Ch 59: Reborn to Raise My Husband

On the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, it was Little New Year.

From this day on, the county school began its holiday break, lasting for twenty-five days, with classes resuming only after the New Year celebrations.

The Xiao family had rushed to complete the construction of their house, and thankfully, it was finished today, just in time.

The estate was built simply. Using the Xiao family’s original courtyard as the inner yard, a new outer yard was constructed around it.

Stepping out from the original courtyard gate, there was now a small gatehouse on the left. To the right were two rooms, and further ahead stood the pens for livestock and poultry.

In the outer yard, a flat area double the size of the inner courtyard was paved as a threshing ground. To the west of the threshing ground was a granary, and on each side of the main gate were two additional rooms.

Tenant farmers who were brought in later would live in the outer yard, while the Xiao family continued to live in their original courtyard.

Apart from the slight inconvenience of needing to walk a few more steps to leave the estate, nothing else had really changed much from before.

A kitchen house had been set up in the outer yard. Several new people had joined the household—two strong men, Da Chu and Er San, along with Wang family of three: Madam Xiao, Old Wang, and their son Wang Tienan.

All of them moved into the outer yard housing and would no longer share meals with the main household.

According to the arrangement, Da Chu and Er San, being strong laborers, lived in the room to the left of the main gate so they could better guard the estate.

Old Wang and his family lived on the right side of the threshing ground, closer to the livestock pens.

Tian Ken moved into the room closest to the inner courtyard, next to the gatehouse.

Although there were quite a few people now in the household, space was ample. Even if four or five more people joined, there would still be enough room.

Since it was the time for the New Year’s deep cleaning, and the weather was clear and free of rain or snow, they took the opportunity to move into the outer yard and thoroughly cleaned both the inside and outside of the estate.

This way, they could enjoy a peaceful and comfortable New Year in a couple of days.

When Qi Beinan returned from the county school, a round red lantern was already hanging at the estate’s gate. Da Chu was on a ladder, while Wang Tienan held another red lantern in his arms, looking up as they prepared to hang the second one.

“You’re back, sir.”

Seeing Qi Beinan carrying his book chest back, both of them paused their work.

Wang Tienan sniffled from the cold and ran over to take Qi Beinan’s book chest. Qi Beinan said, “Keep hanging the lanterns.”

“Alright.”

Wang Tienan replied and returned to steady the ladder for Da Chu.

Qi Beinan picked up a small stick by the gate and scraped off the mud caked onto the soles of his shoes. After shedding nearly a pound of mud, his feet felt much lighter.

He tossed the stick aside, wiped the edges of his shoes on the grass, and finally stepped into the estate.

It was bustling inside. Madam Xiao was holding a basin of water, cleaning window frames and pillars.

Old Wang and Er San were carrying a winnowing machine from the inner yard to the outer yard storage.

Upon seeing Qi Beinan, everyone greeted him as “sir.”

Qi Beinan nodded and walked along the corridor on the left side of the threshing ground until he reached the gatehouse, where Tian Ken was bent over, moving his jars of pickled vegetables outside.

Originally placed in the inner yard, the jars were now moved to the empty space outside the livestock pens, where Tian Ken would later pile manure as well.

Once inside the inner courtyard, he noticed significant changes.

The old fence gate had been replaced with a new, sturdy wooden one. The pile of firewood once stored in the yard had been moved to the kitchen house in the outer yard.

All the random clutter had been cleared out, making the inner yard feel much more spacious.

The former storage room now vacated by Tian Ken was turned into a storeroom for Xiao Yuanbao.

The expansion project not only added the outer yard but also refurbished the inner yard.

The old tiles were replaced with better new ones, and reusable old tiles were repurposed for use in the outer yard.

The previously earthen floors were upgraded—stone tiles in the main hall and wooden floors in the bedrooms.

These renovations gave the old house a refreshed look, making it comparable to the new outer yard and not at all shabby in comparison.

Xiao Yuanbao planned to plant flowers and greenery in the inner yard, making it even more livable.

“You’re back!”

