Zhao Ce had already reached the city gate, having earned some money. On his way back, he didn't hesitate to spend a penny and hopped onto a cattle cart that was heading in the same direction.
He took out the bamboo tube from his book box and took a sip of water before noticing a few copper coins in another compartment. He wondered what the little girl at home had been up to.
He then emptied the new purse he had obtained and found a silver ingot worth five taels and a wooden plaque with a number on it. He didn't know what the wooden plaque was for and regretted not asking about it earlier.
After some thought, he put the wooden plaque and silver ingot back into the purse. Today's earnings were quite good and Zhao Ce was in a good mood, even ignoring the growling in his stomach.
When the cattle cart reached the village, Zhao Ce got off and walked towards his home with his belongings. It was probably around noon at this point, and many people had finished their first meal of the day and were sitting under the big acacia tree to chat and cool off.
The topic of conversation revolved around the new face that they had seen in the village earlier that day - the little girl.
When they saw Zhao Ce returning with his book box, the topic shifted to him.
"The Scholarly Star-Lord has returned!" "Why did Mr. Zhao go to the city today when the academy is closed? Is it because the teacher gave you special treatment?" Some restless aunties raised their voices.
Everyone's attention was drawn to him. However, when they looked at him, they realized that the scholar they were used to seeing, who always had a hunched back, was now standing tall with a calm expression. It was like he was a different person.
They must have been mistaken... Zhao Ce listened to their words and couldn't help but shake his head. His nickname was too much. Scholarly Star-Lord, Top Scholar Lord, Mr. Zhao... everyone in the village had a nickname for him. All sorts of nicknames came out of their mouths.
However, when he thought about how the original owner had taken these as genuine admiration from the villagers, Zhao Ce felt embarrassed for him. He stopped in his tracks, and the others thought he was going to say something clever.
But instead, Zhao Ce simply nodded at Aunt Chun, who had spoken earlier. "Aunt Chun, I went to the city for some business. It's getting late, so I'll head back first."
After saying this, he left the group of people behind and walked away with his belongings. "Ah... Has Zhao Ce been possessed by a demon?" "The way he spoke to me earlier, his tone... tsk, how can I put it?" Aunt Chun struggled to find the right words. She didn't know how to describe it. Someone next to her said, "Didn't you guys say that he brought a little wife back yesterday?" "Maybe he's changed because he's married.
He wouldn't have married a peasant girl, though, because he said he was going to become an official after high school and would never marry a girl from a farmer's family." "I took a quick glance at her from afar today. She's skinny and obviously from a farming family." "And she looks like a timid and difficult-to-raise girl." "Sigh, who knows? Each person has their own preferences, so maybe he likes this type."
The conversation among the villagers revolved around Zhao Ce and his new wife, discussing how he suddenly brought someone back. As he walked further away, Zhao Ce could still hear their chatter.
Listening to the gossip, he remembered the shameful words that the original owner had said before. "Fortunately, I have thick skin, otherwise I wouldn't even have the courage to leave the house..." Zhao Ce forced a smile. "Forget it, I haven't been here for long." "Reputation is something that comes slowly." Zhao Ce had already thought this through.
He knew that he had to improve his relationship with the villagers. He never thought of being a lone ranger or anything like that when he traveled back to ancient times. For example, in order to participate in the imperial examination, he needed to find five households to vouch for him.
Only people with good relationships would be willing to do this. However, he couldn't rush these things. He would consider them slowly after he had settled down. Although his past self was almost thirty years old, his current body was only nineteen years old.
Zhao Ce walked back to his house while thinking about these things. When he opened the dilapidated fence door, he saw that the front door was closed from the inside. He knocked on the door and heard some panicked footsteps from inside. A soft voice came from inside, "My husband is not at home, please come back later..."
Zhao Ce smiled and said, "It's me. Open the door." The door was quickly opened, revealing a young girl's face. As soon as she saw Zhao Ce, a sweet smile appeared on her face. "Husband! You're back!" Zhao Ce nodded, thinking that there was someone at home waiting for him. This feeling was quite nice.
He opened the door and walked in. After he put down his backpack, he asked her in a low voice, "Why are you so nervous?" Su Caier helped him take off his backpack and explained in a whisper, "When I went out to wash clothes just now, an old lady wanted to talk to me. I was a little scared, so I hurried back home."
Zhao Ce touched her little head and said, "Well, it's better not to talk to them for now." He couldn't do much about the little girl's eyes right now, but he planned to save enough money in the next two days and then return it to Zhao Youcai. Then he would give all the credit to the little girl and chat with Zhao Youcai.
With Zhao Youcai's support, this matter would be much easier to handle. Before that, he had to keep the little girl from going out too much.
Su Caier said sadly, "Husband, I didn't dare to go up the mountain to collect firewood. I just picked up some small twigs by the river." Zhao Ce said, "It's okay. I will go up the mountain to collect more firewood in a few days." After that, he took his backpack and headed to the kitchen. "I bought a lot of things, let's make something delicious tonight!" Zhao Ce ordered and went to the kitchen with his little assistant.
He magically took out things from the bookcase, such as white rice, flour, sesame oil, salt, and a large bag of brown sugar. He also had some pork wrapped in oil paper.
With each item taken out, the little girl would exclaim in surprise.
But as they reached the end, the bag was empty.
Zhao Ce laughed and said, "Tonight we'll cut up the pork and use the lard to stir-fry vegetables."
"And we'll eat the pork fat scraps with rice."
Su Caier instinctively said, "It's like celebrating New Year's Eve early."
Zhao Ce smiled and said, "We'll eat even better on New Year's Day!"
After saying that, he told the little girl about exchanging his sugar for money.
The little girl looked up at him in admiration.
"Husband is amazing..."
"Charcoal can make sugar and also sell for so much money."
Zhao Ce listened to her admiring words, and his eyebrows lifted with pride.
"Is that all?"
He took out a beautifully made purse from his body and gestured for Su Caier to take it.
Su Caier looked down at the well-made purse and froze.
"Husband, this is..."
"Open it and see?"
Su Caier opened it and saw a silver ingot and a wooden plaque with characters she couldn't read.
Su Caier, a small country bumpkin, was almost wide-eyed.
"Husband, is this... silver?"
Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Five liang."
The little girl looked at the silver ingot and suddenly foolishly picked it up, about to bite it.
Zhao Ce quickly stopped her actions and said helplessly, "You're going to put it in your mouth?"
Su Caier blinked and said, "I heard before that silver is soft."
"I want to try if it's really true."
Zhao Ce chuckled and tapped her little head.
"Of course it's true."
"But this thing is dirty and can't be put in your mouth."
He also took out the nine copper coins the little girl had given him and put them in her other small hand.
All the remaining money from selling sugar and buying things, over a hundred wen, was also poured out.
Zhao Ce said, "This is all we have now."
"From now on, it's all up to you to take care of."
Su Caier looked at her one hand full of copper coins and the other hand full of silver.
There was also a pile of copper coins on the table.
Feeling a bit dizzy in her small head.
She had given her husband nine copper coins, but had received so much in return?