The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 17

For the past two days, Liu Qingyue and Gu Qingjia had been frequenting tea houses and wine shops daily. They occasionally encountered student gatherings, but they never saw Zhao Wenzhang again.

Liu Qingyue frowned. They didn’t know much about Zhao Wenzhang, nor did they know his family situation. In the vastness of Ruzhou City, how could they possibly hope for a chance encounter?

Gu Qingjia, however, did not share her worry. There were countless scholars in the world; Zhao Wenzhang was by no means irreplaceable.

“What we should do now is rest well and enjoy ourselves. As for other matters, just let nature take its course,” Gu Qingjia said, noticing her frown and offering comfort.

He had survived all these years by maintaining exactly this kind of mindset. It wasn’t that he was indifferent to fame and fortune, but rather that he knew those things were like a sword hanging over his head. Inside and outside the palace, there wasn’t a soul who didn’t want him dead. He didn’t want to die, nor was he willing to, so his only option was to remain a person of zero threat.

Liu Qingyue understood this logic, yet she still felt it was a pity. This was the first time she had truly admired someone’s character, yet she didn’t even have the chance to make his acquaintance.

“Forget it, I won’t think about it anymore. If we don’t meet him, it just proves we have no fate with him.” She waved her hand, replacing her concern with a relaxed expression. “We’ve been here for several days and haven’t even toured Ruzhou. Let’s go for a walk today.”

Previously, she had been preoccupied with “serious business” and had no heart for play, but now her interest was finally piqued. Gu Qingjia followed behind her, watching her weave through the crowd like a happy bird. It was a sense of joy he had never experienced before.

His gaze remained fixed on her—focused and hiding a trace of intensity. Perhaps he hadn’t realized it yet, but in his eyes, Liu Qingyue was already different from everyone else.

“Husband, come quickly!” Liu Qingyue turned and waved at him, a bright and radiant smile on her face. She was like a little sun; no matter what happened, she could face it with a laugh.

“Coming,” Gu Qingjia replied with a smile, walking toward her with large strides. He reached her side and naturally took her hand, following her gaze.

“See? This is what they call ‘finding it without any effort.’ We waited in the wine shop for days and couldn’t find him, and now we run into him just by walking around.”

Liu Qingyue spoke with crescent-moon eyes. She hadn’t expected to find Zhao Wenzhang setting up a stall on the street to sell his calligraphy. People passed by in droves, but not a single person stopped at his stall.

She pulled Gu Qingjia over excitedly. “Let’s see exactly what kind of person this Mr. Zhao is.” She thought highly of him and hoped he wouldn’t disappoint her.

Zhao Wenzhang could never have imagined that someone in Ruzhou had been waiting for him for days. He sat at his stall reading a book of sages, but his heart was filled with boundless bitterness. He possessed a wealth of knowledge, but his family was poor. If he didn’t start saving money now, he likely wouldn’t be able to participate in the Spring Examinations next year.

The expenses for traveling to the capital were not small. At home, he only had his elderly mother, his wife, and a young child; how could they afford it? Over the years, he had already caused his mother enough worry; how could he let her fret over travel funds as well? Besides, his wife was right—even if he sat on the street selling calligraphy for a few copper coins, it was better than sitting at home in bitter silence.

However, in the three days he had been there, he had only attracted two customers.

“Sir, do you write letters for others?” Liu Qingyue sat across from him and asked softly. “My husband and I have been away from home for many days. We wish to write a letter to inform our elders that we are doing well so they won’t worry. This is your fee; please accept it.”

She pushed a silver ingot toward him. It far exceeded his standard rate; even at the rate of one tael of silver per word, there would still be change left over.

“Madam, you’ve given too much. It doesn’t cost nearly that much. I only charge ten copper coins.” Zhao Wenzhang pushed the silver back without looking away, his expression devoid of greed.

“I believe your calligraphy is worth this price, so it is. Please, just accept it,” Liu Qingyue said with a smile, addressing his predicament directly. “Besides, for a scholar like yourself to set aside your pride and come out to sell your writing, it must be because you need the money. Now that the money is before you, do you intend to refuse it?”

Zhao Wenzhang indeed lacked money, but he wasn’t blinded by it. The aura of the two people before him didn’t resemble that of ordinary folk. Why would such people seek out a lowly scholar like him to write a family letter?

“Madam, this is merely a stall for ghostwriting letters.” He knew well that there were no free lunches in this world; some money couldn’t be taken for nothing. He was just a literary man with limited abilities and didn’t dare take silver from strangers recklessly.

“I am only asking you to write a letter.” Liu Qingyue wanted to see if he was truly unmoved by wealth or if he was just feigning refusal. “Sir, please do not worry. My husband and I simply heard of your extraordinary talent and happened to see your stall here, which is why we wanted to ask you to write for us.”

Her tone was sincere, but Zhao Wenzhang did not believe her.

“There are plenty of talents in Ruzhou. I am but a very ordinary man with eyes only for the mundane. If Madam admires talent, you should go to the places where the literati and refined scholars gather.” He disdained those groups, but local wealthy lords indeed loved to host those so-called “refined scholars.”

Liu Qingyue shook her head; she had no respect for those who fished for fame. “We know you are different from them, which is why we sought you out. You accept the silver, and you write the letter for us—it is a fair trade. You aren’t taking advantage of us, so why are you unwilling?”

Even hearing this, Zhao Wenzhang was not moved. “Madam does not truly need me to write a letter, and I cannot accept this silver. Please take it back.”

He didn’t want to bring trouble upon himself, especially since he had an elderly mother and a young wife and child at home. Since having a child, he had matured and was no longer as impulsive as before. He understood more and more that if he wanted to be an official—a good official—it was useless to just make grand vows. He would only be qualified to speak of being a good official once he wore the official robes. He had a heart full of passion, but he would no longer waste it recklessly.

“Since you say so, I’ll take the silver back. But I wonder if my husband and I could invite you for a simple meal?” Seeing he truly wouldn’t take it, she didn’t press him.

“A meal is even less necessary. My family is waiting for me to return.” He shook his head. He was currently just a commoner and didn’t want to court trouble and ruin his chances for next year’s examinations.

“Brother Zhao, please, let us have a talk.”

Gu Qingjia, who hadn’t spoken until now, finally voiced his request. He didn’t actually care much about Zhao Wenzhang, but he would always support Liu Qingyue’s plans.

Zhao Wenzhang knew this was an invitation he could no longer refuse, so he could only agree.