the household chores.


    She was worried about her husband''s uncle, who had been so upset the night before and had threatened to take her away.


    She begged, "Even though I''m skinny, I''m good at doing chores. Since you''ve married me, can''t you let me stay?" She was afraid that her husband, being an educated man, would listen to his uncle if he spoke up.


    She had only just left her old village and had been happy all night about her new life, but now her dream was about to be shattered. Zhao Ce sighed and asked her to stop crying. He asked her to sit down and tell him what had happened.


    She explained that her husband had taken her home with him halfway through the journey and that she had intended to register their marriage with the matchmaker.


    Zhao Ce tried to remember what had happened the previous night and realized that he had brought someone home with him, but he couldn''t remember anything else because he had been too drunk. He rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless.


    ��Was getting married really just a game in this era?�� He couldn''t remember how much the betrothal gifts were, but Su Caier said it was just one silver coin. Zhao Ce was skeptical.


    One silver coin was probably only worth about a hundred copper coins. In his mind, he quickly calculated that in the Ming Dynasty, one dou of rice was worth around forty to fifty copper coins, which was equivalent to roughly seventeen to eighteen pounds of rice in modern times. He looked at Su Caier, who was still nervous, and thought to himself, "What a great deal! He got a wife who weighs only thirty pounds for thirty pounds of rice!".

 Chapter 3: Pitiful and Adorable

    When Zhao Ce glanced at her, Su Caier became distracted. She thought he found her too expensive. After all, her husband was drunk yesterday and probably didn''t get a good look at her. She quickly said, "Although the betrothal gifts are expensive, I, I am very capable of doing work!"


    Zhao Ce looked at her helplessly. Expensive? The little girl in front of him was sitting with her back to the light. She looked thin with a small body, a palm-sized face, and small features except for a pair of big, sparkling eyes.


    She had just wiped away some tears and her little nose was red. She occasionally pursed her lips, revealing a small dimple. She looked pitiful and adorable.


    Zhao Ce had to admit that this little girl was indeed quite good-looking. Was 100 copper coins still expensive? Zhao Ce himself asked his uncle for five taels of silver to marry a wife, but ended up spending it all on a courtesan who had gone through many hands. What could be considered expensive?


    When Zhao Ce''s gaze fell on her again, the girl straightened her small body and nervously swallowed her saliva. She blinked her eyes and quickly looked down again. Zhao Ce asked, "How old are you?"


    Su Caier answered in a small voice, "I am almost sixteen years old." She thought for a moment and added, "Although I am a bit thin, but I, I can have children."


    Zhao Ce looked at the person in front of him helplessly. This small body looked like a fifth or sixth-grade elementary school student. He himself was just a child, but she was saying she could have children.


    When he thought of his uncle who was bringing people over in the afternoon, Zhao Ce felt a pang in his heart. He brought her back yesterday and spent the night together.


    Even if he knew he didn''t do anything, this little girl''s innocence was definitely not easy to explain. In ancient times, it was not like modern times. The more backward the place, the more strict the feudal thinking was.


    For this peasant girl who lost her innocence, the only way out was probably a dead end. Even if his uncle only took her to ask for a refund, he didn''t plan to send her away in the end. If things got out of hand, this little girl would be ruined. After all, in ancient times, a woman''s reputation was the most important thing. A man with a bad reputation could still survive, but a woman with a bad reputation couldn''t survive anywhere.


    Zhao Ce sighed. He couldn''t just push this living little girl into the fire pit. He decided to keep her for now. After all, it was just one more mouth to feed.


    As for whether to be his own wife or sister, it doesn''t matter. Thinking about it, Zhao Ce said, "You stay here for now." "I''ll talk to my uncle in the afternoon." Su Caier''s eyes lit up and she happily said, "Thank you, husband." Husband... Hearing this little girl calling him husband, Zhao Ce couldn''t help but feel amused.


    On the first day of his time travel, he already got a husband title. And it''s still from this little kid. Just as he was thinking about it, "Gulu Gulu..." The sound of a rumbling stomach came.


    The little girl next to him reflexively covered her own belly, looking a bit shyly at Zhao Ce. "Are you hungry?" Zhao Ce asked. Su Caier stuttered, "N-no, not hungry..." She hadn''t eaten anything since yesterday.


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    When she woke up in the morning, she was so hungry that she couldn''t bear it, so she drew water from the well and drank a spoonful of cold water directly. She had just drunk a spoonful of cold water when she came out of the kitchen earlier. How could she be hungry again so soon?


    Looking at the little girl in front of him, with her ears turning red and looking embarrassed, Zhao Ce couldn''t help but chuckle. This little girl is really funny. Clearing his throat, Zhao Ce said, "Didn''t we say we can eat once the food is ready?" "Let''s go, let''s eat first."


    Upon hearing his words, Su Caier quickly responded, "Okay, we can eat now." Zhao Ce led the way to the kitchen, and Su Caier followed closely behind.


    After taking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something and slowed down her pace. Zhao Ce walked for a while and turned back. He saw the little girl, who had just had a rumbling belly, walking slowly.


    "Didn''t you say you were hungry? Walk faster," Zhao Ce urged. Su Caier looked anxious upon hearing her husband''s urging. "I-I will, right away." After speaking, she quickened her pace. However, Zhao Ce noticed that something seemed off with her walking. Why does it look like she''s taking deep steps with one foot and shallow steps with the other? Seeing Zhao Ce staring at her legs, Su Caier couldn''t help but stop moving her legs. Her two little feet, wearing old straw shoes, moved shyly.


    "W-what''s wrong?" Su Caier asked softly. Zhao Ce hesitated and asked, "Did you bump your leg just now?" Su Caier nervously replied, "No." "My leg...has been bad for years." "Husband knew about it yesterday." When he brought her home yesterday, her cousin also mentioned that she had problems with her legs.


    At that time, her husband had heard it too. Moreover, the two of them walked back home together, with Zhao Ce walking in front with his long legs.


    Su Cai''er had to almost run to keep up. Along the way, her husband also noticed. But upon seeing her husband''s surprised expression, Su Cai''er hesitated and said, "My cousin and husband talked about it yesterday." "Husband doesn''t remember?" Only then did Zhao Ce realize what the little girl meant when she said the dowry was expensive.


    Yesterday, the original owner was foolish and drunk. How could he have cared about so much? In normal families, the bride''s dowry was usually only one or two hundred wen.


    But this little girl had a physical disability, which was why she said it was expensive. An unmarried girl with a physical disability would probably even be rejected by widows living in the remote mountains.


    So despite Su Cai''er''s pretty face, she had not yet married because of this reason. The villagers all called her "little lame girl", and local matchmakers would usually just shake their heads and leave upon hearing her name.


    After thinking it over, she quickly pleaded, "Although my legs are not good, it doesn''t affect my ability to work. I will work hard and not let my husband waste the dowry."


    After Su Cai''er finished speaking, she waited anxiously. She could now be sure that her husband probably really didn''t remember yesterday. Would he still keep the promise he made just now to let her stay? She felt sad, she did not want to deceive her husband... Su Cai''er lowered her head, seeming to be awaiting her sentence. The judge was Zhao Ce himself. Zhao Ce snapped out of his thoughts, looked at the little girl who had lowered her head again, and only left himself with a small swirl of hair.


    He cleared his throat. He was now Zhao Ce, so he shouldn''t scold himself. A slight disability was not a big deal. "Forget it, let''s not talk about this anymore. Let''s eat first."


    After speaking, he turned around and continued walking. Su Cai''er raised her head in confusion. Although her husband seemed to be unaware of what had happened, he did not seem to care like other people. He did not look at her with strange eyes nor did he fly into a rage.


    She did not feel like she had deceived him. He just passed over it lightly. Looking at the tall and thin figure of the man in front of her, Su Cai''er clenched her small fist behind her. Her husband was really good! She would work hard and repay him!

 Chapter 4: Leaving Rice for Husband to Eat

    Zhao Ce walked into the kitchen and saw that it was clean and tidy. He couldn''t help but nod his head.


    This little girl was indeed capable. During the time he was out of it this morning, she had cleaned up the previously messy kitchen so well.


    The original owner, being a scholar, naturally did not enter the kitchen. After all, the saying "a gentleman stays away from the kitchen" although not meant to keep gentlemen out of the kitchen, had been misinterpreted to that extent.


    So in Zhao Ce''s memory, there was no scene of him entering the kitchen at all. Usually, after finishing classes at the academy, he would find something to eat in the city.


    This kitchen had been idle for a few years, and it was easy to imagine how dirty it was. Ancient kitchens didn''t have good lighting, but you could still see that the tabletop and stool were clean and tidy.


    Zhao Ce sat on the clean stool that the little girl had wiped. He looked at the little amount of loose firewood left in the corner. This loose firewood had been brought back by Zhao YouCai. The little girl over there had already kindly served him a bowl of porridge.


    The hot porridge was emitting the fragrance of rice, with a suspiciously shaped animal floating on top, and a little... Zhao Ce sniffed and detected a dry musty smell.


    Seeing her husband lean in to smell the porridge, Su Cai''er explained, "Husband, you haven''t used the kitchen for a long time. The rice in the rice jar has gone bad." "I washed it for a long time, cooked it, and it''s not a problem."


    Seeing the rice bugs on top, Su Cai''er quickly said, "Oh, there''s a rice bug too." "I''m sorry, I didn''t scoop it out." "I''ll scoop it out for you, husband." After saying that, she diligently took the bowl of porridge away, took a wooden spoon, and carefully scooped out the rice bug in the corner of the kitchen where the water came out, and then brought the porridge back again.


    Zhao Ce looked at the bowl of porridge, at a loss for words. Although he was a young man of the new era, he had seen rice bugs before. But the fact that the original owner had squandered his family''s resources to such an extent had truly broadened his horizons.


    Seeing the little girl scooping out the unfinished rice bugs from the pot, Zhao Ce said, "Don''t worry about it, you can eat first." It was almost noon since last night. Zhao Ce was also hungry. After he finished speaking, Su Cai''er agreed and also took a bowl for herself.


    She scooped half a bowl of rice soup. There was no brown rice in her husband''s house, only white rice that had grown moldy in the rice jar.


    But even if it had grown mold, it was still porridge made from white rice... The rice soup was also white, and it looked very tasty. Su Cai''er swallowed her saliva, avoiding scooping up the rice at the bottom, and served herself half a bowl of rice soup. Zhao Ce looked at the not-too-hot bowl of rice porridge, with about half a bowl of rice in it.


    The porridge had a musty smell, but he had no intention of smelling it. He took three or four sips and then turned his head. He saw the little girl holding a bowl that was bigger than her small face, taking a sip of the rice soup. Her small throat rolled a bit. After putting down the bowl, she saw that Zhao Ce was looking at her, and she tilted her small head with some confusion. There was still some water on her little mouth.


    Sticking out her little tongue, Su Caier licked the bit of rice soup and quickly lowered her eyes. She whispered, "Does my husband want more after finishing it?" As she spoke, she was about to put down her own bowl and give Zhao Ce a refill.


    Zhao Ce thought that this little girl was a bit timid and completely unable to look directly into his eyes, always leaving behind two rows of long eyelashes like little fans.


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    How could her family be so heartless as to send her directly to the government matchmaking agency? But it was said to be her cousin and aunt who did it. Zhao Ce guessed that there was a story behind it.


    No rush, there was still plenty of time to find out later. Zhao Ce was indeed not full. He smiled at the little girl who was about to come over to serve him and said, "It''s okay, you eat."


    Then he picked up his bowl and walked over. He scooped some soup from the pot with a wooden spoon. Only a thin layer of rice was left in the pot. When he looked up again, the rice soup in the little girl''s bowl was completely clean, not even half a grain of rice left.


    Zhao Ce paused with the wooden spoon in his hand. The little girl next to him said, "Husband, let me give you all the rice." Zhao Ce said helplessly, "Why not save some rice for yourself?" Su Caier waved her hand and said, "This is all white rice, it''s too precious." "It''s for my husband to eat." "I''m fine with just drinking the rice soup."


    This was the first time Su Caier had ever drunk rice soup made entirely from white rice. she was already very happy. Zhao Ce reluctantly took the little girl''s bowl, which was only left with a little rice soup, and scooped half a bowl of rice porridge with rice grains in it for her. "Here, drink this." "Later we''ll see if there''s anything at home that can be exchanged for food." Zhao Ce handed over the bowl in his hand, but the little girl waved it away. "No rice, leave it for my husband to eat."


    Zhao Ce looked at this little girl and asked with a smile, "Is there still rice in the rice jar?" Su Caier didn''t understand why the topic suddenly shifted here, but she still nodded honestly. "There''s still some left, probably enough for three or four days." Then she repeated, "I''m full, my husband can eat the remaining rice." After listening, Zhao Ce nodded and stirred the rice in his bowl before putting it into his bowl.


    The little girl next to him said again, "Pour the rice over there." After speaking, she thought of the fact that this was the bowl that she had drunk from before, and her little face turned a bit red as she glanced at her husband.


    "My husband doesn''t mind at all... Su Caier thought happily.


    The rice in the bowl was only reduced by a little bit. Zhao Ce put down the girl''s bowl and picked up his own.


    He filled his bowl with porridge and, with the little bit of rice that had just been poured out, drank it all up.


    Wiping his mouth, he said firmly, "I''m full."


    "You''ve to eat all the rice, if you can''t finish it, just throw it away and cook new rice tonight."


    "Since there''s still rice in the rice jar, just put in more rice, or else I won''t be full."


    After saying that, he left the girl alone in the kitchen and walked out.


    Su Caier heard that he wanted to throw away the remaining rice and widened her eyes.


    How could he do that?


    She looked at the pot with about a bowl of porridge left and guiltily poured it all into her bowl.


    "My husband is a learned man and must have his own rules."


    "But it can''t be thrown away, I have to drink it all."


    "All of this is white rice."


    Su Caier pouted and picked up the porridge with a layer of white rice on the bottom.


    After taking a few sips, she squinted her eyes and exclaimed, "This white rice is so soft... it doesn''t scratch my throat at all."


    After drinking all the porridge in the pot, she went to wash her bowl.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Zhao Ce walked out of the kitchen and sighed.


    "This situation is so bad that even a dog would shake its head and leave."


    "Yet, I managed to get a hardworking little wife."


    Zhao Ce thought helplessly, it wasn''t all bad in ancient times.


    Shaking his head, he pushed all the miscellaneous thoughts out of his mind.


    Zhao Ce walked into the original owner''s room and prepared to look through what belongings were left.


    After rummaging for a while, he was sweating profusely.


    Looking at the messy room, Zhao Ce, holding two inferior land deeds, couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    "At least it''s not a total waste..."


    "At least there are two cheap land deeds."


    In ancient times, the amount of tax paid on land varied depending on the fertility of the soil.


    These inferior lands meant that the soil was not very fertile, the crop yield was not good, and the selling price was naturally not high.


    Looking at the two land deeds in his hand, Zhao Ce sighed again.


    The original owner considered himself noble, claiming to be a learned man.


    But this doghouse was a mess, and he didn''t even bother to clean it up.


    Zhao Ce even found a few "salted fish" robes under the bed.


    Those robes had such a heavy smell that he threw them out of the room.


    Just as he was thinking, Zhao Youcai''s voice calling at the door came from outside.


    He probably came for the girl''s business.


    Zhao Ce put down what he was holding and wiped the sweat off his face.


    Then he went out.


    As soon as he opened the door, he saw Zhao Youcai and a few people standing outside.


    But those people, when they saw Zhao Ce open the door, their faces became strange.


    Two of them, unable to hold back, burst out laughing.


    Zhao Ce: "???"

 Chapter 5: Im Sorry, Im a Liar

    Zhao Youcai looked at Zhao Ce with a strange expression on his face before coughing heavily.


    After coughing, he turned around and glared at the people behind him, who were laughing with their mouths wide open.


    Only when the laughter stopped did Zhao Youcai turn back to Zhao Ce and said in a gentle tone, "Ce''er, it''s too hot today. You must have been sweating a lot just now, right?" "Why don''t you go wash your face and cool down first?" "Your uncle and his men are waiting for you in the main room."


    Zhao Ce was puzzled. Wash his face? Was it because he had sweated too much and looked


    disheveled? He nodded and said, "Alright, thank you, uncle. Please wait for me inside."


    Zhao Youcai waved his hand. "Go ahead." Zhao Ce turned and walked inside, still hearing the two people behind him who were laughing just now. "This Zhao Ce always says that as a scholar, one should pay attention to one''s appearance." "The last time Big Xin''s son accidentally fell in front of him, he quickly stepped back." "He lifted his long robe and said not to dirty his clothes."


    "Haha, now that you mention it, I remember it too." "How come this scholar doesn''t pay attention to his appearance today?" "Dad, in my opinion, you should just ignore him. Didn''t he say in front of everyone that he doesn''t need you, his uncle, to look after him?" "he is taking your kindness for granted. Aren''t you just looking for trouble for your own family?"


    After these words were spoken, the murmurs became quieter over there. Zhao Ce realized that he could hear these whispers very clearly. After regaining his senses, he looked up at the nearby mountain and realized that his vision could reach very far.


    "It seems that even though time travel has a bad reputation, there are unexpected gains," he thought. At least his hearing and vision seemed to have been enhanced. Zhao Ce smiled at this pleasant surprise.


    As he lifted his head, he saw a small figure crouching at the doorway of his ventilated room. The sun was too strong today. Zhao Ce spoke up, "What are you doing there?" "The sun is too strong, don''t stand outside for too long. Be careful of heatstroke."


    Su Caier, who was picking up the "salted fish" that Zhao Ce had thrown out, was startled by the sudden sound and trembled. She turned her little face and saw Zhao Ce before regaining her composure.


    "husband''s clothes fell on the ground, I''ll wash them for husband." After saying that, she bent down again and picked up the remaining two pieces on the ground.


    Zhao Ce walked over awkwardly and said, "These clothes are too smelly, let''s air them out first." Su Caier straightened up and lowered her head, saying softly, "It''s okay, I''ll wash them by the river."


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    Zhao Ce thought to himself that although this little girl keeps calling him ''husband'', she is actually very shy inside. He didn''t want to tease her, but his uncle was still waiting, so he quickly said, "Uncle and his men are here." "They''re sitting in the main room."


    When Su Caier heard that her husband''s uncle was here again, she remembered that her uncle-in-law had said not long ago that he was going to take her to find someone to seek justice. Her small body couldn''t help but tremble slightly.


    Zhao Ce looked at this timid little girl and estimated that she only had a little bit of courage. He smiled and comforted her, "Don''t worry. I will talk to him and you don''t need to be afraid."


    After thinking about it, he decided to give this little girl something to do to distract her attention. He pointed to the room and said, "Don''t rush to wash these clothes. Can you help me tidy up the room? Take off the bedding and we can wash them together later. Also, see if there are any clean clothes inside and help me find them."


    When Su Caier heard her husband''s polite words, she softly argued, "Husband, there''s no need to say you''re helping. These are things that I should do." Zhao Ce''s hand hanging down beside him moved. Why is this little girl so obedient? He wanted to touch her little head... but he felt like a pervert doing so.


    Zhao Ce quickly cleared his throat and said, "Okay, then you go ahead and do it. I''ll wash my face and go to the living room." When Su Caier heard that her husband was going to wash his face, she quickly said, "Wait for me, husband."


    Zhao Ce looked at the little girl, who was walking into the room with unsteady steps and putting the dirty clothes on the bench. Afterward, she came out with her head still down. "The water tank is a bit dirty and I haven''t had a chance to clean it yet. I''ll get water from the well to wash your face, husband." While she was talking, she walked towards the well with the wooden bucket.


    "I, I will fetch water for my husband to wash his face from the well," she said, walking towards the well. Zhao Ce watched as she picked up the wooden bucket and prepared to throw it down the well. "Splash!" Suddenly, the girl bent down and tightened the rope in her hand.


    Su Caier was used to doing chores and had strong hands. She was about to pull the bucket up to the surface when suddenly a huge shadow covered her. Then, a big hand with distinct bones stretched out. Zhao Ce directly took the rope from the little girl''s hand and said, "Let me do it."


    As he spoke, he gently lifted the bucket with a little force. "No need, I can do it," Su Caier said. As the bucket passed over her, her gaze followed it. The midday sun in late summer was scorching the earth. Zhao Ce lifted the water and smiled, "You have great strength, but I also have some."


    When she heard her husband''s words, Su Caier raised her head and glanced at the man next to her. Zhao Ce also looked at her. In the bright sunlight, everything was revealed. Su Caier saw the two black marks on her husband''s face, while Zhao Ce saw the girl''s eyes in the sunlight.


    In her big bright eyes, he could see the secret that the little girl was trying to hide by keeping her head down. Su Caier blinked and quickly lowered her eyes.


    Her long eyelashes trembled nervously. Then Zhao Ce said, "Your... your eyes..."


    Su Caier bit her lip and her nose began to feel congested. She couldn''t hide it anymore... She lifted her head again, and this time, she finally dared to look into Zhao Ce''s eyes. But her eyes were covered in a layer of mist. This time, Zhao Ce finally saw it. The pupil of her left eye was a light brown, while the outer ring of the pupil of her right eye was a faint blue color. She had been too scared to look at herself because she had heterochromia. When Su Caier saw that Zhao Ce kept staring at her eyes, she blinked and two tears flowed from her eyes. She lowered her head and said, "I''m sorry, I lied. I deceived you, husband."

 Chapter 6: Take it away

    Su Caier hung her head low, feeling heartbroken. She thought to herself, "I am a bad person. I actually thought about deceiving my husband and keeping him in the dark about my eyes, just so I could stay with him. After all, I couldn''t survive in that village anymore after my mother passed away.


    Later, my aunt and cousin brought me to the city, saying that I must be married off. They also thought that my eyes would bring them misfortune. But my husband brought me home and didn''t mind my leg. He even gave me white rice porridge. I was greedy and wanted to stay.


    My mother also said that I wasn''t a jinx and not to be afraid... But everyone in the village said so, and my husband must think so too. You can''t hide the truth forever..." Su Caier sniffled and wiped away her tears, her golden eyes glistening. "My mother said that I''m not a jinx..." she choked out. "But..." "I''m sorry, I''ll leave now." She was heartbroken.


    Suddenly, the same hand that helped her fetch water reached out and gently wiped away her tears. But she had shed too many tears, and as soon as one tear was wiped away, another one fell. Zhao Ce didn''t say anything, just watched as the girl continued to cry. He sighed and said, "I didn''t tell you to leave."


    Su Caier sniffled and said, "I know. You''re a scholar and not the type to drive me away." "You don''t have to say anything. I''ll leave on my own." Zhao Ce couldn''t help but laugh bitterly. If you didn''t look at her eyes up close in the sunlight, you couldn''t really tell that they were different. He had sensed that something was off about her in the room earlier, but didn''t say anything.


    She must have been mistreated because of her eyes before. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have begged to stay just now and then suddenly say she wanted to leave.


    Where could she go? People with different eyes were considered freaks by the feudal people. But Zhao Ce, as a modern person, knew that it was all about genetics.


    Her eyes looked normal, and her vision seemed to be fine, so her eyes probably didn''t affect her much. Uncle and the others were waiting in the main room, and Zhao Ce couldn''t stay here for too long. He had to deal with this matter first.


    He bent down and scooped up a handful of water from the bucket. His palm was dirty. What a guy! No wonder those two people were laughing so hard earlier. Zhao Ce chuckled at Uncle''s comment about the weather being too hot.


    Uncle was always so cautious around him. Zhao Ce wiped his hands and face with his sleeve, looking over at the girl beside him who was still crying. Although her gaze was hollow, her eyes were like precious gems Bright and sparkling.


    Zhao Ce said, "First finish what you were doing just now, don''t think too much about it."


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    "I''m going to talk to Uncle."


    After speaking, Su Caier stood still and whispered, but no sound came out of her mouth. She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and didn''t know what she was thinking.


    Zhao Ce returned to the main room, and one of the people who was laughing earlier started yelling again. "Zhao Ce, you''re too slow!"


    Zhao Ce remembered this person. He was his cousin, Zhao Wenhao, the second son of Zhao Youcai.


    Zhao Youcai gave Zhao Wenhao a glare, and Zhao Wenhao muttered a little dissatisfied, "Why are you glaring at me? Wasn''t I telling the truth?"


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "We did waste quite a bit of time. Sorry for making everyone wait."


    After he finished speaking, everyone inside the room looked at him all at once. Had they heard it correctly? Wasn''t this bookworm who usually looked down on them apologizing to them today? Did the sun rise from the west?


    Zhao Youcai was also surprised, but he quickly regained his composure and grinned, "It''s alright, we haven''t waited long. Don''t mind what your cousin said, he has nothing better to do all day than to mess around."


    Zhao Wenhao, who was standing next to Zhao Youcai, secretly rolled his eyes. The others didn''t say anything due to Zhao Youcai''s status.


    Zhao Youcai remembered the main task of the day and quickly asked, "What about the girl? It''s getting late, I will take her to the ancestral hall, and let her spend the night there. Tomorrow we''ll take her out and have the matchmaker return the excess betrothal gifts. Which family is she from? Where is the matchmaker from?"


    As soon as the main task was mentioned, the others didn''t say anything. Although they didn''t like Zhao Ce because of his previous reckless behavior, they definitely wouldn''t sit idly by if someone in their village was being bullied. After all, a village must stick together in order to survive in this ancient society.


    However, in the eyes of everyone, Zhao Ce shook his head directly. "Uncle, don''t bother. I brought the person back, if we take her back, won''t we be harming her?"


    "We won''t take her back."


    Upon hearing Zhao Ce''s words, Zhao Wenhao couldn''t help raising his voice. "We need an explanation if we don''t take her back, five taels of silver!"


    "This silver is enough for me to marry Ahua!"


    Ahua is the village belle of Shuiqiao Village and also the object of Zhao Wenhao''s secret crush. The two families were preparing for marriage negotiations. Zhao Wenhao thought that he could marry with just a betrothal gift of two hundred wen, but because his cousin was a scholar, his father gave him five taels of silver to marry. As a result, he brought back a skinny little girl. Compared to his nephew, his own son was inferior.


    Zhao Youcai also said, "Yes, I was confused at the time. Such an expensive betrothal gift should have been checked by me as well. It''s really difficult for a scholar like you to handle these matters. If you like this girl, you can keep her. But we must definitely return the excess betrothal gifts. This is not a small amount of money."


    Zhao Ce''s parents had passed away, and he was the only child left in the family. Zhao Youcai felt guilty at this moment. As the eldest uncle, if he had not been too happy at the time, he would not have let Zhao Ce go to the matchmaker''s house alone to pick up his bride.


    It was impossible to return the girl, but returning the excess betrothal gifts was definitely possible. As for reputation and the like, they were not the ones who made the mistake first, so they couldn''t care too much about it.

 Chapter 7: Just Make It Up, Who Would Know?

    Zhao Youcai''s words made everyone nod in agreement. They all talked excitedly, urging Zhao Ce to bring the girl out. They followed Zhao Youcai''s plan. However, Zhao Ce still shook his head and refused, "I brought her back, and now that she''s been cleared of any wrongdoing, I should be responsible for her. As a man, how can I shirk my responsibility and watch a young girl endure false accusations?"


    Everyone present felt that Zhao Ce''s way of speaking was different from before. In the past, he spoke with convoluted language and was full of quotations. The villagers couldn''t understand him, but he was proud of it. Although he still spoke with some convoluted language today, everyone understood him. Moreover, his resolute appearance was far from the useless scholar who wouldn''t even help if someone fell.


    Seeing everyone stunned by his words, Zhao Ce continued, "Moreover, as a scholar, my reputation will be greatly affected if this matter becomes serious."


    "If it becomes really serious, I may not even be able to participate in the imperial examinations."


    Zhao Youcai exclaimed, "What? You won''t even be able to participate in the imperial examinations?"


    Zhao Ce looked at the people who were looking at each other and nodded solemnly, "Yes, for a scholar, reputation is the most important thing. If I can''t participate in the imperial examinations because of this, wouldn''t it be a case of losing more than I gain?"


    Thinking of the original owner''s terrible academic performance, Zhao Ce could only make up a story with a bold face. As for finding the person who took the money, who should he look for? He wasn''t the one who was cheated; he was the one trying to cheat others! The money was real gold and silver that the original owner spent in the brothel. Should he ask the deceased original owner for an explanation?


    Zhao Ce had no choice but to exaggerate the situation to scare them. Zhao Youcai panicked on the spot, and the others also looked uneasy. Although Zhao Ce''s reputation in the village was not good, the imperial examinations were a big deal. If this matter spread, it wouldn''t be just the villagers gossiping about it.


    Zhao Youcai quickly said, "Yeah, we really can''t go find the person."


    Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Yes. As for the five taels of silver I owe Uncle, I''ll pay you back in a while."


    Zhao Wen Hao, who was beside him, laughed as if he had heard a joke. He sneered, "Pay you back? With what? Not to mention the five taels, your dad had already given you more than ten taels before."


    "You''ve already sold most of your family''s land, and this shabby house isn''t worth anything. You must be joking if you think you can pay us back."


    Zhao Youcai''s face also looked uncomfortable after hearing this.


    He is a village chief, but he couldn''t stop his own nephew from selling land. This kind of thing is embarrassing to talk about. He couldn''t help but sternly scold, "Shut your mouth!" Zhao Wenhao was also aggrieved by his father''s harsh tone. He was only speaking the truth, but his father kept scolding him repeatedly. He turned his head quietly and didn''t speak anymore. The people who came to discuss matters with him also remained silent. They could only wait for Zhao Youcai to handle it.


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    After Zhao Youcai finished scolding, he said to Zhao Ce, "Ce''er, Uncle is not in a hurry for this money. Uncle is just worried that you will be deceived. But since you have decided to let this girl stay, just live a good life together. That girl is not bad-looking, although a little thin, she shouldn''t be a problem. When you go to high school, Uncle will help you find a better one to marry!"


    After Zhao Youcai finished speaking, Zhao Wenhao suddenly turned his face around, wanting to continue talking about the money. Did those five taels of silver just disappear? He also had to marry a better woman back. But thinking of his father''s scolding, he held his breath and turned his head back, his face red with anger.


    Zhao Ce didn''t care what these people were thinking. For now, he had no choice but to pay the debt. What Zhao Wenhao said was indeed true, and Zhao Youcai also owed him a favor. But for now, he had to make money as soon as possible to pay off the debt. Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Uncle is right. I will live a good life."


    Although Zhao Youcai was heartbroken over the five taels of silver, he felt relieved to see his nephew sitting upright on the stool with a calm expression. He was proud to see that his nephew had taken responsibility after getting married. This was something rare and valuable. Of course, this was something that he, as an uncle, was happy to see.


    Zhao Youcai also nodded. Suddenly, Fourth Uncle spoke up, "You still have to tell us who this matchmaker is. We won''t take this girl, but we need to know who the matchmaker is. The people in the village should avoid her, or they might be cheated too."


    Zhao Ce didn''t think too much and just made up a fluent lie. "This person is from out of town, and I don''t know what dialect he speaks. Yesterday, I had a bad headache and didn''t remember much. Anyway, let''s just leave it at that for now." Zhao Ce didn''t want to make up any more lies and just tried to brush it off.


    Without getting any definite answer from him, Zhao Youcai had no choice but to leave with his men. After they left, the people who came with him started whispering to each other. Zhao Qingsong, who was about the same age as Zhao Wenhao, poked him in the waist. "Hey, you have to watch your dad. Otherwise, the village chief will keep bringing things to Zhao Ce''s house. He just got married, and they haven''t even had the wedding ceremony yet. It costs a lot of money to prepare for these things. Don''t end up spending all the money you would use to marry a wife."


    Zhao Wenhao rolled his eyes. Although he was not happy about his father giving money to Zhao Ce, it was their family''s business. Even though he didn''t like Zhao Ce, he was still his cousin. He couldn''t deny it even if he wanted to. So he subconsciously didn''t like it when others talked about his father and Zhao Ce like that. "My dad is the head of the family, and he can do whatever he wants. That''s his nephew, and even if he empties our house, he has his reasons. As for my marriage, my dad will definitely pay more attention to it."


    "Okay, okay, you''re an outsider, so don''t talk about this anymore. Otherwise, if my mom hears it, she''ll kill you with her words!" Zhao Qingsong looked at Zhao Wenhao in shock. "Wait a minute, buddy! Didn''t you just say that you don''t want your dad to give money to Zhao Ce anymore? How come you changed your tune as soon as we walked out the door? It seems like this family is extremely protective of each other. They can say whatever they want to their own family members, but they won''t let others interfere."


    Zhao Wenhao followed behind Zhao Youcai and muttered, "Dad, don''t give any more money to Zhao Ce''s family. I need a lot of money to go to school soon!" Zhao Youcai snorted, "Shut up! One day, you''ll make me angry!" "Wenhua is your brother, and Ce''er is not your brother?" Zhao Wenhao received another rebuke and had to apologize and beg for forgiveness.

 Chapter 8 - Just Live Well

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 Chapter 9: Making Money

    Zhao Ce looked at the things Zhao Youcai brought. Inside was enough white rice to last for a few days, with two small cloth bags on top. One bag contained salt, about the size of pigeon eggs, while the other bag was a small bag of black and yellow sugar cubes.


    Looking at these, Zhao Ce felt a warmth in his heart. The moldy white rice in the kitchen was also brought by Zhao Youcai before.


    Except for Zhao Wenhua, who was studying in the city, the rest of Zhao Youcai''s family only ate white rice during the New Year. But because Zhao Ce was a student, he was given white rice.


    These sugar cubes and salt were even more precious in the countryside. When rural people talked about "nourishing the body," they were referring to drinking a bowl of light sugar water. Only those with money would buy meat for their reading children. This small bag of sugar, when mixed with water, could last for quite a while. In short, these three things were all things that ordinary farmers couldn''t afford, so Zhao Ce was very moved.


    Remembering the hurtful things he had said to Zhao Youcai before, Zhao Ce thought that when he became successful, he would definitely show filial piety to him.


    But...


    Looking at these two small bags of salt and sugar cubes, an idea suddenly came to Zhao Ce''s mind. He thought of a fast way to make money! If we talk about the profitable industries in ancient times, then none other than the salt industry.


    The salt that rural people ate was all coarse. Even if we don''t talk about refining coarse salt into refined salt, the method of refining rock salt from salt mines, Zhao Ce knew them all.


    However, even if he knew how to do it, he didn''t dare to enter this industry. Nowadays, salt is not allowed to be produced privately. Even if he made it himself, there would be nowhere to sell it. If he was accidentally reported, he could lose his life in a minute.


    He was now a powerless little student, with no one to protect him. So he didn''t want to do this kind of thing. However, these sugar cubes could be used in many ways!


    At this time, most sugars were not like the clean crystal-like sugar in later generations. It contained a lot of impurities and was black and yellow. Even white sugar, or sugar with fewer impurities, was not something that wealthy families had every day. Because at this time, only a few people had mastered the technology of refining white sugar.


    Zhao Ce remembered that he had once read on the Internet about Marco Polo''s travels, which described how several people from Babylon taught the Chinese to refine white sugar using wood charcoal. However, this method was not as effective as the activated carbon in later generations.


    Therefore, white sugar could not be mass-produced. Later, it was not until the end of the Ming Dynasty that the book "Tiangong Kaiwu" appeared, and a more simple and advanced method for refining white sugar than using wood charcoal was spread.


    That is the yellow mud water dripping sugar method. After this method was developed, white sand sugar finally appeared, similar to that of later generations. Zhao Ce had also seen this method, but he couldn''t use the yellow mud water dripping sugar method for now. So he could only use the relatively backward wood charcoal method.


    Although this method was ancient, it could still refine almost the same quality of white sugar with today''s production technology, and it could probably sell for a good price.


    After thinking it through, Zhao Ce took the bag of things and happily walked towards the kitchen.


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    The hardworking little girl had already cleaned up the room and had returned to the kitchen. She stood in front of the large water tank that reached up to her chest, seemingly contemplating how to wash it.


    She stretched out her small hands, calloused and slightly cracked, grabbing the edge of the tank. Her eyebrows furrowed tightly. "One, two, three, lift!" After some effort, the tank remained unmoved. Su Caier took a few breaths and frowned, squatting down.


    Underneath the tank, there was a lot of dry mud that had accumulated due to neglect. She thought that this mud was limiting her ability to lift the tank.


    She turned around and went into the kitchen, finding a stick. Squatting down, she began to dig out the mud from the base of the tank. As she worked, she heard the footsteps of her husband approaching from behind. She raised her sweaty little head and called out to Zhao Ce, "Husband." Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Uncle came over again earlier and brought us something." "What are you doing?"


    Su Caier pointed at the tank. "The tank is too dirty, it needs to be washed and filled with water." Zhao Ce looked at the heavy tank he had seen before in the countryside when he was young and thought he could handle it.


    He handed the bag he was holding to the little girl on the ground. "You take this inside, I''ll wash the tank." Su Caier looked at her husband''s hands, which had never done any manual labor before, and refused, "I''ll do it." "Husband, you''re a scholar, you shouldn''t be doing this kind of rough work."


    Then Su Caier felt her hand, which was holding the stick, being grabbed by a warm and large hand. Zhao Ce directly lifted the little girl, who was holding the stick, up from the ground. He handed her the bag and said, "Take it inside." "The things inside are valuable, so you need to put them away."


    When Su Caier heard that the things inside were valuable, she hugged the bag tightly. However, she also felt that her hands were dirty and had soiled the contents inside. "Go inside, wash your hands, and then deal with it." Su Caier quickly nodded her head, took the bag, and went into the kitchen. She didn''t even think about her own legs and feet, walking quickly to the courtyard to wash her hands.


    When she turned around, she saw her husband lifting the tank with ease, his robe''s hem tucked into his waistband. "Huh? Is it that light?" She looked down and saw a circular imprint left by the tank over the years, surrounded by a ring of dirt. There were also many small reptiles inside that were scurrying around due to the sudden brightness.


    Zhao Ce didn''t say anything about it being dirty. He was amazed that he was able to lift the tank so easily. Was it because his body had been strengthened after crossing over? However, the tank was still too heavy to carry. He simply rolled the tank to the edge of the well.


    Su Caier looked at her husband''s body and then down at her small frame. She touched herself and realized that men and women really had such a big difference. Not only in body shape but also in strength. After coming back to her senses, she said, "Husband, let me wash it?"


    Zhao Ce waved his hand. "I can do it, you can go."


    "If there''s anything heavy to move, just call me."


    After saying that, he picked up a bucket and poured bucket of water directly into the water tank. Although his movements were a bit awkward, the process was almost complete.


    Seeing that her husband could indeed wash, Su Caier no longer hesitated and went straight to the kitchen.


    Zhao Ce cleaned the water tank and moved it to a new place. He fetched water from the well and filled the water tank. He clapped his hands and wiped the sweat off his forehead. This way, he would be able to go out tomorrow and the little girl at home could directly take water from the water tank. Zhao Ce nodded in satisfaction and walked into the kitchen.


    The little girl was putting the moldy rice from the rice bin into bowls. When she saw Zhao Ce come in, she kindly poured him a bowl of water to drink. Zhao Ce took a sip of the ice-cold and sweet well water, and the little girl sat next to him.


    The two small cloth bags were placed on the table, and Su Caier happily said, "Husband, Uncle brought salt and sugar."


    Hearing the little girl''s happy tone, Zhao Ce''s mood also improved and he nodded. He said, "There isn''t much, let''s use it first. When we make money, we can buy more to stock up at home."


    As he spoke, he seemed to have forgotten that he was currently very poor. The only property left in the house was a piece of land contract for two acres of low-quality farmland.


    After thinking about it, Zhao Ce asked the little girl across from him, "Have you ever seen white sugar?"


    Su Caier shook her head honestly. Not to mention white sugar, she had only seen this kind of sugar block at her aunt''s house. At that time, her aunt had caught her looking at the sugar blocks in her house and was afraid that she would take them, so she quickly hid them.


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, ��It��s okay, today you not only get to see it, but you also get to taste it.��

 Chapter 10: Sleeping is Necessary to Have Children for My Husband.

    They immediately put their plan into action.


    Zhao Ce directed Su Caier to scrape out the leftover charcoal from cooking today''s meal on the stove.


    Compared to the outdated purification methods in ancient times, Zhao Ce thought that it would be even more convenient if there was activated carbon.


    By using the properties of activated carbon to absorb impurities and pigments in sugar water, the impurities in the heavily impure brown sugar can be removed and unnecessary pigments can be adsorbed, resulting in white sugar.


    This method is simpler and more hygienic than the yellow mud purification method. However, he currently did not have the conditions to make activated carbon and could only try using the most outdated charcoal. Although the effect of using ordinary charcoal is much worse than that of activated carbon, it is still a good purification method.


    Today, he had cooked a meal with only a small amount of firewood. There were still some old ash and charcoal with the same dry moldy smell inside. Zhao Ce did not mind and used a branch as chopsticks to pick them out.


    The sugar that Zhao brought was not much, so he did not need too much charcoal. He chose several pieces of similar charcoal and carefully picked them out on the ground.


    He also instructed, "Cai''er, find an old pot. We need to boil this charcoal." "Boil charcoal?" Su Cai''er blinked her eyes in curiosity. Although she was astonished when she heard her husband say he could make white sugar with charcoal, she realized that he was serious when he spoke.


    Can charcoal really be used to make white sugar? After recovering from the shock, Su Cai''er quickly took action. She had washed all the pots today.


    After boiling the charcoal, the pot would most likely be unusable. After thinking it over, she chose the cheapest small pottery pot and poured half a ladle of water into it.


    She went to the kitchen with the pot of water and saw her husband squatting on the ground, starting a fire on the stove. There was already a faint flame inside.


    For Zhao Ce, as a scholar, starting a fire was not a difficult task for someone who grew up in a rural area. He put the selected charcoal pieces in water and threw them into the pot after rinsing them. When he had enough money, he would grind activated carbon and use it in many ways.


    The fire gradually grew larger, and soon the pot began to emit white smoke indicating that the water was boiling.


    Zhao Ce took a pair of old chopsticks and opened the lid of the pot and stirred it before letting it continue to boil. Although this method could not produce activated carbon, the boiled charcoal could slightly enhance the purification effect.


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    Su Cai''er watched for a while and saw that there was nothing she could do to help in the kitchen.


    She took out the moldy rice that had been left out earlier and carefully washed it outside. She couldn''t let her husband eat rice with weevils.


    Looking at the setting sun, Su Caier remembered her husband''s concern for her eyes earlier. Her lips couldn''t help but curve upwards. "Husband is so good... Not only did he save her, but he also didn''t mind her leg problems or her eyes.


    This is the first person Su Caier has met who didn''t dislike her because of her eyes, besides her mother. Even if she worked hard, she couldn''t make her husband eat white rice every meal, but she wouldn''t let him go hungry with her.


    With this thought, Su Caier suddenly felt energetic. She lowered her head and finished all the white rice in her hand before taking the pot into the kitchen.


    In the kitchen, Zhao Ce had already prepared the charcoal and was now frying it in the ceramic pot after pouring out the water from the pot. Su Caier watched her husband''s series of movements with great curiosity. Was he going to cook a dish with this charcoal?


    After Su Caier cooked the porridge, the remaining charcoal was almost dry. Zhao Ce instructed her to boil all the sugar, and Su Caier didn''t object.


    She took out the only other small pot and poured in the small bag of sugar, then added water and stirred slowly as she boiled it.


    As Su Caier stirred, she couldn''t help but worry. Even if they worked hard, they couldn''t make enough white rice for her husband, but she believed he wouldn''t waste anything since he was making white sugar.


    Even though they had only exchanged names today, they seemed to trust each other completely. They also had a mysterious sense of understanding when it came to working.


    The water slowly boiled, and a sweet smell filled the air. Su Caier, who was closest to the pot, couldn''t help but salivate. After swallowing her saliva, she worried that her husband would think she was greedy if he saw her. She glanced at her husband like a thief, but he was completely focused on handling the charcoal and didn''t notice her.


    Su Caier breathed a sigh of relief and gently sucked in the sweet aroma.


    The sugar water boiled quickly, and the charcoal was ready. Zhao Ce instructed Su Caier to pour all the remaining charcoal into the boiled sugar water.


    Su Caier watched as the charcoal was thrown into the bowl and muttered silently to herself, "White sugar... my husband will definitely succeed!" She stirred the mixture with a pair of chopsticks as more and more charcoal was added, causing the yellow, thick sugar water to gradually turn lighter in color.


    Since they didn''t have any cheesecloth at home, Zhao Ce used boiled hemp cloth to filter the mixture. He then added more charcoal to the hot sugar water.


    The charcoal was added and filtered twice more until there was very little charcoal left, and the sugar water had become transparent.


    Su Caier watched the transformation of the sugar water in amazement, her small mouth agape. Was this still sugar water? Zhao Ce was delighted by the color and knew it was successful. He put the pot back on the stove and reheated it to evaporate the water and concentrate the sugar.


    While the white sugar was being boiled dry, they could eat dinner. As usual, they cooked a tasteless porridge made from moldy white rice. Zhao Ce''s stomach was already growling, but he didn''t care.


    He took Su Caier''s bowl and filled it with half a bowl of porridge with rice. Just as she was about to refuse, he threatened her playfully, "Eat it all! If you don''t finish it, you won''t sleep tonight!" After saying that, he licked his lips and felt like there was something wrong...


    At the previous moment, the little girl had refused the porridge and said she only wanted to drink the rice soup, but because of that sentence, she took the bowl and muttered, "I have to sleep. We have to consummate our marriage tonight. I need to sleep to give birth to my husband''s child."

 Chapter 11: I need to earn money quickly...

    Zhao Ce listened to the little girl''s murmurs and couldn''t help but chuckle, patting her small forehead. "Eat up. Although there isn''t much rice left at home, there''s no need to worry. Tomorrow, I''ll go to the city''s bookshop and see if I can get some copying work to do. Let''s first make sure we have enough food to eat for these days."


    Su Caier nodded her small head and took the initiative to divide the tasks between them.


    "I''ll go to the mountain tomorrow to dig some wild vegetables and chop some firewood to bring back."


    The two of them divided the work and finished their bowl of porridge. Su Caier rubbed her round belly, feeling satisfied. She used to only cook a little bit of rough rice porridge for herself. She would add a few more grains of rice only when she was really hungry.


    But now, she had eaten until she was full after only one day in her husband''s home.


    Zhao Ce, on the other hand, drank some water and felt a little unsatisfied after two meals of tasteless white porridge. As a modern person used to all kinds of delicious food, he was used to strong flavors even in plain porridge. He couldn''t help but think that two meals of bland porridge were as good as not eating.


    But seeing the little girl next to him with her big eyes half-closed and a satisfied look on her face, he thought that sometimes, it was good to have a clear stomach.


    After finishing their meal, Su Caier cleaned up the kitchen while Zhao Ce stayed by the pot of boiling sugar. The water inside had evaporated almost completely, and a layer of white sugar glaze had formed on the pot''s walls.


    He stirred the sugar with a pair of chopsticks, and white sugar grains began to appear at the bottom of the pot more and more frequently.


    He cleared the rest of the fire and left only a few charcoal pieces burning. He then scooped out some of the sugar with the chopsticks, showing it to Su Caier. "Look, this is white sugar."


    The white sugar wasn''t completely dry yet, but it was clear what it was supposed to look like.


    Su Caier was amazed at the clean and transparent sugar crystals. "This is white sugar! It looks so good."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "After the sugar in the pot dries a little more, we can pour it into a bowl and let it cool. Tomorrow, I''ll take this sugar to the city and see if they''ll buy it. If we can get a good price, I''ll buy more sugar to refine it. That way, we can have a proper business."


    "Oh, and let''s see how sweet it is," he said, holding out the chopsticks with sugar grains to Su Caier. He gestured for her to taste the sugar.


    The little girl was a little confused and didn''t react immediately. "You can taste it first, husband."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "I don''t like to eat sugar this way. Can you taste it for me?"


    Su Caier then extended her small pink tongue and gently licked the sugar grains on the chopsticks. After tasting it, she involuntarily exclaimed, "It''s so sweet..."


    Realizing what she had done, she blushed and looked up at the tall man in front of her. Zhao Ce also felt a little uncomfortable and coughed lightly. "It''s too hot today, and the kitchen is also a bit hot..."


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Zhao Ce felt a bit uncomfortable and coughed lightly. "The weather is too hot, and the kitchen is also a bit hot..." The little girl in front of him was thin and small, just a child. Why was he feeling uneasy?


    He pushed those feelings aside and said, "Do you want to leave some to eat at home?" Su Caier quickly shook her head and refused, "No, it''s too precious." "You can get a lot of money if you bring it to the city to exchange. With the money, your husband can buy white rice to eat." Given their current situation, there wasn''t much they could do.


    Zhao Ce gestured for the girl to eat all the sugar on the chopsticks, then wash them and take a warm bath with the hot water in the pot.


    He left the kitchen and took a deep breath, seeing that the sun was almost down. Only a faint glow remained in the sky, and there was nothing much to do in this ancient night.


    He had sweated a lot today and decided to wash up early and go to bed. He took the clean clothes that the little girl had found and went to the courtyard to wash himself with water.


    Looking down at his skinny body, he couldn''t help but feel a bit disgusted. "I have to exercise tomorrow morning." He poured a bucket of water over himself, instantly cooling the hot air.


    When he finished washing up, the sky had gradually darkened. He lightly knocked on the kitchen door and pushed it open when he heard Su Caier''s reply.


    The little girl had just finished washing up, and her face was flushed. When she saw Zhao Ce come in, she looked at him with her big watery eyes before quickly lowering her head. "Did you wash up too? There''s still hot water in the pot," she said.


    He opened the pot lid and saw that there was still a lot of water left. "Why didn''t you use it all? Firewood can also be exchanged for money," he said with a smile.


    Children of farmers generally don''t use hot water to bathe, even in winter. They usually wait for the sun to warm up a few pots of water in the courtyard and then wash with the remaining warmth. This was the first time Su Caier had used hot water to bathe in her life. "I only used some,�� she said seriously. "The rest is for you." Zhao Ce thought for a moment and decided that it was okay not to use hot water as the weather was still very hot, but he would have to let her use hot water in the future, especially as the seasons changed. As for himself, he would continue to use cold water to prepare for the imperial examinations.


    Zhao Ce picked up the pot and put it in the cupboard, wrapped it in a cloth, and let it dry overnight.


    Tomorrow, he should be able to get completely dried white sugar. There were also a pair of chopsticks on the bowl with some sugar on them that Su Caier had tasted. This thrifty little girl had only licked a small amount and didn''t want to eat anymore. Zhao Ce sighed inwardly,


    I need to earn money quickly...


    After putting things away, Zhao Ce continued speaking: "From now on, use the hot water in the pot for yourself."


    "No need to save it for me."


    Su Caier blinked her eyes.


    "But husband is a scholar, his body is precious."


    Su Caier blushed. Her mother had told her that during the wedding night, she should boil some hot water. So she didn''t refuse today. From now on, she would leave all the hot water for her husband to use.


    Yesterday, her husband got drunk and slept on the bed while she slept on a bench next to the wall. She felt embarrassed to sleep with him on the bed. Tonight, she will finally have her first night together with her husband.


    She couldn''t help but clench her small fists. She heard what his uncle said today.


    He said she was too thin and it would be difficult for her to give birth. She had to work harder, sleep more with her husband, and have a baby as soon as possible. Then his uncle wouldn''t let him send her away.


    Zhao Ce didn''t know what was going on in the little girl''s mind. He shook his head and said, "Using cold water will help me study better."


    The little girl looked at him in confusion.


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Just listen to me."


    Su Caier quickly said, "Yes, I''ll listen to you."


    She closed the cupboard door and turned around. he saw the little girl looking determined and full of fighting spirit. There seemed to be two small flames burning in her pupils.


    Zhao Ce couldn''t help but smile. This little girl was probably thinking about something again. He rubbed her small head and said, "Let''s go, there''s nothing else to do in the kitchen."


    "Let''s go sleep."


    Sleep?


    Su Caier''s eyes lit up.


    "Yes, let''s sleep!"

 Chapter 12: Husband, come back soon

    Outside, the sky was completely dark, with only a few sparks of fire on the kitchen stove.


    The two of them walked out of the kitchen, and Zhao Ce locked the door, his hands stained with rust. He washed his hands again.


    He walked in front, with the little girl following behind.


    In the dark, they returned to the room. Zhao Ce felt the bed, which had been sun-dried, and the smell had faded a lot. He thought it was fortunate to have a little helper. Otherwise, he would have to smell these odors while sleeping tonight.


    Zhao Ce sat on the bed and saw the little girl still standing there. He waved his hand and said, "Why don''t you come over?"


    Su Caier swallowed nervously. It was their wedding night, and they were going to sleep together.


    "Yes, I''m coming," she said slowly as she walked over.


    Zhao Ce had originally thought that the young girl was too young to sleep with him. But there were no other beds or bedding in the house, and the place where the previous owners slept made him miss them.


    At that time, he burned everything. Moreover, in the countryside, the weather could be cool at midnight during the summer. It was necessary to have a blanket.


    Zhao Ce thought that although the little girl was young, she was his wife. Although he only saw her as a little sister and had no other thoughts, whether they slept together or separately, in the eyes of outsiders, she was his woman. If they were going to sleep together, they would sleep together.


    Su Caier climbed onto the bed, and Zhao Ce lay down too. Feeling a bit hot, he put the blanket in the middle and said, "If you''re cold, remember to cover yourself with the blanket."


    "Yes, I will," Su Caier replied shyly. She closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.


    Would she have a child after waking up? But she had heard that a couple in the village slept together for several years before having a child. Would she also have to sleep with her husband for several years before having a child?


    Su Caier thought randomly and soon fell asleep. She had not slept much the night before, sitting on a stool against the wall, and was also worried and scared, having done a lot of housework that day.


    Zhao Ce heard the person next to him breathing steadily and soon fell asleep too.


    Thinking back to the little girl''s eyes, Zhao Ce couldn''t help but sigh. He was surprised when he saw them during the day, but now he realized that they were incredibly beautiful, like two gems. But although he knew what had happened, the people in the village probably wouldn''t accept it.


    If he was going to continue living in the village, he had to come up with a suitable explanation for the girl''s eyes. And there was also the matter of his studies...


    Thinking about these things, Zhao Ce gradually fell asleep.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    In the middle of the night, he woke up hungry and empty-stomached.


    Zhao Ce turned over, picked up the blanket, and draped it over the little girl''s stomach before falling asleep again.


    ........


    Early the next morning, the rooster next door crowed, waking Zhao Ce from his dream. Despite feeling like he hadn''t slept for long, he felt refreshed.