Xiao Yuanbao came out hugging a stack of red paper. Seeing Qi Beinan return, he joyfully ran over to greet him.

“You came back just in time, brother. We’ve been waiting for you to write the couplets.”

Qi Beinan switched out of his muddy shoes under the eaves and changed into a pair of clean cotton-lined ones, saying, “That’s a lot of red paper. How many couplets do we need?”

“We’ll need two for the inner yard, and of course, one for the main gate of the outer yard.”

Xiao Yuanbao pulled him toward the house, adding, “Also, we need a plaque for our estate. I’ve already contacted the carving master, just waiting for you to write the large characters so he can use them as a reference.”

Qi Beinan put down his book chest and said, “Steward Xiao sure has assigned me a lot of tasks.”

“Today’s the big cleaning day, and you’ve been hiding away in the county school for most of it. Now that you’re home, you can’t get away without doing some work.”

Xiao Yuanbao counted off on his fingers everything he’d done that day:

Directing Da Chu, Er San, and Old Wang’s family in moving houses, cleaning, and decorating both the inner and outer courtyards.

Though he didn’t do the heavy labor himself, he had to give instructions, follow along, and oversee everything. They kept coming to ask him questions too. He’d been talking all day, his throat parched, and he’d already drunk a full pot of water.

The house was now spacious and bright, everything was well-organized.

But going back and forth all day wasn’t any easier than walking to town and back twice.

Qi Beinan took the warm water handed to him by Xiao Yuanbao and couldn’t help but laugh at his chatter. “How big is our estate anyway? If you compare it to the large households in the city, at most it’s the size of a three-section compound.”

It’s just that being a countryside estate, theirs was not as intricate or refined as city homes. Plus, the large threshing ground made it appear bigger.

“That’s true, it’s still nowhere near as big as Xin Ge’er’s residence.”

Even though their house was built using the cheapest wood they could find, by the time it was all done, the ledger showed that it had cost sixty strings of cash—already double what his father had originally budgeted.

The initial low estimate hadn’t included renovations to the inner courtyard. But once the outer yard was completed, the inner one looked so old and worn it was no longer presentable.

Since they had some funds on hand, they decided to go ahead and renovate the inner courtyard too. They also chose decent-quality bricks and wood planks, so the costs naturally went up.

Also, their original land wasn’t big enough to build the whole estate—they had to take up some of the neighbors’ land.

That land had to be purchased no matter what. And thinking ahead, there might be future expansions, and it’s not convenient having other people’s property so close to your own.

So they simply bought enough to round out the entire lot.

Since Qi Beinan had passed the county-level imperial exam and held an official title, he went to negotiate with the landowners himself. He paid the market price, and the owners readily agreed to sell.

If it had been an ordinary merchant or even a wealthy farmer trying to expand their estate without the right connections, the neighbors would’ve refused to sell just to posture.

You’d have to raise the offer above market price for them to even consider.

Qi Beinan took a sip of the hot broth and noticed its sweetness.

He furrowed his brows slightly. “Did you add honey?”

Xiao Yuanbao replied, “It was a gift from the banquet. Since we were moving today and I’ve been talking so much, my throat was sore, so I mixed some with water to drink.”

Qi Beinan said, “Don’t leave food sitting too long. It’s better to eat it while it’s still good than let it spoil and go to waste.”

He added, “Are there any other pastries or sweets in the house?”

“They’re all gone. It’s been over a month—what kind of pastries or candied fruits can last that long?”

Xiao Yuanbao continued, “But there are still four packets of white sugar, two of brown sugar, and one of preserved fruit. Sugar keeps well, so we didn’t rush to eat it.”

Qi Beinan set down his cup and said, “Once the move is fully done, gather everyone together. They’ve worked hard all day, and with the new year around the corner, it’s time to reward them.”

“With the estate complete, it’s also time to set some household rules.”

When the house was under construction, the newly hired workers all lived in the inner courtyard. Though meals were served at separate tables, they still shared the same kitchen.

Qi Beinan, Xiao Yuanbao, and Xiao Hu were all kind and fair people, treating others generously.

