Ch 24: Reborn to Raise My Husband

Zhao Guangzong had just returned from town, looking utterly downcast the entire way.

As he reached the doorstep of his own home, he quickly pulled himself together, smoothed his brows, and tried his best not to appear so dejected.

“Father, Mother, I…”

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Guangzong spotted Qi Beinan sitting in the main hall.

“You’re finally back. Xiao Qi has been waiting quite a while for you.”

Qi Beinan stood and walked toward him.

Zhao Guangzong’s expression shifted at once, and all the embarrassment and frustration surged up in his chest.

He knew Qi Beinan came with good intentions, so even though he felt awful inside, he still forced himself to be polite. “I was a bit confused by today’s studies, so I came home late.”

“Scholr Qi, let’s speak in my room.”

With that, he lifted his book chest and went in first.

Village Head Zhao and Madam Zhang felt something seemed off about Zhao Guangzong, but couldn’t quite place it. They just assumed he was worn out after a long day of studying in town.

“Yes, yes, Xiao Qi, go on into the room. You two should discuss your studies properly.”

Qi Beinan gave a slight nod and followed him inside.

Zhao Guangzong sat heavily in front of his desk, looking completely lifeless.

He pressed his lips into a tight line, no longer able to maintain even a semblance of composure.

Just yesterday he’d been quietly overjoyed at the thought of perhaps making a true friend—yet today he had to be seen in such a shameful state.

He forced out a smile that looked worse than crying.

“Let you see a joke again. The teacher was right—I really am thick-headed. Even if he hit me with a ruler a hundred times, made me stand a hundred times, I’d still be a rotten block of wood.”

Once again, he started blaming himself, painfully wondering—aside from his parents and brothers—who else would ever want to be close to someone as foolish as him?

Qi Beinan put down the books he’d brought and instead pulled out a jar of external ointment he’d been carrying.

He sat beside Zhao Guangzong, took his right hand, warmed the ointment in his palms, and gently applied it to the bruised and swollen area that had turned purple.

Zhao Guangzong fell silent, staring at his own palm.

Just pressing on it hurt intensely, but the pain in his body was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. He hadn’t thought much of it, but now realized the injury had become severely inflamed.

Seeing that his emotions had steadied a bit, Qi Beinan said, “If a teacher scolds his student for being dumb, perhaps he’s not so wise himself. What sort of teacher strikes a student’s right hand with a ruler?”

Zhao Guangzong said, “The teacher said hitting the right hand makes it hurt while writing, so it sticks in your memory.”

“Then does he not know that injuring the right hand will only make your writing worse?”

Watching Qi Beinan gently applying the medicine and even standing up for him, Zhao Guangzong’s nose stung and his eyes brimmed with tears.

The teacher scolded and insulted him, said it was hard teaching the son of a farmer. Even his classmates secretly called him a dumb mule and avoided him.

That he could read and understand texts was all thanks to the teacher, and for that, he never dared harbor any resentment. He believed that if he could just improve, the teacher would one day see him in a different light, and the classmates would change their view as well.

No matter how much he tried to rationalize and numb himself, a few simple words from Qi Beinan still hit him straight in the heart.

He couldn’t suppress the sorrow any longer and began to cry softly.

Qi Beinan patted his back and asked, “Is your teacher’s surname Chen?”

He gestured with his hands. “He’s got a bit of a beard under his chin, crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes, about forty-something?”

Zhao Guangzong nodded, his voice trembling, “How do you know? Did you see him today?”

Qi Beinan shook his head. “I have other ties with him.”

With a serious tone, he said, “Guangzong, have you ever considered that maybe you’re not slow at all—maybe it’s your teacher who lacks integrity?”

Zhao Guangzong’s chest rose slightly. He hesitated, “Teacher Chen… he’s just being strict with me. Doesn’t that mean he cares?”

“If that’s how you see it, then today I’ll be the student who dares speak ill of his teacher.”

Qi Beinan continued, “Think carefully—does Teacher Chen treat only you this harshly? Or is he like this with everyone? Compare how he treats students from different family backgrounds. You don’t have to answer me. Just reflect on it.”

Zhao Guangzong’s mind drifted to his classmates who were most favored by the teacher—one was the son of a wealthy silk merchant, one the son of the county registrar, and another…

He froze.

Truthfully, he didn’t need to think very hard—he already knew the answer.

