Chapter 15 Investing in Yourself

Chapter 15 Investing in Yourself

On the way back, Du Yunse carried two buckets of water alone, so Qiu Huanian could only follow empty-handed.

By the river, they encountered Hu Qiuyan and some other women and young men from the village, all coming to fetch water.

"Brother Hua’s finally got it easy, no longer needing to carry water home bucket by bucket himself."

"Why are you following Yunse when he's out fetching water?"

At the teasing, Qiu Huanian's face turned slightly red. He mumbled a reply and hurried off, tugging at Du Yunse's sleeve.

Watching their retreating figures, a man who’d been married for years laughed, "Look at them all clingy, they really are just young people who've just met."

"Brother Hua is lucky. I heard from Bao Ren's family that a seventh-grade military officer accompanied Yunse back yesterday. Even our county magistrate is only of the seventh rank!"

"Even if he can't take the civil service exams, with these connections, he can still find a decent livelihood."

"And Yunse hasn't forgotten his roots despite his success; he’s got a good heart. Otherwise, if he just dropped everything and did nothing, Brother Hua would have it even harder."

"If I had someone like Brother Hua—handsome, capable, and sweet—in my family, I'd cherish him too."

The group close to Hu Qiuyan bantered back and forth, while those who had previously made snide remarks looked uncomfortable.

"Sister Gu, hold your bucket higher, don't muddy the water. We all still need to fetch water!"

Sister Gu fumbled with her bucket, filled it halfway, and ran off.

"What's wrong with Sister Gu?"

"I remember the news about Yunse's teacher being imprisoned first came from her. Could it be that she's panicking now that Yunse is back after spreading rumors?"

Hu Qiuyan’s mind raced, recalling the task Qiu Huanian had previously entrusted to her.

"Sister Gu is a young woman who hasn't been in the village long. Where would she hear such things? I think someone told her, and she just repeated it casually," Hu Qiuyan deliberately said.

Sister Gu's mother was a woman from Du Village who had married out and passed away last year. Unable to stay at home, Sister Gu had come to Du Village to seek refuge with her uncle, Du Baoquan.

Hearing Hu Qiuyan's words, others also found it odd. "Logically, how would we know anything about imprisonment or career prospects? Our eyes don't reach as far as the capital."

"Could Brother Hua have said it himself?"

"Why would Brother Hua reveal his weaknesses to others? He's not close to Sister Gu."

"This is strange. Where did Sister Gu hear this? She's not familiar with the villagers and hasn't met outsiders."

As Hu Qiuyan listened, a possibility suddenly flashed in her mind. "Didn't Yun Jing from Baoquan's family return to the village from the county academy for a few days recently?"

At this, everyone fell silent. Du Baoquan's family was one of the most prominent in the village, and Zhao was not someone to be trifled with. Gossiping about her most accomplished son would surely earn her enmity. Many of them still hoped to rent his family's mules for spring plowing.

Hu Qiuyan didn't pursue the topic further but made a mental note to privately inform Qiu Huanian later.

...

Back at home, Du Yunse added water to the vat, while Qiu Huanian started a fire to cook breakfast.

When Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng woke up, they were less reserved than when they first met Du Yunse the day before. They gathered around him, asking about the outside world, and Du Yunse patiently answered each question one by one.

For breakfast, Qiu Huanian made cornmeal porridge and boiled four eggs. Since he arrived, the family's eggs had never been sold again, all kept for their own consumption.

Now, the two adult hens lay an egg each day, and the two newly bought half-grown hens will start laying eggs in just over a month. By then, everyone can have one egg per day.

For the side dishes, Qiu Huanian prepared a plate of pickles and a plate of dried tofu. Everyone enjoyed the simple farm breakfast with great relish.

After the meal, Du Yunse took the initiative to wash the pots and dishes, while Qiu Huanian tidied up in the storeroom for a while and then came out with a basket to hand to him.

"Inside are incense and offerings for the ancestors. You go visit our parents' graves first, and I'll bring the two children to join you in the afternoon."

It’s Qingming Festival, and everyone is busy visiting graves to honor their ancestors. Qiu Huanian decided not to go to town to sell candy.

