Ch 28: Reborn to Raise My Husband

Jiang Fulang lived on Cat Slope, not too far from the Xiao house—if one walked briskly, it took only a quarter of an hour to get there.

Early that morning, Qi Beinan gathered a few things in preparation. Though it was just a visit to meet someone, he still felt proper etiquette required a gift.

He hadn’t expected the Village Head to make the introduction so quickly, and now he was due to call on Jiang Fulang that very morning. Otherwise, he might’ve gone to town to buy something more suitable.

Xiao Hu pulled out a pair of waterfowl. Qi Beinan searched through the house and realized there wasn’t anything particularly fine to give. He also didn’t know Jiang Fulang’s personal tastes.

Wild game was never a bad choice—almost any household would accept it. But bringing only that would make the gift seem a little too modest.

In the end, Qi Beinan decided to include the bolt of fine rattan-yellow cloud-patterned cloth he’d originally planned to use to make Xiao Yuanbao some inner clothes. Though the color was a bit bright, the material itself was fine and not cheap.

Cloth was something anyone could use, regardless of age or gender. Even without knowing Jiang Fulang’s preferences, it was unlikely to go wrong.

For the time being, this cloth would suffice. He could always take Xiao Yuanbao to the city later to buy a new bolt.

He also sealed a red envelope—one string and two hundred wen—for good luck.

Even though he wasn’t sure whether the gifts would be accepted, the act of offering and the quality of the gesture were separate matters. He wouldn’t prepare casually just because it might be declined. A host could always see whether one had come sincerely.

With everything ready on their end, Qi Beinan and Xiao Hu dressed Xiao Yuanbao neatly. The child washed his face and hands, rinsed his mouth, and dressed properly.

He took his morning wash unusually seriously that day—scrubbing his face and hands clean and brushing his teeth twice. He hoped that looking tidy would help him leave a good impression on his new teacher.

As the morning mist lifted, the three of them set off toward Cat Slope with their offerings in hand.

Jiang Fulang’s little courtyard was small—even smaller than the Xiao household, barely half its size.

Years ago, Jiang Fulang had lost his husband at a young age and had no children. His late husband’s family tried to make him remarry his deceased husband’s brother—to save on wedding costs and one less banquet.

Jiang Fulang refused. But his birth family didn’t take him back either, leaving him stuck in a difficult position.

At the time, a still-young Village Head Zhao had just inherited the post from his father. Jiang Fulang sent a letter through a third party asking for help.

Later, Jiang Fulang came to Ling Village, initially staying with the Zhao family and helping Madam Zhang care for the two older Zhao boys.

Back then, Village Head Zhao had just assumed the role and was trying to solidify his position, so he often hosted guests. Jiang Fulang already had some cooking skill and frequently helped prepare meals. Everyone who came for wine praised the food.

His name began to spread in the village. Gradually, people started hiring him for banquets. At first it was just a few tables—then a dozen or more. His skills grew with experience.

After earning some savings, he moved out and carved out a little courtyard for himself.

Many years had passed. People had nearly forgotten that he once lived at the Zhao household. These days, he was a fixture at every gathering in the village, and most folks just assumed he was born and raised in Ling Village.

It was precisely because of that past bond that he agreed to take on a student—only because the Village Head had asked.

But all that was in the past.

“They’re here.”

Jiang Fulang heard the knock and came out from inside the house.

Living alone, he kept the courtyard gate latched most of the time.

The first thing he saw was tall and stoic-faced Xiao Hu standing at the gate. Even after decades in the same village, they still looked a little unfamiliar to each other.

Then he saw Qi Beinan—the eloquent young man from the Zhao household dinner yesterday.

And finally, down below, was the small pale child being led by Qi Beinan.

Jiang Fulang gave Xiao Yuanbao a once-over but hadn’t said anything yet, when the boy’s big round eyes revealed a timid, nervous look.

He had long known he wasn’t the type of person children loved to run into their arms—those smiling, happy toddlers often turned and bawled as soon as he reached for them. When he was younger and helped care for the Zhao boys, he never once scolded them, but he still managed to frighten them more than their father could.