But now the house was bigger and the number of people greater. Without clear hierarchy, people could grow complacent over time, becoming careless in their work and difficult to manage.

As masters of the house, they needed to maintain a master’s presence. No great household could function long-term without rules.

Xiao Yuanbao recalled a story someone told him: a peasant family suddenly came into wealth and bought a grand house, hiring many servants.

But because they were originally small farmers, they didn’t know how to manage servants. Even when mistakes were made or rules broken, they didn’t punish anyone.

At first, the servants were deeply moved and worked diligently, grateful to their masters.

But over time, as they ate well, dressed well, and were never punished even for their faults, they began to slack off. Not only did they become careless in their duties, they even started disrespecting their masters.

Some began to steal, misuse resources, or secretly sell the household’s possessions. Others used the master’s name to bully and abuse people outside.

Eventually, they brought legal trouble to the household, and the family fell into ruin.

Xiao Yuanbao didn’t know whether the story was entirely true, but it was certainly thought-provoking.

So he answered, “Alright. I’ll write down a draft of the rules for you to look over.”

While Qi Beinan worked on writing the couplets, Xiao Yuanbao began listing all the household rules he could think of.

Qi Beinan gave him guidance and corrected a few points.

That evening, after dinner in the inner courtyard, they sent Tian Ken to gather the people from the outer yard.

“Who’s going to speak in a bit?”

Xiao Yuanbao, seeing Tian Ken leave, snuck over to Qi Beinan and asked with a mischievous grin.

“You should,” Qi Beinan said. “In big households, it’s the fulang or the wife who manages domestic affairs.”

Xiao Yuanbao pursed his lips. “But I’m not a fulang yet.”

“Fulangs and wives don’t automatically know how to manage a household just because they’re married. They learn from their own homes first.”

Xiao Yuanbao didn’t answer but brought over a chair and urged Qi Beinan to sit.

“You’re a xiucai with a scholarly title. This is such a majestic thing to do—why don’t you do it?”

Qi Beinan smiled and said, “I already act majestic enough outside. I’ll let you be the one in charge at home.”

“No, no, you should be majestic both inside and outside the house. I’m just a young ger, still small. I can be majestic later—since you’re older, you should go first.”

Qi Beinan clicked his tongue. “In that case, why don’t we let Uncle Xiao speak? He’s the eldest.”

“Father’s not very articulate. He can’t even explain things clearly to us, let alone to them.”

At that, Xiao Yuanbao furrowed his brows and leaned in to whisper, “If we let Father speak, we might end up like that ruined household.”

After speaking, Xiao Yuanbao heard footsteps outside and suddenly panicked, leaning over the armrest of the chair.

“I—I’m just a little nervous. Brother, you should do the talking.”

Qi Beinan pinched Xiao Yuanbao’s cheek. “You should’ve just said so earlier.”

With that, he pulled Xiao Yuanbao to sit beside him.

Seeing Qi Beinan agree, Xiao Yuanbao’s eyes lit up again, and he whispered, “I’ll stand and listen to Brother speak.”

“Silly ger, I’m not setting rules for you. If you stand there listening, then when I finish talking, they still won’t listen to you later.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yuanbao thought it made sense, so he straightened his posture and sat properly on the chair beside Qi Beinan.

“Sir, they’re all here,” Tian Ken came in and reported.

Qi Beinan acknowledged him with a sound, slowly picked up his teacup, took a sip, glanced over the people in the room, and only when he saw they were standing in good order did he set the cup down.

“Now that you’ve moved into the new house, is everything settled?”

Madam Xiao replied, “In answer to Sir, everything is already in order.”

Da Chu added, “The west rooms are set too.”

Qi Beinan nodded. “These are new buildings—you all saw it yourselves—so it’s only natural there may be some oversights or inconveniences. If anything is missing or insufficient, tell Xiao Tian. If it’s truly necessary, it’ll be provided.”

Madam Xiao said, “The new house is spacious and clean. Sir has thought of everything; there’s nothing lacking.”

