Chapter 76 Mountain Home Hearth 76

Chapter 76: A Mountain Family's Hearth and Home 76

"Many thanks, many thanks!"

Li Anyuan carried his book box home, his hands laden with various items.

Over the past two months, he had earned some spare cash by copying books, writing letters, and occasionally helping classmates with meals or laundry. Of course, the bulk of his earnings came from Xie Baozhu, especially the generous payment for tutoring.

Though the young master disliked studying—managing only an hour a day and sticking to it for merely half a month—Li Anyuan still managed to save nearly half a tael of silver.

The Li family was large. Both of Li Anyuan’s parents were alive; he had an elder brother who had been married for five years, and a younger sister aged twelve. His elder brother and sister-in-law had a son, almost four years old.

He bought meat, a packet of sweet cakes for his young nephew, and some hemp cloth for his parents to make new clothes—truly returning home with a full load. Getting a ride today had saved him considerable effort, and he repeatedly expressed his gratitude as he disembarked.

Liu Guyu gently stroked Cuihua’s ear as if it were a treasure, smiling at Li Anyuan. "You’re most welcome! Scholar Li, you can arrange a time with Erlang to return to the academy together. We’ll pick you up at the crossroads then, saving you a good part of the walk!"

Li Anyuan was deeply touched and thanked the two profusely once more before finally heading off toward Red Plum Village with his belongings.

"Hold on tight, we’re heading home too!"

Liu Guyu gave the mule’s plump rump a light tap with a straw whip, and the mule immediately pulled the cart forward. The two wheels rumbled as they turned, quickly carrying them into Shanghe Village.

The old willow tree at the village entrance had grown even more luxuriant, its branches thick and leaves a glossy, vibrant green—truly like ten thousand strands of emerald silk draping down.

The May rice was already heading out, field after field of paddies glowing green, the young panicles still tender and fresh.

"Hey, Qin Erlang, Liu Geer!"

A villager spotted them and called out cheerfully.

"I just came from your paddy field—my goodness, the rice is growing splendidly! The leaves are greener than others', and the panicles are heavy. This year’s harvest is sure to be a good one!"

"Absolutely! And to think, this kid's got some clever tricks up his sleeve! That fertilizer of his really works!"

"Ever since your field was fertilized, Old Man Miao has been squatting by the ridge every day, sighing over his pipe! It’s only in the last month, with the panicles forming nicely, that he’s looked a bit happier. But he’s keeping an even closer eye on it now!"

...

Old Man Miao was the elderly man who had sighed over the Qin family’s paddy on the day the fertilizer was applied. Having tended crops all his life, he cherished grain and feared Liu Guyu’s methods would ruin the harvest.

Though it wasn’t his field, it pained him to see it potentially wasted.

Liu Guyu knew he meant well, so even when Old Man Miao shook his head and sighed at him—looking at him as if he were a misbehaving child—Liu Guyu never took offense.

He tugged on the mule’s reins and engaged in some mutual flattery with the group. "The weather’s been good this year—rain when it's needed, sun when it's needed! I’ve seen that the rice in all your fields is growing well too! Every household is sure to have a good harvest this year! I’m just testing a little idea. If it really works, I’ll definitely inform the village head and share the method with everyone! We’re all one village—when the whole village does well, we all benefit!"

Liu Guyu understood their intentions: seeing the rice grow so well, they were probing for information about the fertilizing technique.

He had no plans to hide the method. It was better to spread it, so the villagers would remember his kindness.

Moreover, in ancient times, agriculture was highly valued. If a method to increase grain yields reached higher authorities, it could bring him many advantages.

If nothing else, if the government bestowed a plaque of honor, it would be a powerful shield—anyone thinking of causing trouble would have to think twice.

That was far more valuable than money!

At Liu Guyu’s words, the group grew excited and exclaimed:

"Wonderful! Liu Geer, you’ve got a good heart! Your whole family are good people!"

"Absolutely! If you ever face difficulties, just call on us—we’ll help however we can!"

"Yes, yes! We’ll definitely help!"

...

As they chattered enthusiastically, even more excited than Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi themselves, it seemed they could already envision the heavy panicles bending the rice stalks.

However, there were still some dissatisfied voices in the crowd. A voice in the crowd sneered sarcastically, "Hmph, what’s there to boast about? The grain isn’t ripe yet! It might look like a bumper harvest, but it could all be empty husks. Don’t celebrate too soon!"

The speaker was Zhou Qiaozhi. Liu Guyu hadn’t noticed her in the crowd until she spoke.

As soon as Zhou Qiaozhi spoke, everyone fell silent and turned to look at her.

"What are you all staring at me for?"

"I’m not wrong!"

"You’ve all been farming for decades! How can you believe whatever a young man says?"

Some were swayed by Zhou Qiaozhi’s words and began frowning doubtfully; others found her a wet blanket and frowned in displeasure.

They knew doubling grain yields was difficult, but they still hoped the dream could come true—it would make life much easier for their families!

Holding onto hope was good, but Zhou Qiaozhi had to spoil the mood with her untimely remarks.

Since she lacked tact, she couldn’t blame others for not sparing her feelings.

Aunt Hua put her hands on her hips and asked with a stern face, "Tian family’s, I heard your Tian Qiusheng took the exams again? How did he do this year? Did he pass the Student Scholar exam?"

The topic shifted abruptly, and Zhou Qiaozhi’s face darkened. She glared coldly at Aunt Hua for bringing up a sore subject, clearly displeased.

"None of your business!" Zhou Qiaozhi retorted coldly.

