Chapter 67: Su Xinyue

Chapter 67: Su Xinyue

The cat seller was also a stubborn person, stubbornly retorting, "I don't care if it's the Left Administration Commissioner or the Right Administration Commissioner, this cat has already been sold. Even the Emperor himself comes, I won't change my words!"

He originally wore an old-fashioned mink fur cap, with half his face buried in a thick woolen scarf. Now, in his excitement, he took off the cap to cool down, revealing sweaty strands of hair falling over his forehead, exposing a faint red mole between his eyebrows. He turned out to be a young lad with delicate features and a refined appearance.

The maid of Miss Su was so angry that she cursed, "You, you! A scoundrel! How dare you address the Administration Commissioner like that? I'll have the yamen come and arrest you!"

The cat seller was not intimidated, "Fine, I'm afraid you won't go. I, young master, stand by my name and word. Come and arrest me at Qingfeng Academy, Min Leyi!"

Miss Su, who had been standing reservedly amidst the crowd of maids and Auntie Qiao, finally showed a change in expression behind her veil upon hearing the name Qingfeng Academy and the surname Min.

"Zizhu, come back. This cat isn't particularly impressive. I want to pick a better one."

The maid Zizhu glared at Min Leyi resentfully and kicked the cat cage, "What a beast!"

The little lion cat was startled, letting out a few cries, its fur standing on end.

Min Leyi, furious, rolled up his sleeves despite the cold, revealing two snow-white forearms, waving them in the air, "Su Xinyue, are you looking for a fight!"

Miss Su, Su Xinyue, pursed her lips, pulled down her pearl-embroidered veil, and took half a step back. Her maids and Auntie Qiao quickly shielded her.

Most of them had already remembered who this Min Leyi was—the youngest son of Min Taikang, the head of Qingfeng Academy, who had been involved in a brawl with several young ladies and gentlemen at a banquet hosted by the wife of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Liaozhou a month ago and was subsequently grounded at home!

This lad, who had recently come to Xiangping Prefecture from the south, lacked the gentle demeanor typical of southern water towns. He was competitive and crude, nearly becoming a laughingstock among the official families of Xiangping Prefecture!

Su Xinyue naturally looked down on Min Leyi, but she didn't want to have a major conflict with him here.

If word got out, she would also become a topic of gossip.

"I heard you were grounded by Headmaster Min Taikang for two months. How did you get out, and why are you dressed so oddly? I won't engage with you further, lest people think I'm like you and tarnish the Su family's reputation."

Su Xinyue turned and hurried away, with all the maids and Auntie Qiao following.

Min Leyi waved his little fist and cursed from behind, "You think your reputation is spotless? You just hide behind your maids to do bad things! If you're scared and running away, just say it, stop pretending!"

Only after Su Xinyue had gone far did he catch his breath, his gaze inadvertently meeting Qiu Huanian and Meng Yuanling, who were holding fish. The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Min Leyi put his cap back on and pulled up his scarf, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Qiu Huanian smiled, walked over, and crouched down, stuffing a one-pound crucian carp into the cage. The little lion cat saw the fish and extended its snow-white paw, curiously batting at it, forgetting the earlier scare. Qiu Huanian reached through the cage to touch the tip of its ear, and the kitten meowed twice without retreating.

Seeing Qiu Huanian's friendly interaction with the kitten, Min Leyi's lips curled into a smile.

"Thank you, Young Master Min, for holding onto the cat for me."

Min Leyi's voice was full of energy, "I promised to sell it to you. Besides, no matter how much money Su Xinyue offers, I would never sell the cat to her. I'm selling the cat to find the right owner, not for money."

After learning that Min Leyi was associated with Qingfeng Academy, Qiu Huanian became very curious about him. Being new to Xiangping Prefecture, he wanted to learn more, so he asked Min Leyi, "Young Master Min, do you know Miss Su? She didn't seem to recognize you at first."

"We haven't met before, but being in Xiangping Prefecture, we must have heard of each other. Besides, I'm rather well-known."

"That Miss Su doesn't seem like she'll let this go easily. Young Master Min, you should be careful," Qiu Huanian reminded.

