Chapter 175
Fang Zichen was hit twice. He covered his bottom and hid in his room. He didn't come out until he was hungry.
Guaizai had taken the little dog to play with Liuliu and hadn't returned yet. The courtyard was quiet.
Fang Zichen crouched outside the kitchen, peeking left and right. Seeing Zhao Ger wasn't looking at him, he cleared his throat.
Zhao Ger stirred the porridge, ignoring him.
Fang Zichen rubbed his nose and walked in awkwardly.
"Porridge tonight?" He glanced into the pot, "Could we not make it so watery? Are we so poor we can only drink water?"
This pot of porridge was so thin it was hard to look at. One couldn't make it that thin unless it was during a famine.
Drinking porridge in winter means many trips to the bathroom.
Last time they hired help, Zhou Ger also cooked a large pot of porridge. There was a lot left in the evening. Fang Zichen drank three bowls and had to get up six times during the night. It was pure agony, and sleep was completely out of the question.
Zhao Ger didn't speak.
Fang Zichen didn't mind either. He just stuck close, "When will it be ready? I'm starving."
Zhao Ger turned his head, looked at him, and said coolly, "What does that have to do with me?"
Fang Zichen: "..."
This little ger, his heart is truly as small as the eye of a needle.
Still holding a grudge!
Fang Zichen leaned over and kissed him.
Zhao Ger was startled, "What are you doing? So improper."
There's nothing a kiss can't solve. If one doesn't work, then try two.
If two don't work, try three. If three don't work... retreat first.
Fang Zichen kissed him again.
Zhao Ger pursed his lips, then was kissed again. His ears felt hot, his face flushed. As if embarrassed, he pulled Fang Zichen to the side of the stove and fetched him a small stool, "It's almost ready. Sit here and wait, warm yourself by the fire."
Just three kisses and he was appeased. Fang Zichen proudly crossed his legs.
"You were just chasing me with a stick," he brought up the old grievance. "Two aunties passing by saw everything. They were watching you. You looked absolutely fierce and even said I wasn't human. Honestly, hearing you say that really caught me off guard."
[Saying to someone "you're not human" is a very strong and harsh criticism in Chinese culture. It's used to accuse someone of being heartless, cruel, lacking basic human compassion, or behaving in an utterly unreasonable, monstrous, or beastly way]
Zhao Ger twisted the corner of his clothes, "Husband, I'm sorry, I..."
A man, being chased and beaten by his own fulang—it was fine if they fooled around in their own yard like before, but just now he was actually seen by others.
Fang Zichen cared most about face.
He had crossed the line.
Even though Fang Zichen doted on him, he shouldn't have done that.
Zhao Ger mumbled, raised his eyes, silently opened his mouth, just about to say something when he heard that rogue's improper tone again, "Do you know why I was surprised? Because I couldn't believe how a cute, kind little ger like you could say something as fierce as 'you're not human.' That demeanor and tone, is that something a gentle, lovely ger like you should say?"
Zhao Ger couldn't help but laugh.
"Laughing? You still have the face to laugh? Are you worthy of your gentle and kind nature?" Fang Zichen tilted his head back, "Apologize to me right now."
Zhao Ger laughed and punched his arm. He really thought Fang Zichen was angry just now.
He said, "How about I stir-fry some sour bamboo shoots for you tonight?"
Fang Zichen's eyes lit up, "I want a whole plate!"
"Okay," Zhao Ger said, "Go call Guaizai back."
The next day at work, Yang Mingyi brought a box of books, saying Old Master Wu had sent them over, telling Fang Zichen to study them well and finish them before the academy exam.
Fang Zichen looked at the full box of books and asked Shopkeeper Yang if he could resell them.
He didn't know Old Master Wu's real identity, but Shopkeeper Yang did.
Some books in the box were old. A quick flip through revealed many annotations and notes written on them.
Although Old Master Wu was only a juren, his knowledge and cultivation were no less than that of a jinshi. Many of his students served as officials in the court, the highest among them already a fourth-grade official in the Hanlin Academy.
The least accomplished was Jiang Zhengxu, who remained a mere seventh-grade petty official after years in office.
Old Master Wu was also an old classmate of the Prefect. Many people wanted to get in his good graces.
Any book picked from this box would be frantically sought after if taken outside. Fang Zichen, not knowing to cherish them, actually thought about reselling them.
Shopkeeper Yang angrily rapped him on the head.
Customers arrived at the door again. The two young men were dressed luxuriously. Wang Xiaohu originally wanted to lead them to a private room upstairs, but they waved their hands, saying they'd just eat casually in the main hall.
Seeing them choose a table opposite the counter, Wang Xiaohu understood.
These two were here for Fang Zichen.
Fang Zichen was a nobody before, but suddenly he had crushed many students from Qinghe Academy and taken the top spot in the prefectural exam. Many were curious and wanted to see him. Fang Zichen was a prominent figure in Fu'an Town. Without much inquiry, people knew he worked at Zuixiao Restaurant. Anyone who wanted to catch a glimpse of him knew that a visit to Zuixiao Restaurant for a meal would almost certainly do the trick.
Studying was hard. Most scholars kept their ears closed to worldly matters, focusing only on the books of the sages. Those with some money at home would even assign them a bookboy to help lay paper and grind ink. For rural scholars without such conditions, many married a wife early to use as a maid. Those with foresight dreamed of passing the exams and later marrying into a high-ranking family to gain support for their official career.
