Ch 20: Reborn to Raise My Husband

The main hall’s door was open, but no one was in sight. It seemed that the mother and son had only just gotten home and were still inside settling in.

Qi Beinan led Xiao Yuanbao into the house. Yuanbao, sharp-eyed, immediately noticed that the door to the southern inner room was also wide open.

That was the room he shared with Chao Ge’er. It was said to be the children’s room, but in truth, only when Xiao Hu was home did the two kids actually sleep there together.

Usually, Qin Niazi feared Chao Ge’er would catch cold, so she always brought him into her room to sleep with her.

Xiao Yuanbao turned abruptly and ran into the room, where he saw Chao Ge’er—whom he hadn’t seen in days—currently rummaging around in front of the cabinet.

All the drawers were flung wide open without being pushed back in, clearly the result of a thorough “inspection.”

“What’s this?”

As soon as Chao Ge’er had come home, he’d rushed into the room, dug through everything, and found a fist-sized box and a little brush with fine bristles.

He’d casually tossed the brush aside, more curious about the box, thinking it might be face powder.

He’d pried open the box quickly, and sure enough, there was some powder inside.

He leaned in—it had a faint fragrance, with a trace of herbal scent. But the powder was coarse, not like the fine stuff his mother used when they went to town.

When he saw Xiao Yuanbao return, there was no excitement from not seeing him for days, nor any guilt from being caught messing with someone else’s things. Instead, he bluntly asked where the stuff came from.

“It’s tooth powder—for rinsing the mouth and cleaning teeth,” Xiao Yuanbao said, rushing up and carefully picking up the brush that Chao Ge’er had tossed aside.

He treasured it very much and always stored it neatly in the cabinet after use.

Seeing how casually Chao Ge’er had thrown it aside made his heart ache.

“Gege bought it,” he added.

Chao Ge’er wrinkled his nose. Sure enough, when he wasn’t around, they’d gone and bought things just for Xiao Yuanbao.

Tooth powder? He hadn’t even heard of such a thing, let alone seen it. Just looking at it, he could tell it was expensive.

He felt very upset that Xiao Yuanbao had something he didn’t—and the fact that Yuanbao cherished it only made it worse.

He yanked the little brush from Yuanbao’s hands and declared domineeringly, “It’s mine now.”

Xiao Yuanbao had long been used to Chao Ge’er snatching things. Qin Niazi always said the younger brother should give in to the older one.

Gege was older and hadn’t seen or used these things before—how pitiful, she said.

Though reluctant, Xiao Yuanbao had always endured.

But this time, he really didn’t want Chao Ge’er to take his tooth powder.

Despite being timid, he still mustered up some courage and puffed out his chest a little: “Gege bought it for me.”

Chao Ge’er, used to Yuanbao giving in, was startled to see him resist and immediately grew fierce: “Then have him buy you another one!”

Xiao Yuanbao took a step back, startled, but when he saw the box in Chao Ge’er’s hand, his desire to protect it outweighed his fear.

He rushed forward again. “But this one was already bought for me!”

Qi Beinan, having just set down all their bags, turned around and saw Yuanbao was gone. Hearing the noise from the southern room, he quickly headed over.

As soon as he entered, he saw Chao Ge’er shoving Xiao Yuanbao roughly. Yuanbao staggered and nearly fell.

“What are you doing!”

Qi Beinan immediately grabbed Yuanbao’s hand.

Yuanbao had been holding back tears, but the moment he saw Qi Beinan, his nose tingled and he covered his eyes with the back of his hand.

“Chao Ge’er wants to take the tooth powder and brush Gege bought me.”

Chao Ge’er, furious that Yuanbao told on him, huffed and glared.

The evidence was still in his hand, so there was no denying it. He simply shoved his hands behind his back, glared at Qi Beinan, and shouted:

“Everything in this house is mine! You’re just an outsider—none of your business!”

“Well, well, it’s only been a few days and we’re crying like it’s a drama already,” came Qin Niazi’s voice as she followed the noise into the southern room.

She saw the two children quarreling but acted as if she were blind to it, pretending not to understand what was happening.

