Ch 45: Reborn to Raise My Husband

By early December, the county town had already grown lively. Those who acted fast had begun hanging lanterns and putting up festive decorations.

It was said that, because of the heavy snow this year, a wealthy merchant even planned to release grand lanterns during the Lantern Festival in hopes of bringing good fortune for the coming year.

Qi Beinan and Xiao Yuanbao got off the ox cart, their faces and feet nearly frozen stiff from the wind.

Even walking on the swept stone streets, their feet still felt so cold and numb they barely seemed to belong to them.

The two went to their usual spot to order a bowl of pork bone broth wontons and a bowl of lamb offal soup. Only after eating and drinking did they finally feel warmth return to their bodies.

They had already agreed in the morning that they’d stop in the bustling district for wontons. Xiao Yuanbao remembered that Bao Yi Hall wasn’t far from here.

His childhood playmate, Bai Qiaogui, worked there.

One in the county, one in the village—the chances to play together were few and far between.

But perhaps because they were so compatible, they still kept in touch.

Whenever Xiao Yuanbao came to town and had time, he’d go find her at Bao Yi Hall.

Even if they couldn’t spend time playing together, chatting for a bit at the clinic made him happy.

The blue silk hair ribbon with peach blossom print in his jewelry box had been a gift from Qiaogui.

“I haven’t seen her in a long time,” Xiao Yuanbao said. “Last time at the clinic, she said she was already confident enough to give acupuncture. She even gave me three packs of herbal cooling drink.”

Xiao Yuanbao didn’t know many people in town—only Bai Qiaogui.

Aside from being genuinely fond of her, he also treasured the childhood friendship between them.

So every time he went to see her, he’d bring something along.

This time, he brought six pieces of his own smoked and cured pork ribs and sausages, a salted egg yolk–stuffed smoked pig lung, two jars of pickled spicy vegetables, one jar of pickled spicy taro slices, and one of crunchy pickled bamboo shoots.

After finishing their wontons, Qi Beinan went with Xiao Yuanbao to deliver the goods.

Eleven-year-old Bai Qiaogui had grown more and more lovely. She already had delicate features, but now, having grown taller, she looked even more radiant.

As soon as Xiao Yuanbao stepped into the clinic, he saw her sitting at the consultation table, brows slightly furrowed as she seriously took a patient’s pulse.

Just as she raised her eyes to speak to the woman before her, she saw Xiao Yuanbao walking in with his basket. Her eyes instantly lit up.

“Qiao Jie’er, what is it—are you expecting?” Xiao Yuanbao teased.

Bai Qiaogui quickly composed herself and said, “Madam Yu, you’re experiencing nausea due to a cold, not pregnancy.”

The woman pulled her arm back in disappointment. “Then write me a prescription for the cold.”

“You just need to keep your body healthy. You’re still young—you’ll be expecting soon enough.”

Once the patient left, Qiaogui turned into a fluttering butterfly and flew toward Xiao Yuanbao. “Bao Ge’er, you finally came! One more day and I’d have thought you forgot me!”

Xiao Yuanbao laughed. “Too much rain in the summer, now snow in the winter—the roads into town aren’t easy. That’s why I haven’t come.”

She took both his hands warmly. “If it’s the roads, then I won’t blame you.”

“You took an ox cart to town, didn’t you? Are you cold?”

Feeling that his hands were warm, she reached up and touched his cheek.

“We had wontons in the market. Much warmer now,” Xiao Yuanbao said. “Also had lamb offal soup—my back’s still toasty.”

She laughed as she listened. “Good, as long as you didn’t freeze. Come on, let’s go inside. I just got a few new trinkets—I’ll give you some.”

Hearing that, Xiao Yuanbao glanced back.

Bai Qiaogui followed his gaze and noticed Qi Beinan.

She quickly greeted him, “Brother Qi, make yourself at home—have a seat.”

Qi Beinan looked at the two of them—still just like when they were kids—and couldn’t help but find it rare and endearing.

“You two go on. No need to worry about me.”

With his permission, Xiao Yuanbao happily went off with Bai Qiaogui.

“I brought some food too. Take it home and see if your family likes it.”

“That soybean paste you gave me last time has been gone for ages! My little uncle always adds a spoonful to his cooking—it makes everything taste better. The whole family loves it. He even asked me about it a few times.”

Qi Beinan, watching the two disappear inside, went to greet Dr. Yang.

