Chapter 67: New Year

Chapter 67: New Year

Besides the regular holidays, every year from the twelfth lunar month to the first month, the academy teachers and students got a winter break of over a month. This year, Yan Fengan could finally settle in at home for a good stretch.

The pre-New Year rush to finish orders had worn him out, and since the two of them rarely got time together, Wen Xi skipped setting up his stall in town this year.

Yan Fengan's couplet business went on as usual. In addition to last year's regulars, some new faces showed up this year—people he'd never dealt with before.

What baffled Wen Xi most was how unusually generous these people were. Even though Yan Fengan's couplets had set prices—three hundred wen for the priciest—they'd fork over several taels of silver at once.

When Wen Xi tried to give back the extra money, the stewards waved him off, saying stuff like, "Our master says Scholar Yan's calligraphy is worth every bit of this, and getting a piece is a real blessing." Then they'd add that their master owned some grain shop, rice shop, or jade shop in town, hoping Yan Fengan would keep them in mind.

Wen Xi was totally baffled by all this.

Just as he was about to ask Yan Fengan what was going on, Manager Wang from Squire Qian—who ran the gambling den—showed up at their door.

Yan Fengan had dealt with Manager Wang last year, so they were practically old acquaintances. After some small talk, Yan Fengan asked what kind of couplet he wanted. Manager Wang said, "Our master just wants his name worked into it. The rest is up to you."

Yan Fengan thought for a moment, dipped his brush in ink, and had the couplet done in no time.

Once he set down his brush, Manager Wang stepped up to look it over, nodding approvingly: "With talent like that, Scholar Yan is bound to pass the autumn provincial exam next year."

He then took a wooden box from the servant beside him and opened it right in front of Yan Fengan and Wen Xi.

Inside the box sat two neat rows of gleaming silver ingots, each worth one tael—twenty ingots, twenty taels total.

Good grief. Those earlier folks handing over a few taels was already odd, but this Manager Wang had straight-up pulled out twenty.

When they'd gotten three to five taels, Wen Xi had found it a little strange. But with this much silver, the confusion faded, and caution took its place.

Even with his limited schooling, he knew money didn't just fall from the sky. These people were suddenly so generous—they had to want something in return.

Just as he was thinking that, Manager Wang went on, "Our master says the trip to the prefectural city isn't easy, and you'll need silver for food and lodging on the road. He admires your talent and wants to be friends. These twenty taels are his small contribution to your exam trip. I hope Scholar Yan won't turn it down."

Yan Fengan gave the wooden box a single glance, then looked away with a faint smile. "I appreciate Squire Qian's kindness, and I'll remember the favor. But I really can't accept this silver."

Scholars had their pride, and Manager Wang knew he wouldn't accept easily. He pressed on, "Your family may be better off than most, but coming up with that much silver at once has to be tough. With this silver, you could take some weight off your parents' shoulders."

Yan Fengan shook his head. "We're not rich, but we've saved up enough for the exam. As they say, don't take rewards you haven't earned. I absolutely can't take these twenty taels. I hope Manager Wang won't ruin my reputation."

"How could that ruin your reputation?" Manager Wang said quickly, taken aback by his serious tone. "Our master just wants to be friends. If you pass, you two can move in better circles later."

Yan Fengan clasped his hands in a salute. "I'll remember your master's goodwill. If I'm lucky enough to pass next year, I'll visit him in person to thank him. But I won't take this silver, no matter what. No need to keep trying."

Seeing how firm he was, Manager Wang didn't push. His master had sent him to build a connection, not make an enemy. Since the scholar had made it clear, pushing further would only cause resentment.

He closed the wooden box, handed it to his servant, and clasped his hands toward Yan Fengan. "Scholar Yan's integrity is truly admirable. I'll report this honestly to my master."

Before leaving, he set a single silver ingot on the table, saying the couplet money still had to be paid. Once the couplet was dry, he left with his servant.

Spotting ink stains on Yan Fengan's fingers, Wen Xi wiped them with a handkerchief as he asked what was on his mind: "The exams haven't even started yet. Why are these local bigwigs suddenly trying to cozy up to us?"

Wen Xi wanted to say "suck up," but given their family's situation, there didn't seem to be anything worth sucking up for.

He was sharp in other things, but still green when it came to this kind of scheming.

Seeing his confusion, Yan Fengan explained, "It's called 'investing in scholars.'"

"Investing in scholars?"

