Ch 49: Reborn to Raise My Husband

By the time Xiao Yuanbao left the Ming household, it was already later in the afternoon.

Ming Guanxin’s maternal aunt had come to visit, and his mother had called him away to receive the guest.

So he didn’t come out to see Xiao Yuanbao off.

“Just now I saw a fancy sedan chair at the gate. Who came to the house?”

“It’s Second Young Master’s aunt—she went to the main madam’s courtyard and they’re chatting now.”

As Xiao Yuanbao walked through the corridor, he heard a particularly soft and gentle voice.

He looked up slightly and saw a young lady walking gracefully out of the garden, her hair styled in the current city fashion—a flower-and-moon bun—and dressed in a soft goose-yellow gown.

Her jade-white hand held a round silk fan, with fine dark brows and bright, lively eyes.

She had an exceptionally beautiful face.

Xiao Yuanbao had always liked pretty things. He’d seen people with delicate features and proper appearances before.

But he had never seen a young lady this stunning—it caught him completely off guard, and for a moment, he was dazed.

“This young ger looks unfamiliar. May I ask who…”

Ming Youtang looked at Xiao Yuanbao with her bright eyes, puzzled.

Hearing that soft and gentle voice was like a spring breeze brushing across Xiao Yuanbao’s face.

He belatedly returned her greeting with a polite bow.

“This is Xiao Yuanbao, Bao Ge’er, whom Second Young Master invited to the house as a guest. He’s just about to head home.”

The maid escorting Xiao Yuanbao introduced him to Ming Youtang.

“So he’s my second brother’s friend.”

Ming Youtang looked over Xiao Yuanbao with a mild smile. “Second Brother invited a friend over, yet didn’t call me over to meet him.”

“Bao Ge’er, if you’re not in a hurry, why not come sit for a bit in my courtyard?”

Xiao Yuanbao replied, “Thank you for your kind offer, elder sister, but my home is far, and it’s getting late—I’m afraid I won’t make it back in time.”

“In that case, I won’t insist.”

Ming Youtang said, “Next time you come visit the estate again, you must come have tea at my courtyard. Second Brother’s friend is also my friend.”

Xiao Yuanbao expressed his thanks.

The young lady lifted her hand and took a sachet from a servant, offering it to Xiao Yuanbao as a greeting gift.

Seeing that it was just a scented sachet—not something too valuable—he accepted it with thanks.

Only then did he bid farewell and leave.

Once the corridor turned a corner and no one was in sight, Xiao Yuanbao asked the maid beside him, “I only knew Guanxin had a brother—I didn’t realize he had a younger sister too?”

The maid glanced at the sachet in his hand, then pressed her lips lightly before replying:

“She’s a daughter from the second branch, called Ming Youtang.”

Xiao Yuanbao’s brow moved slightly—so she was a concubine-born daughter.

He looked again at the sachet in his hand and thought she seemed quite kind and well-mannered.

“Was that ger really a guest invited to Baozhu Pavilion?”

“Yes, this is already his second visit. He came in the morning, and Second Young Master even had him stay for a meal.”

Ming Youtang lightly covered her nose with her scented fan, her lovely eyes showing a hint of distaste.

“Look at that plain cloth outfit—not even as nicely dressed as the kitchen maids in our household. Who knows what countryside village that ger came from.”

Ming Youtang chuckled and turned to the servant woman beside her. “His eyes stared straight at me like I was a goddess—clearly someone who’s never seen the world. It’s rather amusing.”

The older maid replied, “Miss, you’re so beautiful—who wouldn’t look at you? That ger is from the countryside—how could he have seen a noble lady like you before?”

Flattered, Ming Youtang smiled, pleased. “Coming out of my chubby Second Brother’s courtyard and seeing me—it’s no wonder he looked amazed.”

“But it is odd—my second brother has a proud and willful temper. He never gets along with village folk. Why would he let that ger stay for a meal?”

“Maybe that ger is good at flattery and managed to please Second Young Master.”

Ming Youtang shook her head. “Doesn’t seem like it. That one didn’t look very clever—doesn’t seem the type who knows how to curry favor.”

“Slip a few coins to someone in Baozhu Pavilion and ask around—maybe there’s some fun gossip to be had.”

After leaving the Ming estate, Xiao Yuanbao didn’t head straight home. Instead, he turned toward the inn where Qi Beinan was staying.

