Chapter 033
Author: Feast of Masks
Raws: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3185016
Translated by Gumihou
Proofread by Pill Bug
At first, Xue Tingxiang’s plan was to wait until their break before taking Chen Jian to East Gate House.
However, after some thought, he remembered that he had plans for that one day of rest and took a midday break instead. After letting the head servant know that they would only be out for about an hour to buy some things, he led the boys towards East Gate House.
At the store, there was only Ah Cai there, sitting bored and staring at nothing. After asking for a bit, he found out that Boss Chen was in the small courtyard at the back of the shop.
Xue Tingxiang had been around the shop often enough to become familiar with Ah Cai, and therefore, he was allowed to lead the three boys towards the back of the shop. For some reason, the talkative Mao Badou dared not talk nonsense in this place. He was oddly well-behaved for once.
Boss Chen was enjoying the sun and sipping tea in the courtyard. A bench had been placed under a lush tree, with several small tables set up in front of it, giving off a very charming aura.
Seeing Xue Tingxiang, he waved at the youth and smiled, “How are you so free today?” Then, he caught sight of Chen Jian and the rest of the boys.
Xue Tingxiang did not stand on ceremony and sat down on a small stool by the bench.
“Uncle Chen, it’s like this. I have a few classmates…” he briefly explained the matter, taking out a sample of Chen Jian’s calligraphy for Boss Chen to inspect.
Boss Chen flipped through the booklet casually. A few pages later, his movements slowed before finally stopping.
After a long time, he let out a long sigh and said with a smile, “I did mention that your calligraphy is good, but I had not expected your friend to display such good writing either. They are not inferior to yours; perhaps a little immature and aggressive now, with a hint of stubbornness. While the calligraphy lacks grace and harmony, it hints at an indomitable spirit. As the saying goes, one’s writing reflects one’s character. This fellow probably harbours great ambition.”
Xue Tingxiang listened from the side, his shadowed eyes concealing a hint of darkness.
Naturally, he was thinking about that dream. That person, his dream self, had been a hypocrite, a man of deep schemes and hidden agendas. It was only after he had experienced a significant life-changing event that he finally changed his ways. That is, he became outwardly righteous while hiding his true intentions.
In that dream, someone cursed him for being a ‘devious scoundrel, pretending to be a gentleman on the surface but truly a villain at heart.’
They was not wrong. He was indeed such a person.
His teachers taught him about how the heart and the mind were one, and that knowledge and action complemented each other, how conscience and the cultivation of moral integrity were integral to one’s behaviour, and yet he ended up becoming an unscrupulous individual who did not put imperial authority in his eyes, had no respect for social hierarchy and did not observe the Three Principles and Five Virtues [1]. In fact, although Grand Secretary Xue appeared gentle, warm-hearted and generous, underneath this dignified facade was a sly and ambitious character. Those who complied with him would prosper, while those who opposed him would perish.
On the other hand, Chen Huanzhi was different; he appeared unruly and rebellious on the outside but possessed a righteous heart.
Such individuals were destined to face hardships because their obvious weaknesses made them easy targets for those with malicious intent. Those traits were evident in his recent acquaintance with Chen Jian; his reason for befriending this person was far from simple.
Even so, Xue Tingxiang had not expected Boss Chen to see through their character so quickly, nor had he anticipated the tumultuous emotions that were stirred up by Boss Chen’s casual remark.
Unaware of the impact he had on the youth, Boss Chen closed the booklet and said, “Which classmate is this?”
Xue Tingyang walked over to call Chen Jian.
Chen Jian, unaware of the underlying complexities that had transpired within Xue Tingxiang’s mind, approached Boss Chen nervously. He bowed respectfully to the man.
“No need for such courtesies. Since you are a friend of Tingxiang’s, you may consider yourself a junior of mine. Your calligraphy is not bad. Given time, I’m sure you will improve significantly. However, if your aim is to pass the Imperial Examination, such sharp-edged writing may not leave a favourable impression. Pay attention to this in the future.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Boss Chen.”
Boss Chen smiled and said, “I dare not call this guidance. There is no need for you to call me Boss Chen, Uncle Chen is fine. I have plenty of books here that need copying. If you’re fine with it, I shall pay you the same rate as Tingxiang, one silver tael per volume. I shall provide the ink and paper as well, of course. Please look for Ah Cai later, he will let you know the details.”
After exchanging a few more words with Boss Chen, Xue Tingxiang led Chen Jian over to Ah Cai to collect some paper and ink, and the four of them left the East Gate House together.
“A whole silver tael for a volume is quite a sum,” Mao Badou said enviously. He had been holding back all this while and was finally free to blurt out whatever was on his mind.
“That’s because Ah Jian has good calligraphy skills. If your writing is as good as Tingxiang and Ah Jian, you can also earn a silver tael per volume,” said Li Datian. This fellow had always been quick to point out the truth.
“Tsk, we must have been enemies in our previous life, you enjoy poking at my sore spots too much.”