"Yes. Some local gentry fund scholars before they head off to the exams. If the person they backed passes, they become the benefactors who came through in the nick of time. Those who pass and become officials would naturally remember the favor and pay it back big-time."

"They sure should repay it," Wen Xi said. If someone helped him out in hard times, he'd be endlessly grateful too.

Yan Fengan went on, "And if they happen to back a winner, even just registering their land under the scholar's name would save them a fortune in taxes every year. Compared to what they'd gain later, twenty taels is less than a drop in the bucket."

"But what if..." Wen Xi mulled it over, a thought popping up, though he felt it was bad luck to say such things during the New Year.

One look at his hesitant face told Yan Fengan exactly what he was thinking. He chuckled. "What if the person they backed doesn't pass? They wouldn't lose much. These gentry aren't like us, scratching a living out of the dirt. They rake in who knows how much in rent from their estates every year. Twenty taels wouldn't even make them blink."

Wen Xi felt a swell of pride. "Finding you—that shows they have good judgment."

Yan Fengan smiled. "I'm not the only one they've approached. Do you remember my classmate Fang Mutian? He's from our town too. I suspect these gentry will be visiting him as well."

Wen Xi thought for a moment. "His family seems even worse off than ours. If someone offered to fund his examination, do you think he'd accept?"

Yan Fengan sighed. "It would be hard to refuse. I just hope he doesn't get too entangled with Squire Qian, who runs gambling dens and brothels."

Those weren't respectable trades. If Fang Mutian took his money and later passed, Squire Qian could leverage the favor and put him in an impossible position.

Thinking of this, Yan Fengan suddenly took Wen Xi's hand and smiled. "Speaking of which, I have you to thank. Thanks to my husband's skilled hands and all the silver you've saved, I won't have to go begging anyone."

Wen Xi curved his lips modestly. "You have talent yourself, and your parents have savings too. It's not like you needed me to save up."

Yan Fengan pulled him into his arms and kissed his cheek. "The silver my parents saved doesn't spend as sweet as what you've saved. How about you follow those gentry's example and invest some travel money in me? If I pass, I'll repay you handsomely."

Leaning against his chest, Wen Xi played with his long fingers and followed along: "How will you repay me?"

Yan Fengan said, "I'll be your beast of burden—how's that?"

Wen Xi laughed and squeezed his wrist. "You said it. Having Master Juren be my beast of burden—that'll be quite the show of authority."

"Who knows if I'll even pass." Though Yan Fengan had started it, seeing Wen Xi take it seriously made him feel embarrassed.

The provincial examination came once every three years, with countless candidates competing for a handful of spots. Sometimes Yan Fengan couldn't help but doubt himself—could he really pass?

Given the odds and how few from their county had ever passed, if even one person from their county succeeded next year, it would cause a sensation across the entire county.

The more he thought about it, the tighter his chest felt. He wasn't as composed and confident as he usually appeared.

Sensing his momentary silence, Wen Xi looked up to see a rare flicker of confusion and pain on Yan Fengan's face. He cupped his husband's cheeks and said seriously, "Even if you don't pass, you're still my husband. If you don't pass this time, we'll try again next time. I'll work hard and keep funding you."

The tension in Yan Fengan's heart dissolved at those words. He leaned in, rubbing his nose against Wen Xi's, and smiled. "I can never repay your great kindness—how about this humble scholar offers himself to you tonight?"

Wen Xi covered his mouth and laughed, about to say yes when a cough sounded from afar. Startled, he shoved Yan Fengan away and scrambled to his feet.

Yan Fuqiu covered his eyes, making a show of it. "I just came to grab something. I didn't see anything."

Both of them—one blushing, the other pretending to straighten his clothes—exchanged an embarrassed glance once Yan Fuqiu had gone.

As the new year approached, the Yan family began preparing various foods. This year, like last, they bought a sheep and half a pig.

Other odds and ends for the holiday—red dates, longans, melon seeds, firecrackers—were all stocked up as well.

Wen Xi helped Chen Lanfang and He Jin in the kitchen, while Yan Fengan assisted Yan Shichang and the others with the meats.

Besides the pork, the sheep, chicken, and duck all had to be dressed by hand. Yan Fengan, a scholar who had never done such work, found himself hacking the poultry into pieces with a cleaver.

Li Wan's delivery was expected around the third month, and her belly was already quite large. The family wouldn't let her do any work, so she sat in the courtyard stringing colorful cords with the two children.

These tassels were made by her while she was pregnant, just to pass the time. She'd planned to sell them for a bit of cash, but then Wen Xi suggested hanging them in the courtyard would look nice, so she followed his advice and gave it a try.