Turning to Xiao Yuanbao, who stood by Qi Beinan’s side, she softened her tone and said affectionately, “Aiya, my son, where have you been? I haven’t seen you in days—I missed you terribly!”

“Come let Mother hold you. You’ve probably gotten thin staying with your father these past days.”

She reached out as if longing to embrace him.

But rather than being moved, Xiao Yuanbao shrank behind Qi Beinan, clearly uneasy.

Qin Niazi’s arms stiffened midair. “This child, just a few days without seeing his mother and now he’s gotten distant.”

She tried to coax him again: “Mother brought back all kinds of treats for you—come, let me hold you and show you.”

Xiao Yuanbao sniffled and whispered, “Gege already bought buns and braised goose for me in town.”

“Aiyo, what Gege buys can’t compare to what your mother brings you.”

Qi Beinan had seen enough. He no longer wished to maintain even the appearance of harmony.

He said coldly, “Qin Niazi, don’t make things harder for the child.”

With that, he strode forward and snatched the tooth powder and brush right out of Chao Ge’er’s hands.

Holding the items, he said flatly, “This is something used in the mouth—for rinsing and brushing teeth. It’s already been used. And you, Qin Niazi, want to pretend you neither saw nor heard anything and still let Chao Ge’er take it?”

“We might be rough folk, but even we have a sense of hygiene. You—this is beyond careless. You want everything—someone who knows would say you’re just inconsiderate. Someone who doesn’t know might think you’re just plain desperate.”

Qin Niazi saw that Qi Beinan wasn’t easy to fool. He directly tore through the pretense, even saying things that were sharp and unpleasant. She was deeply displeased.

But still, she used the last of her reason to suppress her temper as best as she could.

“Chao Ge’er’s never seen things like that before—he just wanted to take a look. You’re making such a fuss over it. Talking about stealing and fighting, driving a wedge between children—what kind of example is that for an older brother?”

“And I haven’t seen Bao Ge’er in so long. I miss him. I just wanted to hug him—how is that suddenly ‘making things hard’? Why are your words so harsh?”

Qi Beinan gave a cold laugh.

After everything he’d learned from Xiao Hu, he no longer had to pretend with Qin Niazi—no need to keep up appearances, not even if Xiao Hu saw it.

If he kept being polite to her now, it would only make him, a supposedly sensible and educated man, look like he had no spine.

He said sternly, “If you really cared about the child, would you have left him to return to your parents’ house right before the New Year? If you’re going to leave, then leave entirely. If you’re going to take him, then take him entirely. Leaving one behind while taking the other—who exactly are you showing your affection to?”

“If your heart’s biased, then fine—but why put on this act of being some loving, virtuous mother? Coming all the way back just to do this? Aren’t you tired of pretending? If you want to put on a show, maybe go to the county and learn how proper opera actors do it.”

“With a performance like yours, even an audience wouldn’t pay for tea—and they might just throw it in your face.”

“You—!”

Qin Niazi stared wide-eyed at him, stunned that he would speak to her like this.

Back when she first arrived at the house, he was all respectful nods and polite words. She had only been gone from the Xiao family a few days, and now this brat dared to talk to her like this?

She’d already returned from her maiden home full of frustration, and she hadn’t even been back in the house for a cup of tea before being insulted by this little bastard?

With her husband not home, what was stopping her from putting this little upstart in his place? If she didn’t scold him now, he might think he ran the house!

“I went back to my family, and you think it’s any of your business?” she snapped, her expression changing on the spot, baring her teeth and glaring as she launched into a tirade.

“A freeloading wretch like you thinks he can judge me? Your father and mother are long gone, and here you are, thick-skinned, mooching off the Xiao family—who’s really the beggar here? Still dreaming of playing the tyrant? Bah! Picked the wrong house!”

“All these days and you still haven’t packed up and gone crawling back to that Qiu County of yours—what scholar acts so shamelessly?”

Xiao Yuanbao had never seen Qin Niazi so ferociously angry. She’d never been kind before, but at least she kept on the mask of civility. Now, her mask had dropped completely. He didn’t understand all the words, but the tone and venom terrified him.