    He looked out the window through the tattered paper, gauging the time by the sky. The young girl sleeping next to him also woke up groggily, asking if he was getting up. Zhao Ce replied that he had to make a trip to the city that day.


    He got dressed, and the girl, Su Caier, offered to cook him something to eat before he left. Zhao Ce agreed, and she went to fetch water to start a fire.


    They had spent the whole day together yesterday and even slept together. Su Caier wasn''t as shy as before, and she spoke with laughter in her voice.


    After washing up, Zhao Ce checked the clay pot he had left on the stove. The sugar inside had dried out completely, so he poured it into a bowl.


    Su Caier watched him eagerly, only having tasted a bit of the sugar yesterday. Zhao Ce used a chopstick to scrape out all the sugar granules stuck to the pot, and he decided to keep the pot for future sugar-making.


    Yesterday''s small bag of sugar was now three-quarters empty, so Zhao Ce filled a clean cloth bag with the remaining sugar. He planned to take it to the grocery store to ask about the price later. They had white rice porridge again for breakfast, and Zhao Ce took all the rice while Su Caier only had a little. She said that he needed more energy for his trip to the city.


    After finishing his breakfast, Zhao Ce got ready to leave.


    Su Cai''er originally wanted to make some dry food for him, but they didn''t have any flour or anything like that at home.


    As for money, most of their belongings had been taken by her cousin and aunt. They even accused her of being a jinx and said that the copper coins she took might be moldy. Thinking of this, Su Cai''er felt a little sad and pursed her lips.


    However, having lived alone for two years, she still had some tricks for hiding money.


    Luckily, when she went out that day, she put on her better clothes that she was reluctant to wear. Zhao Ce brought over his book box and saw the little girl taking off her coat in the kitchen. Su Cai''er blushed, but Zhao Ce didn''t think of anything else and just said, "It''s a bit hot in the kitchen."


    Su Cai''er whispered, "I''m not hot." "I''ll give my husband some copper coins." Then, Zhao Ce saw this little girl flipping the coat inside out.


    There was actually a flat layer inside, and a small white tooth bit the thread that sewed the inner layer together. With a small sound of the thread breaking, she pulled it with her hand, and several flat copper coins slipped out.


    Zhao Ce watched as this little girl performed magic tricks, and in the blink of an eye, she held nine copper coins in her hands and brought them in front of him. "Husband, there''s nothing at home to make dry food. These are the copper coins I saved up. Please go to the city and buy some buns to eat."


    She said this with her eyes shining, and her rough little hand holding the copper coins was full of expectation, urging Zhao Ce to hurry up and take them.


    "It''s getting late, and you have to go out," Zhao Cai''er said, not waiting for him to refuse, and took his hand that was hanging on the side. She put all her belongings in his hand, and the copper coins were still warm from her body temperature. Zhao Ce''s hand holding the coins involuntarily shrank a bit.


    After finishing all this, the little girl nodded in satisfaction and picked up the bamboo tube she had found yesterday, pouring a bamboo tube of water for her husband.


    Zhao Ce came back to his senses, took the bamboo tube from her, and put it in the cloth pocket of his book box. He also put the copper coins he was holding into it. Nine copper coins�� It was the little girl''s entire fortune.


    Zhao Ce smiled. Since he had taken all of her belongings, he had to take responsibility for her in this lifetime. He took a deep breath and picked up his book box. The little girl stretched out her small hand and waved it lightly. "Husband, come back soon."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said softly, "Okay." "Then, I''ll leave the things at home to you." Su Cai''er nodded her little head and watched him walk away before closing the door.

 Chapter 13: Selling Things

    Zhao Ce carried his book box as he walked out of the village. It was still dark outside, and people passing by couldn''t see his face clearly. However, Zhao Ce''s long robe and book box were too distinctive.


    After walking for a while, someone who was going to work early in the morning shouted loudly, "Hey, our village''s literary star is going to school at the academy?"


    Zhao Ce glanced at him but didn''t say anything. He withdrew his gaze and continued walking.


    The person muttered, "Why aren''t you saying some sarcastic words today like ''father of poetry'' or ''father of literature''?"


    As he passed the big acacia tree at the village entrance where people were waiting for the ox carts, many people who were going to the city early in the morning were also waiting there. Soon, someone recognized Zhao Ce.


    "The top scholar has arrived. Why are you so early today?"


    "Is the top scholar going to ride the ox cart with us ordinary folks today?"


    "Look at what you''re saying. He''s the heavenly literary star who has descended to earth. How could he possibly squeeze onto the ox cart with us?"


    Zhao Ce listened to their words and felt a bit helpless. The original owner was a fool who, as the only literate person in the village, had made the villagers hate him in just a few years because of his arrogance. He didn''t receive any respect at all. In the past, he used to listen to these words and arrogantly thought that others were complimenting him.


    Zhao Ce sighed lightly in his heart. A fool can''t be helped.


    He didn''t reply and just carried his book box, striding towards the village.


    It takes about half an hour to walk from the village to the city. Zhao Ce also wanted to ride the ox cart, but it cost one penny per ride. The copper coins in his pocket were saved by the little girl for so many years, and he didn''t want to spend them so easily.


    Yesterday, the original owner came back and walked home halfway. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have brought a young wife back halfway. He''d better walk. At least this way, he could exercise his body.


    On the road, he saw many people walking with their burdens or pulling carts. They were all farmers who got up early to sell their goods in the city.


    Zhao Ce remembered when his grandparents were young. His grandfather would leave early in the morning with a shoulder pole, walking two hours to the town to sell some food made by his grandmother.


    Sometimes, he couldn''t tell the time from the sky and was afraid of not getting a good spot, so he set off early. Once, he arrived in town and found that there was no one there. He sat on the ground for a long time, and it was just starting to get light when people began to arrive.


    The whole family survived because of his and his grandmother''s hard work.


    Later, life improved, and they didn''t need to work so hard anymore.


    Zhao Ce thought of these things as he walked forward. He arrived at the county town before half an hour had passed. He didn''t need to be checked since he was carrying his book box. He just went straight into the city.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    By now, the sky was just starting to get light, and there were many pedestrians on the streets of the city. Zhao Ce didn''t bother to think too much and just followed his memory to the grocery store in the city.


    The grocer''s clerk saw Zhao Ce in a long robe and knew he was a scholar. He warmly welcomed him, "What does this guest need to buy?"


    Zhao Ce nodded slightly at him and asked, "Excuse me, is the shopkeeper available?" The clerk heard that he was looking for the shopkeeper and didn''t ask any more questions.


    He led Zhao Ce directly to the front counter. The lighting here was not very good. The shopkeeper was sorting out the accounts and asked, "What''s the matter?" when he heard someone was looking for him.


    Zhao Ce took out a small bag of white sugar and said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, I have something good here. Do you accept it?" The shopkeeper became interested after hearing his words.


    He looked at the man across from him who was wearing a long robe. Although he was a bit thin, he had a handsome face. Although the fabric of his clothes was not too good, there might be something really good in the bag. He curiously asked, "What good thing?"


    Zhao Ce handed the cloth bag over and bluffed, "This is a gift from a relative who came from out of town to my house." "I think it could be worth some money. Shopkeeper, take a look." The shopkeeper received it suspiciously, opened it, and looked inside. Then, his eyes widened in disbelief. "This, this is..." Zhao Ce quickly stopped him and told him to keep his voice down. Then he said, "It''s white sugar."


    The shopkeeper picked up a small piece and put it in his mouth. Then, he confirmed, "It''s white sugar!" "It tastes only sweet and fragrant, without any other flavors!" After the shopkeeper finished speaking, he could not help but pick up the cloth bag and walked to a place where the light was brighter.


    He opened the bag and checked the white sugar again under the bright light. Although the color of the white sugar was not snow white in the light, it was the purest white sugar he had ever seen. The shopkeeper was overjoyed.


    Although the shopkeeper had seen white sugar before, the quantity was too small and the quality was not as good as what the young man brought.


    He walked up to Zhao Ce and asked, "Do you sell this white sugar?" Zhao Ce said, "Of course I do." Then he pretended to be hesitant and said, "Shopkeeper, to be honest, this thing, my relative who came from afar said that he knows someone who can get more." "If the price is right, I will go back and talk to him tonight and see if he can get some more from there."


    Zhao Ce was not stupid. He couldn''t directly tell the shopkeeper that he had made the white sugar himself. Although he had a scholarly title now, there were many things that he could not hold onto without status. During this time, it was not an exaggeration to say that white sugar was something that even money could not buy.


    The shopkeeper looked at the sugar and hesitated for a moment. After the shock, he calmed down and rubbed his beard, saying, "Did you steal this?" Zhao Ce remembered the original owner''s demeanor and pretended to be a little impatient, saying, "What are you talking about? How could I do something wrong? If my family didn''t need the money, I wouldn''t sell it!" He almost believed it himself after speaking so righteously and tried to take the bag of sugar back.


    The shopkeeper quickly apologized and took out a scale to weigh it in front of Zhao Ce. "It''s only 1.75 ounces, but we''ll count it as two and a half ounces. That''ll be 750 coins." Normal sugar would cost around 40 coins for this amount, so the price had increased by more than ten times.


    Zhao Ce was satisfied with the price, even though he couldn''t understand the scale. He knew that the shopkeeper could sell it to wealthy households for ten times the price. But since he had nowhere else to sell it, he had to earn this difference for now.


    Zhao Ce pretended to be knowledgeable and warned the shopkeeper not to deceive him, saying that he had influential classmates in the city. The shopkeeper smiled wryly and asked who his teacher was.


    Zhao Ce made up a name and urged the shopkeeper to hurry up and collect the money so they could discuss the matter with his relatives. He earned 750 coins for the sugar, which was a good start for him.


    He believed that with more of these money-making opportunities, he would have no problem becoming rich in the future. Life is like a play, and it''s all about acting skills. He felt that he had performed well today, and with this money-making item, he was on his way to his first, second, and many more future successes.

 Chapter 14: Its Him

    After settling the bill, Zhao Ce generously bought 400 wen worth of raw sugar, saying that he was tired from studying and wanted to bring it home to make sugar water.


    Subtracting the 400 wen spent, he then bought 50 wen worth of salt and had 300 wen left. He happily put all the coins into his book box and patted it satisfactorily.


    He needed to hurry back and make the sugar, then exchange it for more money. By doing so, he could earn some extra cash and improve their living conditions, which would be good for their health.


    Since the sugar was transported from a distant place, it was not a business he could do every day. In the meantime, he could study and earn some extra income to help with household expenses.


    As he thought about it, the young girl mentioned that they didn''t have any flour to make dry food. Zhao Ce decided to go to the grain store to buy some.


    After purchasing the grain, he went to the bookshop to pay the deposit and collect some copying work to take back home. This way, he could practice his calligraphy while earning some extra money.


    Although printing technology was advanced, printed books were still more expensive than handwritten copies. After all, a new book had to go through various processes such as typesetting, proofreading, printing, and final proofreading before it could be officially printed. Handwriting copies, on the other hand, required fewer steps, making them relatively cheaper.


    Once he made up his mind, Zhao Ce bid farewell to the shopkeeper and left the grocery store with his book box. He found the grain store and bought some white rice, flour, and a small can of sesame oil. He also bought two pounds of pork from the meat vendor.


    He planned to make some white sugar and use the pork oil residue from frying the pork to dip in the sugar later. The thought of it made his stomach growl.


    He then headed to the nearby bookshop and saw a crowd of people gathered around it. Many were discussing the bookstore being owned by Chen''s family and how they were collecting riddles for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival lantern festival.


    The guest speaker for the event was the county scholar, Liu Xiulan. The riddles would be selected and presented to the county magistrate for review, and the best ones would be chosen for the lantern festival.


    The winner would not only receive a prize from the bookstore but also gain the favor of the county magistrate.


    Zhao Ce stood outside and listened to their discussion, feeling a slight movement in his heart. Yesterday, when he first woke up, he felt dizzy and didn''t think too much about it. But last night, he remembered something important. There was a reason why the original owner was driven to death by anger.


    As a student, going to a brothel was nothing unusual, but the day before yesterday, he had done something that ruined his reputation and even led to the threat of being expelled from school.


    Thinking about this, Zhao Ce felt that he needed to be careful and avoid making the same mistakes as the original owner and that he needed to do something to salvage his precarious reputation.


    After all, in ancient times, there was a clear distinction between the four classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. As a powerless and unconnected farmer''s son, no matter how clever he was, he couldn''t flaunt it without a reliable background.


    It was like this lump of sugar he had to put on an act just to be able to sell it for money, and even then it wasn''t safe.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    If Zhao Ce wanted to earn more money and live a better life in the future, he would inevitably have to continue his studies and earn some official recognition to protect himself.


    The group of students he overheard discussing the lantern riddles offered him an excellent opportunity to make a name for himself. They had said that the person who was best at creating lantern riddles could even gain recognition from the county magistrate and have their name remembered.


    This was undoubtedly a great opportunity for Zhao Ce, who had yet to take the imperial examination for scholars.


    At this point, the students continued their discussion, saying, "I heard the compensation for creating lantern riddles is quite generous!"


    "Yes, I heard that one student who hasn''t even studied for two years wrote a lantern riddle and won a ten copper coin reward."


    "But if you create a lantern riddle, you won''t be able to participate in guessing the riddles during the lantern festival."


    "We''re all so clever, we''ll just wait until the time comes to guess the riddles."


    "Winning the top prize will also bring great fame."


    The students became more and more excited, even imagining themselves winning all the lantern riddle contests.


    Just then, a scholar in a worn long robe emerged from the crowd of shop assistants up ahead.


    The shopkeeper of the bookstore shouted loudly, "What a talented student from Hejia Village, He Ronghao, has created a Grade B lantern riddle!"


    He then handed the scholar a finely crafted small cloth bag.


    The scholar smiled widely, gratefully accepting it and saying, "Thank you very much."


    He then happily walked away.


    The crowd gathered around him, and the student generously opened his purse to reveal a one-ounce silver piece and a small wooden plaque with the character "B" on it.


    As long as one was a scholar without official recognition, one would come up with a lantern riddle in hopes of being chosen by the county magistrate during the lantern festival. It didn''t matter whether they were rich or poor.


    Among scholars, there was a strong culture of comparison, and if someone were to seek him out for the answer, he might be reported and exposed before he even had a chance to gain fame. Furthermore, he had no idea where his answer would be placed among the many lantern stalls. This kind of cheating method was simply not worth the risk.


    Zhao Ce looked at the silver piece from afar and felt that even the copper coins he had just earned weren''t as sweet as they used to be. He had spent hours yesterday tinkering with the sugar, and now it seemed like a waste of time.


    Just by solving a riddle, one could earn a tael of silver, so it really was a case of "the grass is always greener on the other side". But regardless, who doesn''t want to take advantage of an opportunity like this?


    Zhao Ce raised an eyebrow. Regardless of the money, if he was selected, it would be unexpected income. He had also thought of a similar riddle.


    Several more people went up to present their riddles. Many of the riddles presented were of B and C grades. The onlookers craned their necks to see what kind of riddles these people had written, but they were too far away to see. The surrounding scholars shook their heads, saying that it was difficult to come up with an A-grade riddle. Only one A-grade riddle was presented that day, and it was extremely challenging to come up with one.


    " Liu Xiulan is one of the talented scholars in our county, and his eye for riddles is sharp," the scholars whispered. "If we want to get an A grade riddle from him, I''m afraid we don''t have much hope. Furthermore, these graded riddles will be reviewed by the county officials, and even his own students won''t receive any special treatment."


    Sitting at his desk, Liu Xiulan looked at the students whispering below him and stroked his beard. These students were not very talented, and he felt it was time for his favorite student to come over. He had already instructed him to come around the same time today.


    With his student''s talent, he wouldn''t need to give him any special treatment, and he would be able to come up with an A-grade riddle. Liu Xiulan looked forward to showing off in front of other scholars.


    Liu Xiulan felt quite pleased with himself and his plan.


    Just as he was thinking this, a tall and thin student with a book box on his back walked out of the crowd. Liu Xiulan thought it was his favorite student who had arrived. He looked up, only to find that it was a young man he had never seen before.


    Zhao Ce walked out of the bustling crowd and arched his hand to ask, "Excuse me, is the riddle still being collected?"


    The shopkeeper of the bookstore said, "Of course, we are collecting them. Please come forward."


    Zhao Ce nodded and followed the shopkeeper to the front of the crowd. When some of the students saw Zhao Ce, they immediately shouted, "Isn''t that Zhao Ce?"


    "It is him."


    "Why is he still daring to come to the city? Isn''t he afraid of being beaten to death by Zhao Gongzi?"


    "Hey, if I were him, I would just find a tree branch and hang myself."

 Chapter 15: Shameless Face

    Some people who didn''t know Zhao Ce heard the discussions of others and also leaned over to inquire. They asked about the situation.


    Those people were still pointing and mocking Zhao Ce. "Heh heh, Mr. Zhao must not dare to kill anyone, but how can this person still have the face to come out and see people?"


    "Otherwise, when this news reaches his village, the people in his village probably won''t tolerate him!"


    "Tsk, as a scholar, just the thought of him actually reading the same classics as us makes me look down on him!"


    "Ugh! What kind of scholar is he? He''s worse than a street thug!"


    A few people were whispering.


    The people around them were getting anxious. "Don''t insult him yet. What exactly happened to this person?"


    A person who was classmate of Zhao Ce pointed to him and said, "Everyone knows about the widow in the west of the city, right?"


    "This person had a crush on the courtesan of the Drunken Red Pavilion and attempted to go to the widow''s home. But he was caught by Mr. Zhao''s son and his men!"


    "His teacher is Liu Xiucai."


    "After learning of this incident, Liu Xiucai became furious and said he would expel him from the school. He won''t mention that he was his student in the future!"


    "Tsk tsk, both surnamed Zhao, but Mr. Zhao is honorable and upright, with great talent."


    "But this person is shallow in knowledge and corrupted in manners."


    After listening, everyone suddenly understood. This was a person with an extremely bad character! And he still dares to come out?


    Everyone turned their attention back to Zhao Ce.


    Over there, Zhao Ce had already written the riddle''s question and answer.


    "So fast? Could he have just written two characters and turned it in?"


    "Even if this riddle is just one sentence, it still requires a lot of strokes."


    There were various opinions.


    The bookstore owner who was waiting on the side was also surprised. These people were right. He really only wrote two characters!


    He picked up the riddle and took a glance at it. Then he looked at Zhao Ce.


    He wanted to ask, but he remembered that Liu Xiucai was still there. He held back his doubts and brought the paper to Liu Xiucai''s face.


    "Looking at the bookstore owner''s expression, you must be wanting to laugh, right?"


    "These two random characters make me want to laugh too."


    "Zhao Ce said he has no talent, but his belly really doesn''t have much ink."


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    "It''s been four or five years since he started school, and he still hasn''t passed the elementary scholar exam."


    Everyone pointed at Zhao Ce and said mocking words.


    Zhao Ce naturally heard them, but he just calmly stood in front of the table, waiting for the result.


    The paper was sent to Liu Xiulan��s hands. As he looked at the riddle, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. Then he looked again, and his eyes widened in surprise. Like the shopkeeper, he looked at the paper and then at Zhao Ce, and asked in disbelief, "Did you really come up with this?" His incredulous tone silenced the murmurs of the surrounding crowd.


    Zhao Ce calmly replied, "Of course." "Or did the scholar have the fortune of seeing someone else come up with the same riddle as me?" The scholar took another look at the lantern riddle and pounded the table, exclaiming, "Excellent! This is the first-grade lantern riddle of the day! No, there won''t be a better one!" After the scholar finished speaking, everyone''s curiosity was piqued.


    They all wanted to see what Zhao Ce had written to receive such high praise from the scholar. "What kind of riddle did Zhao Ce come up with that earned him such praise from the scholar?" "Won''t there be a better one? Is the scholar being overly enthusiastic?" "Is it really a first-grade riddle? Did I hear that correctly?" Someone remembered the few classmates from earlier and asked, "Didn''t you say earlier that this person doesn''t recognize many characters? How did he get a first-grade rating?"


    Everyone''s gaze turned towards them, and the classmates'' faces turned sour under scrutiny. A person who had studied for four or five years had not participated in the elementary scholar exam. How much could he know? It was all fake! But Zhao Ce had just received a "first-grade" rating in front of everyone.


    Who could they complain to? A thin-skinned scholar looked up at the sky and said, "Ha, the sun is so big today, it''s too hot." As he spoke, he used his sleeve to block the gaze of the crowd. At this point, the shopkeeper announced with great joy, "One first-grade lantern riddle from Water Bridge Village''s scholar, Zhao Ce." "This is Zhao Gongzi''s remuneration for his writing." After speaking, he handed Zhao Ce an exquisite purse. Zhao Ce squeezed it and felt the hard touch of silver ingots.


    He was pleased and was about to bow and thank them, ready to head home. But then a voice of indignation was heard from the crowd. "On what basis did he get a first-grade rating?" "We don''t accept this!" The speaker was one of the classmates who had educated the crowd about Zhao Ce''s glorious history.


    Zhao Ce remembered these people as the accomplices who had urged him to eat, drink, and play in the past. Of course, the past was the fault of the original owner. But the current Zhao Ce would not let them bully him.


    The shopkeeper was also straightforward and asked, "What do you have to say, young man?" The leader of the group stepped forward and introduced himself, "We are students of Liu Xiucai and classmates of this Zhao Ce." "This person has ruined the reputation of scholars and has already been expelled by our teacher." "He cannot be considered a scholar, so how can he receive this reward?" The speaker''s words were righteous and indignant.


    Even the scholar, who was watching from the side thought ��Although the lantern riddles were excellent if the winner was a person of ill repute, he would really have to consider re-evaluating the ranking��.


    However, Zhao Ce calmly said, "Oh? Does the Lantern Festival specify that only scholars can participate?"


    "Well... no," the shopkeeper next to them replied.


    "In that case, what does it matter if I am a scholar or not?" Zhao Ce continued. "And as for my reputation...how you choose to spread it is up to you. As the saying goes, ''a gentleman is open and honest, while a petty person is always on guard''. I won''t judge you by your words, and you shouldn''t judge me by my reputation."


    "Everyone here is a scholar, but because of the slander of a few, you all treat me like a commoner, pointing and discussing behind my back. Is this what you learned from the teachings of the saints?"


    Zhao Ce spoke confidently, and others felt embarrassed or ashamed. However, the few classmates who had accused him were furious. He had done the wrong thing, yet Zhao Ce was turning the tables on them and accusing them of being like commoners. How thick-skinned of him!


    They were racking their brains trying to come up with a retort, and Zhao Ce had already bid farewell to Scholar Liu and walked away with his prize money. He thought to himself, with such a large sum of silver, he''d better leave before anyone changes their mind.


    As the few students came back to their senses, Zhao Ce had already walked far away. Everyone present looked at them with unclear expressions. One person angrily said, "We...we didn''t lie!"


    After speaking, they left in a dejected manner.

 Chapter 16: Low Investment, High Returns

    Zhao Ce had already reached the city gate, having earned some money. On his way back, he didn''t hesitate to spend a penny and hopped onto a cattle cart that was heading in the same direction.


    He took out the bamboo tube from his book box and took a sip of water before noticing a few copper coins in another compartment. He wondered what the little girl at home had been up to.


    He then emptied the new purse he had obtained and found a silver ingot worth five taels and a wooden plaque with a number on it. He didn''t know what the wooden plaque was for and regretted not asking about it earlier.


    After some thought, he put the wooden plaque and silver ingot back into the purse. Today''s earnings were quite good and Zhao Ce was in a good mood, even ignoring the growling in his stomach.


    When the cattle cart reached the village, Zhao Ce got off and walked towards his home with his belongings. It was probably around noon at this point, and many people had finished their first meal of the day and were sitting under the big acacia tree to chat and cool off.


    The topic of conversation revolved around the new face that they had seen in the village earlier that day - the little girl.


    When they saw Zhao Ce returning with his book box, the topic shifted to him.


    "The Scholarly Star-Lord has returned!" "Why did Mr. Zhao go to the city today when the academy is closed? Is it because the teacher gave you special treatment?" Some restless aunties raised their voices.


    Everyone''s attention was drawn to him. However, when they looked at him, they realized that the scholar they were used to seeing, who always had a hunched back, was now standing tall with a calm expression. It was like he was a different person.


    They must have been mistaken... Zhao Ce listened to their words and couldn''t help but shake his head. His nickname was too much. Scholarly Star-Lord, Top Scholar Lord, Mr. Zhao... everyone in the village had a nickname for him. All sorts of nicknames came out of their mouths.


    However, when he thought about how the original owner had taken these as genuine admiration from the villagers, Zhao Ce felt embarrassed for him. He stopped in his tracks, and the others thought he was going to say something clever.


    But instead, Zhao Ce simply nodded at Aunt Chun, who had spoken earlier. "Aunt Chun, I went to the city for some business. It''s getting late, so I''ll head back first."


    After saying this, he left the group of people behind and walked away with his belongings. "Ah... Has Zhao Ce been possessed by a demon?" "The way he spoke to me earlier, his tone... tsk, how can I put it?" Aunt Chun struggled to find the right words. She didn''t know how to describe it. Someone next to her said, "Didn''t you guys say that he brought a little wife back yesterday?" "Maybe he''s changed because he''s married.


    He wouldn''t have married a peasant girl, though, because he said he was going to become an official after high school and would never marry a girl from a farmer''s family." "I took a quick glance at her from afar today. She''s skinny and obviously from a farming family." "And she looks like a timid and difficult-to-raise girl." "Sigh, who knows? Each person has their own preferences, so maybe he likes this type."


    The conversation among the villagers revolved around Zhao Ce and his new wife, discussing how he suddenly brought someone back. As he walked further away, Zhao Ce could still hear their chatter.


    Listening to the gossip, he remembered the shameful words that the original owner had said before. "Fortunately, I have thick skin, otherwise I wouldn''t even have the courage to leave the house..." Zhao Ce forced a smile. "Forget it, I haven''t been here for long." "Reputation is something that comes slowly." Zhao Ce had already thought this through.


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    He knew that he had to improve his relationship with the villagers. He never thought of being a lone ranger or anything like that when he traveled back to ancient times. For example, in order to participate in the imperial examination, he needed to find five households to vouch for him.


    Only people with good relationships would be willing to do this. However, he couldn''t rush these things. He would consider them slowly after he had settled down. Although his past self was almost thirty years old, his current body was only nineteen years old.


    Zhao Ce walked back to his house while thinking about these things. When he opened the dilapidated fence door, he saw that the front door was closed from the inside. He knocked on the door and heard some panicked footsteps from inside. A soft voice came from inside, "My husband is not at home, please come back later..."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "It''s me. Open the door." The door was quickly opened, revealing a young girl''s face. As soon as she saw Zhao Ce, a sweet smile appeared on her face. "Husband! You''re back!" Zhao Ce nodded, thinking that there was someone at home waiting for him. This feeling was quite nice.


    He opened the door and walked in. After he put down his backpack, he asked her in a low voice, "Why are you so nervous?" Su Caier helped him take off his backpack and explained in a whisper, "When I went out to wash clothes just now, an old lady wanted to talk to me. I was a little scared, so I hurried back home."


    Zhao Ce touched her little head and said, "Well, it''s better not to talk to them for now." He couldn''t do much about the little girl''s eyes right now, but he planned to save enough money in the next two days and then return it to Zhao Youcai. Then he would give all the credit to the little girl and chat with Zhao Youcai.


    With Zhao Youcai''s support, this matter would be much easier to handle. Before that, he had to keep the little girl from going out too much.


    Su Caier said sadly, "Husband, I didn''t dare to go up the mountain to collect firewood. I just picked up some small twigs by the river." Zhao Ce said, "It''s okay. I will go up the mountain to collect more firewood in a few days." After that, he took his backpack and headed to the kitchen. "I bought a lot of things, let''s make something delicious tonight!" Zhao Ce ordered and went to the kitchen with his little assistant.


    He magically took out things from the bookcase, such as white rice, flour, sesame oil, salt, and a large bag of brown sugar. He also had some pork wrapped in oil paper.


    With each item taken out, the little girl would exclaim in surprise.


    But as they reached the end, the bag was empty.


    Zhao Ce laughed and said, "Tonight we''ll cut up the pork and use the lard to stir-fry vegetables."


    "And we''ll eat the pork fat scraps with rice."


    Su Caier instinctively said, "It''s like celebrating New Year''s Eve early."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "We''ll eat even better on New Year''s Day!"


    After saying that, he told the little girl about exchanging his sugar for money.


    The little girl looked up at him in admiration.


    "Husband is amazing..."


    "Charcoal can make sugar and also sell for so much money."


    Zhao Ce listened to her admiring words, and his eyebrows lifted with pride.


    "Is that all?"


    He took out a beautifully made purse from his body and gestured for Su Caier to take it.


    Su Caier looked down at the well-made purse and froze.


    "Husband, this is..."


    "Open it and see?"


    Su Caier opened it and saw a silver ingot and a wooden plaque with characters she couldn''t read.


    Su Caier, a small country bumpkin, was almost wide-eyed.


    "Husband, is this... silver?"


    Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Five liang."


    The little girl looked at the silver ingot and suddenly foolishly picked it up, about to bite it.


    Zhao Ce quickly stopped her actions and said helplessly, "You''re going to put it in your mouth?"


    Su Caier blinked and said, "I heard before that silver is soft."


    "I want to try if it''s really true."


    Zhao Ce chuckled and tapped her little head.


    "Of course it''s true."


    "But this thing is dirty and can''t be put in your mouth."


    He also took out the nine copper coins the little girl had given him and put them in her other small hand.


    All the remaining money from selling sugar and buying things, over a hundred wen, was also poured out.


    Zhao Ce said, "This is all we have now."


    "From now on, it''s all up to you to take care of."


    Su Caier looked at her one hand full of copper coins and the other hand full of silver.


    There was also a pile of copper coins on the table.


    Feeling a bit dizzy in her small head.


    She had given her husband nine copper coins, but had received so much in return?

 Chapter 17: Little Housekeeper

    Su Caier held a pile of silver coins in a daze and quickly returned them to Zhao Ce. She hesitated and said, "Husband, I''m afraid I''ll lose them." She had never held so much money before!


    Zhao Ce took the coins and smiled, saying, "It''s okay. There''s a wooden box in the room for storing money, and there are also two land deeds inside. Let''s go hide the silver." He then took the little girl back to the room.


    Zhao Ce opened the wooden box with the land deeds and placed the silver ingots inside, along with some copper coins. The rest he planned to keep for incidental expenses when they left the city.


    He handed the box to the little girl and pointed to a small hole next to the bed, saying, "This is where the money box goes. You''ll be in charge of it from now on."


    Su Caier held the money box tightly and nervously nodded her head. She seemed to have accepted a major task, her small face serious as she promised, "I will take good care of it!" She then followed Zhao Ce''s instructions and put the money box in its place, before tucking the bed sheets in and patting them solemnly.


    She added, "Husband works very hard to earn money, so we must keep it safe."


    Zhao Ce watched her series of ritualistic actions and felt fulfilled. After all, there was someone who valued his hard work so much.


    Su Caier finally came back to her senses and asked curiously, "Husband, how did we get these five taels of silver?"


    Zhao Ce explained that he had written some lantern riddles for a bookstore, and they had been chosen. He received the silver as a reward.


    Su Caier praised him, saying, "Husband, you are so knowledgeable. Even the scholar-officials want to use your lantern riddles." Although her wording was not quite right, Zhao Ce was still pleased.


    He laughed and said, "However, this amount of silver is still too little. Today, we need to process the sugar and exchange it for money tomorrow."


    Su Caier nodded quickly and said, "Okay, I''ll help you, husband."


    After hiding the silver, the two of them left the room. Su Caier had just finished washing clothes, and they were not completely dry yet. She said, "Husband, I''ll finish hanging up these clothes, and then we can have dinner."


    Zhao Ce nodded and saw the little girl walking over to continue hanging up the clothes. There were already many pieces of washed clothing in the courtyard, and the bedsheet was also taken out for drying.


    The little girl was not very tall and had to stand on her tiptoes, sometimes even jumping a little to hang the clothes on the bamboo pole. Su Caier had just hung up a piece of clothing when a shadow fell over her. She turned her head and saw that it was her husband coming to help.


    She looked up at him and said, "Husband, let me do it. You just came back from the city and must be tired. Go inside and rest for a while."


    Under the sunshine, Zhao Ce looked into the little girl''s eyes again.


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    Her eyes sparkled with a fine light. Su Caier felt nervous when she saw her husband staring at her eyes and lowered her gaze, leaving only her thick eyelashes. "I, I can do it..." But she heard Zhao Ce whisper, "Your eyes are really beautiful."


    Su Caier''s small body trembled slightly, and her pupils involuntarily contracted. She gathered her courage and raised her small face again.


    "Husband, you said..." Zhao Ce draped his clothes on the bamboo pole and casually said, "Your eyes are the most beautiful I''ve ever seen." The color of the little girl''s eyes was not as exaggerated as in the anime that Zhao Ce had seen.


    But with her pair of round apricot eyes, and long and curved eyelashes that blinked, Zhao Ce, a modern person, could only think of one word - cute. Zhao Ce thought that with this little girl''s appearance, she could easily pass as a beautiful ancient girl with just a little bit of dressing up.


    After receiving Zhao Ce''s affirmation, Su Caier only felt her nose tingling. Husband... He was the first person to praise her eyes. They say that she was born with heterochromia, which was a bad omen.


    When her father died, the villagers said that she caused his death. She and her mother were driven away.


    Her mother could only bring her back to her maternal home in order to survive. Fortunately, her grandfather took them in and let them live in the village. Her mother cultivated half a mu of land in the village and barely survived.


    Even so, the villagers still rejected them. Every day, someone would follow her and curse her as a bad omen.


    When her legs were just starting to have problems, her mother cried all night, saying that her eyes were not good and that she couldn''t do anything about it.


    Later, her grandfather died, and her mother also died. Without anyone to protect her, her uncles also said that everyone in the family died because of her. They even wanted to sell her outright.


    If it weren''t for meeting her husband, Su Caier would have never known that there were such good people in the world.


    He fed her, gave her a place to shelter from the wind and rain, didn''t mind her legs, and helped her with her work. He even praised her eyes as beautiful.


    After Zhao Ce finished hanging up the clothes in the wooden basin, he found that the little girl next to him had gone silent.


    He lowered his head in confusion and found that the little girl was silently shedding tears. Zhao Ce was a little panicked. Did he say something wrong? Shouldn''t he have mentioned the little girl''s eyes?


    Zhao Ce realized his mistake. The little girl must have suffered a lot because of her eyes, and mentioning them so casually might have touched upon her sadness.


    Zhao Ce quickly apologized, "I''m sorry, I won''t mention your eyes again." He reached out to wipe away the little girl''s tears. Her small face was covered in tears, and she cried pitifully.


    Zhao Ce felt helpless and said, "I don''t know how to comfort you when you cry like this." Although they hadn''t been together for long, the little girl was obedient and well-behaved and was his nominal wife.


    Zhao Ce felt sorry for this pitiful little girl, but he had always been a single dog and didn''t know how to comfort children of her age. "Wu~" Su Caier wiped her tears with her hand and said choked up, "I''m just too happy..." After speaking, she raised her red and swollen eyes and said, "Husband, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to cry." She was usually a very strong person, because crying was useless, and no one would care if she cried.


    But since coming to her husband''s home, she had been crying for the past two days. Su Caier knew that it was not good for her to cry like this all the time. It would make her husband annoyed.


    But for some reason, she just couldn''t hold back her tears. Zhao Ce rubbed her little head and said, "Okay, stop crying, let''s eat fried pork lard." Su Caier''s eyes were still wet, but she smiled slightly.


    "Okay, after the clothes are dry, I''ll go cut the meat!" Zhao Ce laughed, "Good." "I boiled some sugar, we can dip the pork lard in it and eat it." The little girl whispered, "Sugar is expensive, we should save it to sell." "Having meat to eat is already good enough," Zhao Ce nodded. "Okay, we''ll do as you say. You are the little housekeeper of the house, you can decide how we eat."


    After speaking, he saw the little girl''s nose was still red, but she smiled and showed a few small white teeth. Su Caier smiled and murmured, "I...I''m the little housekeeper..."

 Chapter 18: pork lard

    Su Caier found a kitchen knife at home but had not yet sharpened it. After hanging the laundry together, Su Caier cooked the porridge while Zhao Ce continued making sugar.


    They had lunch together, and the rice they used was new rice that Zhao Youcai brought over, without any moldy smell.


    After finishing the rice soup, there was still a layer of rice at the bottom, which Su Caier cherished and ate slowly. Zhao Ce drank the porridge, which had a slightly salty taste because Su Caier added salt to it.


    After lunch, they cleaned the kitchen and Zhao Ce continued making sugar using the charcoal method, which was not a sustainable solution as there was a limited amount of charcoal.


    Zhao Ce needed to find a way to implement the yellow mud water sprinkling method for sugar production and buy land to grow sugarcane or sugar beets to ensure a steady supply of raw materials.


    While stirring the sugar water, Zhao Ce dreamed of the future. Meanwhile, Su Caier sharpened the kitchen knife and prepared to cut the pork. After Zhao Ce added the charcoal, Su Caier brought in a large bowl of well-cut fat pork.


    The sweet smell in the kitchen was even stronger than yesterday. Zhao Ce praised Su Caier for cutting the pork well, while Su Caier was a bit shy and said she was afraid of cutting it wrongly.


    She hadn''t cut meat for many years and was afraid of ruining it. While cutting the meat, Su Caier thought that thin slices would cook faster and save on firewood.


    Zhao Ce joked that even if the meat was cut poorly, they would still eat it. He also pointed out that some pieces were too thin and might burn easily when frying in lard.


    He suggested Su Caier pay more attention when pressing oil later. Su Caier nodded seriously and agreed to watch carefully. Zhao Ce couldn''t help but salivate at the thought of fragrant pork fat.


    He waved his hand and said, "Light the fire and fry the pork lard!" Then he got up and sat in front of the stove. Using the small fire on the stove, he quickly raised the flame in the big pot.


    He added half a spoonful of water to the pot and then poured in the raw pork fat.


    Slowly, smoke began to rise from the pot, and the unique popping sound of frying pork lard could be heard. The fragrance of the pork lard also gradually filled the air.


    Su Cai''er, who was closest to the pot, couldn''t stop her mouth from watering. She stared at the pot, constantly swallowing her saliva. Zhao Ce also leaned over from time to time to watch, completely forgetting about his appearance.


    Suppressing the urge to sneak a piece of pork lard to eat, Zhao Ce processed the syrup and went to the courtyard to wash his sticky hands. When the pork fat was almost done, he reduced the fire in the stove and slowly simmered it.


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    Even in the courtyard, Zhao Ce could still feel the fragrance of the frying pork lard permeating his nose. "This fragrance is too deadly... I haven''t had meat for two days, I feel like I can eat a whole pig." Zhao Ce was thinking to himself when he suddenly heard the fence door outside his house being knocked on.


    He thought it was Zhao Youcai coming to find him. He went out to take a look and found that the fence of his house was surrounded by children from the village, mostly attracted by the fragrance of the pork lard.


    Some of them became afraid when they saw Zhao Ce and quickly ran away, while others smelled the fragrance in the air but did not want to leave. "Zhao, Master Zhao, have you eaten meat at home?" a slightly older child asked bravely, then shrank back in fear of being scolded by Zhao Ce.


    Zhao Ce couldn''t help but laugh when he saw the children outside the fence. There were seven or eight of them in total. He raised his voice and said, "Wait here for me." After speaking, he went back into the house.


    Most of these children had received Zhao Ce''s scolding before and did not know why he wanted them to stay. But the fragrance in the air was too tempting. Although the children next door didn''t cry because of their cravings, they all eagerly sniffed the air.


    People from the neighboring house also poked their heads out to watch Zhao Ce''s house. When Zhao Ce returned to the kitchen, he saw that the little girl had already started filling the pork lard scraps into a bowl. He took out a small bowl and said to Su Cai''er, "Cai''er, pick out a few pieces and bring them over here." Su Cai''er nodded and took the chopsticks to pick out some pieces.


    "A lot of children have come outside, I''m going to give them each a small piece," Zhao Ce said, holding the pork lard scraps in his hands and walking out of the gate again.


    After Zhao Ce finished speaking, he walked out of the gate with the pork lard scraps in his eyes and saw two or three children still there.


    He opened the fence gate and said, "I fried some pork lard today, but not much. I''ll give each of you a piece." Saying that he let the children reach out their hands.


    Zhao Ce picked up the freshly fried pork lard scraps from the bowl and put them in the hands of the first child.


    The group of children who stayed behind didn''t expect that the gentleman who usually only scolded them would actually give them meat to eat. For a while, those who didn''t get any meat also gathered around.


    Zhao Ce didn''t dislike their dirtiness like he used to and gave each of them a small piece of pork lard scraps. Altogether, the five children each received a finger-sized piece. "Thank you very much, Master Zhao!" The leading child said first.


    Zhao Ce used to always have a stern face, and if they got too close by accident, they would be scolded. But today, Zhao Ce didn''t scold them. He even gave them meat to eat.


    Looking at it this way, Zhao Ce didn''t seem as scary as before. After giving each of them their share, Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Okay, go back now." The group of children took their meat and left noisily.


    Zhao Ce carried the bowl and went back to the kitchen. Su Caier had already cleaned up everything in the pot. There was still a lot of oil left in the large pot, and she looked a bit regretful.


    She thought about cooking a pot of rice for her husband tonight and using the rice to soak up all the pork lard in it.


    Just then, she was handed a piece of fried pork lard. By the time Su Caier came back to her senses, she had already eaten the delicious piece.


    Chewing and chewing, her mouth was full of fragrance. Her eyes lit up, and she blurted out, "It''s so delicious!" Zhao Ce also chewed a few pieces and finally satisfied his hunger a little.


    He handed her the chopsticks. "Eat a few pieces first, and save the rest for later. By the way, don''t waste the pork lard in the pot. Cook a pot of white rice tonight and use this pork lard to stir-fry the vegetables."

 Chapter 19: So Many Debts to Repay

    Zhao Ce had made a good arrangement. The problem was that they didn''t have any vegetables to stir-fry at home. Su Caier didn''t dare to go up the mountain today, so she couldn''t bring back any wild vegetables.


    However, Su Caier suggested that they could cook a pot of white rice and mix it with pork lard scraps for Zhao Ce to eat. Zhao Ce happily agreed.


    Pork lard scraps don''t last long, so they saved half for tomorrow and Zhao Ce ate a lot of the remaining scraps. Su Caier only ate two pieces and said she didn''t want to eat anymore, wanting to leave it for her husband.


    Zhao Ce smiled and didn''t insist on her eating more. After all, the young girl was used to eating plain food, and it wasn''t good for her to eat too much greasy food at once. They decided to save the rest for dinner.


    After satisfying his hunger, Zhao Ce had more energy to work. He processed the sugar and left it to evaporate and dry.


    Suddenly, he heard someone knocking on the door. He left Su Caier in the kitchen and went to answer it. It was one of the children who had received the pork lard scraps earlier, holding the small piece of pork lard scraps and drooling. His parent was behind him, and Zhao Ce remembered that the man was Aunt Chun''s husband.


    Uncle Feng looked a little uncomfortable when he saw Zhao Ce. He scratched his head and asked, "Mr. Zhao, did you give our child some meat today?"


    "This little guy is just greedy. If they dare to come and ask you for meat again in the future, just send them away."


    Zhao Ce smiled and replied, "It just so happened that I gave him a small piece of pork lard scraps, which doesn''t really count as meat."


    Listening to Zhao Ce''s casual words, Uncle Feng remembered his wife''s sarcastic remarks towards Zhao Ce under the big pagoda tree earlier today. He couldn''t help feeling embarrassed.


    He directly handed a small basket to Zhao Ce, saying, "Meat is precious, so it''s better to leave it for you scholars to eat and replenish your bodies. These are some vegetables and fruits that we grew at home. Take them and eat them."


    Zhao Ce tried to refuse, but Uncle Feng didn''t listen and directly gave the basket to him, saying, "When you finish eating the vegetables, hang the basket outside your fence. I''ll come and take it back when I have time."


    As he spoke, he pulled his child and left, afraid that Zhao Ce would refuse again. Zhao Ce looked at the fresh and lively vegetables in the basket and thought about Uncle Feng''s hurried departure.


    He couldn''t help but smile and mutter to himself, "This basket of fresh vegetables came at the right time, just like a pillow when you''re feeling sleepy."


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    "I didn''t expect that by giving away a small piece of pork lard scraps, I could even solve the problem of dinner vegetables."


    After closing the fence gate, Zhao Ce was about to take the basket of vegetables back to the kitchen when another woman came over, followed by two children who had also received the pork lard scraps. The woman looked uncomfortable and said, "Thank you, Zhao Ce, for giving our children meat today."


    After speaking, she handed two eggs to Zhao Ce and didn''t listen to his refusal, taking the child and leaving.


    Another family also felt uncomfortable and sent over some vegetables they grew themselves, which weren''t worth much money.


    However, these families all wondered why Zhao Ce had changed so much, no longer looking down on their children and even giving them meat to eat.


    Zhao Ce put the vegetables in a large basket and placed the two eggs on top. With this full basket of loot, he returned to the kitchen where the young girl was cooking.


    She was surprised to see so many vegetables and, after hearing the reason from her husband, she happily exclaimed, "My husband is so amazing! Everyone is grateful to him, and now we have vegetables to eat!" After selecting the vegetables, she washed a cucumber, stirred it in the wok, and then stir-fried the vegetables with pork fat. She paired it with a bowl of white rice, and both of them ate until they were full.


    Afterward, they cleaned up the dishes and put the sugar away. They washed up and went back to their room while it was still a little light outside. Once the door was closed, they were in complete darkness.


    Su Caier had already climbed onto the bed, but because she had eaten well and taken a hot bath, she was too excited to sleep. She asked quietly, "Husband, do you have to go out tomorrow?" Zhao Ce replied, "Yes, I''ll take this sugar to the city tomorrow to exchange it for some money, and then I''ll pay back Uncle''s silver first."


    When she heard about the silver, Su Caier asked nervously, "Do we owe a lot of money at home?" Zhao Ce teased her, "Well, we owe quite a bit, probably around twenty taels." "Twenty taels?" Su Caier exclaimed in surprise, "That''s a lot!" Their family only had a little over five taels in savings.


    Their family only had a little over five taels in savings, which wasn''t enough to pay off their debts.


    Zhao Ce heard the silence next to him and curiously asked, "What are you thinking about?" Although women in ancient times had to rely on their husbands, after years of marriage, they might still have their own dreams and worries.


    He wondered if this young girl was scared by their family''s high debt. When he asked, Su Caier came back to reality and whispered, "Husband, I heard that selling a bundle of firewood in the city can get 10 wens. If I can sell one bundle every day, I could help you pay off a lot of money in a year. Shall I go up to the mountain tomorrow? As long as I keep my head down, no one in the village will see me."


    Zhao Ce was moved by her words and said, "That could help me exchange almost three taels in a year." Su Caier was happy and asked, "Really? I''ve been trying to calculate it, but the number is too complicated." She realized that her husband was really a learned man.


    She flipped over on the bed and said, "Okay, then I''ll go to bed early tonight and get up early tomorrow to chop firewood. I''ll go with you the day after tomorrow to sell it in the city." Zhao Ce replied, "No, you can chop firewood, and I''ll carry the firewood after you finish to sell in the city."


    Chopping firewood and selling it was not an easy task, and earning 10 wens was harder than it seemed. Su Caier''s words were innocent, but Zhao Ce knew that she was serious. Listening to her shallow breathing next to him, Zhao Ce''s heart was touched. He had never seen anyone as pitiful and lovely as her. Then he smiled to himself and silently thought, "Su Caier, I will be good to you in the future."

 Chapter 20: Can This Be Tolerated?

    Tomorrow morning, Zhao Ce will have to prepare to leave for the city to exchange the raw sugar for money.


    According to the previous exchange rate, the 400 wens of raw sugar can be estimated to fetch three or two more silver taels, which is simply a huge profit!


    However, he cannot buy too much raw sugar at once in the grocery store, or it will arouse the suspicion of the shopkeeper. Zhao Ce plans to buy more sugar from the shop today, but this is not a sustainable solution.


    It''s too late to plant sugar beets now, and sugarcane can only be planted next month in August. However, he only has two acres of low-quality land at home, which cannot produce much sugarcane.


    Before that, he needs to figure out a way to acquire more land. Zhao Ce fell asleep while pondering over these issues.


    The next morning, he woke up early with his wife and found that the sugar he boiled yesterday might not have dried completely.


    He and his wife ate a breakfast of rice porridge with plenty of greens, and his wife even made two cakes with the white flour he brought home yesterday.


    Zhao Ce remembered the cute expression on the little girl''s face when she tasted the white sugar the other day, so he kept a small bag of white sugar for her to drink with water.


    After packing everything up, Zhao Ce set out for the city again. This time, he left even earlier due to his concerns about the drying time of the sugar.


    The little girl saw him off at the door and reminded him to be careful on the dark roads. When he arrived at the grocery store, the store was still closed, but the staff was opening the door.


    Zhao Ce decided to go to another grocery store in the city first, where he bought raw brown sugar with all the copper coins on him. After that, he returned to the first grocery store and made a deal with the shopkeeper.


    The shopkeeper greeted him warmly and mentioned that he had given the white sugar from yesterday to his master and received a substantial reward.


    "Young master, did you bring any sugar with you today?" Zhao Ce nodded and said, "I talked to my relative last night, and he thinks my proposal is good. He said he would go back and ask the sugar maker if he is willing to cooperate with us."


    The shopkeeper was overjoyed and said with a smile, "I knew this would work. I''m not bragging, but we have the most reasonable prices in the city, so it must be our store." Zhao Ce also smiled and said, "Of course." "Otherwise, I wouldn''t have thought to come to you in the first place." After the two of them complimented each other''s businesses for a while, they began to talk about the main event of the day.


    Zhao Ce took out a cloth bag from his hand and said, "Shopkeeper... these were originally gifts for other relatives, but I took them all." "This time, you have to give me a better price."


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    After pretending to be serious, Zhao Ce handed the cloth bag over. The shopkeeper took it and said with a smile, "The price is naturally reasonable." He weighed it and was quite satisfied with the weight.


    Yesterday''s sugar was good, but there was too little of it. Today, he weighed it and found that there was more than yesterday. As usual, he went to a place with good lighting and checked it again.


    He even picked up two pieces and tasted them in his mouth before saying, "The quality is good." He took it back and weighed it. The shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "It was originally four taels of silver and 600 coins, but since the young master is so straightforward, I''m willing to raise it to five taels of silver." "How about the young master leave us your name so that we can find you easily in the future?"


    After saying that, the shopkeeper looked at Zhao Ce with shining eyes. They naturally wanted to have a unique source for such a good product. Even if the quantity was not large, they could accept it as long as this young man could supply them steadily.


    Zhao Ce thought about it and realized that it was not appropriate to leave his real name at this time. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I am Su Yunan from Su Village." "So you are Young Master Su," the shopkeeper said. "My surname is Zhao, and others call me Zhao Shopkeeper." "Would Young Master Su please give us an approximate time?" Zhao Ce then said what he had planned to say.


    "My relative said that if he leaves soon, we should receive news before the end of this month." Zhao Shopkeeper smiled and said, "Then we''ll wait for Young Master Su''s good news." Zhao Ce took the silver taels from him and replied, "I also wish your business prosperity." After that, he left the shop and went to another grocery store, saying that his family was planning a wedding and bought two taels of the silver worth of raw brown sugar.


    He put the sugar in his box and then Zhao Ce thought about using the remaining silver to buy some good fabric to make clothes for the little girl who is still wearing tattered clothing. And went to the cloth shop.


    Zhao Ce thought to himself and lifted his foot to walk towards the cloth shop. At that moment, a man who looked somewhat similar to Zhao Youcai in appearance, aged around 25 or 26, walked out of a restaurant in the city.


    This man was Zhao Youcai''s eldest son, Zhao Wenhua. He was the manager of a restaurant in the city and today was his day off. He was just about to go home and bring his wife and children back to the village when he saw Zhao Ce walking out of a grocery store from the other side.


    He was a little puzzled and asked, "Zhao Ce? Yesterday was the school''s day off. Why isn''t he studying at the school at this time and instead going to the grocery store?" Zhao Wenhua thought for a moment and found a waiter at a restaurant, asking him to inquire about a student named Zhao Ce at the school.


    However, there was no need to inquire at all, as the waiter quickly came back with an embarrassed expression and said, "Manager Zhao... The servant boy at Huang Xiusheng''s door didn''t even look at me. That Zhao Ce, I heard he was expelled by his teacher from the school." Then, he didn''t see the unhappy expression on Zhao Wenhua''s face and went on to say, "Sigh, this scholar has been expelled from the school. There won''t be anyone in the city willing to take him in from now on."


    After finishing, he didn''t hear Zhao Wenhua say anything. The waiter then remembered that both of them were surnamed Zhao and asked, "Uh, is Zhao Ce a fellow villager of the second manager?"


    However, Zhao Wenhua frowned and said, "Expelled from school... What could he have done to make his teacher expel him? Could he have been bullied in the city?"


    The waiter looked at Zhao Wenhua in surprise and said, "Ah, this... He was expelled from school, shouldn''t it be because Zhao Ce did something wrong? Why do you ask if he was bullied?" Zhao Wenhua gave the waiter a faint glance and directly asked him to pass a message to his wife and child before heading straight back to Shuiqiao Village.

 Chapter 21: Expelled from the school?

    In Shuiqiao Village, Su Caier looked at the dwindling pile of firewood in her home and furrowed her small eyebrows with worry. At this rate, they would run out of firewood tonight. She thought about going to the mountains to chop some more wood.


    The chopping knife was already sharpened, but she was afraid of being seen by others with her eyes. In the past, she didn''t care too much about what others said or thought in order to survive in the village.


    Even if people cursed and wanted to drive her away, she felt that she could accept it. But now, she was afraid that her eyes would affect her husband.


    People are always like this. When they are alone, they have nothing to worry about and are fearless, only thinking about moving forward courageously. But once they have someone to protect, they become timid and hesitant, considering many things. Su Caier was feeling this way now.


    "I''ll tell my husband tomorrow and go to the mountains to chop some more wood," she decided. "Today, I''ll go to the river to collect some small branches first."


    With her mind made up, Su Caier grabbed the clothes she needed to wash and set off on a path less traveled to the nearby river.


    During the Chen hour, the riverside was the busiest, but after Chen hour, many people would go back to make their first meal, so there were relatively few people around. Su Caier arrived at the river with a wooden basin and washed the dirty clothes from the previous night.


