Volume One, Chapter 11: Hesitation Is Disrespect to Silver

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Bringing so many people back to her home, she realized there weren’t even enough bowls for drinking water. If they failed to entertain them properly, would it ruin the young master’s plan? Forget it, she couldn’t worry about that now. Her young master was truly impressive—one article had drawn such a crowd!

After walking for more than an hour, they still hadn’t reached their destination, and the vast convoy behind them had already thinned by half.

As they neared Qinghe Village, she spotted Er Gouzi darting back into the village gate in a flash. The other villagers hurriedly shut their doors upon seeing them and no longer came out to watch the commotion.

“Run quickly! The Hou Mansion folks are here again to settle scores!”

“Really, there’s a large group behind Tiantian, with more carriages than that day!”

Er Gouzi’s voice came from the Shen family’s courtyard.

“Er Gouzi, mind your own business! Come back here!”

Wang Cuihua grabbed Er Gouzi by the ear and dragged him out of the Shen household, just in time to run into them. Without a word, Wang Cuihua slammed the door shut behind them.

“Please forgive us, sir…”

Yin Tiantian rubbed her hands nervously, opened the door, and invited Mr. Song inside. A startled mother hen fluttered past Mr. Song’s face as he looked at the dilapidated Shen home.

“The young master capable of writing such an article grew up in this environment? You must be joking!”

Along the way, Mr. Song had initially enjoyed the scenic mountains and rivers, but as they went further, anxiety crept in. He feared he’d been lured into some remote wilderness to be robbed or worse.

A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall. Had it not been for the students following behind him, he might have found some excuse to return to the city halfway through the journey!

“Our young master grew up in the capital and has only recently returned! Please, sir, come in.”

Sincerity is an eternal trump card. Mr. Song clutched his chest and chose to believe her once more.

“Spring summons me with its misty scenes; great lands grant me their literature. Time is but a guest passing through a hundred generations; life drifts uncertainly. My current plight is humble—please forgive my inadequacy, sir.”

A calm, young male voice echoed from the humble room, harmonizing with the mood of the article. Mr. Song lifted the curtain and saw a young man seated by the bedside.

Cui Heng straightened his posture and bowed.

“I am student Cui Heng. Greetings, sir.”

They discussed scholarship, but Yin Tiantian could not follow. She went to the kitchen to heat water. Plain water would be impolite to offer guests, but since there was no tea at home, she brewed chrysanthemum tea with flowers freshly picked this autumn.

Wild chrysanthemums are naturally cooling and must be steamed before drying to remove bitterness, leaving only their delicate fragrance.

When she returned with the tea, Mr. Song was happily chatting with her young master.

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Cui Heng said, “Our home is humble; we have only a bowl of chrysanthemum tea. Please do not disdain it, sir.”

“To drink magnolia dew in the morning and autumn chrysanthemum petals in the evening—how could I possibly disdain it?”

Yin Tiantian nearly spoke up but remembered that in her previous life at the Hou Mansion, the first rule she learned was to keep silent—say less when not invited to speak!

She took the kettle and went outside to pour chrysanthemum tea for the waiting students.

“What rubbish! Our servants won’t even drink that! Take it away!”

The chrysanthemum tea favored by the gentleman was rejected.

Yin Tiantian thought these wealthy young masters were hard to please; it had been so in her past life too. Having spent half her life in the capital, she still couldn’t understand their arrogance!

They despised Shen Fuzhu as a dullard, uncultured and tasteless, so she studied and learned etiquette alongside him, yet they still looked down on him.

They also looked down on Cui Heng’s lowly status, but when he was the heir of the Hou Mansion, they praised his noble character. Everyone had approached him out of admiration for his talent. Now that he was no longer the heir, did his talent and virtue suddenly become worthless?

“Tiantian! Are you alright?”

Shen’s father and mother hurried back and saw Yin Tiantian being pushed by a servant. They quickly stepped forward to plead on her behalf.

“Esteemed guests, please forgive my son-in-law’s indiscretions. I kneel before you…”

Shen’s father, thinking they were people from the Hou Mansion, said, “All my faults, please punish me if you must, but spare my daughter-in-law!”

Yin Tiantian hurried to stop them both.

“Father, mother, please stand up. They are not from the Hou Mansion, and they haven’t harmed me!”

Laughter came from the carriage. The curtain was lifted, and several students laughed heartily.

“Hey, it wasn’t me who made you kneel. But if you kowtow a few times, I might consider giving you a silver ingot!”

Guo Shao’s eyes locked onto Yin Tiantian as he ordered a servant to toss a ten-tael silver ingot onto the ground.

Kowtow and get silver?

Shen’s father did not hesitate. Hesitation would be disrespectful to the silver!

Guo Shao laughed even harder, doubling over with his lackeys in amusement.

Yin Tiantian felt sad. Scholars value integrity, and her young master would rather return to the countryside than shamelessly cling to the Hou Mansion. Yet Shen’s father knelt for ten taels of silver to entertain others.

She could not blame Shen’s father. Could a country man earn ten taels in a lifetime?

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When one cannot even fill their belly, what use is dignity?

She simply thought these wealthy people were crazy. Whether nobles from the capital or this remote village, they all enjoyed mocking others for sport.

Shen’s father’s forehead reddened with joy as he picked up the money from the dirt and handed it to Yin Tiantian.

“Tiantian, I earned ten taels! Keep it safe and tomorrow buy some bones to make soup for Brother Heng!”

He remembered the doctor’s advice: to heal Cui Heng’s leg, he needed plenty of bone broth.

Cui Heng saw Mr. Song off, both standing under the eaves, catching this scene.

Mr. Song cleared his throat. Seeing them, Guo Shao and the students toned down their laughter somewhat.

“Sir, look at these villagers—selling their dignity for ten taels. What kind of talent can such people produce? In my opinion, you should not waste your time here. It’s nearly dark; I will escort you back so you can reach the city before nightfall.”

Mr. Song turned to Cui Heng.

“Huai Jin, what do you think?”

Cui Heng was actually a bit shocked. He had always thought Shen’s parents cared only for Shen Fuzhu, and had little affection for him, their son raised apart. He hadn’t expected they would go this far for him.

“I have burdened my parents with humiliation; that is my fault. If I were capable enough, I would protect my elders. Alas, I am still inexperienced and trapped in this countryside…”

“A capable person can soar to great heights at any time. Huai Jin, if you are willing to apprentice under me, I will introduce you to renowned scholars. When you take the imperial exams, your path will be smooth, and your current troubles will be resolved!”

Cui Heng bowed again.

“Thank you for your guidance, sir.”

He neither accepted nor declined, but Mr. Song left him a jade pendant.

“If you encounter difficulties in the future, bring this jade to the county school and seek me out.”

Mr. Song’s high regard for Cui Heng stirred some envy among the students. On the way back, they surrounded Mr. Song, eager to see his article. He took it from his sleeve and passed it around for everyone to read.

Zhang Jing did not leave with the others. To watch the spectacle, he had not copied books all day. With only tonight and tomorrow left, even if he did not sleep, he wouldn’t finish! Didn’t Yin Tiantian say she would help him copy?

He entered the room and placed the books on the table.

“I didn’t bring my writing tools. Let me borrow yours!”