He burst into tears on the spot, bawling out loud. He might not know exactly what they were arguing about, but he could understand one thing: Qin Niazi wanted to kick Qi Beinan out.

Clutching Qi Beinan’s hand tightly, Xiao Yuanbao sobbed, “Qin Niazi, don’t make Gege leave!”

“He’s not your Gege! Chao Ge’er is your brother! You little fool—always siding with outsiders. At this rate, you and your father are going to ruin this whole household!”

Qi Beinan was about to reply, but before he could open his mouth, a deep, angry voice rang out from outside: “Why are you taking your anger out on the child again?!”

Xiao Hu had just returned home. Before he’d even stepped into the courtyard, he heard the shouting from inside the house.

Their home was far from the cluster of houses in the village—it was always quiet. For there to be such a commotion, he feared someone had come looking for trouble while no adult was around, and rushed back in a hurry.

What he saw when he returned was Qin Niazi with a fierce face, making the child cry.

The anger that had been building in Xiao Hu these past few days surged to the top all at once, and he immediately shouted out in fury.

She had packed up and gone back to her maiden home for days, and the moment she returned, she started acting like a tyrant again—scaring the child like this. Did she think he was dead or what?

“Uncle Xiao…” Qi Beinan’s expression shifted the moment he saw Xiao Hu and softly greeted him.

But before he could say more, Xiao Yuanbao let go of his hand and ran to Xiao Hu, his little face streaked with tears.

“Qin Niazi wants to make Gege leave. Don’t make Gege leave, Father, please don’t let Gege leave…”

He cried as he repeated the same words, his sorrow gut-wrenching. Xiao Hu’s heart twisted into a knot, and he quickly picked the boy up.

“No one’s making Gege leave. No one will make him leave,” he said gently.

Qin Niazi was dumbfounded. These two kids might as well be performing in a teahouse with how dramatic they were being.

She’d been furious just moments before and had lashed out too carelessly with her words. Now that Xiao Hu had caught it all—it was as if even drinking water came with bad luck.

And that little brat—he sure knew how to pick his moment to cry, and say just the right words. Why didn’t he mention who started the fight?

But seeing Xiao Hu clearly furious, she knew there was nothing she could say. She felt like she’d swallowed bitter herbs and had no way to spit them out.

Since she and Chao Ge’er had returned from her maiden home, and Xiao Hu hadn’t gone to fetch them, they’d already lost the upper hand.

She thought Xiao Hu might still be angry, so her plan was to say some sweet words and soften him up.

She had originally wanted to drive Qi Beinan out in one go, partly out of pent-up frustration—but she’d been too rash.

There was still a long year ahead. Once the new year passed and the hunter went off to the mountains for long stretches, she’d be the one in charge again. Driving that brat out would be easy then.

So now she swallowed her temper and said as kindly as she could, “I wasn’t trying to kick the child out. Beinan must’ve misunderstood me. I lost my temper and said things a little too harshly, and Bao Ge’er must’ve thought I meant to drive him away.”

Xiao Hu saw Qin Niazi softening her tone again and instantly felt how false it all was.

The once-gentle face he used to think of as virtuous now looked especially fake.

He no longer fell for it and spoke with clear resolve: “What urgent words? You weren’t speaking out of impulse—you were clearly upset about Beinan staying here, so you ran back to your parents’ house. Now you return and shout at the child as soon as you step through the door. How much resentment do you have to treat a child who’s lost his parents like that? If you don’t want him in this home, then why even come back at all?”

Qin Niazi was silenced by the scolding.

What was going on today? It felt like no matter where she turned, she was unwanted.

At this moment, seeing Xiao Hu in a fiery mood, she knew arguing would only make things worse.

She hadn’t learned nothing from her days in the Wang family—she still knew how to bend low and act meek. That always worked on men.

So she clutched her chest and started crying. “We’re husband and wife, how can you say such hurtful things? Are you telling me I can’t even come back anymore? I married you—doesn’t that make this my home too?”

“I want this to be your home,” Xiao Hu replied coldly, “but the question is—do you treat it like it is?”

His voice dropped further: “You’ve returned at just the right time. If you hadn’t come back today, I was going to your parents’ place myself. There are some things I need to ask you face to face.”

