Ch 48: Reborn to Raise My Husband

By the end of March, the village fields were already tinged with green.

The wild vegetables on the hills and in the valleys had entered their edible season again.

Xiao Yuanbao went to the creek and picked a bunch of water celery, and along the way, he also gathered some purple-stemmed fiddlehead ferns.

It had rained in early February, but from then until late March, there were only two brief showers—nothing like the lingering, drizzling spring rain.

The weather grew warmer by the day, causing the wild peach and plum trees on the mountaintop to bloom in large swaths. The fruit trees down the hill, needless to say, were even earlier—some had already finished blooming.

When he reached the riverbank, the water had receded by about the width of a finger.

In past years, water celery grew tender and abundant here, but with the water shortage this year, there was far less of it, and the stalks were small.

He actually preferred the small-stemmed variety—it paired better with stir-fried cured meat, soaking up the flavors. But judging from this year’s conditions, it seemed his brother was right—there might be a drought in the summer.

Xiao Yuanbao carefully picked a big bundle of water celery and placed it in his basket. Before long, two village boys arrived, swinging small sickles, cutting down the water celery in rows. Who knew if it was for feeding livestock or bundled with palm leaves to be sold in the city.

He slung the basket over his arm and headed home.

It was a busy time at the start of spring. His father and Tian Ken-ge were already out working in the fields by the break of dawn, only returning after toiling for over an hour to eat breakfast.

His brother sometimes went out to help too, but with the prefecture-level exam approaching, their father had forbidden him from going to the fields anymore.

Xiao Yuanbao quickened his pace home. While the weather was still cool, he planned to help Tian Ken-ge carry two baskets of manure to the jujube field at the far end.

He couldn’t manage much farm work in a day—he had to take care of meals and clothes for the entire family, cooking and laundry included.

Spring was the season for hard labor, so hearty and satisfying meals were a must to provide enough energy.

The more work there was, the quicker the clothes got dirty, which meant laundry had to be done more often too.

“This time the fertilizer is definitely working. The row of vegetables planted in jars by the courtyard wall grew best with this formula.”

When Xiao Yuanbao arrived in the courtyard, he saw Qi Beinan and Tian Ken at the composting spot in the backyard.

He placed his vegetable basket up high to keep the pesky chickens and ducks from pecking at it, then walked over.

“Are we applying the fertilizer now?”

Tian Ken replied, “Yeah, the weather’s warm. If it keeps heating up, the land will dry and the nutrients will evaporate. I noticed the sky looks overcast, the swallows are flying low, and the mountain’s wearing a hat—if it doesn’t rain tonight, it’ll rain tomorrow. Better to fertilize now while the soil can still absorb it.”

Qi Beinan flipped through Tian Ken’s composting notes, skimmed a couple of pages, then handed the notebook back.

That guy couldn’t read a single character. The notes only made sense to him.

Though Qi Beinan couldn’t interpret the fermentation periods or the materials used, the lush growth of the vegetables at the courtyard base spoke for itself.

They’d planted Chinese cabbage, radishes, spinach, lettuce, scallions… all common varieties.

But instead of planting one kind per jar, they mixed several types in each jar—about a dozen jars in total.

They experimented with different fertilizer compositions and fermentation durations.

This way, not only could they tell which compost worked best, but also which vegetables didn’t respond well to that specific mix.

Back in February, a rooster flew into the vegetable jars and pecked away at most of the lush greens.

Xiao Yuanbao had been so mad, he cooked that rooster with taro that same night.

He had been eyeing the scallions for days—they were thick and fresh. That morning, he’d wanted to grab a handful for noodles but resisted, letting Tian Ken continue observing their growth. Only for that rooster to ruin it all.

“Just do what you’ve decided,” Qi Beinan said.

“We’ve been testing fertilizers this long. If it works in jars, no reason it won’t work in the fields.”

Tian Ken laughed in agreement. “Yeah.”

Xiao Yuanbao rolled up his sleeves. “Brother Tian, I’ll help you spread the fertilizer.”

Qi Beinan asked, “Aren’t you afraid of the stink?”

“I do father’s laundry every day—I’m used to the smell.”

Xiao Yuanbao thought, no wonder the ladies and gers outside always curse ‘stinky men.’ They really are stinky.

But… he leaned in close to Qi Beinan and took a sniff. His brother didn’t stink—in fact, he smelled kind of nice.

Qi Beinan looked down at him sniffing all over, then pinched his cheek. “Are you a little dog?”

“I just changed clothes last night. No smell.”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded in approval. “Brother, you’re the cleanest one in our house.”

Tian Ken scooped two buckets of compost, and Xiao Yuanbao wanted to help.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t carry both buckets or even one properly, so he hoisted the plow and rake instead and followed Tian Ken to the field.