    After washing them, she put them in the wooden basin and began to collect small branches nearby. There were many small branches and dry grasses around the river, which were not burned in the stove after only two burns. Su Caier thought she should collect more.


    Before she knew it, she had collected a large pile of firewood. It should be enough for two meals, she estimated. She tied them together with several similar grass stems and carried them on her small feet. After tying them tightly, Su Caier wiped the small beads of sweat from her forehead and breathed a sigh of relief. "My husband should be coming back soon, I need to go back and make dinner."


    As she turned around to take a look at where she had placed her clothes, she saw an old lady walking towards her. The old lady was twisting her bed sheets and was not twisting them very well. Seeing Su Caier, she happily called out, "Oh, you''re the new daughter-in-law from the Zhao family, right? Can you help me wring the bedsheets?" Su Caier looked around, but there was no one else by the riverbank.


    She reluctantly lowered her head and slowly walked over, not daring to look at the old lady. She helped pick up the other end of the bedsheet and the old lady quickly started wringing it. As she looked at Su Caier, who was looking down with her long, curved eyelashes, she thought to herself that the little girl was very pretty.


    So, as she wrung the sheets, she chatted with Su Caier enthusiastically. "Are you the new daughter-in-law from the Zhao family? Did your family give my grandson a piece of pork fat residue last night? He was happy for a long time." ��What''s your name? Which village are you from? How old are you?"


    Su Caier listened to the old lady''s rapid-fire questions and didn''t dare to look her in the eye. She hung her head and helped the old lady with the other end of the bed sheet. The old lady twisted it quickly and chatted warmly with Su Caier about her family and village.


    Su Cai''er listened to the old woman''s rapid chatter and didn''t dare to answer too much. She only whispered, "Auntie, the quilt has been twisted." "I have to go now." The voice was small and sounded obedient.


    Seeing Su Cai''er holding a wooden basin and a large bundle of firewood, her small and thin figure looked even smaller. The old woman hugged her own wooden basin and hurried over without hesitation. She warmly said, "Come on, Auntie will help you carry it back. Otherwise, you won''t be able to hold so much." The wooden basin in Su Cai''er''s hand was taken away by the old woman.


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    Su Cai''er instinctively lifted her eyes and glanced at the person in front of her, but quickly lowered her eyes. She stammered, "Thank you, Auntie. I can do it myself." After speaking, she didn''t hear a response and dared not look up again.


    She took her wooden basin and hurried away, not caring about the firewood on the ground. The old woman came back to her senses, her face full of shock. "Oh my, what did I see? Am I seeing things?" She hugged her own wooden basin and followed Su Cai''er from a distance.


    She was even more curious when she saw Su Cai''er limping. What happened to this young girl? Why is her leg not good at such a young age? When she saw Su Cai''er enter Zhao Ce''s house, the old woman slapped her thigh and turned to walk toward Zhao Youcai''s house.


    Zhao Youcai''s family was cooking rice. His eldest son would bring his wife and children back today. Zhao Youcai''s wife, Li Shi, would prepare a lot of good dishes for them. Li Shi was still picking vegetables in the yard when she saw Aunt Gui Lian, the old woman, hurriedly coming to her house with a wooden basin.


    Li Shi curiously called out, "Gui Lian, what''s the matter? Why are you so flustered?" Gui Lian said, "Is your village chief inside?" Li Shi nodded and said he was in the house. She then shouted towards the house.


    The village chief, Zhao Youcai, walked out with a bowl of rice soup in his hand. The bowl still had half a bowl of rice soup left. Gui Lian directly said, "Village chief, I saw Zhao Ce''s new wife by the river just now." The village chief thought to himself, "I''ve seen her before, what''s so special about it?" Then he held his bowl and finished the rice soup inside before hearing Gui Lian continue, "Village chief, don''t you know?" "His new wife has different eye colors!" " Different eye colors?" Li Shi beside him was surprised to hear this.


    Aunt Gui Lian said affirmatively, "I saw it clearly by the river just now. The colors of her two eyes are indeed different!"


    "This little girl is a disaster."


    "She''s staying in our village. Will she bring bad luck to all of us?"


    "And she has a limp in her leg, seems to be injured."


    "Could it be that her eyes were injured by someone before and that''s why she''s lame?"


    After speaking, Aunt Gui Lian felt a little sorry for her. She thought about how Zhao Ce''s family gave her a piece of meat for her grandson last night. She spoke up for Su Cai''er, "Actually, this little girl''s eyes, although a bit scary, are quite pretty..."


    When Zhao Youcai heard this, his hand holding the bowl trembled. She has different eye colors?


    Why didn''t Zhao Ce tell him that day? No wonder the little girl didn''t dare to look up at them and he thought she was just shy. He wondered if Zhao Ce knew about this.


    Thinking of Zhao Ce''s defense of the girl that day, Zhao Youcai hesitated. But no matter what, this matter concerns their entire village, and he must take action. He said to Li Shi next to him, "You go find some women who can keep their mouths shut and we''ll go to Ce''er''s house to ask what''s going on."


    Li Shi saw his serious expression and didn''t say much, just nodded in agreement.


    Li Shi was about to leave when she saw her eldest son, Zhao Wenhua, coming back from afar. "Wenhua, you''re back? Why didn''t you bring my daughter-in-law and the kids back today?"


    Zhao Wenhua nodded at Aunt Gui Lian standing at the door, then shouted to Li Shi, "Mom, there''s something I need to tell you." Seeing his expression, Zhao Youcai had a bad feeling.


    Aunt Gui Lian, sensing the tense atmosphere of the family, tactfully said, "I''ve already told the village chief about the matter, so I''ll go back first." She picked up her wooden basin and left Zhao''s house.


    Zhao Wenhua said to his parents, "Dad, Brother Ce was expelled from school."


    Zhao Youcai''s hand holding the bowl suddenly couldn''t hold it anymore. Li Shi quickly took the bowl from him, and Zhao Youcai said in a trembling voice, "Ce''er was expelled from school?"


    Zhao Wenhua nodded solemnly. "Yes, he was expelled. And he''s not coming back to the village."


    "What? Why?" Zhao Youcai''s voice trembled with anxiety.


    Zhao Wenhua took a deep breath and said, "Brother Ce got into a fight with someone in the city. He injured the other person badly and was expelled from school. The other person''s family is powerful, and they''re looking for Brother Ce to settle the score."


    Zhao Youcai''s face turned pale. He knew that this was a serious matter. If the other party was powerful, it would be difficult to protect Zhao Ce. He said to Li Shi, "Go find some men, we need to protect Brother Ce."


    Li Shi nodded and quickly left the house.


    Zhao Wenhua said, "Dad, I have a plan. We can send Brother Ce away from the village, to a place where the other party won''t be able to find him."


    Zhao Youcai was hesitant. He didn''t want to send his nephew away, but he knew that it might be the only way to protect him.


    Aunt Gui Lian, who was still outside the house, overheard their conversation and thought to herself, "This family is really unlucky. First, they take in a girl with different eye colors and a lame leg, and now they have to send their nephew away to protect him. I hope things will turn out for the better."

 Chapter 22: Disaster in the village

    On a country road, Zhao Ce was sitting in a cart swaying back and forth on his way back. He had earned a lot of money and bought a lot of raw materials. Zhao Ce was feeling quite good, thinking about finding suitable yellow clay when he got back.


    If he succeeded, he could save a lot of trouble because this yellow clay could be reused.


    Today, he had bought two taels of silver worth of raw sugar, which he estimated would bring him more than twenty taels of income. After he finishes processing these raw sugars and brings them out to exchange for money, he could first pay back the silver that his uncle''s family owed. And he could still have some silver left.


    Oh, he also needed to inquire about which village had someone who could make sugar. He could directly purchase some raw sugar from them. This way, he wouldn''t have to go to the city to perform various acts.


    "When the next batch of sugar is made, I have to take some to Uncle''s house."


    "I need to discuss the matter of the little girl''s eyes with him."


    "Otherwise, I''ll have to keep my head down and avoid people when I go out like this."


    Zhao Ce was thinking about what he needed to do, and the cart arrived near the village. He got off the cart and carried his book box back to the village.


    As usual, many people had gathered at the village entrance, chatting idly. However, there were fewer people today than yesterday. The topics they were discussing were all about eyes, legs, and other things. Zhao Ce looked at them strangely.


    A woman saw Zhao Ce coming back and quickly said, "Zhao Ce is back!" Everyone''s eyes turned to Zhao Ce as soon as they saw him. The woman shouted loudly, "Zhao Ce, you brought a disaster back. Why didn''t you discuss this with the people in our village?" Zhao Ce glanced at her.


    The people nearby also said, "That''s right, your little wife has eyes of different colors." "This is not a small matter." "If this monster harms everyone in our village, what should we do?"


    Zhao Ce felt a sense of danger. Did someone see the little girl''s eyes? He had originally planned to handle this matter these two days. Although it would be difficult for everyone to accept it all at once, it could at least make the situation smoother.


    But the accident had come too quickly. The villagers at the entrance of the village were speaking in a heavy tone. He quickly increased his pace and walked back home.


    When he passed by Aunt Gui Lian''s house, she was hanging clothes in the courtyard.


    When she saw Zhao Ce, she hesitated for a moment before calling out to him. Aunt Gui Lian said, "Lord Zhao, does your little wife have an eye problem?" "Auntie saw her by the river today." "But I didn''t tell anyone else, I only told your uncle''s family." "They have brought people to your house now, you should go back and take a look."


    Zhao Ce was silent for a moment. Considering Aunt Gui Lian��s words about not telling anyone else and then thinking about the people at the village entrance discussing the matter, Zhao Ce couldn''t help but sigh. He didn''t say much and nodded to Aunt Gui Lian before walking away quickly.


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    Aunt Gui Lian finished hanging her clothes and thought that she should also go and see. She closed her fence gate and prepared to walk to Zhao Ce''s house. Just as she walked out of the door, she saw a few women chatting and walking in the same direction. These women were whispering and talking about Zhao Ce''s little wife''s situation.


    She was shocked and asked, "How did you all know about the little wife''s eye problem?" Another woman next to her said, "The whole village knows about it." "I never expected Zhao Ce to be so heartless." "We usually just made fun of him, but he actually brought a disaster back, wanting to kill us." "A few of us are going to go see how the village chief handles this."


    Aunt Gui Lian took a sharp breath after hearing what the people were saying. She had only mentioned it to the woman next door on the road. How long had it been? The whole village knew about it? She quickly increased her pace and headed toward Zhao Ce''s house.


    When Zhao Ce returned to his house, he saw many villagers standing at his doorstep. Their reactions were similar to those at the village entrance. Zhao Ce didn''t say anything and walked past them.


    The door to his house was open, and he could see many people inside. When he walked in, he immediately saw the pitiful little girl cowering in the corner with two women standing in front of her.


    As soon as they saw Zhao Ce, everyone''s eyes turned to him. Zhao Youcai and several uncles were sitting on the side, frowning at Zhao Ce. One of the uncles spoke up, "Zhao Ce, what''s going on with your little wife?" "Shouldn''t you have consulted us first before bringing such a person back?" "What do you take us for in this village?" "Do you want to kill everyone and have us drive you out of the village before you''re satisfied?" Uncle San spoke very harshly.


    Zhao Youcai, who was listening to him, frowned even deeper. He was also very angry, but as the eldest uncle, he couldn''t say anything to his nephew, who had just been expelled from school. Now that he was being pointed at and scolded by the people in the village, as his uncle, he felt very uncomfortable watching this happen.


    Zhao Yocai glanced over at Su Caier, who was standing to the side. If it weren''t for her, his nephew wouldn''t be subjected to such insults from everyone. If things really couldn''t be controlled, then they should just send this little woman away.


    Su Caier, who was crouched in the corner, was frightened and quickly raised her head when she heard this. She looked at Zhao Ce and felt her nose start to tingle, but she didn''t cry.


    Her voice was a little nasal as she pleaded, "Please don''t drive my husband out of the village. This is all my fault. I will leave." Zhao Yocai thought that this little woman was still considering his nephew''s feelings.


    He quickly spoke up, "Uncle, you''re being too harsh. We don''t need to drive him out of the village. After all, our Ce''er is a scholar, how can we say such things to him so easily? Let''s understand the situation first." Zhao Wenhua was the owner of a restaurant in the city, and he always carried weight when he spoke in the village. He quickly said, "Indeed, we don''t need to. You also watched Zhao Ce grow up."


    Uncle San snorted and pointed to Su Caier, "What''s there to understand? You said this little woman is a disaster with her different color eyes, and it''s not me who said it. Since she''s a disaster, why not just drive her out of our village?" Su Caier was pointed at, and her small body trembled with fear.


    She looked at Zhao Ce in despair, sniffled, and lowered her eyes, thinking that she still had to leave.


    Although her husband didn''t mind her eyes, she couldn''t be at ease and let him be implicated like this. Everyone was accusing her husband because of her. Su Caier also thought that the firewood by the river had not been collected yet. If her husband didn''t have firewood tonight......


    The atmosphere in the room was tense. Zhao Ce listened to the girl''s defense and sighed lightly in his heart. He was the one who brought her back and let her suffer this unwarranted disaster, but the little girl took all the blame upon herself. But since he had already said that he would keep her, he naturally wouldn''t send her away.


    Would such a young child really have to go find a cave in the mountains and live with wild animals? Zhao Ce looked at the little girl, gave her a reassuring look, cleared his throat, and spoke up, "Everyone, please listen to me..."

 Chapter 23: Be Quiet, Listen to Me

    Everyone''s attention was drawn to his voice. Zhao Ce looked at the crowd calmly and said, "Different eye colors are not a sign of a disaster."


    "This little girl actually just got sick."


    "That''s why she has such a pair of eyes."


    After hearing his words, the people present began to doubt and discuss.


    "She got sick?"


    "We''ve never heard of anyone getting sick and growing two different colored eyes."


    "Zhao Ce is saying this, but can we really trust him?"


    Everyone was skeptical of Zhao Ce''s words. Although he was a scholar, he didn''t have much credibility in their village.


    Zhao Ce knew this, so he had to bring up the doctor from the city to convince them. He continued, "I''m a scholar, and I know more than all of you. Moreover, for the past two days, I specially went to ask the doctor at Renxin Medical Clinic in the city. Everyone knows that the doctors there are top-notch. The doctor said that my wife got sick, and that''s why she has her eyes like this."


    Zhao Wenhua listened to Zhao Ce''s words and couldn''t help but feel annoyed. He thought, "This cousin of mine has been expelled from school, yet he still shamelessly compares himself to a scholar." However, he didn''t say anything to avoid making the situation worse.


    Zhao Youcai hesitated and asked, "Is what you''re saying really true?"


    Zhao Ce nodded and said seriously, "Of course it is. If you don''t believe me, you can go to the city and ask the doctor. And as a gentleman, I would never lie to you all. After all, I study the classics of sages and saints."


    After hearing Zhao Ce''s explanation, the people present started to believe him. Zhao Youcai was also moved by his words. If it was really a sickness, then there was no need to drive the poor girl out of the village. However, he still had concerns about her eyes.


    Zhao Ce saw Zhao Youcai ''s hesitation and said, "Uncle, can you come with me to the backyard? I have something to show you."


    Zhao Ce led Zhao Youcai to the backyard. As he passed by Su Caier, he saw the girl looking at him with affectionate eyes. He smiled at the two women next to her and said, "I''m sorry for the trouble I''ve caused. Please have a seat. My wife is well-behaved and won''t run around."


    Upon hearing Zhao Ce''s gentle words, the two women were momentarily stunned. "This Lord Zhao has really changed a lot from before..." one of them awkwardly said. "It''s no trouble," she continued. "We''ll just stand here for a while, no problem."


    After Zhao Ce finished speaking, he gave Su Caier a deep look before walking towards the backyard. Su Caier''s panicked heart slowly calmed down because of that gaze.


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    Zhao Youcai didn''t know what kind of medicine Zhao Ce was selling in his gourd, but he stood up after seeing Zhao Ce''s solemn expression. He asked everyone to be patient and wait for him to come out and make a decision.


    When he arrived in the backyard, Zhao Ce had already taken out a small cloth bag. He handed the bag to Zhao Youcai and said, "Uncle, take a look at this thing."


    Zhao Youcai opened the bag with some skepticism. Upon seeing the contents, his eyes widened. "What is this?" Although he didn''t know what it was, the thing inside was white and looked like a good thing.


    Zhao Ce whispered, "This is sugar."


    "Sugar?" Zhao Youcai exclaimed in surprise. "Isn''t this just candy? This thing must be expensive, where did you get it?"


    Zhao Ce explained, "Uncle, to be honest, my wife made this."


    "The other day, you gave me a small bag of brown sugar. After my wife saw it, she said she could make white sugar. And so she made it."


    He then took out five taels of silver. "This silver is what I earned from selling sugar today."


    Zhao Youcai looked at the silver taels in Zhao Ce''s hand with disbelief and asked, "You earned so much from a bag of white sugar?"


    Zhao Ce nodded seriously and said, "Yes."


    "This silver, I''ll give it back to you, Uncle. The rest, I''ll pay you back slowly when I make more money later."


    With that, Zhao Ce directly stuffed the silver ingot into Zhao Youcai''s hand. Zhao Youcai looked at the small cloth bag of white sugar, then at the silver ingot in his hand, still somewhat incredulous.


    This young woman actually knows how to make money like this? With this, even if his nephew is expelled from school, their family can still live decently!


    Zhao Youcai''s scales had completely tipped. Zhao Ce took advantage of the moment to say, "Uncle, my wife can make money like this. In the future, you don''t have to worry about the money I need to participate in the imperial examinations."


    Zhao Youcai looked at Zhao Ce''s strange expression and wanted to say that he was just expelled from school. But he was afraid that Zhao Ce would not be able to accept it, especially since he knew his nephew well. This person was most concerned about his face.


    Zhao Youcai''s expression changed for a moment before he said, "Since she''s a good girl, Uncle should try to keep her here."


    "But if something happens in the village, I may not be able to protect her."


    Zhao Ce said confidently, "Uncle doesn''t need to worry. I can guarantee that nothing will happen."


    Zhao Youcai pondered for a moment before saying, "Well, let''s see then."


    He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is the girl''s eye problem due to an illness?"


    Zhao Ce nodded, "Yes."


    Zhao Youcai returned the silver ingot to Zhao Ce''s hand. "You keep the money for now. Our family doesn''t lack money at the moment. If she''s really sick, then we should spend some money to treat her. Since she can earn money, we can use some of it to pay for her medical expenses."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Okay, I''ll listen to Uncle."


    ��The little girl''s illness was incurable as she wasn��t ill in the first place, heterochromia is caused by genetics, but once I earned more money, I will pay back Zhao Youcai''s family.�� Zhao Ce thought to himself.


    The two of them returned to the main room where everyone was waiting for Zhao Youcai''s final decision.


    Clearing his throat, Zhao Youcai said, "What Ce said today makes sense. Since the city doctors have confirmed that the girl is indeed sick, there''s nothing to worry about. We should trust the doctor''s words. If there''s anything that happens in the village, as the village head, I will take the lead in solving it."


    With Zhao Youcai''s assurance, everyone took a glance at Su Caier and left one by one.


    Zhao Wenhua still wanted to ask Zhao Ce about his studies and expulsion, but Zhao Youcai pulled him away and gestured for him to go back first.


    After everyone left, Zhao Ce walked up to Su Caier, who was standing in the corner, and gently asked, "Are you scared?"


    Su Caier looked up at him with some attachment and said, "I''m sorry, husband. I''ve caused you trouble."

 Chapter 24: I Can Do So Much

    When Su Caier heard the knocking at the door, she hesitated for a long time. In the end, she had no choice but to open it. Uncle Zhao asked her sternly about her eye problem. Su Caier dared not speak and just hung her head low. Uncle and his wife were both irritated and asked her to lift her head so they could see her eyes. Su Caier felt as if she had returned to the village where everyone rejected her and shouted at her to leave every day.


    Later, her husband came back. He looked at her with comforting eyes, but he was blamed by the people in the village. They all blamed her. Su Caier didn''t want to drag her husband down with her and was willing to leave by herself. But she couldn''t bear to leave her husband behind.


    After the apology, Su Caier hung her head in disappointment. Zhao Ce smiled and said softly, "It''s okay, it''s all in the past now. Uncle has spoken, so you don''t have to hide anymore. Tomorrow we will go up the mountain together to cut more firewood."


    As soon as Su Caier heard the word "firewood," she temporarily forgot about everything else. She stuttered, "F-firewood. I was thinking about going to the mountain to collect firewood tomorrow. I picked up a lot of firewood by the river today but didn''t bring it back. We''re running out of firewood at home."


    As expected, as soon as she heard about work, her attention was quickly diverted. Zhao Ce laughed and said, "Shall I take you to the river to collect firewood?"


    Su Caier hesitated and then said firmly, "No need. Uncle said I can stay. I can go by myself. My husband just came back from working outside, so he can rest at home."


    Zhao Ce couldn''t help but touch her small nose. "It''s okay, I''ll take you there and help you."


    With just one sentence, Su Caier''s heart bloomed like a small flower. She looked up at Zhao Ce and asked softly, "Husband will help me?"


    Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows and said, "Of course. Let''s go, lead the way."


    Su Caier smiled and said, "Okay, I''ll go with my husband." The two of them left the house, leaving the front door open without locking it. Zhao Ce didn''t take the small path but walked on the main road with Su Caier following behind him, looking at his back with some nervousness.


    Su Cai''er was nervous, hanging her head and following behind Zhao Ce, trying hard to keep up with his pace. However, as she walked faster, her leg problems began to surface.


    Along the way, there were many villagers who saw them. Although Zhao Ce spoke up and asked Su Cai''er to stay, everyone was still curious about her. After all, they had lived in the countryside their whole lives and some had never even been to the city. When a person who was different from them suddenly appeared, they were all very curious.


    "Is this Zhao Ce''s little wife?"


    "She''s hanging her head and I can''t see her eyes."


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    "And what''s wrong with her legs? Why does she limp when she walks?"


    Everyone speculated. Su Cai''er listened and felt a little regretful. She should have taken the small road... Although she had been called "little monster" and "little cripple" by people in the village before, it was different then. She didn''t care about herself, as she had already gotten used to it.


    However, her husband was a scholar, and she had repeatedly embarrassed him in front of others...


    Just as she was thinking this, Zhao Ce suddenly stopped. Zhao Ce had walked a little too fast and didn''t react at first. But, after hearing the people''s words, he remembered that the little girl had some problems with her legs.


    Although it didn''t affect her daily walking, her posture when walking was not as good-looking as that of an ordinary little girl. At home, the little girl always tried to control herself and walk more naturally. So Zhao Ce didn''t really pay attention to it.


    After stopping, Zhao Ce looked around at the people. The old ladies who saw Zhao Ce looking at them temporarily closed their mouths. Zhao Ce imitated the tone of the original owner''s speech and said loudly, "Ladies, pointing and talking about others like this can bring trouble. After all, as Mengzi said, ''Speaking ill of others will lead to trouble in the future.''"


    As soon as they heard Zhao Ce quoting Mengzi, the old ladies rolled their eyes and muttered, "You still say that Zhao Ce has changed, but he''s still quoting the sage''s words. Who can understand that?"


    "Ah, forget it. He''s a scholar after all. I''m leaving first..."


    The people quickly dispersed. Zhao Ce turned around and said only to the little girl behind him, "Let''s go, let''s get some food and cook it. I''m hungry."


    Su Cai''er lifted her little head, her eyes shining in the sunlight. She replied with a cheerful voice, "Okay, okay. Let''s go back and cook for my husband."


    This time, Zhao Ce deliberately slowed down his pace. Su Cai''er followed him slowly. The weather in late summer was a bit stuffy.


    The weather at the end of summer was a bit hot and stuffy. But Su Caier felt as if her heart had been brushed by a spring breeze. Although she couldn''t understand what her husband meant by the quote, it was just the feeling of having someone to support her.


    Su Caier lowered her head, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up. The two of them walked slowly by the river. Zhao Ce had already sweated all over his head, and Su Caier''s little face had turned red from the sun.


    The firewood by the river was still there. Su Caier walked over to it, patted it, and picked up the firewood. The unpleasantness from earlier was forgotten.


    Su Caier happily said, "Luckily no one picked it up." "Husband is hungry, let''s go back and cook," Zhao Ce took the firewood from her hand and said, "I''ll do it." Su Caier quickly said, "Husband is a scholar, how can he do such heavy work?" Zhao Ce helplessly lifted a small bundle of dry hay and branches in his hand.


    Was this something that he could easily carry with one finger considered heavy work? His little wife was clearly only as tall as his chest, yet she treated him as if he were a delicate porcelain doll.


    Zhao Ce turned around and said, "Are you underestimating me?" "I can do this kind of work." "Not only can I do this, but I can also do many other things too."


    Su Caier nodded her head beside him. "Yes, yes, husband is very capable." "Husband used charcoal to make white sugar and made a lot of money from it." "Husband can also read and write." "Husband..." As she spoke, her voice became quieter. Her husband was so capable, but she wasn''t good at anything. "Caier?" "Hmm?" Su Caier snapped out of her thoughts.


    She realized that a large shadow had fallen in front of her. Her husband stood in front of her, his tall figure casting a shadow over her. She lifted her head and saw him smiling gently at her. Zhao Ce lightly tapped her forehead and said, "The sun is too strong. Let''s not get sunburned. Let''s go home first." Su Caier quickly nodded her head. "Yes, let''s go home!"

 Chapter 25: I cant waste any more time

    The two of them returned with firewood.


    They lit a fire in the kitchen and heated the leftover rice porridge from breakfast.


    There was still some leftover pork fat from yesterday, and Zhao Ce wanted to save it for dinner.


    Soon, two steaming bowls of porridge were placed on the table.


    After Su Caier put the lids back on, she sat down at the table.


    Zhao Ce pushed her bowl of thin porridge over and said, "Try it."


    Su Caier laughed and said, "White rice porridge, you don''t have to try it to know it''s delicious."


    Zhao Ce smiled and watched as the young girl picked up her bowl and took a small sip.


    After taking a sip, she seemed a bit confused, blinking her big eyes.


    She took another sip.


    After finishing, she said, "Husband, the porridge today is so sweet."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Sweet is good."


    Su Caier happily bent her eyebrows and took a few more sips.


    As she drank, she realized something was not quite right.


    "This sweetness..."


    Looking at the small cloth bag of sugar next to her, Su Caier exclaimed, "Husband, did you add sugar to my porridge?"


    Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows and admitted, "I added a little."


    Su Caier looked at her porridge, then at her husband, her surprised little mouth unable to close.


    She said, "Hus-husband, I don''t want this!"


    "I will give it to husband to eat."


    Sugar is so expensive, it''s better to save it and sell it for money.


    She had already taken so many sips before realizing it.


    Zhao Ce picked up his own bowl and said again, "Don''t want it? If you don''t eat it, then pour it out."


    Su Caier pouted like a child.


    "You can''t waste food, I''ll eat it."


    Zhao Ce smiled and drank up the thin porridge in his bowl.


    Although Su Caier was pained by the sugar used in the porridge, she couldn''t help but feel delighted as she drank the sweet white porridge.


    After finishing her bowl, Zhao Ce took out the remaining three or two silver and asked her to put it away.


    Su Caier took the silver piece and happily went to hide it in her room.


    Zhao Ce looked at the sugar in the kitchen and thought about how to deal with it.


    The firewood in the house had already been burned today.


    Without firewood, there would be no charcoal.


    Tomorrow he could go up the mountain and dig some yellow mud.


    But that meant there was nothing to do today.


    "Every second counts."


    "I can''t waste any more time."


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    "I will go to Uncle''s house and get some charcoal to work with."


    Zhao Ce picked up the small bag of sugar and told Su Caier before leaving.


    At this time, it was already noon.


    When the sun was so hot, everyone either sought shade and chatted under the big locust tree, or stayed at home to avoid the sun.


    There were hardly any people on the road.


    When Zhao Ce arrived at Zhao Youcai''s house, there was sweat on his forehead.


    "Phew~ this weather is too hot."


    Zhao Ce wiped the sweat from his forehead and knocked on Zhao Youcai''s fence door.


    "I''m here."


    The one who answered the door was Zhao Wenhao.


    When he saw Zhao Ce, his face didn''t look good.


    He said stiffly, "What are you doing here? Do you want money again?"


    The last time when Zhao Ce came to his house, he asked for five taels of silver from his father, saying he was going to get married.


    Was he going to ask for another five taels of silver this time?


    Although their family was more well-off than the other villagers because his eldest brother was a shopkeeper in the city, it didn''t mean they could just throw around five taels of silver like it was nothing.


    When Zhao Ce heard this, he simply said, "I want to ask Auntie for some burned charcoal." Zhao Wen Hao looked at him strangely and asked, "You want charcoal? Are you going to become a charcoal seller since you''re not doing anything as a scholar?" Zhao Ce looked at him speechlessly.


    At this moment, Li Shi heard Zhao Wenhao talking outside and walked out to see what was going on. When she saw Zhao Ce, her expression didn''t look too good either.


    Zhao Ce greeted her first, "Auntie." Li Shi reluctantly replied, not mentioning the matter of the five taels of silver, "Why are you staying outside in this hot weather?" "Come in and have a glass of water first." Then she turned to Zhao Wenhao and said, "Your cousin is a scholar, why are you letting him stay outside in the sun?" "He''s young and doesn''t know any better. Are you young as well?"


    Zhao Wenhao was inexplicably scolded once again. He defended himself with a hint of grievance, "I just came..." "Besides, he''s only a few months younger than me, so why am I older?" Li Shi ignored him and spoke to Zhao Ce in a cold tone, "Don''t get sunburnt outside, come inside and talk." Zhao Ce smiled and followed Li Shi into the house, leaving Zhao Wenhao feeling wronged as he closed the fence door behind him.


    Zhao Wenhua and Zhao YouCai were chatting in the main room. When they saw Zhao Ce come in, Zhao YouCai happily invited him to sit down. Zhao Ce nodded slightly at Zhao Wenhua and then heard Zhao YouCai shout, "Wife, make some sugar water for Ce Er." Zhao Ce quickly handed over the cloth bag in his hand and said, "Auntie, I brought some sugar." Li Shi looked at the small cloth bag in his hand and her expression softened a little, but she still waved her hand. "Keep your sugar for yourself. We don''t really need your sugar water." Then she turned and went into the backyard.


    Zhao YouCai asked, "Why did you come in this hot weather?" "If there''s something, it''s not too late to come later when the sun is lower." Zhao Ce put the small cloth bag on the table and smiled, "It''s only a few steps away." "It''s no trouble." Zhao Wenhua also looked at his nephew and felt that he was a completely different person from when they last met during his break. He had already noticed it when he was at Zhao Ce''s house earlier.


    Zhao Ce''s transformation is not a small matter. Before, when he saw me, he knew that I had read some books and knew some characters.


    He always liked to discuss the sayings of sages with me, regardless of whether I was bored or not. Zhao Wenhua is a shopkeeper who spends all day knocking on an abacus to keep accounts. What''s the use of so many sayings of sages?


    Moreover, it goes without saying that what this person says is all nonsense. As soon as you hear it, you know that he doesn''t have much knowledge.


    Unfortunately, he is extremely proud and you can''t say that he is not good at learning.


    When I saw him this time, Zhao Ce had clear eyes and polite manners. Although his speech was somewhat deliberate and convoluted, it was not as annoying as before.


    Just as I was thinking about it, I heard Zhao Ce continue to say, "Uncle, I want to get some leftover charcoal from your house to cook with." "Charcoal?" Zhao Youcai said blankly. "What do you need charcoal for?" "This charcoal can''t be lit anymore." "Did you run out of firewood at home? I''ll have your cousin go up the mountain and cut two bundles of firewood for you."


    When Zhao Wenhao, who had just walked into the room, heard Zhao Youcai''s words, he blurted out angrily, "Since Zhao Ce doesn''t study anymore, let him go up the mountain and cut it himself."


    Only then did he realize that Zhao Youcai and Zhao Wenhua were both staring at him. Zhao Wenhao started to realize that he had misspoken. He nervously said, "I... I''ll go!" "I''ll go up the mountain early tomorrow morning!" After speaking, he quickly turned around and disappeared.


    Zhao Youcai and Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhao Ce in embarrassment. After a moment of silence, Zhao Ce said, "Um... Do you already know about this, Uncle?"


    Zhao Youcai looked at Zhao Ce''s expression and said cautiously, "Well, this is also something your cousin heard about in the city." "Did you get bullied in the city?" "If there really is a misunderstanding, I''ll take you to explain it to the teacher."


    Zhao Ce had studied for several years, and it would be a pity if he stopped now. After all, it''s not easy for a scholar to come from a farming family. Zhao Youcai also didn''t want him to waste his talents.


    Zhao Wenhua also nodded and said, "It shouldn''t be a big deal." "We''ll prepare some gifts and go to talk to your teacher to clear things up." Zhao Ce sighed. "Uncle, although I did something wrong, it''s not entirely my fault." "But as for the teacher..." Zhao Ce thought that if possible, he should continue his studies. He nodded and said, "Since that''s the case, then please take me to the school to ask about it, Uncle."

 Chapter 26: Married a golden bowl

    Zhao Youcai and Zhao Wenhua looked at each other.


    "Even if you made a mistake, it''s not all your fault?" Zhao Ce felt somewhat relieved that they listened to him. But Zhao Ce''s words left them puzzled.


    Zhao Ce remembered the incident where he paid five taels of silver to a courtesan, and he couldn''t bring himself to speak of it. After all, this matter was closely related to the courtesan.


    If Zhao Youcai found out that he had taken the silver to the brothel, he would probably snap his legs.


    Zhao Ce recalled that day when he attended a gathering with his classmates. He had a few drinks and wanted to use the restroom. But he was mistakenly directed to the room of a drunk courtesan in the Drunken Fragrance Tower.


    He saw the goddess he had been thinking about day and night and was so moved that he wanted to recite a poem and confess his feelings. However, his ink was limited, and he only managed to blurt out "lotus-like face, willow-like eyebrows" before he was interrupted.


    The courtesan was frightened and screamed, and the people outside rushed in. Coincidentally, his friends were at the forefront and they apprehended him on the spot, accusing him of being morally corrupt and intruding into a woman''s chamber.


    This matter was reported to their teacher, who was furious and threatened to expel him. It was a day off yesterday, and he was supposed to go to the academy today. But Zhao Ce thought of the incident where his teacher threatened to expel him, so he didn''t go and make things worse for himself.


    Zhao Ce briefly explained the situation to Zhao Youcai, skipping over his infatuation with the courtesan. After all, what did the original stupid Zhao Ce have to do with him? He had the money to spend on the courtesan''s smelly feet, but he might as well buy some new clothes for his cousins at home.


    Zhao Youcai frowned after hearing it. "Your teacher... didn''t even ask you about the reason for the misunderstanding and wanted to expel you?" Zhao Youcai couldn''t say anything more. After all, they were all scholars, and Zhao Ce''s teacher was his superior. How could a student speak ill of his teacher? But this matter was so ridiculous no matter how they thought about it.


    Zhao Ce was also helpless. Those classmates didn''t like him being alone and accused him of wanting to eat swan meat. It was obviously a deliberate setup, ruining the reputation of a scholar. Otherwise, the original Zhao Ce wouldn''t have died of anger and let himself cross over.


    Zhao Wenhua listened to Zhao Ce''s explanation and fell silent for a while before saying, "Since it''s a misunderstanding, take Zhao Ce to the academy tomorrow and apologize to the teacher properly. Maybe there''s still a chance to turn things around. Otherwise, he won''t be able to participate in the elementary scholar examination next year."


    Zhao Youcai nodded and said, "Okay. I''ll prepare the formal attire today, and we''ll leave early tomorrow morning."


    "I didn''t go to school today; I don''t know if the teacher will blame me." Zhao Ce listened to their conversation without objection, taking it all in.


    When they were talking, Li Shi brought a bowl of water to Zhao Ce. He took it with both hands and said, "Thank you, Aunt Li." Li Shi felt relieved that he was so polite today and spoke gently. But when she heard Zhao Yochai say that he was going to prepare formal attire, she felt a little unhappy.


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    He had already spent five taels of silver and now he had to pay for the formal attire. But studying was important, and they couldn''t let Zhao Ce miss out on it.


    Li Shi had to say, "We have some sugar at home. Bring it tomorrow." "Buy a piece of pork in town and bring a hundred wen with you." Zhao Youcai was about to agree when Zhao Ce interrupted him, saying, "Uncle, there''s no need for you to prepare. I''ll take care of the gifts for the apology to the teacher."


    Zhao Youcai was a bit worried, but Zhao Ce reassured him, promising that the gifts he would present would definitely please their teacher. Zhao Youcai then thought of the white sugar that Zhao Ce��s wife had made and felt relieved.


    After the matter was settled, Zhao Ce went straight to ask Aunt Li Shi for some blocks of charcoal. Aunt Li Shi saw that Zhao Ce was sincere and didn''t say anything. She had Zhao Ce wait in the main hall while they went to the back to pick out some good charcoal.


    The ash from their fireplace was piled up in the corner of the woodshed. Zhao Youcai and his wife rummaged through the ashes, picking out pieces of charcoal. Li Shi sighed softly beside him. "What are we going to do with Zhao Ce?" she asked. "If he were a bit more sensible, our family could take care of him to some extent." "But he''s the kind of person who..." Li Shi thought of Zhao Ce''s behavior before and felt a heavy heart.


    His fields had all been sold, and when they tried to stop him, he said that his things were none of their business. He hadn''t even passed the exam for the rank of elementary scholar, and now they had only one shabby house left.


    Their family was not wealthy, so if Zhao Ce couldn''t achieve good results in his studies, they couldn''t keep supporting him indefinitely. Zhao Youcai was putting charcoal in a basket as he spoke nonchalantly, "The fortune-teller said that our nephew is a star that has descended to Earth." "Now that he''s married, he''s also more sensible." "Things will definitely get better in the future." "When he goes to high school, you''ll be the aunt of a big official, won''t you have some face then?"


    Li Shi snorted and said, "I hope it turns out that way, but I hope he won''t mess up again in a few days."


    Zhao Youcai chuckled and looked around. He leaned in and whispered to his wife, "The wife that Zhao Ce married is quite capable." Li Shi was curious and asked him to elaborate. Zhao Youcai briefly explained about the white sugar.


    Li Shi was surprised and exclaimed, "Did he marry a golden bowl?" Zhao Youcai proudly replied, "Of course!" "Our Zhao Ce is not stupid. The daughter-in-law he married for five taels of silver must be worth more than that!" "So our Zhao Ce will definitely have a bright future." Li Shi laughed and scolded him, "You''re so poor." "Tomorrow he must apologize properly to the teacher." The two of them quickly picked up a basket of charcoal and gave it to Zhao Ce, who was waiting outside.


    After saying goodbye to the family, Zhao Ce walked away with the basket of charcoal. Zhao Wenhua saw that Zhao Ce was carrying a basket of charcoal but didn''t mind at all. He still walked confidently. Thinking back to how he used to walk, shaking his head and swaying, he thought that the present Zhao Ce was really pleasing to the eye.


    Zhao Youcai brought Zhao Wenhua back to the house and saw that the small bag that Zhao Ce had brought was still in its original place. Zhao Youcai laughed and scolded him, "This child..." Zhao Wenhua curiously picked it up and opened it. Then he exclaimed, "Dad, this is what you were talking about earlier, the white sugar that Zhao Ce''s wife made!" Zhao Youcai nodded. "Yes, have you seen it in the city before?" Zhao Wenhua shook his head. "I''ve only heard of it, but I''ve never seen it." "No wonder you said it''s so profitable. It really is a good thing."


    Zhao Wenhua felt a bit tempted when he saw it. If Zhao Ce could supply it to their restaurant, that would be great.


    Zhao Youcai seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and said directly, "I can''t decide this, it has to be discussed with your cousin." Zhao Wenhua smiled and said, "There''s no rush." "Let''s take care of the school first." Zhao Youcai nodded and asked Li Shi to prepare a bigger red envelope. They would take it with them tomorrow to the academy.

 Chapter 27: Clothes for my little wife

    Zhao Ce took the charcoal and went home. Su Caier was taking out everything that Zhao Ce had brought back. When she saw Zhao Ce return, she quickly put down what she was holding and went over to take what he had brought.


    After taking it, she said, "I should have gone with my husband." "This thing is dirty, carrying it will dirty my husband''s clothes." Zhao Ce felt that the charcoal in his hand was not heavy, so he let her take it.


    He brushed off the dust on his clothes and said with a smile, "It doesn''t matter." "In the countryside, there is mud everywhere, and it''s impossible to keep everything clean." After brushing off the dust, he felt that his long robe was getting in the way.


    He saw the new cloth on the table and remembered that he had bought some sugar and cloth today. Su Caier came back only after putting the charcoal away.


    Zhao Ce waved his hand and the little girl trotted over. Pointing to the two pieces of cloth that had been cut, Zhao Ce said, "I don''t know what color you like, so I just bought some randomly." "You can wear these two new clothes first, and when you have time in a few days, we can go out and buy some cloth that you like?"


    Su Caier looked at the new cloth on the table, then pointed at herself. "You, you bought these for me?" Zhao Ce smiled and pointed at her. "Hmm, I bought them for you." Since her father passed away, Su Caier hadn''t worn new clothes for a long time.


    Occasionally, her mother got some old clothes from her uncle''s house that were no longer wearable, and she patched them up for her to wear. It made her happy for a long time. But her husband directly bought her new cloth and let her make new clothes to wear.


    Su Caier''s nose was sour, feeling like everything in front of her was like a dream. She murmured, "I, I can still wear my clothes." "Just make new clothes for my husband." One of the two pieces of cloth was cotton. Su Caier looked at the plain color and hesitated, glancing at her husband. This color is the color that young wives wear... She regretted that it couldn''t be used to make clothes for her husband.


    Zhao Ce''s long robe was still new. What he needed to make now were two convenient short jackets for working. He saw the regretful look on the little girl''s face and guessed what she was thinking.


    He couldn''t help but laugh and say, "I have to go see the teacher tomorrow and can''t take you with me." "After the matter is finished, I will go to the cloth shop to buy some cloth and trouble you to make me two short jackets."


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    When Su Caier heard that she had to make clothes for her husband, her eyes lit up. She agreed and said, "Okay, I will wait for my husband at home. When the cloth is bought back, I will make clothes for my husband." Zhao Ce rubbed her little head. "Okay, you wait for me at home."


    Su Caier smiled at him, her eyes curved. She had just experienced the frightening experience of being driven away that morning, but as soon as she saw her husband, all her fear and hesitation disappeared. Just a few words from him filled her with anticipation for tomorrow again.


    Zhao Ce let her make the clothes and went to the kitchen to prepare some sugar to bring to the teacher tomorrow. Although this thing was not top-quality, it was still expensive and rare.


    Zhao Ce''s former teacher, Liu Xiucan, was a typical middle-aged scholar who liked to attach himself to refined things. Taking this thing as a gift should make the teacher feel less angry.


    Zhao Ce thought about it, made the sugar, and then went to study for a while to avoid being unable to answer the teacher''s questions tomorrow.


    When the sugar was almost done, the little girl came in to help. Her face was filled with a sweet smile. Zhao Ce asked, "Are the clothes done?" Su Caier whispered, "Not yet." "My clothes are not urgent; I still have clothes to wear." "We can slowly make them in a few days." "Let me help my husband first." After saying that, she happily said, "When my husband buys the cloth tomorrow, I will make clothes for him first."


    By late afternoon, the sun was starting to set. A small beam of sunlight shone through the window onto the spot where a little girl was standing. The gentle light fell on half of her face, highlighting her flowing eyes and small, delicate features.


    Zhao Ce couldn''t help but look at her, noticing her drooping eyebrows, fine lashes, and dry, peeling skin. He reached out and lightly pinched her cheek, asking why she was so well-behaved.


    Su Cai''er, standing next to him, giggled in response, revealing her small white teeth, and said she always listened to her husband.


    Zhao Ce smiled back at her and went to his room to look for a book, leaving Su Cai''er to attend to the kitchen.


    As she stirred the sugar water, she couldn''t help but touch her face where her husband had pinched her. It was slightly itchy and warm, and she blushed at the thought of his large hands compared to hers.


    Time flew by, and before she knew it, it was already dark outside. Su Cai''er quickly finished cooking dinner and helped Zhao Ce pick out a new outfit for school the next day. As she climbed into bed, she closed her eyes and fell asleep quickly.


    Zhao Ce, on the other hand, replayed in his mind the contents of the book he had read earlier that day.


    Just as he was about to relax and drift off to sleep, he heard the little girl muttering in her sleep beside him. He turned to look and saw her sleeping on her side, her brow furrowed as if she was having a nightmare.


    He felt sorry for her and gently stroked her hair, whispering "sweet dreams" into her ear. As if hearing his words, Su Cai''er''s face relaxed, and she slept peacefully throughout the night.

 Chapter 28: The dowry is very generous

    Early the next morning, Su Caier woke up in bed, stretched lazily, feeling refreshed. She had dreamt of her husband last night... Zhao Ce had already gotten up and put on his relatively new robe. Seeing Su Caier''s rare and lazy appearance, he couldn''t help but smile and greet her, "Good morning, Caier." Su Caier responded cheerfully, "Good morning, husband."


    She got up from the bed and walked over to Zhao Ce to help him straighten his clothes. Standing in front of Zhao Ce, the petite girl''s long hair was still messy and scattered, making her face appear even smaller.


    After finishing, she raised her small face and happily said, "All done." Zhao Ce rubbed her little head and said, "Thank you." As he turned to leave to wash up, his sleeve was gently pulled by a small hand. He turned around and looked at Su Caier inquiringly.


    Su Caier softly said, "Husband, no need to thank me." Zhao Ce paused, remembering that Su Caier had said before that she was his wife, and it was her duty to do these things.


    He smiled and said, "Oh, my mistake. I won''t say it in the future." Su Caier let go of him and found her own coat, saying, "Husband, I''ll make breakfast for you quickly."


    After they finished breakfast, she prepared some sugar for him to take and saw him off at the door as usual.


    Zhao Ce originally wanted to say that she could stay home and make the sugar, but he remembered that she didn''t like him being too polite, so he switched and said, "The sugar in the kitchen will be temporarily made by you today."


    Su Caier was afraid that she would mess up the sugar water if she was alone, but she didn''t have to go up the mountain to chop wood today because Zhao Ce had arranged for someone to help. She had been helping Zhao Ce these past few days and was familiar with the process. In the future, she would be the one to do these things at home while Zhao Ce went to study. She wanted to make him feel at ease. Su Caier said, "I''ll do my best."


    Zhao Ce waved to her and quickly left. Su Caier watched his disappearing figure before turning around and closing the door.


    When Zhao Ce arrived at the village gate, Zhao Youcai and Zhao Wenhua were already there, chatting with several villagers. Because they were going to see the teacher today, Zhao Youcai had also put on similar clothes. When Zhao Ce arrived, Zhao Youcai waved and said, "Ce''er, your Uncle Dachang is coming over. Let''s take the ox cart." Zhao Ce nodded and walked over, standing next to Zhao Wenhua.


    The uncle and the nephew, Zhao Youcai and Zhao Wenhua, stood next to Zhao Ce, so the other villagers who usually liked to mock Zhao Ce were mostly quiet. When Uncle Dachang drove the ox cart over, Zhao Youcai let him on the cart and took a seat. Since Zhao Youcai was there, Zhao Ce didn''t have to pay.


    A woman sat next to Zhao Ce, and after a while, she couldn''t help but strike up a conversation. She asked in a curious tone, "Master Zhao, I heard that your little wife with different colored eyes doesn''t have very good legs?" As soon as she spoke, everyone on the cart looked at Zhao Ce with curiosity.


    Zhao Ce glanced at them and spoke truthfully, "Thanks for your concern, Auntie. My wife does indeed have some problems with her legs, but it''s not a big deal. Instead of keeping people guessing, it''s better to be straightforward."


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    These villagers were just curious at first. After they heard enough, they lost interest.


    Several women were suddenly excited. "Oh, she''s really a little lame?" "Was it congenital or acquired?" "With her eyes like that, was her leg broken by someone?" "If her eyes can''t be cured, can her legs be treated?" "Didn''t you say before, Master Zhao, that you wouldn''t marry a girl from a peasant family?" "If you become a big official in the future, will you have to remarry a young lady from a wealthy family in the city?" "This little troublemaker with different colored eyes, I think when you remarry, you shouldn''t have her stay in the village anymore."


    Several women talked non-stop, not caring whether Zhao Ce answered or not. They just chatted away excitedly. Zhao Youcai was coughing on the side, but they didn''t stop. Zhao Wenhua was a bit helpless. His cousin''s reputation in the village was not very good before, but it was a bit too much to discuss his wife like this in front of others.


    He was about to speak up to stop them when Zhao Ce spoke. "Aunties, you''re all so kind-hearted. Although my wife has problems with her legs, she''s beautiful, kind-hearted, diligent, and capable." "I am very fortunate!" "And, not to mention anything else, my wife''s dowry is very generous!" After Zhao Ce finished speaking, everyone on the cart looked at him in surprise.


    Zhao Youcai nodded in agreement, "Although she has some flaws, he''s definitely a lucky person." Several women looked at each other suspiciously. "What dowry?" "With her tattered clothes, what kind of decent dowry could she have?" Zhao Ce smiled mysteriously, "I won''t tell you about the dowry for now." "Anyway, your family definitely doesn''t have it." After saying that, Zhao Ce turned his head and lost interest in talking.


    Other people wanted to speak, but Zhao Youcai spoke up and asked everyone to quiet down.


    They arrived at the city. The several uncles and aunties in the same carriage were all holding their breath.


    After Zhao Ce got off the carriage, he smiled and said to everyone, "Uncles and aunties, I''ll be leaving now." He carried his backpack and parted ways with Zhao Wenhua, then walked with Zhao Youcai toward the academy. The people behind them were still murmuring, "What kind of dowry could she bring? A small lame girl with different colored eyes..."


    Zhao Youcai and Zhao Ce walked together toward the school. Zhao Youcai nervously reminded him, "As a scholar, you shouldn''t have spoken up in that kind of situation earlier. When you meet the master later, you must apologize properly and not be impulsive like earlier." After thinking about it, he realized that his nephew had a stubborn temper and said, "If you really don''t want to speak up, wait for your uncle to speak."


    Zhao Ce looked at him with a sincere expression and said with a smile, "Uncle doesn''t need to worry. I won''t mess up the important matters." Zhao Youcai was finally relieved and the two of them arrived at the place where Zhao Ce had studied before.


    It was a school opened by Liu Xiucai, a scholar who lived in the city. The scale of the school was not as good as the county school, but it was still considered decent in the city.


    The gatekeeper at the entrance was not happy to see Zhao Ce, but Zhao Youcai directly gave him a red envelope, and he looked a little better.


    He led them to the inner room and said indifferently, "The master is teaching now. Wait here for a while." Zhao Youcai thanked him and the gatekeeper left them alone.


    Zhao Youcai sat upright as Zhao Ce''s teacher, Liu Xiucai, was known to be very strict about teacher-student etiquette. He was afraid that if the teacher saw them chatting or sitting improperly, he would be unhappy. Zhao Ce also became serious and the two of them patiently waited.


    A quarter of an hour passed. The sound of reading came from the classroom nearby. Half an hour passed... The reading stopped. An hour had passed and the morning class was already over.


    An hour and a half later, a middle-aged man wearing a long robe and a square hat walked in with his hands behind his back, walking slowly. He took a glance at the two people in the room and then went straight to his desk and sat down.


    Zhao Youcai led Zhao Ce to stand up quickly, bowed to him, and smiled apologetically, "Teacher Liu, I am Zhao Ce''s uncle. We met at the beginning of the year." Liu Xiucai raised his eyelids and took a look at Zhao Ce standing in front of him. "Zhao Ce''s uncle? This person has a bad character, and I have already expelled him from my school. He is no longer my student. You can go back now."

 Chapter 29: Your nephew is lacking in intelligence

    Zhao Ce lifted his eyes slightly and glanced at Liu Xiucai before quickly lowering his gaze. Liu Xiucai was a young scholar who had passed the elementary scholar examination at a young age but had failed the subsequent provincial and metropolitan examinations repeatedly.


    He only passed the scholar examination when he was middle-aged, and after failing the Imperial examination twice in a row, he decided not to take the Imperial examination again and opened a school in the city, where he had many students and good teaching results. He even received compliments from many scholars, and he became somewhat arrogant. He claimed to have read many sayings of sages and did not like students with bad behavior.


    Previously, he had ignored Zhao Ce because of his poor academic performance, but now he could not tolerate his bad character.


    Zhao Ce''s reputation had been tarnished by a recent incident where he had trespassed into a woman''s chamber.


    Despite Zhao Youcai''s attempts to explain the situation, Liu Xiucai refused to listen and criticized Zhao Ce''s academic ability.


    "Reading the sayings of sages is to follow the path of a gentleman. Your nephew, Zhao Ce, as a scholar, actually trespassed into a woman''s chamber. Such a heinous act cannot be tolerated, and I cannot teach him anymore," Liu Xiucai said.


    Zhao Youcai was anxious when he heard this and tried to defend his nephew. "But he''s still young and easily influenced. He was led astray by someone else," he said.


    Liu Xiucai was dismissive. "He''s already 19 years old and still hasn''t fully read the Four Books. Even if he studies for another two years, he''ll likely fail the examination. He''s not talented, and his reputation is already ruined. You should focus on a legitimate career instead of wasting money on his education," he said.


    Zhao Youcai was hesitant but eventually relented. He presented Liu Xiucai with gifts and begged him to change his mind, but Liu Xiucai remained firm in his decision.


    "He won��t be able to study under any teacher in this city unless there is any imperial scholar to vouch for him," Liu Xiucai said sarcastically.


    Zhao Youcai felt embarrassed by his words. He also knew that his nephew wasn''t a good student, but he didn''t expect him to be as bad as Liu Xiucai had said.


    He glanced at Zhao Ce, who returned his gaze without any expression of dissatisfaction.


    Zhao Youcai sighed softly. Although Liu Xiucai had said that, he still wanted to try and persuade him. Liu Xiucai seemed to understand his thoughts and said directly, "Zhao Youcai, don''t think that I haven''t taught your nephew seriously."


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    "Of course not," Zhao Youcai replied hastily.


    Liu Xiucai continued, "Just the other day, I reviewed ��Confucius'' Analects'' with him."


    "Right?" Liu Xiucai''s words were directed at Zhao Ce.


    Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows and said, "Yes."


    "After finishing the lesson, I instructed everyone to go home and study," Liu Xiucai said. "Let me test you on a couple of questions and see if you''ve been reviewing diligently at home."