Qi Beinan could tell this was about to become a full reckoning. He stepped forward, picked up Xiao Yuanbao, and quietly said, “Uncle Xiao, I’ll take Yuanbao back to the room first.”

Xiao Yuanbao was still sobbing and buried his face in Qi Beinan’s shoulder.

Qi Beinan gently patted his back and exited quietly with the boy.

Qin Niazi didn’t understand. She watched the two children leave and began to feel uneasy—what exactly did Xiao Hu mean?

Her heart started pounding. Something didn’t feel right.

Xiao Hu turned and went inside with heavy steps. Qin Niazi hesitated for a moment, then followed him in.

Chao Ge’er stood frozen in the room, clearly used to this kind of explosive arguing from his days in the Wang household. He didn’t seem the least bit surprised—almost like it was just a normal part of life.

What did catch his attention was Xiao Yuanbao saying something about buns and braised goose.

He’d been at his grandparents’ house these past few days eating plain food. It wasn’t as good as the Xiao household, where they had meat every few days. He’d been craving for a while.

They’d come all this way and hadn’t even had lunch yet. Seeing Qin Niazi heading out, he quickly called, “Mother, when are we eating? I’m hungry.”

Qin Niazi was fuming. She snapped, “You brainless child! What did you grab that tooth-cleaning thing for, huh? You think it’s food? You just had to stir up trouble, now your stepfather’s heard everything—what rotten luck I’ve had!”

Chao Ge’er, scolded harshly, pouted and ran off to the side, feeling wronged.

Qin Niazi entered the main room. Xiao Hu was already sitting silently on a stool.

Her heart fluttered with unease. She softened her voice, trying to play it safe: “I was wrong, okay? Why are you so angry—you’re making me a joke in front of the children.”

Xiao Hu looked at her deeply, ignoring her excuse, and said heavily, “I don’t believe I’ve ever treated you poorly. We have twenty-five mu of land—twenty of them leased out. Dry fields bring in eight strings of cash per year, the wet ones five to six stones of grain, all of which you manage. Every time I go to the mountains and bring back goods to sell, didn’t I hand you the money?”

“You’ve taken our grain, our money, and kept giving to your parents’ household. I never once complained. I don’t ask for much—only that you treat the child well. And yet—how have you really treated him?”

Qin Niazi’s heart grew unsteady under his questioning. She couldn’t deny she was guilty. This man had never been the sharp type—how was he suddenly so pointed?

She snapped, “Was it that Qi brat? Is he turning Bao Ge’er against me behind my back?!”

Xiao Hu’s temper flared even more: “Beinan has never said a single bad word about you to Yuanbao. It’s you—always thinking the child must be in the wrong!”

Qin Niazi was stunned. She wiped her tears and tried to play the victim: “Then tell me—what did I do wrong? You, of all people, know how I’ve treated Bao Ge’er!”

“When he played in the water and caught a high fever—remember? There was a thunderstorm outside, and I nearly slipped into the river going to fetch a doctor. He burned with fever for days, and I was so worried I got blisters in my mouth. I nearly got sick too!”

“That’s exactly why I’m asking what’s changed!”

Xiao Hu’s voice rose. These past days, he’d thought it over again and again.

“When Bao Ge’er outgrew his clothes, you didn’t sew new ones. When his hands and feet cracked from frost, you didn’t treat them. The doctor said his constitution is weak and he needs careful care. Was everything you did for him before just for show? Something you did for me to see?”

Qin Niazi tried to find an excuse, but Xiao Hu went on to talk about how she always praised Chao Ge’er in front of him, but behind his back made Yuanbao do all the chores.

She was stunned—how had he even found that out?

Xiao Hu saw her flinch and knew it was true. She clearly hadn’t expected him to know. She had no prepared lie for this.

His heart sank.

Xiao Bao had truly been mistreated under her hand—and he, as the father, had failed his duty.

“Xiao Bao isn’t your own son—fine, you’re biased. But what did the Fang family ever do to you? Neighbors for decades—what reason did you have to slander them? To falsely accuse their children of stealing? I watched those two kids grow up—they used to visit often, and even if you left copper coins on the table, no one would touch them.”