Qi Beinan was going to join them, but Xiao Yuanbao pushed him back into the house. There were only two days left until the prefecture exam. What was he doing thinking about working in the fields?

He wanted to argue, but there was no use.

“Might as well give up. Still out there lugging compost like it’s gold.”

“This year’s weather’s been warm. If the crops die, we might not harvest anything. Then again, it’s no big deal—wealthy families can always buy vegetables.”

Xiao Yuanbao heard the sarcastic grumbling from the dry fields Tian Ken was working in and turned his head to glance over.

“Uncle Xu, are you planning to sell your vegetables?”

The old man in the field looked up. “When did I ever say I was selling vegetables?”

“Well, if you’re not in the veggie business, why worry about others buying them or not? It’s not like it affects your trade.”

Xiao Yuanbao shot a sidelong glance at Qi Beinan. “You sure have a lot of free time.”

“Hey now! You brat—everyone in the Xiao family’s fierce, aren’t they!”

Xiao Yuanbao replied, “The fierce one hasn’t even shown up yet. If you think I’m being fierce, then if my father came by, would Uncle Xu even dare open his mouth?”

Old Man Xu couldn’t win the argument, so he could only grumble, “With a mouth that sharp, I’d like to see which family would dare marry you in the future!”

“Uncle Xu really is free, huh? Even worrying about his neighbor’s marriage prospects.”

Xiao Yuanbao added without a hint of politeness, “Why not worry about your own ger at home instead?”

Old Xu still had a ger at home, already over twenty, yet still unmarried. Matchmakers had gone knocking several times, all with no result.

Each year, the marriage tax climbed higher, and it was enough to drive a person mad with worry.

Now he was being lectured by a kid.

Old Xu shot him a strange look but couldn’t outtalk Xiao Yuanbao, so he pretended not to see him and furiously went back to weeding the field, refusing to say another word.

Tian Ken said, “Old Xu stirred up trouble last time too. He was still mad that I took the compost he originally picked out. Brother, don’t stoop to his level.”

“I heard from my brother that he stirred up trouble. Look how long ago that was, and he’s still holding a grudge against our family.”

Xiao Yuanbao said, “With so many households in the village, even a sage couldn’t make everyone happy. If he won’t be courteous to us, then why should I smile at him? Give it time—he’ll really start thinking we’re easy to push around.”

He laughed and said to Tian Ken, “Let’s just grow our crops well—when the vegetables and fruits grow big and strong, it’ll just make them mad.”

Tian Ken laughed too. “Yeah! Now that’s the spirit!”

A couple days later, Fang Jie’er came to the house with an invitation.

She said that now spring had arrived, the weather was warmer, flowers and plants were blooming, and there was more fruit and vegetables than in winter. The second young master of the Ming family was inviting Xiao Yuanbao over for a visit.

And the invitation was just for him.

“If you two get along, go spend some time together and have fun.”

Xiao Yuanbao took the invitation and went to ask Qi Beinan what he thought, and he answered, “It’s not your first time going.”

Xiao Yuanbao actually wanted to go. Seeing that Qi Beinan didn’t object, he said, “Anyway, the day they invited me is the same day you’ll be in town taking the exam. If I go, I can stop by the inn and see you.”

Qi Beinan nodded. “Alright.”

Xiao Yuanbao frowned a little. “But I can’t go empty-handed again. Last time, Second Brother Ming gave me so many nice things.”

But he didn’t know what kind of gift would be suitable. Making friends with people like that was such a headache. If it were ordinary folks, he could just bring a little sachet, a couple of hair ribbons, or some pretty silk thread.

But a family like the Ming family—they already had everything. What could he give that they hadn’t already seen?

Qi Beinan said, “If you’re making friends on equal footing, then yes, it’s proper to bring a gift.”

“The Ming family is rich and lacks for nothing. Even if they do, it’s not something you can provide. So you’ll have to show sincerity. That’s what they’ll care about.”

Xiao Yuanbao thought for a moment. “Then I’ll prepare something myself.”

He couldn’t rely on his brother to make every decision for him—especially now that the prefecture exam was just around the corner.

A few days later, it was already April. Qi Beinan went to the county seat for the exam.

This time it was only three sections, so the whole thing would be over in two days.

Qi Beinan entered the city and stayed at the inn the first day, but this time he only needed to stay two nights.

One less night meant a much smaller bundle to pack.

April’s warm weather made for the most comfortable testing season.

There were two old peach trees at the exam site that had been there for many years. They were likely sprouting new leaves. After finishing his answers, it’d be a nice thing just to look at the flowering trees.

Much better than the bare, empty scene in February.