In the Yu Dynasty, the Administration Commission was the chief administrative body of a province, with Left and Right Administration Commissioners overseeing the province's affairs. The Yu Dynasty valued the right over the left, so the Right Administration Commissioner held slightly higher authority than the Left, with the two serving as principal and deputy.

The Left Administration Commissioner of Liaozhou, analogous to a modern-day Deputy Governor of Liaozhou Province, meant that Su Xinyue was essentially the daughter of a Deputy Governor.

"Don't worry, Left Administration Commissioner Su has a good reputation, and my father also has some influence. She can't trouble me."

Min Leyi shrugged indifferently, picking up the cat cage, "I have to hurry back; I can't let my family find out I've been out for so long. The kitten is in your care now. I can see you genuinely like cats, so I won't take any money. I only charged money to deter those who just wanted to take advantage and weren't serious about raising cats."

He hesitated for a moment, then asked shyly, "By the way, could you leave your name and address? Once my house arrest is lifted, I'd like to visit the kitten."

Seeing his reluctance to part, Qiu Huanian asked, "Why don't you keep the kitten yourself, Young Master Min?"

Min Leyi shook his head regretfully, "It originally belonged to the family of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Liaozhou. The mother cat had four kittens, only two months old at the time. A group of cruel people surrounded them, making the servants catch and throw them around for fun. When I saw them, only one kitten was still alive. I couldn't reason with those people, so I ended up fighting them and managed to save the kitten. That's why my father put me under house arrest."

"Your father?"

"My father is the headmaster of Qingfeng Academy, you must have heard of him, right? I grew up in the south with my grandmother and only came to Xiangping Prefecture two months ago."

Min Leyi continued about the cat, "My father didn't completely forbid me from keeping the kitten, he allowed me to take good care of it. But those who abused the cats, because they couldn't beat me, held a grudge and kept causing trouble. I was afraid they would hurt the kitten, so I had to sneak out to find someone who truly loves cats to take care of it."

"Don't worry, no one will know the cat is with you. If they have any problems, they can come to me. Bullying a cat is no skill!"

Min Leyi stood on his toes and waved his fist, "Those weaklings, even ten of them together couldn't beat me."

Inspired by his enthusiasm, Qiu Huanian smiled and gave his name and address, "Feel free to visit me anytime, Young Master Min."

"You live nearby? Great, I'll definitely come when I have time. Just call me Yi Ge, that's what my family and friends from the south call me."

Min Leyi packed up his things and prepared to leave. Qiu Huanian noticed the woolen scarf around his neck and asked, "Yi Ge, that scarf is quite unique, not made of fur."

Min Leyi took off the scarf and showed it to Qiu Huanian.

"It's knitted from wool, a new trend this winter, more breathable and lighter than fur. This one is made from mink wool, better than the ordinary woolen ones sold in the market. If you like it, I'll bring you a couple next time."

Qiu Huanian watched Min Leyi leave, surprised that in just a few months, wool had developed into different materials and grades. Zhu Jingcheng's business strategies were indeed impressive.

Qiu Huanian brought the kitten home, where Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng eagerly gathered around.

In the village, it was common to see cats, dogs, chickens, and ducks everywhere, but in the city, it was rare to see any living creatures besides people, which made the children feel a bit out of place.

Qiu Huanian found a flat bamboo basket and placed it in a sheltered corner of the hallway. Jiu Jiu laid out old cushions and cloth scraps to make a simple, comfortable nest.

The lion kitten wasn't picky; it came out of the open cage, looked around cleverly, and with a light leap, jumped into the nest. It curled its tail, sat upright with its front paws together, and calmly let everyone look at it.

"It's so beautiful..." Jiu Jiu whispered, "Brother Hua, should we give it a name?"

Chun Sheng racked his brains, "How about... Mimi?"

Jiu Jiu gave him a look of disbelief.

Meng Yuanling remained silent because he couldn't think of any name other than Mimi.

Qiu Huanian waved his finger in front of the kitten's eyes. The kitten gracefully moved its blue and golden eyes, its tail tip twitching slightly.

Truly a purebred lion cat, looking both alert and noble.