In winter, with many children weak from the cold, the clinic was full of people carrying in little ones to be seen.

Dr. Yang had already seen seven or eight patients that morning. He finally got a moment to sip some tea and soothe his throat.

He knew Qi Beinan and poured him a cup as well, chatting a bit about his upcoming exam at the start of the year.

It wasn’t until nearly half an hour later that Bai Qiaogui escorted Xiao Yuanbao out again.

Now he had two sachets tied at his waist—one embroidered with a pink butterfly flitting among flowers, the other with green bamboo in the breeze.

Both were stuffed with herbs like fleeceflower vine, mugwort, and poria—good for sleep and calming the nerves.

“Qiao Jie’er’s really skilled. These sachets are so pretty,” Xiao Yuanbao said, fiddling with them as they left the clinic.

Qi Beinan glanced over. “Looks rather charming on you.”

Xiao Yuanbao gently placed them back at his waist. Qiaogui had said he could use them himself or gift them to someone else.

At first, he’d wanted to give the bamboo sachet to Qi Beinan, but after thinking it over, he kept it for himself.

“I thought so too. That’s why I asked Bai Qiaogui for the herb blend. I’ll make one for you, Brother. These sachets smell really nice—not sweet and cloying like regular flower scents.”

“What embroidery pattern does Brother want?”

Qi Beinan smiled, thought for a moment, and said, “Hmm… how about a lotus flower and a large golden koi?”

“A golden koi’s great.”

Xiao Yuanbao tilted his head. “And it’s just right—your exam is after the New Year. I’ll go buy a few spools of gold thread later.”

The two went together to buy embroidery thread, two strings of firecrackers for the New Year, a set of incense, candles, and joss paper for ancestral offerings.

They also weighed out four jin of preserved fruit and nuts, and one jin of loose-leaf tea.

These goods stored well and wouldn’t spoil. Since it wasn’t quite New Year’s yet, prices hadn’t gone up. It was the best time to get them cheap.

“Let’s buy a roast chicken to take back too—since we’ve come all the way into town.”

“Sure.”

They headed to their usual roast chicken vendor and asked for a plump one.

Just as the two were happily waiting, a servant suddenly appeared.

“Is this Young Master Qi?”

Qi Beinan looked at the young man who had approached—his face looked vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t place where he’d seen him before.

But before he could ask, the servant introduced himself, “I’m a house servant from the Ming residence on Tai’an Lane. Our master just returned from checking accounts at one of the shops. He happened to spot you and would like to invite you to the house for a cup of hot tea.”

“You walk quickly, sir—I’ve been chasing you for quite a while.”

Qi Beinan said, “Many thanks to Master Ming for the invitation, but I’m here with my little brother. It might be inconvenient to visit today.”

“Our master said that it’s rare to run into you in town. He invited both you and your companion to visit.”

Qi Beinan found it hard to decline after that and agreed.

The servant, delighted, helped carry their things and led them toward the Ming residence.

As Xiao Yuanbao walked down the long corridor, he glanced around cautiously and gripped Qi Beinan’s hand a little tighter.

It was his first time entering a home guarded by two stone lions at the gate.

Qi Beinan had mentioned before that he’d take him to visit the Ming family someday—he hadn’t expected that day would really come.

Eyes wide with wonder, he whispered to Qi Beinan, “It’s so big… and so pretty.”

Qi Beinan smiled and pointed out the scenery to him.

“That’s a rock garden, and that’s a flower pool. The big-leafed ones are peonies, and the ones that look like scallion greens are narcissus…”

It was just like when Qi Beinan had first taken him to the city and explained all the shop fronts and trades.

If nothing else, though the Ming family had a strong commercial atmosphere, they didn’t confuse vulgarity with elegance—the home was filled with fine things.

It was eye-opening; you could see dozens of rare and beautiful items in just one visit.

“Who are they?”

From a pavilion, a plump boy of about ten, wearing a bright red peacock-patterned padded cloak, looked up at the sound of footsteps. He held an enameled hand warmer decorated with birds and flowers.

He frowned, “Probably another guest Father invited over.”

Then he pouted. “It’s almost the New Year, can’t we have some peace? Father just loves inviting people home.”

“And these two are so young… don’t tell me it’s some distant relatives.”

An older servant woman replied, “Never heard about any relatives visiting.”

The boy shook his head. “Father really treats this house like some public garden—just inviting everyone over.”