“You’re not just biased anymore—your character is rotten!”

Qin Niazi hadn’t expected that in just a few days of her absence, everything had changed. Xiao Hu even knew about the situation with the Fang family.

Her head spun, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.

“You’re telling me all this—for what?”

Startled by Xiao Hu’s sudden roar, Qin Niazi burst into tears.

She didn’t even know what all he had learned.

“They always say you help those in crisis, not those in poverty. That Fang family’s nothing but sick and weak. Eldest Fang’s over twenty and can’t even get a wife—if that’s not poor, what is? They’re only ‘nice’ to us because they want to suck our blood. I’ve seen plenty of relatives like that when I was in the Wang family. Nothing comes out of dealing with them except giving things away!”

“And now you’re saying my character is bad, when I was just being practical and looking out for our household!”

Words like that used to feel reasonable to Xiao Hu. Now, they just felt hollow and manipulative. With a loud slam, he struck the table with his palm.

“Enough! At a time like this, you’re still pretending it’s all for the sake of this household. When have you ever treated this place like a home?”

Qin Niazi trembled again, suddenly recalling that terrifying moment when the old man in the Wang family had raised his hand against her.

She feared Xiao Hu now and didn’t dare keep up the act.

So she gave up all pretense and snapped, “You say I don’t treat this place like a home—but have you ever treated me like family?”

“When I first married in, I gave everything to you and this household—but you? How did you treat me? Cold, silent, always thinking about her!”

“You still keep the things she used, can’t even bear to burn them! You lock the room she used to sleep in and won’t let anyone enter! I resent her—and I resent you! You think of her every day, and you expect me to believe you’ll treat Chao Ge’er and Bao Ge’er the same?”

Xiao Hu finally heard the truth.

He stood silent for a long while, then let out a deep sigh.

On this one point, he couldn’t deny he was at fault. Even after all these years, he had never let go of Xiao Bao’s mother in his heart.

He had done his best to meet Qin Niazi’s material needs, tried to fulfill her requests. But this part of himself—he truly couldn’t give.

“When the matchmaker brought the proposal, I told you plainly during our talk: I had deep feelings for Xiao Bao’s mother. If that troubled you, we could drop the matter. But you said a man who still remembers his late wife is a man of deep feeling, and that you respected that.”

Xiao Hu said coldly, “So why are you bringing it up now, as an excuse for mistreating Xiao Bao?”

Qin Niazi wept bitterly. “A woman can’t control her feelings! I fell for you—what’s wrong with that?”

“My mistake was being born unlucky. My mistake was meeting you too late, after everything was already gone. If my useless brother hadn’t gambled our family to ruin, would I be suffering like this now?”

Xiao Hu shook his head again and again—not even sure if he was regretting his past decisions or grieving how his own carelessness had let his child suffer so much.

He fell silent for a long time before speaking with resolve.

“You and I—we’re not compatible. Even if we drag things out after today, there’s no trust left. I can’t go on pretending, not with someone who’s already hurt my child.”

Qin Niazi wiped her tears. “What do you mean by that?”

“After the New Year, I’ll ask the village head to draft a divorce agreement. After that, we each go our own way.”

Qin Niazi’s whole body went cold. She looked at Xiao Hu in disbelief. “You really are that cruel?”

Xiao Hu didn’t respond. He had already fallen silent again, just like the quiet man he always was.

Panic and dread surged in Qin Niazi’s heart.

She couldn’t imagine being driven out of the Xiao household. If she had to return to her parents’ home, what kind of life would await her there?

She grabbed Xiao Hu’s arm and pleaded, crying, “I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance. I’ll treat Bao Ge’er well, I swear. If you like Beinan staying here, then let him stay—I won’t make trouble for him again.”

But Xiao Hu didn’t budge.

Seeing no results, she raised her voice sharply: “If you divorce me, aren’t you just forcing me to die? If I’m going to die anyway, I might as well throw myself into a wall right here at the Xiao house!”

Xiao Hu had always been more susceptible to soft talk. Harsh threats never worked on him—only hardened him more.

