Ch 91: Reborn to Raise My Husband

Qi Beinan returned home, changed out of his official robes, and put on casual clothing.

When he opened the door again, the sky had turned from clear to overcast, and a light drizzle had begun to fall. Autumn rain carried a chill—once the wind stirred, the cool dampness seemed to seep right into the skin.

Just as he was thinking how cold the falling rain made the osmanthus blossoms feel, Xiao Yuanbao came in carrying a steaming pot of soup.

“I meant to bring it sooner,” Xiao Yuanbao said cheerfully. “Qinjiang found two fine pomegranates somewhere, split them open, and they were large and bright red inside. He’s over in the kitchen sharing them with everyone.”

He set the pot down on the table and ladled out a bowl of soup.

“It really is sweet. I’ve long heard that the pomegranates here in the capital are good, and it’s no exaggeration.”

Qi Beinan inhaled the light, fragrant aroma of the broth. He realized he was indeed hungry.

He took a sip—the taste was rich and savory—and soon finished the entire bowl before using his chopsticks to pick at the tender pigeon and soft turtle meat within.

Xiao Yuanbao sat across from him, hands clasped, watching him eat with quiet satisfaction.

“Morning court must be tiring,” he said.

Qi Beinan smiled. “Even if it isn’t physical labor, thinking all day makes one hungry.”

He looked at Xiao Yuanbao. “The meal the office provides at midday—one meat, one vegetable—isn’t terrible, but compared to your cooking, or even the kitchen’s old matron, it’s far worse.”

Xiao Yuanbao chuckled. “There are too many officials to feed. It’s big-pot cooking—how could it compare to a small kitchen’s care?”

Qi Beinan replied, “That’s part of it, but it’s also meant to save on expenses.”

“Then eat less of it if it’s no good,” Xiao Yuanbao said lightly. “I’ll make proper food for you here at home.”

Qi Beinan smiled and agreed.

“Oh, right,” Xiao Yuanbao added. “When I went to the market today, I ran into a gentleman from another official household in this same alley. He’s quite talkative—invited me over for tea sometime.”

He explained which household it was and continued, “I sent Wenge out later to ask around. That family does belong to an official. The master serves in the Ministry of Works, surname Bao. But I couldn’t find out much about his character.”

Qi Beinan didn’t know this official Bao. Likely a minor one, but even a Shushi in the Ministry of Works held a sixth-rank post—technically above his own at present.

“Foolish boy,” Qi Beinan said with mild amusement. “How could you so easily learn a family’s private character in an official household? Ordinary people wouldn’t dare speak ill of them. And even those who gossip for money wouldn’t risk much unless you were close or offered a heavy purse.”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded. He supposed that made sense—Beijing’s errand-runners weren’t like the all-knowing gossips in the county, who spoke freely with friendly families like theirs.

“So then,” he asked, “should I go for tea or not?”

“Since they’re neighbors in the same alley,” Qi Beinan said, “there’s no harm in accepting a cup of tea.”

He added, “You only truly learn a person’s nature through contact. Rumors aren’t always right. Just be cautious and speak less, observe more.”

“I understand,” said Xiao Yuanbao.

After finishing two bowls of soup, Qi Beinan felt pleasantly warm. He remembered what Ren Heng had mentioned earlier that day—he hadn’t known whether the man was joking when he said he’d send someone to collect the goods Qi Beinan had brought from the county—so he told Xiao Yuanbao about it.

They went together to the storeroom and packed up a ham, two wind-cured ducks, and a box of dried mushrooms. Xiao Yuanbao thought for a moment and added two jars of pickled vegetables.

Qi Beinan felt reluctant to part with so much, but since it wasn’t emergency rations and they could always make more, he agreed to send it.

The next afternoon, a servant did indeed arrive to collect the items. Xiao Yuanbao handed over the neatly prepared packages. Translated on Hololo novels. The servant looked pleased to find everything ready, thanked them warmly, and left.

When Qi Beinan returned from the office that evening, Xiao Yuanbao told him about it.

“They sent five jin of longan, two jin of purple grapes, and a box of beautifully wrapped dried persimmons in return.”

He brought out the gifts for Qi Beinan to see. The longans were plump and glossy; when peeled, the flesh was translucent and sweet, the seeds tiny.

Even the ordinary market longans were expensive, so these high-quality ones must have cost a fortune.

The purple grapes were rarer still—their skins were firm, not soft, and could be eaten whole; instead of sourness, they had a crisp, sweet bite.