    Liu Xiucai''s actions were not really about testing Zhao Ce''s knowledge, but rather letting Zhao Youcai know that he had not treated his student unfairly.


    It was only July, and they had paid for a full year of tuition. Although there were still about six months left before he stopped teaching, the tuition fee was non-refundable. After all, he had done his best as a teacher, hadn''t he?


    Zhao Youcai had thought that there was hope, but when he heard that Liu Xiucai wanted to test whether Zhao Ce had been reviewing diligently at home, his hope dwindled. He knew exactly what Zhao Ce had been doing these past two days, and he probably hadn''t been studying much.


    He thought to himself that there was no way around it. If things didn''t work out here, he would have to look for another school that was still accepting students.


    As he was thinking this, he heard Liu Xiucai reciting a passage from Confucius'' Analects.


    "Confucius said, ''A horse is not judged by its strength but by its virtues.''"


    After finishing the passage, Liu Xiucai looked at Zhao Ce and gestured for him to recite the rest. Liu Xiucai knew this student very well. His academic ability was really poor, and his true evaluation was "lacking in intelligence."


    It took him a long time to master even one lesson. Unfortunately, Liu Xiucai had not thoroughly examined him before taking him on as a student.


    When he thought about Zhao Ce''s reputation, Liu Xiucai felt unlucky. It was really dragging down his teaching ability. Zhao Youcai furrowed his brow deeply and sighed inwardly. Zhao Ce, on the other hand, recited the rest of the passage calmly.


    "Ji is the name of a good horse. Virtue means that it has been properly trained."


    After Zhao Ce finished reciting, Liu Xiucai exclaimed, "Hm?"


    Zhao Youcai was anxious and asked, "Sir, did my nephew recite it correctly?"


    Liu Xiucai didn''t answer him but looked at Zhao Ce again and recited another passage from Mencius.


    "Zi Lu asked about serving a ruler. Confucius said, ''If you can cultivate the ability of Zang Wu Zhong, and avoid the desires of Gong Shuo...''"


    Liu Xiucai had switched from the Analects to Mencius. Zhao Youcai didn''t know that, but Zhao Ce apparently did. He calmly recited the rest of the passage, and Liu Xiucai furrowed his brow.


    "As for serving the Duke of Qi, it is merely a matter of reversing one''s hand."


    Here''s another passage: "When a man''s knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.��,�� What does it mean?�� Liu Xiucai said.


    ��This passage is about the importance of both knowledge and virtue. Mencius believed that knowledge alone was not enough to be truly successful in life. One also needed to have a strong moral character and the ability to hold onto what one had gained.�� Zhao Ce answered.


    Liu Xiucai furrowed his brow even more. Liu Xiucai was surprised that Zhao Ce was able to recite all passages correctly and answer all of his questions. He couldn''t believe it. This was the same student he had thought of as "lacking in intelligence" and who had taken a long time to master even one lesson. He had blindly accepted him without thoroughly examining him. Liu Xiucai was starting to feel like he had made a mistake.

 Chapter 30: Thinking about working in the fields?

    For a moment, the scene was quiet. Only Zhao Youcai was extremely anxious. He looked at Liu Xiucai, then at Zhao Ce. After Zhao Ce finished answering, he asked lightly, "Teacher, did I answer correctly?"


    Looking at the expression on the scholar''s face in front of him, it seemed that he had guessed correctly last night. Zhao Ce couldn''t help but think, could this be the legendary "golden finger" of a time traveler? His luck was really too good...


    Last night, he only read the book once and basically memorized it. Could it be that he had the legendary ability of photographic memory? Zhao Ce felt a little pleased with himself. This time travel was definitely a cheat code for life!


    Liu Xiucai''s face changed for a moment. He hesitated and said, "Yes...you did answer correctly. You worked hard these past two days..."


    Not only did he answer correctly, but he also answered fluently. In the past, whenever he took an exam, he stumbled over words and could only barely manage to answer, and even got many things wrong. Could it be that he was so stimulated last time that he had an epiphany and then worked hard to improve himself?


    Liu Xiucai couldn''t believe it and looked at Zhao Ce in front of him again. The person in front of him still looked the same, tall and skinny. But it seemed that he was different now. He stood straight and calm, completely different from before when he would start sweating at the mention of taking exams.


    Liu Xiucai thought to himself, if only he had been like this earlier, there might still be hope. But now that he had already said what he did, it was difficult to retract his words.


    After hearing Liu Xiucai''s words, Zhao Ce nodded calmly and said, "I did work hard. After all, I''m not naturally talented, so I can only rely on diligence to make up for my inadequacies."


    Answered correctly? Zhao Youcai''s eyes lit up, and he immediately wanted to ask a few more questions. But Zhao Ce pulled him aside and took back his bag of white sugar and Zhao Youcai''s red envelope.


    Liu Xiucai glanced at them and didn''t say anything. Zhao Ce said to Liu Xiucai calmly, "Since you say so, I don''t want to trouble you anymore. Thank you for your years of education. We will take our leave now."


    Zhao Ce had also figured it out. The teacher didn''t have a good impression of him, and he had classmates who had conflicts with him. Zhao Ce didn''t want to stay here anymore.


    Zhao Youcai had been trying to please the teacher, but it wasn''t necessary. Respecting teachers and valuing education is a virtue, but respect should be mutual. If he couldn''t take the imperial examinations, he would find another way in the future. If all else failed, he could go home and study on his own. When he had more money, he could use it to get results. But no matter what, the scholar in front of him was a scholar, and he was just a farmer''s son.


    There''s no need to get all worked up and let''s just leave it at that... When Zhao Youcai heard Zhao Ce say he wanted to leave, he became a little anxious and wanted to pull Zhao Ce back.


    But Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Uncle, the teacher has been teaching all morning and is tired. We shouldn''t disturb him anymore. Let''s go." After saying that, he took Zhao Youcai, bowed, and left.


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    Liu Xiucai was moved by Zhao Ce''s words. "Teaching all morning and tired..." he murmured to himself. He couldn''t even teach him properly, yet this student was still so concerned about him? Thinking about it carefully, if it weren''t for this incident, Zhao Ce didn''t have any major flaws apart from being dull-witted.


    On the contrary, he also upheld the words of the saints, just like himself. However, it was a pity... Liu Xiucai shook his head. "His reputation has already been ruined. How could it be restored?" "Let''s just let this matter go."


    Thinking about the little cloth bag that Zhao Ce had just now, Liu Xiucai muttered to himself, "I wonder what''s inside the small bag.


    But as a farmer, he probably doesn''t have anything good to offer, right? Could it be rice?"... Zhao Ce led Zhao Youcai out of the school gate. Zhao Youcai sighed and said, "What are we going to do now?" But thinking about what Liu Xiucai had said earlier, Zhao Youcai was filled with anger. Clearly, all of his nephew''s answers were correct, but this scholar kept saying that his nephew was not good and even said that he lacked intelligence.


    Thinking about it, Zhao Youcai suddenly felt sorry for Zhao Ce. He didn''t know what kind of life Zhao Ce was leading in the school. Zhao Youcai said, "Let your cousin inquire if there are any other teachers willing to take you in." But it was very difficult for a student who had been expelled by a teacher to find another teacher.


    However, Zhao Ce was not worried. He comforted Zhao Youcai, saying, "Uncle, there''s no rush. If it really doesn''t work out, I''ll just skip the elementary scholar''s examinations next year and wait until the year after." Zhao Youcai nodded helplessly and said, "We can only do that."


    After thinking for a while, he hesitated and reminded Zhao Ce, "In the future, try not to go to the brothels. You''re already married. Although your wife is a little thin and has some flaws in her appearance, she''s not bad-looking. She''s also hardworking and capable. Just live a good life with her." Zhao Ce''s infatuation with brothel women was something he had heard rumors about.


    Now, because of these things, he couldn''t even study anymore.


    Zhao Youcai felt very uncomfortable just thinking about it. But now that it had come to this, he didn''t know what to say. He just hoped that his nephew could live a peaceful life in the future.


    Zhao Ce readily agreed, taking the opportunity to increase his favorability in Zhao Youcai''s eyes. "Uncle, I understand now. Before, I was wrong and always wanted to impress my classmates. So I did some things that I shouldn''t have done. After this incident, I will definitely not do it again in the future or go to such places."


    He said it firmly, which made Zhao Youcai feel relieved. However, despite coming out today, they ultimately failed to achieve their goal, which made Zhao Youcai feel even more depressed. "This matter has passed. Don''t think too much about it. It''s getting late, let''s go back." Zhao Ce said, but he also wanted to stop by the cloth shop and buy some cloth on the way home.


    Zhao Youcai nodded. They happened to pass by a cloth shop on the way, so they went in. Zhao Ce bought two pieces of coarse linen to make short jackets for himself.


    The shopkeeper enthusiastically recommended some good cloth that could make close-fitting clothing. Zhao Ce remembered the shabby undershirt worn by the little girl and generously bought a lot of it. Zhao Youcai watched him spending money so recklessly, and even buying rough linen to make short jackets for himself, and couldn''t help asking, "Why do you need to make short jackets?" Zhao Ce replied matter-of-factly, "Long robes are not suitable for working. I''ll have my wife make me two short jackets. They''re convenient for working in the fields." Zhao Youcai was puzzled.


    It seemed like his nephew was not affected by his expulsion from school at all. He had just come out of the academy and was already thinking about working in the fields? But when he saw how happy Zhao Ce looked as he touched the good cloth, he kept his thoughts to himself.


    Zhao Ce bought a lot of cloth, and the shopkeeper gave him many gifts. Zhao Ce couldn''t help feeling good when he remembered how happy his little wife would be when she saw them. After finishing their shopping, they carried a large bundle of wrapped cloth and went home together, with Zhao Youcai still feeling depressed.

 Chapter 31: Why is my husband so extravagant?

    "It''s getting late," Zhao Youcai thought.


    "Uncle Zhao, are we going to walk all the way back?" asked Zhao Ce.


    Originally, Zhao Youcai wanted to rent a cart and go back with Zhao Ce, but as they reached the city gate, he didn''t see any carts waiting.


    "Let''s go, I forgot that no carts are going back at this time of the day" replied Zhao Youcai.


    "Okay," said Zhao Ce, the two of them had to walk back.


    They saw a group of monks standing at the gate, with a well-fed, red-faced monk at the forefront. Zhao Youcai quickly clasped his hands together and bowed to the group of monks. Zhao Ce also took a glance at them. The big monk chanted "Amitabha" to the two of them, before leading the other monks into the city. Zhao Youcai seemed to be in a better mood after that encounter.


    Zhao Youcai also remembered what his eldest son said about wanting to talk to Zhao Ce about the sugar business, but he didn''t bring it up yet.


    He had intended to help Zhao Ce carry his things, but Zhao Ce waved him off, saying he was young and strong enough to carry them himself.


    Zhao Youcai nodded and told Zhao Ce to focus on living a good life in the village and not to worry about things in the city.


    Zhao Ce didn''t complain of being tired at all during their walk and they continued steadily toward the village.


    When they arrived back in the village, it was dinnertime and most people were at home.


    Zhao Ce''s wife peeked out from behind the door looking nervous searching and waiting for her husband, before hiding again.


    "Tomorrow, I''ll have someone pass along a message to your brother about the school," said Zhao Youcai.


    "Thank you, uncle," replied Zhao Ce.


    Zhao Ce noticed the small figure peeking out from behind the door, picked up his pace, and went toward his house. Zhao Youcai was curious about why Zhao Ce was in a hurry and looked up to see Zhao Ce''s door slightly open. Was he worried about someone stealing from his house? Zhao Youcai chuckled to himself and thought that it was broad daylight, so there was no need to worry about theft then took a different direction to go back to his own home.


    The little girl peeked again and when she saw Zhao Ce coming, a sweet smile appeared on her face. "Husband! You''re back!" Zhao Ce nodded "I''m home", feeling happy that there is someone at home waiting for him.


    She asked if everything was taken care of. He replied that he had been delayed but had brought back everything that he wanted. After speaking, he refused the little girl''s help. Holding the things in his hand, he strode into the house, placing them on the table.


    Su Caier was completely unaffected by her legs. Her footsteps were fast as she took a cloth to wipe the sweat, wetting it before handing it to her husband.


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    Afterward, she moved the book box to a corner and then turned to go into the kitchen to bring Zhao Ce a bowl of water. Zhao Ce wiped his face with the cloth and drank the cool liquid, feeling much more comfortable.


    He sighed and lifted his dress, fanning himself. Looking at the diligent little bee in front of him, Zhao Ce smiled and said, "It''s finally a bit cooler."


    Su Caier nodded her little head. "It''s too hot today. It''s probably going to rain in a few days." "Tomorrow when my husband goes out, he must bring rain gear,"


    Zhao Ce said, shaking his head. "I probably won''t be going out these few days." Su Caier tilted her little head, seeming to be thinking about how he would attend his classes if he didn��t go out. Zhao Ce continued, "We''ll wait for Uncle and cousin to inquire again in the city and find a new teacher."


    Su Caier nodded her little head. She didn''t understand the matter of studying. Since Uncle was helping, there shouldn''t be any problem.


    Over there, Zhao Ce was already pointing to the cloth on the table and saying, "I bought a lot of cloth again. You take a look and see what''s best." Su Caier was happy to see the cloth on the table and said, "Husband bought so much cloth. Two pieces of rough hemp and two pieces of good cloth can make two sets of undergarments for you..." The young girl was taking inventory and planning in her mind how to deal with these fabrics.


    However, Zhao Ce interrupted her directly. "Except for these two pieces of rough hemp, the rest are all for you." Su Caier said, "Huh?" "But husband just bought me new cloth, and I haven''t made any clothes yet." "Why did you buy new ones again?"


    Zhao Ce explained, "The shopkeeper said these fabrics are good and suitable for making intimate clothing for wives." "I don''t understand much about these things, so you take a look and decide how to make them." Su Caier''s little face was blushing. "M-make intimate clothing?" She glanced up at her husband before quickly lowering her gaze. Her long eyelashes trembled lightly, and her face was full of shyness. Her little earlobes were also red. Husband...Why are you so extravagant?


    He even bought good cloth to make close-fitting clothes for her...


    Zhao Ce cleared his throat when he saw this. He really didn''t think much of it. It was just an undershirt. When the two of them slept at night, they both wore the same outfit, right? For Zhao Ce, it was like pajamas.


    Not to mention women who wear revealing nightwear. Various cleavage-baring and thigh-revealing outfits can be seen everywhere on the Internet and even in reality. But seeing the innocent little girl acting like a shy wife, Zhao Ce couldn''t help but feel a little embarrassed.


    However, after Su Caier became shy, she felt a little distressed. These good cloths must be expensive, right?


    She whispered, "Husband, I don''t need such good cloth." "This is too wasteful of money." Her husband was too good to her... It had only been a few days since they married.


    She hadn''t done anything yet, but her husband had already bought so much good cloth for her to make new clothes. After thinking for a moment, Su Caier suddenly had an idea. The color of this cloth was light. It could probably be made into a man''s undershirt! Then just make it for her husband directly!


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "It''s okay, we''ve already bought it." "Let''s just use it."


    The little girl didn''t object again and nodded her head.


    As Zhao Ce spoke, he remembered that the shopkeeper had also given him some extras. He rummaged through the bookcase and took out a small sewing kit. There was also a long cloth tape for measuring.


    "The shopkeeper also gave me some extras, see if you can use them."


    Su Caier took it with joy and opened the sewing kit to take a look. There were two rolls of thread, with a needle inserted in each one.


    She squinted her eyes happily."A new sewing kit!" "I can use this to make new clothes for my husband."


    That little girl''s expression was much happier than when she received new cloth herself.


    Zhao Ce couldn''t help but smile. The charm of new clothes couldn''t compare to that of a new sewing kit.


    If he bought a new set of farming tools for this little girl, would she be so happy that she wouldn''t know where North was?

 Chapter 32: New clothes

    "I have already prepared the sugar, just waiting for it to dry." "Now I will measure my husband''s body."  Su Caier said, and immediately moved to act.


    After hearing this, Zhao Ce stood up directly and asked, "How do you measure it?"


    "I will use this to measure." Su Caier said, as she spoke, she picked up the measuring cloth and got ready to work.


    She stood in front of Zhao Ce, a petite figure with one hand reaching over from his right waist and the other from his left.


    The two hands formed a posture of embracing and were about to meet at the back, holding the measuring cloth in between.


    When Su Caier came back to her senses, she found that her whole body seemed to be stuck to her husband''s body. She raised her head in embarrassment and stuttered, "I, I''m measuring your waistline."


    Zhao Ce looked down at her and smelled the faint scent of a young girl, a soapy scent mixed with the smell of smoke from the kitchen fire, and a hint of sweetness in between. Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Hmm, go ahead and measure."


    Su Caier quickly measured the waistline and then the arms. When she reached the shoulders and back, she realized that she was not tall enough, but it was not appropriate to ask her husband to bend down.


    So she took off her shoes and whispered, "Husband, I have to stand on a stool."


    But just as her small foot in the old socks reached for the stool, she felt a big hand supporting her waist.


    Zhao Ce saw her movements and instinctively pinched her delicate waist with both hands, lifting her up gently to stand on the stool.


    Standing on the stool, Su Caier was almost as tall as her husband. She lifted her eyes lightly and could look at her husband at eye level, which she usually had to look up to do.


    Zhao Ce chuckled and turned around, saying, "You continue." Su Caier blushed and continued to measure with the knotted cloth. After tying another knot, she whispered, "I''m done measuring."


    Zhao Ce turned around and lifted her down from the stool by holding her waist.


    Su Caier put on her shoes and felt dizzy. Zhao Ce stabilized her and touched her forehead lightly, saying, "Light and floaty little thing." "You need to eat more to grow up faster in the future."


    After that, he picked up his book box from the corner and left the room, leaving Su Caier behind.


    Su Caier covered her pounding heart with her hand and couldn''t help but touch the spot where her husband had pinched her waist just now.


    She felt like she had already grown up since she was already married. But then she lowered her head and touched the spot again, feeling the residual sensation of being pinched by someone on both sides of her waist."


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    ......


    "The little girl was shy. She spent the whole afternoon hiding in her room making new clothes.


    Zhao Ce was in the kitchen, thinking about improving his white sugar refining method. The yellow mud water dripping sugar method wasn''t too complicated, but the tools had to be specially made.


    Due to the school''s affairs today, Zhao Ce didn''t have time to order the tools. "There is only one big jar for water in the house, which is too big to move easily." "We need to order several smaller ones." "One jar is needed to boil the sugar, and another is needed for stirring the yellow mud water." "We also need a large funnel and a tool to measure it." "As for the yellow mud, we need to find a suitable one in the field tomorrow." Zhao Ce recalled what he needed to do in his mind.


    Before these tools were made, he had to first refine the wood charcoal. The little girl had already made a pot of white sugar today. Zhao Ce took out another pot and continued to make it.


    A little later, Su Caier walked over with a piece of clothing. The clothes had just been cut and sewn in a fixed position. It had a rough framework. "Husband, try it on first to see if it fits." Su Caier''s voice was still a bit shy, and she dared not look up and meet her husband''s gaze.


    Zhao Ce smiled and took it over, casually putting his hand through the sleeve. One hand came directly out of the middle of the sleeve. The little girl bent her eyebrows and eyes when she saw it. "What about the hole below?" she asked, helping Zhao Ce tidy it up.


    The size they measured together naturally fit well. As for the pants, there was no need to measure. After Zhao Ce took off the pants, he handed them to Su Caier.


    "After I finish sewing it tomorrow, you can wear it." Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Okay." "If it doesn''t work, I can wear an old robe to work." Su Caier lowered her head and took the clothes, seeing the hand holding the clothes. The skin was fair and the bones were distinct. Such hands for reading and writing were still strong enough to lift her up. Su Caier thought to herself and blushed again.


    Zhao Ce looked at the little girl''s pink ears and wondered what he had said to make her shy. At this time, there was a knocking on the door outside. Zhao Ce whispered, "I''ll go open the door."


    He walked outside to the fence gate and saw Zhao Wenhao''s feet with a load of firewood, standing in front of his house with sweat all over his body."


    After Zhao Youcai returned home, he asked Zhao Wenhao to bring over the firewood he had chopped in the morning. After all, there was only one woman in his house while Zhao Ce was away during the day. That��s why, Zhao Wenhao didn''t want to directly bring the firewood over before knowing that Zhao Ce is home.


    After Zhao Ce opened the door for him, he gratefully said, "Thank you, Brother Wenhao." But Zhao Wenhao replied, "My father asked me to do this." "If you want to thank someone, thank him," he added.


    Zhao Ce used to exchange a few words with his brother Zhao Wenhua, But towards a commoner like himself, he wouldn''t even give him a second glance. Zhao Wenhao still remembered a time when he went to the city and saw Zhao Ce. He greeted him, and even the students next to him saw him. But Zhao Ce directly said he didn''t know him and walked away. Thinking about this, Zhao Wenhao became angry.


    But Zhao Ce said, "We both need to thank Uncle Zhao." "Come in and have a cup  of water?" Zhao Ce offered.


    He shouted into the house, "Cai''er, pour a glass of water for your cousin." A faint answer came from inside the house.


    Zhao Wenhao said, "No need for water. I''ll help you bring the firewood to the shed. Otherwise, you, a scholar, will complain that I dirtied your cups."


    "If it weren''t for your injured shoulder and arm, I wouldn''t even want to step inside your gate." Zhao Ce didn''t mind these remarks at all. He said, "I don''t mind," and reached down to pick up the firewood with his one hand.


    Zhao Wenhao quickly stopped him, saying, "Oh, how can you pick that up with just one hand? It''s heavy, wet firewood!" "You, a scholar, don''t have any calluses on your hands, so you definitely can''t do this kind of work." "Let me handle it..."


    Just as he was about to say more, Zhao Ce effortlessly lifted the firewood with the pole and started walking towards the house, leaving Zhao Wenhao stunned.


    Zhao Ce walked two steps, turned back, and said calmly, "Brother Wenhao, come inside."

 Chapter 33 Lets go, Im off to work

    Zhao Wenhao followed Zhao Ce with an abnormal expression on his face. He had just come over, covered in sweat, and his weak cousin was able to effortlessly lift what he had been carrying. Anyone else in his place would probably have the same expression on their face. When did his cousin become so strong?


    After entering the house, Zhao Ce asked Wenhao to wait in the hall while he went into the woodshed with the bundle of firewood. After taking out the empty shoulder pole, the little girl also brought a bowl of water to stand at the doorway.


    Su Caier whispered, "Husband, I used sugar from our home to make the water." She thought that Uncle Zhao''s family had been treating them so well, so her husband specially invited his cousin to come in for a drink. They definitely couldn''t just give him a bowl of plain water. So, she took the initiative to add some sugar. After adding it, she was worried that her husband would blame her for wasting their family''s resources, so she quickly waited there and reported to him.


    Zhao Ce''s hands were dirty, so he couldn''t touch her little head. He just smiled and praised, "Well done. Let''s take it out to our cousin together." The little girl was happy to receive her husband''s praise and carried the water out behind him.


    In the hall, Zhao Wenhao felt uneasy as he watched the couple come out together. He thought that Zhao Ce used to be so arrogant and wanted to marry a young lady from the city. Now he had married a farm girl and they seemed to be getting along well. This scholar really loved to brag.


    Zhao Ce didn''t know what was going on in his cousin''s mind and handed him the water, saying, "These past two years, our family''s firewood has really relied on you, Brother Wenhao." Although Zhao Wenhao had only helped out because of Zhao Youcai''s urging, he had indeed put in a lot of effort. So, Zhao Ce''s gratitude was sincere.


    Zhao Wenhao felt a little uncomfortable with Zhao Ce being so polite to him. He quickly drank the water in the bowl in one gulp and smacked his lips. "Why is this so sweet? Isn''t this just plain water?" He then remembered the small bag of sugar that Zhao Ce had brought over to his house. This was sugar water?


    According to what his parents had told him, this stuff was expensive. And yet Zhao Ce''s family had used it to treat him. This cousin of his had shown him kindness for the first time since he had come to Zhao Ce''s house.


    Feeling a bit uneasy, Zhao Wenhao put down the bowl and said, "Thank you for your hospitality. I''ll be going back now." Zhao Ce walked him to the door and said, "Take care, Brother Wenhao." Zhao Wenhao replied somewhat stiffly, "If you run out of firewood, just let me know. I''ll go to the mountains to get some for you." Zhao Ce smiled and agreed.


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    By now, it was already late in the day, The two of them had a lot to do today, and they both worked very hard. They had a meager dinner by the light of the stove. After finishing their washing up, Su Caier locked the kitchen door and they walked back to their room together. There weren''t many stars out tonight, and the moon was in and out of the clouds. The wind that blew through the air had a hint of dampness.


    After they lay down, Su Caier was still a little excited because of her husband''s praise earlier in the day. She whispered to him, asking if the white sugar she made was good and if it was a waste. She also mentioned that if the clothes couldn''t be finished tomorrow, he shouldn''t work.


    Suddenly, she remembered something important. "Husband, there are still two land deeds in the wooden box."


    "It''s been so many days, I haven''t gone to see the crops in the fields," he replied.


    "If the crops were planted earlier, they should be ready to harvest in a few days," she said.


    Su Caier hadn''t had time to tend to the crops in the last three days because she didn''t dare to leave the house. She had been busy making white sugar all day today and had forgotten about it. If they didn''t take care of it soon, they would have a smaller harvest this year.


    Su Caier couldn''t do much, but she wanted to make sure everything in the house was taken care of so that her husband would think she was even better. With that in mind, she tackled each day''s work with enthusiasm.


    Zhao Ce hesitated and thought for a moment before saying, "It seems like we did plant something?"


    During these two years when the original owner was striving for success, he sold some land to pay for a courtesan, which caused a rift between him and Zhao Youcai''s family. After the original owner''s parents passed away, Zhao Youcai had been taking care of the family''s land. However, when they found out that he had sold it, both Li Shi and Zhao Youcai came to him.


    The original owner was angry and told them not to interfere. Despite Zhao Youcai''s affection for his nephew, he was rebuffed numerous times, causing both Li Shi and Zhao Youcai to become angry and leave him alone.


    Now, it seems that the original owner had someone plant crops on the remaining two acres of land during the spring, and even gave them some money to help take care of it.


    Zhao Ce remembered this and said, "I''ll take you to see it tomorrow." Su Caier was excited and said, "Great, if the crops have grown well, we can harvest them soon. With two acres of land, we can save money on rice for about half a year." They chatted in bed for a while before falling asleep.


    The next morning, they took their time with the breakfast and worked on making more white sugar. After filtering the sugar, Su Caier went to get the farming tools while Zhao Ce went to search for suitable yellow clay at the foot of the mountain.


    Su Caier was hesitant and offered to help him later, as she thought his delicate hands were not suitable for this kind of work. However, Zhao Ce said it was okay and that he would go find the yellow clay first. They both headed out together, with Su Caier carrying a hoe and Zhao Ce carrying a basket, jokingly saying, "Let''s go, time to work." The two figures, one big and one small walked out of the door together."

 Chapter 34: “lush & green” fields

    As the only literate person in the village, Zhao Ce was seen walking with his wife in the fields during the day, wearing an old robe and carrying a hoe and a winnowing basket, which surprised the villagers who were used to seeing him attend school.


    He seemed to have abandoned his previous manners as a scholar and tied the bottom of his robe directly to his waist, becoming a person who not only studied but also did household chores and farm work.


    The villagers speculated about his behavior and wondered if he had suffered from some sort of shock or if he was on leave from school. Zhao Youcai, his uncle, had not told anyone about Zhao Ce''s expulsion from school, but it was only a matter of time before the news spread.


    However, Zhao Ce did not seem to care about the rumors and continued to walk leisurely with his wife. Su Caier, feeling regretful for letting her husband do manual labor, believed that as a literate person, Zhao Ce should not be doing such work.


    But Zhao Ce, understanding the importance of improving the family''s economic situation, did not mind working in the fields and doing household chores.


    As they walked, Su Caier whispered to him, apologizing for her earlier advice, but Zhao Ce simply smiled and continued walking, thinking mockingly ��So he should just sit at home, and pretend to read books? And watch the little girl running around busy by herself doing all the work?��.


    Zhao Ce helplessly said, "When it''s time to study, study; when it''s time to work, work." "That''s the right way to do it."


    Su Caier listened but was confused.


    The only thing she knew was that her husband was different from other scholars.


    To be more precise, he was better than any other man she had ever met.


    Since her husband was so great, everything he said must be right! Su Caier nodded her little head and said, "My husband is right!"


    Zhao Ce smiled and patted her little head with the hand that was free.


    The two walked from the village road to the field.


    The sun was getting higher in the sky, and the weather was getting warmer. There were already many people working hard in the fields. Most of them were men. A few women from families with more land also rolled up their pants and joined in the work.


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    Many people were wearing grass shoes on the field. When they saw Zhao Ce, they stared at him curiously. Someone shouted, "Lord Zhao, what are you doing in the field?" "Don''t get your clothes dirty."


    After the voice sounded, some laughter came from nearby. Zhao Ce looked at him and said with a smile, "I''m just going to take a look in the field, Uncle Dachang." As he spoke, he continued to stroll forward with Su Caier.


    "What''s going on? Is that really Lord Zhao?" "Why isn''t he afraid of getting his clothes dirty now?" Everyone was confused by Zhao Ce''s attitude.


    He had only been married to his thin little wife for a few days, but he had already become a different person.


    He was willing to work in the field now? As they worked, everyone gossiped about Zhao Ce.


    Zhao Ce''s two acres of land were located near the foot of the mountain.


    They walked further in. The air was filled with various crops and a fresh scent. Zhao Ce smelled it and felt like he wanted to compose a poem.


    However, the further they went in, the sparser the crops in the fields inside became. Most of the fields here were lower-grade fields with poor harvests. The yield of crops in these fields was at least half that of the crops outside.


    After walking further, they saw a field in the distance that was lush and green. The plants seemed to grow very vigorously. Zhao Ce looked at that place and felt that it was very much like his own fields. He nodded his head, feeling somewhat comforted. It seemed that the previous owner was a bit of an idiot, but at least they had contributed something by properly taking care of the crops, which were growing so well.


    The crops in these two acres of land were good enough to harvest. While walking, Zhao Ce pointed to the two acres of land several ridges away and said to the little girl beside him, "That is our field. You see, it grows so vigorously, we will definitely be able to harvest a lot of crops."


    Su Cai''er also curiously looked around, but her vision wasn''t as good as Zhao Ce''s, and she wasn''t tall enough to see that far for the time being. "Husband, I can''t see," she said, and couldn''t help but speed up her pace.


    After all, there weren''t too many people here, and she didn''t have to worry about her own legs. She immediately quickened her pace and walked forward with one foot deep and one foot shallow.


    Zhao Ce laughed and said, "There''s no need to rush. We''re almost there. Anyway, our family only has these two acres of land, so we have plenty of time to harvest."


    A gust of wind blew by, and the rice plants around them rustled. Zhao Ce turned his head and looked around. He felt quite good and said, "Is this the joy of a good harvest?"


    There was also a stream flowing in the distance. The scenery was really nice. The closer Su Cai''er walked toward the two acres of land that her husband had pointed out, the more she felt something was strange about it. Wasn''t the field too green? Where were the golden fruits on top? She quickened her pace and walked to the edge of the field.


    Looking at the lush greenery, Su Cai''er asked in doubt, "Husband, is this our field?" Zhao Ce brought his gaze back from the distance and smiled, "Yes. It seems that the people I found are quite reliable. They have taken good care of our land, haven''t they?" Zhao Ce walked closer and took a closer look.


    Suddenly, he was dumbfounded. Wait, where were the crops they were talking about? This lush green area was filled with weeds that were taller than people!

 Chapter 35: Im a scholar, how can I quarrel?

    Zhao Ce looked at the green weeds covering the ground and fell silent. He remembered clearly that he had arranged for someone to plow the field in the spring, but what happened to all these weeds? And what about the family who was supposed to help him with farming? Su Caier watched him in silence and carefully examined the field. She found that there were occasional golden rice ears hidden among the weeds, but they were hard to find and very few in number.


    Just then, a man carrying a hoe and sickle walked over from the road. When he saw Zhao Ce and Su Caier staring stupidly at their field, he smiled mockingly and said, "Lord Zhao, the weeds in your field looks great!"


    Zhao Ce snapped out of his thoughts and recognized the man. "Uncle Dashan!" he exclaimed. Dashan''s dark face showed a hint of discomfort at Zhao Ce''s friendly tone.


    "Um, you haven''t taken care of this land after planting the seeds, have you?" Dashan asked, feeling uneasy after Zhao Ce''s address.


    "Don''t bother with this land," Dashan continued, taking advantage of Zhao Ce''s use of "Uncle." "Instead of picking out the rice ears one by one, it''s better to cut the weeds and rice together. At least the weeds can feed the pigs.


    You scholars are really something. You plant the seeds but don''t remove the weeds. How can you expect to have a good harvest?"


    Feeling embarrassed, Zhao Ce said, "I remember asking my sixth uncle to help me with the planting, and I thought he would take care of it."


    "Your sixth uncle?" Dashan chuckled. "I don''t know anything about your affairs. I have something to do in my own field, so I''ll be going now." With that, Dashan hastily left the scene.


    Crops are the lifeblood of farmers, and if Zhao Ce had really asked his sixth uncle to help with the farming, but ended up with such a mess, the two families would have a dispute. Dashan was just passing by and didn''t want to get involved.


    After Dashan left, Zhao Ce looked helplessly at his drowned crops and said to Su Caier, who was staring at the grass, "Let''s go back. I need to go to my sixth uncle''s house to find out what happened."


    Su Caier quickly grabbed his sleeve and said, "I''ll go with you!" She knew from experience as her family''s land was only half an acre of wasteland, barely enough to survive. Her mother''s family had many brothers, but no one would take their inferior land and plant it.


    She had seen in the village before how other families'' issues with their fields and crops would usually lead to arguments, and in some cases, even fights. Her husband was a scholar and would certainly not argue with anyone, let alone fight.


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    Therefore, as his wife, she had to help him. Su Caier gathered her courage and raised her voice slightly. "My husband, my husband is not afraid!" The young girl suddenly became nervous. Her usually soft voice trembled slightly as she spoke.


    Was she afraid that some conflict would arise because of the land issue? Zhao Ce didn''t know what she was thinking. He could only smile and say, "It''s okay. I''m just going to ask them some questions." "As a scholar, I won''t argue with anyone."


    "I saw some good yellow mud on the way here. Can you go check it out for me?" Su Caier breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. Then, she nodded her head seriously. "Then I''ll go help my husband find the yellow mud."


    Zhao Ce agreed and took her to a nearby slope they had passed earlier. Many villagers were working in the fields around here, so there was no need to worry.


    Zhao Ce left his hoe here and asked around to find out which field Uncle Liu was working in. Many people were working in the fields, but Zhao Ce easily found out where Uncle Liu was.


    He went straight to Uncle Liu''s field. Aunt Liu was there with her grandson, bringing lunch for Uncle Liu. The two were sitting on the edge of the field, while a little boy played nearby.


    Zhao Ce approached them and called out, "Uncle Liu, Aunt Liu." The two looked up at him. Uncle Liu gave him a glance but didn''t say anything. Aunt Liu smiled awkwardly and said, "Master Zhao, why are you so polite today?" Then, she seemed to think of something and quickly looked away.


    Zhao Ce went straight to the point and asked, "Didn''t I ask Uncle Liu to help me plant on our land? Today, I went to see it and found that it''s all overgrown with weeds."


    Upon hearing this, Uncle Liu snorted. "Planting? Do you, a big scholar, even know how to plant?" "Tilling the land, fertilizing, cultivating, planting, weeding... which of these processes did you ask me to do?" Zhao Ce was taken aback by his words and didn''t react at first. The people resting and eating nearby were also attracted by Uncle Liu''s loud voice.


    They watched the commotion while enjoying their meal. "At the time...I asked Uncle Liu to help me plant my two acres of land," Zhao Ce said. Strictly speaking, Zhao Ce himself had never done any farming work. When he was in the countryside before, his grandparents never asked a child to work. So he had only seen others do farm work, and it had been a long time ago, so he couldn''t remember it very clearly.


    When Uncle Liu asked him what kind of work he had asked him to do, he couldn''t answer. Uncle Liu turned his face and waved impatiently, saying, "You asked me to plant the land, but only paid me for two days of work. I even provided the seeds in the beginning. I did what you asked me to do, and I don''t owe you anything. Now, stop bothering me, and let me work!"


    Aunt Liu looked a little embarrassed but didn''t say anything. The people eating nearby were still making noise, saying, "Mr. Zhao, since you have never worked on the land, there are many things you don''t know. This kind of crop cannot be planted properly in just two days. The pay you gave Uncle Liu wasn''t enough for the work."


    Before, Zhao Ce used to mock those who worked on the land for not studying, but now he was speechless when they turned the tables on him with their knowledge of farming.


    Someone nearby said, "Why didn''t Uncle Liu clarify things with you at the time? This crop is our livelihood. The season has passed and if Mr. Zhao doesn''t harvest his crops, he''ll lose out on the autumn tax." Uncle Liu insisted, "I did as much work as he paid me for. How can this be my fault?"

 Chapter 36: Unscrupulous Uncle

    Zhao Ce carefully pondered for a while. The original owner was a lazy person who didn''t distinguish between different grains. At that time, he had just sold the last two acres of good land in his family and had a falling out with Zhao Youcai''s family.


    He said he didn''t want them to interfere. It was also the time for spring plowing.


    So he searched and found someone in the village to plant the two acres of land for him.


    The son of Uncle Liu had many children and sufficient labor. So he went directly to them.


    They agreed on the wage and that Uncle Liu''s family would help take care of the crops until they matured, and then help with the harvest. They also gave money to Uncle Liu to buy seeds and paid in advance for a few days'' work to plant the crops.


    Uncle Liu''s family helped plant the seeds, but the original owner didn''t care about the land afterward. When Uncle Liu''s family tried to find him, they couldn''t.


    Thinking about Zhao Ce''s reputation and the recent fight with the village chief''s family, Uncle Liu''s family was afraid they wouldn''t get paid for their work.


    So they helped take care of the crops for two days and then stopped. If it were someone else''s family, they wouldn''t have done this. After all, farmers rely on this bit of land to pay taxes and support their families all year round.


    Even if they didn''t get paid, others would still help take care of it. But this Zhao Ce...day after day, he didn''t even look at them, and they had to work for him for free.


    They certainly didn''t want to. So Uncle Liu wasn''t afraid of this. Even if the crops were ruined, the land wasted, what of it? If you don''t pay enough money, why should I work for you for free?


    At most, people in the village would say that the seeds were wasted, and the land was wasted. Even if his uncle was the village chief, so what? Not to mention, Zhao Ce was thin-skinned and wouldn''t lower himself or argue with them, the farmers, over this matter.


    After Uncle Liu told everyone the reason, the person who had just blamed Uncle Liu for not explaining clearly only muttered, "You are indeed a bit unscrupulous." Then they prepared to go back to their own fields to work.


    One person spoke coldly, saying that Zhao Ce didn''t understand anything about the land and should go home and study instead of causing trouble in the fields and delaying everyone''s work.


    They also said that Zhao Ce was not at all honest, wanting others to work for him for free. Uncle Liu listened to his words and became pleased, turning the tables on Zhao Ce. "I won''t ask you for the wages for two more days of work. You don''t take care of your own land, so you can''t blame me for this. You are a learned person, so you probably don''t care about a little autumn tax." "I''m still busy in my field, so I won''t invite you. " After finishing, he quickly finished his own food, rolled up his pants, and continued to work in the fields. Aunt Liu was a little embarrassed and said, "Zhao Ce, this...we also have a lot of work to do at home, so it''s really not good for us to work for your family for free." Zhao Ce looked at Aunt Liu and couldn''t help but laugh out of anger.


    Although the original master was a bit arrogant, he never took advantage of anyone. When he hired people to work, he paid them according to the standard wages in the city.


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    Not only did he pay enough, but there was also less work to do in the fields. And yet, he still wasted two acres of land for him.


    Putting aside the people in the village, he was still a scholar. When he succeeded in his studies, the whole village would benefit. Other families would help look after the crops in the fields anyway.


    In ancient times, many clans supported young people in their clan to study by sending family members to take over their farm work. Although their village was not wealthy enough to let their own people work for free, was Uncle Liu''s approach really faultless?


    Thinking of the tall weeds and Uncle Liu''s tone, he couldn''t help but feel angry. He said sternly, "Stop!" Uncle Liu was taken aback by his serious tone as he took his first step forward. He looked at Zhao Ce and thought that although he was speaking differently today, he seemed to have some courage. "What do you want?" Uncle Liu asked unhappily. He had many sons at home, so he wasn''t afraid of trouble.


    The onlookers were about to disperse when they heard Zhao Ce''s cold voice, and they returned to their positions holding their bowls. Zhao Ce said, "When I hired you to work, it was during the busy farming season. I paid you 50 coins per day as wages. Including the money for buying seeds, I gave you a total of 400 coins! Do you agree or not?"


    As soon as Zhao Ce spoke, the people around them started to discuss. "Fifty coins a day? Is it true or false?" "This price is 20 coins higher than what Master Liu pays in his house!" During the busy farming season, the most a hired worker could get was 30 coins per day, and that was only if they were lucky enough to find a generous landlord. Generally, they could only earn 20 coins per day.


    The original owner thought he was a scholar and didn''t want Zhao Youcai to think he was useless without them.


    In addition, he doesn''t understand the value of things, so he gave Uncle Liu a much higher wage than others. Otherwise, with his reputation, would Uncle Liu even bother to work for him?


    When Uncle Liu heard his serious words, he hesitated and asked, "So what if it''s true?" Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Since you also agree, then this matter is easily resolved." "400 coins." "If I remember correctly, contracting two acres of low-quality land would already be more than enough, right?"


    Zhao Ce had learned a lot about this era in the past two days. Although he only remembered the land issue yesterday, he spoke confidently and without any falsehood.


    Uncle Liu paused for a moment and suddenly became angry, "What do you mean?" Zhao Ce looked at him, squinting his eyes slightly. "What do I mean?" Zhao Ce asked the man who had just accused Uncle Liu of being unscrupulous.


    "Uncle, can I ask you something?" The man was confused and said, "Huh?" Then he heard Zhao Ce say, "How much grain can be produced from one acre of low-quality land?" The man didn''t know what Zhao Ce meant by this question and hesitated, "Probably... one load of grain?" Zhao Ce nodded and quickly calculated, "Even if the grain is of poor quality and can only be sold for 500 coins, two acres of land, after deducting the tax from one acre of grain production, can still fully recover the grain from one acre of land." "In other words, if I were to take back these two acres of land, I would make a profit of at least 500 coins." "Even if I don''t farm the land myself if I rent it out for 400 coins per acre, I can still make a net profit of 400 coins." "By taking my 400 coins, you are essentially renting my land." "Even if you didn''t pay me rent, you still wasted my seeds and only left me with two acres of grass." "Do you dare to say that you are honest in this matter?" Zhao Ce stared at Uncle Liu, reprimanding him with a stern tone.


    Uncle Liu trembled and stuttered, "Y-you, what are you talking about?" "You never said you were going to rent the land to my family..."


    Zhao Ce sneered and said sharply, "I never said I was going to rent it to you, so you just took my money without a second thought." "Not only did you not do the job well, but you also accused me of not understanding farming?" "As a scholar, if I''ve never farmed before, does that mean I know nothing at all?"


    Although Zhao Ce''s robes were still tied around his waist and looked somewhat out of place, his words shocked everyone present. They couldn''t help but think that at this moment, Zhao Ce was not the same as the arrogant scholar Zhao Ce who used to spout nonsense, but more like a true scholar!

 Chapter 37: Civilized People Are Reasonable

    Zhao Ce was the only scholar in the village, and the social hierarchy was apparent with the four traditional occupations of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant.


    Due to his past arrogance, the villagers did not like him and often made fun of him with various nicknames.


    However, they finally realized today that Zhao Ce was indeed a learned man and may become a high-ranking official, known as a true nobleman. His articulate and well-organized speech was able to make even those who couldn''t read or do math understand.


    Originally, everyone thought that Uncle Liu was just being unfair, but after Zhao Ce''s calculation, they realized that this was not a simple matter of being unfair. After all, 400 coins was a lot of money.


    Many families could not earn that much money in a year, even if they worked tirelessly. Uncle Liu''s family gave away 400 coins just like that?


    Uncle Liu was speechless after Zhao Ce spoke. He turned red in the face and said, "I, I didn''t do it." "You asked me to work for you and said you would pay me at the end." "But you didn''t pay me, so what should I do?"


    An older man next to them couldn''t stand it anymore and said, "Old Liu, you''re too unfair." "Zhao Ce gave you 400 coins, even if you took care of his crops every day." "How much time could you have wasted?" "We could earn this much money by doing odd jobs for the landlord''s family for a year." "You took so much money from him but only did a few days of work."


    Uncle Liu insisted that he was not wrong and shouted in the field. He said that Zhao Ce was slandering him and that he would go to the city to find the Qingtian Grand Master to seek justice.


    Zhao Ce''s voice also slightly increased, but still remained calm. "Go to the city to find the Qingtian Grand Master to seek justice?" "Okay, go ahead!" "You think my family''s money is blown here by the wind?" "Do you still have the ''Dagao'' at home? Remember to bring it with you." "When you get to the court, let the Qingtian Grand Master take a look." "See how many lashes are required for your crime according to the ''Dagao''!"


    The Dagao is the criminal code established by the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China In the early Ming Dynasty, it was required that every farmer had a copy of the Dagao in their household. The Dagao served as a legal code that outlined the various crimes and punishments under the Ming legal system. It was used as a reference for judicial officials and judges to determine the appropriate punishment for crimes committed.


    Furthermore, they even sent specialized individuals to promote the Dagao throughout the entire Ming Dynasty. Although it mainly recorded punishments for corrupt officials, there were also a few punishments for common people. If a commoner committed a minor offense and had a copy of the Dagao in their home, it could reduce some of their guilt. However, Dagao''s effectiveness has greatly diminished due to multiple revisions and abolitions of its laws. Zhao Ce naturally doesn''t remember what punishments are listed inside. He''s just trying to scare Uncle Liu!


    A quarrel? How could he, a scholar, possibly quarrel? Civilized people naturally speak with reason.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Indeed, as soon as Uncle Liu heard Zhao Ce''s words, he immediately stopped shouting. He muttered, "Don''t scare me." Zhao Ce calmly said, "Why would I scare you?"


    "I, a scholar, read the Dagao as my first book. Not to mention the Ming Code, which I am also quite familiar with!"


    "Do you really think that if you report me to the officials, I would be afraid of you?"


    Uncle Liu nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Aunt Liu quickly said, "Mr. Zhao, we are all from the same village. There''s no need to make a fuss and involve the officials."


    Zhao Ce glanced at her and casually laughed, "We are all from the same village, of course, I wouldn''t go that far."


    "The one who said he was going to the officials was Uncle Liu, right?"


    Hearing this, the people nearby all accused Uncle Liu. "Old Liu, you were indeed not fair in this matter."


    "Mr. Zhao is a scholar and would naturally want to make a mountain out of a molehill."


    "You even said you were going to report it to the officials."


    "You should apologize to Zhao Ce and discuss how to resolve this matter with him."


    Uncle Liu saw that no one was on his side and became a little flustered. He originally thought that Zhao Ce was thin-skinned and wouldn''t argue with him. He was sure he would be able to get away with it.


    But Zhao Ce''s argument was sound and logical. Even he himself felt that he was really unfair. Aunt Liu made eye contact with him on the side, urging him to resolve the matter quickly. they definitely couldn''t involve the officials. After all, they were all simple farmers who just wanted to live peacefully.


    The village head, Zhao Youcai heard that his nephew had quarreled with someone in the fields and hurried over with Zhao Wenhao. After hearing the reason for the incident on the way, he also furrowed his brows. "


    A just official will find it difficult to intervene in household affairs. In a village like ours, everyone is familiar with each other''s business. Even if there are disputes, most of them are settled amicably.


    When Zhao Youcai arrived in the vicinity, he heard Uncle Liu''s loud voice and his heart tightened. He thought Zhao Ce might have been bullied.


    He quickly walked over with his companions and shouted, ��Uncle Liu, don''t bully my nephew who is all alone.��


    Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Uncle Liu stiffen his neck and say, ��I''ll just help you plant your crops this season!�� Aunt Liu also laughed and said, ��Zhao Ce, we will plant this season''s crops for you. You don''t have to pay for labor or seeds. You just need to harvest it later! Consider it our way of apologizing.��


    Zhao Youcai was still thinking about how to handle the situation when he heard Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu''s words.


    Zhao Ce reluctantly said, ��We are all fellow villagers, and I don''t want to be too harsh. How about you help me plant a different crop, and I''ll pay for the seeds myself?�� Zhao Ce happened to be thinking of planting sugarcane, so he figured he could save some trouble by having them help him plant it.


    Although Uncle Liu was in the wrong, Zhao Ce realized he also had some responsibility for the situation. He just chose to overlook his own mistakes and magnify Uncle Liu''s. After all, whoever takes the moral high ground wins, right?


    After Zhao Ce spoke, Aunt Liu quickly agreed on Uncle Liu''s behalf.


    When Zhao Youcai arrived, he found that the situation had already been resolved. Uncle Liu glanced at him like a defeated rooster, rolled up his pants, and went back to the field.


    Zhao Ce turned around and shouted, ''Uncle, I��m here.'' Zhao Wenhao rolled up his sleeves and frowned, ''I heard you were bullied by Uncle Liu''s family?''


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, ''It was just a minor disagreement, and it''s been resolved.''


    Zhao Wenhao looked him up and down. Although his robe was lifted, there were no signs of a struggle. Instead, he exuded an inexplicable aura of righteousness and strength from his impassioned words earlier.


    This feeling...how should he put it? Zhao Wenhao found himself inexplicably impressed with Zhao Ce. He relaxed his brow and told him, ''You, a scholar, don''t have much ability besides being handsome. Don''t get into fights outside in the future. If you do, you won''t be able to outrun anyone. If you want to argue, call us to come with you. We guarantee you won''t be bullied!'' "

 Chapter 38: Help your cousin more

    After Zhao Wenhao finished speaking, Zhao Youcai gave him a knock on the head.


    "Hey, Dad, why did you hit me on the head?" Zhao Wenhao rubbed his head and looked at his father with a bit of grievance.


    Zhao Youcai rolled his eyes irritably. "Your cousin is a scholar. Why do you instigate him to argue with others for no reason?"


    "How is that me instigating him?" Zhao Wenhao said with a grievance. "I just wanted to help him out."


    Zhao Ce smiled and patted Zhao Wenhao''s shoulder. "Thanks, brother Wenhao." Zhao Wenhao lifted his chin proudly at his father.


    Watching the onlookers, they murmured about how Zhao Ce had left Uncle Liu''s family speechless.


    Zhao Wenhao said to his father with satisfaction, "Dad, I''ve changed my mind."


    Zhao Youcai glanced at him. "What have you changed your mind about?"


    Zhao Wenhao said, "I used to think that Zhao Ce had been studying for so many years and hadn''t accomplished anything." "But today I realized that he''s not completely useless." "At least he can argue better than others!"


    Zhao Ce: "........" It didn''t feel like a compliment that was above board.


    His mouth twitched, and he said to Zhao Youcai, "Uncle, my wife is waiting for me in the field. I''ll go first."


    Zhao Youcai nodded and let Zhao Ce go.


    The remaining people looked at Zhao Ce with some awe. Zhao Youcai coldly snorted at them.


    "Hurry back to work." "Is watching people arguing more important than the crops in the fields?" The village chief gave the order.


    As they proceeded to go back to the fields, they muttered to themselves, "This Zhao Ce seems to have some talent after all." "The Liu family couldn''t even argue back against him." ��A scholar is still a scholar......"


    Zhao Youcai sighed lightly. He had been blinded by anger by Zhao Ce before.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have had a scholar personally come to take care of the fields. And get tricked by his fellow villagers.


    He said to Zhao Wenhao, "Go visit your brother''s house more often." "See if there''s any heavy or tiring work to help with." "Help him more."


    Zhao Wenhao wasn''t as aggrieved this time. He said straightforwardly, "Okay!" "When the work in the fields is done, I''ll go to his house and see if there''s anything I can help with."


    ......


    On the other side, Zhao Ce walked towards the place where he had just asked the little girl to dig for yellow clay.


    Although he had been on a moral high ground when he was venting at Sixth Uncle earlier, after venting, Zhao Ce remembered something.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    The previous matters in the fields were all taken care of by Zhao Youcai and the others. Later, because of the incident where the courtesan wanted to entertain an important guest, the original owner hurriedly sold the last two acres of good land at home.


    Thinking that he couldn''t let the goddess be defiled by someone else, he had to go and have a taste.


    But how could a farmer afford to be jealous and compete in the brothel? He went there for several days and indulged in pleasure. In the end, he only got a lonely experience.


    Because of this, the original owner was depressed for a long time and couldn''t even take care of the two acres of poor fields at home.


    Zhao Ce couldn''t help but think to himself, "Women can be trouble..." The expected small benefit of having some food from the beginning of the game was gone.


    The grain grown on the two acres of land was not enough for people to eat, and could only be used to feed pigs. However, they didn''t even have any pigs at home...


    Zhao Ce walked back to the place where he had just pointed to the little girl to dig the soil. The little girl was waving her hoe and digging the soil underneath. The topsoil with stones had been pulled aside. The new soil underneath was exposed.


    After digging for a while, Su Caier stopped and wiped the small beads of sweat on her forehead, then saw Zhao Ce walking back.


    "Husband, you''re back," Su Caier said nervously as she put down her hoe and walked over. "Did you find out about the matter in the field?"


    Zhao Ce then told her about the matter. After listening, Su Caier said regretfully, "The seeds and time were wasted." Zhao Ce said, "Indeed." "But at that time, I didn''t take care of my own land well, so there was nothing I could do."


    Su Caier looked carefully at her husband''s expression and saw that he didn''t seem to be angry, so she felt relieved. She comforted him, "Husband, you used to be alone at home, and there were many things you couldn''t take care of. Fortunately, you''ve earned a lot of silver recently, and there''s still enough money at home to support us until next year." The little girl''s words were filled with tenderness.


    Before Su Caier came to their home, her husband had been studying alone at home, which was already difficult. There were also many things to take care of at home, so he couldn''t possibly handle everything. Her husband had to study and work to earn money.


    In this situation, she couldn''t help her husband. She squeezed her small fist and promised seriously, "I will take care of the housework from now on and won''t let my husband worry about these things anymore."