The teacher either hit or scolded him, but always spoke kindly and warmly to those young masters.

In the past, he had never thought much of it. He simply assumed those classmates were smarter and more hardworking, which was why they earned praise.

And since he was slower, the punishments seemed justified.

But Qi Beinan’s words hit him like cold water to the face—he dared not think further.

Seeing his expression, Qi Beinan knew he’d gotten through.

He said, “I once met Teacher Chen.”

Qi Beinan then told him everything about encountering Teacher Chen running a stall in the middle of the market.

“That alone shows this Mr. Chen’s character isn’t exactly upright. I didn’t know he was a teacher until one day a few students came to his stall to ask for couplets, and I overheard them talking.”

Zhao Guangzong was stunned. “The ones who came to buy couplets from you really were my classmates. Around New Year, suddenly everyone started passing them out—and even I got a pair.”

 At the time, he’d been overjoyed—the spring couplets were written so beautifully he’d even wanted to ask for a copy of the calligraphy.

But when the teacher saw the couplets, his expression turned foul. Since Zhao Guangzong didn’t have many friends at the private school, no one had explained it to him.

Only now did he realize the truth: his classmate had deliberately bought the couplets to provoke Teacher Chen.

Learning the reason behind it all only confirmed Zhao Guangzong’s belief that Teacher Chen showed clear favoritism.

The classmate who bought the couplets was surnamed Wu. His family owned two large silk shops in town—a rich and pampered young master.

Even though he had disrespected Teacher Chen in such a blatant way, he had never been reprimanded for it. Zhao Guangzong didn’t even dare imagine what would happen if he did the same.

Qi Beinan said, “With this kind of teacher treating you like that, how could you ever study peacefully under such constant fear?”

“Sure, being humble in your studies is a virtue. But if he tramples all over your dignity and pride, what kind of teacher is that?”

Zhao Guangzong’s mind was a complete mess.

“If my grades improved, would Teacher still dislike me so much?”

Qi Beinan gently shook his head. “That’s foolish thinking.”

“He’s not treating you poorly because your performance is lacking—he’s doing it because of who you are. And yet you still want to prove yourself to someone like that? What for?”

“Beinan… my good brother… tell me what I should do.”

Qi Beinan paused, then said, “You’re just a student. If you try to go against him, you won’t win. You’re learning under his roof—he has countless ways to make things difficult for you. But if you don’t resist and instead try to please him, given how he flatters the rich and bullies the poor, how would you ever win his favor?”

“So perhaps the better way is to leave that environment. If you don’t have to see him anymore, you don’t have to fear him. And if he doesn’t see you, he can’t pick on you either.”

Zhao Guangzong listened seriously but quickly shook his head. “I can’t.”

“There aren’t scholars on every street, true—but Teacher Chen isn’t the only one. There are other private schools, other teachers. Why not?”

“You don’t understand. I’ve been studying under Teacher Chen since I was seven. It’s not that I’m clinging to some three-year bond with my mentor. But my father went through hell to get me into his private school—he called in every favor he could and ran himself into the ground just to get me admitted.”

Zhao Guangzong no longer hid anything from Qi Beinan and told him everything about Teacher Chen.

It turned out this Teacher Chen was quite something. Not only did he hold the degree of xiucai, but his family had been scholars for three generations. His father was a juren and currently held a post at the county’s academic administration, helping oversee the county school.

After passing the county and prefectural exams, a tongsheng would be eligible for entry into the county school. But local scholars were few, and many were eliminated during the two rounds of testing—sometimes, extra seats would open up at the county school.

“Studying at Teacher Chen’s private school meant that even if you failed one or both rounds, you still had a good chance of getting into the county school.”

“Not to mention the silver my father spent greasing the wheels—just the entrance gifts when I formally became his student cost thirty guan. Then every holiday, we had to send generous offerings. On ordinary days, our family’s fat chickens and geese were delivered to him constantly.”

“Before I was ten, I lived at my maternal grandfather’s place—he was a butcher. Whenever anyone from Teacher Chen’s household came to buy meat, he never took a single coin. He always picked the best cuts for them.”

As Zhao Guangzong spoke, his heart ached more and more. “My father, my mother, my grandfather—they all worked so hard to ensure I could study properly. But I’ve turned out to be so useless. I’ve already let them down. How could I let all their past efforts go to waste?”

