Making A Fortune Through Hunting To Support My Wife - Chapter 26

The bookstore Xu Jing chose was of medium size. Inside, several scholars could be seen browsing and selecting books, and there were even a few young women dressed as maidservants, likely sent by their young mistresses to purchase picture books.

As the two entered the bookstore, the shopkeeper behind the counter merely lifted his eyelids for a fleeting glance before returning to his tea and leisure reading. Some of the scholars, however, cast strange looks their way. After all, Xu Jing and Song Yu were dressed like common folk, what were ordinary peasants doing in a bookstore and with a wife in tow, no less?

Ignoring them, Xu Jing led Song Yu straight to the shopkeeper.

“Shopkeeper, I’m looking for the Legal Code of the Current Dynasty. Do you have it?”

The shopkeeper looked up in surprise, eyeing Xu Jing. However, being a businessman, he didn’t care whether Xu Jing was literate or why she wanted the code; even if she bought it to prop up a table leg, it was none of his concern.

“I have it. Two taels of silver, no bargaining,” he said in a low voice.

Xu Jing felt the sting of the price but nodded nonetheless. She added, “You have paper, brushes, and inkstones as well, I presume?”

She figured she might as well buy some now to avoid the trouble of searching for them later if needed.

“I do, but it depends on what grade you want. Materials and quality vary greatly, and so do the prices.”

“Understood. Just the common, everyday variety will do.”

The shopkeeper stepped out from behind the counter to rummage for the Legal Code. It was a heavy, bulky item that rarely sold, relegated to the bottom of his stock.

While waiting, Xu Jing and Song Yu walked to the shelves. They were filled with the usual assortment: classics, poetry collections, imperial examination guides, and miscellaneous texts. Xu Jing had little interest in them, but she noticed Song Yu staring at the books with eyes so bright they seemed to hold falling stars.

“Xiao Yu, do you like books?”

Song Yu reluctantly withdrew her gaze, nodding and then shaking her head. “Books contain truths that make one wise, but clarity is also a form of suffering.” As she spoke, she lowered her eyes, masking her emotions.

Xu Jing felt the girl’s spirit dim, as if she had turned a shade grayer with loneliness. Just as she was about to offer a word of comfort, a scholar nearby let out a mocking sneer.

“There is a house of gold within books, this saying is quite true. But it is not for a mere woman to peer into. A woman is better off assisting her husband and teaching her children, she shouldn’t try to be the hen that crows at dawn.”

Xu Jing frowned. “My wife and I are speaking; what does it have to do with you? It seems you read books but not reason. You’re quite skilled at meddling in affairs that aren’t yours.”

The scholar’s face turned bright red with rage, and he moved to argue.

However, another scholar, who seemed to be at odds with the first, spoke up sarcastically: “Zhao An, are you dissatisfied with Princess Fengyang’s reinstatement of female officials? The Emperor’s imperial decree has been posted and announced. To point at the mulberry while cursing the locust tree, you have quite the nerve!”

“Nonsense! I did no such thing!” the first scholar shouted, pointing a trembling finger at the other. “Don’t you dare pin such a crime on me!”

Xu Jing had no desire to get involved in their bickering. She cupped her hands in thanks toward the scholar who had spoken up for them and moved away. That scholar merely tilted his chin and went back to provoking the first one.

By then, the shopkeeper had returned with the Legal Code. After picking out the paper, ink, brushes, and inkstone, the total came to nearly three taels. Xu Jing then placed another volume on the counter and asked, “How much for this one? Let’s add it to the total.”

Song Yu realized it was the book she had been looking at earlier. She hadn’t even noticed when Xu Jing had picked it up. Panicked, she reached out to take it back.

Xu Jing pressed her hand down, smiling at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper glanced at the book. “One tael and three mace.”

“Done.” Xu Jing paid for everything, her purse feeling significantly lighter.

Before they even left the shop, Xu Jing tucked the book into Song Yu’s hands and nudged her chin. “A gift for you. A person needs some joy in life, otherwise, it’s too bitter and there’s nothing to look forward to.”

To those close to her, Xu Jing always hoped they could live a little better and be a little happier. She didn’t want them to end up like people in the apocalypse, dying in despair and fear. She had thought her heart had turned cold in her previous life, but since being reborn here, it seemed the warmth was returning.

Since the book was already bought and Xu Jing wouldn’t let her return it, Song Yu had no choice but to keep it. She knew the “changed” Xu Jing was good to her, but she hadn’t expected her to spend so much without blinking an eye for a book she liked.

If Xu Jing had married another girl instead of me, she would likely treat her just as well, Song Yu thought. At that realization, a strange sensation welled up in her heart, a sour, astringent feeling like the wild pears she used to pick on the mountains as a child.

Not far from the bookstore was a pastry shop. The variety in the county seat far surpassed that of Meihua Town, lard rice cakes, flaky pastries, spring pancakes, peach slices, lotus root silk candy…

Xu Jing picked out Song Yu’s favorite jujube paste cakes and osmanthus cakes, then chose some peach slices and dried fruits for herself. The dried fruits were flavorful but expensive. Yes, she thought, planting an orchard is definitely a must for the future. Since pastries don’t stay fresh forever, she didn’t buy too many.

“The only things left are rice, flour, and seeds. After that, we’ll go to a stall for some food and head home with the donkey cart. How does that sound?” Xu Jing asked with a smile as she watched Song Yu climb down from the cart.

“Why buy seeds?” Song Yu nodded but then asked curiously, “The autumn harvest hasn’t happened yet, so the fields are full. There’s no place to plant seeds.”