    Zhao Ce listened to her words, lowered his head, and looked at her. The little girl had a reddish face from the heat. Her shining eyes revealed her seriousness.


    Zhao Ce smiled and rubbed her little head. "Okay, if I forget anything about the house, I will rely on you." Su Caier bent her eyebrows and said, "If I forget, my husband should remind me."


    When there are two people, everything can be discussed. Su Caier thought that although she didn''t have much ability, she could still remember the things at home.


    Zhao Ce smiled and pinched her rosy cheeks. "Okay, we can remind each other." Su Caier also smiled happily.


    She remembered the mud she had dug and asked, "Husband, can we use this dirt?" Zhao Ce withdrew his hand, squatted down, and looked at the soil Su Caier had dug.


    He grabbed a small piece and twisted it. The soil was quite fine, so it should be usable. Su Caier also squatted down, imitated her husband''s posture, and took a pinch of the soil. Zhao Ce nodded and said, "This soil should work."


    "Let''s dig some and try it out." Su Caier didn''t know what her husband was going to do with the yellow mud, but since her husband said it was okay, she was immediately motivated to start digging.


    While digging, she continued to comfort herself, "Husband, we won''t have a good harvest this year, but it''s okay. The village is harvesting crops these days, and I can help them." "I don''t need money, just food." "Although they are not grown on our land, it''s still the same land." "This way, we can save quite a bit of food." The more Su Caier talked, the more reasonable it seemed to her. She could finish all the housework in the morning, have lunch, and then start working. If she didn''t ask for money and only asked for food, many households should be willing to let her help. Then at night, she could do some needlework by the light of the stove. This schedule was really full.


    After listening to her, Zhao Ce smiled and knocked on the little girl''s head. "It''s not necessary to work so hard." "I can afford to support you, my little one." "Come on, let''s go back and I''ll teach you how to make white sugar with yellow mud."

 Chapter 39: Ashamed

    The young couple, with the little girl protesting, dug up a sieve full of yellow clay. Zhao Ce lifted the filled sieve with his hoe and walked back with the little girl.


    The villagers they encountered on the way mostly just glanced at them and quickly made their way, whispering to each other as they passed. "What''s going on with Zhao Ce?" one villager muttered. "He''s a scholar. He just finished arguing with Uncle Liu and now he''s going to the fields himself?" "In broad daylight, instead of going to school, he''s playing with mud." "Well, I have to admit, his posture while carrying the yellow clay is quite elegant." "He''s definitely different from us farmers, with his straight back..." "Indeed, he''s a scholar." "But is it just me or does his wife seem to have some serious leg problems?" "Her slow walking doesn''t seem natural." "I wonder if that dowry Zhao Ce was talking about is real." "If it''s not, he probably wouldn''t have taken his sickly wife."


    The news of Zhao Ce''s fight with Uncle Liu had already spread throughout Shuiqiao village. Now, no one dared to call him "Zhao lord" or "Zhao star lord" aloud. As a scholar, Zhao Ce had never really cared about their opinions before, but if they treated him like Uncle Liu did, they wouldn''t stand a chance. Plus, there was no guarantee that Zhao Ce wouldn''t hold a grudge against them in the future if he became a high-ranking official.


    Though they didn''t dare to speak loudly, the villagers still whispered and pointed at the young couple from afar.


    Zhao Ce didn''t seem to care about their comments. The voices were too low for Su Caier to hear clearly, but she knew that they were talking about her and her husband. She was used to being the subject of gossip and didn''t mind too much. She stood a little taller and tried to shield her husband from being pointed at, but she realized that she was too short to do so.


    Her plan was to divert the attention to herself instead of her husband, but it seemed like she had failed. She still tried to block the sun from her husband, though and felt proud of her idea. She turned her head to her husband, only to realize that she was too short to accomplish her goal.


    She could only block her husband''s arm with her head. Zhao Ce noticed the little girl''s expression and looked down at her, only to find her suddenly dejected. "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    Seeing the little girl''s sunburned red face, Zhao Ce realized she was probably feeling uncomfortable from being in the sun too long. He slowed his pace and took a long step, allowing the handle of his hoe to pass over the little girl''s head. Then he walked from her left side to her right side, all in one smooth motion. The whole process took only a few seconds.


    Su Caier looked up in confusion and saw her husband had moved from her left side to her right, blocking the sun completely with his tall figure.


    "The sun''s a bit strong. Walk on this side," Zhao Ce said with a smile. "I''ll block the sun for you." Su Caier''s eyes widened in surprise. Her husband actually had the same idea as her? She smiled sweetly and said, "I''m not afraid of getting sunburned."


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Zhao Ce used his free hand to gently brush his finger against the little girl''s face. "Ouch, it''s hot," he said. "Your face is getting sunburned." Su Caier also touched her face with the back of her hand and felt the heat. She looked up at her husband and said sweetly, "Thank you, husband." Zhao Ce smiled and lightly poked her dimple. "Let''s go."


    ...


    After they returned home, Zhao Ce began preparing the tools for the yellow clay sugar-water method. He didn''t plan to use all the raw sugar in case of failure, so he only took out a portion for Su Caier to boil.


    When they were using charcoal to make white sugar, Su Caier already thought her husband was like a god from the heavens. She never imagined that yellow clay could also be used to make sugar. Could they still eat the sugar that had come into contact with the yellow clay? She tilted her head in confusion.


    But Su Caier trusted her husband completely. If he said it was okay, then it must be okay! So she obediently followed his instructions and began boiling a new batch of sugar water.


    Zhao Ce picked out some of the better dry grass he had collected from the riverbank, washed them with water, and set them aside to dry. There were no earthenware jars in the house, but that didn''t faze Zhao Ce.


    He simply took an old ceramic pot and made a small hole in the bottom to create a makeshift jar. However, this exacerbated the shortage of pots in the house. Apart from the two large pots on the stove, the remaining small pots for boiling charcoal, sugar water, and crushing were all in use.


    Zhao Ce realized that when he went to the city to order more jars and earthenware jars in a few days, he would also have to order some small pots. After handling the pot, Su Caier also came out of the house. "Husband, the sugar water is ready," she said.


    Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Let the sugar water cool in the original pot and become sugar crystals. Let''s process the yellow clay together." They picked out a portion of the yellow clay they had collected and put it in a wooden basin. The rest of the yellow clay was piled up in a corner of the courtyard. The young couple squatted at the kitchen door, using their hands to crush the yellow clay in the basin and pick out the large stones and roots inside.


    Su Caier carefully picked out the stones and sand from the yellow clay. Suddenly, a pair of well-defined hands reached in. "Let me help," Zhao Ce said.


    In broad daylight, the two were so close that if they got any closer, they would bump into each other. Su Caier looked up shyly and glanced at her husband''s face, so close to her. She felt a bit dizzy and thought to herself, her husband is really handsome...


    Looking down, she saw those equally handsome hands kneading the yellow clay in the basin. Su Caier regained her senses and continued with her task. She picked up a handful of clay and looked at her own rough, calloused little hand. Then she looked at her husband''s slender, fair hand in the basin.


    Su Caier felt a bit embarrassed and curled her small hand with the clay in it. Her husband''s hands are so beautiful... She thought to herself, slowing down her movements.


    "What''s wrong?" Zhao Ce noticed Su Caier''s slower movements and asked with concern, "Did you get sunburned on the way here?" "Are you feeling unwell?" He reached out and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. "It''s not as hot as before. Would you like to rest for a while?" Su Caier shook her head and quickly chased away her scattered thoughts. She was working now! Su Caier perked up and smiled a small smile. "I''m not uncomfortable... This clay is just too dirty. You can go do something else, and I''ll take care of the yellow clay here."

 Chapter 40: Ordinary People

    The young girl''s mood had just visibly dropped for a moment. Zhao Ce didn''t know what was going through her little head. But seeing the young girl quickly perk up and smile at him, he didn''t think too much of it.


    In modern times, girls her age would be going through puberty, and their minds are always filled with all sorts of strange thoughts. Zhao Ce had never been a parent, so he naturally didn''t understand the emotional ups and downs of these sensitive teenage girls.


    He figured he didn''t need to comfort the girl, as she always managed to cheer herself up quickly even when feeling down.


    Zhao Ce chuckled, "Working is bound to get dirty. It''s okay, we''ll do it together." During the rest of the process, Su Caier didn''t feel comfortable looking at her husband''s hands again. Her hands were work hands and naturally couldn''t compare to her husband''s scholarly hands.


    She perked up and they quickly finished processing the yellow clay. The processed yellow clay was set aside, and they could only pour it on the crystallized sugar after it had formed into sugar crystals inside the house. At noon, the two cooked a pot of wild vegetable porridge. They added some salt, stirred it, and then dripped two drops of sesame oil.


    Zhao Ce found the wild vegetables a bit bitter, but Su Caier ate them with great satisfaction. In her husband''s home, they ate three meals a day, each bowl filled with a lot of white rice. She never even dreamed of such a life before. After eating, she burped softly and cleaned up the dishes.


    The sugar water in the pot had not yet crystallized. Zhao Ce lazily sat at the table, dozing off and enjoying this rare moment of free time. Su Caier picked up her needlework and continued sewing her clothes beside him. After finishing one side, she looked up at her drowsy husband.


    When the sugar water in the pot had cooled down enough, Zhao Ce spread the dried grass he had made under the sun on the bottom of the tile he had made himself. He poured the black and yellow, semi-solidified sugar into the pot and set it aside. Then they could start making the yellow clay water.


    Su Caier, who was inside the house, quickly put down her needlework and went out to help. She was also very curious. Making white sugar from charcoal was already enough to overturn her worldview. And now, yellow clay could also make white sugar. Even if she thought about it until her brain exploded, she wouldn''t be able to figure it out.


    Not to mention her, even the entire Ming dynasty''s scholars couldn''t think of it. Zhao Ce had already moved the wooden basin to a shady spot outside and boldly said to the curious little girl beside him, "Bring the water!"


    The little helper quickly took action and scooped a spoonful of water into the wooden basin. Zhao Ce held a wooden stick and stirred slowly. After stirring for a while, Su Caier slowly added more water.


    Slowly but surely, the yellow clay water in the wooden basin filled up. After washing his hands, Zhao Ce squatted down and, without fear of getting dirty, reached in to make sure that all the yellow clay inside had melted. He then moved the basin of yellow clay water to the side of the self-made tile where the sugar had already formed into blocks. He let it sit for a while. He placed a wooden barrel under the bottom of the pot, and the dry grass at the bottom was pulled out from the outside.


    Zhao Ce said, "I''ll start." After saying that, he scooped up the solution on top of the yellow clay water. Under Su Caier''s nervous gaze, he slowly poured it down from the top of the sugar block. The yellow clay water slowly seeped into the sugar block from the top. Su Caier nervously swallowed her saliva. Could this really make white sugar?


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Then a miraculous scene really appeared. Black residue flowed out from under the bottom of the pot and slowly dripped into the wooden barrel below. On top of the sugar block that had been drenched in yellow clay water, a layer of white frost was left behind. The top layer was about five inches thick and very white. It looked even cleaner than the white sugar made from charcoal.


    It was almost identical to the white sugar that Zhao Ce had seen in modern times. Zhao Ce squatted down and used a shovel to gently scoop off the top layer. He placed it in a clean basket. Su Caier watched this magical scene, and her little mouth was astonished, forming a small "O" shape.


    This white sugar was even whiter than the one they had previously made with charcoal! "Husband, husband." "White sugar..." "We really succeeded!" Zhao Ce also nodded happily. "Not bad, we succeeded." As he spoke, he scooped up another spoonful of yellow clay water and poured it down from the top. After a large basin of yellow clay water had been poured, all the sugar blocks in the pot had been made.


    The sugar on the basket would be ready to be stored after drying. Su Caier couldn''t resist squatting down and looking at the basket of white sugar. "So not only charcoal but even yellow clay can be used to make white sugar..." She couldn''t believe it and wanted to touch the white sugar with her hand. But thinking of her dirty hands, she withdrew her hand. "Husband, this is so miraculous." Su Caier''s eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at Zhao Ce.


    Zhao Ce was quite pleased with the little girl''s admiration. He coughed lightly and said somewhat proudly, "It''s just some methods left behind by our ancestors. It''s not that miraculous." "Ancestors?" Su Caier widened her eyes in surprise. Haven''t the ancestors all become immortals? "Husband, you must be a heavenly immortal, so the heavenly ancestors told you this method?" Zhao Ce was speechless. "What I meant was, I read it in a book." "The ancestors wrote down these methods in a book. I saw it, so it counts as something left behind by the ancestors, right?" "I''m just an ordinary person. How could I be an immortal?" Su Caier nodded thoughtfully. "So it was written down in a book by the ancestors..." Zhao Ce laughed and said, "Let''s not talk about that. This time, I''ll teach you from the beginning." Su Caier immediately agreed seriously.


    The method of pouring yellow clay water onto sugar was indeed much more convenient than using charcoal. The bag of original sugar that Zhao Ce had bought was all turned into white sugar by the two of them by the evening.


    The basket was filled with white sugar drying in the sun. All the money they earned from this was pure silver. Both of them were in a good mood as they looked at the white sugar.


    At night, as usual, they washed up by the light of the stove before climbing into bed one after the other. Su Caier yawned and said, "Husband, should we buy some soybean oil the next time we go into the city? Otherwise, we might get our white sugar dirty while working in the dark." There was a lamp in the house. However, the remaining bean oil that was used as fuel for the lamp had been eaten by mice.


    The sesame oil that Zhao Ce had bought was much more expensive than bean oil, and Su Caier naturally didn''t want to use it to light the lamp. So for the past few days, the two of them had been working in the dark at night. When they went into the city last time, Zhao Ce didn''t remember this. Su Caier had been poor before and had never wasted money on such things. But these past two days, the time they spent working in the dark had become longer and longer, so Su Caier thought of reminding her husband about this. Zhao Ce agreed.


    The room fell into a brief silence. Zhao Ce thought the little girl next to him had fallen asleep from exhaustion. He was about to close his eyes and sleep when he heard a rustling sound from beside him. He waited quietly for a moment, and then he felt a rough little hand lightly touch the hand he had placed beside him.


    The little hand seemed to realize it had touched the wrong place, and it shrank back slightly. Then, it gently grabbed the sleeve of Zhao Ce''s inner garment. "Husband, immortals have to return to the heavens," the little girl said softly. Zhao Ce replied in a low voice, "Hmm." "We are all ordinary people, so let''s just live our lives here well." The little girl seemed very happy. She tightened her grip on the sleeve. "Can I hold onto husband''s sleeve while sleeping?" Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Okay." "Then, husband, sweet dreams..."

 Chapter 41: finding a Supplier is the right way to Do It

    "The method of mixing yellow mud water with sugar has now been successfully tested," Zhao Ce thought to himself. "In just a short afternoon, I was able to finish the work that would have taken two to three days before.


    Moreover, the quality of the produced white sugar is even better. This also means that I can now achieve small-scale production of white sugar at home."


    "The problem now is that I cannot directly purchase raw sugar in large quantities from the grocery store in town. And I cannot directly sell the white sugar in large quantities at the grocery store either, as I''m afraid of being watched. After all, there are clear job responsibilities for those in the fields of scholar, farmer, craftsman, and merchant. I am currently a farmer, trying to engage in the business of a merchant. If I were to be watched, it would surely not be safe, not to mention that there are many of my former classmates in the city.


    If this matter were to be exposed, it would not be as simple as being expelled from school. I might even face imprisonment, and going to prison in ancient times is no joke. One could lose their life in a matter of minutes."


    So these days, I''ve been thinking about Zhao Wenhua, who is running a restaurant in the city. There are many pastries in the restaurant that can use white sugar. I wonder if his restaurant has enough financial power to acquire my white sugar. If Zhao Wenhua can provide cover for me, it would be much easier for me to preserve my business.


    Zhao Ce remembered that when he was in modern times, he had heard of a family that became rich by making sugar. Later, they even became the richest family in the city. Therefore, the sugar business can definitely be done for a long time.


    When he accumulates enough money, he can set up a small workshop at home and hire people to work for him. Later, when he passes the imperial examination, he can buy slaves to help manage the workshop and the business. Sugar is also durable, and the scope of business can be expanded. Zhao Ce has planned everything in his heart."


    "Now I just need to find a supplier who can temporarily provide me with raw sugar," he thought to himself.


    The next morning, after breakfast, Zhao Ce began his search.


    He took out the white sugar that had been prepared the night before and left it to dry. Zhao Ce then said to the little girl, "I''m going to my uncle''s house."


    "Ask around the nearby villages to see if anyone grows sugarcane and makes raw sugar."


    Su Caier nodded and said, "Then I''ll go and dig up some more yellow mud."


    The young couple split up and went about their tasks. Zhao Ce still held a small bag of white sugar in his hand when he arrived at Zhao Youcai''s house.


    It was currently the busy farming season, and Zhao Youcai and Zhao Wenhua had already gone out to work in the fields. Even Zhao Wenhao, who was about to go to school, went with them to work in the fields. Only Li Shi was at home with her little daughter.


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    When Li Shi saw Zhao Ce coming this time, he didn''t know what Zhao Youcai had said to her, but her attitude was much more gentle than the last time. She opened the door for Zhao Ce and said directly, "Your uncle and the others have gone to work in the fields. Is there something you need today?"


    Zhao Ce handed her the bag of white sugar. Li Shi quickly pushed it back and refused to take it. "Your family doesn''t have any land left, so you should sell these good things for money."


    Zhao Ce said seriously, "Auntie, you have helped me so much. This small token of appreciation is deserved."


    Li Shi still refused to accept it. She was well aware of the situation in Zhao Ce''s family. They only had two acres of low-quality land left, and they hadn''t produced any crops this year.


    Zhao Ce said directly, "If Auntie doesn''t accept it, then I won''t ask anymore." He pretended to turn around and leave.


    Unable to refuse any longer, Li Shi said, "You stubborn child."


    When Li Shi accepted the white sugar, Zhao Ce smiled and explained his purpose for coming. Zhao Youcai knew quite a bit about what was going on, but as a woman, Li Shi''s sources of information were even more extensive. She probably knew more gossip than Zhao Youcai did.


    When Li Shi heard that it was related to Zhao Ce''s business, she took it seriously. She thought for a moment and said If you go downstream for a few villages, there is a family with a good financial situation who knows how to make sugar.


    Zhao Ce was excited to hear this and listened attentively as Li Shi continued. "If you leave our village and continue west along the main road, it''s about an hour''s journey. The village is called Xiahe Village, and there is a family there with a house made of green bricks and tiles. They are said to know how to make sugar."


    Zhao Ce nodded eagerly and quickly thanked Li Shi for her help. Li Shi waved her hand, feeling a bit uncomfortable with Zhao Ce suddenly being so polite, but also feeling comforted. Remembering what she had heard the day before about Zhao Ce''s family''s land, Li Shi asked, "Can we help with your family''s land?"


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Thank you, Auntie, but for now, my wife will take care of it at home."


    Li Shi was surprised to hear him mention his wife so naturally. She couldn''t help but laugh and tease him, "I never would have thought you two had such a good relationship. Before, I thought you wouldn''t even consider getting married until after you passed the imperial exams."


    Remembering Zhao Ce''s previous arrogant attitude, Li Shi thought he wouldn''t get married until after he passed the exams. But now, he had brought back a little wife and was so concerned about her.


    Zhao Ce felt a bit embarrassed and said, "There''s someone at home who makes things feel different."


    Li Shi laughed and scolded him, "Alright, go do your work. If you need anything, come find us."


    After finishing his business with Li Shi, Zhao Ce prepared to go find the little girl where they were digging the yellow mud. It was still a scorching day, and there weren''t many people making food yet at this time. Only occasionally did he see women coming back from washing clothes by the river.


    But they still didn''t dare to get too close to Zhao Ce or make fun of him loudly but made way and kept muttering to the people around them in a low voice.


    Zhao Ce walked alone in the middle of the road and thought to himself, "Am I  becoming famous because of the previous battle? Or is it just the so-called ''aura'' that comes with being a scholar?"


    He found it all quite amusing, shook his head, and continued forward. The place where they dug the yellow mud yesterday was not far from their fields. There was a small creek nearby.


    Su Caier had brought a winnowing basket and a hoe here and had started working. Yesterday, she dug a small pit here and had thrown a lot of stones on top. It seemed that some child had been playing here and filled the pit with stones.


    Su Caier was a bit helpless and could only use the hoe to dig out the stones again, revealing the new soil underneath. Just as she was getting into it, a stone was thrown from not too far away and landed in the pit a few inches away from her foot.

 Chapter 42: "Zhao Ce, such a fierce scholar."

    Su Caier looked up and saw a little child squatting nearby, holding some other stones and throwing one into the new pit she had just dug. There was a clump of mud on the child''s straw shoes, which looked wet and she didn''t know where he had stepped on it. Su Caier looked around and didn''t see any adults nearby. She whispered, "Little friend, I''m working. Can you go play somewhere else?"


    The child replied, "You''re a disaster, digging a pit to harm us. I have to fill all the pits you dig." He threw a few more stones into the pit as he spoke.


    Su Caier watched the child''s actions and pursed her lips, not knowing how to persuade him.


    Just then, a woman walked over. She saw her child so close to Su Caier and immediately changed her expression. She quickly walked over and hugged her child, scolding loudly, "Didn''t I tell you to stay away from this disaster? You''re so close, what if you get contaminated with her bad luck?"


    Another woman who was delivering food nearby came over to ask what was going on. The child pointed to the pit on the ground and said, "Mom, you said she''s a disaster. Look, she''s digging pits to harm us. What if we fall in?"


    Although Zhao Youcai had explained to the villagers that Su Caier''s eyes became like that because of an illness, the villagers'' deep-rooted beliefs could not be easily changed by just a few words. Although they didn''t shout to drive Su Caier out of the village anymore, they still wouldn''t allow their children to get close to her.


    They were afraid of being contaminated with the bad things on her body, which would bring disaster to their families.


    Moreover, news of the battle between Zhao Ce and Uncle Liu''s family spread throughout the village yesterday. The woman who scolded the child was Uncle Liu''s daughter-in-law. Today, she brought her child and Aunt Liu to deliver food. She looked at the pit on the ground and remembered the fight between Zhao Ce and their family yesterday. She complained with a little bit of fear in her mouth, "People are coming through here too. You''re digging such a deep hole here. What if someone accidentally falls in, what should we do?"


    Su Caier was a little nervous and looked down, saying, "This pit is not deep. It won''t harm anyone..."


    The pit was only about a palm deep and sloped downwards around it. It was unlikely that anyone would fall in. But while Su Caier was speaking, her gaze was drawn to something not far away.


    The woman next to her said, "Chunxiang, stop talking. You still have work to do for Zhao Ce''s family. Let''s go." The woman called Chunxiang grumbled unhappily, "If you want to harm people, go somewhere else. Don''t cause trouble in our village. When you see this person in the future, walk away. Just look at her eyes, if you see them too much, you''ll become unlucky."


    As she was speaking, a voice suddenly rang out, "Don''t... don''t move!" It was Su Caier who had raised her voice a little.


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    Chunxiang thought that Su Caier was upset and looking for trouble, so she immediately stopped walking. Although her family was scared by Zhao Ce yesterday, this was a matter between women. A big man like Zhao Ce shouldn''t interfere. Besides, she could take the opportunity to vent some frustration at home.


    At this moment, another male voice sounded not far away. "Caier, don''t move!" It was Zhao Ce.


    Chunxiang turned her head with her child and saw Zhao Ce walking towards them with a serious look on his face. She immediately felt a little nervous and said, "Zhao, Zhao Ce..."


    "Do you want to interfere in our women''s affairs too, as a scholar with no shame?" Zhao Ce didn''t pay attention to her and focused on looking at the dense grass over there.


    The woman next to him was afraid of being implicated and was about to slip away. Zhao Ce immediately whispered, "Don''t move!"


    The woman looked puzzled at Zhao Ce. She was just passing by, would he take her with them too? Just as she was about to speak, she heard Su Caier''s voice trembling slightly, "Husband, don''t come over."


    She held the hoe tightly in her hand and looked at the dense grass over there, swallowing nervously. But Zhao Ce didn''t listen to her and walked over lightly.


    Su Caier was so anxious that she was about to cry. She said, "Husband, go around the back."


    "Don''t come over!" While she was speaking, Zhao Ce had already walked to her side.


    The child across from them suddenly exclaimed, "Mom, there''s a snake!" After shouting, there was a chilling sound of rapid movement. After the sound, a big black snake as thick as a baby''s arm poked its head out of the grass.


    "Ah! A snake!" Chunxiang, holding her child, screamed in panic. The woman next to her also screamed, "Run!" After speaking, they ran away in a hurry towards the main road.


    People working in the field nearby heard the screams and immediately informed each other. "There''s a snake over there!" "Old Liu, that seems to be your daughter-in-law!" "Hurry up!" There was a bustling sound coming from the field. However, the snake didn''t give the people a chance to catch their breath after hearing the screams.


    The snake spat out its tongue and headed straight for the child next to Chunxiang. Su Caier nervously held the hoe in her hand and trembled. But she still shouted, "Quick, get away!" She was about to throw the hoe to kill the snake, but the big black snake crawled too fast and she couldn''t aim.


    Zhao Ce immediately reached out and stopped the little girl''s movement. He took the hoe from her and said, "Stay here."


    In an instant, the big black snake came within a yard of Chunxiang''s child. She held her child and watched the snake approaching quickly, her scalp tingling as she stood in place. Her mother-in-law''s voice could be heard from the other side, "Daughter-in-law, is my grandson over there?" But she was shaking so much that she couldn''t make a sound.


    Her legs were as weak as noodles and she couldn''t move. She watched as the big black snake was about to bite her child. Trembling, she hid her child behind her back.


    "Husband, don''t go..."


    Su Caier''s panicked voice came from beside her. A figure swiftly passed by the crowd. When Old Liu and Old Liu''s wife, who were working in the field on the other side, arrived panting and carrying hoes, they saw Zhao Ce moving quickly. He held the hoe and struck the crawling snake fiercely.


    The hoe had been sharpened for work in the past two days, and combined with Zhao Ce''s strength when the hoe struck the snake, its body was instantly severed. The snake''s head, which was still spitting out its tongue, was disconnected and the snake''s body continued to writhe.


    Zhao Ce immediately picked up a dustpan and covered the still-twitching snake''s head. He stepped on the back of the dustpan with one foot, and the whole process flowed smoothly and was completed in one breath.


    Old Liu and the others stopped in their tracks, staring in amazement at Zhao Ce. They couldn''t believe that there was such a scholarly man who could be so fierce.

 Chapter 43 : Dont be afraid, Ill take you with me

    Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu arrived with the people who were working in the field on that side. Seeing that there was no danger, Aunt Liu noticed the big black snake and immediately got goosebumps. She looked away and hurriedly asked, "What happened, is everyone okay?" Chunxiang was still trembling.


    She pushed her child to her mother-in-law and said, "N-nothing happened. Zhao Ce saved us..." Aunt Liu checked her grandson from head to toe and confirmed that neither of them was injured before finally breathing a sigh of relief.


    But when she saw the dirt on her grandson''s shoes, she asked, "How did you get so much mud on them?" As she tried to scrape it off with a nearby weed, she found that the mud was soft and had some kind of slime in it.


    She looked closer and asked, "Did you step on a snake egg?" The child was still scared and didn''t know how to answer. Aunt Liu quickly told her daughter-in-law to take the child home and give him some warm water to calm down.


    Su Caier also stumbled over, saying, "Husband..." The little girl was so anxious that her eyes turned red. The snake head under the dustpan was still struggling, but Su Caier couldn''t do anything about it. She hated herself a little at this moment. Why couldn''t she walk in front of her husband? Why did she let him, a scholar, face this danger? Her eyes were red, and she still had tears in her eyes from before. She didn''t care that they were outside in broad daylight, surrounded by many people. She limped over and hugged Zhao Ce directly, burying her small face in his chest.


    Su Caier choked and said, "Husband, this is too dangerous." Zhao Ce patted her soft hair and said, "Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing." The little girl said in a muffled voice, "Don''t come to the field again in the future." The people around them came closer, and Zhao Ce pointed to the still-twisting snake''s body and said, "Please help me clean up the body of this snake."


    Uncle Liu said hesitantly, "Ah, okay..." He walked over and grabbed the still-writhing snake''s body directly. The snake wrapped itself around his arm, but its head had already been chopped off, so it gradually lost its strength.


    Uncle Afeng, who was standing nearby, looked at Zhao Ce with admiration and said, "You not only have great courage but also quick reflexes!" "As a scholar, aren''t you afraid of a big snake like this, it might be venomous?" Afeng''s child had received a piece of pork fat from Zhao Ce last time, and his opinion of him had changed considerably.


    Seeing Zhao Ce''s skill today, he was even more impressed. The struggling snake head under the dustpan was getting weaker. Zhao Ce didn''t step on it anymore and directly put his foot down, saying, "This is a water snake. Although it''s a bit big, it''s generally not venomous. Even if it is, its toxicity is small. There''s nothing to be afraid of."


    Uncle Afeng gave Zhao Ce a thumbs up and said, "A scholar is a scholar." Then he turned to Uncle Liu and said, "You must handle this snake properly for Zhao Ce and give him some extra dishes for dinner tonight. This big snake can be eaten for several meals." As he spoke, he felt his mouth watering. Uncle Liu agreed, saying, "Sure, my wife knows how to make snake soup. I''ll clean it up and send it to you after it''s stewed."


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    In the midst of their discussion, they completely forgot that both families had just had a confrontation the night before. They were full of gratitude towards Zhao Ce. Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows and nodded, saying, "Okay." From such a dangerous situation, they ended up discussing how to cook snake soup.


    Uncle Afeng dug a hole and buried the snake''s head in the ground, while Uncle Liu took the snake''s body home to clean and prepare it before sending it back to Zhao Ce. Aunt Liu helped fill Zhao Ce''s dustpan with yellow mud and wanted to stay to help him dig more.


    However, Zhao Ce waved his hand and refused, saying, "You''re busy with your own fieldwork. We''ll manage on our own. This dustpan is enough for me." Finally, Aunt Liu said, "Okay, if you need any help, remember to call us." "Forget it, tomorrow my son will come to help you dig the yellow mud," she said. After speaking, she hurried home to help Zhao Ce with the snake.


    Zhao Ce looked at their retreating figures with a wry smile. Only then did the little girl in his arms raise her head. Zhao Ce lowered his head and stared into her eyes. "Are you not scared anymore?" Su Caier pursed her lips. "Let''s go home, husband." Zhao Ce agreed and picked up the yellow mud and shovel.


    This time, the little girl didn''t rush to help. She just stubbornly pulled on his sleeve, her head hanging low. Occasionally, she looked up at him with misty, watery eyes. Zhao Ce spoke softly, "I won''t disappear." "You look at the road, okay?" Just as he finished speaking, the little girl looked up at him but stepped on a small stone under her foot and stumbled.


    Zhao Ce helped her up. Then he grabbed her small hand, which was pulling on his sleeve, and tightened his grip. "We can hold hands, so are you afraid anymore?" Her own hand was completely enveloped by a warm, large hand, feeling the body temperature of the person next to her. Su Caier''s mind finally settled down a bit.


    The two walked hand in hand back home. The little girl sat her husband down on a stool outside the kitchen, then fetched water for him to wash his hands and wiped his face. She then squatted down to help him gently pat the mud off his robe. When she reached his shoes, Su Caier whispered, "Husband, your shoes are broken." Running too fast had caused the old and burdened shoes to crack.


    Zhao Ce looked down and couldn''t help but laugh, "This shoe is of poor quality." Su Caier replied with an "Mm," "The shoes bought outside are really not good." "I''ll make a new pair for my husband." "Even if we work, they won''t break so easily." Zhao Ce pulled her up from the ground. The little girl stood slightly taller than him. However, their gazes were still level. Today, the little girl didn''t avoid his gaze and looked at him affectionately.


    Zhao Ce thought, "So it turns out there''s someone who thinks about me wholeheartedly." It''s this kind of feeling. How to put it? It''s the feeling that your heart is always full and overflowing. There is no loneliness or emptiness at all.


    He had only been with this little girl for a few short days, but he already felt a sense of satisfaction that he never experienced even in his wealthy past life. Zhao Ce touched her dry little face and said softly, "It would be great if you could make shoes for me, but we don''t have the tools at home. Should I take you to the city to buy new ones?" Su Caier pursed her small mouth and whispered, "Husband, you can go buy them yourself. I''ve never been to the city, so I won''t go." Zhao Ce smiled, "Don''t be afraid, I''ll take you with me."

 Chapter 44: Gifts & Gratitude

    Later that day, Uncle Liu carried his own son, Zhao Zhiqiang, and a basket on his back. In front of him was a basket with a hot pot inside, while the basket behind him had the head of an old hen sticking out. They walked all the way to Zhao Ce''s house, the aroma of the food wafting along with them.


    Along the way, people kept asking Uncle Liu what he was doing. He simply smiled and said, "Zhao Ce saved my daughter-in-law and grandson today. This is the snake he killed, and my wife made it into snake soup for him. I''m bringing my son to deliver it to his house."


    Everyone was curious and asked for more details. Uncle Liu embellished Zhao Ce''s heroic actions and some of those who hadn''t seen it were skeptical of his story. They didn''t believe that the skinny, talkative scholar could kill a snake, let alone a big one.


    Uncle Liu showed them the evidence in his hand, the pot of delicious-smelling food, and everyone was convinced. They knew that the food in the pot was the result of Zhao Ce''s bravery.


    Uncle Liu didn''t stay long, as he was in a hurry to deliver the food to Zhao Ce''s house. He mentioned that Ah Feng and the others had also witnessed the incident and suggested that they could ask them for confirmation.


    Meanwhile, Su Caier was sitting outside the house repairing Zhao Ce''s worn-out shoes, while he sat on a small stool and slowly cleaned the yellow clay he had brought back. They heard a knock on the door and Zhao Ce went to answer it.


    He walked out and opened the door. It was Uncle Liu, who had brought his son with him. Uncle Liu saw Zhao Ce and quickly said, "Zhao Ce, my wife has cooked the snake you just killed."


    "This snake is quite big, you won''t finish eating it tonight. Just boil it before you go to bed and let the pot sit. You can eat it tomorrow."


    After speaking, his son stepped forward and placed both baskets on the ground. Zhao Zhiqiang also said, "Thank you for saving my wife and child. This is a small gift from our family. We hope you can accept it."


    "This old hen is one that lays eggs in our house. It''s good for a scholar like you to raise at home and eat an egg every day to nourish your body. We also brought some grains and vegetables from our own home. They are not valuable things."


    Zhao Ce looked down and saw the two baskets full of things, feeling a bit embarrassed. He had just helped out casually and didn''t think much of it at the time. Even if it wasn''t for Uncle Liu''s family, he would still have helped.


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    "You guys have brought too many valuable things. Please take them back. Everyone works hard, how can I accept such a heavy gift from you?" said Zhao Ce.


    Farmers�� life is not easy and their income is not great, so if they can gather a small token of thanks, it is a sincere expression of gratitude. Uncle Liu''s family had brought so much, how could Zhao Ce accept it all?


    However, Uncle Liu insisted that he take it, saying, "What we did to your land this year was unfair. I should have come to talk to you more and explain things clearly. After this season''s crops are harvested, I will plant everything you want, and you won''t have to worry about the crops this year. Our family will take care of it all."


    "In the spring of next year, I will grow more seeds for you and plant the whole field together. And, by the way, there''s that yellow clay you''ve been digging up recently. Although we don''t know what you''re going to use it for, I''ll have my second son pick some up for you every day. If it''s not enough, just let us know and we''ll pick more for you."


    This time, Zhao Ce didn''t argue or resist. Uncle Liu''s apology was sincere, and he spoke very earnestly. Zhao Ce looked at them, feeling both amused and helpless. He had just casually helped two fellow villagers, and now he was receiving so many free gifts and labor. He felt like he was taking advantage of them.


    Zhao Ce said, "Uncle Liu, you don''t have to do so much for me. You already promised to help me plant crops before."


    Uncle Liu waved his hand and left the two baskets behind. "You guys enjoy the food. We have to go back home now. My grandson was frightened today, so I have to comfort him."


    Ignoring Zhao Ce''s refusal, Uncle Liu left with his son, not even bothering to take the baskets with him.


    Zhao Ce looked at the two baskets helplessly and brought them inside. Su Caier, who was in the main room, heard their conversation and quickly came to help him.


    The two baskets were placed on the ground, and one of them emitted a tempting fragrance. Su Caier sniffed and her mouth began to water. She exclaimed, "Husband, it smells so good!"


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "It''s not me who smells good, it''s the food in the pot." He then reached for the lid to open the pot.


    However, Su Caier was quick to stop him and said, "Husband, the lid is hot. Let me do it."


    She reached for the lid and opened it without getting burned. The aroma filled the room.


    Zhao Ce teased her, "The lid was too hot for me, but not for you?"


    Su Caier replied naturally, "Yes, my hands are calloused, so I''m not afraid of getting burned."


    Zhao Ce shook his head helplessly and pinched her cheek. "What kind of logic is that?"


    Su Caier giggled and asked, "The food smells so good, husband, do you want to eat it now?"


    Zhao Ce replied, "Let''s cook some rice tonight and eat it with the food." Su Caier nodded and swallowed her saliva, afraid that her husband would think she was a glutton.


    She quickly shifted her gaze to the other basket, which contained a tied-up old hen with its legs and wings bound, a small basket of eggs, several tender cucumbers, a few bunches of vegetables, and a bag of grains at the bottom. These gifts were very precious to farmers.


    Zhao Ce was surprised by Uncle Liu''s generosity, and Su Caier''s eyes were fixed on the old hen. She asked, "Husband, should we accept these gifts?"


    Zhao Ce replied, "Yes, let''s take them. It��s their token of gratitude, it will be impolite to refuse and return the gifts��


    Su Caier happily took the old hen to the courtyard and untied its bonds. She murmured, "Now we can raise chickens too!"

 Chapter 45: Little housekeeper going to the City

    During dinner, they cooked the vegetables that Uncle Liu had sent over. They ate most of the large pot of snake soup with rice. It was delicious, especially since Aunt Liu had added some dried mushrooms from their farm, which were sliced and stewed in the soup. Su Caier had never tasted anything so good and almost swallowed her tongue. Zhao Ce ate two large bowls of rice, and they both felt full.


    They fed the leftover vegetable leaves to the chicken and boiled the remaining soup, leaving it on the stove for the next day. As the night grew dark, Su Caier used a small stick to drive the chicken back to the woodshed. Zhao Ce had promised to take her to the city, so he planned to bring some sugar from home and then take her to buy what she needed.


    That night, Su Caier lay in bed and asked uncertainly, "Husband, are you really taking me out?"


    Zhao Ce asked, "Don''t you want to go?"


    After a moment of silence, Su Caier honestly said, "I don''t know..."


    At first, she was happy to hear the news since she had never been to the city before. But after thinking about it, she wasn''t sure she wanted to go. Zhao Ce said, "I don''t understand anything about making shoes."


    "It would be best if you picked out something that suits you. This way, it would be easier for you to work." Su Caier nervously swallowed her saliva.


    She was 16 years old and had never been out of the village before. The first time she left the village was when her uncle took her to the matchmaker to find a husband. Then she met Zhao Ce.


    She was afraid because she didn''t know anything and her eyes and legs had problems, she was worried about embarrassing her husband in the city.


    So, after Zhao Ce finished speaking, Su Caier still seemed hesitant. Zhao Ce could tell that she was nervous and said, pretending to be hesitant, "I''m a big man, and I can''t remember everything about the little things at home."


    "I''ve been to the city a few times before and never thought of bringing back soybean oil."


    "If I go alone again, I''ll probably forget a lot of things."


    "You''re the housekeeper, and you know what the house needs."


    "When we go to the city together, we can buy all the things we need at once, so I don''t have to keep going back and forth."


    Upon hearing her husband''s words, Su Caier felt a sense of responsibility emerging within her. Yes, she was the little housekeeper at home, and her husband had entrusted her with all the money. So, she had to work hard for the sake of the household. Thinking this way, Su Caier said seriously, "Alright then."


    Zhao Ce comforted her, saying, "Don''t worry about your eyes. As long as you don''t make eye contact with others, they won''t be able to tell."


    Hearing this, Su Caier finally felt relieved. The matter was settled, and they were going out the next day. However, Su Caier couldn''t sleep and turned over in bed a few times.


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    She had heard that people in the city were all very rich. Her new clothes weren''t ready yet, and she wondered if it would be inappropriate to go out wearing old clothes. Even her best outfit had many patches on it, which she had grown accustomed to wearing.


    But after coming to her husband''s home and seeing his long robe, she wondered if people in the city wore clothes without patches. If she wore her old clothes out and was seen by someone who knew her husband, would they make fun of him?


    The young girl stared at the dark room with worry, her mind constantly racing. She felt like she wouldn''t be able to sleep tonight.


    Zhao Ce listened to the sounds beside him, feeling both amused and sympathetic. When he was a child, if his grandfather had told him he was going to the fair the next day, he would also be too excited to sleep. However, this little girl was probably feeling a mix of other emotions as well.


    Zhao Ce asked, "Can''t sleep?"


    Su Caier whispered, "I''m sorry, husband, I''m disturbing you. I''m just a bit nervous."


    She reached out and grabbed her husband''s sleeve.


    Su Caier said, "Husband, let''s go to sleep."


    After saying that, she closed her eyes. Zhao Ce agreed, and the sound of their breathing soon became lighter. After the young girl fell asleep, the hand holding onto Zhao Ce''s sleeve slowly relaxed.


    Zhao Ce turned over and reached out to cover her little belly with the blanket, whispering softly, "Little one, don''t be too nervous, just sleep..."


    The next morning, the young girl changed into her better clothes, which had fewer patches on them. Because there wasn''t much to do at home for the past two days, Su Caier had already made a list of everything they needed to buy. Zhao Ce packed the sugar, and they finished breakfast.


    Zhao Ce asked, "Did you remember everything we need to buy?"


    The little girl began to count on her fingers one by one. "We need to buy soybean oil, tools for making shoes, some bran to feed the chicken, and we also need to buy two pots..."


    She listed everything they needed to buy, and then looked up at Zhao Ce with her big eyes, as if saying, "Husband, do you have any praise for me?"


    Zhao Ce nodded and smiled, "There are quite a few things we need to buy."


    "Thanks to you, I wouldn''t have thought of so many things," he added.


    Su Caier blushed with pleasure at her husband''s praise and said, "I may not have listed everything we need to buy."


    "It''s okay. If we still need some things later, I''ll buy them when I go to the city," Zhao Ce replied.


    They didn''t let the new mother hen out but tied her feet with a rope and gave her some rice and vegetable leaves before leaving. Su Caier even squatted down and talked to the mother hen that was pecking at the rice, saying, "When we come back, you have to lay an egg, okay?"


    The mother hen didn''t respond, but Su Caier was in a good mood and closed the doors of the kitchen, room, and woodshed, leaving the front door tied with a rope.


    They set out from home when it was still a little dark outside. Zhao Ce went to wait for the ox cart at the village entrance, thinking about his wife''s weak legs. Su Caier was looking forward to riding on the ox cart for the first time.


    It was the busy season for farming, so there weren''t many people leaving the city. At the village entrance under the big pagoda tree, only two people were loading goods onto the ox cart. When they saw Zhao Ce and his little wife coming over, they looked at them curiously but didn''t say anything.


    Big Chang''s ox cart was about to leave. When he saw Zhao Ce and Su Caier, he said, "If you want to take the ox cart, you''d better hurry. I''m going to the city and have to come back to haul food later."


    Zhao Ce agreed, and they quickly walked over with their goods. Big Chang glanced at Su Caier''s feet and quickly turned his head without saying anything. Zhao Ce went around to the front to pay the fare, while the little girl was about to climb onto the ox cart.


    The two people who had already climbed on quickly moved further into the cart when they saw Su Caier approaching. One of them even clicked his tongue and said, "Riding with this little jinx, who knows how long we''ll be unlucky."


    Su Caier paused for a moment when she was about to climb up, feeling a bit unsure of what to do as she stood behind the ox cart.

 Chapter 46: Holding hands

    The person next to him quickly reached out and poked him. Zhao Ce happened to look over. The person hesitated before reluctantly saying, " Big Chang, can I sit next to you?"


    The front of the cart had a yoke, and apart from Big Chang who was driving, there was indeed space for one more person. Big Chang glanced at him and said, " Why do you want to sit next to me?"


    The man replied, "Sitting here is still on the cart, isn''t it?"


    "Otherwise, you can get off and walk. That way, there won''t be any problem, right?", Big Chang said.


    The man muttered, "I''m not walking." "I paid for it."


    Big Chang muttered under his breath, "You''re so old, haven''t you seen everything?" "If you want to sit, hurry up. We''re ready to leave."


    The man stood up and went to sit in the front of the cart. The person who was sitting with him opened his mouth, and looked at Zhao Ce, but ultimately didn''t say anything.


    Zhao Ce had already walked back to Su Caier. She looked up and gave him a cautious glance. Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Let''s get on the cart."


    Saying that Zhao Ce naturally pinched the little girl''s armpit and lifted her up onto the cart.


    The villager next to them turned his head, looking like he had no interest.


    Su Caier blushed and found a place to sit. Zhao Ce stepped onto the cart with his long legs.


    "Dear husband, will my shoes get the cart dirty?" Su Caier asked softly.


    Before Zhao Ce could reply, Big Chang had already said, "We''re all rural people. We don''t care about that."


    "Get ready, we''re leaving," he added, raising his whip lightly. The cart slowly began to move towards the city.


    It was Su Caier''s first time riding a cart, and she was fascinated. Although the villager sitting beside her occasionally looked at her curiously, it didn''t affect her good mood.


    She looked at the surrounding scenery and occasionally glanced at her husband sitting next to her. Every time their eyes met; she would show a small, sweet smile. The dimples at the corners of her mouth seemed to be filled with sweetness.


    Zhao Ce wondered why this little girl smiled so sweetly in the morning as if she had just eaten candy. He reached out and lightly tapped her dimple. Her big eyes blinked, looking at him with some confusion.


    Zhao Ce smiled and said in a gentle voice, "It''s nothing..."


    Su Caier then smiled with a small smile again. The cart slowly arrived in the city.


    When they got off, Zhao Ce picked up his book box and stepped off the cart first with a long stride. Then, he also picked up the little girl from the cart. The two villagers from her village sitting in the cart looked at Zhao Ce''s smooth action again, feeling a bit envious.


    The city was crowded, and after Su Caier got off the cart and stood firmly on the ground, she shyly hid behind her husband. Zhao Ce said, "Let''s go sell the white sugar first."


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    The little girl followed closely behind him. She was a little scared, but also very curious. She turned her head and secretly looked around.


    Although not everyone was wearing clothes made of good fabric, most of them were better than hers... but the new clothes she made at home were similar to what they were wearing! They just weren''t finished yet, so she didn''t wear them out.


    Su Caier thought about this and felt much happier. She quickly looked again at her husband walking not far ahead of her. When she was distracted by a stall, she turned her head and found herself almost bumping into someone. Su Caier quickly stepped aside.


    The person said in a rough voice, "Hey little lady, watch where you''re going when you walk!" Then, he quickly walked away with his things. Su Caier felt embarrassed and lowered her head again.


    After taking a few steps, she noticed that her husband had stopped walking. Su Caier looked up in confusion and saw him smile at her. Zhao Ce thought to himself: when other people''s kids go out, their parents always hold their hands to prevent them from getting lost. The little girl must be very nervous since it was her first time out.


    He smiled and said, "Hold out your hand." Su Caier didn''t know what to do and looked puzzled. But she obediently held out her little hands and placed them in front of her husband. Zhao Ce directly took her left hand and said naturally, "This way, you don''t have to worry about getting lost."


    Su Caier looked down at their hands, then looked up at her husband. She widened her eyes slightly and nervously looked at the people around them. Everyone was walking quickly and no one was paying attention to them.


    Su Caier thought a little dizzily, she''s holding hands with her husband again! They had held hands yesterday, but Su Caier was too nervous to think much about it.


    Today, on the crowded street, her husband was holding her hand directly. Su Caier turned her little head and stole a glance at the people passing by. Did everyone hold hands when they went out? Just as she was looking, a woman came by, holding a four or five-year-old child''s hand. The child was holding a steamed bun in his hand, with oil all over his mouth. The child''s black eyes met Su Caier''s, and he looked at the two people holding hands with some confusion.


    The little black-eyed child looked at Su Caier and her husband holding hands with some confusion. Then, Su Caier heard the child say to his mother, also with some doubt, "Mother, look."


    "She''s already so big, why does she still need someone to hold her hand while walking?"


    The woman holding the child''s hand turned her head and saw the two holding hands. Her eyes quickly averted, and she softly said, "Holding hands prevents getting lost."


    "So in the future, remember to hold your mother''s hand when going out, okay?"


    The child nodded in confusion.


    As they walked away, Su Caier heard their conversation and blushed. She felt a little embarrassed to tell her husband that she''s grown up and doesn''t need to hold hands like a child anymore. But she couldn''t bear to let go of his warm hand. Finally, Su Caier could only think to herself that she had indeed grown up, but she would still listen to her husband''s words. With this thought, she happily moved her little hand that was being held.


    Zhao Ce said to her as they walked, "The steamed buns over there look good. I''ll buy you a meat bun to eat later."


    Su Caier remembered the child from earlier and said somewhat shyly, "I, I already ate at home and am full. I don''t want any."


    Zhao Ce shook the hand he was holding and didn''t say anything.


    They had left not too early today and, in order to accommodate the little girl''s pace, walked slowly into the city. They arrived at the grocery store. The sky was already bright.


    The store clerk saw Zhao Ce and warmly greeted him, "Young Master Su, you finally came."


    It was then that he noticed the thin, raggedly dressed girl standing timidly beside Zhao Ce, who was wearing a long robe.


    The clerk wondered, "Is this Young Master Su''s little servant girl?" But when he looked down, he saw the two holding hands and quickly averted his eyes, relieved that he hadn''t said anything earlier.


    Zhao Ce nodded slightly. "I''m looking for the shopkeeper."


    The clerk said, "The shopkeeper is waiting inside. Please follow me."


    As Zhao Ce was about to step forward, the person by his side stopped in their tracks. Zhao Ce turned back, puzzled.


    The little girl with big watery eyes spoke softly, "Hus-, husband."


    "I won''t go in. I''ll wait for you outside."

 Chapter 47: fans for the ancient beauties

    Zhao Ce heard the little girl''s words and remembered what she had said in the cart earlier, about her shoes getting the ox cart dirty. He couldn''t help but feel a bit sorry for her. The little girl had always been very self-conscious due to her body and family situation, and Zhao Ce had no intention of forcing her to become confident all at once.


    He spoke gently, "Shall we go in together, and then you wait for me by the door?" The nearby shopkeeper also warmly said, "It''s fine to wait by the door." "We''ve recently received a lot of new goods in our store. The young lady can take a look too." Su Cai''er was a bit intrigued and glanced at her husband. Zhao Ce then took her inside and said, "Isn''t our home missing a lot of things? Let''s buy what we need here first." The little girl suppressed her nervousness and agreed.


    After entering the store, Zhao Ce pointed to the counter and said, "I''ll be over there. Just call me if you need anything." Su Cai''er nodded obediently and said, "I''ll wait for my husband here. You go ahead and do your business." Zhao Ce patted her little head before walking away with the items. Su Cai''er looked around cautiously, and the nearby shopkeeper was about to serve her when the little girl suddenly lowered her head. The shopkeeper stopped in his tracks and said, "If you need anything, just call me."


    Afterward, he went outside to wait for other customers. The shopkeeper was overjoyed when he saw Zhao Ce and his face lit up. "Young master Zhao, didn''t you say that it would take a while for the goods to arrive?" "Why did they come out so early this time?" Zhao Ce bowed and said, "Hello, shopkeeper. My relative brought over some new white sugar, and I wanted to show it to you."


    When the shopkeeper heard that it was new, he quickly said, "New? Let me take a look." Zhao Ce handed over the cloth bag he was carrying. The shopkeeper opened it and saw that it was still white sugar, but it was whiter and of better quality than before. Although it wasn''t particularly fresh, the shopkeeper was still very happy. "The quality of Mr. Su''s sugar is even better this time." Zhao Ce also said proudly, "Of course. If it wasn''t good, I wouldn''t have come all the way here to show it to you." The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "You young people are always good talkers."


    After speaking, the shopkeeper didn''t hesitate and immediately picked up the scales to weigh the sugar. This batch of sugar was worth a full ten taels of silver. The shopkeeper then said, "You mentioned before that you''re from Su Family Village, right?"


    Su Family Village? Zhao Ce was momentarily stunned. He had forgotten that he had bragged to this shopkeeper before about being from Su Family Village. He put on a bold face and nodded, "Yes."


    The shopkeeper quickly waved his hand and said, "I didn''t mean to pry into your personal affairs. It''s just that there''s a family in Xiahe Village who specializes in making sugar, and our store''s sugar is mostly supplied by them. We were just wondering if you were related to them."


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    Zhao Ce shook his head and said, "No, we''re not related. Our family doesn''t have many relatives left in the village, and most of them are distant relatives."


    After speaking, he didn''t want to say anything more. After all, if this shopkeeper really went to inquire about him, he would soon find out that he had lied. In the villages outside the city, gossip was common, and his identity was always at risk of being exposed.


    Thinking this way, Zhao Ce thought that he should go and ask Zhao Wenhua about the sugar matter today. He needed to find a reliable intermediary first. If Zhao Wenhua''s restaurant would buy his white sugar, it would save him a lot of trouble.


    After the transaction was completed, the shopkeeper asked one of his assistants to take them to pick out the things they wanted to buy. Zhao Ce walked to the door and saw the little girl standing awkwardly by the side, looking like a small door god. But her eyes occasionally glanced towards a certain item on the nearby shelf.


    When she saw Zhao Ce coming over, the little girl visibly relaxed. Following her gaze, Zhao Ce looked towards the shelf where she was looking. On the top shelf were various small fans made from sunflower leaves, while the bottom shelf had new umbrellas and other items.


    Seeing the small round umbrellas with their varying colors and newness, Zhao Ce thought of the ancient beauties in the dramas he had watched before.


    Everyone held various beautiful round fans in their hands or carried red umbrellas and the like. Zhao Ce thought to himself, "Everyone has a desire to be beautiful." He wondered if the little girl also liked these beautiful little things. So he asked her directly, "Which one do you want?"


    The little girl shook her head and said, "I don''t want anything."


    Zhao Ce touched the ten taels of silver he had just earned and said generously, "It''s okay, I''ll buy you whatever you like." Without waiting for the little girl to refuse, he called the shopkeeper over and asked how much the round fans cost. The shopkeeper enthusiastically introduced the product, "This type of fan is made of silk and woven with silk and cotton. It''s very popular among the ladies and young ladies in the city."