Qi Beinan understood then. No wonder Village Head Zhao once said it took everything they had just to rent a small place in town—it hadn’t been modesty. Their family truly was strapped for money.

Books, ink, and paper alone were expensive enough. But having to constantly appease a teacher like that? No ordinary family could afford it.

Qi Beinan’s father was also a teacher. During holidays, his students would give simple gifts, but never lavish ones—just eggs, fruits, vegetables, coarse cloth—never anything over the top. His father accepted only to honor the students’ goodwill, never to profit from them.

Teacher Chen, on the other hand, clearly used his position to line his pockets.

By that logic, Zhao Guangzong’s family had already shown great respect. Yet Teacher Chen still acted so arrogantly—probably because the richer families gave even more.

There was one thing Qi Beinan didn’t quite understand though: with all the money he received, why would Teacher Chen still set up a stall to sell spring couplets for a few coins?

Maybe it was for show. Or maybe there was some other reason.

Qi Beinan sighed quietly and collected his thoughts before saying to Zhao Guangzong, “Precisely because your family has already paid so much, once you realize this path won’t work, you need to turn back before it’s too late.”

“If you keep throwing money and energy into it, there will be no room left for regret. You’re still young—you have many chances to start over. Why keep wasting everything on someone like him?”

“Did he ever promise you—if you joined his private school, he would personally guarantee you entry into the county school? If not, and judging by the way he treats you now, do you really believe that outcome is still possible?”

Zhao Guangzong had nothing to say. His heart was already wavering.

Truth be told, he’d wanted to leave that school long ago. But because of all his family had done for him, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Qi Beinan grasped his shoulder and said, “If you can’t say it yourself, but you truly want this—I’ll speak on your behalf.”

Zhao Guangzong sniffled and wiped his tears. “No. You’ve already done so much for me with your guidance. I’m deeply moved. Let me go and speak to my parents myself—I can’t keep hesitating or being afraid!”

Seeing that Zhao Guangzong had made up his mind, Qi Beinan’s eyes curved with a faint smile. “Village Head Zhao is a reasonable man. If your parents truly care for you, they won’t let you keep suffering like this.”

Zhao Guangzong gripped Qi Beinan’s hand, trembling slightly. His lips were tightly pressed together—no amount of thanks could express the feelings in his heart.

“Oh, right—this is something Xiao Bao insisted I bring to you.”

Qi Beinan pulled out a small bundle of candied preserved fruits from his robe and smiled. “Something sweet to chase away the tears.”

Warmth surged in Zhao Guangzong’s chest. He received the bundle with both hands.

…

By the time Qi Beinan arrived at the Fang residence to pick up Xiao Yuanbao, night had already fallen.

The Zhao family had wanted him to stay for dinner, but since they had serious family matters to discuss, it wouldn’t be proper for an outsider to be present.

If it hadn’t been for Zhao Guangzong finishing school late, Qi Beinan wouldn’t have stayed so long either.

Although he didn’t eat at the Zhao home, when he got to the Fang house, he was surprised to find that Grandma Sun had saved him a meal.

“Didn’t know when you’d be back, so I didn’t wait for you for dinner.”

Grandma Sun brought him a bowl of rice porridge with poached egg and insisted he finish his meal before taking Xiao Yuanbao home.

Qi Beinan chuckled and sat down. Being overly polite with the Fang family would only raise suspicion.

“Bao Ge’er already had his dinner, got sleepy, and could barely keep his eyes open. When we told him to go to bed, he said he was afraid he’d fall asleep and miss you coming to get him.”

Granny Sun sat nearby, doing some needlework under the lamplight.

“Second Sister and Third Brother had to coax him quite a while before he finally went to bed. He’s already washed up—you can just let him sleep when you get home.”

Qi Beinan mixed the egg custard into his steamed rice and ate it with a side of pickled vegetables. After so much talking with Zhao Guangzong, his throat was dry and his stomach completely empty.

“I ended up chatting with Guangzong at the Village Head’s house. Lost track of time.”

Fang Youliang came out of the bath and joined in. “You’re both scholars—it’s normal to have a lot to talk about.”

Qi Beinan smiled but didn’t mention anything about the issues at the private school.

He changed the subject. “Does our village have any stove masters—cooking teachers?”