Though the exam had already ended and it was getting late—he wouldn’t be able to stay long—it still felt right to stop by since he’d come into town.

“Xiao Bao!”

Qi Beinan was carrying his book box and walking back from the exam hall. From afar, he saw a familiar figure waiting outside the inn and hurried over.

Xiao Yuanbao saw Qi Beinan returning and happily stepped forward.

“Was the prefecture exam tiring?”

“Pretty much the same as always.”

Qi Beinan had a smile on his face as he led Xiao Yuanbao inside. He asked the inn staff to bring up one cup of sweet tea and one cup of fresh tea.

“Is this the same room you stayed in last time?”

It was Xiao Yuanbao’s first time stepping into the inn room. He noticed the setup wasn’t too different from their own rooms at home.

There was a bed, a table, a washstand—everything was quite complete.

“Yes, same room. It’s decent enough, so I didn’t bother looking for another place.”

“This is already a premium room. They even brought up hot water, and there’s so many furnishings.”

Qi Beinan said, “Costs eighty copper coins a night.”

Xiao Yuanbao walked a round through the room and laughed. “As long as it’s convenient, it’s worth the price. It’s not like you stay at an inn every day.”

He sat at the table and asked, “Did your exam go smoothly, brother?”

Qi Beinan smiled, “You came all this way to check on me—whether it went well or not, it now feels like it did.”

“Who said I came to check on you? I was visiting the Ming family today—just came to see you on the way.”

Xiao Yuanbao lifted his chin proudly and said, “Guanxin even had me stay for lunch. We had quail soup, bone-in lamb, eight-treasure duck stew, and sweet fruit porridge…”

He listed all the dishes one by one, then rested his chin in his hand and said to Qi Beinan, “I’ve realized that wealthy households really do have different dishes than ordinary ones. Things like lamb and quail—I’ve hardly ever eaten them. Even when I’ve gone out with my teacher to cook for banquets, no one ever prepares those kinds of meats. I don’t even know how to cook them.”

Qi Beinan said, “That’s because those meats are expensive. Poorer families might only eat meat a few times a year. Even families that are better off still choose more economical meats for everyday meals. The cost of a portion of lamb could get you three portions of pork. And quail, though tender and flavorful, is only half the size of a hand—how many bites can one family even get?”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded. He understood these things.

He had once thought he was quite impressive—still young and already able to cook many dishes. His teacher often praised him for being diligent and full of potential.

He had been somewhat proud, thinking that by the time he was thirteen, he’d surely be able to take over the kitchen.

But after just two visits to the Ming household and getting the smallest taste of a broader world, he’d immediately realized how much he lacked.

Leaving everything else aside, just talking about cooking alone, there was so much he still didn’t know.

Right now, all he really knew were basic street-style dishes. As for the everyday family-style dishes served in wealthy city households—there were so many he didn’t know how to make at all.

No wonder, he thought, that the first time he went out with his teacher to cook for a client, the host still brought in a city cook to elevate the banquet.

Back then, he didn’t like how haughty the city cook acted—but in terms of experience, the city cook really did have much more exposure.

“If I stay in the village my whole life, the skills I learn from my teacher would be enough. But if I want to work in town, these street-style dishes just won’t cut it.”

Qi Beinan gently pinched Xiao Yuanbao’s cheek. “Our Xiao Bao is learning to reflect on himself. Very good.”

“Looks like visiting the Ming household wasn’t a waste.”

Xiao Yuanbao brushed off Qi Beinan’s hand. “I’m being serious, and you’re teasing me.”

Qi Beinan smiled, then said seriously, “Even if we take the most cautious outlook, and say you’ll only ever live and work in the village, it would still be wise to learn some county-style dishes.”

“Hm?”

Xiao Yuanbao looked up.

“Think about it—if you can cook both village-style and city-style food, wouldn’t that set you apart from others? In the village, they’ll look up to you. And in the county, no one will be able to look down on you.”

Xiao Yuanbao’s eyes lit up. “That’s true! I really do need to keep studying hard.”

After a moment, he added a little gloomily, “I want to, but my teacher doesn’t really know city dishes either. Who can I learn from?”

Qi Beinan said, “Take your time. As long as you’re willing, the opportunity will come. First master everything you can learn now—then when the chance to learn something new appears, you won’t be overwhelmed, right?”