As the two laughed and joked with each other, Chen Jian said to Xue Tingxiang, “Thank you. I know that if not for you, Uncle Chen would not have given me such a good price.”
“Why are you thanking me? Didn’t you hear Datian say that it is your good calligraphy that got you this rate?”
“Regardless, I still wish to thank you,” said Chen Jian. It was rare for him to feel so moved. As he clutched at the book bag containing the new stack of rice paper and the inkstick provided by East Gate House, he said, “This money is very important to me. I shall do the work properly.”
Xue Tingxiang said nothing as he patted Chen Jian on the shoulder, nodding in understanding.
At that time, Mao Badou and Li Datian had laughed and joked around enough, rushing over to say, “Now, now, stop pushing your thanks around and decide what we should do next. Since it’s still early, why don’t we go and have some fun first?”
Fun? But where? The other three looked questioningly at Mao Badou.
Li Datian quickly added, “Alright, alright, there’s not much time left, what’s the point of going somewhere now? Tomorrow is our rest day, you can do whatever you like on that day.”
Suddenly, Xue Tingxiang said, “That’s right, there’s something I want to buy!” After a few moments of hesitation, he said, “Badou, do you know a shop where I can buy things that girls would like…”
His voice trailed off awkwardly, worried that Mao Badou would not understand. However, Mao Badou leapt at this suggestion and smirked, “Are you planning to buy something for your little fiancée? Let’s go, I know just the place!”
The rest of them followed him through many twists and turns in the streets, and eventually, four youths in scholar’s robes arrived at a secluded alley.
Mao Badou led the way, saying, “Don’t judge this place by its appearance; it’s full of all kinds of good things inside. My sister comes here regularly to buy flowers and other accessories for girls. My family isn’t wealthy, and the goods sold by peddlers are not great. We can’t afford the prices from proper accessory shops, so this place is just right.”
He was still in the middle of speaking when they spotted a small doorway. It looked like one of those side entrances to a large residence. The shop itself was not large, just about the size of a small room.
There was no signboard, no proper ‘shop front’ and no name. However, when they approached the place, they found that the interior was elegantly decorated, and a glance was enough to tell any casual viewer that this place sold things meant to attract a girl’s eye.
“Boss, I’m back again!” Mao Badou greeted as he crossed the threshold.
“Young man, it’s you again. Is your elder sister not here today?” The boss was a woman in her forties. Her youth was gone, but she had a neat and respectable look about her that left a good impression on people.
“Haha, I brought some friends to buy things.”
The lady boss glanced at the young scholars and, with a knowing eye, nodded, “Go ahead and take a look. If you find something you like, I’ll let you have it at a good price.”
While Mao Badou was chatting with the boss, Xue Tingxiang went to the counter to look at their wares. The store counter had a curious design. The countertop was about waist-high and covered with wooden boxes lined with bright satin. The shop’s small accessories were displayed within those boxes.
The accessories included purses, scented sachets, combs, hand mirrors, hairpins, earrings, earrings, ear hoops and pretty much anything else that a girl would ever want to decorate themselves with. Xue Tingxiang had never encountered women’s accessories like this before, and his eyes were dazzled by the display.
After Mao Badou was done chatting with the lady boss, he came over and held himself like an expert, saying, “You should decide what you want to buy first and then settle on a budget. Do you want one expensive thing or several things? I can give you some recommendations.”
Just like that, the normally calm and composed Xue Tingxiang transformed into a greenhorn as he looked to Mao Badou for advice.
“What do you think of this pearl flower? Girls like delicate pink flowers, my elder sister likes this kind…”
“What about a wooden hairpin? They have an everlasting charm to them. These earrings are small and delicate…”
“How do you know all this?” Li Datian asked curiously from the side.
Mao Badou looked helpless, “It’s all thanks to my elder sister. She makes me come with her all the time. After coming a few times, I also learned about these things.”
Seeing Xue Tingxiang eyeing a wooden hairpin made from old peach wood, he said half-distractedly, “This is a nice comb. Simple yet elegant, not too girly. It comes with a pair of matching earrings, the only problem is the set is a bit pricey…”
“This young man has a good eye. This is the latest style from the Capital. I only have this set. The wood is made from old peach wood, giving off a strong and beautiful impression. The pin itself is finely crafted, and the flowers are set with silver with a rhodonite stone to catch the eye…”
After a while, when the four of them left the shop, Xue Tingxiang had an additional wooden box in his book bag.
“Tingxiang, you certainly know how to spend. A whole silver tael for just two items. You must have spent a lot of time transcribing books for that money.” Even big spender Mao Badou could not help but feel anxious about the money spent on accessories. Sure, he was the one who brought his friend there, but he thought that this friend would only spend a hundred coins or so on these women’s fripperies. Who would have thought that this friend would spend so much on his little fiancée?
“I can earn more silver in the future, but it’s rare to see something that matches her so well,” said Xue Tingxiang with a smile. as he secretly stroked the box through his book bag.