The woman smiled. “The master’s good at making connections—it’s all for business. If he’s inviting someone so young, I’m sure it’s someone special.”

The boy stopped paying attention to Qi Beinan and Xiao Yuanbao as they followed the servant into the side hall, and instead asked, “Did Xiao Yuanzi go buy the chicken and duck offal?”

“I gave the order this morning. He even went to Aunt Zhang’s stall—your favorite.”

Only then did the boy smile. “Good. Tell the small kitchen to make me a bowl of eight-treasure sweet soup—extra lotus seeds.”

Meanwhile, Qi Beinan led Xiao Yuanbao to the side hall.

After walking a very long corridor, they finally arrived. Xiao Yuanbao carefully sat down on a huanghuali wood chair and felt that the room was so warm it was nearly making him sweat.

He looked around the expansive side hall, larger than even their own central room at home, and his mind could only think: carved beams and painted rafters.

There were so many exquisite decorations inside. He didn’t even know what most of them were, but just by their texture and shine, he could tell they were all expensive.

“Young Master Qi, what an honor.”

Xiao Yuanbao was still admiring the room when a richly dressed man walked in.

He immediately straightened up and sat properly. Seeing Qi Beinan greet Ming Da, he quickly followed suit and gave a respectful greeting too.

“This is my younger brother. We came to town to buy New Year goods. I didn’t expect Master Ming’s kind invitation, so we both came along.”

“Not a bother at all,” Ming Da said warmly. “I caught sight of you outside and sent someone to invite you over.”

He looked at Xiao Yuanbao. “Such a soft and sweet child. How old is he?”

Xiao Yuanbao glanced at Qi Beinan. Getting a nod, he respectfully replied, “Replying to Master Ming—I’ll be eleven after the New Year.”

“Oh? Same age as my second boy.”

Ming Da brightened. He turned to Qi Beinan and said, “Perhaps he and our Xin Ge’er could play together.”

Qi Beinan replied, “My little brother is shy and not used to going out—he might get nervous.”

Though Qi Beinan often brought Xiao Yuanbao along on trips or when he helped out Jiang Fulang with banquet work, this was still his first time being a guest in a wealthy household.

Worried that the boy might be afraid to be separated from him, Qi Beinan had originally intended to decline Ming Da’s suggestion.

Unexpectedly, Ming Da said, “Eh, children are the easiest to get along with once they start playing. Just now he still looked shy—give him a few words and they’ll be fast friends.”

“Where’s my second boy?”

A servant replied, “Second young master is in his room.”

“He’s cooped up in there all day—he’s getting plumper by the day.”

Ming Da said, “Go call him out to meet our guest.”

“Aye.”

Qi Beinan raised a hand to stop them, but the servant had already gone.

He sighed helplessly. Ming Da really was a man who loved making acquaintances—far more straightforward than most.

“It’s nothing. Just meet the second young master,” Qi Beinan said, patting Xiao Yuanbao’s hand to reassure him.

Xiao Yuanbao nodded. He wasn’t afraid—just meeting someone and exchanging a few polite words. If they got along, great. If not, no harm done—they just wouldn’t meet again.

Soon enough, Ming’s second son came with a servant in tow.

He was the same plump boy they’d seen earlier in the pavilion—clearly pampered and spoiled. He hadn’t wanted to come meet the guest but didn’t dare disobey his father. So he entered with a slight pout still on his face.

“Father.”

He walked right past Qi Beinan and Xiao Yuanbao, pretending not to see them, and went straight to Ming Da.

“Come now, greet Young Master Qi,” Ming Da said. “His younger brother is about your age. You’ve been saying it’s too snowy to play outside—well, now you have someone to play with. You two can go kick shuttlecock, play pitch-pot, and eat sweet soup and pastries.”

Ming Guanxin thought to himself, who is this that Father insists I meet? His father always liked inviting people over regardless of their status. But could they really get along?

Kids from humble households didn’t know the same things—they couldn’t hold a conversation. They didn’t know anything about raising chickens, ducks, the price of pork or cabbage.

And if the kid was too shy to talk, it’d make him look like a bully just by being there.

And the bold ones were usually just bootlickers—dull and annoying.

Although Ming Guanxin didn’t want to entertain guests, he couldn’t disrespect his father’s wishes in front of others. It’d bring shame to the family.