“Mm.”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded.

Admiringly, he pinched the sleeve of Qi Beinan’s robe.

All these years, whenever something troubled him, as long as he talked to his brother, he’d always find clarity.

The inn staff brought in two cups of tea. Xiao Yuanbao quickly went to take them and drank a sip.

The afternoon heat and their chatting had made him thirsty.

The sweet tea was tasty, fragrant with just the right amount of sugar—though it was a bit too sweet, and drinking too much left a cloying aftertaste.

He picked up Qi Beinan’s fresh tea and had two sips before stopping.

“Oh right, I saw a young lady at the Ming household today—she looked just like a fairy. Brother, have you seen her before when you visited?”

Xiao Yuanbao took a sachet from his robe. “Look, she even gave me this. She spoke very gently and seemed very kind.”

Qi Beinan looked at the light green sachet. It was made of lower-quality satin, embroidered with zinnias.

His brow furrowed slightly. He picked it up and gave it a little squeeze. Just as he suspected—there were coins inside.

“Why are there copper coins in here? I just slipped it into my robe when she gave it to me. I hadn’t looked closely.”

Xiao Yuanbao looked at the six copper coins inside, surprised. Did people in wealthy households really have a habit of stuffing money in sachets?

Qi Beinan asked, “Do you know who this girl is?”

Xiao Yuanbao replied, “They said she’s from the second branch.”

Qi Beinan carefully rewrapped the sachet. “If you ever run into her again, try not to get too close.”

“You haven’t met many people yet. Most of the folks you know are simple and straightforward. But big households like that are complicated—many people aren’t what they seem.”

Xiao Yuanbao looked a little puzzled. “Is there something wrong with the sachet?”

“Zinnias grow fast and are tough, so they carry good meaning. But in big households, sachets with zinnia embroidery are usually used as token gifts for servants. If there are coins inside too—then it’s definitely a servant’s reward.”

Xiao Yuanbao stared in slight shock.

So when Ming Youtang gave him that sachet, she was… giving him the kind of thing used to pay off servants?

Qi Beinan hadn’t really wanted to tell Xiao Yuanbao all this—but since he was getting closer to Ming Guanxin, it was likely he’d run into Ming Youtang again sooner or later.

Better to give him a little heads-up now, to avoid getting hurt later.

Seeing how dejected Xiao Yuanbao looked, Qi Beinan said, “The world is full of all kinds of people. You can’t expect every encounter to be with someone kind.”

Xiao Yuanbao responded with a quiet “mm.”

Seeing that it was getting late, Qi Beinan walked him all the way to the city gates. Only after watching him get onto the ox cart did he turn back.

The next day, there were two exams—one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The schedule was tight.

Qi Beinan read over the questions but didn’t draft anything first—he went straight to writing on the final answer sheet.

He finished the required policy essay in under 300 words.

Then he sat calmly and waited for time to pass, handing in his paper when the invigilators came around.

…

Ten days later…

“I hope he made the list… he has to make it…”

Qi Beinan heard soft muttering beside him and turned his head.

It was Zhao Guangzong, hands clenched tightly, a sheen of cold sweat on his forehead, his face filled with anxious tension.

“Look at you—you’d think I was the one waiting for your exam results, not my own.”

Qi Beinan chuckled. “Why are you so nervous?”

“I’m just worried no one will go with me to the academy entrance exam.”

Zhao Guangzong said, “I’m not praying for your results, I’m praying I won’t be going alone!”

Xiao Yuanbao added, “Brother always looks so unfazed. Everyone back in the village thinks you’re just planning to take the exams again in a few years.”

“Villagers always love to worry over nothing.”

Zhao Guangzong said, “When I was waiting for my name on the list last time, I wasn’t this nervous. Everything felt so unreal, I just dumbly stood there until Bao Ge’er said I passed.”

“I didn’t even think much about anything. But now that I’m waiting for your results, I feel much more clear-headed.”

“That’s because Chen Fuzi scared you so badly last time you went numb—even forgot to be nervous.”

“You two—shush!”

Xiao Yuanbao suddenly called out, “The red list is here!”

A buzz swept through the crowd below the notice board, then quieted.

Then came a shout: “I made it! I made the list!”

The sounds of joy and disappointment mingled beneath the board.

Some people started whispering with curiosity, pointing at the top of the list: “Isn’t the first name the same as the one who topped the county exam back in February?”