Most astonishing of all, they were seedless.

“This isn’t grape,” Qi Beinan corrected him with a small smile. “It’s called tizi—a foreign variety.”

He told Wenge to wash some for them to eat.

Xiao Yuanbao remembered hearing about such fruit from Madam Feng, who had described it as similar to grapes but denser and more fragrant. He had thought it sounded exotic then, and now, seeing it in person, he realized that was exactly what this was.

“These must be quite valuable,” he said. “Compared to what we sent, it doesn’t seem equal.”

Qi Beinan replied, “He was the one who asked for a gift first. Sending us these things shows regard, that’s all. To someone like Lord Ren, such items may not even count as extravagant.”

Xiao Yuanbao tilted his head, curious. “What sort of person is this Lord Ren, to give so generously?”

He recalled how the servant who came to collect the goods had been neatly dressed in fine cotton—his manner proper and polished, more like a young gentleman from a wealthy house than a common runner.

Qi Beinan explained, “The Ren family is an old aristocratic lineage—officials for generations, with many high-ranking members. Lord Ren’s great-grandfather and grandfather both served in the Grand Secretariat.”

Xiao Yuanbao sighed. “It’s surprising that someone of such standing doesn’t look down on our humble household.”

Qi Beinan said, “The higher their rank, the less they care about background when it comes to friendship. They act as they please, so long as their heart feels at ease.”

A few days later, Xiao Yuanbao accepted Jia Fulang’s invitation and went to his home for tea.

He kept his guard up—setting a time to go and return, and telling Qinjiang to keep watch. If he didn’t come back by the appointed hour, Qinjiang was to come looking for him.

Though he doubted anything would happen in broad daylight, especially in an official’s household, the incident back in the county at the livestock market had made him cautious.

He brought Wenge along. After announcing their arrival at the gatehouse, they were led inside.

Xiao Yuanbao noted that the Bao residence was larger than their rented house, but still only a small two-courtyard home—not particularly spacious.

He saw just a few servants moving about, two of whom he didn’t recognize, suggesting the household wasn’t large.

The furnishings showed a bit of official dignity but not much wealth—well-kept, but modest. Still, Xiao Yuanbao reserved judgment; perhaps the Bao family simply preferred not to flaunt their means.

“Ah, Bao Ge’er, you’ve finally come! I’ve been waiting for you. I meant to invite you earlier, but things came up the past few days.”

Jia Fulang greeted him warmly and called to a servant, “Go brew a pot of that Tieguanyin I’ve been saving.”

“I just came by for a visit,” Xiao Yuanbao said politely. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I only brought a small token. Please don’t mind.”

He exchanged a glance with Wenge, who stepped forward to offer the wrapped gift to the servant.

“You’re far too courteous,” Jia Fulang said with a smile. “You come for a visit and still bring presents? That’s unnecessary. Next time, no more of this—makes us seem distant.”

Still, he had the gifts taken inside.

He invited Xiao Yuanbao to sit on a luohan couch. Before long, tea and three plates of snacks were brought: osmanthus cakes—common this time of year—sesame crisps, and a bowl of pomegranate seeds.

Xiao Yuanbao noticed that all the dishes and cups were ordinary in make, though clearly official wares—simple but proper.

“Try this,” Jia Fulang said enthusiastically, using a handkerchief to serve him a piece of cake. “These osmanthus cakes were made by a master from Mixiang Zhai. They’re hard to buy even if you’ve the money.”

Xiao Yuanbao took it, tasted a bite, and found it soft—but cloyingly sweet.

He had never been to Mixiang Zhai, but Madam Feng had once told him it was one of the finest pastry shops in the capital, favored even by palace attendants.

He doubted such heavy sweetness came from that master’s hand. Smiling politely, he concluded Jia Fulang wasn’t telling the truth—either trying to impress an outsider or simply dressing up a modest treat for appearance’s sake.

“It does have a unique flavor,” Xiao Yuanbao said tactfully. “I’ve not been in the capital long, so I don’t yet know where the best pastries are.”

“Then eat more,” Jia Fulang urged.

“Our master often brings snacks home after work. I’ve grown tired of them, really.”

Xiao Yuanbao offered a light compliment. “Lord Bao and his husband are truly affectionate—how enviable.”

Jia Fulang smiled, pleased. “You’re quite the sweet talker. Tell me, have you been promised yet?”