“Not ordinary crop seeds. I plan to check the pharmacy for suitable medicinal herb seeds. I intend to grow some medicinal plants later.”

Song Yu was shocked. “You even know how to grow medicine?”

“I know a bit,” Xu Jing brushed it off, afraid of being questioned further. She shifted the topic to Song Yu’s health. “By the way, I remember your health is fragile and you need medicine. Since we’re in the county seat, why don’t we find a doctor here to check on you? Their skills should be better than the doctors in Meihua Town.”

Song Yu recalled how Xu Jing had recognized medicinal herbs before. Seeing that she didn’t want to elaborate, Song Yu went along with her. “I still have medicine left, no need for a doctor. Besides, I didn’t bring enough money. Perhaps next time.”

“Who knows when ‘next time’ will be? You don’t come to the county seat often. I have enough money on me, don’t worry.” Seeing Song Yu about to refuse again, Xu Jing straightened her face and teased, “I already promised Doctor Yu I’d take you to the prefectural city if needed. Do you want me to be a person who breaks her word?”

Song Yu was actually a bit afraid when Xu Jing turned serious, it reminded her of the old, gloomy Xu Jing.

As they walked and talked beside the donkey cart, a young man’s voice suddenly called out.

“Xiao Yu?! Xiao Yu, it really is you! What are you doing here?”

“Second Brother?”

Song Yu looked toward the voice. A tall, thin young man holding a bundle of medicine was waving at them. He hurried over, his face etched with lingering surprise. His gaze then shifted past Song Yu to Xu Jing, and his brow furrowed.

“You’re here with your husband.”

“It has been a while, Jing’er Ge.”

Xu Jing gave a mental “tch.” This second brother-in-law’s gaze was none too friendly, he clearly held a grudge. It made sense, no brother would like a brother-in-law who took advantage of a family’s crisis to marry his sister, even if the Xu family had paid a lot of silver for the marriage.

Xu Jing recalled some details about Song Yu’s family. The entire Song clan lived together under the rule of Grandpa and Grandma Song. Song Yu’s father was the third of four brothers. The father’s household had two sons and two daughters, this young man was Song Yu’s second brother. Because there were many sons in the clan and the family hadn’t split yet, the cousins were ranked by age. Song Yu’s eldest brother was third in the ranking, and this second brother was fourth, known as Song Silang.

Good looks seemed to run in the Song family. Song Yu was exceptionally beautiful, and Song Silang was quite handsome too, with thick brows, large eyes, and a straight nose. His skin was the common tanned yellow of farmers, and he was quite thin, making his robes look a bit loose.

“Xiao Yu and I came to the county to buy some things and to see a doctor. Why are you buying medicine, Fourth Brother Song?”

Hearing the first half, Song Silang immediately looked at his sister. “Xiao Yu, are you sick? Is it serious?”

“Just the old ailment from home. Since we were in the county today, Ah Jing suggested I see a doctor,” Song Yu mentioned briefly, a look of worry crossing her face. “But why are you in the county for medicine, Brother?”

People from Qili Village usually went to Meihua Town. The county seat was far and rarely visited.

Song Silang gave Xu Jing a surprised look, his own brow clouding with worry. The two siblings looked remarkably similar when they frowned.

“Fourth Aunt finally got pregnant, but… it’s gone. I came to get Fourth Uncle to go home. We found a doctor before I left, and he wrote a prescription.”

Song Yu’s fourth uncle only had two daughters. His wife was over thirty and hadn’t conceived in seven or eight years. Grandma Song often scolded her for being “a hen that doesn’t lay eggs” and called the uncle “seedless,” which had become a sore point for the couple.

Song Yu gasped. “How did it happen? Is Fourth Aunt okay?”

At this, Song Silang’s face flushed with anger, his grip tightening on the medicine bundle.

“It was all because of Auntie! To think Fourth Aunt used to dote on her so much when they were little! It was raining two days ago, and Auntie got into a fight with Hua’er for some reason. Fourth Aunt went to break it up, and Auntie pushed her. She started bleeding immediately. They called a doctor, but the baby couldn’t be saved.”

“Now Fourth Aunt is just lying in bed. When Mother goes to see her, she just cries and won’t eat or drink. Grandpa told me to go fetch Fourth Uncle from his job in the county.” He ended with a heavy sigh. “Fourth Aunt’s life is too bitter. She finally conceived and didn’t even know it until she was pushed.”

He shook off the gloom and turned to Song Yu. “Never mind that. Xiao Yu, does she… treat you well? Has she bullied you? Tell me. If she dares to lay a hand on you, Eldest Brother and I will beat her until she can’t crawl!”

As he spoke, Song Silang shot a fierce glare at Xu Jing, who was standing about five or six paces away.

Xu Jing was momentarily stunned by the “death stare” before she realized what was happening. Heh, quite the protective second brother-in-law.

“Brother, she… she treats me very well,” Song Yu said softly, glancing back at Xu Jing.

Song Silang looked skeptical, clearly not believing a word. He let out a cold snort. “As long as you aren’t being bullied. If I find out she is, she’ll have me to deal with.”

Then, a look of guilt crossed his face. “Sigh, it’s because Eldest Brother and I are useless. If one of us was talented in studies like Eldest Uncle or First Cousin, Grandpa might have listened to us. He wouldn’t have made you marry a…”

He couldn’t finish the sentence, his face a mix of defeat and shame.

“Brother, I understand your feelings. There’s no need to mention the past.” Song Yu suppressed the flicker in her eyes and forced a comforting smile. “Are Father and Mother well? Mother is close with Third Aunt, she must be worried sick. Her own illness…”