“That’s true, you can’t be too stingy since it’s for your little fiancée.”
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The group made it through the academy gate just as the bell rang.
The four of them hurried back to the dormitory to put their belongings away, collected their books, and rushed to the lecture hall.
Usually, there were no lectures in the afternoon, and the students studied on their own.
However, since the next day was their first rest day of the year, everyone was restless.
Also, since many of the students travelled quite a long way from nearby villages, the school was dismissed before 3pm. Everyone returned to their rooms to pack up their things, and not long after that, the school was empty.
As the four of them stepped through the gate, they heard a shout, “Ting’er! Here.”
The four of them looked. A man and a youth were seated on a mule cart that was parked just opposite the gate.
Xue Tingxiang’s face turned dark.
Mao Badou was about to say something when the youth rushed over like a gust of wind, “I remember that your break would start around this time. Brother Jiang Wu said I remembered wrong, but I know I’m right. Come now, let’s go home. I sold a lot of vegetables. I’ll make you something delicious tonight.”
The young man was Zhao’er.
She did not lower her voice when speaking, so her clear, crisp voice revealed her as a young girl. Mao Badou was as shocked as though he had swallowed a raw egg. In short, he was shocked to the point of not being able to say anything.
Then, Zhao’er noticed the others. “Are these your classmates?”
Xue Tingxiang hummed in agreement.
“What happened? Why are you upset? Who bullied you? Tell me now, I’ll teach them a lesson!”
“No one bullied Tingxiang, you… you’re…”
“I am Ting’er’s elder sister. You all must be his classmates, right?” Zhao’er was very happy to see them. She had always felt that her little man was too withdrawn. Although he had changed a lot after his illness, it was still better to have more friends and be a little more lively.
“She is not my sister, she is my wife!” Xue Tingxiang said as he pulled at Zhao’er’s hand. After a hasty ‘we will be leaving first’, he managed to pull her away.
Once again, Mao Badou had that ‘I-swallowed-a-raw-egg-whole’ look on his face. After a while, he said, “Looks like Tingxiang likes older sisters. So that’s his little fiancée…”
“What ‘older sisters’! Why does that word sound weird coming out of your mouth?! Come now, let’s go. If we don’t leave now, we will miss the carriage.”
On the way home. Xue Tingxiang’s expression was unpleasant throughout the entire ride. Zhao’er wanted to ask him what was wrong, but hesitated to bring up the matter in front of Jiang Wu. Therefore, she could only laugh awkwardly on the side, trying her best to lighten the atmosphere.
Oblivious to the tension in the cart, Jiang Wu continued to laugh and chat with Zhao’er all the way back to the village.
Once there, he did not stop at the borders but drove the cart right to the front of the Xue residence.
Zhao’er and Tingxiang hopped off the cart. Jiang Wu also got down and helped to unload the things from the cart.
Zhao’er said that she had bought a lot of things, and Xue Tingxiang found that this was true. There was a bag of rice, a bag of flour, two pork trotters, five catties of pork and some other miscellaneous items, as well as two rolls of cloth.
The Xue family all came out of the house, including Old Zhao and Yang’shi.
Xue Juncai was also scheduled to return home today, and they thought the commotion was Xue Qingshan returning with him.
“Why did you buy so many things, Zhao’er?” asked Sun’shi curiously.
In the middle of moving things into their room, Zhao’er said, “It’s not easy for Ting’er to come home. I want to buy some good things and nurture his health.”
Old Zhao stood at the front of the main room, her expression ugly as she said, “So you also know to come back? You’re never around most days. What kind of proper girl acts like that anyway?”
Zhao’er’s reply was an innocent, “Granny, when have I ever not come back? I’m always back by sundown. Moreover, it’s not like I just run around outside for nothing. I have to find ways to make money. Studying costs a lot of money after all, and we still have to live on something.”
Old Zhao snorted and returned to her room, the door curtain swishing wildly in her wake.
Not bothered by the old woman’s reaction, Zhao’er turned to Jiang Wu and said, “Brother Jiang Wu, we have troubled you. You should rest up, alright?”
Jiang Wu nodded, “Alright, I shall leave now.”
“Right, I won’t see you off.”
After putting the luggage away and tidying up the place a little, Zhao’er turned around to look at Xue Tingxiang, who was still sulking on the side. Goodness, this child was really too petty!
She touched her nose before collecting some clothes and went behind a curtained-off area in the room. There, she changed out of her men’s clothing.
After a while, she stepped around, looking like a girl again.
As she was smoothing out her hair, ready to twist it up, she noticed someone standing right in front of her.
She looked up and saw Xue Tingxiang holding out a little wooden box.
“What is it?”
He said nothing, just looked at her with a pair of dark eyes.
Zhao took the box and opened it.
“Is this for me?”
[Gumihou: Yes, darling.] [1] Three Principles & Five Virtues –
Three Principles: Ruler guides the subject, Father guides the son, Husband guides the wife
Five Virtues: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and fidelity
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