If the boys misbehaved, Madam Zhang only needed to mention “little uncle is coming,” and no matter how wild they were, they’d stop at once and start glancing around anxiously.

This little one clearly wasn’t the bold type either. From what Madam Zhang had said, his stepmother hadn’t treated him kindly—his nature must be even more delicate.

And now raised by two men—already admirable that they were thinking to send him to learn a trade. Jiang Fulang wasn’t one to intentionally make things difficult by acting aloof.

If he scared the child off and the boy refused to come again, his cousin might think he’d rejected the disciple on purpose.

Just as he was about to speak and invite the family in—

That little one, who’d been about to hide behind Qi Beinan, suddenly raised his eyes, looked right at him, and called out softly, “Teacher.”

As soon as he said it, he let go of Qi Beinan’s hand.

Just as Qi Beinan turned to ask why he’d released his grip, Xiao Yuanbao suddenly knelt and bowed to Jiang Fulang.

“Oh!”

Qi Beinan and Xiao Hu both startled and rushed to pull him up.

The ground was still damp from the rain. After just one bow, his knees were already muddy.

Xiao Yuanbao looked up at Qi Beinan in confusion. “Aren’t we supposed to bow to the teacher?”

“Not yet,” Qi Beinan whispered softly. Then he turned to Jiang Fulang with an awkward smile. “He’s seen others bow to their masters and only half understands.”

While Xiao Yuanbao waited at the door, his heart was already fluttering with nerves.

The moment he saw that long, stern face appear, he grew even more timid—his feet felt glued to the ground, while the wind nearly swayed him off balance.

He was afraid, but he knew that if he backed away now, his brother and father would’ve made this trip in vain.

So he steeled himself, recalling what his brother had taught him: when meeting someone, greet them first, then bow to the teacher.

He just didn’t know it wasn’t time to bow yet.

Realizing he might’ve done something wrong, he became even more flustered. His little face flushed red, and he lowered his head, pressing his lips together in embarrassment.

“Apologies for the intrusion, Master Jiang,” Qi Beinan said quickly, leading Xiao Yuanbao inside and shifting the subject with a polite tone. “We arrived a bit early—we didn’t want to risk being late and delaying your schedule.”

In Xiao Yuanbao’s mind, a teacher was someone worthy of deep respect, and kneeling to show that wasn’t wrong. But since Jiang Fulang had already said he’d need to observe him for three to five months first, bowing too soon might be seen as presumptuous—like trying to force the matter.

“I wasn’t planning to go out today anyway,” Jiang Fulang said, a bit surprised by Xiao Yuanbao’s sudden gesture. “Come inside.”

The three of them entered the small courtyard. Jiang Fulang led the way, though his gaze occasionally drifted toward the muddy patches on Xiao Yuanbao’s knees.

Then he noticed the rim of the boy’s shoes was caked with mud—it was clear he’d walked here on foot. He thought to himself, This child may look delicate and fair-skinned, but maybe he’s not as fragile as he seems.

His hair was neatly tied up in a simple topknot, oiled lightly with osmanthus—faintly fragrant.

His clothes and socks were all in proper order. The entire child looked clean and tidy.

Jiang Fulang wasn’t sure if the child had gotten ready by himself or if someone else had helped him.

He glanced at the father—thick eyebrows, big eyes, wearing freshly washed clothes, but the stubble around his mouth was rough and patchy. Clearly a man of rough hands, likely not the type to dress up a child this well.

Then he looked toward Qi Beinan…

According to Madam Zhang, he and Guangzong were the same age, and Guangzong was already a mature boy—but next to Qi Beinan, he looked like a child himself.

She also mentioned Qi Beinan had helped Guangzong leave the private school—his words were thoughtful, his insights sharp, clearly someone with a mind of his own.

It was likely Qi Beinan who’d decided to have Xiao Yuanbao study a trade.

And perhaps it was he who dressed the child, too.

Without putting on airs, Jiang Fulang invited the three to sit and poured them some tea. Casually, he asked Xiao Yuanbao, “That’s a tidy hairstyle you’ve got. Who helped you with it?”

Xiao Yuanbao blinked in surprise, realizing the teacher was speaking to him. He straightened his back and replied earnestly, “It was Fang Jie’er from Grandma Sun’s house who taught me to tie it.”