After hanging these colorful tassels, the originally dull courtyard instantly became beautiful and festive. With the fresh couplets and peach charms up, it instantly felt like New Year.

The whole family couldn't stop singing their praises for her and Wen Xi.

Wen Xi smiled and said he'd picked it up from folks in the city. At his birthday celebration last time, that courtyard had the same colorful cords hanging up. He'd thought they were gorgeous then, so he figured he'd try it for New Year. He hadn't expected it to work out this well.

Anything that needed stewing or frying was already prepped ahead of time. By New Year's Eve, all the heavy hitters just needed a quick reheat.

The New Year's Eve feast at Daoxiang Village was set for the evening. After rice cakes and mutton buns at noon, Wen Xi and the others got busy in the kitchen that afternoon.

Every New Year, each daughter-in-law and husband in the family had to whip up a signature dish. Last year Wen Xi had just arrived and sat it out, but this year there was no dodging it.

Having spent so much time at Chen Lanfang and the others' side, Wen Xi had picked up a trick or two. With plenty of spicy, salty, stewed, and cold dishes already covered, he decided to make a sweet eight-treasure rice pudding, just how he liked it.

The glutinous rice had soaked overnight, each grain plumping up white, soft, and full of water. Wen Xi finely chopped the brown sugar, grabbed a deep, coarse bowl, and smeared a thin layer of lard all over the inside, getting every corner.

He Jin had taught him that trick—the oil keeps the pudding from sticking when you flip it out after steaming.

Then he laid the store-bought red dates, goji berries, lotus seeds, peanuts, and other dried fruits in the bottom of the bowl, then laid down a layer of glutinous rice, gently pressing it down with a spoon, filling the middle with another layer of crushed brown sugar, and covering the top with another layer of glutinous rice, pressing it flat and even.

After steaming it and letting the bowl cool a bit, he covered it with a plate and flipped it upside down. A sweet eight-treasure rice pudding was complete.

When it hit the table, the dried fruits on top were all on display, and the kids were dying to scoop some into their own bowls, rules be damned.

Chen Lanfang made braised crucian carp, and He Jin made cold shredded chicken. Since the kitchen was thick with oil smoke, Li Wan sat that one out.

Even though it was the New Year's Eve dinner, the Yan family wasn't strict about waiting until night to eat. Once all the dishes were prepared and the sky outside was still bright, the whole family sat down together.

Stewed mutton, braised pork ribs, cold pig ear salad, fried meatballs, a whole intact fish, plus He Jin's cold shredded chicken, Wen Xi's eight-treasure rice pudding, and several vegetable dishes—the table was packed full, looking even more abundant than last year.

The family ate and drank, trading good wishes. Days like this really felt full and happy.

Wen Xi's eight-treasure rice pudding was sweet and delicious, greatly loved by the two children. Even Li Wan couldn't resist eating a bit more. In the end, some of the other dishes were left over, but his sweet dish was eaten cleanly without a single bite remaining.

An empty bowl and plate said more than any praise. No words needed—Wen Xi knew his eight-treasure rice pudding had won everyone over.

After the meal, while it was still light outside, he took out the lucky money pouches he had prepared in advance. The one embroidered with a tiger head was for Tiezhu, and the one with a red carp was for Tao'er.

Inside were lucky money gifts from him and Yan Fengan—each kid got a full qian of silver.

He Jin smiled at them and said, "Uncle Xiao Xi was so busy this year, but he still found time to embroider these for you. You two better thank him properly."

The two children hugged their money pouches and shouted in unison, "Thank you, Uncle Xiao Xi."

Wen Xi smiled and patted both their heads, then added, "Be careful when you take them out to play, don't lose them. I embroidered your names on them, so keep them safe. You can put all the lucky money from the family inside."

Hearing this, the two children went to ask the other family members for lucky money. This year, everyone had some spare cash, so they were generous when giving the children lucky money, each giving a qian of silver just like Wen Xi and the others. It was the first time the two children had seen so much money.

On New Year's Eve, everyone stayed up late to see in the new year. After cleaning up, the Yan family gathered around the fire, its blaze warming their faces.

The family talked about this year's harvest and how much silver they had earned. As soon as silver was mentioned, Yan Shichang brought up the important matter again: "Sanlang, the travel expenses for next year's autumn examination have been prepared by the family. Focus on your studies and don't worry about that."

Yan Fengan nodded in acknowledgment and replied, "I'll prepare well."