Chapter 42

It was an hour and a half later when the sky began to lighten.

The streets are gradually becoming more crowded. Recently, the residents living nearby have been subconsciously avoiding these congested roads. For the local government officials and business people, it is a great thing that Mr. Huang is living here in retirement.

The once quiet prefectural city is now bustling with students from all over the country who travel long distances to become their disciples. Their need for food and lodging has boosted their business.

Wen Shi stood up. The torch had long since burned out. Suddenly, the aroma of scallion pancakes wafted from not far away. A moment later, a slightly plump woman walked over with a smile on her face.

"Greetings, scholars! My family has a family recipe for scallion pancakes. They're incredibly fragrant, soft, and still piping hot. Want some? I won't keep you waiting in line. I'll bring them to you. Just pay me. They're three coins each."

The pancakes were only three coins each, not cheap, but I didn't refuse them when I smelled them and bought two.

As expected, they would have to wait in line until the afternoon, and in this cold weather, it would be even more difficult if they were hungry.

The steaming flatbread, wrapped in yellow paper, wasn't as delicious as the woman had described, but its soft texture was enough to fill one's stomach.

By this time, the queue had stretched for a long distance.

Wen Shi felt fortunate that he arrived early and was much closer to the front of the queue than yesterday. If he had the chance to meet the old gentleman, it would be well worth it.

At midday, as the sun gradually rose, Yingxiang got up.

She slept fairly well that night. There were boiled eggs in the kitchen, which she heated up, boiled some water, and made herself some milk powder.

The small can of milk powder was almost empty, and Yingxiang wasn't planning on drinking any more. She thought that once this can was finished, she would stop.

After eating and drinking her fill, she went back to her room to sign in. A short while later, she came out carrying two pounds of meat, looking somewhat helpless.

She flipped through several pages, finding either cheap hair accessories or some tedious storybooks. Eventually, she got tired of flipping through them and simply chose the explicit ones.

What upset her was that this wasn't pork, and it wasn't practical to take this little bit of meat out to sell. She decided to make some mutton buns for Wen Shi.

Wen Shi doesn't mind mutton. Ying Xiang washed the meat and immediately started chopping it. Then she skillfully prepared the dough, planning to make steamed buns later so Wen Shi could have them ready when he came back.

He had it tough too, Yingxiang thought of her husband and couldn't help but sigh.

At this moment, Wen Shi stood in the cold wind, just like all the other students, waiting for the afternoon.

In front of him was a young student dressed in brocade, with a bulky figure. The man was carrying a hand warmer and wearing a thick cloak, yet he couldn't help but shiver.

He glanced back at Wen Shi, his lips moving slightly: "Aren't you cold?"

Why didn't you bring a hand warmer?

Wen Shi's lips moved slightly: "I didn't prepare in advance."

When he was young, he worked in the fields with his father and brothers. The hardest time for him was the summer. It was unbearably hot, but he couldn't stop working, otherwise the fields would dry up and there would be no harvest, which would mean starvation.

In winter, there's not much work to do in the fields. Although it's cold at home, it's not too bad when the brothers and I huddle together under the covers.

He was hardworking and could endure hardship. In the first few years of his schooling, he worked in the town, even in the dead of winter, unloading goods for people in order to earn a few more copper coins. Back then, things were not as good as they are now; he couldn't afford such a brand-new, thick cotton-padded coat. His clothes were patched one after another, making him look very shabby.

Although things are tough right now, he can endure it.

He wasn't one to suffer without effort. He had already decided that once today was over, he would go to the store and buy himself a wool cloak to wear, which would at least protect him from the cold.

If you're going to buy a hand warmer, buy two so your wife can use them when she's home.

"Come here quickly, this stove of mine is getting cold, go add some charcoal."

A pageboy came running over from a short distance away; he was clearly one of the young master's men, but Wen Shi didn't pay much attention to him.

In the afternoon, Wen Shi felt hungry, but there was nothing to eat. As he watched the group begin to move forward, his eyes lit up instantly.

But then, it didn't move for half an hour, which made him a little worried.

Half an hour later, the old steward told them to go back. Those who had arrived early and hadn't seen Mr. Huang all sighed in disappointment.

"If we just keep waiting like this, I don't know when I'll be able to see the old gentleman. The daily expenses in the prefectural city are really quite high, and my family isn't that well-off."

"If I weren't worried about freezing to death, I would really like to wait here tonight."

One student said dejectedly, but Wen Shi didn't say anything and silently walked home.

He wasn't in a hurry to go back. He went to the store and bought himself a black wool cloak. He put it on and immediately felt much warmer. After that, he bought two hand warmers and a bag of charcoal.

How was your day?

Seeing Yingxiang looking at him expectantly, Wen Shi pushed open the door and entered, subconsciously shaking his head.

"Did it not work out, or did you not see him again?"

"I didn't see him. He only saw three people today."

Those who could queue up here to study were all scholars with the title of Xiucai (a degree in the imperial examination system). Regardless of their wealth, everyone was polite and kind on the surface, after all, they were afraid that the old gentleman would secretly examine them. Even the arrogant ones did not dare to show it. Many people were carrying the expectations of their families.