Grandma Sun adjusted the needle in her hair and said, “Oh yes, there’s Master Jiang from Cat Slope, Madam Li from Big Rock, and Old Man Xu the cook… three or four of them at least.”

“What’s this for? Planning to host a banquet?”

Qi Beinan smiled. “I was just asking around, thinking about letting Xiao Bao learn a proper craft someday.”

Hearing this, Grandma Sun paused her sewing, and her cloudy old eyes lit up. “Now that’s a fine idea. If you want to learn a trade well, best start young.”

Fang Youliang also plopped down beside them. “It’s a good idea, but finding a master is no easy task. Those with real skill are usually proud and won’t take apprentices lightly.”

“Most of them pass their trade on to their own sons or nephews. Outsiders wanting to learn have to offer generous gifts just for the chance, and even then they’ll test whether you’ve got the talent for it.”

“Exactly. After all, it’s a livelihood skill—teach a student too well and the teacher goes hungry. Most people are reluctant to pass it on.”

Grandma Sun agreed as well.

Qi Beinan understood all that. “I know it’s hard, but we’ve got to at least ask around. Bao Ge’er really enjoys cooking, and it’s rare to see him so eager about something.”

Fang Youliang said, “If you’re set on this, I’ll tell you now—don’t bother with Old Man Xu. He’s difficult to deal with and doesn’t have a good reputation around here.”

Grandma Sun nodded. “Just see if there’s any chance with Master Jiang and Madam Li. The two of them have very different temperaments, but thankfully neither of them has a bad heart.”

Qi Beinan took careful note of it all, thanked Granny Sun, and figured he’d ask around more when the time came.

You can’t rely on just one family’s word when asking after people.

Finding a proper teacher for Xiao Yuanbao’s craft was no trivial matter.

Fang Jie’er overheard the conversation from the inner room. She stood silently at the door, not making a sound.

When she heard they were looking for a teacher for Bao Ge’er, her heart warmed. But hearing how difficult it would be, her mood dimmed again, and she quietly returned to her room.

…

Back at the Zhao household—

As soon as Qi Beinan left, Village Head Zhao and Madam Zhang saw their son’s eyes swollen like walnuts. Before Zhao Guangzong could even speak, they already knew something had happened.

Upon questioning, Zhao Guangzong finally used this chance to tell them everything that had happened over the past two years at the private school.

The couple was shaken to their core—they didn’t even touch a single bite of the dinner they’d prepared.

“I kept lying to myself, thinking Teacher Chen was just strict. If Beinan hadn’t come to talk to me, I wouldn’t have had the courage to tell you and let you worry.”

“Silly child! If something happens and you don’t tell us, that’s what makes us worry!”

Village Head Zhao paced in silence, hands behind his back, fuming. Madam Zhang wiped her eyes, heart aching for her son. She kept calling him foolish for hiding so much suffering just to keep the family at peace.

That night, the couple lay in bed without even looking at each other.

“We treated him like an honored teacher, bent over backwards to please him—and he looks down on us just because we’re farmers. He singles out our son to bully. If that’s how he wants it, then I’ll make sure he sees we’re not the kind of people who let others trample us!”

Madam Zhang bit down on her silver tooth, staring at the canopy.

Though Village Head Zhao didn’t say a word, his expression showed he fully agreed with his wife.

…

The next morning, before daybreak, he woke the farmhand and had the ox cart prepared. The couple took Zhao Guangzong with them to the private school.

The misty dawn cast the narrow alleys in a blanket of white—barely ten steps away and you could no longer make out a person’s face.

Suddenly, a sharp and ringing tirade echoed down most of the alley.

“What kind of teacher are you, running a private school like this! No moral conduct to speak of—favoring the rich and scorning the poor! Students with well-off families you fawn over, but those without you curse and beat—hitting the right hand until the child can’t even write!”

“You look down on us country folk—then why did you accept my son as a student in the first place? And don’t you go accepting the chickens, ducks, and fish our peasant family sent you!”

Madam Zhang stood at the gate of the private school, arms akimbo, shouting at the top of her lungs as she laid into Teacher Chen.

She was the daughter of a butcher, used to calling out to customers in the market long before marriage—tough as nails and sharp with her tongue.

Her voice was loud and full of energy, so forceful that no one could ignore her.