Qiu Huanian thought for a moment, "Let's call it Cream Frost, its color resembles both milk and the thin frost on grass leaves, and its personality is both gentle and aloof."

Thus, Cream Frost's name was decided. Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng got a new playmate, spending half their day playing with the cat, and even Qiu Huanian and Meng Yuanling, being older, couldn't resist.

Cream Frost was a bit shy at first but became affectionate after getting used to the environment, especially towards Qiu Huanian, who had brought it home with a fish. Every time Qiu Huanian left the house, it would trot over with its tail up, circling his legs, much to the envy of others.

Two days later, the results of this year's entrance exam for Qingfeng Academy were announced. Over two hundred people applied, but only thirty-eight were admitted, including twenty-one in Class C, twelve in Class B, and only five in Class A.

Generally, Class B was for scholars and exceptionally outstanding scholar candidates, Class A was for provincial graduates and scholars on the verge of becoming provincial graduates, and Class C was for ordinary scholar candidates.

Yun Cheng was only admitted to Class C, and he accepted this result gracefully. After all, Qingfeng Academy is a place that gathers outstanding students from across the prefecture. He is still young, and being able to get in is already quite an achievement. Given time, he will surely advance to a higher class.

What came as a surprise was Du Yunse, who actually managed to get into Class A on his first attempt. Apart from him, the other four newly admitted Class A students were all already provincial-level scholars, planning to study for a year to prepare for next year's metropolitan exam.

Even Min Taikang, the headmaster of Qingfeng Academy, had previously thought that Du Yunse would need to study in Class B for half a year before advancing to Class A.

After reviewing all the examination papers and unsealing the names of the admitted students, Min Taikang looked at Du Yunse's name, which was ranked first by the examiners, and remained silent for a long time.

It was as though he was witnessing a hidden dragon rising from shallow waters.

Thinking of Du Yunse's age, Min Taikang felt a bit regretful that such a young man already had a spouse. But then, thinking of his own troublesome son, he dismissed the idea.

It's not a good match, better not think about it.

Back in his hometown, his mother had sent Brother Yi all the way to the city, saying that he was of age and needed his father to arrange a good marriage. But Brother Yi, spoiled into such a temperament, had only been here for a few days before getting into a fight at a banquet, earning a notorious reputation that spread throughout Xiangping Prefecture. What respectable family wouldn't keep their distance? Where could he find a good match for him?!

Min Taikang sighed heavily. After the headache, he still had to make proper plans for his own son. He wondered if he could enlist the help of a few well-regarded young men in Xiangping Prefecture to guide him...

...

A few days after the results of the Qingfeng Academy entrance examination were announced, it was time to officially start studying at the academy. Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse packed their belongings and meticulously calculated their expenses in the prefectural city.

"Our daily food expenses are one hundred copper coins, with Brother Ling and the others contributing twenty copper coins. That totals about two and a half taels of silver each month. Auntie Qiao's monthly wage is eight qian, and firewood, lamp oil, horse feed, cat food, and night soil disposal add up to one tael. Just these necessary expenses alone amount to over four taels per month."

In Du Village, they could gather firewood from the mountains whenever needed; if they needed vegetables, they could pick them from the garden. Fruits and eggs were all readily available at home. But in the prefectural city, everything had to be bought. Fortunately, the new house had a well, or else even water would have to be purchased.

Ancient cities were far more prosperous than villages, but surviving there was also far more challenging.

"The prices in the prefectural city have risen by thirty to forty percent compared to those in Zhang County. A bolt of cotton cloth costs six hundred copper coins, while silk and brocade typically cost over five taels. However, the colors and patterns are far more exquisite than those in Zhang County. If we make a new set of clothes each season, twenty taels of silver annually won't be enough."

"As for jewelry and cosmetics, I don't use them often, but Jiu Jiu is almost at the age where she needs to start dressing up. Sooner or later, we'll have to prepare for that."

Qiu Huanian set down his accounting brush and let out a deep sigh. Money—once in the prefectural city, it really doesn't last long. The one hundred and twenty taels he had saved earlier wouldn't suffice without careful management.

And he hadn't even factored in the biggest expense—the daily dose of a costly medicinal prescription, whose true price would astonish many!