Whether rich or poor, these people didn't need to handle daily chores themselves. Eating, drinking, and personal needs were all taken care of by attendants, let alone going out to earn money.
Seeing Fang Zichen both working and taking the imperial exams, splitting his time in half, and still being so outstanding. Some praised him, saying he had risen from hardship through self-study and was truly diligent.
But others scoffed, claiming that a respectable scholar demeaning himself by mingling with lowly merchants, working for them and taking their orders, was truly a disgrace to scholars.
There were many harsh words, all sorts of things were said. Scholarly students, they could chant the most beautiful poems, but also say the words that pierced the heart most painfully.
Shopkeeper Yang was afraid Fang Zichen would feel uncomfortable hearing this. He knew Fang Zichen was not only the restaurant's bookkeeper but also the young master's private tutor. He discussed with Yang Mutao about not letting him be the bookkeeper anymore, just focusing on teaching Yang Mingyi.
Yang Mutao thought he was making a mountain out of a molehill. Fang Zichen's face was as thick as a city wall, his heart like cast iron. The only thing that could truly bother him was having his pay deducted. As for everything else—especially idle gossip—he might get a little irritated upon hearing it, at most. But feeling genuinely hurt or dwelling on it? That simply wasn't in his nature.
"But he's still young after all," Shopkeeper Yang was still somewhat concerned, "I..."
"I'll top your lungs."
Fang Zichen's angry shout came from downstairs. Yang Mutao and Shopkeeper Yang exchanged a glance and rushed downstairs in a few steps. Just as they reached the second floor, they saw Fang Zichen standing with his hands on his hips, hurling insults at the man standing opposite him.
"What do I have to be ashamed of? I earn my own living. Unlike you, over twenty years old, acting like you're missing arms or legs, still living off your parents at home. I can't stand people like you. Don't go out wandering, go home and drink milk."
"You, you..." The scholar pointed at Fang Zichen, trembling with anger, "I, I am dedicated to my studies, not lazy and aimless."
"Oh! So, Big Brother is dedicated to studies, have you passed the county exam?" Fang Zichen looked at his waist, where only a green jade pendant hung. Those who passed the county exam and above would have an official token issued by the court. Typically, when receiving official stipends from the local yamen, this token served as proof of identity. Most scholars wore it prominently at their waist.
Fang Zichen circled the scholar, "No way! No way, you haven't even passed the county-level exam yet? Goodness! And you call yourself 'dedicated to your studies'? I'm dedicated to... ahem... multiple pursuits, and I'm nearly qualified. You... aren't you embarrassed? You should hurry home! Stop parading yourself around in public."
Yang Mutao: "..."
Yang Mutao shook his head and smiled helplessly.
What did 'I'm nearly qualified' mean? This kid, his words are undeniably arrogant.
After angering the man away, Fang Zichen chuckled happily.
Shopkeeper Yang saw him, carefree as ever, slip behind the counter again, feeling that Yang Mutao's words earlier were absolutely correct.
The box of books from Old Master Wu, Fang Zichen didn't take home. He left them all in the third-floor break room. A whole box of books, and he was almost finished reading them in just six days.
Shopkeeper Yang often thought Fang Zichen treated reading like playing. He could never sit still with a book. After reading just a little, his eyes would start wandering around the room, like a thief carefully surveying his surroundings.
Fang Zichen, a top science student, wasn't very interested in these literary, flowery things. He didn't have much patience when reading. If not for his good brain, he probably wouldn't have graduated from elementary school.
After work, Fang Zichen went to the shop. Lin Xiaoxia was happy to see him, "Master, you're here."
Fang Zichen stopped in his tracks, "What did you call me?"
Lin Xiaoxia said stupidly, "Master!"
Fang Zichen: "..."
Master? Me? A fresh-faced, tender youth practically dripping with vitality... called Master? How could that possibly be fitting?
Is that reasonable?
"Call me by my name."
Lin Xiaoxia's caterpillar-like eyebrows furrowed, "That's not proper."
Oh!
Fang Zichen had almost forgotten, this man was now his family servant. Directly calling the master's family by name really wasn't good.
"Then call me 'Young Master,' not 'Master.'"
Lin Xiaoxia said, "Then what should we call Young Master Guaizai?"
Fang Zichen said indifferently, "Call him 'Little Young Master.'"
Lin Xiaoxia looked at him as if he were an idiot.
The father is called 'Young Master,' the son is also called 'Young Master.' Does he want to be brothers with his own son?
Fang Zichen cared about his subordinate's life, "Have you gotten used to living here recently? Are the food and accommodations okay? If you lack anything, tell me, or tell Zhao Ger, let him buy it for you. I have no money."
The financial power at home was almost entirely controlled by Zhao Ger. He would only ask Zhao Ger for money when he needed silver. Usually, he carried some silver on him, but not much, just enough to buy little treats for his tigress at home.
Although Lin Xiaoxia hadn't been part of this family for long, he clearly understood that Fang Zichen was someone who deeply doted on his fulang and also someone who didn't care about face at all.
"This humble one understands."
Living here, actually, there wasn't much he wasn't used to. After being locked in a cage for over half a month, he had already steeled himself for his wife to leave and his family to fall apart. Now, being able to stay together with his family was more than he had dared to hope for—he wouldn't ask for anything beyond that.
Zhao Ger was thoughtful. The other day, he gave Li Yanmei two taels of silver, telling her to buy some clothes, shoes, and socks for herself.
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