    After finishing his explanation, he held up his fingers and made a gesture. "It''s only Eighty coins per fan!"


    Eighty coins for a fan! Su Caier widened her eyes, somewhat incredulous. With twenty more coins, she could use the money to pay for her marriage...


    She quickly pulled her husband over and whispered, "Husband, I don''t want these fans. They''re too expensive."


    "Eighty coins can buy a lot of food."


    The little girl was a little anxious and pointed to the sunflower fans next to them.


    "I, I originally wanted it because it''s too hot now."


    "If we had a sunflower fan at home, I could cool you off."


    Every time her husband came home, he was sweating profusely from the heat. Even if she wanted to cool him off, she didn''t have any tools on hand. She had thought about making a fan herself before, but she didn''t have the materials to make this type of whole-leaf sunflower fan. However, the woven reed fans could be made at home. But she had just recently married into Shuiqiao Village and didn''t know where to find the right materials. So she hadn''t started yet.


    Just now, when she saw the fans here, she had wanted to take a sneak peek and learn from them so she could make her own, and make them even more beautiful. After all, her husband was a literate person, and they ate white rice. So she wanted to make everything look better so that her husband would be more comfortable using them. But her husband wanted to buy the round fans next to them for eighty coins each. Did he want to use such a good fan to match his old clothes?

 Chapter 48: meat buns

    The little girl stuttered as she explained in a small voice. Zhao Ce hung his head, feeling the warm air flow from the little girl''s words brushing past his ear. After hearing her explanation, Zhao Ce realized that he had misunderstood her.


    "That''s right. The little girl is used to being thrifty. Even if I buy a fan for eighty coins, she probably still feels it''s too expensive," he thought.


    Zhao Ce stood up straight and cleared his throat. "I''m sorry, I misunderstood," he said.


    Su Caier quickly waved her hand. "Husband, you didn''t make a mistake..."


    "It''s my fault for not explaining clearly to my husband..."


    Zhao Ce smiled and patted her little head, then asked the nearby clerk who was whispering to his partner, "Excuse me, how much does this type of sunflower fan cost?"


    The clerk, seeing a potential big sale, was still smiling and introduced, "This type of fan with a whole sunflower leaf costs ten coins. These woven reed fans cost five coins each."


    "Five coins each..."


    Zhao Ce was surprised at how cheap they were. Why should the little girl have to find materials to make her own fan when he could buy one for her here?


    He looked down at the little girl and said, "Shall we buy this one?"


    Su Caier winced a bit at the price, but she had just refused once and caused her husband to apologize to her. It wouldn''t be good to refuse him again in front of others. If she kept refusing him outside, it wouldn''t be good either. After all, her husband was a man and the head of the household.


    So Su Caier reluctantly extended one finger and said, "Then, let''s buy one."


    "I want the woven one."


    Looking at the little girl''s expression, Zhao Ce suppressed his laughter and said, "Sure, we''ll only buy one. I originally planned to give you a little fan as a gift, but this woven reed fan is actually more practical. I''ll give you even better and more practical gifts in the future."


    Su Caier''s eyes lit up. Gifts? Was this a gift from her husband?


    The clerk handed a sunflower fan to the little girl, who received it solemnly with both hands. She flipped it over, then looked at Zhao Ce with shining eyes. "Thank you, husband!" she said sweetly.


    Zhao Ce also smiled at her. The clerk felt a bit out of place and moved behind the shelves, trying to make himself less noticeable.


    The little girl held her new fan, and Zhao Ce led her on a shopping spree in the store. They bought a pot and many bowls and even bought extra salt. They bought everything they could in this grocery store.


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    The basket was almost full, and there were still neatly tied pots and bowls on the side. The little girl also helped carry many things, and the two of them carried big and small packages. Zhao Ce even bought a new basket in the store and put everything in it.


    The little girl didn''t want to put down her sunflower fan, so she held it and said, "Husband, I''ll hold this." Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Sure." They went to the next door to buy rice bran and also got some soybean oil. After putting everything back in the basket, they left it with the shopkeeper for the time being after paying.


    Zhao Ce said, "Let''s go buy some steamed buns to eat." Su Caier thought of the little girl from earlier and muttered to herself that she wasn''t that young anymore. But when they arrived at the steamed bun shop and smelled the fragrance of the freshly steamed buns, her eyes seemed to be glued to the steam rising from the steamer. She stared at the white and plump steamed buns inside and couldn''t help but look back at them.


    Zhao Ce asked the shopkeeper, "How much are the buns?" The shopkeeper said, "One coin for plain buns, two coins for meat buns. They are all freshly made with white flour." As she spoke, she opened the top steamer and showed them the neatly arranged white and plump buns.


    Su Caier swallowed her saliva and looked at the buns inside. Even though she had eaten snake soup last night, the buns smelled so good.


    Zhao Ce ordered two meat buns and gave four coins to the little girl next to him, saying, "Come on, eat up and we will find Zhao Wenhua later." Su Caier was a bit overwhelmed by the smell of the buns and took them over.


    She looked at the white and plump meat buns in her hand and swallowed her saliva. Zhao Ce took a bite of the bun and thought it tasted pretty good. He finished it in three or four bites and was given another one in front of him.


    He looked down and saw that the little girl''s bun was still intact in her hand. "Husband hasn''t eaten enough, so I''ll give mine to husband," she said. Zhao Ce chuckled and said, "I''m full. You try it." "I wasn''t very hungry anyway." "This bun tastes good. Let''s come back later and buy some to take home."


    Su Caier saw that her husband was really full and only took a small piece for herself. She put it in her mouth and tasted it. The white flour skin was covered in meat juice, and it was fragrant, soft, and delicious. Su Caier narrowed her eyes in satisfaction and said, "It''s delicious!" Zhao Ce asked, "Do you like it?" "Let''s hurry up and eat. We have to find Zhao Wenhua." Su Caier felt like she was going to waste time. She quickly opened her mouth and took a big bite. Her chubby cheeks were bulging, and she tried to eat the bun quickly.


    Zhao Ce looked at her and laughed, "No need to rush like that. Be careful not to choke." He then took out a bamboo tube from his book box and let the little girl drink some water. The little girl still had the bun in her mouth and drank a small sip of water.


    The shopkeeper said, "Oh, are you two newlyweds? You''re so affectionate." Su Caier blushed and hid behind her husband. Zhao Ce laughed and replied, "We''ll come back to visit your shop later. We have to go now." The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Take care."


    Zhao Ce held Su Caier''s hand and let her slowly eat the bun as they left the shop. The shopkeeper watched them go and muttered, "They seem mismatched, but also harmonious. I feel like I''ve seen that young man somewhere before." Meanwhile, a fragrance of cosmetics and powder wafted over.


    The shopkeeper quickly put on a business smile and greeted someone named Chunxiang. Chunxiang was a young maid of about eleven or twelve years old who served the courtesan of the Drunken Fragrance Tower in the city. Chunxiang ordered two meat buns and two vegetarian buns, as her mistress had to maintain her figure and could only eat half of each. The rest would go to waste.


    While the shopkeeper was packing the buns, Chunxiang looked at Zhao Ce and Su Caier in the distance and said, "Shopkeeper, do you know that couple? The man is dressed well, but his wife is wearing tattered clothes. He doesn''t seem like a good man." The shopkeeper forced a smile and said, "I feel like I''ve seen them before, but can''t remember where. Although the young woman is poorly dressed, they might still be affectionate." Chunxiang didn''t inquire further and paid for the buns before leaving with them.

 Chapter 49: Meeting a Living Buddha

    The matter of the steamed bun shop. Zhao Ce naturally didn''t know. Today, they earned another ten taels of silver. With that, their savings amounted to about fifteen taels. They were anxious about the money owed to Uncle. Even if they didn''t say it, they still felt anxious. However, Zhao Ce secretly wanted to repay the money owed from their own family first. This way, he could consider the original owner''s debt cleared. But at this rate, it wouldn''t take long. He estimated that they could repay everything soon.


    Zhao Ce held the little girl''s hand, and the two strolled leisurely on the street. While walking and sighing, he said, "The street is busier than usual today." "It seems like we came out at the right time."


    On the street, many people were walking in groups in one direction. While walking, they discussed, "It''s been six days!" "The master still has a flushed face." "That''s a living Buddha!" "I heard that today is the day the master wakes up. This Buddha will probably manifest himself too." "We have to hurry and go worship too." "Yes, yes, let''s go worship quickly and ask the Buddha to bless our home."


    Su Caier still held a half-eaten steamed bun in one hand. Hearing what the passersby were saying, she blinked in confusion. Zhao Ce, who was beside her, also became interested. He asked a passing uncle, "Excuse me, sir, what''s the story with this Buddha?"


    The uncle was not annoyed by being stopped and happily said, "Have you not been to the city for several days?" " Zhao Yuanwai''s mother invited a high monk from Lu Feng Mountain earlier because she had frequent nightmares. This high monk is extraordinary, and he is a living Buddha reincarnated!" "Now everyone is rushing to worship him, hoping that he can bless their homes too."


    After the uncle finished speaking, he also said anxiously, "I won''t tell you anymore. I have to hurry and mix into the front row to worship the master." The uncle finished speaking and hurriedly left.


    The little girl held the half-eaten steamed bun and looked up at Zhao Ce, asking, "Husband, is there really a living Buddha?" Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows and said with interest, "Do you want to go see?" On the way, many pedestrians were talking about going to worship the Buddha.


    Zhao Ce thought to himself that this was like a time travel experience. He had never seen such a lively scene in ancient times. Since he had brought the little girl out today, he decided to take her to see the excitement as well. Su Caier was delighted and said that if the Buddha was really so divine, she also wanted to ask for blessings for her husband. She blushed as she thought about it and resolved to talk to the Buddha today, hoping to conceive her husband''s child soon.


    Zhao Ce tightened his grip on the little girl''s hand and saw her small, pink earlobes. He smiled to himself, thinking that the girl had delicate skin that easily turned red from shyness, even though he hadn''t said anything embarrassing just now. The little girl blushed again for some reason, and Zhao Ce shook off his wandering thoughts and said, "Let''s go and see too." Su Caier nodded obediently and let him lead her there.


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    Along the way, the two of them roughly heard the story. Zhao Yuanwai''s mother was already in her seventies and had been restless and unable to sleep for some time. She even had frequent nightmares and felt constantly thirsty despite drinking a lot of water.


    So, they invited a highly accomplished monk from the mountain to recite scriptures and drive away the nightmares, hoping to help her sleep better. The monk immediately noticed that something was amiss when he arrived at Zhao Yuanwai''s house. He said that Zhao Yuanwai''s mother had been cursed by an evil spirit, a starving ghost, that had followed her home and was now tormenting the family. If they didn''t do something about it, the entire family would be doomed.


    Zhao Yuanwai''s mother was frightened and called for help, and the compassionate monk used his own body to lure the starving ghost out. There was a trick to doing so, but the details were not clear. The monk sat outside Zhao Yuanwai''s gate without eating or drinking, tricking the ghost into thinking it had found a substitute body.


    Su Caier listened while leaning towards her husband, forgetting to eat the steamed buns in her hand. Zhao Ce chuckled and said, "The buns are cold, let''s eat them first." Su Caier originally wanted to savor the delicious buns slowly, but she didn''t want to be seen eating in front of the Buddha later, so she quickly finished them.


    As the two followed the crowd, they arrived at the open space in front of Zhao Yuanwai''s house. The area was already packed, with many people kneeling down and worshiping the Buddha. They chanted words of praise for the Buddha and hoped for blessings. Su Caier was also moved by the scene. She had never seen anything like it before. Although she didn''t know if the Buddha was really divine, everyone was kneeling down, so it must be true, right?


    Zhao Ce, on the other hand, saw a high monk meditating inside through the kneeling crowd. He raised his eyebrows in recognition. Wasn''t this the same monk he saw at the city gate when he went to pay his respects to Confucius? He even bowed to him back then. The monk was dressed in a robe and had a string of Buddhist beads around his neck. He sat on a cushion with his eyes closed, and there was a large incense stick burning on a table beside him.


    People around them were amazed by the monk''s dedication. He had been fasting for six days to lure out an evil spirit that had been tormenting Zhao Yuanwai''s mother. Everyone praised the monk''s compassion and his Buddhist heart. Despite not eating or drinking for six days, the monk''s complexion was still rosy, and he seemed unaffected.


    Su Caier tugged at her husband''s hand and whispered, "Husband, should we pay our respects and ask for blessings from the Buddha? Then you can become the top scholar." Zhao Ce glanced at the monk who had been fasting for six days and the string of Buddhist beads around his neck. He couldn''t help but smile at the small trick used to deceive the people of that time. He said, "Let''s wait and see."


    Suddenly, the crowd began to stir. The large incense stick on the table had burned out, and at that moment, the monk opened his eyes and murmured, "Amitabha." He slowly stood up from the ground, still with a rosy complexion and agile movements. He looked like a real sage with his red robe and kind expression.


    A plump middle-aged man walked out of the gate, followed by an old woman and a young man. "Zhao Yuanwai''s family is coming out!" someone shouted. "It seems that this evil spirit is going to be eliminated!"

 Chapter 50: Exorcism

    Upon a single glance, Zhao Ce spotted the young gentleman standing behind Zhao Yuanwai. This person was none other than Zhao Anming, Zhao Ce''s former schoolmate and a man known for his high principles and exceptional talents. However, he was also the one responsible for Zhao Ce''s downfall and expulsion from school, having instigated others to take revenge on him. Despite sharing the same surname, the two were not related, and Zhao Ce had always despised the way Zhao Anming treated him, constantly tripping him up and making his life difficult.


    Zhao Anming had a group of followers due to his family''s wealth, and they did not get along with Zhao Ce. One day, they decided to take revenge on Zhao Ce by leading him astray and engaging him in worldly pleasures, which eventually led to his expulsion from school. If Zhao Anming had known that his animosity towards one person had caused another''s death, he would likely have been regretful.


    Looking at Zhao Anming now, Zhao Ce''s eyes flickered. "With such despicable behavior, how can he hope to receive blessings from the Buddha?" He was not yet prepared to seek revenge, but he considered the possibility of causing trouble for Zhao Anming''s family. Moreover, they would have to thank him for it.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Anming stood next to Zhao Yuanwai, growing impatient and questioning whether the starving ghost had truly appeared. Zhao Yuanwai replied that he did not know, but the fasting master had been meditating for six days without food or drink and still looked healthy. Zhao Anming could not explain it and fell silent.


    Zhao Yuanwai then approached the master and praised him for his supposed accomplishment of fasting for six days. The master responded with a Buddhist chant and announced that he had lured out the starving ghost. He revealed that he would soon perform a ritual to exorcise the ghost, and Zhao Yuanwai and his wife expressed their gratitude and urged him to do so quickly.


    The master agreed, and Zhao Yuanwai was elated, hoping to catch the ghost immediately. The people around them also expressed their excitement, believing that the ghost would finally be vanquished and peace would be restored to the household. However, Zhao Ce remained skeptical, watching the scene unfold with a wary eye.


    After speaking, they waited for a while, but Zhao Yuanwai and his family continued to stare at the master. The master grew somewhat displeased. "What''s wrong with these donors? Don''t they know how to behave?" he thought to himself. "The Buddha doesn''t need to eat, but does that mean that I, as a master, should also refrain from eating?"


    Zhao Yuanwai, seeing that the master remained motionless, quickly asked, "Why haven''t you started yet, Master? Is there something else you need?" The master glanced at the group of clueless people and calmly explained, "To lure out the starving ghost, I have not eaten or drunk anything for six days."


    "But this starving ghost has been sucking my vitality for six days! Although I am still fasting, I cannot withstand the loss of my vital energy any longer. If I want to eliminate this starving ghost, I fear that my vital energy will be insufficient. I will have to borrow some power from the Buddha."


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    Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanwai quickly apologized, "It was my negligence. Son, hurry!" His son reluctantly took out a bulging purse from behind him, and Zhao Yuanwai snatched it away, saying, "This is just a small token of appreciation from our family to offer to the Buddha. Please do not refuse it, Master."


    The master glanced at the purse in his hand but quickly averted his gaze. A nearby monk accepted the purse on his behalf. The master then nodded in satisfaction and said, "Although these worldly possessions are of little use to me, I can put them towards building a new golden body for the Buddha. Zhao Yuanwai, your family is very virtuous and has great potential for Buddhahood. The Buddha will surely bless you."


    Zhao Yuanwai grinned, his eyes almost disappearing into slits. His wife behind him clasped her hands together and bowed to the heavens joyfully. "Please begin the ritual soon, Master," Zhao Yuanwai urged.


    The master raised his voice and declared, "Let us commence the ritual!" The servants around them quickly drove away the onlookers, creating a safe distance. Zhao Ce and Su Caier gradually moved to the front of the crowd. Su Caier was thrilled to be able to see the Buddha up close. She was looking forward to paying her respects later. "Surely, the Buddha will hear my wishes," she thought to herself.


    At this point, the incense on the offering table had been re-lit. There were three large incense sticks and three small ones, as well as three large red wax candles in front of the incense burner. In addition, there was a piece of white paper cut into the shape of a turtle and an empty yellow paper on the table. A pot of water was also placed beside the offering table.


    The master declared grandly, "Bring me my Zen staff made from thousand-year-old iron!" A crisp Zen staff was brought up by a young monk behind him. The master took it and struck it on the ground with a loud thud. The people around him were amazed by his graceful and effortless movements.


    The master chanted, "Maharimaharimong, evil spirits, and ghosts, reveal yourselves!" "Behold my great power as the heavenly dragon!" He then struck the Zen staff on the ground again, making a clanging sound.


    Everyone around him took a step back and exclaimed in awe. Zhao Ce couldn''t help but suppress a smile as he watched the master''s actions. This master was indeed a skilled martial artist. Su Caier also followed the people around her and exclaimed in surprise from time to time.


    At this moment, everyone was watching the master''s heroic posture. No one noticed that Su Caier had raised her head, revealing a pair of eyes that were not quite like those of ordinary people. Zhao Yuanwai saw the master''s enthusiasm and was also drawn to him. He took a step to the side to get a better look. In that instant, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure.


    Once the master finished his half-set of martial arts, his eyes quickly moved in one direction. He pointed his Zen staff and made a clanging sound, shouting, "The ghost is over there!" He then picked up the paper-cut turtle on the table and put it directly into the pot of water next to it, shouting, "Behold my divine turtle guiding the way!" To everyone''s surprise, the turtle came to life as soon as it touched the water, swimming frantically in the pot. Finally, the head of the turtle pointed in the same direction that the master had just indicated.


    The onlookers all looked in the direction that the turtle was pointing. Zhao Ce, who had just walked over there, looked at the crowd in confusion. Someone exclaimed in fear, "The starving ghost is over there!" "Is Zhao Ce the starving ghost?" "This is not good!"

 Chapter 51: Theres no Need to Worship

    Lord Zhao''s face turned pale. "What''s going on with this monk? We invited him to our house, not the other way around!"


    Over at Zhao Anming''s side, he started to take a step forward but then stopped himself. He turned to the servant behind him and ordered, "Quickly! Pull Lord Zhao back!" The servant obeyed and pulled Lord Zhao away, looking nervous.


    As Lord Zhao was being led away, he saw Zhao Ce among the crowd, looking at him with a smile on his face. Lord Zhao frowned, wondering how Zhao Ce could still be smiling after being expelled from school.


    The master quickly intervened and said, "Ah, this...has nothing to do with Lord Zhao. It''s just that a ghost happened to be in that direction."


    Zhao Ce found the master''s actions quite amusing. They were quite impressive, but they didn''t discriminate between people. However, he couldn''t deny that the old monk had many tricks up his sleeve. He had learned almost all of the ancient exorcism methods from the sorcerers.


    Seeing the turtle move, Su Caier clung tightly to her husband''s arm, feeling scared. Zhao Ce glanced at her and asked with a smile, "Didn''t you want to worship the Buddha? Aren''t you going to?"


    Su Caier hesitated and said, "The master seems quite powerful. Shouldn''t we wait and worship later?" She wanted to ask her husband''s opinion.


    Zhao Ce didn''t answer her question directly but instead asked her, "What did you want to say to the Buddha?"


    Su Caier replied naturally, "I wanted the Buddha to bless you, and also..." She blushed and lowered her head. There were so many people around, and she didn''t dare to say that she wanted to have a baby as soon as possible.


    Zhao Ce chuckled and patted her head. "I think a true Buddha will hear your wishes."


    Su Caier was puzzled and tilted her head. A true Buddha? Wasn''t the master they invited a true Buddha? But he had already cast a spell! She turned her head and looked at the master in disbelief.


    Zhao Ce also shifted his gaze to the master, watching his every move. His eyesight was better than most people, so he could clearly see the master��s actions.


    The master over there picked up the blank yellow paper from the offering table and placed it directly on the burning incense. He muttered to himself, "You evil ghost, how dare you harm people! As a monk, I have compassion in my heart, and I won''t kill you. I''ll invite the Buddha to come down and give you salvation, and let you directly enter the cycle of reincarnation!"


    After finishing his words, he instructed the people beside him, "Bring me a container. Today, I will personally give salvation to this evil ghost!" A piece of pig bone was quickly presented to him and placed on the offering table.


    The master placed the yellow paper he was holding on the burning incense. The yellow paper was lit and the fire started to burn. When it burned to the end, the master released it with his fingertips and it fell to the ground, with the last bit of it burned out.


    Then, a black shadow shaped like a pig head appeared in the air! The nearby monks said, "The Buddha said that this ghost will enter the animal realm in its next life! It will be transformed into a pig!" The onlookers witnessed this scene and believed wholeheartedly in the master''s supernatural powers. Many people shouted, "May Buddha''s mercy be upon us! Master, please give salvation to this evil ghost. Send it away so it won''t harm people anymore!"


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    The master calmly said, "Everyone, don''t panic. The Buddha has already given instructions. This evil ghost has already been sealed in this pig bone, but its resentment is still strong. I will let it experience the punishment of the oil pot hell before safely sending it on the path of reincarnation." He gestured his hand and thundered, "Oil pot hell! Open!"


    After he finished speaking, the nearby monks began to act. They brought out a pot filled with oil and lit it with a roaring flame. One of the monks even explained, "The oil in this pot is directly drawn from the oil pot of hell by our master. It''s not ordinary oil. The Bodhisattva asked Yama, the king of hell, to take away this hungry ghost!"


    In no time, the oil pot began to emit white smoke, and the oil inside the pot started to boil. Someone exclaimed, "The oil drawn from hell is indeed different from the oil in our own homes. It heats up so quickly!"


    Another person chimed in, "Yes, and it''s boiling so vigorously!"


    "Wow, I wonder if the oil pot in hell is also boiling like this?"


    The master saw this and directly picked up the pig bone, shouting, "The Bodhisattva said that I, a poor monk, will personally bring this evil ghost through the oil pot hell and send it on the path of reincarnation today! The scene after this evil ghost enters the oil pot hell will be extremely terrifying! But don''t be afraid, may Buddha''s light shine upon us all!"


    He began to recite a sutra as everyone bowed down.


    The surrounding people also knelt down one after another, shouting their own wishes.


    "Bodhisattva, please bless my son to become the top scholar in the high school entrance exam."


    "Bodhisattva, I want to marry the village belle."


    "Bodhisattva, please bless..."


    Everyone knelt down and murmured various words asking for the Bodhisattva''s blessing. The master was going to drive away the evil ghost, while the people wanted the Bodhisattva to bless themselves. Each had their own request. However, everyone around had knelt down, making Zhao Ce and Su Caier standing in the forefront look somewhat abrupt.


    Su Caier looked around. Almost everyone present had already knelt down. She looked around with her big eyes and saw a scholar in a long robe and square scarf standing at the corner. He was observing the master with a curious look.


    Seeing someone in the crowd not kneeling down, the scholar couldn''t help but look at them with interest. Su Caier quickly withdrew her gaze and lowered her head, waiting for her husband to speak.


    As an ancient person who had witnessed the Bodhisattva''s manifestation, Su Caier naturally wanted to take this opportunity to pray to the Bodhisattva for a blessing. But her husband was still standing, and he had no intention of kneeling down. She could only control her own knees.


    Zhao Ce did not look around. He just pulled the girl behind him and whispered, "This Bodhisattva is not spiritual. There''s no need to worship."


    After speaking, Zhao Ce intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Zhao Anming, who was kneeling on the ground. The Zhao family across from them had also knelt down, shouting for the master to save their entire family.


    Zhao Anming, who had seen the master''s behavior just now, was also a little scared. he couldn''t explain what he had witnessed with just a few words.


    When Zhao Yuanwai pulled him, he immediately knelt down. He looked at the master sitting on the cushion and then turned his eyes to Zhao Ce, who was standing opposite him. Zhao Ce stood there, looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    Zhao Anming''s eyes widened slightly. "Is this mud-legged person laughing at me?" he thought. He, Zhao Anming, had knelt down, but this proud mud-legged person still refused to kneel down? Wouldn''t it be very embarrassing for him, Zhao Anming?


    Thinking like this, Zhao Anming stood up straight and pointed directly at Zhao Ce, saying in a sharp tone, "Zhao Ce, you mud-legged person, why don''t you kneel down and pray to the Buddha to bless you to find a teacher who is willing to teach you soon?"

 Chapter 52: Buddhas light shines everywhere

    After Zhao Anming finished speaking, everyone''s eyes turned to Zhao Ce. At this time, Su Caier was hiding behind him, avoiding the attention of everyone''s gaze.


    Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows slightly, showing no panic. He said from a position of superiority to Zhao Anming, who just stood up, "Zhao Anming, praying to gods and Buddha is not something you just do for the sake of it. If your heart is not sincere, it''s better not to pray at all. Don''t you agree, Zhao Anming?"


    Zhao Anming snorted, "It''s just because mud-legged people like you have never seen the Buddha manifest themselves, that''s why your heart is insincere. The master has said that our family has a great Buddha nature and can be blessed by the Buddha. Naturally, our hearts are sincere." Zhao Ce smiled mockingly at him, "Oh? Blessed by the Buddha? I''m not so sure about that."


    After speaking, he turned to the little girl behind him and pointed in a direction, saying quietly, "Caier, go over there and wait for me, my dear." Su Caier didn''t know what her husband was going to do and said softly to him with some concern, "My dear, shall we leave?" "We''re not going to worship the Bodhisattva anymore. These wealthy gentlemen in the city aren''t people we rural folks can afford to offend."


    Zhao Ce patted her head and said, "Don''t be afraid. Just wait over there." Then he gently pushed the little girl''s back. Su Caier, who had little strength, had to walk to the side. She happened to walk to the side of the scholar in a long robe and square scarf.


    Seeing Su Caier walk over to him, he asked, "Everyone has worshipped, why don''t you worship?" Su Caier glanced at him and quickly withdrew her gaze. "My husband said there''s no need to worship, so we won''t worship." The scholar drew out his words, "Oh..." Su Caier dared not speak anymore and just looked at her husband.


    Zhao Ce saw the little girl walk to the corner and chat with the scholar next to her. He listened to their conversation, which was not unpleasant to hear. He then looked away and walked towards the crowd.


    Master Yuan Kong saw him coming and furrowed his eyebrows, saying, "You are so impolite. What are you doing here? If your heart is not sincere, then just leave." "Anyway, Buddha''s light shines everywhere, and the Buddha won''t blame you." Zhao Ce deliberately walked up to Zhao Anming and looked down at him. He said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "To be honest, I think I''m quite Buddha-natured. Maybe I even have Buddha''s protection. I just don''t know if your heart is sincere, Zhao Anming."


    Zhao Anming knelt on the ground after reprimanding Zhao Ce, while Zhao Ce stood upright. Zhao Anming had to look up to see Zhao Ce, making him seem shorter than everyone else. Though he wanted to stand up, his father and grandmother were still kneeling, so he remained on his knees, feeling frustrated.


    "You think you can rely on Buddha to protect you, you mud-legged peasant? Don''t talk to me while standing!" Zhao Anming said, annoyed.


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    Zhao Ce retorted sarcastically, "Didn''t you just say that my heart is insincere? Let me show you how Buddha protects me." He then picked up a pig bone from the offering table and said, "Let''s test if Buddha''s light really shines everywhere." To everyone''s shock, he plunged the bone into the boiling oil pot, causing screams from the onlookers.


    "That''s boiling oil! Is he crazy? He''ll lose his hands!" the crowd exclaimed.


    "Only a true master with Buddha''s protection can do this," said others.


    Soon, they noticed that Zhao Ce''s face showed no signs of pain or discomfort, causing some to wonder if he also had the protection of Buddha. The monk Yuan Kong, who was watching nearby, turned green with envy since he had planned to perform a similar stunt earlier.


    Su Caier, who was hiding in a corner, watched her husband''s actions with fear, and her face turned pale. She was about to rush over to stop him, but the scholar in a long robe and square scarf spoke up and said, "Your husband seems to be doing just fine. He''s quite impressive." Su Caier looked again and saw that her husband''s face remained calm, and he even mouthed the words "I''m fine" in her direction. Nonetheless, she still looked worried as she watched her husband''s hand in the boiling oil.


    Zhao Anming was completely stunned and could no longer kneel quietly.


    With a "swoosh," Zhao Anming stood up and walked over to Zhao Ce, looking incredulous. "Your hand doesn''t hurt?" he asked.


    Zhao Ce calmly replied, "Buddha''s light shines everywhere, so I guess it just happened to shine on me."


    "Now, Zhao Anming, do you think I am sincere?" Zhao Anming looked at Zhao Ce with a strange expression, not knowing what to say.


    Suddenly, they heard a strange sound. Zhao Anming looked at the oil pot with a look of horror. At this moment, Zhao Ce felt the temperature in the oil pot slowly rising.


    The bone in his hand emitted a terrifying ghostly scream, causing the crowd to be shocked. Soon, strange ghostly screams began to sound from the oil pot.


    The sound was piercing and extremely frightening. Everyone retreated in fear, afraid of being attacked by the evil ghost.


    Zhao Anming also quickly retreated a few steps, feeling weak in the legs. The sound became increasingly miserable, but Zhao Ce remained calm and stood in front of the oil pot as if he were not afraid at all.


    The Zhao family all knelt in shock and fear. "Is this the hungry ghost in our house?" Zhao Anming''s father knelt, trembling with fear.


    Zhao Ce then pulled his hand out of the oil pot, leaving the bone inside. The bone in the oil pot continued to emit screams and ghostly howls.


    Zhao Ce said to Zhao Anming, "If my heart were insincere, I wouldn''t be able to bring this evil ghost up for deliverance."


    "Since your heart is so sincere, it''s up to you to deliver this evil ghost that has undergone the punishment of the oil pot." "Please do."


    Zhao Anming''s face turned pale.


    "This is an oil pot. I am just a mortal..." He suddenly realized that if he was just a mortal, what was Zhao Ce?


    Zhao Ce chuckled lightly, "Even with my insincere heart, I am still protected by the Buddha."


    "If your heart is so sincere, then Buddha will surely bless you."


    "Why are you afraid of this mere oil pot?"


    Monk Yuan Kong whispered, glancing at the oil pot, and his eyelids twitched.


    Zhao Anming''s father quickly said, "This young man, no, this master..."


    "This ghost has been screaming all along. It''s too scary. Is there any way to stop it?"


    Zhao Ce suggested, "Why don''t you let the young master fish out the bone from the oil pot?"


    Zhao Anming''s father looked at his son. Zhao Anming did not have time to glare at Zhao Ce and immediately said to his father, trembling, "Dad, please don''t joke. This is an oil pot."

 Chapter 53: Can I use chopsticks?

    Zhao Yuanwai chuckled and looked away. He couldn''t cheat his own son, so he had to find someone else. He turned to Master Yuan Kong beside him and said, "Master, this evil ghost has been exploding for so long, it should be able to be delivered by now. Please hurry and fish it out for deliverance."


    The focus was now on Master Yuan Kong. He looked at the oil pot that was gradually calming down, and his plump face trembled. He pointed at Zhao Ce and said, "Didn''t this male donor just say that he has the protection of Buddhist Dharma? Let him fish it out."


    Zhao Ce shrugged and boldly said, "I don''t believe in Buddha, my heart is insincere, I can''t fish it out."


    Hearing this shameless remark, Master Yuan Kong glared at him and said, "You just said you have the protection of Buddhist Dharma."


    Zhao Ce gave Zhao Anming a meaningful look, making him afraid that the focus would shift to him, and quickly hid behind Zhao Yuanwai. What was going on with Zhao Ce today? He seemed like a different person from before, and they couldn''t understand him at all.


    Zhao Ce continued, "This is just a little trick of mine. The real ability lies with the master."


    "This ghost has already suffered punishment in the oil pot for so long, and it''s calling so miserably. Master, as a monk who upholds compassion, if you don''t deliver it, isn''t that killing?"


    "Please fish it out for deliverance as soon as possible."


    After speaking, Zhao Ce looked at Zhao Anming again and said, "Or would you, the sincere Zhao Anming, like to do it?"


    Zhao Anming waved his hand and took a few steps back. "I won''t do it, it''s still up to the master."


    Zhao Yuanwai also quickly said, "Master, this ghost has been calling all the time, everyone is afraid. Please hurry."


    The people around also urged, "Master, please do it quickly."


    Master Yuan Kong looked at the oil pot that was getting hotter and shook his head, "The power I borrowed from Buddha has been used up. I have no more power to use, so we can only let it be."


    Zhao Ce urged him, "Master, even if this ghost will be reincarnated as a pig in the future, it''s still a life. How can you, a compassionate monk, just watch it die like this?"


    "By doing so, aren''t you adding to the Zhao family''s karma of killing?"


    Zhao Ce emphasized the word "adding", causing both Zhao Yuanwai and Zhao Anming to wake up. Adding to their karma of killing? How could this be? Zhao Yuanwai quickly pulled out a bag of money and said, "Master, please borrow some more power from Buddha. After borrowing it, please fish out this evil ghost from the oil pot and deliver it. Otherwise, my family will accumulate even more bad karma."


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    With Zhao Yuanwai''s hand pulling him, Master Yuan Kong received a bulging bag.


    However, he shook his head and said, "I can''t borrow any more power. The Buddha has just left to deliver others."


    "It''s all my fault for not being proficient enough. I need to go back to the mountain and continue my practice."


    He began to pack up his things and prepare to leave, while the bones in the pot continued to emit a mournful cry.


    Zhao Yuanwai was at a loss and looked at his own son, Zhao Anming, who was speechless. After some thought, Zhao Yuanwai reluctantly shifted his gaze to the master who was packing up his things.


    He said with some annoyance, "As a master with great spiritual powers, you must have some special skills. Please use them quickly."


    Everyone had seen the master''s extraordinary abilities earlier, and now they all admired his profound magic.


    The master said, "If you give me a pair of chopsticks, I can pick it out."


    This statement immediately stunned Zhao Yuanwai and the people around him. Zhao Yuanwai''s mouth twitched and he said, "If I can use chopsticks myself, then what''s the point of having the protection of Buddhist Dharma? Can it be used directly without being picked out?"


    "Of course, it needs to be picked out by hand, just like you said at the beginning, Master!"


    The master waved his hand and said, "In that case, I''m leaving. I need to go back to the mountain and chant sutras for Buddha''s blessings. May Buddha bless you all."


    The cry from the oil pot had weakened, causing Zhao Yuanwai to fear that his family would accumulate even more bad karma in front of so many people.


    "Master, please don''t leave. You promised to help us resolve this matter."


    "It''s only half done. You can''t leave until it''s delivered."


    The master shook his head and asked for chopsticks to just directly fish it out, but he refused to extend his hand again.


    Zhao Ce reminded him, "Master, you have the protection of Buddhist Dharma. Zhao Yuanwai, you can hold his hand and help him fish it out. It''s the same thing."


    This woke Zhao Yuanwai up, and he immediately grabbed the master''s hand and said, "I''m sorry, Master."


    He then began to pull the master''s hand towards the oil pot. Zhao Yuanwai was quite fat, but the master was no less so. The two of them held each other''s hands, deadlocked.


    The master said, "Zhao donor, this isn''t right. If you continue like this, I will have to ask Buddha to punish you."


    "Please let go of my hand."


    Zhao Yuanwai had an angry expression on his face. He couldn''t understand what was going on with the master. Earlier, the master had been resolute and willing to sacrifice himself. How could he suddenly shrink back? He even wanted to use chopsticks to fish out the bones from the oil pot. Who couldn''t do that with chopsticks? What kind of master was he?


    However, they had all witnessed the master''s extraordinary abilities, so they couldn''t let him leave easily. When they couldn''t move the master, Zhao Yuanwai shouted, "Son, come and help." Zhao Ce joked with Zhao Anming, "Zhao Anming, your father is willing to offend even the Buddha for you." "Why don''t you go and help?" Filial piety was of the utmost importance.


    Zhao Anming had no choice but to step forward, even though he didn''t want to. Zhao Yuanwai pulled from the front, and Zhao Anming pushed from behind. The master''s horse stance was unstable, and he was pushed forward. The onlookers, including some scholars, were stunned by Zhao Anming''s actions, which were so contrary to the decorum expected of a scholar. They all managed to hold back their laughter.


    Master Yuan Kong struggled and shouted, "How dare you be disrespectful to the Buddha like this? I will go back and tell the Buddha to punish your family." Zhao Yuanwai said with an angry expression, "The Buddha is compassionate and saves all beings. How could he punish our family?" "This evil spirit is the one harming our family." Zhao Ce nodded in agreement and said, "Your argument is sound and convincing."


    The father and son duo found it difficult to move the master on their own, so Zhao Yuanwai ordered the servants to come and help. The scene, which had been illuminated by the Buddha''s radiance, was now chaotic, like a crowded marketplace.

 Chapter 54: The poor monk is going to kill

    The Zhao family was united in their efforts. The old lady said, "Everyone, use more force. The master''s feet are starting to move." The master''s face twisted as he was gradually brought to the oil pot.


    Feeling the heat from the pot, he shouted in terror, "Stop, stop quickly!" "If you continue like this, I will get angry!" Zhao Yuanwai and his family couldn''t stop now. The cries from the pot were getting fainter. If they failed to catch the ghost, they would have to bear the burden of their own misfortunes. If this became known, their son''s reputation would be tarnished.


    Zhao Yuanwai held the master''s hand and pulled with difficulty, finally placing it on the oil pot. Master Yuan Kong shouted loudly, "Let go, let go. I''ll do it myself!" Zhao Yuanwai was relieved that the master was willing to cooperate, so he quickly let go. His chubby face turned red from the heat, and he panted heavily. Zhao Anming also looked at the master impatiently. Thinking back to his own shameful actions earlier, he wanted to spit on the master.


    Everyone looked at Master Yuan Kong expectantly as he looked at the oil pot, then turned to look at the people around him. His chubby face trembled, and he suddenly said, "I want to use my Zen staff to borrow some power from the Buddha." Zhao Yuanwai nodded and said, "Zhao Anming, go get the master''s Zen staff."


    The master waved his hand and said, "I''ll get it myself." He turned and began walking toward the altar. "Hey, master, where''s your Zen staff?" Zhao Yuanwai saw that the master was heading in the wrong direction, so he kindly called out. At this moment, Master Yuan Kong hated Zhao Yuanwai more than anything.


    After traveling the world for many years, he was being exposed like this. The master was delighted to get his Zen staff back from his offering table. He found the right direction and was about to run away when he shouted, "Move aside, or else I''ll have to resort to violence!" Once he entered the crowd, it would be difficult to catch him. Thinking this, Master Yuan Kong''s steps quickened.


    "Huh?" The promised acceleration disappeared. The master''s steps were stopped in their tracks. He even fell back a few steps due to inertia and holding onto his Zen staff. Zhao Ce, who had anticipated this, stepped forward and grabbed the other end of the staff.


    He coolly said, "Master, are you trying to run away?" The remaining monks also scattered like birds and beasts. The Zhao family stood there, stunned, watching the master try to run away. The monks who were also fleeing were all dumbfounded. What was going on? Master Yuan Kong turned around and looked at Zhao Ce, who was holding the other end of his staff, with a frown and shouted, "Let go, otherwise don''t blame me for being rude!"


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    Zhao Ce held the other end of the staff with one hand effortlessly, while Master Yuankong struggled hard. Zhao Ce stood still, unmoved. Master Yuan Kong couldn''t believe it and shouted, "What kind of monster are you? How could you be so strong?" He gritted his teeth and was about to let go of his most valuable staff.


    Zhao Ce, seeing this, directly grabbed the other end of the staff in his hand and swung it to the side with force. The master didn''t have time to let go and felt a great force in his hand. He was carried away by the staff and flew to the side. Meanwhile, the fleeing monks with the money bag were hit hard by the flying master, and the crowd watching the scene retreated to the outermost edge. They were amazed by Zhao Ce''s strength and his ability to throw the master with such ease.


    Su Cai''er watched anxiously but didn''t dare to approach, afraid of causing trouble for her husband. The scholar beside her was admiring Zhao Ce''s strength, saying, "This young man is obviously a scholar wearing a long robe, but he looks like he can fight a group of bandits alone..." Zhao Ce looked at the master lying on the ground and laughed, "Master, why are you in such a hurry to run away? Mr. Zhao said you didn''t finish your job, so you have to stay a little longer." He thought for a moment, afraid that some troublemakers would bother him, and added, "Oh, my surname is also Zhao. I am the person Mr. Zhao sent to expose your tricks."


    Master Yuan Kong was struggling on the ground, writhing and gasping for air. Blue veins bulged from his forehead, but the tall and skinny scholar in long robes held him down effortlessly with one hand on his staff. Zhao Ce turned to Zhao Yuanwai, who was standing dumbfounded, and said, "Get some rope and tie them up to take to the authorities."


    Zhao Yuanwai was puzzled by the sudden turn of events. "What''s going on?" he asked. "Master, why did you suddenly run away?" The gasping Yuan Kong tried to defend himself, "I didn''t say I wanted to kill anyone!" Suddenly, Zhao Ce applied more force on the staff, making it difficult for Yuan Kong to speak. The ghostly wails from the oil pot had almost disappeared. Zhao Yuanwai watched Yuan Kong struggling on the ground and the other monks being held down, feeling at a loss. "What about this hungry ghost?" he asked.


    "They will turn into fried ghosts!" Zhao Ce calmly replied, "They are not hungry ghosts at all. All these monks are frauds. They don''t have any real Buddhist teachings to rely on. It''s all just their little tricks. You asked me to expose them, so they ran away in fear of being exposed."


    "Frauds?" Zhao Yuanwai couldn''t believe it. "But this master hasn''t eaten or drunk anything for six days, and he still looks healthy and energetic. And what about the turtle that guided us and the head of the animal we saw earlier? How can they be frauds?"


    The evil ghost in the oil pot was still whimpering. It was hard to believe that the master was a fraud. "Zhao Yuanwai, do you know why I dared to put my hand into the oil pot?" Zhao Ce asked. "Do you think I, someone who doesn''t believe in Buddhism, have any Buddhist protection?" Zhao Yuanwai hesitated, "I don''t know..." "Maybe you are special, so Buddha is protecting you?" Zhao Ce replied, "Of course not."

 Chapter 55: Bandits not Monks

    "The upper layer of this oil pot is vinegar," Zhao Ce explained. "Vinegar boils at a very low temperature, so when I put my hand in just now, the vinegar had already boiled and it didn''t burn my hand. But as the temperature of the oil rose, the master dared not put his hand in anymore. So I don''t have any Buddhist protection, it''s all just their little tricks."


    Zhao Yuanwai looked bewildered. "As for the turtle that guided us, that''s even simpler," Zhao Ce continued to explain. "The paper turtle was made by cutting a piece of paper into the shape of a turtle, then mixing bear bile and carp bile to paint on the paper before letting it dry. When the paper is placed in water, it will appear to be moving in a terrified manner. As for the pig''s head..." Zhao Ce glanced at them, but shook his head and said, "You wouldn''t understand."


    Zhao Yuanwai quickly said, "I don''t understand, but my son is a scholar, he will definitely understand." Zhao Anming was pushed forward with some fear, looking at Zhao Ce. He had seen Zhao Ce''s strength just now and was afraid that if Zhao Ce got angry, no one could stop him. Zhao Anming stuttered, "Y-you can tell me, I''m listening." Zhao Ce said, "Okay, I''ll explain it to you. There''s a type of solution called a dissolving solution. Dip a clean brush in the dissolving solution and draw the outline of the pig''s head on the paper. After the paper dries, it looks like an ordinary piece of white paper. But when the marked area is touched by fire, it will burn away, revealing the pig''s head drawing." "Now that I''ve explained it, do you understand?"


    Zhao Yuanwai looked at his son expectantly. Zhao Anming didn''t want to admit that he didn''t understand, so he pretended to understand and said, "Yes, I understand." But his words were met with laughter from the crowd.


    The scholar standing next to Su Cai''er looked at Zhao Anming and burst into laughter. Seeing that Zhao Yuanwai and his group were looking at him, the scholar said boldly, "To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge."


    "You pretending to know what you don''t is just plain ignorance," the scholar continued. Zhao Anming''s face turned pale and then red. Zhao Yuanwai added, "What Li Xiucai means is, son, are you pretending to know what you don''t know?" The scholar named Li Xiucai smirked at Zhao Anming, who was at a loss for words.


    Finally, he just stood awkwardly aside. Zhao Yuanwai then realized that he had just exposed his own son''s ignorance. However, he was still confused because the master had sat outside their house for six days without eating or drinking, which everyone had witnessed. This was not the legendary skill of fasting, so what was it?


    After Zhao Yuanwai expressed his doubts, Zhao Ce chuckled lightly and then said seriously, "That''s why I said earlier, you should tie them up and report them to the officials!"


    "They are not monks, but murderers! And they have probably killed more than one person!" Zhao Anming''s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the master on the ground. "Murderers?" Zhao Yuanwai had spent a lot of money to hire them, but it turned out they were a bunch of murderers?


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    Zhao Ce pointed to the master''s Buddhist beads around his neck and said, "When the master first arrived in the city, he had 24 beads on his necklace. Now, there are only 18 beads left. Where did the other 6 go?" This statement left Zhao Yuanwai stunned.


    Zhao Anming, on the other hand, was the first to react. "The beads contain food!" he exclaimed. "These beads do not contain food," Zhao Ce replied. "A person who does not eat or drink for six days and nights, even if there was a little bit of food, without water, it would not be possible for him to have such a healthy glow on his face."


    "The only possibility is that these beads have a special origin," Zhao Ce continued. "If I''m not mistaken, they are what is known as infant pills..." "Infant pills..." Some of the people present had heard of this before and their faces changed.


    "The Infant Pill is not an ordinary thing. It is made from unborn babies. No wonder Zhao Ce said that these people killed more than one person.


    Zhao Ce said, ��Zhao Yuanwai, why don''t you just have them taken to the officials and explain this matter to the county magistrate? Once these thieves are examined, everything will become clear.��


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanwai''s face immediately changed. He didn''t dare to delay and quickly had the group of people taken to the county office. ��You fake, how dare you deceive me like this!�� ��I''ll take you to the officials right now!�� The servants immediately brought out ropes. Zhao Ce took back the Zen staff from the master and the master struggled with all his remaining strength. It took several servants to subdue him.


    Zhao Yuanwai looked at the master and then at Zhao Ce, muttering, ��This young man is so strong, if I didn''t know any better, I would have thought he really had the protection of Buddhism.�� The people were taken away and the onlookers followed them to the county office to see the excitement.


    Back at the Zhao residence, Li Xiucai, who had been watching the scene, said boldly, ��Since there''s no more excitement to see, let''s go drink.�� He then swaggered away. Zhao Ce returned to Su Cai''er''s side and she relaxed, asking, ��My husband, did you get hurt?�� She checked him over anxiously and Zhao Ce smiled, ��Of course not.��


    Just then, Zhao Yuanwai and his men arrived. ��Young Master Zhao, please stay.�� Zhao Yuanwai had had a really bad day. He had originally wanted to pray to the gods and Buddhas to ward off misfortune, but he had ended up hiring a group of bandits with blood on their hands. His expression, no matter how pleasant, was all fake.


    Today, if they had been deceived by this master and had sent him away, and then the master had been caught, the news would have spread and his family would have become accomplices. Fortunately, this young man had exposed the truth. Otherwise, they would have been in big trouble. Thinking of this, Zhao Yuanwai respectfully said to Zhao Ce, ��Young Sir, it''s a good thing you''re knowledgeable. If not for you, our family would have mistaken these thieves for our benefactors.��


    Zhao Ce glanced at Zhao Anming meaningfully and said, ��Young Master has great talent. Even if I hadn''t exposed these thieves, Young Master would have done so naturally.�� Zhao Anming thought of how he had kneeled down and worshipped the so-called high monk earlier, and then helped his father push the high monk, he felt that he had lost face as a scholar. He glared at Zhao Yuanwai, blaming his father for all the ugly things he had done in public."

 Chapter 56: When you make a mistake, you need to apologize

    Over there, Zhao Yuanwai respectfully said to Zhao Ce, "This young gentleman, please come to our house for a gathering."


    "After the result is announced in court, our Zhao family will definitely show our gratitude."


    Zhao Ce said indifferently, "There''s no need for excessive gratitude."


    "This case may not be resolved today."


    "If it weren''t for Young Master Zhao insisting that I kneel, I probably wouldn''t have discovered the problem with this fake monk."


    Zhao Anming''s face had already turned as black as the bottom of a pot.


    Although Zhao Ce was no longer babbling, every sentence he spoke was an insult.


    The key was that he couldn''t find a way to counterattack!


    But when he thought of Zhao Ce''s strength just now, Zhao Anming quickly moved behind Zhao Yuanwai.


    Forget it. He wouldn''t argue with a dropout. Zhao Ce lightly glanced at Zhao Anming. Zhao Anming met his gaze and quickly looked away.


    Zhao Ce said, "By the way, be careful when handling the bones in the oil pot."


    "It''s best to sprinkle some sulfur powder before burying them."


    After speaking, Zhao Ce didn''t plan to stay any longer. He directly pulled Su Caier''s hand and left. Su Caier lowered her eyes slightly and obediently let him pull her. Feeling the warmth of their hands holding each other, her anxious heart finally settled down.


    Zhao Yuanwai looked at Zhao Ce''s back and asked his son, "Do you know this young man?"


    Zhao Anming''s face was dark as he said, "Former classmate."


    Zhao Yuanwai frowned and asked, "How did he become a former classmate?"


    "It''s a pity that such a talented and knowledgeable person can��t be friends with you."


    Zhao Anming thought to himself that this friendship couldn''t be established anymore.


    "I bet he wanted to kill me..." Zhao Anming thought to himself. He felt uneasy when he remembered that Zhao Ce had been expelled from school by their teacher. At that time, he had brought people to catch Zhao Ce and had publicized the incident, causing Zhao Ce to be expelled from school and unable to take the imperial examinations.


    As he thought about it, Zhao Anming shivered. "It''s not entirely my fault," he thought. "After all, even if he had taken the wrong path, he did barge in." Zhao Anming consoled himself, "Anyway, Zhao Ce''s family is poor. If he doesn''t go to the brothel, he can save some money. Let him work on the farm and live a good life. That courtesan is not something a farmer like him can even dream of." After muttering to himself, Zhao Anming felt much better.


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    Meanwhile, outside the Zhao residence, Zhao Ce held Su Caier''s hand and left the empty space outside the Zhao residence. Su Caier''s hand was cold, and she still felt scared from what had just happened. Zhao Ce squeezed her hand and asked, "Why is your hand so cold?"


    Su Caier whispered, "I was too scared just now." She had almost fainted when she saw her husband put his hand into the oil pot. Although she knew her husband was capable, she still worried about him. Zhao Ce apologized, "It''s my fault. Although I am clear about those things, I didn''t explain them to you in advance and made you worry." This was the second time today that Su Caier had heard her husband apologize.


    She became nervous again. How could the head of the household keep apologizing to his wife like this? Su Caier raised her shining eyes and said, stuttering, "My husband did nothing wrong. I was just too worried. I know my husband is sensible. I...I''m the one who should apologize." Zhao Ce lowered his head and smiled, seeing the mist in his wife''s big eyes caused by her anxiety. He rubbed her little head and said helplessly, "When you make a mistake, you need to apologize, whether you''re a husband or a wife. I made you worry, so it''s my fault." Su Caier looked at him cautiously and saw her husband looking at her gently, without any hint of blame.


    She mustered up the courage and whispered, "My husband, let''s not watch these lively events in the future." Her husband had just said that the group of monks were murderers. She thought about it and still felt scared.


    Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Okay, we won''t watch them anymore. Let''s just focus on living our own lives and not worry about others." Su Caier heard her husband''s words and couldn''t help but smile a little. Her husband was really different from other men. He never blamed her for anything she did. He even apologized to her as his wife when he made mistakes. Su Caier''s heart felt sour. She had been alive for almost 16 years and had always been in a humble position, always apologizing for everything. Despite that, she still couldn''t win anyone''s favor due to her physical condition. But with her husband, she felt a kind of feeling she had never experienced before.


    Su Caier didn''t have much education and didn''t know what the word "respect" meant, so she didn''t know how to describe this feeling. She just felt that her husband was too good. She would work hard and always stay by his side. The little girl suddenly became quiet.


    Zhao Ce didn''t say anything more and slowly walked forward with Su Caier. Originally, Zhao Ce wanted to find Zhao Wenhua and tell him about the sugar business. But they had watched the lively event for too long, and it was getting late. He still had other things to do. He decided to come back to find him next time.


    First, he needed to buy the tools he would use. They happened to pass by a cloth shop. Zhao Ce took the little girl and went in. "What do you need, sirs?" The shopkeeper had seen Zhao Ce twice in the past few days and recognized him. He warmly greeted them.


    Zhao Ce said, "I want to buy some shoe-making tools." The shopkeeper glanced at Su Caier''s old grass shoes and enthusiastically said, "Okay, please come in with me." Since Su Caier had already experienced the grocery store in the morning, she wasn''t as nervous as before. She obediently followed her husband in. Zhao Ce said, "Just tell the shopkeeper what you need." Su Caier nervously swallowed and hesitated before nodding her head. Although her voice was small and timid, she still managed to express her thoughts. "We need big needles for sewing shoe soles, and we also need cloth to make the shoe uppers."

 Chapter 57: Dont be afraid, I will protect you

    After hearing Su Caier''s request, the shopkeeper quickly gathered all the necessary tools. However, the material for the shoe uppers appeared to be more suitable for a young lady. Su Caier whispered, "I''m making shoes for my husband..."


    The shopkeeper suddenly understood and brought out some fabric suitable for men.