Du Yunse looked at Qiu Huanian, his eyes flickering. Brother Hua understood he wanted to speak privately to his parents, so he made this thoughtful arrangement.

He looked down at the basket, which, besides the items Wu Shen bought yesterday, neatly contained paper money, incense sticks, Sorghum Candy, dried tofu, and other things.

"Go ahead, and be back for lunch at noon," Qiu Huanian urged Du Yunse with a push.

Du Yunse followed his memory to his father's grave, with his mother's new grave standing beside it. Seeing the two graves side by side, his nose tingled with emotion, and he knelt down to arrange the offerings.

The regret of wanting to care for his parents but being unable to was never more painful than now.

Du Yunse knelt quietly in front of the graves. The sky had begun to drizzle, but he remained motionless, oblivious as his hair and shoulders grew damp.

After what seemed like a long time, Du Yunse heard footsteps on the path behind him. He turned to see Qiu Huanian holding a tattered oil-paper umbrella approaching.

Qiu Huanian stepped forward, holding the umbrella over Du Yunse's head, and reached out to pull him up. "I saw it was raining outside, so I came to bring you an umbrella. Get up and let's go back. Be careful not to catch a cold from the rain; I can't afford medicine."

Du Yunse rose with his help, his voice hoarse as he spoke, "I won't catch a cold that easily."

He bent down to pack the offering basket, took the umbrella from Qiu Huanian, and adjusted it so that the intact side covered Qiu Huanian, tilting the handle to shield him completely.

Brother Hua, who seems so fragile, mustn’t catch a cold from bringing me an umbrella.

Qiu Huanian glanced up at the umbrella tilted entirely towards him but said nothing, feeling a strange warmth in his chest.

The two shared the umbrella on their way home in the rain. Because of the rain, the outdoor stove was unusable, so Qiu Huanian had to steam some wheat gluten for everyone to make do with.

Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng were playing in the rain under the eaves, while Du Yunse walked to the bookcase and took out a cloth bundle, handing it to Qiu Huanian.

"I didn’t save much while in the capital. This is the travel money my friends pooled together when I left the capital, a little over five taels. I'll leave it to you to manage."

Qiu Huanian took it but didn't open it. "Aren't you afraid I'll keep the money and not spend it on you?"

"You've managed the household exceptionally well; this should rightfully be yours," Du Yunse said.

Qiu Huanian raised an eyebrow, then smiled, "Then I'll accept it. Don't forget to continue handing over your earnings in the future."

Du Yunse indeed nodded, and Qiu Huanian chuckled softly, deciding to take out paper and ink from Du Yunse's bookcase to make a list.

"In the past few days, I've earned a little over one tael from selling candy and four taels and eight mace from painting. I've saved six taels, and the household originally had two taels. Adding your five taels, we now have a total of thirteen taels of silver."

Qiu Huanian wrote down thirteen taels of silver on the paper, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

After more than ten days since crossing over, this household has evolved from destitution to having a small savings, thanks to his hard work day and night.

Although buying a horse and repairing the house are still distant goals, and Du Yunse's studies and imperial examinations are a bottomless pit of expenses, at least there is hope now.

Qiu Huanian said, "I have to go to town every day to sell candy and can't keep troubling Uncle Bao Ren. Spring plowing is coming soon, and with few hands at home, borrowing a mule isn't convenient. I think we should first buy a mule with a blue-and-white coat, which can both plow and serve as transportation."

Du Yunse nodded, "It's all up to you."

Qiu Huanian wrote on the paper, "One blue-and-white donkey, seven taels of silver."

"The weather's about to get hot, so everyone in the family needs a new set of clothes. The cotton in the quilts and mattresses also needs to be replaced."

Du Yunse didn't object, so Qiu Huanian added, "Two bolts of cotton cloth, eight hundred wen; ten catties of cotton, one tael and eight qian of silver."

Next, considering that he wanted to plant something different for this year's spring plowing, Qiu Huanian set aside an additional four hundred wen for seeds and other necessities.