Xiao Yuanbao didn’t want to lie outright, but neither did he wish to explain. He only lowered his head, feigning shyness, and nodded slightly.

“Don’t tease me,” he murmured. “I’m embarrassed to talk about such things.”

Jia Fulang laughed. “Nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re handsome and easy to talk to—if you weren’t engaged, I’d have tried to match you with one of my relatives. But of course, someone like you must already be spoken for.”

As he spoke, a small child—six or seven years old—came running in, shouting “Little Father!”

Jia Fulang quickly scooped him up with affection. “Oh, my little ancestor, slow down!”

“What’s this say?” the boy asked, holding up a blue-bound book filled with fine, dense characters—clearly an adult’s text, not a child’s primer.

He had likely snatched one of Lord Bao’s books.

Jia Fulang glanced over it and called toward the door, “Xiaocui! Come get the young master! How are you people watching him?”

Xiao Yuanbao’s brows twitched. The child was holding the book upside down, yet Jia Fulang didn’t seem to notice.

That told him a great deal.

A maid soon entered, lifting the child away. On her way out, the boy grabbed a piece of cake from the table and popped it in his mouth.

“My little one’s a rascal,” Jia Fulang said with a laugh. “You must think me foolish.”

“Children are meant to be lively,” Xiao Yuanbao replied politely. “It’s a sign of intelligence.”

Jia Fulang beamed at the compliment. “Tell me, do you read? My son’s taken to flipping through books lately—probably from watching his father in the study all the time.”

Xiao Yuanbao hesitated. He guessed Jia Fulang couldn’t read himself, and saying he could would only make the man uncomfortable.

He smiled modestly. “I was born a farmer’s ger. Never went to private school or academy, so I only know a few characters.”

Jia Fulang’s brow lifted slightly. “Being able to read or not doesn’t matter much for people like us. Coming from a farming family, you’re already from as clean and decent a household as one could hope for.”

Xiao Yuanbao smiled and agreed.

After chatting for a while longer over tea, he made his excuses to leave before dinner. When he did, Jia Fulang had his servants wrap up a few things for him to take home.

As soon as Xiao Yuanbao’s footsteps faded, Jia Fulang’s warm smile vanished. He lounged back on the luohan couch, sipping tea, and told his servant, “Open up the gifts that boy brought.”

The servant unfolded the bundle and exclaimed, “The two bolts of cloth that ger brought—these are rare indeed. Looks like the new ‘Wanyue gauze’ everyone’s chasing lately.”

Jia Fulang straightened at once. He hadn’t expected it. He’d only learned that the boy was from the countryside—a farmer’s ger, even lower-born than he’d thought—and not even of a family as good as his own had been before marrying into an official household.

Still, such a person managing to come to the capital was already remarkable.

He leaned forward eagerly as the servant brought the fabric closer. “It really is Wanyue gauze. They’re selling for more than ten strings of cash a bolt outside.”

He had wanted to buy some himself for a while but had never been able to spare the money.

“I thought that boy kept things plain,” Jia Fulang mused. “Didn’t expect him to have something this fine.”

“Perhaps his family has some wealth after all?” the servant suggested.

Jia Fulang snorted. “If they were wealthy, they wouldn’t be renting their house. Their master may be a Hanlin scholar and a jinshi, but surely people try to curry favor with him. How could there be nothing presentable in their home?”

“I saw when the congratulatory officials came—he was given plenty of gifts then.”

“So, will you keep close ties with them, then?” the servant asked.

Jia Fulang gave a derisive laugh. “This capital is full of snobs. Even if their master is a clean-stream Hanlin scholar, without connections, making a name here isn’t easy.”

He sneered. “You see? He’s already trying to curry favor with us. Even though his purse is tight, he still forced himself to send over this fabric—just to build some connections.”

“That country ger hasn’t any sense. Thinks a few bolts of cloth and three boxes of pastries can win over capital people. As if it were that easy.”

Jia Fulang smiled. “Still, he’s pleasant enough to call over once in a while for company.”

Then his eyes flickered with sudden cunning. “Right—the Lü household is hosting a banquet soon, aren’t they? They love throwing parties. With this fine autumn weather, there’ll be even more.”

His servant frowned. “That family may be high-born, but they treat those beneath them like dirt. Outsiders see them as gracious because they invite both the grand and the humble, but they don’t know how she delights in humiliating lesser guests for the amusement of the noble ones. The last time you went, you were mocked enough yourself. Why bring them up again?”