The next morning, Xiao Yuanbao also got himself all tidied up, carried a food box, and brought the invitation to the Ming residence.

In April, the Ming estate looked far more beautiful than it had in the winter months.

In the large garden beyond the covered walkway, so many flowers had bloomed.

Peonies the size of rice bowls, dainty little wintersweet crabapples, pure white camellias… With the food box on his arm, Xiao Yuanbao felt like he was stepping into a sea of blossoms.

Even at the entrance, the air was thick with the floral scent you couldn’t smell from outside. There were so many flowers—not all fragrant—but under the spring sunlight, there was a scent of spring in the air.

Vibrant and lively, the sight alone lifted one’s spirits.

“Bao Ge’er! You’re finally here!”

Xiao Yuanbao was still mesmerized by the garden when a cheerful voice cut in.

He flinched and looked up to see Ming Guanxin hurrying over.

“I’ve been meaning to invite you over for ages, but the two months around New Year were the busiest at home—so many guests coming and going. Then just as we got to early February, my brother had to sit for the exam, and Father wouldn’t let us host visitors.”

Ming Guanxin pouted. “Look at that—dragged it out all the way into April.”

Xiao Yuanbao looked at the round-faced Ming Guanxin and thought he looked a little chubbier again—must’ve eaten well during the New Year.

“So how did your brother’s boy exam go?”

Ming Guanxin shrugged. “If he passed the county-level exam, this would be the time for the prefecture one. But nope—other people get to leave the exam hall, and he got locked in the study.”

Xiao Yuanbao pressed his lips together, eyes widening. “You’re even telling me that? Not saving face for your brother at all?”

Ming Guanxin burst out laughing. “My brother’s exactly the kind of guy people call a spoiled rich kid. He wouldn’t think being grounded by Father to reflect in the study is anything embarrassing!”

“Aiya, why are we wasting time talking about my unlucky brother? It’s not often you come to town from the countryside.”

Seeing this, Xiao Yuanbao quickly handed over the food box he’d prepared. “There’s nothing special from the countryside, just a few snacks I brought for you.”

“You didn’t have to bring anything just to visit.”

Ming Guanxin said that, but the moment he heard it was food, he immediately grabbed the box.

The two of them entered the Baozhu Pavilion. Ming Guanxin kicked off his shoes and dragged Xiao Yuanbao up onto the soft couch.

Eagerly, he opened the plain gray bamboo food box, and his eyes lit up.

“Didn’t you say before that you liked bamboo shoots? Spring just started, and the bamboo groves on the mountain sprouted. I dug some up and made a few bamboo shoot dishes. See if they suit your taste.”

Xiao Yuanbao said, “I’m still learning to cook. The food’s at best cooked through, not something that’ll send you running to the outhouse.”

This time of year, the mountains had fat and juicy spring shoots from hairy bamboo, tender bitter bamboo just poking through, and crisp, sweet thunder bamboo shoots.

He picked a variety, parboiled them last night, then pickled the bitter and thunder shoots. This morning, he dressed them cold with sesame oil and seasoning.

The spring shoots he stir-fried with garlic sprouts. He’d talked with Ming Guanxin before and knew he ate cured meat, so he made a stir-fry with that.

Besides those, he also brought some preserved spicy bamboo shoots he’d made earlier.

All in all, it filled a whole food box.

“I was going to make a mustard greens and bitter bamboo shoot soup too—it’s super refreshing and appetizing—but I came by ox cart and was afraid it’d spill on the way.”

“Oh, and there’s water bamboo that grows around May or June—I brought some I dried last year. If you want, I’ll make a dish for you later.”

Ming Guanxin looked at all the dishes and couldn’t resist calling a servant to fetch chopsticks to try them.

The stir-fried bamboo was still a little warm—not quite as fragrant as when freshly cooked—but the flavor was still mouthwatering. He ate two pieces in a row before putting down the chopsticks.

Then he hurried to try the pickled ones.

The bamboo looked fresh and tasted tangy and spicy, full of flavor—so crisp and tender it even crunched.

The Ming household’s kitchen usually made mild dishes without strong flavors, so Ming Guanxin rarely ate spicy food.

At first bite, the sour pickled bamboo made his mouth burn, but it was as if some magical spice had been added—it set off a flood of saliva and made him want more, unable to stop.

The cold-dressed bamboo was sprinkled with some kind of fragrant leaf, finely chopped and mixed into the blanched shoots, giving it a uniquely fresh taste when eaten.

“That’s xiangru (aromatic herb). In the summer, we also use it for eggplant dishes.”

Seeing that Ming Guanxin wasn’t put off, Xiao Yuanbao rested his chin on his hand and explained what he’d used and how he made everything.