Jiang Fulang nodded silently.

Qi Beinan then offered the gifts they had brought. “Xiao Bao is still young—I fear he may trouble you for extra guidance.”

“If he has the talent, that would be ideal. But if he truly can’t take to it, we wouldn’t want to cause you trouble. You can speak plainly, and we’ll understand.”

Xiao Hu also added, “Sorry for the trouble.”

Jiang Fulang glanced over the items they’d brought—quite generous.

He had expected the Xiao family to bring something, but he wasn’t the sort to be swayed by gifts. His original intention had been to send whatever they brought right back.

Now that he’d accepted them, if the child ended up not learning anything, returning the gifts would be a hassle.

He didn’t like owing favors, but after meeting them in person, his feelings shifted slightly.

“This little one’s still young—he won’t be learning anything too demanding just yet. Won’t trouble me too much.”

Jiang Fulang continued, “I’ll keep the cloth. As for the rest, take it back. If things go well in the long run, there’ll be time to talk about it later.”

Qi Beinan nodded with a faint smile. “We’ll do as you say.”

“Starting tomorrow, whenever I have work, let Bao Ge’er come by and learn with me,” Jiang Fulang said.

When Xiao Yuanbao returned home, he was bouncing with joy—completely different from his shy demeanor at Jiang Fulang’s place.

As they left, Jiang Fulang had given him a big orange, two sweet pears, and a handful of crisp dates.

Xiao Hu, however, still felt unsure. “Xiao Bao’s a soft-tempered child. Jiang Fulang seems very stern. I don’t know if he’ll be able to keep up under him.”

Qi Beinan was also in a good mood. Hearing that, he laughed and said, “Jiang Fulang only looks strict. He’s actually a careful and kind person. I thought he wouldn’t accept any of our gifts, but he ended up keeping part of it. He didn’t say it out loud, but it’s clear he likes Xiao Bao.”

If someone didn’t like a child, they wouldn’t be so willing to accept a gift or form any connection.

Xiao Hu glanced at Qi Beinan—when put that way, it really did make sense.

He couldn’t help feeling once again that it was a blessing to have Qi Beinan at home. Without him, he wouldn’t have known how to navigate any of this.

That afternoon, Xiao Hu went to the county to quickly sell the mountain goods he had brought back and then return to the forest cabin.

Xiao Yuanbao stayed home with Qi Beinan. He was in such good spirits that he memorized five new characters in one go.

Just like that, three or five days passed. After preparing enough provisions, Xiao Hu returned to the wooden hut in the forest.

Then, early one morning, Jiang Fulang unexpectedly came by with a message: a child from the Zhou family in the village was having a full-month banquet, and they’d invited him to cook.

It wasn’t a large gathering—just a few close relatives and friends, maybe three to five tables.

It was a last-minute event, arranged hastily. Jiang Fulang had come to deliver the news and to take Xiao Yuanbao with him.

Qi Beinan hadn’t heard anything in advance—he was still in the kitchen preparing breakfast and reviewing yesterday’s characters with Xiao Yuanbao.

Now he quickly helped the child get ready. Afraid of delaying them, he boiled two chicken eggs for him to eat on the way.

The little one clutched his two eggs and hurried off with Jiang Fulang just like that.

Qi Beinan stood at the courtyard gate, watching them until their figures disappeared before finally turning back.

He knew that if Xiao Yuanbao was to learn a trade, he couldn’t always be by his side. No matter how well he protected him, there were roads the child would have to walk alone.

Still, this was the first time the boy was apart from him, and with someone he didn’t know well. He couldn’t help but worry—would the child be able to handle it?

Carrying his concerns, Qi Beinan returned to the courtyard and had just let the chickens and ducks out of their coop when Zhao Guangzong showed up.

“You’re here this early today?”

Qi Beinan made use of what he had and brewed a pot of the new tea Zhao Guangzong had given him previously.

Zhao Guangzong plopped into a chair beside the small bamboo table as if he owned the place, not immediately saying why he’d come.

He pulled out a small pouch of peach blossom cakes from his sleeve, glanced around, and noticed someone missing: “Where’s Bao Ge’er?”