The dividends from the red fermented tofu workshop amounted to over thirty taels per quarter. Before leaving, he had handed over the recipes for popcorn and sorghum candy to Meng Wudong, also on a profit-sharing basis, which would likely bring in about ten taels per quarter. These combined incomes were substantial, but still not quite enough to cover the expenses.

Du Yunse massaged his temples and kissed his forehead, saying, "As long as we have enough to eat and wear, and your medicine is secured, it's fine if we're a bit short on other things. Don't overwork yourself."

Qiu Huanian nodded, leaning into Du Yunse's embrace, but in his heart, he was thinking about how to bypass the restrictions on non-merchants in the prefectural city to earn some extra money.

He recalled the term "overachiever" that often appeared in the comments section of his videos in his past life and couldn't help but chuckle.

The "overachiever" trait seemed to be something he couldn't let go of. Even when he could survive, he still wanted to live well, always striving for an ideal life.

Qiu Huanian shook his head and refocused on the task at hand.

"The annual tuition for Qingfeng Academy is six taels of silver, and meals need to be purchased separately. I'll give you one tael of silver per month for food. If it's not enough, you must tell me. Don't skimp on this."

Du Yunse nodded, but Qiu Huanian was still uneasy. "Make sure you eat enough meat, staple grains, and vegetables every day. That way, your mind will stay sharp."

Qiu Huanian swallowed terms like protein, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber, which were too advanced for ancient times, and replaced them with more appropriate vocabulary.

Du Yunse reluctantly agreed. Brother Hua had emphasized this so many times that he had already memorized it. For the sake of Brother Hua's concern, he dared not disobey.

Paying a year's tuition for Du Yunse and purchasing necessities for living at the academy cost ten taels of silver, leaving the family with one hundred and ten taels.

After that, the monthly expenses would be five and a half taels, plus three taels for the medicinal ingredients, totaling eight and a half taels. In the most extreme case, this would last for a year.

However, considering the expenses for making clothes, social interactions, and purchasing precious medicinal herbs after finishing the current batch of medicine, the budget was tight.

Moreover, if Du Yunse passed the provincial examination (a crucial step in the imperial examination system) this autumn, they would need to prepare for the expenses of traveling to the capital for the metropolitan examination next spring.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. After calculating all the accounts, Qiu Huanian felt more at ease, his anxiety lessened. His physical condition couldn't withstand prolonged worry, but fortunately, Qiu Huanian had an excellent mindset and was not easily affected by external factors.

Zhu Jingcheng had gone south for business and wouldn't return for a while, so Su Xinbai came to congratulate Du Yunse and the others on his behalf.

Su Xinbai brought his own kitchen staff and ingredients, asking Auntie Qiao to oversee the banquet preparations, so as not to trouble Qiu Huanian's family. Though Su Xinbai appeared cold, he was considerate, yet his consideration felt distant and devoid of warmth.

To Qiu Huanian, Su Xinbai was a talented, ethereal beauty with a cold demeanor.

This coldness was different from sixteen's detached nature. Sixteen seemed to have lost most of his emotions, while Su Xinbai appeared to suppress his feelings, hiding them beneath an icy exterior.

After the banquet, Yun Cheng, his wife, and the children went to rest, while the servants cleaned up. Su Xinbai and Qiu Huanian continued their conversation.

"The eldest son mentioned in his letter that he would entrust a manor near the city to Mr. Qiu for cotton cultivation. I have identified three nearby manors for your consideration," Su Xinbai said.

The three manors included one with sixty acres and two with forty acres, all of medium or small size. One was near a mountain, suitable for hunting; another had a few acres of fish ponds; and the third had a thermal spring.

Su Xinbai described the manors in detail. His handwriting, in contrast to his demeanor, was elegant and flowing, exuding literary grace.

Qiu Huanian chose the forty-acre manor with the thermal spring, partly because it was the closest and partly out of curiosity about ancient thermal springs.

Su Xinbai nodded, "This manor is part of my dowry estate. I will have the steward come to meet you in a couple of days."

Qiu Huanian was surprised that Su Xinbai offered his own dowry manor as an option. Logically, this was Zhu Jingcheng's promise, and only Zhu family properties should have been offered.