Sure enough, the moment Qin Niazi switched to that tone, his resolve only strengthened. He knew full well she wouldn’t dare leave Chao Ge’er behind and throw herself into anything.

He brushed her hand away and, unwilling to watch her make a scene, walked out of the room.

Qi Beinan had heard the entire argument, not missing a single word.

He shook his head.

People only start reaching for “love” when their basic needs are already secure. Back when they were just worrying about food and warmth, no one had time for all this emotional drama.

In the struggle to stay warm, people beg for warmth. But once they have it, they start demanding affection too. Human greed knows no end.

Falling in love wasn’t the mistake—it was letting jealousy take over.

Qi Beinan had guessed Xiao Hu wouldn’t take Qin Niazi’s deception lightly. A man could forgive many things, but being lied to—especially like this—wasn’t one of them.

But even so, he hadn’t expected Xiao Hu to actually propose divorce. That kind of resolve was surprising.

Still, it was probably for the best. Better a short pain than a long one.

Otherwise, with them living under the same roof, who knew what other chaos might happen.

Qi Beinan snapped out of his thoughts to find Xiao Yuanbao standing right by his leg, clinging tightly, his small face full of fear.

Because he had been listening for Xiao Hu’s final decision, he hadn’t closed the door. He was standing right at the threshold, and the loud voices and crying from inside had carried clearly.

When Sun Yuan had still been alive, Xiao Hu had always been gentle and close with her. And even with Qin Niazi, up until now, they had at least maintained a polite peace.

Xiao Yuanbao had likely never witnessed such a fierce argument before—he couldn’t help but feel scared.

Clutching tightly at the corner of Qi Beinan’s coat, he looked up with tearful eyes and whispered, “Why are Father and Qin Niazi fighting? Qin Niazi cried really hard—why was Father still so fierce with her?”

Qi Beinan knew that Xiao Yuanbao still couldn’t quite tell right from wrong. In his little world, someone speaking gently to him simply couldn’t be bad.

To him, Qin Niazi was still a grown-up—still someone to respect.

Qi Beinan squatted down and patiently explained, “Father wasn’t being mean to Qin Niazi for no reason. It’s because she did something wrong, and she didn’t want to admit it. That’s why Father got angry.”

Xiao Yuanbao furrowed his brow. “What did Qin Niazi do wrong?”

“She lied to Father, and because she thought she was stronger, she picked on people weaker than her.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yuanbao pursed his lips and looked straight into Qi Beinan’s eyes. “It’s wrong to bully others.”

“That’s right. And people who bully others should be punished—even grown-ups, like Qin Niazi.”

After hearing Qi Beinan’s explanation, Xiao Yuanbao no longer felt sorry for Qin Niazi just because Father yelled at her.

Even if he didn’t know who else Qin Niazi had bullied, he’d seen her bully Gege. It was freezing, with snow on the ground, and she still tried to kick Gege out—she was bad.

Thinking about how Qin Niazi had just tried to drive Gege away, he reached out and took Qi Beinan’s hand, gently comforting him: “Gege, don’t be scared. Father won’t make you leave.”

Qi Beinan’s heart softened. “What about you? Weren’t you the one who wanted to send Gege to live with Uncle Tian’s family?”

Xiao Yuanbao’s big eyes flickered with guilt.

He threw his arms around Qi Beinan’s neck and buried his face in his shoulder, shyly mumbling, “Xiao Bao likes Gege.”

Qi Beinan warmed up with the soft hug and couldn’t help but tease him: “But Uncle Li at Osmanthus Gate makes osmanthus cake, you know.”

Xiao Yuanbao thought hard for a moment. “Then when it’s autumn, Xiao Bao will go pick osmanthus flowers at Uncle Tian’s place and make osmanthus cake for Gege.”

Qi Beinan raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you know how to make cake? How come Gege didn’t know that?”

“I don’t know yet,” Xiao Yuanbao confessed, shaking his head sheepishly. Then, confidently, he promised, “But when Xiao Bao grows up a little more, I’ll learn!”

“And when exactly will that be?”

“When I grow as tall as the stove!”

