Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 127

“In a couple of days, once you’re feeling better, why don’t you go study at the academy too?” Yu Jiao pressed the ruler down on the paper and turned to ask.

Yu Qizhe looked up at her, smiled faintly, and replied, “I have a plan for my studies, no need to worry.”

Yu Jiao recalled how he was always with his books, diligent and self-motivated, never needing to be reminded to study. She nodded in agreement.

Yu Qizhe rolled up his sleeves and, with smooth and fluid strokes, wrote four characters, “Man can conquer nature” (人定勝天).

His brushwork was forceful and bold, different from the neat and restrained characters he had previously written for Yu Jiao’s copybooks. The ending strokes faintly revealed a hint of sharpness, perhaps a reflection of his changed mindset, now filled with youthful boldness and ambition.

Yu Jiao gazed at the four characters, slightly dazed. To her, it felt more like fate had its own course. While man may plan, success ultimately rests with the heavens.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed the fraying sleeves of Yu Qizhe’s robe, the fabric washed so many times it had faded. She silently thought that it was about time Auntie Song was asked to buy a few bolts of cloth to make Yu Qizhe some new clothes.

Although Yu Ruhai hadn’t managed to get any silver from Yu Jiao, he still couldn’t bear to let Yu Jinyan and Yu Jinshu go without. He had Old Madam Yu take the brocade and cotton cloth that the Mu family had sent earlier and have it made into clothes for the two boys, so they could look presentable for the upcoming county-level exams.

As for Yu Zhizhou, who had also been accepted into the county academy and would be sitting for the same exam, not a word was mentioned about him.

Old Madam Yu had long been eyeing those two bolts of fabric. When Yu Ruhai gave the word, she cheerfully sent them to the third household and handed them to Madam Zhao, instructing her to have clothes ready for the exam in August.

Though Madam Zhao was lazy, she never cut corners when it came to her two sons. Seeing that the fabric was fine brocade, she grinned widely and ran her hands over it with joy. “Mother,” she said to Old Madam Yu, “Jinshu and Jinyan’s brushes are worn down to the nub. The boys are sensible and didn’t bring it up to you, but good brushes are essential for writing well, especially for the county exam. Do you have any extra silver for new ones?”

Over the years, Old Madam Yu had secretly saved a good amount of private money and had often used it to support the third household. Even though Yu Ruhai no longer practiced medicine, Yu Jiao had taken over and was earning well, she gave fifty percent of her consultation fees to the family. 

The last time, He Dongsheng had generously paid one hundred taels, giving Yu Ruhai fifty taels. So, at the moment, Madam Yu was fairly well-off. But sending Yu Zhizhou to the county academy had cost over ten taels, and soon they’d need to hire a reputable scholar to write recommendation letters for the county exams, yet another expense.

She and Yu Ruhai were both still thinking about Yu Jiao’s silver stash.

Seeing Old Madam Yu’s dark expression, Madam Zhao quickly changed her tone. “If money’s tight, then we won’t get the brushes.”

Old Madam Yu had always been generous when it came to the boys’ education. She went into her eastern room, dug out a bit of her private savings, and secretly slipped Madam Zhao one tael in broken silver. “Give this to Jinshu and Jinyan so they can buy new brushes. Use whatever’s left for paper and ink.”

Madam Zhao eagerly took the silver, stuffed it into her pouch, and massaged Old Madam Yu’s shoulders with a pleased smile. “You really dote on the second and fourth boys. If they pass and become scholars, they’ll surely repay your kindness tenfold.”

Mentioning Yu Jinyan and Yu Jinshu brought a fond smile to Old Madam Yu’s face. “I just hope they succeed, leave behind these common clothes, get an official post, and bring honor to the family.”

“I can’t say much about Jinshu,” Madam Zhao said with a hint of pride, “but Jinyan has been praised quite a bit by Old Master Gu from the county academy lately. He said Jinyan’s essays are quite well written. He might pass. He’s still young, if not this time, definitely three years from now.”