    Zhao Ce noticed the shop''s patterned shoe uppers and asked Su Caier, "Do you want to get to some patterned shoe uppers? I''ve seen many young ladies in the village wearing shoes with patterns."


    Su Caier declined, saying that she preferred her grass shoes for working. Zhao Ce looked at her worn-out grass shoes and decided to buy some fabric for her anyway. He teased, "I bought you the tools, but you still have to make the shoes yourself." Su Caier hesitated and asked for the cheapest material.


    After finishing their shopping, the shopkeeper kindly saw them out and Zhao Ce led Su Caier to a family that sold earthen jars. Despite being located in a small alley, Zhao Ce had excellent directional sense and found the place easily. They selected some jars and ordered a few custom pieces. The shop owner was surprised at their request but didn''t ask too many questions. After placing a deposit, they received a wooden sign and were told to come back in a few days to pick up their order. They also arranged for delivery, saving them the trouble of hiring a cart. After that, they went back to the grocery store and they gave the shop assistant two coins to hire a cart to bring back their basket that they left at the grocery store.


    After bringing back the basket, Su Caier squatted down and carefully checked the goods inside. The shop assistant who brought the goods back said, "The shop owner said that he has taken good care of your things."


    "We trust that nothing will be lost," replied Su Caier.


    Zhao Ce also smiled and said, "Of course, we trust you." "But our home is far away, and we''re afraid we may have missed something." "That''s why it''s a good thing for my wife to check carefully," Zhao Ce added.


    The shop assistant smiled awkwardly and scratched his head. "Yes, that''s true..."


    Zhao Ce looked at Su Caier, who was squatting on the ground, and raised his eyebrows at her. Su Caier smiled back at him, showing her small white teeth. She stood up, holding the new fan from the basket.


    The goods were all packed and ready for transport. The shop sent a cart with a shop assistant to accompany them. They didn''t plan to do any more shopping and instead chose to ride the delivery cart back home, Zhao Ce and Su Caier sat at the back of the cart, which was already filled with many goods. Zhao Ce had long legs and couldn''t hang them down, so he had to sit cross-legged at the back of the cart. Su Caier was worried about the cost of all the things they just bought and asked Zhao Ce how much they had spent. Zhao Ce smiled and said that it was just a small amount, and they had just bought a few things that would make their life easier. Su Caier was touched by his thoughtfulness and thanked him.


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    Su Caier dangled her small legs outside the cart and occasionally wiggled them. As they left the city, they could still hear many people who had just returned from watching the excitement at the county government discussing the master who had just appeared.


    "I never thought there was something in this world called the Infant Pills.''"


    "Oh my goodness, this is too unbelievable."


    "Yes, that young man who was at the door of Mr. Zhao just now mentioned this thing."


    "I was still wondering what it was at the time."


    "Then the county magistrate became nervous and kept asking questions."


    "He took off the Buddhist beads around his neck, dissolved them in water, and it turned into a white oily substance!"


    "Unfortunately, these monks refused to say a word, even though the county magistrate had put them in jail and planned to interrogate them slowly."


    "Estimating from this, they will probably be tortured."


    The cart continued on its way, and Zhao Ce heard a lot. However, he didn''t take it to heart. These monks looked kind, but their eyes were filled with blood, indicating that they had shed blood before. Moreover, it was said that they were invited by Mr. Zhao''s mother from the mountains, so there may be other accomplices. That''s why Zhao Ce claimed to be a relative of Mr. Zhao that was hired to expose their tricks.


    Coincidentally, his surname was also Zhao. There''s always someone responsible for wrongdoing. If someone wants to cause trouble, they can just go to the Zhao family. After all, their family is wealthy and powerful, and they are not afraid of any trouble. In any case, this matter is considered resolved with him. Let Zhao''s family deal with the remaining issues.


    Su Caier, who was beside him, became a little scared after hearing this and secretly leaned closer to her husband''s back. Feeling her small body pressing against him, Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Don''t be afraid, if anything happens, I will protect you." Su Caier blushed and said shyly, "Yes, my husband will protect me."


    The ox cart gradually left the city gate. It was midday, and there were not many people on the road. Su Caier still maintained her posture of leaning towards her husband''s side, feeling incredibly safe. Yes, there was really nothing to fear. Her husband would definitely protect her. Looking at the scenery receding around her, Su Caier''s mood gradually became lighter. Occasionally, she would happily fan herself with the new fan. Her small legs hanging at the back of the cart also gently swayed.


    Suddenly, a hand with distinct knuckles reached from behind her and wrapped around her waist, directly encircling her small waist. A gentle voice came from above her head. Zhao Ce said, "It''s a bit dangerous, I''ll hold you so you don''t fall." As he spoke, he reached out and loosely wrapped his arms around the little girl''s waist. After encircling her, Zhao Ce thought that the girl''s waist was too thin. He felt that if he opened his palm, he could almost wrap it around her.


    He lowered his head and saw the little girl''s red ear tips. Zhao Ce couldn''t help but chuckle softly. Su Caier''s small body stiffened for a moment before becoming a little shy and moving slightly. After a while, she couldn''t help but lower her head and glance at the hand encircling her waist. The fingers were slender, with distinct meridians on them. After looking for a while, she felt too embarrassed. She had heard the village women say that they would feel more shy at night in bed, but now Su Caier realized that there were even more embarrassing situations than that.

 Chapter 58: Things will get better!

    By the time Su Caier came to her senses, the ox cart had already entered the village. It was the hottest time of the day, and those who weren''t working in the fields were taking shelter under the big locust tree with their children. As soon as the cart entered the village, everyone''s eyes were fixed on the two people in the back of the cart.


    However, some people''s gazes seemed a little strange. Su Caier quickly lowered her head. Seeing that Zhao Ce had bought so many earthen jars, everyone became interested.


    Some people who had no grudges against Zhao Ce took the initiative to approach the cart and ask, "You must be getting rich with all these things you''ve bought." The village knew about Zhao Ce''s family selling their land before, so seeing all these seemingly useless things, some people thought he had gone out and spent his uncle''s money recklessly again.


    Someone from behind loudly exclaimed, "You were a good scholar, but you got expelled from school. Now you''ve bought all these useless things. You don''t even have enough money to lose!" Hearing this, Zhao Ce looked at the person and said calmly, "My affairs don''t require your attention." The cart kept moving and gradually left the village. The remaining people continued to gossip and inquire about Zhao Ce''s situation.


    Some of the onlookers explained that Zhao Ce had been in front of Zhao''s Family house in the town earlier, and they had witnessed the excitement. They talked about how Zhao Ce had been amazing that day, and how the fake master had been exposed by him.


    They also mentioned that Zhao Ce should pray to the Buddha to bless him to find a teacher who is willing to teach him.


    "Does that mean the previous teacher refused to teach Zhao Ce?"


    "Surely that''s the case."


    "Some of the onlookers said that Zhao Ce has been expelled from school!"


    After hearing this, the villagers were in an uproar.


    "What? Expelled from school?"


    "When did this happen?"


    Originally, Zhao Ce had a bad reputation in the village, and people occasionally made fun of him.


    But they never expected him to be expelled from school.


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    After all, without an education, Zhao Ce wouldn''t be able to take the imperial examinations.


    Furthermore, if Zhao Ce was expelled by his teacher, then the children in their village probably wouldn''t be able to study either!


    After all, this kind of reputation could bring shame to an entire village.


    Everyone began to curse Zhao Ce.


    "Isn''t he always preaching about being a saint? What did Zhao Ce do?"


    "My grandson was planning to find a teacher in the city to teach him next year. Now the teachers in the city probably won''t accept people from our village!"


    "Does the village chief know about this? Why didn''t he tell us?"


    Many people were cursing Zhao Ce.


    After all, in ancient times, one''s reputation could affect an entire village, especially in matters of education. Zhao Ce had already regained some of his reputation by fighting with his uncle''s family, but now it had become even worse! And unlike before, people weren''t just making fun of him. Now they were all angry with him.


    Aunt Liu had just arrived with her grandson. She heard everyone cursing Zhao Ce and couldn''t help but speak up. "Maybe Zhao Ce just wants to find a new teacher?" "I heard some teachers don''t charge as much." "Zhao Ce is working in the fields now, so his family probably doesn''t have enough money. That''s why he wants to find a new teacher."


    Aunt Liu''s words seemed to make sense to everyone.


    "Well..." "That''s a possibility." "Even masters can be fake. We can''t completely trust what people in the city say."


    The people in the village didn''t know much about education, but Aunt Liu''s words seemed plausible.


    These days, Zhao Ce had to work in the fields. It was estimated that his family was really poor and couldn''t afford to even wear good clothes. Without proper attire, the teachers in the city wouldn''t be willing to teach him. Everyone thought this was a possibility.


    "But didn''t Zhao Ce just buy so many things earlier? He doesn''t seem poor at all." "Didn''t he say his wife brought a lot of dowry with her? He probably spent the money from his wife''s dowry." "But he didn''t even want to buy a good piece of cloth for his wife with her dowry." "Zhao Ce is really unscrupulous."


    The conversation shifted from Zhao Ce being expelled from school to condemning him for spending a woman''s money. Some people who had children who wanted to study went to the village chief''s house to clarify the situation.


    Aunt Liu spoke up for Zhao Ce again, and the conversation shifted back to Zhao Ce exposing the fake master. The old man praised Zhao Ce''s performance, and everyone was amazed. The villagers gathering under the big locust tree was full of gossip, satisfying the people of Shuiqiao Village.


    On the other side, as Zhao Ce gradually walked away, he listened to the people''s whispers and felt helpless. He couldn''t argue with the villagers, especially since he was the one who made the mistake in the first place. He couldn''t show his face in the village, and the fact that he was expelled from school made him feel even more depressed.


    Zhao Ce thought to himself that he needed to find a teacher and go back to study as soon as possible. Su Cai''er bit her lip and turned her head, feeling sorry for her husband. "Husband..." Only she knew how good her husband was.


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "It''s okay. Those are all things from the past, and there was nothing we could do about it. Things will gradually get better." Su Cai''er nodded and tried to comfort him. "Things will get better!"

 Chapter 59: Investigate Zhao Ce

    At this moment, in the courtroom, the Zhao family''s steward and the servants brought in the group of monks. After receiving Zhao Yuanwai''s lawsuit, County Magistrate Zhang began to investigate the monks.


    Unfortunately, although he could see the clues, these people were tight-lipped and refused to confess. Helpless, he had no choice but to lock them up in prison and conduct the investigation slowly. County Magistrate Zhang ordered, "Lock them up in the prison and treat them well! We must get all their secrets��


    After the group was taken away, County Magistrate Zhang looked at the pile of evidence and became even more interested. He asked Zhao family''s steward, "I heard that this group of frauds was exposed by a young man. Is the ghost''s cry really so terrifying?"


    Zhao family''s steward respectfully replied, "Lord County Magistrate, the bone that produced that terrifying sound was indeed very scary." "Otherwise, our master would not think it was caused by a real ghost."


    County Magistrate Zhang tapped the bone lightly with a board, and it made a dull sound. It must have been filled with something. He called for someone to dismantle the bone and see what was inside. Zhao family''s steward quickly stopped him, saying, "My lord, that young man said that the bone was filled with mercury! Mercury is highly toxic, and the bone cannot be opened easily! If opened without any precautions, one will be poisoned!"


    County Magistrate Zhang asked, "Mercury?" He looked at the seemingly ordinary evidence on the table, but there was much to it. The most crucial thing was that the young man knew everything about it. Those who didn''t know would have thought that the young man was involved in these things!


    County Magistrate Zhang asked, "This young man is so knowledgeable and talented. Who is he?" Zhao family''s steward honestly replied, "Lord County Magistrate, our young master said that he is his former classmate. He is a person from Shuiqiao Village named Zhao Ce."


    "Zhao Ce..." County Magistrate Zhang repeated this name, and at the same time, he was curious about the word "former" in front of "classmate." "What does ''former classmate'' mean?" Zhao family''s steward said with a strange expression, "Our young master said that Zhao Ce has already been expelled by his teacher, so he is our young master''s former classmate."


    "Expelled by his teacher..." County Magistrate Zhang frowned. "What did this young man do to be expelled by his teacher?" Zhao family''s steward roughly explained to County Magistrate Zhang the story of how Zhao Ce was expelled. After listening, County Magistrate Zhang furrowed his brow. He looked at the evidence on the table and thought, even if he were present, he would not have been able to expose all of these tricks all at once.


    The young man named Zhao Ce is truly knowledgeable and talented. How could someone with such qualities have such poor conduct? What a pity... County Magistrate Zhang waved his hand and let Zhao family''s steward, who had been waiting on the side, go.


    After looking at the evidence for a while, County Magistrate Zhang decided to personally go to the prison to ask some questions. Just then, an official came in from outside and said, "My lord, all the lantern riddles for the Mid-Autumn Festival have been collected. Several of the city''s scholar-officials have selected many good riddles."


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    County Magistrate Zhang became interested and said, "Oh? Show them to me quickly." The selected riddles were all screened, and only the first and second-class ones had a chance to be presented to County Magistrate Zhang. There were a total of six first-class riddles. County Magistrate Zhang skipped over the second-class ones and opened the first-class riddles. He looked at the first two, which were ordinary word-guessing riddles and were not particularly innovative.


    He opened the third one with a lack of enthusiasm. On the paper was a simple circle drawn to indicate the position of the riddle. County Magistrate Zhang furrowed his brow. What kind of riddle was this? He had never seen anyone come up with such a riddle before. "Could it be that the city''s scholar-officials have made a mistake?" County Magistrate Zhang looked suspiciously at the answer.


    After reading it, his pupils suddenly dilated. "This...is brilliant!" "What a good riddle!" "Even I couldn''t guess it!" "Who could have come up with such a magnificent riddle?" He looked at the name in the lower left corner of the blank paper. "Zhao Ce, a person from Shuiqiao Village..." County Magistrate Zhang repeated Zhao Ce''s name, and upon recalling what he had heard about him earlier, he became even more interested in this young man. He said to the official next to him, "Go and find out more about this young man named Zhao Ce." "In addition, see if there is any hidden reason behind his expulsion from school."


    When the official heard this, he was surprised that the county magistrate would personally investigate a student. This person seemed extraordinary... He said, "My lord, I will go and handle it immediately." After the official left, County Magistrate Zhang also drew a circle on the paper. Looking at the circle, he muttered, "Interesting." "I can''t even come up with a better answer myself..."


    ��������������������������������..


    At this time, inside Shuiqiao Village, the sun was already slanting to the west. Zhao Ce was busy in the courtyard, preparing to clear some space and build a few new stoves outside for convenient sugar-making during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.


    Meanwhile, the young girl was in the room, hurrying to sew clothes. After finishing her work, Zhao Ce prepared to wash up and get rid of his stinky sweat. In the room, Su Caier had spent the whole afternoon rushing to finish the large shirt that Zhao Ce was going to wear. After sewing the final stitch and biting off the thread, Su Caier stood up and swung the shirt in the air, saying, "Finally finished..." Looking at the large shirt, Su Caier couldn''t help but imagine how her husband would look in it and felt a little happy. This was the first piece of clothing she had made for him with her own hands.


    However, she was also a little nervous because she had only roughly sewn it before and couldn''t tell how it would look when worn. She muttered to herself, "I wonder if it will look good on him?" Suddenly, she had an idea and blushed as she stuck her hand inside the sleeve of the shirt and put it on. Looking at the long sleeves that hung in front of her and the hem that almost covered her small legs, Su Caier felt a little embarrassed. Why was her husband''s shirt so long? She hesitated and folded the sleeves up a bit before looking for a belt to tie the shirt and see how it looked.


    Just then, the door creaked open, and Zhao Ce walked in, calling out to the young girl that it was time to cook. But as he looked at the small girl standing awkwardly, not knowing where to put her hands and wearing a loose-fitting shirt, he realized that it was actually his large shirt. Su Caier''s head was about to explode from embarrassment as she looked around, not knowing what to do. "I, I was just trying on my husband''s shirt..." A light laugh echoed in the room as Zhao Ce teased, "You already tried it on. Was it comfortable?"

 Chapter 60: Su Caier’s Family

    The little girl blushed and took off the large shirt she made and looked at her husband with playful eyes and stuttered, "Hus, husband, you try it on." "I, I''ll go cook..." Without even looking at her own feet, she ran out of the room.


    Behind her, she could hear a light laughter. Su Caier felt like her face was on fire. Why did she do such a thing? She actually stole her husband''s clothes... After Su Caier got embarrassed, she sat on a small stool and covered her still-burning face with her hands. She not only stole her husband''s clothes but she was also caught by him. She couldn''t face her husband anymore!


    After staying in the kitchen for a while, the heat on her face finally subsided a bit. Zhao Ce came looking for her. He directly entered the kitchen door and asked, "Is it time to eat?" Su Caier''s heart felt like it was suddenly pulled. She quickly stood up from the small stool and glanced at her husband. Then she moved her gaze away. "Um... it''s almost ready." Su Caier finished speaking, her face turning red. She was about to get the bowls and chopsticks. When she passed by Zhao Ce, he grabbed her small hand hanging by her side and pinched it. "I tried on the clothes, they fit very well." "I really like it." Su Caier endured her shyness and said, "As long as it fits well."


    After speaking, she summoned the courage to look up at her husband. Seeing those beautiful eyes looking at her with a smile, Su Caier seemed to be enchanted and said, "I, I also want to make more clothes and shoes for my husband." Zhao Ce couldn''t help but rub her small head. "Good, from now on, I''ll wear what you make." Su Caier''s mouth carried a shallow smile. She said, "Okay..." "Then I have to make them quickly."


    The two sat facing each other, having finished dinner. Occasionally, they glanced at each other. Su Caier felt her heart beating faster. After finishing their meal, they washed up and returned to their room. Both had washed their hair tonight. They sat together on the bed, drying their hair. The fan that Su Caier bought during the day came in handy now. She happily took out the fan and softly said, "Husband, I''ll fan you to dry your hair faster."


    After speaking, she began fanning him. Zhao Ce felt a cool breeze blowing over him and felt that this summer night was much cooler than usual.


    Zhao Ce said, "Tomorrow, I''ll go to another village and ask about the supply of raw sugar from that Su household." Curiously, Su Caier asked, "Which village are you going to?" "Is it far? If it''s far, I''ll prepare some dry food for you."


    Zhao Ce said, "I asked Auntie before, it''s the Su family in Xiahe village downstream of the river. It takes about an hour to walk there." " Xiahe village..." Su Caier was stunned when she heard the name of the village.


    The movement of the fan in her hand slowed down. She glanced at her husband and then lowered her eyes. The fan in her hand was also fanned lazily.


    Zhao Ce noticed her expression and suddenly thought that Su Caier''s surname was Su. Could she be from that Su Family Village? He asked her about it. Su Caier softly replied with a "yes."


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    "I''m from Su Family in  Xiahe village..." Zhao Ce estimated that the little girl had remembered something unpleasant and pretended to ask her lightly, "Do you want me to take you back to see if there''s anything left to clean up at home?" When the little girl had followed him home that day, she only had two small bundles that contained two sets of washed-out clothes.


    Su Caier''s voice sounded rather calm. She said, "There''s nothing left to clean up..." She thought that her things were probably thrown away by her aunt and uncle. After all, there was no need to keep the things of a jinx...


    After thinking about it, Su Caier asked softly, "Husband, do you know the way to Xiahe village?"


    Zhao Ce said, "I don''t know." "But Auntie said to follow the main road and turn at the river." "When I get near there, I''ll ask someone else." Zhao Ce was not worried at all. It was just that transportation was inconvenient in ancient times, which was indeed troublesome.


    ��Wherever you go, you have to rely on your own two legs, but when you have money, then you can buy an ox cart or a carriage." Zhao Ce thought.


    The little girl beside him hesitated and said, "Why don''t I take my husband there?" Although she was afraid to go back to that village and didn''t want to remember some unpleasant things, if her husband needed her to do it, she wouldn''t mind. The little girl was thin and small like a gust of wind could blow her away, but she was like a little warrior. For her husband, she would put aside all the things she used to be afraid of.


    Zhao Ce looked at the little girl''s messy hair and the small face that was exposed. He couldn''t help feeling a little pity. He reached out and gently smoothed the little girl''s wet hair with his fingers. "It''s okay, I''ll go by myself. I''m tall with long legs, and I can walk fast. It won''t take much time to go back and forth." Su Caier''s hair was combed gently by her husband''s fingers, and she squinted her big eyes comfortably. Hearing her husband''s words, she subconsciously looked at the legs of the two people hanging on the bed. She looked at her husband''s long legs and then looked at her own short legs due to her height. Okay, what her husband said made sense. Since her husband said he wanted to go fast, she couldn''t follow him and slow down his pace.


    "Then I''ll stay at home and make shoes and more clothes for my husband. I think that it won''t take a few days to finish." Zhao Ce nodded and asked Su Caier to help him weave a pair of grass shoes in the style of slippers. The shoes here had to be dragged back to the room when taking a shower at night, which was inconvenient. It was better to have a pair of slippers.


    When Su Caier heard that her husband wanted her to make something for him, she immediately became energetic. Zhao Ce also explained the modern style of slippers to Su Caier and asked her to weave a pair for her too.


    Su Caier''s small feet hanging on the edge of the bed moved shyly. "Husband, it''s so embarrassing to show my feet like this.�� Ancient people didn''t show their toes when wearing shoes, even if it''s a pair of grass shoes like hers, they are still covered. So, Su Caier, this little ancient person, had never worn slippers that showed her toes.


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "There are only two of us at home, so it''s okay if you don''t wear shoes. Make a pair for yourself too, so it''ll be convenient for us to wash up at night." Su Caier blushed and agreed. They are a husband and wife; her husband can see her feet... Although she felt a little sad remembering her past today, she had too many things to do and didn''t have much time to indulge in sadness. When their hair was almost dry, Zhao Ce grabbed the little girl''s hand that was fanning him and rubbed it. "Let''s go to bed..."

 Chapter 61: A Trip to Xiahe Village

    Early the next day, Zhao Ce changed into his new large shirt and prepared to set off for Su Family in Xiahe Village. Since it was a long journey, Su Caier prepared water and dry rations for her husband. Zhao Ce put on his new short jacket and tried out some new movements. It was much more comfortable than wearing a long robe, but the sleeves couldn''t hold their shape for long even when folded up. They would slide down when his arms hung down.


    Seeing this, the little girl took some spare strips of cloth from her basket and twisted them into ropes with her hands. Then, she helped Zhao Ce tie his sleeves securely around his elbows. After finishing, the little girl looked up at him and smiled. "This way, they won''t fall down anymore."


    Zhao Ce waved his hand and found that the sleeves were indeed secure. He laughed and said, "You''re clever." Su Caier, who had received her husband''s praise, left the house with joy after having breakfast and packing her own belongings.


    Zhao Ce was about to say goodbye to the little girl when he heard someone knocking on the door outside. It was Zhao Wenhao, who had come over early in the morning with a backpack on his back. Seeing Zhao Ce, he grinned. "Yesterday, my father heard that you were going to Su Family in Xiahe Village, so he asked me to accompany you there this morning." "Fortunately, I came early, or you would have already left."


    Zhao Ce felt a bit embarrassed and said, "How can I waste your time like this?" Zhao Wenhao waved his hand and said, "You''re a scholar and don''t know anything. If you go there without someone familiar with the place, what if someone bullies you?" He patted his chest. "My mother has relatives there. With me leading the way, you can rest assured." Zhao Ce couldn''t refuse, so he said, "Thank you, Wenhao."


    Zhao Wenhao said, "Let''s go, we should set off early." Zhao Ce nodded, turned around, and said to the little girl behind him, "I''m going out now, you be good and stay at home." Su Caier waved her small hand at him. If her husband had someone to accompany him, she would be more at ease. "Then, come back early after you finish your business," the little girl said softly. Zhao Ce agreed, turned around, walked out, and opened the gate.


    Zhao Ce set off with Zhao Wenhao. Zhao Wenhao couldn''t help but size up Zhao Ce, who was dressed in a large shirt. "You suddenly put on work clothes and look quite the part," he said. But even in a large shirt, Zhao Ce''s demeanor didn''t make him look like a typical farmer.


    Zhao Ce felt proud when he heard Zhao Wenhao''s words. He walked briskly and even showed off his new clothes. "My wife sewed this for me just yesterday," he said. "Look at the stitching and craftsmanship." Zhao Wenhao also looked down and compared it to his own clothes. "Her craftsmanship is indeed good," he said. "But my mother''s clothes are top-notch too." After speaking, Zhao Ce showed him the sleeves. "Look at the way she tied them for me here," he said, pointing to his elbows. He then looked at how Zhao Wenhao had tied his own sleeves and couldn''t help but smile.


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    Zhao Wenhao also looked at his own sleeves and said with a wry smile, "Indeed, I can''t compare." He lost the comparison. When they reached the corner of the road, Zhao Wenhao turned around and said, "Your little wife is still standing at the door watching you." Zhao Ce also turned around and saw the familiar figure standing at the door, watching him leave. He smiled and said, "Every time I go out, my wife always watches me until I''m far away before going back home."


    Zhao Wenhao looked at him, looking full of spirit, but when it came to his own wife, his eyes softened. He asked curiously in a low voice, "Is marriage really that good?" He remembered how Zhao Ce used to be and how he was now. Since getting married, he seemed like a completely different person. Zhao Wenhao couldn''t help but envy him. Zhao Ce thought for a moment and said, "It really is quite good." "No matter where you go, you know there''s someone at home thinking of you, waiting for you to come back." "When you return home, there''s someone who knows your likes and dislikes." This feeling, for Zhao Ce who had spent almost 30 years protecting animals in his previous life and dedicated his whole life to his job, was undoubtedly enjoyable. Although he hadn''t been with this little girl for a long time, her words and actions, every frown and smile, always reminded him of her unintentionally.


    "To be cared for by someone, and to care for others, can truly make Zhao Ce feel that he is living in this world. When Zhao Wenhao listened to him, he also couldn''t help but yearn for it. ''My mother said that next year after my younger brother goes to school, she will help me propose to Ah Hua''s family. When I marry Ah Hua, I will definitely treat her well.''


    Zhao Ce smiled. The two of them walked to the village entrance together. Many people greeted Zhao Wenhao, but when they looked at Zhao Ce, their expressions were not as friendly. Although they had received a promise from the village chief yesterday that they would not let their children miss out on education, seeing Zhao Ce, who used to have lofty ambitions, not going to school now, naturally made them feel unhappy.


    Zhao Ce didn''t pay attention to these gazes and walked forward naturally. Zhao Wenhao saw the attitude of the villagers and thought about the many villagers who came to his father yesterday to ask about Zhao Ce''s dropping out of school. He hesitated and said, ��You don''t have to worry about being expelled from school. Although everyone in the village is a bit resentful now, don''t worry. My father will handle it properly. Your family only has you left, and as the eldest uncle, he definitely won''t abandon you.�� Zhao Wenhao thought of what his father said yesterday, that Zhao Ce''s family only had one child left. If he, as the eldest uncle and the other cousins didn''t take care of him, would they have to watch his family become extinct? Zhao Wenhao couldn''t help but feel a little uneasy. So now he looked at Zhao Ce with a bit of sympathy.


    Zhao Ce looked at his sympathetic gaze and couldn''t help but laugh. But he still said, ''Okay, then I thank Uncle and Brother Wenhao for your help.'' In the meantime, Zhao Wenhao has been helping Zhao Ce''s family with chores. The gratitude he received was probably more than what Zhao Ce had said to him in the past 20 years. Zhao Wenhao scratched his head in embarrassment. ��You''re being too polite. We''re close relatives, so naturally we have to support each other.��

 Chapter 62: Sugar Contract

    The sun gradually rose. The two of them walked forward with their heads down, occasionally chatting. Zhao Wenhao was used to doing farm work, so he didn''t feel tired from walking so much. He looked at Zhao Ce next to him, carrying his bookcase and wiping the sweat from his face from time to time, but he didn''t complain about being tired. Zhao Wenhao couldn''t help but admire him.


    With Zhao Wenhao leading the way, an hour later when the sun had completely risen, the two of them entered Xiahe Village. Like Shuiqiao Village, many older women and young wives who hadn''t gone to work gathered at the entrance of the village. When they saw two young men with unfamiliar faces walking in, everyone''s eyes were drawn to them.


    A middle-aged woman asked, "Young men, where are you from, and who are you looking for?" Zhao Wenhao said, "We''re from the village ahead, Shuiqiao Village, and we''re looking for the family who makes sugar in your village." The woman warmly said, "That''s easy to find. Just keep walking along the main road for half a cup of tea. The only blue brick and tile house in the village is their home."


    Zhao Wenhao thanked the woman loudly and proudly said to Zhao Ce next to him, "Let''s go. I already asked for directions." Zhao Ce also smiled at him and they walked together along the main road. As they walked, they could still hear people behind them whispering, "Oh, that young man next to him is so handsome. He doesn''t look like a farmer at all." "Yes, he''s tall and handsome. I wonder if he''s married or not." "If he''s not married. Do you want to marry your daughter to him?" Zhao Wenhao also heard their words and muttered to himself, "I''m the one who talked to them, why do they ask if you''re married?" He felt a little aggrieved and looked at Zhao Ce next to him. Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows slightly in response. Zhao Wenhao turned his head and thought to himself. "Okay, he''s lost again..."


    The two of them continued walking along the main road. Soon, they saw a magnificent blue brick and tile house that looked completely different from the other houses nearby. Zhao Wenhao exclaimed, "This house looks even more impressive than my own!" "The family that makes sugar here can earn so much money," he said, poking Zhao Ce''s arm. "When you have the chance, will you also be able to build such a magnificent house?"


    Zhao Ce replied, "I''ll try my best." With that, they walked up to the front door and knocked. A woman in her thirties opened the door and, upon hearing that they wanted to talk business with the head of the household, brought them inside without hesitation. People like them, who grew their own crops and sold goods to shops in the city, usually didn''t need to register as merchants.


    After all, there were many farmers carrying loads to the city every day to do small business. The owner of this house was named Su Yunfeng. Upon hearing that Zhao Ce and his companions wanted to buy sugar from his family, he looked at the two young men in front of him. One of them had a good temperament, but he was also wearing rough cloth clothes. Could someone like him really afford to buy raw sugar from him?


    Su Yunfeng hesitated and said, "The price of this sugar isn''t cheap." Zhao Ce nodded and said, "I''m aware of that. The amount I need for now isn''t too large." "If you''re really concerned, I can pay a deposit." "However, I have one requirement, and that is that our transaction must remain confidential for now." Su Yunfeng looked at Zhao Ce, who spoke calmly and clearly, with some admiration. He said, "If we sign a contract, a deposit won''t be necessary." "After all, trust is built over time." "If you break your word once, we won''t have any future business." Su Yunfeng was straightforward and didn''t beat around the bush.


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    Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Of course." Su Yunfeng saw that Zhao Ce didn''t hesitate or waver and smiled. He added, "Of course, if you''re able to continue buying goods in the future, our family can plant more sugarcane next year." "We''ll continue to supply you with goods." Sugarcane only ripened once a year. They wouldn''t be able to catch up this year. Although the amount he was supplying now was enough for Zhao Ce, Su Yunfeng saw the young man in front of him and thought he was capable. In the future, he would need more. He needed to be prepared. For Zhao Ce, white sugar was still a new thing. He couldn''t produce too much all at once. When he had the strength and accumulated capital next year, he could produce more. "I can start planning to buy a shop in the city. At that time, I can produce some other sugar products to replace white sugar. Then, white sugar can be produced in large quantities."


    Zhao Ce thanked Su Yunfeng, who waved his hand and said, "We''re both rural people, so there''s no need to call me sir. Just call me Uncle Yunfeng." Zhao Ce smiled and called him "Uncle Yunfeng" naturally. After hearing this, Su Yunfeng smiled and said, "You''re a good young man." Zhao Wenhao, who was standing next to them, saw the two of them talking and laughing and thought to himself that Zhao Ce was indeed a scholar. He wasn''t at all vague when it came to doing business. He had already made a deal with someone so quickly.


    Zhao Ce and Su Yunfeng then discussed the price, which was naturally cheaper than the cost of buying from a grocery store in the city. However, Su Yunfeng was a bit hesitant and said, "I can''t write." "We''ll have to wait for my son to come back from school before he can write the contract for us." Zhao Wenhao finally found a place to interject and quickly raised his hand, saying, "My cousin is a scholar and can write!"


    Zhao Ce nodded and said with a smile, "If Uncle Yunfeng doesn''t mind, I can be the scribe." Su Yunfeng was a bit surprised and said, "I had a feeling about you." "I didn''t expect you to be a scholar." This tall and thin young man was wearing convenient work clothes, but his temperament was indeed different from ordinary people. Su Yunfeng took out the paper and pen his son used, and after confirming with Zhao Ce, he took the pen. The contract was soon written. Su Yunfeng picked up the contract and looked at it. Although he couldn''t write, he recognized many characters. After seeing the contract Zhao Ce wrote, he said, "I didn''t expect you to have such good handwriting, young man." "Are you going to take the imperial exam next year?"


    Zhao Ce, who had a thick skin, did not feel any sense of resignation even though he had already been expelled from school. He calmly said, "It hasn''t been confirmed yet." Su Yunfeng saw that he had a good demeanor, and couldn''t help but look at him with more admiration. He immediately invited Zhao Ce to the workshop in the backyard to see their raw sugar. Zhao Ce naturally agreed. Zhao Wenhao, who was standing next to them, said directly, "I don''t understand anything you''re talking about, so I won''t go." "My mother said we have a relative in Xiahe Village." "Since we''re here, I should go say hello."


    Su Yunfeng''s wife then showed Zhao Wenhao the way, and he left. Meanwhile, Zhao Ce followed Su Yunfeng to the workshop in the backyard.

 Chapter 63: A disaster that killed everyone

    After leaving Su Yunfeng''s house, Zhao Wenhao quickly found some relatives on his mother''s side. They were his mother''s cousins, and he had to call them "aunts." When they saw him, they warmly welcomed him inside. They heard that he was here to discuss business with Su Yunfeng, and immediately praised him. Zhao Wenhao felt a bit embarrassed but also a bit elated, as though he had accomplished something great with Zhao Ce.


    As they were chatting, the older daughter-in-law suddenly remembered something. She said, "Oh, I remember now. I heard that the troublemaker from our village was taken away by someone with the surname Zhao. Could it be someone from your village?" Zhao Wenhao had a hunch about who they were talking about and said, "I''m not sure." But the two women in his aunt''s house suddenly became excited and started talking.


    They said that they saw Su Sanlin''s second son, who burned the troublemaker''s things behind the house, and they found out that the troublemaker was sent away by his family and was supposed to be married off, but a scholar took her away halfway. They didn''t know if the scholar had been cursed by her and died.


    Zhao Wenhao almost spits out the water he was drinking. His aunt scolded him for being careless and patted his back. Zhao Wenhao hesitated for a moment and asked, "Aunt, what''s the name of this troublemaker?" His aunt said, "Her name is Su Caier. She wasn''t originally surnamed Su. She had a different eye color, which made her a little monster. After she killed her father, her family didn''t want to keep her surname, so her mother had to change her name to Su Caier and bring her back."


    As she spoke about Su Cai''er, Zhao Wenhao couldn''t help but think about Zhao Ce''s wife and didn''t want to ask too much about her. But his curiosity couldn''t be suppressed. He asked softly, "This person with different colored eyes, is she the troublemaker?" Zhao Wenhao''s aunt''s voice became a bit shrill. "Yes!" "She killed her father in her original village." "This time she came back and killed her grandfather and mother!" "Most of the people close to her have been killed by her!" "Otherwise, everyone wouldn''t call her a disaster!" "But the Su Sanlin family is too heartless." "They made her family cripple her leg and took her out to throw her away." "I don''t know if the family that took her will be killed by her too."


    It''s unclear whether it was out of pity for Su Caier or scolding the Su Sanlin family. As she spoke, she spat out. "Pah! Let''s not talk about her." "Talking too much will bring bad luck!" Zhao Wenhao took a cold breath. Was this troublemaker so powerful? Then isn''t his cousin in danger? Zhao Wenhao''s aunt continued to babble on about some things, but Zhao Wenhao was distracted. When he saw Zhao Ce again after dealing with the matter, he found that he was somewhat absent-minded.


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    Zhao Ce asked with concern, "What''s wrong, Wenhao? Did something happen?" Zhao Wenhao looked at Zhao Ce strangely, then dryly laughed. "Hehe, nothing..." He thought for a moment and asked cautiously, "Zhao Ce, your wife''s eyes..." "Everyone says they''re a bit strange." "You..." Seeing Zhao Wenhao''s expression, Zhao Ce thought he might have heard some rumors. He said, "Her eyes are just sick. There''s nothing wrong with them."


    Zhao Wenhao looked away and laughed awkwardly. This young couple was so affectionate. He didn''t know how to bring up what he had heard today. After thinking about it, he decided to ask his mother what to do. Zhao Wenhao could only vaguely say, "She''s sick..." "Yes, that''s what the doctors in the city say."


    On the way back, Zhao Wenhao didn''t say much. He just walked back with his head down. Zhao Ce didn''t say much either. After all, he had already told them about the young girl''s situation. If necessary, he would bring out the words of the sage again. But there shouldn''t be any problems. After returning to the village.


    Just as he arrived, Zhao Ce saw his uncle pacing in front of his fence. When Zhao Ce returned home, his uncle joyfully said, "Finally, you''re back!" Zhao Ce only had a young wife at home, so his uncle couldn''t directly knock on the door; he could only come by occasionally to check if Zhao Ce was home. After Zhao Ce bid farewell to Zhao Wenhao absent-mindedly, he asked his uncle what was going on. His uncle said, "We finished harvesting the crops in our field today. I went to your field earlier to take a look. Your grass is also ready to be cut. Those grasses have been well-fed, and while they''re not crops, they can be used to feed pigs. How about we cut the grass and sell it to the pig-rearing village down below? We can sell this cartload of pig feed for around thirty to forty coins."


    The last time when Zhao Ce was in his field, he heard an old man from the village saying that he could directly sell the grass in his field to the families that raised pigs. With everyone busy drying grain and paying autumn taxes after harvesting their crops, Zhao Ce didn''t want to take up too much of his uncle''s time. After all, they had only agreed that his uncle would help him manage the land and plant new crops, but not dispose of the grass in his field.


    Zhao Ce said, "Your family has a lot of work to do. It''s okay, I''ll take care of it myself and sell it in the village below." Upon hearing Zhao Ce''s considerate words, his uncle''s dark face broke into a smile. "It''s okay, I just came to let you know. We''ll take care of it for you." His uncle said no more and left without waiting for Zhao Ce to say anything else.


    Zhao Ce called out to him twice, but his uncle didn''t turn his head and just waved his hand. Zhao Ce couldn''t help but sigh and laugh, "Isn''t this just making you do work for nothing?" Meanwhile, Zhao Wenhao returned home with a heavy heart. When his mother saw him come back, she poured him a bowl of water and asked him how things went and if he had visited his aunt''s house.


    Zhao Wenhao absent-mindedly replied and then hesitated before saying, "Mother, I heard some bad news while I was in aunt''s house." Seeing the solemn expression on his face, Li Shi immediately sat down and asked, "What happened?" Zhao Wenhao then told her about Su Caier''s situation. Li Shi was shocked and turned pale, covering her mouth with her hand. "Everyone was killed? What about Ce''er?"

 Chapter 64: Little Liar

    After Zhao Ce finished talking with his uncle, he turned around and prepared to go home. Just as he was about to knock on his own big door, it was opened from the inside. The little girl who had heard him talking with his uncle was already waiting inside the door with a smile on her face. "Husband, you''re back? Is everything taken care of?"


    Zhao Ce laughed, "Yes, everything is taken care of." He unloaded his book box and casually put it aside, then sat down directly on a stool. Zhao Ce let out a long sigh of relief. He had been on the road for over four or five hours today, and with his current physical condition, it was indeed a bit much to handle. He needed to eat well and pay attention to exercising his body. Meanwhile, Su Caier had already swiftly brought him water to drink and washed his face. She then held the new fan he had bought and fanned him with all her might. After drinking the cool well water, a cool breeze blew over him. Zhao Ce felt his pores all relax and expand. It was so comfortable! The considerate girl beside him continued to fan him with all her might. "Husband, is this wind enough?"


    Zhao Ce sighed, "It''s enough." Su Caier said, holding the fan tightly, then switching to holding it with both hands. She continued to work hard to cool down her husband. After fanning for a while, her strength diminished slightly, occasionally gaining strength again. Zhao Ce turned his head to look at her and smiled, "Aren''t you tired?" Su Caier looked at him with a pair of innocent big eyes and said, "No, I''m not tired." She said she wasn''t tired, but the strength in her fanning hand had diminished quite a bit.


    Zhao Ce chuckled and took the fan from her, rubbing her thin arm. "You don''t have to use so much force." Su Caier repeated, "I''m not tired." Zhao Ce poked her small forehead, "Little liar." Su Caier covered her forehead with her hand and smiled at him, trying to please him. Zhao Ce couldn''t help but gently pinch her small face, then took out the contract from his arms and handed it to the little girl beside him. "Here, this is the newly signed contract."


    Su Caier held the contract carefully in her hands. "A contract?" she asked, looking down at the written paper. Then, somewhat embarrassed, she said, "Husband, I don''t know how to read..." Zhao Ce laughed and explained, "Today, I went to the Su Yunfeng��s family in Xiahe village and arranged for a cooperation with him. After a few days, when the tools we ordered in the city arrive, we can continue making white sugar to sell for money."


    Su Caier, upon hearing this, looked at the contract in her hands with some joy. This meant that their family would have a stable livelihood in the future. Su Caier carefully held the paper and said, "I need to keep this contract safe."


    Zhao Ce nodded and said, "You can put it wherever you like. Later, I will go to my uncle''s house again and talk to him about the white sugar business. If he''s free, he can take me directly to Wenhua��s Restaurant." "Once our business becomes stable, we won''t have to worry about money or food anymore." Su Caier listened to her husband''s plans for the future and her eyes were filled with longing. Yesterday, they had sold ten silver taels worth of the white sugar they had made in the city.


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    When the large silver ingot was handed to her by her husband upon their return, she was still a bit incredulous. Ten silver taels! She had never seen such a large amount of silver before, even the five silver taels from before were smaller. The ingot was much bigger! Now, the two of them could sell white sugar for so much silver. Over time, wouldn''t they earn a lot of silver? This way, they could quickly pay back the silver they owed to their uncle.


    Su Caier said happily, "Husband, I will put this contract away." Zhao Ce nodded. "Go ahead." Su Caier took the contract and went back to her room. She took out the wooden box containing all of their belongings from the crack in the bed and opened it up. Two land contracts were at the bottom of the box. There were five silver taels and a ten-silver worth ingot inside. In addition, there were some copper coins. These were the spare coins her husband had left for her to use at home. Her nine copper coins were in a small purse and were also placed inside the wooden box with the silver coins her husband had earned.


    She couldn''t help but blush when she thought back to when she had eagerly given her nine copper coins to her husband, saying that she wanted to help pay off their debts by going to chop firewood in the mountains. Now, those nine copper coins had increased many times over. "My mother used to say that I should live well and that things would get better. She carefully took out the silver coins and put the contract at the bottom of the wooden box. She carefully put all the silver back and patted the wooden box with great affection.


    Nowadays, she ate white rice and flour every day, and the dishes were full of oil. Almost every meal had meat to eat. The heaviest work she had done at home was washing clothes by the river every day. Su Caier lay happily on the bed, looking at the wooden box. Her little mouth was pouted slightly from being squeezed. She muttered to herself, "Nowadays, every day feels like a dream." So much so that every time she woke up, she had to look at her husband several times to confirm that this man was not something she had imagined in her dreams.


    "My husband works so hard and gives me such a good life. I also need to be more sensible and obedient." Saying this, she knocked her head against her own hand. She gently closed the wooden box, just like every time she put the silver coins in it. She whispered, "Be careful and hide well." After speaking, she did not wait for the wooden box to answer and hid it back in the crack. Standing up, she patted her little hands and went out to prepare the lunch that was already cooked.


    The two of them had a late lunch. Zhao Ce looked at the sky and prepared to go to Zhao Youcai''s house. As usual, he brought a small bag of white sugar. Although Li Shi felt a little embarrassed every time she saw him carrying such a precious thing over, he had no other gifts to give. He could only take these things as a convenient gift. But if it were another family, Zhao Ce would not be so generous. Zhao Youcai''s family was definitely different. With his ability, Zhao Ce could naturally pay off the silver owed by his uncle''s family, but their family''s kindness to him would never be repaid. Zhao Ce was also clear about this. So, what he was thinking about was that if he could make a name for himself in the future, he would definitely not forget his uncle''s family. "I''m going out." Zhao Ce said. Then he went out with the things he brought.

 Chapter 65: A visit to uncle’s house

    As He walked along the road, the village''s open spaces were all filled with grain being dried in the sun. Many people were still busy turning over the new crop. The entire Shuiqiao Village was filled with a faint smell of rice and grain. Zhao Ce looked up at the scorching sun and thought to himself that if the weather remained good for a few more days, everyone would be able to finish drying their newly harvested grain.


    When he arrived at Zhao Youcai''s house, he found his yard also filled with drying grain. Everyone had gone to different areas to prepare to bring their grain back. It was Li Shi who opened the door for him, but upon seeing her he noticed that her expression is a bit strange, she had a hesitant and ambiguous expression. Zhao Ce handed her some sugar, but she only pushed it away a few times before reluctantly accepting it.


    Li Shi then looked at the people collecting grain next to her and said to Zhao Ce, "Come inside with me." Zhao Ce could tell from her serious expression that she wanted to talk to him about something important, so he nodded and followed her inside.


    Once inside, Li Shi gave Zhao Ce a bowl of water before sitting down herself. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Have you noticed anything strange at home recently? Have you felt any discomfort?" Zhao Ce replied naturally, "Everything is normal, and I feel fine." He added that he had walked a long way with Zhao Wenhao today and had not rested at all. Li Shi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "If you feel uncomfortable, be sure to tell us." Zhao Ce nodded, not understanding why she was so concerned.


    At that moment, Zhao Youcai returned with the harvested grain, wiping sweat from his forehead with a kindly smile on his dark face. "Did you come to see me for something, nephew?" he asked. Zhao Ce stood up and said, "Uncle, I came to ask you the name of the restaurant where Wenhua is working. I want to ask him if he would be interested in buying the sugar I made."


    Zhao Youcai replied enthusiastically, "That''s great news! Your cousin had mentioned before that he wanted to buy your sugar, but we didn''t want to bother you since you were busy." Zhao Ce smiled, thinking that his new product was in demand not only at the grocery store but also at the restaurant.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Wenshang was returning from the fields, with his cheeks sunburned red from the scorching sun. Zhao Wenshang held his farm tools, and when he saw Zhao Ce. Zhao Wenshang shouted, "Brother Zhao Ce!" Zhao Ce nodded in response. Zhao Wenshang was the third son of Zhao Youcai. Zhao Youcai planned to send him to school next year to start his education. He was only 10 years old but already helped with the farm work at home.


    Seeing everyone in Zhao Youcai''s family busy with their work, Zhao Ce felt a bit guilty and said, "Uncle, have you finished harvesting your crops? I have some free time, so perhaps I can help you." Zhao Youcai, wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, waved his hand and said, "You go and do your own thing. We don''t need your help with our work. Wait until we finish this season, and then I''ll ask for your help in finding a school for Wenshang."


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    Seeing Zhao Youcai''s busy schedule, Zhao Ce didn''t want to waste any more of his time accompanying him to the city. Zhao Youcai suggested, "You can go to the restaurant and find your cousin yourself. With him there, no one will dare to bully you." Zhao Ce agreed with a smile.


    After speaking, he let Zhao Ce go. Li Shi looked at Zhao Ce''s departing figure and sighed softly. Zhao Youcai looked at her in confusion and asked, "What''s wrong? Why are you sighing?" Li Shi said, "Zhao Ce has changed so much, but I''m still a little worried. We didn''t know anything about the girl he married into the family at first. Today, I sent Wenhao to Xiahe village to inquire about her and found out that there are some bad rumors about her." She repeated to Zhao Youcai what Wenhao had heard.


    After listening to Li Shi''s words, Zhao Youcai frowned. There was only Zhao Ce left in his brother''s family. If anything happened to Zhao Ce, his brother''s family would be without an heir. That was why Zhao Youcai had to pay attention to Zhao Ce all these years. After all, as the eldest brother, he could not just stand by and watch his own brother''s family become extinct. Otherwise, his parents would scold him if they found out. Zhao Youcai thought for a moment and said, "Find a time when Zhao Ce is not around and ask the girl herself if there is anything hidden. If there is no hidden agenda, we''ll talk to Zhao Ce and send the girl away. We can''t let her harm Zhao Ce."


    Li Shi quickly interjected and said, "Don''t say such ominous words. Let''s just wish for the best." Zhao Youcai felt a little frustrated and said, "Okay, let''s do it this way for now." Li Shi agreed and said, "We can only do this for now." Previously, Zhao Ce had mentioned that the girl''s eyes were sick, and she was not a bad omen. Naturally, they can''t just drive her away without asking clearly. If they go to their house again because of this matter and start a conflict with Zhao Ce, the relationship between the two families will deteriorate again. Zhao Ce has always been stubborn and once he decides on something, no one can change his mind. Now, he seems even more opinionated and won''t be easily swayed by them. We should ask clearly first. As a family, we can discuss things privately without outsiders hearing. Even if there is really a problem, it won''t have too much impact on Zhao Ce''s family...


    Zhao Youcai and his wife''s conversation was naturally unheard by Zhao Ce. After finishing his business, he went straight back home. By this time, the sun had already set. When they finished dinner and were preparing to wash up, the little girl performed a magic trick and took out two pairs of grass shoes, one large and one small. Zhao Ce took them and praised, "You made them so quickly?" Su Cai''er said, "I started making them when my husband went out in the morning."


    "But the soles of these woven grass shoes are a bit hard. I don''t know if my husband is used to wearing them." After the grass shoes were woven, Su Cai''er had already done her best to handle the shoe surface. However, they still felt quite hard when touched. Zhao Ce took a look and found them similar to the slippers he had in mind. He immediately took off his shoes and socks and put his feet into the grass shoes. He tried them on and found them to be the right size. However, because of the material, the shoes did scratch his feet a bit. Zhao Ce laughed and said, "It''s not a big deal. We can wear them when we bathe, and we won''t wear them for long. They won''t hurt our feet much." Su Cai''er was happy to hear that he didn''t mind and even boasted, "I''ve already remembered my husband''s shoe size!"

 Chapter 66: Interrogation

    Zhao Ce: "Size? What size?" He looked at the little girl in front of him with sparkling eyes, her face begging for praise. He coughed lightly, quickly bringing his scattered thoughts back. "Why don''t you try them on?" he said. "To see if they fit." The little girl''s slippers looked very small, and Zhao Ce couldn''t help but take another look.


    The sun had already set halfway by now, casting a warm yellow glow on everything. The two sat on the edge of the courtyard, bathed in the warm light. Su Cai''er was a bit shy, and she wiggled her old grass shoes on her feet. She murmured, "Should I try them on now?" without waiting for Zhao Ce''s answer. She blushed, saying, "Then let me try them on..." She would always obediently do what her husband asked her to do. With that, she took off her grass shoes, revealing a pair of patched socks covering her feet. After taking off the socks, a pair of small, white feet with a slight callus on the joint of the little toe appeared in front of them.


    Su Cai''er was a bit shy, but she slid her feet into the slippers. She shifted her weight, revealing her sparkling little toes. "It fits perfectly," she said. Zhao Ce looked at her restless little toes with their faint pink nail polish peeking through and coughed lightly, looking away. "Yes, of course it fits since you made them yourself," he said. "Let''s wear these slippers for our bath tonight."


    Zhao Ce stood up and didn''t look down at the ground again. He felt like he had been in ancient times for too long and had become too innocent. It was just a little girl looking at her feet. Why should he be uncomfortable? Su Cai''er replied softly, "Okay..." blushing. She squatted down and picked up their shoes, ready to take them to their room. She also found Zhao Ce''s clothes that needed to be washed and went back to their room with the little girl in her new slippers.


    The next morning, the little girl helped Zhao Ce put on his new shirt. After breakfast, they saw that the sun had risen, and Zhao Ce walked to his field. When he got there, he saw Uncle Liu and his son cutting grass in the field. Uncle Liu and his son were quick with their hands and feet. After working all afternoon yesterday and this morning, they had already cut more than half of the grass. Uncle Liu''s son, Zhao Zhiqiang, was the first to see Zhao Ce come over.


    He straightened his back, his face covered in sweat. "Zhao Ce, why did you come over?" The uncle working in the field also looked over when he heard his voice. Zhao Ce replied, "I came to see if the grass has been cut."


    "If it''s been cut, then I''ll come over and bring it to you," said the uncle''s son, Zhao Zhiqiang. The uncle wiped his sweat and said, "Didn''t we say yesterday that we would do it for you?" "You''re an educated man, go home," he added. "Don''t get sunburned."


    Zhao Ce helplessly said, "I haven''t been studying these past few days, and there''s nothing to do at home." "Let me help you tie up the cut grass," he added, ignoring their objections. He joined in and even though he wasn''t very skilled, he was smart and quickly got the hang of it. The uncle tried to persuade him a few more times, but seeing that he couldn''t persuade Zhao Ce, he stopped.


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    The three of them worked hard in Zhao Ce''s field, tying the cut straw into small bundles. Zhao Ce was sweating all over by the time it was almost time for lunch. Then, the uncle''s wife brought over food for them, accompanied by her grandson. When she saw Zhao Ce, she exclaimed, "Oh, you''re here to help too?" Zhao Ce wiped the sweat off his face and smiled, "I came to help." "It''s time for lunch? Then I''ll go home and have lunch first," he said.


    ......


    As the sun rose higher, Su Cai''er was inside the house, sewing the soles of her shoes. Suddenly, she heard someone knocking on the door. She walked over and opened it, asking timidly, "Who is it?" Standing outside was Li Shi. Su Cai''er had only seen her once before, on the second day she arrived at Zhao Ce''s home. At that time, she came with her uncle-in-law, saying that she wanted to take Su Cai''er away. Su Cai''er was very scared at the time, so when she saw Li Shi again, she couldn''t help feeling a little nervous.


    But Li Shi was her husband''s aunt, so Su Cai''er suppressed her fear and invited her in. She went to the kitchen and quickly brought out a bowl of sweet soup for Li Shi. "Aunt, please drink some water," she said softly. Li Shi looked at her small and timid frame and hesitated for a moment before pointing to a nearby stool and saying, "You sit too." Su Cai''er nodded her head slightly.