Wen Shi walked into the house and sighed in response to the fragrance.

"This cloak is quite nice. Black is dirt-resistant. I should have bought it a long time ago. When did you go yesterday?"

"midnight."

Upon hearing this, Yingxiang immediately stood up and walked over to Wenshi. The room was warm and cozy, and Wenshi took off his coat and cloak, which were covered in snowflakes.

Yingxiang touched his face with her hand; it was icy cold, and she felt a pang of heartache.

"I'll go boil some water for you. Oh, and I also steamed some buns for you. They're all warming up in the pot. I'll bring you a few later."

The ten taels of silver that Old Man Wen gave Wen Shi were not yet used up, so he could live comfortably. Wen Shi looked straight at his wife and pulled her to sit next to him.

"I'll go in a bit, you should rest first."

He squatted when he went there last night, and then stood while queuing. He spends most of his day like this, so his legs are naturally uncomfortable.

"I need to go earlier tomorrow so I can get a hand warmer."

"Studying is not easy," Yingxiang thought to herself.

"My husband, you have worked so hard, Heaven will not let you down."

Today, a student came out crying. Thinking of this, I smiled rather reluctantly. Even though this old gentleman came from a poor background, he must have some ability to make it.

The questions he asks them will certainly be very tricky, but he won't give up.

Wen Shi felt much warmer. He put on his clothes and went to the kitchen. He saw the steaming buns and mantou in the pot, with hot water underneath. Although the pot lid had been on, the temperature had been dropping since the firewood went out. It wasn't very hot right now, but it was just right to eat.

He poured water into the teapot, then stuffed a few steamed buns and mantou into the large bowl, and carried it into the house.

The sky was overcast. He wasn't afraid of snow or wind, but he was afraid of heavy rain. The room was dim, but Yingxiang had already lit the lamp.

"Eat."

Wen Shi instinctively handed his wife a steamed bun, but Yingxiang shook her head.

“It’s cold now, and you’ve been running around a lot lately, so I made these mutton buns for you. They’re good for you to eat and help you recover. I’ll just eat steamed buns.”

Yingxiang didn't eat it beforehand. When she came back, she picked up the fluffy and soft steamed bun and took a bite. It tasted pretty good, and it was also delicious with the pickled radish.

It was cold, so the two of them ate indoors. It was already a challenge to have enough to eat every day. Thinking back to her time in the village, Yingxiang felt that her current life was already very good.

Wen Shi took a bite of the bun, the filling almost overflowing, and gave his wife a deep look.

The two ate in silence. After they finished, Wen Shi went to clean up, while Ying Xiang looked at the charcoal brazier. Tomorrow, she would put some sweet potatoes and potatoes in it and see how they would taste when roasted.

Darkness fell quickly. Yingxiang had been feeling tired lately and would fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. When Wenshi returned, she was almost asleep too. He added a few pieces of charcoal, held his wife, and drifted off to sleep.

In the county, at the Wen family shop, Old Man Wen was still awake. Looking at Liu Shi beside him, he couldn't help but ask, "The eldest and third sons aren't here. I wonder how they are? Especially the third son, I wonder if he's doing well over there?"

They were all his own sons, and even though the eldest son became unreliable later on, Old Man Wen still secretly cared for him.

He left home the earliest, but there has been no news of him since. He was said to have gone out to do business and make money. I wonder where he is now and how he is doing.

“The third brother is always reliable and nothing will happen to him. It’s too cold today. Before he left, you gave him a lot of money. Eldest brother, it’s hard to say.”

Liu was also worried about her eldest son, the son who had helped her gain a foothold in her husband's family from birth, and she also had a lot to think about him.

"Father, Mother, you're still awake."

The door was suddenly pushed open, and Wen Lao Er looked at his parents.

"What’s wrong with you?"

The couple had no objections to their honest and capable second child. Even though they had had some disagreements before, the family was fine with each other.

Our family's life is several times better than before, so there's no need to worry about it.

"Yuqin said she wanted to take the child back to her parents' home for a visit and asked me to go with her."

“She can go back by herself in the oxcart. What are you going there for? The shop is closed, and the fourth brother is too busy to handle everything. Your father is getting old now and coughs every morning, only getting better at night. You are not allowed to go.”

"Now that we're better off, why don't we send some things to her family?"

Just as Liu was about to refuse, Old Man Wen waved his hand and said, "Then buy two extra pounds of meat when you go shopping tomorrow. Your wife's family is alright, so we can keep in touch. But your mother is right, our shop's business is important."

"good."

“I’m getting old too, and sometimes I feel like I can’t keep up. They’re all married, except for the fifth one. Fortunately, the fifth one is good at studying, so he might not be any worse than his third brother in the future. We must keep the business in the shop going and make more money now.”

Recalling what Wen Shi had said to him privately before he left, Old Man Wen was still very excited.

"I've been working non-stop, I haven't been idle. Am I going home for Chinese New Year this year?"

After Liu finished speaking, she took a sip of water. She was somewhat expectant, after all, she had lived in the county for a year and even opened a shop. However, Old Man Wen's words were like a bucket of cold water, which completely chilled her to the bone.

"I'm not going back."

Liu looked at Old Man Wen with some confusion.