Su Xinbai referred to Zhu Jingcheng as "the eldest son" in a formal manner, showing no hint of marital affection. The attitude of the Zhu family servants was also subtle, suggesting that the relationship between Su Xinbai and Zhu Jingcheng might not be harmonious.

"Mr. Qiu, I have a request to make," Su Xinbai said.

"Please proceed, Mr. Su."

"I heard from the eldest son that you have compiled a farming manual on cotton cultivation. May I take a look?"

"The manuscript is in the study. Please follow me."

Qiu Huanian had no issue with others reading the farming manual, as he planned to make it freely available once completed. The original manuscript had already been reviewed by Magistrate Wang, and sixteen had taken a copy, so there was no concern about someone plagiarizing or distorting the content.

Su Xinbai, hailing from a prestigious family, had no prior experience with farming. Initially, he wanted to see what kind of book a young man like Qiu Huanian could produce, but as he read, he became engrossed.

Su Xinbai only snapped out of his immersion after finishing the chapters on seed selection and cultivation.

"What do you think, Mr. Su?" Qiu Huanian was eager to hear different opinions about the book.

Su Xinbai's tone was slightly different from usual, "The wording and phrasing are unlike most books, yet they are excellent."

Qiu Huanian smiled, "I often hear that such straightforward language is frowned upon, but you seem to disagree."

Su Xinbai shook his head, "Even someone like me, who has never engaged in farming, can understand how to cultivate cotton after reading this book. The language is vivid and concise, something many academics might not achieve. Books should be accessible to those who need them. Their purpose is to teach and impart knowledge. Those who obscure their meaning are merely seeking fame."

Su Xinbai spoke faster than usual, then paused and composed himself, "Apologies, I became too passionate."

Qiu Huanian chuckled, "No need to apologize. I appreciate your insights and am happy to listen. Besides, it's just the two of us here; no one else will hear."

Su Xinbai relaxed slightly, and his cold eyes showed a hint of liveliness, "I'm not afraid of these words getting out. I've said them publicly before, but at that time..."

"Mr. Qiu, this book is a masterpiece, but its value might be overlooked by some in the market. If you ever need it published, you can come to me."

"Do you have any connections in this field, Mr. Su?"

"The Zhu family began with a bookstore. Though their silk and fabric business later expanded, they never neglected the bookstore. Now, all the Zhu family's bookstores are under my management."

Even if it's not the most lucrative, all the bookstores together still make up a pretty big operation. Su Xinbai is quite young and hasn't been married into the Zhu family for very long, yet he directly manages so many businesses. His standing in the Zhu family is much higher than Qiu Huanian had initially thought.

Su Xinbai... Qiu Huanian felt a stir in his heart. Having just gotten to know Su Xinbai a bit, he asked him directly, "Mr. Su, are you related to the Left Administration Commissioner of Liaozhou's family?"

Su Xinbai lowered his striking, cool eyebrows and softly hummed in acknowledgment, as if it were a trivial matter.

"The Left Administration Commissioner of Liaozhou, Mr. Su, is my father."

The speaker's tone was calm, but the listener was anything but. In the rigid hierarchy of ancient society, where scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants were distinctly ranked, a son of Liaozhou's second-in-command, a high-ranking court official of the second rank, marrying a merchant's son—even if Zhu Jingcheng is the Zhu family's eldest son and grandson—is still seen as a shocking and unconventional match.

Seeing Qiu Huanian hesitate to ask, Su Xinbai directly answered what he wanted to know, "I am the child of my father's first wife, and I have younger siblings from my stepmother and concubines. These things aren't secrets in Xiangping Prefecture; once you're familiar with the place, you'll hear about them easily."

"..."

Su Xinbai's eyelids trembled almost imperceptibly; he did not want any comments on these matters, whether mocking or sympathetic.

"I've taken up enough of your time today. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Wait," Qiu Huanian called out to him.

Su Xinbai turned back, and the beautiful and vibrant young man smiled at him.

"I feel that Mr. Su's insights on books align with mine. Do you have any favorite books you'd recommend to me?"