He didn’t bring any meat dishes—families like the Ming household definitely had meat at every meal.

No matter how good meat is, eating too much gets cloying.

But if you served a couple plates of refreshing appetizers to whet the appetite and cut through the grease, they’d be delicious and stand out even more.

His brother always said that when gifting someone, nothing beats catering to their tastes—it makes people the happiest.

“Bao Ge’er, you’re the best. You really remembered what I said, even went through all that trouble to dig bamboo shoots and cook them for me.”

Ming Guanxin’s eyes were sparkling as he spoke nonstop. “It’s so good. How can bamboo shoots be dressed this deliciously?”

“The kitchen knows I love bamboo. This season when bamboo is sprouting, it’s always bamboo every day—bamboo braised in chicken broth today; stewed quail with tender bamboo tomorrow; stir-fried pork with bamboo the day after.”

Ming Guanxin said, “I’m already sick of it, and I’m still round-faced.”

“No matter how good bamboo tastes, don’t eat too much plain like this or you’ll get a stomachache.”

Xiao Yuanbao laughed. “I don’t have much skill. If you like cold dishes, just ask your kitchen to make them for you. Next time I come, I’ll bring more for you.”

“If you get tired of it, like I said before, have them make mustard greens and bitter bamboo shoot soup—it’s guaranteed to be refreshing and light.”

Ming Guanxin immediately clung to Xiao Yuanbao. “Good brother, stay for lunch with me today. Let’s make that mustard greens and bitter bamboo shoot soup together. I’m still tired of all the greasy food from the New Year!”

Xiao Yuanbao laughed. “What kind of meat did you eat during the New Year to still be tired of it in April?”

“I’m just trying to keep you around, alright?”

“Fine, fine, whatever you say.”

The two of them had a great time inside before Ming Guanxin took Xiao Yuanbao to the small kitchen.

The little courtyard kitchen was big, with all kinds of pots and pans.

Ming Guanxin knew he was interested in cooking and even showed him a few sets of tableware he used regularly.

“Whichever set you like, I’ll have the kitchen use it to serve lunch today.”

Xiao Yuanbao looked at the large carved cabinet with a lock—inside were three complete, exquisite, and clearly expensive sets of dishware.

One set was made of silver, gleaming brightly. Plates, bowls, cups, chopsticks—it was a full eight-person set.

He lifted a cup lightly—it was smooth and finely made, not too heavy in the hand.

But taken as a whole set, it was certainly hefty—without a few hundred taels, you couldn’t even dream of buying it.

The other two sets were porcelain. One was a red glaze with multicolor patterns and unique designs.

The other was a bright celadon.

Xiao Yuanbao had never seen such fine porcelain before. Just touching it gave a cool, smooth feeling.

At home, he had a sky-blue petal-rimmed tea cup that Third Brother Zhao brought back for him from the prefectural city after his exam.

He treasured it deeply and rarely used it for tea. Before, he already thought it was the best cup in the world.

Coming to the Ming household today was truly an eye-opener.

“I’ve always liked bright, vivid colors. Between these two sets of dishes, I’d say the red-glazed ones suit my taste better. That bright celadon set is too plain.”

Ming Guanxin said, “But my father says that set came from an official kiln. I do think the quality’s quite good, so we keep it for entertaining guests. Those young masters and ladies from official families think silver bowls are too vulgar.”

No matter how composed Xiao Yuanbao usually was, seeing and smelling all this still left him quite shaken inside.

“If there’s a set you like, I’ll gift it to you.”

Xiao Yuanbao immediately waved his hands. “Please don’t go to such expense—I could never accept something like this. Even if you sold me off, I probably wouldn’t fetch enough to pay for it. You already gave me so much last time, I still feel bad about it.”

“What’s that worth? I’ve given those stuck-up young ladies and masters from official families even better cups. I like you—what’s wrong with giving you a set of dishes?”

Xiao Yuanbao replied, “Since you put it that way, I’ll thank you for the kind thought. But I’m not the same as those kids from official families. You have your reasons for socializing with them, and they can accept expensive gifts. I’m already very happy just to be treated as your friend.”

“They talk like their high birth makes them noble, always acting all aloof. But when I gift them something nice, they’re the first to snatch it up. Behind my back, they still say I’m vulgar, say our family is just common merchants.”

Ming Guanxin said, “But you, Bao Ge’er, remember what I like—you’re so thoughtful. To me, that makes you better than all of them.”

Xiao Yuanbao smiled. “You think so highly of me, I don’t even know what to say. How about this—when the day comes that I become a proper head cook, then you can gift me a fancy cup. How’s that?”

Ming Guanxin pouted, stayed quiet for a moment, then finally agreed: “Alright, we’ll do it your way.”

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