Teacher Chen, who’d always been treated with respect as a scholar, had never encountered such a scene. Early that morning, when he saw the couple approaching, he’d assumed they were bringing him another delivery of meat. He hadn’t expected that, without so much as a greeting, they would start cursing him to his face.

It was still early, most of the villagers were at home, but with people passing through the alley and the couple shouting at full volume at the doorway, the commotion quickly drew attention.

His face flushed red with embarrassment as he tried to shut the door, but Village Head Zhao pressed it firmly open.

“When you beat students, your door’s wide open! But when a parent comes to ask questions, it must be shut? What kind of logic is that? A student’s dignity doesn’t matter, but a teacher’s face must be preserved?”

The students who’d come early to school gathered in the corners, watching the drama unfold. Hearing the noise, curious passersby also began gathering nearby, whispering among themselves.

Teacher Chen, furious, spat insults at the couple. “Uncultured! Shameless…”

But he was a scholar—skilled in veiled barbs, but when it came to street-level shouting matches with rural women, he was helpless. His face turned purple with rage, yet all he could manage were those two words.

“Your son’s so slow because he takes after you two unreasonable peasants!”

“My son is bright—everyone in the village says so! But the moment we send him here, he’s labeled stupid. Who’s really unreasonable here? What kind of teacher fails to teach properly!”

Madam Zhang clapped her hands and turned to the gathering crowd.

“This Teacher Chen, this so-called xiucai, took thirty yuan as entrance fees! A black-hearted old scoundrel. Took our money and still bullies our child—singles out the poor to pick on!”

The crowd broke into murmurs and whispers, pointing fingers at Teacher Chen.

“Thirty yuan? That’s outrageous…”

“I often walk by here and hear him scolding students—I used to think he was just strict. But now I see he’s downright cruel.”

Caught off guard by the onslaught, Teacher Chen had no way to fight back. Fortunately, his wife and a few strong relatives heard the commotion and rushed over from the back courtyard.

They meant to restrain Madam Zhang, but she was strong and unyielding—none of them could hold her down. Village Head Zhao seized the moment and shouted, “They’re hitting her! The scholar’s household is attacking people!”

That stirred up even more excitement from the crowd.

With so many watching, the Chen family no longer dared make another move.

Teacher Chen was humiliated and panicked, sweat pouring from his brow.

He gritted his sleeves. “What do you two want from me!”

…

Later that day, Qi Beinan and Zhao Guangzong sat with hot tea, listening as Zhao Guangzong recounted how his parents stormed the private school on his behalf. Qi Beinan listened with great interest.

“My mother scolded him at the door for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Once she’d vented her anger, my father demanded half the tuition and fees back. Teacher Chen is stingy—he didn’t want to give it, but he was so desperate to save face that he handed over the money to get rid of us.”

Qi Beinan laughed. “For someone as shameless as Teacher Chen, that’s the only method that works. Try reasoning with him in private and he’d just talk circles around you.”

Zhao Guangzong agreed—such a petty man could never be handled by conventional means.

Families like theirs had only two options when wronged—either swallow it silently or use drastic, even self-harming means to fight back.

Zhao Guangzong leaned against the back of his chair and looked up at the ceiling. “We’ve vented our anger, but we’ve also completely offended Teacher Chen. There’s no way he’ll let it go. With his connections, it’ll be harder for me to keep studying.”

When Teacher Chen returned the money, he’d quietly warned them that this wasn’t over.

Qi Beinan understood Zhao Guangzong’s concern. Teacher Chen did have connections, and dealing with him wouldn’t be easy.

But what was done was done—fear alone wouldn’t solve anything.

He reassured him, “You’ve exposed his true nature, and now his reputation is in ruins. He might even face disciplinary action from the academic office. And teachers who associate with someone like him—there’s no need to study under them anyway.”

Zhao Guangzong nodded. “That’s what my father said too. He told me not to go looking for trouble, but also not to fear it. If your spine stays soft, you’ll only invite more bullies.”

They continued chatting for a while longer before Zhao Guangzong prepared to head home. He reminded Qi Beinan to come to his place in a couple of days—his parents wanted to thank him in person.

Qi Beinan declined at first—after all, today Zhao Guangzong had already brought a roast chicken, a pound of lamb offal, and two bundles of candied fruit to express their thanks. No need to make more trouble.

But Zhao Guangzong insisted, saying his mother had already prepared the dishes—it would be rude not to accept. So Qi Beinan finally agreed.

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