The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 92

“Brother, why are you sitting here copying books?” Li Wenxuan had been watching for a while before suddenly asking the question.

Li Yiran was startled. His hand trembled, making his writing go sloppy. He looked up at Li Wenxuan. “Wenxuan, why are you here?”

“Amu’s worried about you, so I came to see. Why are you copying books?” As he asked, a certain possibility crossed Li Wenxuan’s mind.

“It’s nothing. Copying helps me remember better. My hand’s just a little sore—no big deal.” Li Yiran kept a calm expression, as though there was nothing surprising about it.

“Brother, you haven’t memorized this book yet?” Li Wenxuan frowned as he picked up one of the copied volumes. 

On the cover were three big characters: Three Character Classic.

Li Yiran was stunned, then smiled. “Reviewing the old to understand the new!”

“You’re still laughing!” Li Wenxuan was clearly holding in his emotions. “Are you out of money?” He asked it very directly—there was no need to be overly polite between brothers.

Li Yiran’s expression froze, then he gave a helpless nod. “You figured it out.”

“Where’s your money? You should’ve saved up quite a bit over the years, right?” At the very least, he should have had enough to go to the capital.

“It’s all gone.” Li Yiran didn’t want to explain too much.

Li Wenxuan understood after only a moment’s thought. “Is it that family? They took all of it? I’m going to find them.”

He turned to leave, but Li Yiran stopped him.

“No need. Just treat it as giving them the money. She’s still my wife, and now they have the support of a judge. Without solid evidence, there’s no way to get it back.”

Li Wenxuan stopped in place. “I didn’t think it through. But Brother, why didn’t you tell us? We could’ve figured something out together!”

Li Yiran smiled bitterly. “How could I keep burdening you? You and Father and Amu have already worried enough about me.”

“What are you talking about? How can you say that about your own family? None of this is your fault. Brother, come back with me. We’ll go back and figure this out together!”

“No need. I’m an adult—I have my own plans. Wenxuan, go home first. Don’t tell Father and Amu.” After speaking, Li Yiran lowered his head and resumed copying.

Li Wenxuan stared at his brother, feeling both frustrated and helpless. He was so stubborn!

After he left, Li Yiran looked up and watched his brother’s fading figure with a complicated expression. He couldn’t drag his family down with him.

At that time, Li Yiran only had the title of xiucai. According to the new imperial regulations, as long as he worked in the government for five years, he wouldn’t need to take the juren exam—he could go directly to the capital exam. The prerequisite was that his superior issued a certification letter.

He had planned this long ago, so the certification letter had already been prepared. However, if he were to take that letter to the Ministry of Revenue to exchange for examination eligibility, a layer of flesh would surely be carved off. The silver he had earned over many years had barely been enough, but after this upheaval, hope had become very slim.

If he told his family, this once-happy household could fall into hardship again. 

How could he be so selfish?

Maybe… he just wasn’t fated for this. Every time he got close to his dream, something always went wrong.

Li Wenxuan walked all the way home, feeling deeply sorry for his brother.

Back when misfortune suddenly struck the family, his brother had already obtained the xiucai degree. But if he continued studying, one of them would have to be sacrificed. At that time, Wenxuan had already made arrangements with villagers to go work with them so his brother could keep studying. When his brother found out, he had beaten him fiercely.

The next day, his brother tore down the recruitment notice posted outside the county office and applied to work as a clerk.

Li Wenxuan had always known—his brother had regrets.

Although Li Yiran had told him not to say anything, the first thing Li Wenxuan did after returning home was to tell his parents everything.

When Li Yiran returned home from a full day of copying books, he was met with a full-blown family tribunal.

His parents were seated on the main chairs. Li Wenxuan and Tian Xiaoman sat beside them. Even little Le Ge’er brought over a small stool to join in.

“Yiran, you’re back.”

“Father, what’s going on?” He pretended not to know. Obviously, Wenxuan had told them everything.

“How could you keep this from us?” Li Amu glared at him.

Li Yiran smiled faintly. “It’s nothing. Telling you would only make you worry more. I’ve already decided to give it up.”

“Give up?! If you were the type to give up easily, we would be at peace. But you’re not! You’ve dreamed of being the top scholar since you were little. You studied so hard, and you were famous across the county! We’re the useless ones—we made you give up your studies for the family!” Tears streamed down Li Amu’s face as she choked with emotion.

Le Ge’er saw his grand-amu crying and, though he didn’t understand much, started crying too.

Li Yiran stepped forward and knelt before his Amu. “Amu, why say that? If I, as a son, don’t step up to help the family when needed, how am I worthy of being called a man? This is just my fate. It’s no one’s fault. I really have given up.”

“If you say that you have to help the family as a son, then as your Amu, if I can’t help fulfill your dream, I might not be able to die in peace!” He helped him up as she spoke.

“Money is just worldly possession. You’re born without it and leave without it. I understand why you didn’t fight with Meng Ge’er’s family. That relationship ends here. But isn’t this money the same? You and Wenxuan are both filial. Then your father and I have no need to save for emergencies.”

“No!” Li Yiran refused firmly. How could he take all of their emergency savings? It wasn’t fair to Wenxuan.

“Wenxuan and I already talked. This money is your share when we divide the family in the future. Anyway, your father and I are still young. From now on, you won’t get any share of what we earn.” Li Amu was very open-minded about it.

“That’s right, Brother. We’ve agreed already. This money from Father and Amu goes to you first. Xiaoman and I also have over 100 taels. We’ll lend it to you—don’t forget to write me an IOU!”
Li Wenxuan said cheerfully.

Tian Xiaoman saw that he was still hesitating and quickly added, “Yes, Brother, just take it! I’ve always wanted someone in our family to become an official—then I can ride the coattails a bit!”