Chapter 6
The sun sets early in winter, and after Lin Shuge finished his meal, he was about to help change the medicine. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Xie Chen taking off his clothes and preparing to do it himself.
When Xie Chen saw that it was Lin Shuge, he hurriedly put on his clothes.
"Zhongxuan, let me do it." Lin Shuge took the bandage off his hand. "I was the one who changed the medicine when you were unconscious for a few days. Why are you shy now?"
Xie Chen had a stern face and said, "No, I want to do it myself."
Seeing his nervous face, Lin Shuge chuckled and said, "Okay, do it yourself."
The boy looked at him, bewildered.
"Okay, I won't tease you anymore," Lin Shuge helped him take off his clothes. The boy's muscles were tight and well-proportioned, firm and smooth, with only a scar ruining his beauty.
Lin Shuge gently applied the medicine to the wound. "You are recovering well. You will be able to walk after the scab forms in a few days. You must be feeling uncomfortable staying cooped up these days. I will take you out for a walk in a few days."
"By the way, I'm sorry that you have to live with me and Ayuan. I'll think of ways to improve your living conditions when the spring comes and it gets warmer."
"Don't feel wronged, this is good."
"What's so good about that? You're okay when you sleep, but that brat Ayuan would roll over on the kang when he sleeps."
"I'll ask Ayuan to boil some water and he'll help you wipe it later." Lin Shuge said as he tied the bandage, completely unaware of the storm in Xie Chen's heart.
Although Xie Chen was born into a noble family, Madam Xie taught him strictly, and he was used to being independent and did not like anyone to serve him. Now he had to ask someone to wipe his body, something so private, he was definitely not used to it, not to mention that the person was Lin Shuge.
He knew his situation and should be careful at all times, but when he met Lin Shuge, his caution seemed to be thrown away by the man in front of him. It might be because Lin Shuge's temperament was too much like that of his elder brother.
I was lost in thought and didn't notice Lin Shuge coming over with a wooden basin and a towel.
"Come here, wipe your upper body first," Lin Shuge wrung out the towel and began to wipe. Xie Chen froze and dared not move, watching his slender fingers holding the towel and passing it over his shoulders, arms, and all the way to his chest.
"Zhongxuan, turn around."
Xie Chen turned around silently, but noticed the warm breathing sound beside his ear, and the breath seemed to carry a faint scent of grass and wood. He moved his nose slightly, and suddenly woke up. This action was too reckless, and he felt that he was too inappropriate, so he turned his head away in embarrassment.
"Okay, take off your pants." Lin Shuge said naturally after wiping his upper body.
"Wha…what?"
"Why are you shy again? That day you were seriously injured and had a fever. I rubbed your fever several times before it went down."
Xie Chen had a dazed look on his face, and he didn't even notice Lin Shuge reaching out to help him take off his pants. It wasn't until Lin Shuge's hand reached his belt that he reacted and grabbed the hand of the person next to him, "I can do it myself, you go ahead and do your work."
Lin Shuge's wrist was held with a force that could not be refused. He struggled to get out. Xie Chen quickly let go of his hand, "I didn't mean to do that. I'm just not used to it. Did it hurt?"
He had been practicing martial arts since he was young and had great strength. He didn't pay attention just now and only saw a circle of red marks appear on Lin Shuge's fair wrist. He was so scared that he quickly pulled it over. He wanted to rub it but felt it was inappropriate. He was at a loss for a moment and looked at Lin Shuge with a pair of guilty eyes.
Being looked at in such a way, Lin Shuge could only sigh: "Why are you so nervous? You didn't use any strength. Okay, okay, wipe it yourself. Be careful with the wound."
Xie Chen said yes in a low voice.
Lin Shuge closed the door and walked out. After washing up, he saw that the light was still on in Lin Xuan's room, so he walked over and knocked on the door. It turned out that it was Lin Qingyuan who opened the door.
"Ayuan, why are you in Axuan's room?"
"Brother, Xuan and I have something to discuss."
"What's the matter? Why don't you discuss it with your elder brother?" Could it be that the child has grown up and has the troubles of puberty?
Lin Shuge walked into the room and looked at the brother and sister in confusion. There was an oil lamp burning in the room, the light was dim.
Lin Xuan met his gaze, "Brother, we have been thinking about it these days and feel that we should also find a job. Although you are a clerk and get a monthly salary, our family does not have good farmland, and we need money for food and clothing. Now Erlang is injured and needs money, so we spend all our money every day. After you recovered from your illness, you have been busy every day and we have never had a moment to rest. We see that you are working too hard." She paused, and then said, "We are going to go to the county in a few days. We can both read, so there will always be someone who will hire us."
Lin Qingyuan on the side echoed: "Yes, big brother, we have all grown up, and we want to help you share the burden, so let's give it a try..."
"You are not allowed to go." Lin Shuge interrupted Lin Qingyuan.
Lin Qingyuan was startled. His elder brother had been gentle and polite since he recovered from his illness. He was always kind to the two of them. He had never seen him scold them so harshly. There was a bit of grievance in his voice. "Brother."
Lin Xuan also looked anxious.
Realizing that the two were frightened by him, Lin Shuge quickly changed his tone, "Ah Xuan and A Yuan, my brother will take care of the expenses at home. You don't have to worry. Just study hard."
The twins are only twelve years old, which is still the age for elementary school students in modern times. How can we let them go out to work and earn money?