    She sat down somewhat uncomfortably. Li Shi didn''t wait and said directly, "Are you from Xiahe village?" Su Cai''er nodded. "Then Su Sanlin, who is he to you?" Hearing this familiar name, Su Cai''er pursed her lips. "He''s my, my eldest uncle..." Li Shi heard her admit it with her own mouth. She thought that what Zhao Wenhao had heard was probably close to the truth. But for the sake of caution, she continued to ask, "You, you weren''t originally from Xiahe village, were you?" "I heard that your parents both passed away. How did they pass away?"


    Su Cai''er looked up, her eyes misty. She glanced at Li Shi, who was staring at her. Unexpectedly, she met her tearful big eyes. Li Shi was stunned for a moment. Those eyes...were surprisingly pretty... Beside her, Su Cai''er had already lowered her head again. "M-my father was taken away by a big animal in the mountains." "My mother..." Her lips trembled. Auntie had come to ask her these things, probably because she had heard something. In her heart, she felt a little scared. Su Cai''er trembled and said, "My mother...my mother got sick." Li Shi saw her small body trembling slightly and also felt uncomfortable.


    She was also a mother and had a daughter at home. She looked at this little pitiful one in front of her, whose voice was trembling. She frowned slightly, and her heart, which she had just managed to soften, became cold again. Li Shi asked bluntly, "They say that you harmed your relatives in your village. This matter can be big or small. Ce''er is kind-hearted and lets you stay." "So, you have to be honest about what happened." "After all, Ce''er is your husband, and now he is your closest person." "If you really harmed your relatives, we won''t send you away." "We''ll find a place for you to stay near the back of the mountain."


    Su Cai''er opened her mouth but couldn''t speak properly. Her voice was trembling. She never thought of harming her husband. What her mother said about her father''s death had nothing to do with her. But what Auntie said also made sense. What if... Su Cai''er''s voice choked up, "I...I..." She didn''t finish her sentence. The door was pushed open from the outside. A familiar and reassuring voice came in. "Cai''er, why didn''t you close the door?" Su Cai''er lifted her teary, blurry eyes and saw her husband walking in from outside, with his back facing the light.

 Chapter 67: Scholars don’t boast to people

    Zhao Ce walked in with the light on his back, and the people in the room couldn''t see his expression clearly. After entering the room, he saw Li Shi inside. There was also a little girl with teary eyes, trembling all over. He probably guessed what had happened.


    With a natural tone, he greeted Li Shi and smiled at the little girl beside him, "Is lunch ready?" Su Cai''er nodded slightly and hiccuped while crying. She whispered, "No, it''s not ready..." Zhao Ce nodded and walked over. In front of Li Shi, he touched the poor little girl''s head gently. In a gentle tone, he said, "Then let''s cook. I''m hungry." Su Cai''er glanced at Li Shi beside her and then lowered her head. "Alright..." The little girl stood up, and Zhao Ce gently pulled her small hand that was hanging by her side, squeezing her palm.


    Su Cai''er couldn''t help but look up at him. Zhao Ce also lowered his head and looked deeply into her eyes. From these two actions, Su Cai''er seemed to gather some courage. She wiped away her tears and went to the kitchen. Zhao Ce sat next to Li Shi and asked, "Aunt, would you like to have dinner with us?" "My wife is quite skilled in cooking." Zhao Ce, without asking about what had just happened, still invited her to dinner. She felt a bit uneasy and said, "We have already cooked at home." "No need for that." "You must be hungry after working in the morning, right?" "Aunt won''t hinder you from having a meal."


    After saying that, she picked up the water next to her and drank it all in one go. It had a faint sweetness, indeed different from the black and yellow sugar in her home. Thinking of the pitiful appearance of the little girl with teary eyes just now, she couldn''t help but sigh softly.


    Zhao Ce didn''t say anything and smiled as he saw her out. Li Shi looked at Zhao Ce, who stood tall inside the fence gate, and finally spoke, "Ce''er, aren''t you afraid?" Zhao Ce knew what she was asking. He casually replied, "Aunt, I have already said before." "My wife''s eyes are only sick." "Those rumors about disasters and monsters are just fairy tales." "She is also flesh and blood, just like us." "How can all those natural disasters and man-made calamities, the matters of life and death, be imposed on such a little girl?"


    After hearing Zhao Ce''s words, Li Shi helplessly said, "You and your smooth tongue." "Aunt can''t argue with you." Zhao Ce laughed and said, "Aunt, it''s because I speak the truth." As he spoke, Zhao Ce''s voice became quieter. He whispered, "Aunt, let me tell you something." Li Shi, intrigued by his mysterious appearance, couldn''t help but become interested. "What is it?"


    Zhao Ce said, "On the second day after my wife came home, I went out of the city." "That day, I saw the county office collecting lantern riddles for the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern fair." "So, I wrote one." "And I ended up with a first-class prize!" "Five taels of silver as a reward!" Upon hearing this, Li Shi involuntarily opened her mouth wide in astonishment and exclaimed, "First-class?" "Five taels of silver!" "So much?"


    Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows, displaying a hint of youthful arrogance and confidence. He said, "That''s right." "The person who judged it was the county scholar, Liu Xiulan." "Many scholars witnessed it." "I heard that I was the only one who received a first-class prize that day." "If you go to see the lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern fair, you''ll definitely see the lantern riddle I made!" Zhao Ce bragged with wide-open eyes.


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    After boasting, he said, "You see, on the second day after my wife came home, I had good luck." "Later on, I even managed to produce refined sugar." "We haven''t been short of money at home either." "And ever since I got married, it feels like my mind has become much clearer." "One good thing after another." "How could this bring me misfortune?" While speaking, he deliberately didn''t mention the incident of being expelled from the academy. After all, those things happened before the little girl arrived and had nothing to do with her.


    Li Shi thought this is not good. They didn''t inquire carefully before. Fortunately, this time she came to their home and closed the door behind her. Others don''t know about those things. Otherwise, Zhao Ce''s family would be subjected to gossip again. She couldn''t help but ask, "Are you telling the truth?" Zhao Ce said, "Of course." "Why would I deceive you with these things?" "You know about my academic performance in the academy." "Although I often recite the words of the sages, I haven''t participated in the imperial examination for so many years." "So, my grades are just average." "To suddenly receive a first-class prize, even I was surprised."


    As Li Shi listened to Zhao Ce''s words, she became completely convinced. She couldn''t help but think, "Isn''t this not a little troublemaker, but a little lucky star? And a golden lucky star at that!" Li Shi cleared her throat and said to Zhao Ce, "I was wrong today. I came without inquiring properly." Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Big Aunt is also concerned about me. As a scholar and a man, I naturally wouldn''t go around boasting to people. My wife is also someone who doesn''t speak much, just works diligently like a silly fool. That''s why you all didn''t know about it for so many days."


    Li Shi felt relieved after hearing this. She recalled hearing about some villages and people who were said to be incompatible with each other. But after getting married, there were no issues in their household. It was probably because some people were simply incompatible with certain individuals, which resulted in conflicts. But maybe Zhao Ce and this Su Cai''er had a compatible fate. That''s why Su Cai''er brought such good fortune to Zhao Ce. The more Li Shi thought about it, the more it made sense. She looked at Zhao Ce and said with contentment, "That''s good. When I first heard about those things about your wife, I was almost scared half to death. If what you''re saying is true, then both of you are blessed by Bodhisattvas."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "If there''s anything, I''ll definitely come to you for advice." Li Shi then asked about the lantern riddle and suggested that Zhao Ce prepare some gifts to visit Liu Xiulan, the scholar at the county school. "If you can enter the county school, it would be amazing!"


    Zhao Ce thought about that day''s situation and realized that Liu Xiulan probably didn''t have a very good impression of him. Although he gave Zhao Ce''s lantern riddle a top rating, his embarrassing incident had been exposed by his former classmates, so there was probably no hope. Zhao Ce vaguely said, "Um... I''ll find an opportunity to see if I can pay him a visit." Li Shi happily said, "That''s what we want. Oh, this is great news. I''ll go and talk to your uncle about it. You must be hungry, go inside and have your meal."


    After Li Shi finished speaking, she hurriedly left. Zhao Ce thought that after today, this matter probably wouldn''t be a problem anymore. So, he closed the garden gate and went back inside the house.

 Chapter 68: Its not your fault

    Su Caier, who was setting up the dishes in the kitchen, heard the sound of her husband entering. She looked up at him and then lowered her gaze. She seemed to have calmed down and softly said, "Husband, you can have your meal now." Zhao Ce nodded and sat down. Seeing the little girl still standing by the side, he pointed to the seat opposite him and said, "Why don''t you sit down?"


    Su Caier looked at him and his gentle voice and pursed her lips before gently sitting down. She absentmindedly took a few bites but couldn''t eat anymore. Zhao Ce didn''t seem affected and ate his meal as usual until he was full before putting down his chopsticks. The little girl across from him saw this and also put down her chopsticks, lowered her gaze, and remained silent. Zhao Ce noticed that she didn''t have an appetite now and didn''t force her to eat, only saying, "If you''re not hungry now, you can eat later."


    Hearing his usual caring voice, Su Caier felt her nose tingle. She softly replied, "Mm." Zhao Ce looked at the little girl in front of him. Her usually rosy lips now had a pale hue. This time, it was different from the previous time when Uncle and the others came to take her away. After spending this period of time together, their relationship was no longer as shallow as before. Zhao Ce tapped the table, bringing the absentminded little girl back to reality. He asked her, "Is there something you want to tell me?" Su Caier tightened the hand resting on her knee and then seemed to remember what she wanted to tell her husband. Her densely long eyelashes seemed startled as they trembled slightly.


    "I...," she began. Zhao Ce didn''t interrupt and quietly waited for her words. Su Caier composed herself a little and continued, "Husband, they all say that I am a disaster... that I bring misfortune to my relatives and those around me." Zhao Ce encouraged her gently, "Please go on." Su Caier looked at the white rice in front of her and sniffled. She continued, "Grandfather said that our cousin is going to school, and Father has to go up the mountain to hunt and earn money." "Father went up the mountain and was captured by a big animal." "They say it''s because of me that Father died." "But Mother says it''s not my fault."


    Su Caier''s grandparents were extremely biased. They only cared about their eldest son and youngest son. Su Caier''s father, as the second son, was already a reserved person. Moreover, he only had one daughter, who also had eye problems and didn''t hold much status in that family. She could only work silently for her family. Su Caier''s cousin had reached the age to attend school and receive education. When Su Caier''s grandfather saw the hunters in the village earning a good amount of money from hunting, he felt a twinge of jealousy. Thinking about the game in the mountains, he realized that not only the hunters could catch them. So, he directly sent Su Caier''s father up the mountain to hunt, saying that they would sell the game to pay for their grandchild''s tuition. Su Caier''s father had never received such positive attention from his parents before, so he eagerly took his sickle and hoe and went up the mountain.


    These events happened when Su Caier was still young. It was something her mother told her later when she was scolded by her relatives. Hearing Su Caier''s words, Zhao Ce agreed, "Indeed, it''s not your fault." Su Caier seemed to gather courage from this statement. She continued intermittently, "But... they all say it''s my fault that I killed my father." "They drove me and my mother away, and she brought me back to Xiahe village." "Grandfather is very old, and my mother later fell i-ill..."


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    Su Caier''s lips trembled as she spoke about it. "My mother got sick, and we didn''t have money to buy medicine." "Uncle and the others said it was me who made my mother sick and refused to lend us money." "But my mother said that falling ill was inevitable." "Later, my mother passed away." She finished speaking. Su Caier felt sad and glanced at Zhao Ce across from her. "I don''t know if I really cause harm to my loved ones." "Sometimes, I''m afraid." "Husband, you treat me so well, and I don''t want anything bad to happen to you because of me." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. She sobbed and said, "Maybe... I should move out and live on my own." "I don''t want to burden you." She spoke firmly about moving out and not burdening her husband.


    However, her eyes revealed deep affection. Su Caier didn''t want to leave. But from the very beginning, she was willing to leave on her own. If she truly brought harm to her loved ones, she didn''t want to burden her husband in any way. Her husband was so good to her; he was the best person in the world. Nothing bad should happen to him because of her, the bringer of misfortune. Zhao Ce looked at the young girl across from him, her eyes filled with tears. She seemed enveloped in a low-pressure atmosphere. He let out a soft sigh and stood up. He stood in front of the young girl.


    He reached out and gently lifted the little girl''s chin that was hanging down. He looked at her tear-stained face, which resembled a small crying kitten. Her long eyelashes were also soaked in tears, forming clusters. Startled by the sudden lifting of her face, she trembled awkwardly. Zhao Ce extended his hand and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Just as he finished wiping them, a large tear fell again.


    Zhao Ce chuckled and said, "Poor thing, you''re crying so miserably." Su Caier''s face was lifted up. She felt embarrassed but still stared straight at the man in front of her. If she really had to leave, then she wanted to take a few more glances at her husband. Zhao Ce''s posture was too tall, and it was uncomfortable for him to bend like this. He placed one hand on the table, bent down, and got closer to the little girl''s face. The little girl saw her husband''s handsome face magnified right in front of her. Nervously, she averted her own eyes.


    Zhao Ce said, "I understand everything now. As I said before, your eyes are only like this because of an illness. However, this illness cannot be cured, so your eyes will accompany you throughout your life. Your mother has already said that you are not a harbinger of misfortune or a disaster." Su Caier listened to this gentle voice and couldn''t help but shift her gaze back to her husband.


    Zhao Ce gently caressed her little face. "Now let me tell you again, you need to remember every word I say." Su Caier hesitated for a moment and nodded her head. "I will remember everything you say, husband." Zhao Ce looked straight into her eyes and said earnestly, "You are not a harbinger of misfortune. You don''t need to leave here. You are my wife, and this is your home."


    Su Caier murmured, "My, my home..." Zhao Ce smiled and repeated, "Yes, your home." "So, from now on, you should have more confidence." Zhao Ce asked again, "Do you trust me?" Su Caier anxiously said, "I, I trust my husband." Zhao Ce smiled at her, his voice carrying a tender charm that seemed to enchant the soul. "Then rest assured." "Let''s live well together." Su Caier listened to his words. In an instant, she felt like her world was blooming with flowers. A big, shining sun was still scorching the earth. But in her world, there was the sound of birds and the fragrance of flowers... Su Caier urgently held Zhao Ce''s hand. "I, I will listen to my husband..."

 Chapter 69: Selling Grass

    The two of them began to talk. Su Caier had just been crying, her tears streaming down her face. She felt reluctant to leave. However, after a while, her tears turned into smiles. She was filled with an unprecedented sense of relief. Zhao Ce noticed the improvement in the little girl''s mood and a smile appeared on his face as well.


    By the time Su Caier finished tidying up the kitchen, it was already noon. Zhao Ce looked at her slightly swollen eyelids as she stood in front of him. "Husband, I''ll make shoes for you..." Zhao Ce held her hand and asked, "The grass in the field has been cut almost completely. I''m planning to take it to the village behind and sell it. Do you want to help me?"


    Zhao Ce didn''t have any other intentions. He thought that since the little girl had just finished crying, he wanted to take her out for a stroll and help her change her mood.


    Upon hearing her husband''s request for help, Su Caier happily replied, "I want to go!"


    Zhao Ce pinched her little face. "Alright, let''s go." Zhao Ce found the cart in the house and swept away some grass. He then piled a bunch of clean grass on it. Su Caier walked out of the house, holding an old straw hat she had found somewhere, and handed it directly to Zhao Ce.


    "Husband, it''s sunny. You can wear this." Zhao Ce took it and simply placed it on his head. Although it looked a bit funny, Zhao Ce didn''t mind at all. He nodded towards the position of the cart. "Get on, I''ll pull you." Su Caier didn''t hesitate and sat directly at the back of the cart. Zhao Ce pulled the cart and said with a smile, "Let''s go, time to work!"


    After saying that, he pulled the cart with Su Caier and walked out of the house. The sun was still shining brightly. Every household was busy drying their grain. There weren''t many people on the road. Zhao Ce pulled the cart until they reached their field. Uncle Liu and his son had already cut about half of the grass.


    Since the grass in Zhao Ce''s field didn''t need to be harvested urgently like crops, they took the opportunity to rest at home during the hot weather today. Zhao Ce and Su Caier directly piled the tied grass onto the cart. Although Su Caier looked petite and thin. When it came to work, she was incredibly efficient. The young couple quickly tidied up the newly cut grass on the ground. Zhao Ce wore a straw hat, his forehead covered in sweat from the heat. Su Caier''s small face was flushed from the sun.


    After piling all the grass onto the cart, it was stacked even higher than a person. They tied it securely with ropes. Zhao Ce pulled the cart and let Su Caier sit on the cart shaft. With a little effort, he lifted the cart and started pulling it. Su Caier softly asked from behind, "Husband, should I get off and walk?" "When we reach an uphill, I''ll push the cart for you," Zhao Ce replied. "No need," he smiled and said, "Let''s go." They departed from Shuiqiao Village and headed towards the village below. If the load was heavy, it would take about half an hour. But Zhao Ce was strong and pulling the cart full of grass didn''t hinder his progress at all. They walked along the main road of the village, with Su Caier and the tall stack of grass on the cart.


    Some people drying grain outside noticed the actions of Zhao Ce and Su Caier and were somewhat surprised. Su Caier felt a bit shy but still sat on the cart shaft, stealing glimpses of her husband''s back. Zhao Ce continued pulling the cart, his feet not stopping, until they reached the neighboring village downstream.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    After asking about the household that raised pigs, they directly delivered the grass to them. It was the busy farming season, and the pig farmers didn''t have time to cut grass for pigs. When they saw Zhao Ce bringing the grass over, they accepted it directly. They sold the cart of grass for thirty copper coins. Zhao Ce thought to himself that this trip seemed to be a loss. He had sweated a lot and only earned thirty copper coins.


    For his current wealthy self, these thirty copper coins were nothing. After receiving them, he immediately told Su Caier beside him, "Here, hold them." Su Caier reached out her hands and held the thirty copper coins, counting them one by one. After finishing, her big eyes curved and she said, "Husband, there are thirty." Zhao Ce looked at her face, reddened by the sun, with slightly swollen eyelids, but she was smiling brightly. He felt that this trip might not have been as much of a loss. He smiled and said, "Let''s go back." Saying that he carried the little girl and sat her at the back.


    He pulled the cart and embarked on the return journey. Although Su Caier followed along, she didn''t help her husband much. However, she held the freshly obtained copper coins in her hands. As she looked at the scenery continuously receding around her, her mood completely relaxed. After thinking for a moment, she climbed from the back of the cart to the front. She softly called out, "Husband." Zhao Ce replied with a sound of acknowledgment, "Hmm." After a moment of silence, when the little girl didn''t continue speaking, he asked, "What''s wrong?" Su Caier cheerfully said, "Nothing, I just wanted to call out to husband." Zhao Ce also smiled.


    As he was distracted, Zhao Ce stepped on a stone and slipped. The old shoes on his feet, unable to bear the weight any longer, revealed his toes through the worn-out soles. Zhao Ce stopped and helplessly looked at his worn-out shoes with exposed socks.


    Su Caier saw him stop and asked in confusion, "Husband, what''s wrong?" Zhao Ce said, "My shoes have a hole." "Let''s take a look when we get back." Saying that he resumed pulling the cart. Su Caier watched her husband''s footsteps pulling the cart unaffected and finally let go of her worries. The soles of their shoes at home were already in good condition. She would fix them later. It was estimated that her husband would have new shoes to wear tomorrow.


    After returning home, Zhao Ce felt as if he had been drenched in water. He took off the worn-out shoes and put on his slippers. He went to the courtyard, fetched water, and took a bath. When the little girl came back, she immediately retreated to her room. She only came out when it was time to cook. After having their meal and washing up, Su Caier didn''t hesitate to use lamp oil tonight. She directly lit the oil lamp in the house and continued working on the unfinished shoes in her hands.


    Zhao Ce sat beside her, curiously observing her skilled movements. She sewed stitch by stitch, the dim light casting a glow on her small face. Su Caier felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze, so she whispered, "Husband, you should lie down on the bed first, and I''ll finish this soon." "It''ll be quick..." Zhao Ce said, "It''s alright, I''m just curious to watch." "You do your work, don''t mind me." "By the way, let''s not do these needlework activities at night with the lamp lit in the future." "Otherwise, it won''t be good for our eyes when we get older." People in ancient times lacked vitamins, and many had night blindness. Moreover, women who did needlework for a long time generally had poor eyesight when they grew older. They couldn''t see things clearly. The little girl was still young, but precautions had to be taken.


    After listening to his words, the little girl whispered, "Husband, your shoes are broken." "If you don''t have shoes to wear tomorrow." "I don''t know when you''ll have to go out, so I have to finish them quickly." Zhao Ce''s heart warmed. He had originally planned to go out of the city to find Zhao Wenhua tomorrow. He smiled and said, "Okay, then I''ll bring out a book to read." "I''ll keep you company for a while longer." After saying that, he retrieved a book from the bookcase and read it under the lamplight. The little girl continued with her task at hand. The room fell into quiet tranquility, occasionally interrupted by small sounds.

 Chapter 70: New Shoes

    At Night. Zhao Yucai and his wife Li Shi layed in bed. Li Shi told Zhao Yucai about Zhao Ce''s situation. After listening, Zhao Yucai''s furrowed brow relaxed a lot. He said, "What you said is indeed possible." "After all, didn''t the fortune teller say it before?" "Our Ce''er is the incarnation of the God of Literature." "He is destined for good fortune." "I guess he doesn''t need to worry about these things."


    Li Shi felt relieved and said, "That''s good." "With the blessings of his parents, our Ce''er will definitely have good luck." "Oh, by the way!" Li Shi slapped her thigh. "There''s a witch in the neighboring village." "Tomorrow, I''ll bring something and go see her for advice." When she said this, she felt much more relaxed. Thinking about making arrangements for tomorrow. After chatting for a while, Li Shi fell asleep first.


    Zhao Yucai, listening to his wife falling asleep, couldn''t sleep for a long time. At this moment, the smile on his face disappeared. He muttered to himself, "I have to ask." "If I ask, I''ll feel more at ease..." In the beginning, Zhao Ce told him. He said that this little girl is from out of town. She couldn''t find a place to go back to. Zhao Yucai also hadn''t had a formal conversation with Su Caier. So, he didn''t know which dialect Su Caier was speaking. Now he discovered that Su Caier is from Xiahe village downstream.


    And there are rumors about her being a child of another family from another village. These things, as her husband, does Zhao Ce really not know? But he could only pretend not to see the issues involved, considering all that Zhao Ce had done for this little girl. Zhao Yucai sighed softly. "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings..." saying that, he closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.


    ............


    Early in the morning, when Zhao Ce woke up. The spot next to him was already empty. He knew that the little girl had gotten up early. Zhao Ce got up, and put on his clothes. Wearing his new slippers, he went to the kitchen. Sure enough, the little girl was sitting inside. By the light of the stove, she had already sewn most of the shoes.


    Seeing Zhao Ce coming in, Su Caier raised her head. "Husband, you''re awake?" Zhao Ce looked at the shoes in her hand and helplessly said, "Why didn''t you finish during the day?" Su Caier smiled and said, "They''re almost done." As she said that, she finished sewing the last few stitches. "Finished early, so my husband can wear new shoes earlier." Su Caier handed over the shoes she had finished making. "Look, they''re done!"


    In the kitchen, Only the light of the stove was shining on the young girl''s face And those bright eyes. Zhao Ce took them, held them in his hand, and looked at them. Su Caier''s face had a faint smile. She said, "Husband, you walk a lot usually." "So, I intentionally made the shoes a bit thicker." "I''ll go fetch water for you to wash your face, and you can try them on first." Saying that she happily walked out to fetch water for Zhao Ce to wash his face.


    The young girl walked past Zhao Ce. A faint scent of soapnuts drifted down from her hair, entering Zhao Ce''s nose. Zhao Ce instinctively reached out and held her. Su Caier blinked curiously, looking up at him. Zhao Ce had one hand holding the brand-new shoes. For modern people, buying a pair of shoes is as simple as moving their fingers. But the pair in his hand was different. It was made by the person in front of him, stitch by stitch, waking up early and working late for him.


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    Zhao Ce glanced at her with a gentle look in his eyes. "It''s nothing." "Thank you." He let go of her hand. The young girl, with a curved brow and eyes, said, "I also want to thank husband." As for what she was thanking him for, she didn''t say.


    After saying that, she walked out briskly. Leaving Zhao Ce alone in the kitchen, he chuckled and thought, "Su Caier, why are you so stubborn?" "I told her, my old shoes can still last a few more days." "No need for her to wake up early and work so hard...". The voice of the young girl came from outside. "Husband, the water is ready." Zhao Ce put down the shoes in his hand and said, "Coming."


    .......


    After washing up, Zhao Ce finished his breakfast and put on the new shoes. "The soles are indeed thicker than the previous pair, very comfortable." Zhao Ce curiously looked at his new shoes. Su Caier looked at her husband''s feet, at what he was wearing. They were all made by her own hands. She explained happily, "Yes, husband, you have to walk a lot." "So, I thought of making the soles thicker." "That way, you''ll be more comfortable walking." "What do you think, husband?"


    There was a smile in Zhao Ce''s eyes as well. "Well, they are indeed very comfortable." "I feel like I won''t get tired when walking." Zhao Ce''s words were somewhat exaggerated. But it was also an affirmation to the young girl. Su Caier smiled and lowered her head. Then she thought of something else. "I still need to make a new purse for my husband."


    Listening to the young girl''s murmuring, Zhao Ce felt a tingling sensation in his heart, as if being bitten by ants. It felt a bit ticklish. His fingers twitched. In the end, he couldn''t help himself and gently embraced the young girl. The girl in his arms was thin and small. But she took care of his clothing, food, shelter, and transportation clearly and transparently. Zhao Ce lightly patted her slender back. "Alright, you make it." "I''ll carry it with me every day."


    In the warm embrace, their hearts touched. Su Caier didn''t even have time to feel shy. Zhao Ce had already let go of her. "Now that I have new shoes, I''ll go out of the city today to talk to Brother Wenhua about the sugar matter.". He ruffled the young girl''s head. Turned around and went to the cupboard to take out the packed sugar. Originally, he had thought that if the shoes weren''t ready in these two days, he would temporarily stay at home. But since he had put on the new shoes today, He decided to take care of this matter early.


    Su Caier hadn''t even had time to relish this brief embrace. Hearing that her husband was going out, she quickly fetched water with a bamboo tube. After packing everything up,  Zhao Ce put on his book box. When the young girl saw him off, she looked at him eagerly. Looking at her gaze, Zhao Ce couldn''t help but smile and ask, "What''s wrong?"


    Su Caier hesitated and said, "Hus... husband..." "Can I hug you again?" "I..." While saying that, Zhao Ce directly hugged her again. "Well, you can." After the hug, looking at the blush that appeared on the young girl''s face, as if she had just realized it, He chuckled softly. "I''m leaving."


    After saying that, He turned around and walked out the door. By the time Su Caier snapped out of her thoughts, her husband had already become a distant figure. Su Caier wrapped her hands around her small face. Couldn''t help but blush and smile sweetly. She muttered to herself in a soft voice, "Husband, hugged me..." "And he hugged me twice." After standing for a while, she finally turned around and went back inside. Preparing to finish sewing the other things.

 Chapter 71: Jade Pavilion Restaurant

    When Zhao Ce left the house, he was still wearing a Long-sleeved shirt. People from the village who were also going out saw him, but most of them didn''t look pleased. In the past, they knew he was a scholar, and they could exchange a few jokes with him. Now that they knew he had been expelled from school, even the interest in making fun of him had vanished.


    On the ox cart, Zhao Zhiqiang, Uncle Liu''s son, happened to be taking the small trinkets made by his mother and wife to sell outside. When he saw Zhao Ce, he warmly sat down next to him and struck up a conversation.


    The grass in Zhao Ce''s fields had already been cut. His father was busy with his other brothers. Today, he was resting and taking the opportunity to earn some extra money by going to the city. He said, "Zhao Ce, that group of monks you exposed at the Zhao Mansion. I heard that the county magistrate has already concluded the case. Turns out they were all fake monks!"


    As soon as this matter was brought up, Zhao Ce remembered that he hadn''t been to the city for several days. Now, hearing about it, he became curious. Although the other people on the cart didn''t speak to him, they all perked up their ears, wanting to hear the gossip. After all, they had all heard about that day''s incident from others.


    Zhao Ce asked, "Has it been concluded?"


    Zhao Zhiqiang nodded and said, "Yes. That day, I passed by the teahouse carrying my baggage. I heard many people talking about this matter. They said these fake monks had accomplices too. But it''s a bit far away, seems to be closer to the provincial capital. This group of people has harmed quite a few individuals."


    As Zhao Zhiqiang spoke, the people around listened with great interest. The person who led the group of monks was to be beheaded, while the others would be exiled.


    After listening, Zhao Ce thought to himself that his guess was indeed correct. This group of people indeed had accomplices. Moreover, judging by the number of Buddhist beads, it was evident that they had harmed many people. However, now that they had been captured, these people probably wouldn''t dare to cause trouble for the time being. Nevertheless, regardless of the situation, it had nothing to do with him for the time being.


    After arriving in the city, Zhao Zhiqiang lifted his baggage and said to Zhao Ce, "I''ll be setting up my stall in the East Market. If you need anything, just come find me there." Zhao Ce smiled and replied, "Alright." Zhao Zhiqiang then walked away, carrying his baggage.


    Zhao Ce had inquired about Zhao Wenhua��s workplace with Zhao Youcai the day before yesterday. The restaurant where Zhao Wenhua worked was called Jade Pavilion Restaurant. Jade Pavilion Restaurant was the largest restaurant in the city. Naturally, Zhao Ce was aware of it.


    He continued walking along the main road. When he reached the middle, he finally saw the Jade Pavilion Restaurant. At this time, the restaurant was filled with guests staying at the inn, having their breakfast. Zhao Ce, dressed in a brand-new Long-sleeved shirt, walked in.


    The waiter at the entrance didn''t even lift his head and said, "Our restaurant is not open for business yet." "Please come back later."


    Zhao Ce nodded slightly to the waiter and said, "Excuse me, I''m looking for your manager, Zhao Wenhua."


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    Upon hearing the calm voice of the person in front of him, the waiter felt that he didn''t sound like an ordinary person. He looked up and saw a young man with a bookcase on his back, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt. He stood calmly in front of him. Although his attire seemed mismatched, his demeanor didn''t resemble that of an ordinary farmer. The waiter straightened up a bit and asked, "May I know who wants to see our manager, Mr. Zhao?"


    Zhao Ce said, "I''m his cousin. Please inform him."


    Upon hearing that it was the manager''s cousin, the waiter immediately became attentive. He said, "So you are Mr. Zhao''s cousin." "Please follow me inside. I''ll take you to him."


    Zhao Ce followed him and entered the restaurant. The waiter probably felt that his attitude had been lacking just now. As they walked, the waiter kept talking. "Master Zhao, I noticed you carrying a bookcase." "You must be a scholar, right?" Zhao Ce confirmed it.


    The waiter continued, "Indeed." "As soon as I saw your extraordinary demeanor, I knew you were not an ordinary person." "By the way, our manager had asked me to inquire about someone earlier." "He said that person had been expelled from school." "With your demeanor, someone knowledgeable like you wouldn''t have such a problem."


    Upon hearing his words, Zhao Ce felt that the protagonist the waiter mentioned was most likely himself...


    The waiter chatted away.


    Suddenly, he remembered something. He said, "The person our manager wanted me to inquire about, the one who was expelled from school, seems to be from your village too." "His name, his name..." The waiter slapped his thigh. "It''s Zhao Ce!" "Master Zhao, do you happen to know this person?"


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Zhao Ce''s mouth. After a while, He still hadn''t replied.


    From over there, a familiar voice could be heard. "Ce''er, why have you come?"


    Zhao Ce saw Zhao Wenhua walking out from inside and quickly greeted him. "Brother Wenhua, I came to talk to you about something." Zhao Wenhua nodded and let him into the inner room. He then told the motionless waiter standing beside them, "Have someone bring tea and snacks."


    The dumbfounded waiter replied, "Ah, oh..." "Alright..." Zhao, surname. Called Ce''er... The waiter almost wanted to cover his face and hurriedly left the place.


    Zhao Wenhua sat down with Zhao Ce in the inner room. He asked him, "Is this about the school matter?" Zhao Ce shook his head.


    He took out a package of refined sugar from his bookcase. "Brother Wenhua, I heard from Uncle that your restaurant wants to buy my refined sugar?"


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenhua became enthusiastic. "That''s right." "My father said it depends on your willingness." "I originally planned to come and talk to you about it tomorrow during my day off." "I didn''t expect to come out on my own."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "I''ve been thinking about coming out for the past few days." "Just that I didn''t come because I hadn''t finished the farm work at home." Upon hearing him mention farm work, Zhao Wenhua couldn''t help but give him a glance. This scholar, who had never touched the fields, saying that he hadn''t finished the farm work sounded novel. It seemed that his cousin had truly changed a lot...


    But these were not the main points. Zhao Wenhua took the refined sugar from his hand.


    He opened it and examined it carefully. "Your refined sugar seems even whiter than the ones we have at home?"


    Zhao Ce said, "Naturally." "I improved the method later on." "All the refined sugar I produce from now on will have this kind of appearance."


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenhua happily said, "Then you must supply our restaurant with it." "The pastries made from this refined sugar will surely be popular." Zhao Ce agreed, saying, "Of course." "But this kind of thing is rare." "So I ask Brother Wenhua to keep it confidential for now and not reveal that I''m the one behind it."


    Zhao Wenhua nodded in agreement. "We shouldn''t reveal our wealth." "I''ll do my best to help you with everything."


    The two of them discussed the supply quantity and price. Zhao Wenhua immediately wanted to sign a contract. Zhao Ce didn''t expect that things would be resolved so easily. Zhao Wenhua joyfully said, "You can have tea in the inner room, wait for me a moment." "These snacks taste pretty good, have some." "I''ll have someone bring paper and pen."

 Chapter 72: White as Jade

    Zhao Wenhua went out to call someone, while Zhao Ce stayed in the inner room, eating two pieces of pastry and sipping some tea. The pastries were delicately made and adorable. Zhao Ce thought to himself that he would have Zhao Wenhua pack a portion to take home for the little girl there to taste.


    Just as he was thinking about it, voices suddenly came from outside the door, approaching the inner room. Soon, the door to the inner room was pushed open, and a young man dressed in fine clothes, holding a paper fan, walked in. Behind him were several students dressed similarly. When the young man saw a farmer dressed in ordinary clothes inside the room, he paused for a moment and then said somewhat displeased, "Tsk, who is this? How can a farmer be allowed into the inner room?"


    The waiter who came after them quickly explained, "Young Master, this is our restaurant manager''s cousin. He said he wanted to talk to our manager about something." Hearing that he was the cousin of the restaurant manager, the person addressed as Young Master''s expression improved. This person was Chen Shaofeng.


    Seeing Zhao Ce inside, he asked the waiter next to him, "What are they talking about?" The waiter scratched his head and said he didn''t know. Zhao Ce, who was already standing up inside the room, calmly looked at the group of people. The people behind Chen Shaofeng also glanced inside. One of them, upon seeing Zhao Ce, curiously said, "Isn''t this Zhao Ce, the one who exposed those fake monks in front of Young Master Zhao''s residence that day?"


    Upon hearing Zhao Ce''s name, the others also became interested and craned their necks to get a better look at Zhao Ce from outside the door. Zhao Ce felt somewhat displeased being stared at by others all of a sudden. Chen Shaofeng, upon hearing that it was Zhao Ce, originally intended to go to another private room, but now he became interested and walked in directly with his people.


    He straightforwardly asked, "Are you Zhao Ce?" Zhao Ce nodded. Chen Shaofeng then curiously scrutinized him, saying, "You don''t look like the rumors. I heard you, a farmer, are fond of women and have poor academic performance. You were even expelled by the teacher because of it. But looking at you now, you''re nothing like the rumors. It seems those rumors circulating in the streets are indeed unreliable..." Zhao Ce tugged at the corner of his mouth in response. This Chen Shaofeng seemed to have a good heart, but his mouth was really asking for a beating.


    Inside the room, the situation was awkward. Zhao Wenhua had already come over with pen and paper. Seeing Chen Shaofeng, he quickly asked, "Young Master, why have you come?" Chen Shaofeng pointed to the classmates behind him and said, "He Gongzi said his family obtained some white sugar and wanted to bring it out for our restaurant''s chef to make pastries for us to taste." After hearing this, the person named He Gongzi''s chest puffed up proudly.


    In his hand, he held something and showed it to everyone. "Have you ever seen pure white sugar before, as white as jade?" Chen Shaofeng gave him a disdainful look. "Quickly open it and let us take a look." He Gongzi smilingly opened it for them to see. "This white sugar is precious." "My father received a small bag from Wu Yuanwai as a gift." "There''s nowhere else in the whole city to buy it."


    Everyone gathered around, craning their necks, looking at the white sugar in his hand. "Wow, it''s real..." "It''s so different from the black and yellow sugar sold in the shop." After showing it to everyone, He Gongzi put it away again. Proudly, he said to Chen Shaofeng, "See, I didn''t deceive you, right?" "But we can''t use up all this white sugar." "You should find your best chef and I will personally instruct him."


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    Chen Shaofeng rolled his eyes. "It''s just a little white sugar, don''t overestimate yourself." After saying that, he had someone take them to another private room. Seeing the pen and paper in Zhao Wenhua''s hand, he curiously asked, "Are you going to sign a contract?"


    Zhao Wenhua glanced at the cloth bag on the table. It was at least several times bigger than the one in He Gongzi''s hand. He didn''t say anything, just smiled and said, "Young Master, yes." Chen Shaofeng nodded. "Alright, I won''t delay you." After saying that, he left.


    Zhao Wenhua apologized to Zhao Ce, saying, "Did the Young Master trouble you just now?" Their Young Master always spoke straightforwardly. If he wasn''t the son of Old Master Chen, he would have probably been beaten to death long ago. Zhao Ce smiled and shook his head.


    "No." "Let''s sign the contract." Zhao Wenhua also felt relieved. After writing the contract, the two of them signed it together. Watching Zhao Ce sign his name on the paper with a flourish. Zhao Wenhua praised, "Your handwriting has improved a lot compared to before."


    Zhao Ce looked embarrassed for a moment. He made up on the spot, "There hasn''t been much to do at home recently." "So, I''ve put a lot of effort into practicing calligraphy." "Now I can say I''ve made some progress."


    After hearing that, Zhao Wenhua sighed and said, "Experience is gained through hardships." "Don''t worry about the school, I''ll find out about it for you."


    Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Wenhua." After signing the contract, Zhao Wenhua stamped his shop''s seal. Three copies were made.


    One for Zhao Ce.


    One for their restaurant.


    And another copy is to be filed at the yamen.


    The weight of the white sugar was also measured, and it was directly converted into its price. Zhao Ce received another four taels of silver. Once everything was settled, Zhao Ce asked Zhao Wenhua if he can pack up the leftover snacks.


    Zhao Wenhua paused for a moment before smiling and said, "Sure." "I''ll have someone pack it up for you." As he spoke, he instructed someone to pack up the leftover snacks and even brought a new portion. Zhao Ce wanted to pay, but Zhao Wenhua refused to accept the money. He directly escorted Zhao Ce out of the restaurant.


    Zhao Ce couldn''t help but say helplessly, "Brother Wenhua, aren''t you paying for these snacks yourself?" Zhao Wenhua replied with a hint of displeasure, "They are just a few small snacks." "I, your brother, am treating you." "It will be crowded on the ox carts when the school ends later." "It''s better for you to go back early."


    Zhao Ce had no choice but to thank him and turned to leave. Zhao Wenhua watched his straight back and murmured, "Now he looks like a true scholar..."


    After saying that, he prepared to return to the private room and put away the white sugar. He would send it to his master.


    On the other hand, Chen Shaofeng was muttering to himself as he walked into the private room. "Did I leave my folding fan inside?" Upon entering, he realized there was no one in the room. There was no sign of his folding fan either. Instead, there was a small cloth bag on the table.


    Chen Shaofeng recognized it as the one Zhao Wenhua''s younger cousin had taken out earlier. "A farmer coming to our restaurant to sign a contract?" "What good thing could this be?" As he spoke, he picked up the cloth bag in his hand. Casually, he opened it and took a look. Then, his eyes widened involuntarily.


    "This..."


    The bag was filled to the brim with the same white sugar that He Gongzi had shown them earlier! As soon as Zhao Wenhua entered the private room, he saw Chen Shaofeng holding the cloth bag in his hand. His heart skipped a beat. He inwardly berated himself for being careless.


    Chen Shaofeng saw him come in and grabbed him excitedly, asking, "Your cousin, Zhao Ce..." "Did he bring out this white sugar?"


    Helpless, Zhao Wenhua could only admit the truth. After explaining, he hesitated and said, "Can you keep this a secret for us, Young Master?" Chen Shaofeng waved his hand grandly. "No problem!" "I''ll take this bag of white sugar with me!" "So, I can show it off as well."

 Chapter 73: Vanity

    Chen Shaofeng returned to his private room, holding the bag of white sugar in his hand. His classmates, seeing that he didn''t have his own folding fan with him, but instead came back with a cloth bag, were curious.


    "Hey, Chen Shaofeng, what do you have in your hand?" "Weren''t you looking for your fan?" "This cloth bag is just an ordinary bag made of coarse linen. What''s inside?"


    Chen Shaofeng proudly replied, "What do you guys know?" "The more extraordinary something is, the more ordinary the container it''s kept in." He asked He Gongzi, "Is that white sugar from Wu Yuanwai''s house?"


    He Gongzi replied, "That''s right." "Isn''t the biggest grocery store in town owned by Wu Yuanwai?" "Recently, they received a lot of white sugar from somewhere." "So, they used this white sugar as gifts for many households." "My father also received some from him."


    He Gongzi''s father, He Xiucai, is a scholar in the county, with a respectable status. He Xiucai is also the teacher of Wu Yuanwai''s son. Therefore, after Wu Yuanwai''s store received the white sugar from Zhao Ce, they used this rare item to give gifts. After speaking, He Gongzi shouted, "Why isn''t your chef here?" "I want to eat the snacks he made with this white sugar."


    Chen Shaofeng put the cloth bag on the table and sat down. "What good things can you make with that bit of white sugar?" "Or should I treat you all instead?" Saying that, he opened the cloth bag in his hand.


    His classmates listened to Chen Shaofeng''s proud words and were quite surprised. When they saw the bag of white sugar he opened, their eyes widened involuntarily. "Why do you have so much white sugar?"


    Chen Shaofeng proudly replied, "Naturally." "Who is my father? He is Chen Yuan!" "As for that little bit of white sugar you have, put it away. Today, I will treat you all to pastries!" Chen Shaofeng called a waiter and asked him to take the white sugar downstairs and have the chef make some better-quality snacks with it.


    The others curiously asked him, "Where did you get so much white sugar?" "We didn''t see you carrying it earlier." He Gongzi also said, "Yeah." "When Wu Yuanwai sent it to our house, he said this white sugar is rare." "But he didn''t sell any of it in his store." "He gave it all away as gifts." "Where did you get so much?"


    Chen Shaofeng proudly replied, "Naturally, we got it from our restaurant."


    Someone curiously asked, "From whom did you purchase it? And do you have any left?" "I also want to buy some to take home."


    Chen Shaofeng saw that these people kept asking him incessantly. The vanity in Chen Shaofeng''s heart was satisfied. He casually said, "It''s that...". As he was halfway through his sentence, he suddenly remembered Zhao Wenhua''s reminder not to disclose the information about the supplier. He abruptly cut off the topic and put on a secretive expression. "I definitely won''t tell you.�� he said.


    Upon hearing this, the others were on the verge of speaking but held back, continuously pressing for an answer. However, Chen Shaofeng remained tight-lipped. "This is our family''s business secret. How can I casually let you know?" he said.


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    Upon hearing this answer, the group of people looked at Chen Shaofeng and made a disapproving sound. Chen Shaofeng looked at their frustrated faces with satisfaction, thinking to himself, "You want to trick this young master into revealing the information? Not a chance!"


    Despite the others'' attempts to indirectly extract the information, Chen Shaofeng still did not reveal anything. He was straightforward in his speech and not lacking in intelligence. How could he casually disclose the business matters of his family restaurant?


    ����������������������������..


    On the other side, Zhao Ce held the signed contract and the money as he walked out of the restaurant. He patted the freshly baked contract and couldn''t help but feel delighted. With this, his livelihood for the coming period was secured. The next thing he needed to resolve was his study arrangements, and then he could temporarily settle down.


    When he arrived at the house where he had previously placed the order for the pottery, Zhao Ce asked if the items had been crafted. The residents of the house replied, "Coincidentally, they were delivered this morning. However, we are not responsible for the delivery. As we mentioned last time, we can only bring the goods to the city gate on a cart. Then, you''ll have to find an ox cart by yourself."


    This arrangement had been agreed upon during the previous delivery. Zhao Ce naturally had no objections and nodded, saying, "Alright, then please help me deliver the goods to the city gate." The shop assistant then loaded Zhao Ce''s merchandise onto the cart and helped him pull it to the city gate.


    On the way, they saw many scholars wearing long robes. The academies had already finished classes for the day, and tomorrow would be a day of rest. Many people who lived outside the city were hurrying home today. After pulling their goods to the city gate, fortunately, there was an ox cart available. Zhao Ce negotiated the price with the cart driver, and the shop assistant helped load the goods onto the cart. Just as the cart was about to leave, two people approached from behind. One of them was dressed in a long robe, while the other wore a short jacket. The two individuals looked somewhat similar, possibly brothers. The person in the short jacket spoke up, saying, "Wait."


    The cart driver replied, "My cart has already been hired. If you want to ride on the ox cart, you''ll have to wait or walk back."


    The young man in the short jacket glanced at the nearby scholar in the long robe and asked, "May I ask which direction you''re heading?"


    The cart driver looked at Zhao Ce with a troubled expression. Zhao Ce thought it wouldn''t hurt to be accommodating. If it was on the way, he could give them a ride. After all, his goods weren''t that many, and there was enough space for two more people on the cart.


    Zhao Ce said, "We''re heading towards Shuiqiao Village."


    Upon hearing this, the two individuals happily exclaimed, "That''s the same direction we''re going! We live in Xiahe village downstream. After reaching Shuiqiao Village, could the ox cart take us to Xiahe Village? We''re willing to pay for the second half of the journey."


    The person in the short jacket introduced himself, saying, "I''m Su Changsheng, and this is my brother, Su Changxing. He''s a student at the county school." He emphasized his brother''s identity as a scholar, obviously trying to see if Zhao Ce would give them some face.


    The cart driver was naturally willing to earn some extra money, but he had made an agreement with Zhao Ce and couldn''t make a decision on his own. Thus, he looked at Zhao Ce with a troubled expression.


    Zhao Ce glanced at the person speaking and felt like he had seen him somewhere before. Moreover, Xiahe village was the village where Su Caier resided. However, after searching his memory, he couldn''t find a clear answer and could only temporarily set aside this matter. He casually said, "I don''t mind." After all, he was the first to arrive.


    Seeing Zhao Ce''s generous attitude, the two individuals happily boarded the cart.

 Chapter 74: Gentlemen, lets agree to disagree

    Zhao Ce nodded faintly at them. Seeing that Zhao Ce didn''t have much interest in talking to them. They just quietly chatted with each other. The coachman cracked his whip, and the ox cart slowly left the city gate. After sitting for a while, Su Changsheng looked at Zhao Ce and seemed somewhat familiar with him. But after thinking for a moment, he couldn''t recall who this person was.


    He said to Su Changxing, who was dressed in a robe, "Brother, you definitely won''t see that little troublemaker when you go back this time. Mother has already sent her away. This little troublemaker was brought back halfway by a drunken scholar. I suppose she''s locked up at home now. After all, if her eyes were seen, even the scholar wouldn''t dare let her go out." As he spoke, his mouth was filled with malicious pleasure. Then he said with regret, "If it weren''t for her leg problem, I would have thought of taking her to the brothel. I estimate I could have sold her for a better price."


    Su Changxing, said in a calm tone, "Now that she''s gone, let it be. I''ll definitely pass the Imperial examination next year." After he finished speaking, he added with some complaints, "As a scholar, how can I have a cousin who sells herself in a brothel?"


    Su Changsheng also said, "That''s true. It doesn''t sound good if this gets out. Our family has suffered enough because of her. This little troublemaker not only causes trouble for others but also for herself. When you casually swung the sickle back then, she managed to cripple her own leg." "Tsk, tsk..." "It''s better to send her away sooner."


    Su Changsheng''s voice was not loud, but Su Changxing still gave him a disapproving look. "What are you saying?" "What does it have to do with me?" Su Changsheng finished speaking and realized he had said the wrong thing. His brother was a scholar. It definitely wouldn''t sound good if this matter spread. He became cautious and glanced at Zhao Ce beside him.


    Zhao Ce listened to their words and glanced at them. Then he looked at the young man in short clothes. His gaze was dark. From their conversation, he was already certain. This young man in short clothes was Su Cai''er''s cousin whom he had encountered on the road. At that time, the original host was drunk and had no interest in observing Su Changsheng''s appearance. He just listened to their conversation, and memories started to resurface in Zhao Ce''s mind.


    Feeling Zhao Ce''s gaze, the two men turned and glanced at Zhao Ce. Upon seeing Zhao Ce''s expression, dark and piercing, they felt a sense of confusion. Su Changsheng unhappily asked, "Why are you looking at us like that?"


    That day, Zhao Ce was dressed in a robe, the attire of a scholar. He appeared disheveled and intoxicated. Contrasting with the man before them, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, with clear eyes and a handsome face, Su Changsheng didn''t even consider the possibility of them being the same person.


    Zhao Ce looked at him and then glanced at Su Changxing beside him, listening to their conversation. Was the girl''s leg condition related to them? Thinking back to when the girl had just arrived and mentioned her legs being bad for several years, Zhao Ce knew that her legs weren''t naturally crippled. He didn''t expect that it was caused by this cousin. Unexpectedly, today he had encountered these two individuals. Moreover, this person had even considered taking Su Cai''er to a brothel for sale. It was only due to the presence of a scholar in the family that he didn''t act on it, fearing the negative reputation it would bring.


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    Thinking of this, Zhao Ce sneered inwardly. He looked at the two men and suddenly let out a light laugh. "Wasn''t looking at much." "Looking at you..." Zhao Ce lifted his leg and kicked Su Changsheng off the cart.


    "Ah!" Su Changsheng didn''t expect Zhao Ce to suddenly erupt. He didn''t have time to dodge and was kicked off the ox cart. Su Changxing, witnessing his brother being inexplicably kicked off the cart, angrily asked, "What are you doing?" "Why did you kick my brother?" As he raised his eyes and saw Zhao Ce''s gaze, it was as cold as a dagger gleaming with icy light, seemingly ready to pierce through him. Su Changxing, a scholar, had no strength to defend himself. Su Changsheng, who had just climbed up from the ground, was already some distance away.


    Su Changxing swallowed nervously, feeling afraid, and said, "I-I am a scholar. If you dare to attack me without reason, we won''t let you off!" Hearing this, Zhao Ce''s face carried a mocking smile. "A scholar?" "How coincidental." "So am I." Su Changxing, upon hearing this, relaxed slightly. He said, "In that case..." "Gentlemen settle disputes through dialogue..." He hadn''t finished speaking.


    They could only watch as Zhao Ce lifted his leg and kicked himself off the cart. Su Changxing, rolling on the ground, coincidentally collided with Su Changsheng, who was clutching his chest and running over. Su Changxing quickly caught him, helping him up and asking, "Brother, are you alright?"


    The cart driver in front wanted to stop and see what was happening. Zhao Ce directly said, "Keep going, don''t mind them." "I will compensate you for the remaining money." The cart driver, witnessing the conflict between these people, even resorting to violence, heard that both of them were scholars. He didn''t dare to get involved. So, he continued driving the ox cart, not daring to stop.


    Zhao Ce looked at the two people walking behind and threw Su Changxing''s book box down as well. Su Changxing, a scholar, was treated in such a way. He definitely wouldn''t want to make a big fuss about it. Even if it did escalate, Zhao Ce wasn''t afraid. At most, he would pay for some medical expenses. Anyway, he no longer had a teacher. He already had a notorious reputation among scholars. What did he have to fear with an additional charge of assaulting someone?


    Su Changsheng''s chest still throbbed with pain, and Su Changxing limped due to being kicked. Both of them were covered in mud, with even their hair disheveled. They were chasing after at a slow pace. Su Changsheng angrily cursed, "Who are you to dare to attack us?" "We won''t let you off!"


    Zhao Ce sat on the ox cart and calmly said, "I am Zhao Ce from Shuiqiao Village." "Feel free to come find me for a settlement." As he spoke, the ox cart gradually moved farther away.


    "Zhao Ce?" The two brothers exchanged a glance, not knowing why they had encountered such a disaster for no reason. Su Changsheng looked at his brother''s robe covered in mud and angrily said, "Let''s go back and tell the village chief!" "Let the village chief gather people to seek justice for us." Su Changxing, who had never been treated like this before, had a pale and furious expression on his face, alternating between anger and fear. He gritted his teeth and said, "Let''s go."


    Zhao Ce let out a sigh of relief and sat on the cart, but his expression wasn''t very good. After returning to the village, the cart driver watched as Zhao Ce unloaded his belongings and received the payment, then quickly drove the ox cart away. Zhao Ce didn''t say anything, directly holding the bundled pottery and knocking on the door of his house.

 A Heartfelt Thank You and Exciting News!

    Hello, Readers,


    I hope you''re all doing well. First and foremost, I want to express my deep gratitude to each one of you for being a part of our reading journey. Your presence and engagement mean the world to me.


    Recently, we held a poll to make an important decision about the future of my novel, and your participation was invaluable. I''m thrilled to announce the results.


    The majority of readers chose to explore a new avenue together, and I''m excited to share that, starting today, our chapters are now exclusively available on Patreon. As a token of my appreciation for your participation, we''re doubling our weekly chapter release this week to 8 chapters, allowing you to read up to Chapter 82.


    Stolen story; please report.Your enthusiasm and support inspire me every day, and I''m deeply thankful for each of you who takes the time throughout your day to read my novel. I look forward to continuing this incredible journey together, and I can''t wait to see where our adventures with Zhao Ce & Su Caier will take us.


    Thank you for being a part of this adventure, and for making it all the more special.


    With warm regards,


    Knitted Turtle


    Check out the Patreon here: patreon.com/KnittedTurtle