Aunt Hua smirked and pressed on, "Oh! Don’t tell me he failed again? Oh dear, your Tian Qiusheng is almost thirteen, right? The Qin family’s second son passed the Student Scholar exam at ten. How many times has yours taken it now, and still hasn’t passed?"

Though she asked, Aunt Hua knew perfectly well that Tian Qiusheng had failed again!

The Child Exam was in February, and the results had long been out. If Tian Qiusheng had passed, Zhou Qiaozhi, given her nature, would have boasted about it all over the village—no one would need to ask!

Since she hadn’t mentioned it, he must have failed again.

Actually, Tian Qiusheng wasn’t particularly old; there were plenty of scholars aged fifteen or sixteen who hadn’t passed the Child Exam. Even at Luming Academy, there were "repeaters" like Xie Baozhu, who at seventeen still hadn’t passed!

Though Tian Qiusheng wasn’t cut out for studying, failing at thirteen wasn’t shameful. But Zhou Qiaozhi insisted on comparing everything to Cui Lanfang.

Cui Lanfang’s son passed the Child Exam at ten, so Zhou Qiaozhi forced Tian Qiusheng to take it at ten as well. He had taken it every year since—this was the fourth time.

Zhou Qiaozhi felt as if her sore spot had been poked. She glared fiercely at Aunt Hua and snapped angrily, "None of your damn business! Mind your own!"

With that, she turned and stormed off in a huff.

With that interruption over, Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi returned home.

*

As for Zhou Qiaozhi, she rushed home furiously, went into the yard, scooped a ladle of cold water from the large jar, and gulped it down, trying to douse the fire of her anger.

Seeing her mother return, Tian Hexiang happily ran out, holding a red garment in her hands.

"Mom! Look at the wedding dress I sewed! Aren't these peach blossoms pretty!"

The girl beamed with joy, but her mother wore a sour expression.

She shot Tian Hexiang a glare, snatched the dress from her hands, then jabbed her finger against Tian Hexiang’s forehead, grumbling irritably:

"Pretty? Who embroiders peach blossoms on a wedding dress? The young ladies from wealthy families have peonies and mandarin ducks on theirs! Peach blossoms? So tacky!"

Tian Hexiang pouted and muttered under her breath: "I’d like to be a young lady too, but it's not like you and Dad made me one. Besides, I’ve never even seen peonies, and mandarin ducks are too hard to embroider—I don’t know how."

Zhou Qiaozhi: "What are you mumbling about! Is that all it takes to upset you? Who are you making that face for?"

She accused Tian Hexiang of sulking, but her own expression was far darker than her daughter’s!

Tian Hexiang’s pout deepened, her whole face radiating unhappiness.

She spoke softly, voice full of grievance: "Mom! I’m about to get married, and I’m moving to the county town. It’s so far away—I might not get to see you but once a year, if that! From the way you're acting, it seems like you’re not the least bit sad to see me go!"

Zhou Qiaozhi continued glaring at her, staring for a long moment before saying: "You silly girl, you think marrying out means you’re not my daughter anymore? Dream on! Let me tell you, I had a hard time securing this match for you!"

"What kind of wedding dress is this? Stop embroidering! Their family are landowners in the county—they have all kinds of fine things! They even paid fifty taels of silver as a betrothal gift! The wedding dress, the veil, the jewelry—they're bound to provide it all! No need to prepare it yourself!"

"Those will all be good quality! After you marry, remember your mother’s kindness! Support your family back home, especially your brother—his schooling doesn't come cheap, you know!"

"Hmm… I think it's that Village Scholar Liu who's a poor teacher. Otherwise, how could your brother have made so little progress all these years! After you marry, get your husband to help out—see if there are any better schools in the county and send your brother there to study!"

"I don't buy it! If Cui Lanfang’s son can become a Student Scholar, then my Zhou Qiaozhi’s son can too!"

With that, she stormed off toward the house, face stern.

Tian Hexiang stood there stunned, watching her mother walk away. It took her a long moment to snap out of it, then she stomped her foot in frustration and cried out angrily: "Mom!"

No one answered her, of course.

Zhou Qiaozhi went into Tian Qiusheng’s room without so much as a backward glance.

Her father, Tian Dacheng, was home for once today, but he sat silently under the eaves as if he were mute. He didn’t see his wife return home, didn’t see his daughter happily bringing her wedding dress outside, and didn’t see her run back to her room red-eyed and covering her face.

He saw nothing, as though his wife, daughter, and son inside had nothing to do with him.

This time, Tian Hexiang was so angry she cried. The half-finished, bright red wedding dress was crumpled into a ball and tossed it aside, and she threw herself onto the bed, sobbing loudly.

As for Zhou Qiaozhi, she headed to Tian Qiusheng’s room.

She berated her son.

Called him a useless good-for-nothing, lazy, stupid, said he should be ashamed to show his face if he couldn’t surpass the Qin family’s Erlang!

A torrent of harsh words rained down, scolding Tian Qiusheng so badly he didn’t dare lift his head or utter a word in rebuttal.

Only after venting did Zhou Qiaozhi feel the stifling anger in her chest finally dissipate.

But she still didn’t leave. She plopped down on the bed and stayed, watching Tian Qiusheng read and do his schoolwork from inside the room.

Though she was illiterate, she insisted on supervising his studying to feel at ease, afraid the moment she turned her back the brat would start slacking off.

Sitting there, she coldly barked:

"What are you looking at me for? Read!"

"Taking the exam every year, failing every year! Tell me, how can you face me? Hurry up and study harder!"

...

That day, not a single person in the Tian household had an easy time of it.