"Brother, we can read, but in today's society, talents are selected through recommendation. Our family is not from a noble family, so it is not easy to get recommended. Didn't my brother first attract the attention of the county magistrate and then be recommended as a clerk? It would be difficult for Ayuan to follow the same path. What's more, I am a woman, so how can I have a career in politics?" Lin Xuan looked at Lin Shuge with indignation in her eyes.
In fact, before the imperial examination system, the system of recommendation was undoubtedly very effective. At the beginning of its implementation, it recruited countless talents for the dynasty by recommending filial and honest people. However, as time went on, aristocratic families monopolized the recommendation. They believed that whoever was filial was filial, and whoever was honest was honest.
The descendants of noble families hold high positions, while the talented and capable are relegated to lower positions. That's the way the world is.
Seeing how determined the two were, Lin Shuge must have thought it through carefully. "Today, I have presented the county magistrate with a method to improve papermaking. If it works, I will ask him for a reward. You don't have to worry about the money. I will ask Zhou Erlang in the next few days if there is a suitable school. When Zhongxuan recovers from his injury and no one needs to take care of him, you should go to school first."
"Brother, are you telling the truth? But we..."
When they heard that Lin Shuge could improve the papermaking technique, they were surprised and happy. Even their resentment that Lin Shuge did not allow them to go out to work faded a little.
"No buts, you can't neglect studying. Reading will help you gain knowledge. No matter what you do in the future, it's always right for you to study at your age."
"No, I'm talking about papermaking. Big brother is really amazing." Lin Qingyuan looked at Lin Shuge with admiration.
If papermaking were successful, it would be such a great achievement. Wouldn’t you become famous and go down in history?
Unlike Lin Qingyuan who was extremely excited, Lin Xuan calmed down and asked, "Brother, why don't you make paper yourself?"
The wick burned out, and the room became increasingly darker, making a beeping sound. Lin Shuge picked up the wick with a pair of scissors. The candlelight flickered and shone on his face. His profile was as gentle as jade, and his eyebrows and eyes were as picturesque.
"Ah Xuan, you know that a man is innocent, but he is guilty of possessing a treasure. With my current status and position, if I rashly take out the paper I have made, it will only bring disaster upon myself. Only by giving it away before I can save myself and you can I win a chance of survival. Besides, the local officials are all upright people. If I am rewarded by the court for following this method, they will certainly not forget me."
Seeing Lin Xuan was thinking about something, he said, "Let's wait for the right time. If Magistrate Li succeeds in making new paper, he will definitely report it to the county governor. Then maybe the opportunity will come."
"I understand, brother."
"Okay, go to bed early. You won't grow taller if you stay up too late."
Lin Qingyuan looked unconvinced, "No way, I am definitely taller, taller than Erlang."
Lin Shuge pinched his face and said, "Let's go back to sleep with my brother."
"Brother, go to bed first. We still need to talk some more."
"Don't chat too late."
"Got it, go to bed now, big brother."
Lin Shuge shook his head and helped the two of them close the door. He then looked at the kangs in the two rooms, both of which were burning brightly, so there was no need to add more firewood, and walked towards the main house.
Inside the house, Xie Chen wiped the basin and put the towel away, composed himself, and was sitting waiting for Lin Shuge and Lin Qingyuan. He saw Lin Shuge come in alone, but Lin Qingyuan was not there.
"Where's Ayuan?"
"He said he wanted to chat with A-Xuan for a while. The little brat has grown up and has his own ideas." Thinking of what the twins said tonight, Lin Shuge wanted to find someone to talk to.
"Zhongxuan, when you were the same age as them, no, you were just a little older than them."
It's really confusing.
"I am still two years older than you. What did they tell you?"
"Alas, you said you wanted to share the burden for me and go out to find a job to earn money, but you didn't think about how old you are." Lin Shuge took off his outer robe, opened the quilt and sat on the kang, with a look of distress that his sister-in-law was too sensible.
Xie Chen tucked the quilt for him, "Ah Shu, many families have asked children to take on family responsibilities at the age of twelve. It's normal for them to think this way."
Lin Shuge got out of the quilt, feeling the cold wind, and quickly put on the quilt and sat up. "How can this be normal? Our family doesn't need them to take the lead. Don't we still have me? Wait, what did you call me?"
"Ashu, is it not possible?" Xie Chen also sat up.
"Ashu, what's the matter with you? I am three years older than you, so you must call me brother."
"Brother, is that the way you address him here?" Xie Chen asked with a frown.
I forgot that the title of brother only came into being in later generations and it doesn’t exist now. Lin Shuge could only explain: "Brother means elder brother. Even if I don't call you brother, you have to call me brother." Lin Shuge insisted.
"Do Ayuan and Axuan also call you brother?" Xie Chen, wrapped in a quilt, moved closer to him.
"No, they call me Big Brother."
"Then...brother." Xie Chen's voice was clear and youthful, very pleasant to hear.
Lin Shuge was enlightened and finally understood why many of his senior and junior sisters in the sect were voice-controlled. Call him whatever you want, you can't call him by his name anyway. When he interrupted me, I forgot about the twins.
"Brother." Xie Chen looked at Lin Shuge's more beautiful eyebrows and eyes under the lamp, and called out again unconsciously.
"Stop shouting and go to sleep." Lin Shuge pulled him to lie down.
I have to go to work tomorrow, and there will be a winter festival in a few days. There can be no mistakes in various procedures, so I have to keep an eye on them and go to bed early.
Listening to the gradually steady breathing sounds beside him, Xie Chen softly called out "brother" a few times and slowly fell asleep.
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