“That’s good. I’m busy and can’t always tend to every detail.”

“Bao Ge’er has been thinking of you all and spoke to me about it. The year’s end is approaching—aside from household duties, you all deserve to live your own lives as well. Starting this month, you’ll receive monthly wages. If you need anything, don’t feel embarrassed to speak with me, Bao Ge’er, or the old master.”

Upon hearing this, smiles visibly appeared on everyone’s faces.

They knelt and gave thanks to Qi Beinan.

“No need to rush with the gratitude,” he said. “In any sizable household, whether in town or countryside, paying wages to the help is standard. It’s just that until now we’ve been busy with the house and had no time to sort it out.”

Qi Beinan continued, “Our family may not be wealthy or own vast lands, but I’m still a xiucai, with some modest reputation. I can’t give you lives of luxury, but I can offer you a place where you won’t go hungry or cold.”

“Though the Xiao family is just a farm household in the countryside, we’re a proper family, and we have our rules. Today, I’m laying them down, and I want you all to listen carefully.”

“In this house, there’s no tolerance for thieving hands or corrupt hearts. If anyone works here but betrays the master, steals, or stirs up trouble, the punishment will be severe—either driven out of the house or beaten, depending on the offense. Don’t think you’ll get away with it. Once it happens, it can’t be undone.”

“That said, if you’re honest, dependable, and loyal to the household, then the household will not mistreat you. From wages to work assignments, everything will be properly arranged.”

By the time Qi Beinan finished speaking, everyone’s expressions had turned serious.

Then they knelt and expressed their loyalty.

“Sir bought us into the household. We will devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the family. Everything Sir says, we’ll keep in our hearts. If we make mistakes in the future, be it scolding or beating, we’ll accept it without complaint—from you, from Bao Ge’er, or from the old master.”

Qi Beinan looked at Madam Xiao, then at Da Chu and Er San.

Da Chu knelt and said, “What Madam Xiao said is what we all feel. Sir, Ge’er, and the old master are all kind-hearted people. We’re lucky to be part of this household, and there’s no reason not to give our all. If we mess up, Sir, just hit us hard with the stick.”

“Since I’ve received your loyalty, I’m pleased. But promises are easy to make—doing is harder. Time will tell if your actions match your words.”

“We won’t waver. We’ll serve Sir, Bao Ge’er, and the old master faithfully and dutifully.”

Only then did a smile begin to appear on Qi Beinan’s face. He nodded, then turned to Xiao Yuanbao. “Didn’t you say you prepared some New Year gifts for them? Go give them out.”

Xiao Yuanbao had been sitting with his feet together and hands folded, watching Qi Beinan speak. Even though the scolding wasn’t aimed at him, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Still, he listened with great interest.

All along, his brother had always seemed gentle and easygoing when interacting with others—polite, humble, and approachable, even with villagers.

He could hold a conversation with anyone from any walk of life and get along just fine.

But now, though he still wore the same familiar face, and though he didn’t speak harshly, there was a certain firmness and clarity in his tone. Every gesture exuded authority—not something you’d expect from an ordinary farming household’s son.

This was a side of Qi Beinan that Xiao Yuanbao hadn’t seen in all their years living under the same roof.

Unlike those newly rich families who buy servants into their homes and, lacking confidence, use excessive beatings and shouting to assert their dominance—

That kind of behavior, while it might establish control, lacks dignity. Outsiders see it and say the family is just a bunch of upstarts showing off their sudden wealth.

People don’t want to associate with such arrogant households.

Xiao Yuanbao didn’t know how to find that balance. He was afraid that if he spoke too softly, they wouldn’t take him seriously, but if he spoke too harshly, they’d call him a tyrannical ger.

It all boiled down to the fact that he’d never managed people before and never had the chance to see how proper households conducted themselves. So now, his heart was flustered and unsure of what to do.

Watching Qi Beinan handle everything today, Xiao Yuanbao felt like he’d finally gotten a small sense of how things were done.

It was just like when he was a child, going out with Qi Beinan, quietly standing by his side, watching how he talked and handled matters with others.