Old Madam Yu’s shoulders relaxed under Madam Zhao’s hands, and she looked more pleased. “Jinyan is clever and doesn’t need much supervision. But you’ll need to pay closer attention to Jinshu. Before the county exams, go find Matchmaker Wang and see if there’s a suitable family. We should settle his marriage soon.”

Madam Zhao had been thinking the same. If Jinshu failed the exam again, he’d be considered old for marriage, and having already broken off one engagement, even if it wasn’t their fault, it would still make future proposals more difficult.

“I’ll invite Matchmaker Wang over for tea tomorrow,” Madam Zhao replied.

Old Madam Yu nodded, her brows furrowing. “I did a rough count, Meng Yujiao must have saved up around a hundred and eighty taels. Damn, shame she’s holding onto it so tightly. Your father couldn’t even get a coin out of her.”

Madam Zhao also had her eyes on Yu Jiao’s money and had schemed many times to get at it. Hearing Old Madam Yu’s words, her eyes lit up with an idea. “Mother, I think I’ve found an excuse.”

Old Madam Yu turned to her, and Madam Zhao lowered her voice. “There’s been a lot of rain this year. Crops won’t do well. I was thinking the third household could open a butcher shop, earn some real money.” 

“If Jinyan becomes a scholar, we’ll need a fortune for his education and future exams. Nearby villages all go to the town for meat. I’ve looked around, and this could be very profitable.”

Old Madam Yu was tempted. A butcher shop in the countryside could not only sell meat but also offer pig slaughtering services and they wouldn’t be listed as merchants, avoiding the social stigma.

“But I doubt she’ll hand over the money. If we’d known she’d be so capable, we would’ve treated her better. After the beating Hanshan gave her… of course she holds a grudge. These days, only the second household is getting anything from her.”

Madam Zhao’s eyes gleamed. “I’m thinking of having Hanshan go talk to the second brother and get him involved. If he joins in, that girl will definitely fork over the money. Once we have it, we’ll kick the second brother out.”

Madam Zhao showed no mercy when scheming against the second household, and Madam Yu didn’t see anything wrong with it. Instead, she approved. “That’s a smart plan. Tell Hanshan to be extra nice to the second brother.”

“Hanshan’s got a silver tongue. Pulling the second brother in shouldn’t be hard,” Madam Zhao replied, clearly pleased with her own idea.

Later, when Old Madam Yu had returned to her room, Yu Hanshan swaggered in from outside, humming drunkenly. Zhao wrinkled her nose at the smell of alcohol. “Drinking again? The county exam’s almost here and you’re still not taking things seriously!”

Yu Hanshan, in a very good mood, didn’t argue. He flopped onto the bed, grinning.

Just earlier, after drinks, he’d wandered down the village path and happened to run into Li Xiu’e fetching water. Taking advantage of the dark, he helped her carry two buckets home and even copped a feel. Her soft, smooth skin still lingered in his mind, along with the way she’d panicked, blushing with shame.

“You got any more silver?” he asked Madam Zhao, resting his head on his hand.

Madam Zhao had never been guarded around Hanshan and knew he liked to drink. She pulled out her pouch and dumped out the one tael Madam Yu had just given her. “Just got this from Mother. Jinshu and Jinyan need new brushes, and we still have to buy paper and ink. You’re their father and don’t even bother with this stuff.”

Learning the silver was meant for his sons’ studies, Yu Hanshan lost interest. But he figured Old Madam Yu must still have some money stashed away. He made up his mind to coax some more out of her, he wanted to buy a hairpin to impress Li Xiu’e.

“Mother said she’s inviting Matchmaker Wang over tomorrow to discuss a marriage for Jinshu. Don’t go out drinking again. There’s something you need to do, and if it works, we’ll finally have some savings of our own. We won’t be strapped for cash anymore,” Madam Zhao said, stuffing the silver back into her pouch and lowering her voice.