When Zhao Zhiwei returned to the house, he was still in a daze, wondering how he had agreed to go into business with Lu Qiqi.

Forget about doing business, he set up a stall on the street to paint for people and copy books, only answering questions when asked.

There had never been a situation where he was hawking his wares before, but now he was being asked to take bamboo paper and sell it.

He was torn between having him sell the goods to his classmates at the academy.

What should we do?!

How could I have agreed?!

Ru Mei was carrying firewood in the yard, and just as she was about to return to the kitchen, she saw Zhao Zhiwei coming back from outside.

“My lord,” Rumei looked at him with bright eyes, “you’re back!”

Seeing that Rumei was carrying a pile of firewood, Zhao Zhiwei quickly stepped forward to help, wanting to take the firewood from Rumei's arms.

Unexpectedly, Ru Mei dodged it by sidestepping.

Like a frightened bird, Ru Mei carried the firewood into the house, but said with a smile, "This firewood isn't heavy, I can carry it. It wouldn't be good if the splinters hurt your hands."

As Zhao Zhiwei watched Ru Mei's retreating figure enter the room, a surge of resentment welled up in his heart.

His wife treated him like a three-year-old child, not letting him touch any of the mundane chores in their daily life.

"Are you trying to slack off again?!"

A sharp and sarcastic question came from the kitchen. Zhao Zhiwei sighed and hurriedly went inside to check.

Ru Mei huddled in the corner in front of the stove where firewood was stored, shaking her head so frequently it sounded like a rattle drum.

"You still dare to say you're not lazy? Zhiwei just came back to the house and you made him help you carry firewood. You eat so much rice every day, how can you not be lazy to death!"

"If you exhaust him and he fails the imperial examination, I'll skin you alive!"

Zhao Zhiwei rushed into the kitchen and heard his mother scolding Rumei.

"Mother, what are you doing!" Zhao Shiwei stepped forward and pulled Rumei up from the low stool, shielding her behind him. "It was my turn to move it, what does it have to do with Rumei?"

“We’re a family eating together, just like Mei does all the work. She’s a wife we ​​brought into the family, not a maid we bought!”

Speaking of this, Yuan was furious. She spent two hundred coins to find a wife for Zhao Zhiwei, which was not an exaggeration to say that she had bought a child bride.

But they've been married for two or three years, and Er Ya hasn't given birth to a child for the Zhao family.

The hen has laid countless eggs, yet Er Ya's belly can't hold a single seed.

She even suspected that Er Ya might have some undiscovered hidden illness, just like her father who died of tuberculosis.

When Madam Yuan saw her son defending his daughter-in-law in every way and speaking rudely to her, she immediately lost her composure.

He angrily shouted, "You unfilial son, you've forgotten your mother now that you have a wife!"

"It must be that vixen who deliberately seduced you, making you neglect your studies, and now you've even drifted apart from your own mother."

As she spoke, Madam Yuan reached out and grabbed Ru Mei's arm, pulling her away. "Get out of here! I'll make Zhiwei divorce you today, you vixen!"

Ru Mei was clearly frightened by Yuan Shi, and her whole body was trembling.

Zhao Zhiwei shielded the person behind him and forcefully pushed Yuan's hand away, "Mother, please wake up!"

Our family has nothing now. Rumei works from morning till night, while you and Dad are idle at home doing nothing but dreaming of becoming top scholars.

"I can't even afford to eat, do you think I can pass the exam?!"

Yuan was stung by Zhao Zhiwei's words, and she glared at him, roaring, "Why not!"

“Your second uncle passed the imperial examination with ease, and you are smarter and more capable than him, so why can’t you do it!”

Second Uncle?

Zhao Zhiwei was a little confused. He had never heard of having a second uncle since he was old enough to understand things.

Where did this person come from?

Zhao Zhiwei asked, "Who is he? Why have I never heard you or Father mention him?"

Only then did Madam Yuan realize that she had misspoke and quickly corrected herself, "No...no one, you misheard!"

After saying that, Yuan fled the kitchen as if she were running away. She didn't even leave her room to eat dinner; Rumei brought it to her.

Zhao Zhiwei was really curious, so he asked his father during dinner.

"Father, do I have a second uncle who passed the imperial examination and became a scholar?"

Zhao's father paused, his hand still holding the food in his chopsticks. After a long while, he looked up and said, "He left many years ago and never came back. Don't mention this matter again!"

Zhao Zhiwei was surprised to find that what his mother said was true. Not only did he have a second uncle, but he was also a scholar. So why were the family's taxes not reduced?

The Great Jin Dynasty had a law that allowed families with a scholar to be exempt from local taxes.

Could it be that his second uncle is dead?

Seeing that Zhao Zhiwei was no longer asking questions, Zhao's father took a deep look at the door opposite, as if trying to see through the door what Yuan was doing inside!

...

The next day, Zhao Zhiwei took a nap and quickly forgot about what happened the night before.

Today, he still had to follow Lu Qiqi's instructions and take the bamboo paper to the academy to sell.

When he reached the village entrance, he saw two oxcarts carrying four wooden boxes.

Three men were standing beside Lu Qiqi. Zhao Zhiwei stepped forward and bowed, "Village Head."

Seeing that people had arrived, Lu Qiqi said, "Let's go. Let's check the time. By the time we get to the school gate, the students should be dismissed."

After saying that, she mounted her horse.

Let Li Changlong and Zhao Zhiwei drive an oxcart.

On Wednesday, I rode an oxcart with Zhao Xiaodong.

The five of them walked all the way to the school gate.

Lu Qiqi dismounted, took a roll of bamboo paper and a wooden box from the wooden box, and handed them to Zhao Zhiwei.

He instructed, "Take this bamboo paper into the school and just write and draw on it. The more you write and draw, the better."

Zhao Zhiwei asked, somewhat puzzled, "No need to hawk anymore?"

Lu Qiqi smiled faintly, "You need to attract customers to sell your wares. Otherwise, if you try to sell them in the school, the students probably won't pay any attention to you."

Zhao Zhiwei, who knew nothing about business, took the ream of paper that Lu Qiqi handed him and went into the school.

Lu Qiqi sat on Li Changlong's oxcart, watching Zhao Zhiwei's figure disappear into the school.

Seemingly lost in thought.

The idea she had just had was something she came up with last night; the students in the school were all scholars, and they all possessed a natural sense of pride.

If he were to sell paper in the school, the students would likely not only refuse to buy it, but would also look down on Zhao Zhiwei for being mercenary and keep their distance.

Lu Qiqi and the others waited outside. Zhao Zhiwei entered the school and happened to arrive just in time for the last class.

He sat down in his seat and carried a ream of bamboo paper into the school, which attracted the attention of many people.

Bringing so much paper into the classroom is clearly a way of showing off wealth!

Moreover, everyone present knows that Zhao Zhiwei went home to study hard because he couldn't afford tuition.

What happened? Did they rise to prominence?

Numerous ideas lingered in the minds of the students.

The classmate sitting next to Zhao Zhiwei was about to ask a question when he saw the teacher arrive. He suppressed his curiosity, straightened his posture, and listened attentively.

The teacher assigned homework, and the students took out paper and pens to write.

Zhao Zhiwei opened the wooden box and saw the pen and ink that Lu Qiqi had prepared for him, and smiled knowingly.

Grind the ink, pick up the brush, and let my thoughts flow like a spring, writing on the pale yellow bamboo paper.