“You don’t understand,” Jia Fulang said smoothly. “Even being part of their jest keeps me within their circle.”

He chuckled darkly. “This time, I’ll bring that countryside ger along. He’s never seen such occasions—imagine how he’ll stumble and embarrass himself. When they’re amused, they’ll remember me kindly.”

The servant’s grin returned. “You truly are clever, Fulang.”

Later that day, Qi Beinan returned from court and asked about Xiao Yuanbao’s visit to the Bao household.

“They’re not very genuine,” Xiao Yuanbao said. “Care a lot about appearances.”

“At least now I have a better sense of them. They’re not good people, but I wouldn’t call them wicked either.”

Qi Beinan nodded. “People wear different faces. Everyone wants to appear respectable before others. Official families think differently—more guarded, more calculating. Not like the simple folk we used to deal with in the county.”

Xiao Yuanbao agreed. He didn’t yet know many official spouses and was still learning their ways.

Besides, he thought, truly kind people were rare. Everyone had flaws.

Even Xin Ge’er, sharp-tongued when they first met, had turned out to be upright and sincere once he got to know him. Small faults didn’t matter; what counted was a good heart.

“I’ll need to see Jia Fulang a few more times before I can judge his character,” Xiao Yuanbao said.

Qi Beinan gave him a long, thoughtful look, then drew him closer.

He didn’t like the idea of Xiao Yuanbao socializing with officials’ families. Memories of their past life stirred unease—he feared Xiao Yuanbao might once again become the target of those people’s cruelty and mockery.

Yet, to settle in the capital, they couldn’t avoid such circles. Even if not for politics, a person needed company—no one could live in isolation.

And Xiao Yuanbao, lively and sociable by nature, couldn’t simply be shut indoors as a quiet homemaker. That would be selfish.

He wanted Xiao Yuanbao to live freely, as he had back in the county—friendly, cheerful, surrounded by a few trusted companions.

Qi Beinan exhaled slowly. “In any case, I don’t oppose you meeting people. It’s not a bad thing. Just don’t force yourself—if something feels wrong, tell me, and we’ll think of a way together. Don’t keep unhappy things from me just because they involve officials’ households or you think I’ll worry.”

“You know I like hearing about the small, ordinary things too.”

Xiao Yuanbao smiled. “Then we won’t keep anything from each other—you don’t hide things from me, and I won’t hide things from you.”

Qi Beinan nodded and continued, “When you interact with those people, if any of them turn unpleasant—say things about your background, family, or supposed lack of refinement—don’t take it to heart. Don’t ever think it’s your fault or blame yourself. Think instead about what’s wrong with them.”

“Hating others is still better than turning that anger inward and wearing yourself down. Otherwise, how do they say it—evil lingers for a thousand years?”

Xiao Yuanbao laughed aloud. “I’ve only now realized that even you can be unreasonable at times. Aren’t you being a bit too biased in my favor?”

Qi Beinan replied calmly, “Not bias—just experience talking.”

It had been a long time since Xiao Yuanbao had seen him speak so earnestly. Smiling, he answered obediently, “Alright, I’ll remember what you said. I’ll listen to you, all right?”

A trace of amusement flickered in Qi Beinan’s eyes.

“Oh, that reminds me—I have some good news for you.”

“What is it?”

“His Majesty has decreed that the curfews in the capital and higher prefectures will be lifted. Business will be allowed day and night now. Those pleasure houses, taverns, and night stalls will do even better.”

Qi Beinan added, “Let’s wait to see how things go in Linzhou. The shop we hold there might be easier to lease out now.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yuanbao’s heart leapt with joy.

He quickly began calculating. “If we can collect rent from that shop, our days will be much more comfortable.”

Qi Beinan nodded. “When the lease money comes in, it’ll be just in time to use as part of our wedding expenses.”

Xiao Yuanbao’s face flushed slightly. “No need for extravagance. A simple banquet with the proper rites is enough—it shouldn’t cost much.”

“I was thinking,” Qi Beinan said, “since we’re marrying, renting a house feels temporary. We should buy one—settle into a home of our own after the wedding. It’ll feel more secure.”

Xiao Yuanbao’s eyes brightened. “That would be nice. I just haven’t gone to ask around about buying property yet.”

“When I get a rest day in a few days, we’ll go look together,” Qi Beinan said. “There’s still plenty of time—no need to rush.”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded happily.

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