“He went with your little uncle.”

Qi Beinan thought Zhao Guangzong’s timing was perfect—chatting with him for a while could keep his mind from worrying over Xiao Yuanbao.

Zhao Guangzong laughed, “No wonder you look like you’ve lost your soul—so the little disciple’s gone off with his master for the first time.”

He handed the cakes to Qi Beinan. “Don’t worry. My eldest and second brothers were both raised by my little uncle. He knows how to take care of kids.”

Qi Beinan noticed Zhao Guangzong brought food for the little one again.

These past days, nearly every visit he made, he brought something—clearly fond of Xiao Yuanbao.

Qi Beinan, ever the cautious one, played a trick:

“Even so, I can’t help worrying. You don’t know—before my father passed, he told me to take good care of Xiao Bao. He was my mother’s favored child.”

Zhao Guangzong nearly choked on his tea. “Huh? Your mother’s favored child? You—you mean—?”

Qi Beinan smiled, “This matter I’ve only told you, so keep it quiet. Wouldn’t be good if it spread.”

“Our families were actually engaged long ago. We kept in touch by letter. Otherwise, why would Uncle Xiao have allowed me to stay here after everything happened at my home?”

Zhao Guangzong suddenly understood, stunned: “No wonder you care so much about Bao Ge’er…”

He quickly added, “Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”

Qi Beinan nodded in satisfaction, then asked, “The morning light is perfect. Usually this is your reading time. Did you come here today for something?”

At this, Zhao Guangzong sighed.

“These days, Father’s been running everywhere, but no private academy in the city will accept me.”

“After hearing about the situation, Old Man Chen really did get reprimanded by the academic director, just as you said. Most of the students at his school left too. Not even two days later, that old Juren hosted a banquet at home and invited many city teachers and scholars for wine.”

Qi Beinan instantly saw through it: “He used the banquet to send a message—no one in the city is to accept you. Otherwise, it means opposing him.”

Zhao Guangzong sighed again. “Exactly. Even if the city’s scholars don’t care for Old Man Chen, they’ll still show deference to a Juren’s face when he makes a public statement.”

Qi Beinan understood well how the gentry class closed ranks. For them, shutting the door on a student without strong connections was no difficult task.

“What’s the Village Head planning to do?”

Zhao Guangzong said, “My father knows a few people in the county office. That’s how he even found out about that banquet. But for now, there’s no reliable way to get me into another private school. No one wants to offend a Juren just for someone like me, who may not even be all that bright.”

“At the moment, we don’t know what else to do.”

He added, “My father said, if we really can’t find a place here, we might have to look in the neighboring counties.”

Going elsewhere to study was no easy matter—Qi Beinan had endured more than his fair share of hardship in those years.

He said, “There is still one path.”

Zhao Guangzong’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

“If you can pass next year’s child scholar (tongsheng) exam, you’ll be admitted directly into the county school—no need to worry about finding a private tutor.”

No matter how arrogant the gentry, they didn’t dare tamper with the imperial examination path. Just a few years ago, the emperor had executed a third-rank minister and exiled his entire family for interfering in that system.

The emperor kept close watch over the exams. Compared to everything else, that path remained clean.

Zhao Guangzong suddenly chuckled and bumped Qi Beinan with his shoulder:

“Are you teasing me? If I could pass the child scholar exam without a teacher, wouldn’t that make me some kind of prodigy?”

“If I were younger, maybe I could still dream of that. But I’ve studied a few years already—I know where I stand.”

Qi Beinan patted his shoulder. “I’ve seen your writing. It’s not nearly as bad as that Old Chen said. You work hard and study diligently—you just never had a good teacher. Now that you’re free of him, you need to build your confidence and stop living in his shadow.”

Zhao Guangzong lowered his head slightly, letting out a bitter laugh. Truthfully, he really didn’t have much confidence in himself.

Qi Beinan stood up and called Zhao Guangzong to follow him into the house.

He pulled out a handwritten notebook, about the thickness of a thumb, and handed it to Zhao Guangzong.