Back then, he hadn’t deliberately tried to learn anything, but after being around it so much, it had etched itself into his mind. As he grew older and started dealing with people himself, that same way of handling things naturally came to mind.

“Hey, now that they’ve received their New Year gifts, everyone can have a good, comfortable new year.”

Just as he and Qi Beinan had discussed earlier, Xiao Yuanbao handed out forty copper coins to each of the four adults, and twenty-five to Tienan.

That included thirty coins for the monthly wage, and ten as a New Year’s bonus.

Since the newcomers had only just arrived, they were all doing similar work, so it wasn’t possible yet to judge who was more capable or dependable—it would take time.

Everyone started from the same place; where they ended up would depend on their own efforts.

As for Tian Ken, he had been with the family longer and had already proven himself.

Naturally, his monthly pay was higher.

Now that new people had joined the household, Tian Ken was promoted to oversee them as the junior steward.

His monthly wage was increased from fifty to eighty copper coins, and for the new year, he was given a bonus of one hundred coins.

On top of the money, Xiao Yuanbao gave Old Wang’s family of three a roll of coarse fire hemp cloth, a packet of white sugar, a packet of soap pods, and two strips of cured smoked meat.

Da Chu and Er San received the same items.

Tian Ken was given a roll of finer cloth; the rest of the goods were more or less the same.

Everyone in the room had received their wages and New Year gifts—they were overjoyed.

After kowtowing to Qi Beinan, Xiao Yuanbao, and Xiao Hu, they took their things and returned to the outer yard.

Once the others had left, Xiao Yuanbao’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Qi Beinan. “Brother, you’re amazing!”

“Just because I said a few words?”

“You spoke so clearly, laying everything out in order, and it was in front of so many people—older and younger. How is that not amazing?”

The admiration in Xiao Yuanbao’s expression was clear: “If I can speak like that one day, I’ll really have grown capable.”

“And why not? You’re learning it all here at home—you’ll pick it up in no time.”

But Xiao Yuanbao started to worry. “I’m afraid I’ll learn all these skills for managing people, only to end up in a household with no servants. Wouldn’t that be a waste?”

“I can’t exactly use them to manage my in-laws or my husband, right?”

Qi Beinan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Off to the side, Xiao Hu said, “Then I’ll just buy two servants and send them with you to your husband’s house, so you’ll have someone to manage.”

Xiao Yuanbao laughed and ran over to Xiao Hu, patting his back. “Father loves me best.”

Qi Beinan shook his head with a smile.

“But seriously,” Xiao Yuanbao went on, “I used to think we’d never finish all the gifts we received from the banquet, but now with more people in the house, after just this one round of giving, we’ve already gone through a lot of it. Seems like we won’t be able to hand things out too many more times.”

Qi Beinan said, “That’s how it is when there are more people. They’re putting in labor and effort, making life easier for us. Naturally, we’ll need to spend more in return—we can’t be the only ones reaping the benefits.”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded.

Qi Beinan stood up and said, “The couplets should be dry by now—let’s go put them up.”

“Okay!”

Xiao Yuanbao happily went to fetch the rice paste and joined Qi Beinan in pasting up the spring couplets.

Cold wind rattled the dry, withered leaves on the trees. The buildings stood in the dim, gray dusk, cloaked in mist and drizzle.

The bright red couplets were affixed to the doorframes, complementing the red lanterns, adding a burst of color and festivity to the otherwise bleak winter atmosphere.

From the direction of the county town, a few bursts of fireworks bloomed in the sky—startlingly beautiful. They wondered which wealthy household had set them off.

The two of them stood in the courtyard, gazing up for a while. A sudden gust of cold wind slapped their faces, making them shiver. Then they huddled their necks and hurried back inside.

“In this cold weather, we probably won’t see spring until there’s a good heavy snowfall.”

“Let it snow then. Either way, we don’t have to wake early for the county school these days.”

“Then if it snows tomorrow morning, I’m sleeping in until the sun is high. Don’t you dare wake me for breakfast…”

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