This plan alone used up ten taels of silver, leaving three taels left. Qiu Huanian said to Du Yunse, "The remaining three taels are for your studies. If you need anything, just let me know. If the money's not enough, I'll figure something out."

Just as Du Yunse was about to speak, Qiu Huanian continued, "Since you're back, I was thinking you could take some time to teach Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng how to read. Auntie Qiuyan's son, Yun Kang, also wants you to teach him. What do you think?"

Although Qiu Huanian recognized traditional Chinese characters, the classical Chinese knowledge he had learned in middle and high school had long been forgotten, making it impossible for him to teach ancient children.

"I was just about to discuss this with you. After I passed the scholar exam, my teacher forbade me from continuing to take the imperial exams. It wasn't until just before I left the capital that someone brought me a message encouraging me to aim for the top of the list." Du Yunse shared his plan.

"Magistrate Wang told me that this year's academy exam will be held after the Dragon Boat Festival. Passing the academy exam would make me a scholar, and the top three performers can receive one dan of white rice each month. I want to first pass the scholar exam, then settle down for a few years after receiving the monthly rice, and eventually open a private school to earn money for the family."

One dan of rice is roughly 120 catties, worth one tael of silver. Eating white rice every day would be enough to feed the family of four for two months.

Qiu Huanian thought for a moment and asked, "When is the next provincial exam? Are you confident you can pass it?"

The provincial exam, also known as the autumn exam, is held once every three years. Passing it would make one a provincial graduate, qualifying for an official position. In addition to being exempt from taxes on fifty mu of land, the court would also grant fifteen mu of fertile land. At this stage, one could live comfortably just from the land.

However, becoming a provincial graduate is no easy feat. The academy exam is held twice every three years, and each time, Zhang County produces three or four scholars. The provincial exam is held once every three years, and Zhang County has not had a scholar pass the provincial graduate exam for several consecutive times.

Qiu Huanian recalled the modern text he had studied called "Fan Jin Passes the Provincial Graduate Exam" and knew how difficult it was to pass the provincial graduate exam. Although he felt that Du Yunse was extraordinary, he couldn't be sure if Du Yunse could pass it now.

Du Yunse carefully estimated, "The next autumn exam is in August next year. If I prepare with all my might, I should be able to rank near the top."

"Then focus on preparing for the exam and take it next year," Qiu Huanian decided.

The provincial exam is held once every three years. Missing next year's exam would mean waiting another three years, which is too long. If Du Yunse is confident he can pass next year, he should definitely give it a try. Even if he doesn't pass, he can still gain experience.

"But—" Du Yunse was still worried.

"Don't worry about the money. I can support you until you pass the provincial graduate exam. In less than half a month, I've already earned six taels of silver. What is there to fear?"

Du Yunse still felt it was wrong to let Qiu Huanian shoulder all the household burdens while he focused solely on studying. Qiu Huanian, however, smiled and said, "Just think of it as me investing in you."

"Investing?"

Qiu Huanian gestured, "Look, if I invest thirty wen in a half-grown hen, it'll only give me one egg a day. If I invest a year's labor in one mu of land, it will only yield two dan of grain in the end."

"But if I invest in you, I might eventually gain a metropolitan graduate, a top scholar, or even a court official. Isn't that the most profitable investment I can make right now?"

Du Yunse understood his "twisted logic" and couldn't help but laugh, but it also stirred up some fighting spirit in him.

Qiu Huanian continued to tease, "Of course, when you become an official in the future, you'll have to repay me well. Otherwise, my investment will go down the drain."

After a brief but careful observation, Qiu Huanian had already recognized Du Yunse's character, which is why he made this decision. This statement was just a joke.

Du Yunse took Qiu Huanian's slightly rough hand and looked earnestly into his bright eyes. Just as Qiu Huanian was about to shyly look away, Du Yunse solemnly promised, "Alright, I will definitely bring back the title of top scholar for Brother Hua."

A gentleman's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold, and this promise will never change.

Author's note:

A belated currency conversion:

1 tael of gold = 100 taels of silver (It will be a long time before this conversion is mentioned again, Qiu Huanian sighs)

1 tael of silver = 1 string of cash = 10 qian of silver = 1000 wen