Volume One, Chapter Four: What Are You Planning to Do?

Yin Tiantian exhaled a sigh of relief as she returned from the mountains. She washed the jujubes she had gathered and placed them inside the house.

“Father, mother, young master, you all eat the jujubes first. I’ll go prepare the meal right away!”

The family’s rice and flour containers were nearly empty. She had sold the jade pendant for a good sum and planned to head into town later to purchase some food supplies.

Everyone—father, mother, and young master—needed to maintain their health, so nutrition was essential at this time.

“Father, mother, young master, I’m going to the city to buy some grain. Is there anything else you need?”

“We don’t really need anything else…”

The household was so poor it practically echoed; apart from grain and salt, the elderly couple rarely bought anything else.

Cui Heng thought for a moment and said, “Help me buy some brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.”

Those items would cost quite a bit… Shen’s mother opened her mouth but said nothing. Where would their family find the money for such luxuries?

Yin Tiantian nodded in acknowledgment.

“I’ve noted it down!”

She slung her basket on her back and stepped outside, unaware that Ergouzi was stealthily following her out as well.

To save time, Yin Tiantian jogged the whole way to the city and inquired about prices at the grain store. Rice and flour were expensive there, making purchases at the store unwise.

She squatted outside the grain shop, waiting for farmers selling their grain. The grain store would suppress their prices, but if she offered just a little more than the store, she could buy quality grain.

She spent one hundred wen on fifty jin of wheat and ten jin of soybeans. The seller even threw in two jin of red beans for free.

Millet cost ten wen per jin, and rice was fifteen wen. She didn’t dare buy too much—she purchased ten jin of millet and only five jin of rice, as the rice was shipped from the south and only available at the grain store, where prices were non-negotiable.

Her basket quickly filled.

There was no room left for wheat, so she had to carry it on her shoulder…

She hadn’t forgotten to buy the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for Cui Heng.

In her previous life, she had accompanied Shen Fuzhu to the capital and gained much knowledge. When helping him study and learn to read and write, she was the one who managed the scholar’s four treasures, so she could easily recognize quality items.

Yin Tiantian’s gaze lingered on the finest Duan inkstones, but sadly, they were too expensive. She settled for some of average quality…

Once she earned more money, she vowed to buy the young master something better!

“Who dumped this junk at the door? Almost tripped me up! Shopkeeper, hurry and throw these things out!”

A young gentleman dressed as a scholar kicked her basket and cursed under his breath.

“This is grain, not junk! If you break it, you’ll have to compensate me!”

Yin Tiantian quickly ran over and stood protectively in front of her grain.

Though she looked delicate, the large knife at her waist and her fierce expression made the man stiffen his neck and mutter that she was blocking the way. His companions laughed at him.

“Zhang, what are you acting for? You live off copying books and yet look down on farmers?”

“Farmers can afford to buy brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. When have you ever bought any? Stop borrowing mine without returning them—I might as well just give you mine!”

The scholar who mocked her flushed red but dared not retort.

“My mother is ill. I’ve been spending all I earn from copying books on her medical treatment. Next month, I’ll save up to buy ink and brushes!”

His companion patted his shoulder.

“Don’t hang around with us. We’re going to a banquet at Qionghua Building. You can’t even afford tea money, so just go back to copying books! Ha!”

The scholar’s face grew even redder. Ignoring Yin Tiantian, he spent two copper coins to buy a dozen sheets of cheap paper and left.

“Shopkeeper, what’s the use of buying cheap paper?”

Yin Tiantian handed the items she had selected to the shopkeeper. Though her purchases were neither many nor the most expensive, she was clearly knowledgeable and chose only the most practical things.

The shopkeeper sized her up. Despite her tattered clothes, her aura was distinctly different.

“That will be two taels and three qian of silver.”

Yin Tiantian winced at the cost, but the young master’s supplies could not be compromised. She took out the money from her pocket.

“He’s buying the cheap paper to practice calligraphy. Grass paper is the cheapest.”

Most families used grass paper for wiping; poorer households resorted to leaves, stones, or bamboo slips.

“Give me a dozen sheets of grass paper as well.”

The young master probably wouldn’t be used to such things. Her thoughts drifted…

She prepared to pay when the shopkeeper pushed the grass paper toward her.

“You’re straightforward, miss. I’ll give you a dozen sheets for free. If you need anything else next time, come to our Jufang Studio.”

Saving two wen, Yin Tiantian accepted the gift without hesitation, packed her purchases, thanked the shopkeeper, and hoisted the grain on her shoulder as she stepped outside.

She planned to buy some embroidery thread and fabric to stitch samples and try her luck at the embroidery workshop. She counted the money left in her pocket.

She would buy ordinary embroidery thread and cotton cloth. If they didn’t sell, they could still be used to make handkerchiefs or clothes for the young master.

After visiting a fabric shop, she spent another fifty wen.

The meat stall was out of meat for the day, so she postponed buying it and planned to get fresh meat from a nearby butcher tomorrow.

She bought five sesame cakes on the street for five wen, as there was no time to cook dinner—she would just make do for now.

“Big brother, two sesame cakes, please!”

Hearing the voice, Yin Tiantian looked up and locked eyes with the scholar carrying grass paper in one hand and two packs of herbs in the other.

Fate brought them face to face again. The scholar pretended nothing had happened, took the sesame cakes, and prepared to leave.

“Wait a moment!”

Yin Tiantian called after him. “I want to ask you something. Where do you get your copying jobs? Could you take me along?”

Earlier at Jufang Studio, she had asked the shopkeeper, who told her that copying jobs were hard to come by. Most books on the market were already printed, and those needing hand-copying were usually rare or treasured volumes.

Such books were rarely entrusted to strangers for fear of damage or loss.

To make money copying books, it was best to have a recommendation from someone trusted or be taken under someone’s wing.

She had practiced calligraphy with Shen Fuzhu in her past life and could write decently. If worst came to worst, there was always her young master, whose handwriting on her tombstone was as beautiful as his very person.

To earn money, she had to be bold and ask the scholar.

The scholar’s eyes flicked quickly.

“I’ll tell you if you lend me your scholar’s four treasures to use!”

Yin Tiantian’s eyes also twinkled.

“First tell me your name, where you live, and where you study. I’ve spent quite a bit on these items; I can’t just hand them over to a stranger!”

The scholar thought her words reasonable. She looked like a naive country girl who knew nothing, probably easy to fool.

“My name’s Zhang Jing, courtesy name Shoude. I study at the county academy and live at No. 18 Chang Le Alley.”

He reached out his hand. “Give me your things, or come to my place. I’ll return them after I’m done.”

Yin Tiantian responded with a mild “Oh.”

“Not today. I have to hurry home before dark. I’ll visit another time.”

She carried her goods but didn’t slow down. Zhang Jing watched her retreating figure, thinking she was easier to deceive than he’d thought.

He still had to copy books tonight. Without an inkstone and inkstick, what could he do?

Yin Tiantian paid him no mind. A man who tried to swindle her before even helping her into the trade was no gentleman. A man named Shoude should be called “Shameful” instead!

As she left the city heading toward Qinghe Village, she sensed someone following her. Afraid of being targeted, she quickened her pace.

The follower also hastened, footsteps drawing closer. Her hand rested on the hilt of her knife as she spun around sharply.

“Keep following me, and I won’t be polite!”

Ergouzi stopped abruptly, his eyes gleaming like a fierce wolf’s.

“What do you want?”