So he turned and looked at Xiao Yuanbao, a plainly dressed child from a common household—but not unpleasant to look at.

“Come, little brother. Let’s play. The kitchen just made some eight-treasure sweet soup. You should try it.”

Xiao Yuanbao had thought a greeting would be enough. He hadn’t expected to be invited to play too.

But he’d grown up around Qi Beinan and picked up quite a bit about manners and dealing with people.

The Ming family was a prominent household, and being invited in as a guest was already generous. Now the young master was inviting him to play—if he refused, it would seem ungracious.

So he said, “Thank you, big brother. I’m lucky to get to taste the sweet soup from your kitchen.”

Qi Beinan saw that Xiao Yuanbao had accepted and was a little concerned. Though the child wasn’t the timid little thing he’d once been, this was still a grand house.

And young masters like Ming Guanxin were born into luxury—even if they didn’t mean to, the way they spoke could come off as arrogant.

For someone with a sensitive heart, that could feel like humiliation.

So he said gently, “If you get tired, just come back. You were up early and excited to come into town.”

“Alright.”

Xiao Yuanbao answered sweetly and followed Ming Guanxin out.

Qi Beinan watched until they disappeared before looking away.

Ming Da chuckled, “See? I said kids don’t stay strangers for long.”

Outside, Ming Guanxin was thinking that Xiao Yuanbao, at least, wasn’t mute—he could talk.

He led him toward his courtyard without saying a word.

Only when they reached the courtyard did he notice Xiao Yuanbao glancing up at the plaque above the gate.

“That’s my courtyard,” he finally said.

Xiao Yuanbao looked at the characters on the plaque and read aloud, “Baozhu Pavilion.”

Ming Guanxin was surprised. “You can read?”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded. “Mm, my brother is a scholar. He taught me.”

“How many characters do you know?”

“I’ve already studied and written through the Thousand Character Classic.”

Ming Guanxin let out a small breath. “You’re pretty diligent then—I only just finished reading it. Reading and writing is so dull, and my hand hurts after just a cup of tea’s worth of writing. Don’t your hands hurt?”

Xiao Yuanbao said honestly, “In summer, the heat and mosquitoes make it hard to focus. In winter, my hands get stiff and it’s hard to hold a brush steady.”

“I think it’s pretty boring too. But my brother teaches me every day.”

Ming Guanxin didn’t suffer from the same hardships—summer was cool, and winter was warm. He hadn’t experienced the discomforts Xiao Yuanbao described.

But hearing that the other boy also found reading tedious, it made him feel a bit more relatable.

He let go of some of his bias and asked more questions, “Other than what you dislike, what do you enjoy?”

“I like learning to cook,” Xiao Yuanbao said. “I really like cooking.”

Ming Guanxin thought to himself—of course, kids from poor families had to grow up fast. Many of them had to cook and wash for the whole family from a young age. Not like at their house, where the kitchen had a designated chef, an assistant for chopping vegetables, and even a maid for managing the fire.

He casually asked, “What kind of dishes can you make?”

“I know how to cook most street-style home dishes. I’m best at offal dishes—my teacher made a name for himself in the kitchen with those.”

Xiao Yuanbao thought to himself that in such a wealthy household, they probably wouldn’t eat something so humble. So he added, “Second Young Master probably hasn’t eaten such dishes before—they’re not the sort of food fit to serve guests.”

But Ming Guanxin’s eyes lit up. “How could I not have? I love those kinds of dishes! Just earlier I sent someone to the little street to buy mixed offal from Granny Zhang’s stall.”

Xiao Yuanbao was surprised. “I didn’t expect that, given how well-off your family is—you’re not turned off by those kinds of food?”

“Just look at my figure—you can tell I’m a big eater,” Ming Guanxin said cheerfully. “We’re a merchant family, not like those high-ranking households where everything has to be elegant and refined. They steep tea using morning dew that hasn’t seen sunlight—I swear it tastes the same as water from any well.”

“They say I’m not picky, that I’ll eat anything—but I say they love fussing over nothing.”

Xiao Yuanbao couldn’t help but laugh. “Second Young Master is truly down-to-earth.”

“Don’t just stand here chatting at the door—come inside and sit.”

Ming Guanxin said, “Tell me more about what street dishes you know. I love fish and bamboo shoots—can you cook those? The cook we hire at home isn’t bad, but I eat his dishes every day and I’m getting tired of them…”

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