Qi Beinan chuckled but put on a mock-grumpy face. “So I have to wait until then and only eat osmanthus cake?”

Xiao Yuanbao, afraid Gege would leave for another family, quickly added, “You can eat other things too! Whatever Gege wants to eat, I’ll make it!”

“Then I want snow cabbage with baby bamboo shoots, braised eggplant, sesame oil tofu, and spicy marinated lotus root…”

Qi Beinan rattled off a whole list of dishes.

Xiao Yuanbao listened, blinking in confusion. He knew bamboo shoots, eggplant, and tofu—but some of those names he’d never even heard before.

Even so, he thought hard for a moment, then nodded seriously. “Okay.”

Qi Beinan didn’t push the little guy any further. He nodded. “Then let’s pinky promise.”

…

The next morning, Xiao Hu was headed to the village head’s home.

Qi Beinan took a copybook out of his book chest. He had considered gifting a handwritten notebook as well, but that had been left to him by his father—he couldn’t bear to part with it.

So instead, he decided to copy it out cleanly first, and then present the copied version as a gift.

He had promised earlier to gift the village head’s child a copybook and a notebook. He hadn’t found the time these past days, and giving only one would seem stingy.

So he took out a copy of the Classic of Filial Piety. Though not one of the Four Books or Five Classics, he remembered it had shown up in a past children’s exam—though he wasn’t sure which year or which round.

Still, reading more was never a bad thing. A scholar needed broad knowledge, so they wouldn’t be stumped on the exam.

Moreover, as he’d mentioned before, most good land and books were in the hands of powerful families. Good texts and commentaries rarely made it among commoners.

Even books that were technically available in bookstores were too expensive—often a hundred wen or more per copy. Ordinary folks couldn’t afford to read widely.

So even if this Classic of Filial Piety was a bit old, and even if it wasn’t likely to show up on an exam—it was still a meaningful gift.

He bundled the book and copybook together and gave them to Xiao Hu. Since he was heading to the village head’s place to request a divorce contract, bringing a gift made things smoother.

As Xiao Hu left, Qin Niazi trailed behind him tearfully, still trying to pester and plead for him to change his mind.

Qi Beinan didn’t bother getting involved. He glanced out at the fields and hills covered in a blanket of white. From time to time, there was the crack of firecrackers in the distance—this was clearly not going to be a peaceful New Year.

Still, the year was long. Once this matter was settled, the days ahead would be more peaceful and grounded.

“So many people over there!”

Xiao Yuanbao saw flakes of snow drifting in the courtyard like fluttering willow fluff. Qi Beinan stood by the base of the courtyard wall, looking toward something.

He wanted to go see what it was too—but then spotted a line of people walking against the wind and snow along the eastern village road, with a donkey carrying goods. It looked lively.

Qi Beinan heard his voice and glanced over too.

“Must be folks from the manor on the east side of the village,” he said.

He remembered Xiao Hu mentioning before that the old steward there had been reassigned by the landowning family, and that a new steward would be arriving just before the New Year.

From now on, any mountain goods deliveries would be handled through the new steward.

It seemed they had finally arrived just in time—right at the end of the year.

Qi Beinan glanced at the endless snowfall outside, but didn’t pay much attention to the newly arrived steward. He simply took Xiao Yuanbao’s hand and led him back into the house.

Though the steward was technically just a servant, he was backed by a powerful household. Families like his were usually connected to real aristocracy.

Servants raised in such households came equipped with insight and social networks that most common folk could never dream of.

In this village, such a person naturally held a great deal of sway.

There was no shortage of villagers hoping to curry favor—build ties, maybe get themselves a labor position when the manor started hiring, or, in the case of their sons or daughters, maybe even secure a spot working in a noble household as a servant.

For farming families used to toiling in fields and breaking their backs daily, this kind of slim chance to connect with the wealthy was too precious to ignore.

But Qi Beinan had no interest in forging those connections for now. If the opportunity ever came in the future, then he’d consider it.

As for Xiao Hu and Qin Niazi—their formal separation was finalized at the very end of the month.

˙✧˖°🎓 ༘⋆｡ ˚