“Before you find another teacher, put in some effort. If things turn out as I said, then it’ll be a proper moment of pride for you. If not, well, isn’t the Village Head still here to support you? So just focus on studying properly.”

Zhao Guangzong opened the notebook and skimmed quickly at first, intending just to glance over it—but the more he read, the more he couldn’t stop flipping pages.

Standing right there, he flipped through five or six pages in a row.

He was ecstatic. “This—this is Scholar Qi’s study notes, isn’t it?”

The contents included material from the Four Books and Five Classics, with important lines marked and difficult parts clearly explained.

His eyes lit up as he pointed to a passage: “Zhou and Tang dynasties prioritized the exterior over the interior, while Qin and Wei emphasized the interior over the exterior—both have their strengths. And here, the arguments are listed one by one.”

“Too much focus on outward strength weakens unity; too much inward focus makes it hard to fend off enemies. Ideally, internal and external harmony ensures long-term stability…”

“This is no different from hearing it straight from a teacher!”

Qi Beinan hadn’t intended to show off his scholarship and was just about to say the notes were from his father, but this kid wasn’t dumb.

As Zhao Guangzong turned the pages in excitement, sweat from his fingertips smudged the ink slightly. “Wait—this isn’t some old manuscript!”

Realizing something, he looked up at Qi Beinan in shock. “You wrote this!”

Qi Beinan opened his mouth and replied a bit sheepishly, “My father’s original notes are a keepsake to me. I wanted to hold onto them, so I copied them down myself.”

Zhao Guangzong hadn’t even considered that the content could’ve been written by Qi Beinan himself. What shocked him most was the handwriting.

Qi Beinan had given him another notebook earlier, but he hadn’t had the time to look at it properly due to recent troubles.

Back when his father handed it to him, he had glanced through it and thought the handwriting was beautiful—he held deep respect for whoever wrote it.

He had assumed it was penned by Scholar Qi and thought he must’ve been a truly refined and talented gentleman.

Now, seeing the same elegant script again and realizing it was written by Qi Beinan, he was shaken.

“I really was blind. If your handwriting weren’t so good, how could you have sold spring couplets in the city? I never even thought to connect it all. One troubling thing after another lately—I’ve had no peace of mind. But now I realize, all this talent was right beside me.”

Qi Beinan smiled. “My father was a xiucai. I started studying early and had a few extra years of practice, that’s all. If you find it useful, I can also share some tips about handwriting.”

He closed the notebook and added, “Calligraphy is important, but this notebook itself isn’t bad. If you trust me, read it thoroughly—it might help you when you take the exam.”

Qi Beinan had anticipated that the Chen family wouldn’t give up easily and would probably interfere with Zhao Guangzong’s education.

In the days he stayed home, instead of going out, he had used his time teaching Xiao Yuanbao to read and writing this study guide—different from the one his father left behind.

The Zhao family had been kind to him, especially by helping connect Xiao Bao with Jiang Fulang. Qi Beinan remembered that favor well.

Now that the Zhao family was struggling, lending Zhao Guangzong a hand wasn’t a burden at all.

If Zhao Guangzong was someone willing to study seriously and absorbed the notebook fully, it could greatly benefit him in the exams.

But if he were careless and only skimmed a few pages, he wouldn’t grasp the core ideas anyway.

Naturally, Qi Beinan wouldn’t spell all this out—there were no shortcuts in studying. If he tried to hand it all over, it would only end up harming him.

He gave the nudge, but whether Zhao Guangzong would truly apply himself was up to him.

“How could I not trust you!”

Zhao Guangzong, feeling completely renewed, swept away the gloom that had haunted him earlier. If he once admired Qi Beinan four parts, now it had grown to six.

“If I don’t study it thoroughly, how could I be worthy of all the effort you’ve put into writing this for me? With your notebook, even without a teacher, I feel a lot more at ease!”

Qi Beinan said, “Go on and study. My father left more notebooks—I’ll copy them out slowly and pass them to you when I’m done.”

Zhao Guangzong was moved, his heart warm, his eyes slightly red. “With how well you treat me, I truly don’t know how I could ever repay you.”

“If you want to repay me, go take the exam first and see how it works—help me get a sense of it too.”

“Alright! I definitely will!”

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