“It is! I remember clearly—it’s Qi Beinan!”

“Who is this person, to be so steady and strong—first place in both rounds. Could he be from some high-ranking family?”

“Is he here watching the list? I want to catch a glimpse of what he looks like.”

But by then, Qi Beinan, Xiao Yuanbao, and Zhao Guangzong had already left the announcement area and were walking toward the busy market.

With Qi Beinan’s results, reading the list was effortless. One glance was enough—no need to search line by line.

Zhao Guangzong and Xiao Yuanbao were still glowing with joy, wide grins stuck on their faces.

Only Qi Beinan remained as calm and steady as ever, showing little excitement.

Not because he didn’t know how to be happy, but because he had already gone through the entire emotional cycle—anxiety, tension, hope, the joy of seeing his name—all of it, many times before.

And after all, this was just the prefecture exam.

He had experienced far bigger storms, while those around him had yet to even take their first real step outside their small world.

Though he had yet to take the academy entrance exam that would truly step into the scholar-gentry class, for an ordinary farming household, passing two exams in a row and becoming a tongsheng was already an achievement worthy of bringing honor to the ancestors.

Still, Qi Beinan didn’t want to make a show of it. He told Xiao Yuanbao and Zhao Guangzong to simply say he made the list if asked, and not to mention the top score.

“You’ve always had a calm temperament. When I passed the prefecture exam, my father was so happy he went half mad—banging drums and all. I got so caught up in the noise that I completely messed up the academy exam afterward. You’re doing well. If you want to celebrate, wait until after the June academy exam.”

Qi Beinan was pleased to see that Zhao Guangzong, after two years at the county school under good teachers, had grown steady and level-headed.

After seeing the list, he told Zhao Guangzong to head back first. The academy exam was near, and this visit to the board had already cost half a day of study.

Though they would take the exam together, their circumstances were different.

Qi Beinan wanted him to make the most of every moment to study.

He and Xiao Yuanbao didn’t linger in the city either.

They bought two jin of marinated meat, a roast duck, and a pouch of mixed offal, happily heading back to the village.

Xiao Hu was working in the fields that day, and he and Tian Ken had both looked toward the road several times.

Villagers working the land greeted them along the way, stopping to ask about the exam results.

Near noon, they finally arrived home.

The household was overjoyed, even the usually quiet Xiao Hu opened a jar of good wine and said they must host a feast for Qi Beinan.

“Can’t do that, Uncle Xiao. It’s April, and we’re right in the middle of the busy farming season. Hosting a feast takes time and effort—not to mention, even if I passed the prefecture exam, there’s still the academy exam in June.”

“Time is already tight. Spending it on hosting, entertaining guests—none of that is worthwhile right now. If I’m lucky enough to do well in the academy exam, then wouldn’t a proper banquet then be even better?”

Xiao Hu listened and agreed it made sense, though he still looked a little disappointed. “It’s a shame not to celebrate such great news. In recent years, aside from the village chief’s son Guangzong passing the tongsheng exam, no one else has done it.”

Qi Beinan poured a cup of wine for Xiao Hu and said, “I plan to continue down the path of the imperial exams—there will be plenty more chances to celebrate in the future.”

Xiao Hu paused slightly, giving Qi Beinan a long, thoughtful look.

This boy… he had ambition.

“When I first came to the Xiao family, I made a promise to Uncle Xiao—one I’ve never forgotten. What I said I’d do, I will do.”

Xiao Hu’s brows lifted. Back then, Qi Beinan had promised he’d achieve success in the exams, gain official status, and use that to protect and care for Xiao Bao.

At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it. People often make grand promises when they’re in need.

But seeing him now, it seemed he’d been sincere all along.

Maybe… maybe Xiao Bao really would be that lucky in the future.

“What promise? What are you talking about keeping?”

Xiao Yuanbao came out holding a plate of marinated meat and overheard their conversation, asking curiously.

“They were saying you’ll have good fortune in the future.”

Xiao Hu patted Xiao Yuanbao on the head, his smile warm and content.

“But it’s brother who passed the exam. Why am I the lucky one?”

Xiao Yuanbao grinned. “Father, are you drunk before even drinking?”

Qi Beinan and Xiao Hu both chuckled and didn’t say any more about it.

˙✧˖°🎓 ༘⋆｡ ˚