Chapter 4: Going to the County Town

Li Su’s action left the whole family staring at him in surprise.

Dong Fangfang tentatively asked, “Fourth, is it because my cooking doesn’t suit your taste?”

Li Su immediately shook his head. “Second Sister-in-law, how could you think that?”

“It’s just that after I got hurt this time, I realized something. Those so-called good friends are nowhere to be found when it really matters—none of them care whether I live or die. But family is different. Even if I have plenty of flaws, even if I’m a burden, my family has never abandoned me.”

“I know I did many things wrong before, but I won’t be like that again. From now on, I hope that whenever there’s something good to eat, the whole family enjoys it together, not just me alone.”

“If I get into high school in the future, that achievement will belong to the family too.”

He spoke each word with earnestness and resolve, his attitude sincere.

Whether his family believed him or not, they would see his change in time. For now, he just needed to make his position clear and lay the groundwork for the transformation to come.

He couldn’t possibly carry on with the original owner’s temperament—after all, everyone has their own disposition.

Feng Cuicui looked at Li Su with relief. “Our Fourth has grown up. Good, good, you all heard him—Fourth said he won’t forget us if he gets into high school, so don’t hold any grudges. If we all unite as a family, life will surely get better.”

Jiang Yu and Dong Fangfang exchanged glances. Mother-in-law’s words were a subtle warning to them.

Of course, it would be a lie to say they felt no resentment at all, but with Li Su saying this, they couldn’t very well argue further.

Hearing their brother-in-law speak so, truth be told, their grievances lessened—at least their efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed.

But at the same time, they suspected he was only saying these things so the family would keep supporting his studies and nothing much would really change.

Li Zhengyi and Li Zhengqiang, on the other hand, had no complaints at all; they even indulged Li Su themselves.

The four of them nodded together. “Mother, we will.”

Feng Cuicui couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride—this was her son. With just a few words, he had defused the conflict brewing within the family. He was truly clever, worthy of being called a scholar.

On the surface, everyone enjoyed the meal, especially the three children. With just a few pieces of egg, they seemed to be savoring a rare delicacy. Watching them, Li Su felt a pang in his heart.

“Mother, from now on, don’t make plain congee just for me. I’ll eat what everyone else eats, or you all eat what I do,” Li Su told Feng Cuicui.

“But…”

“No buts. I’ll find a way to make money. A scholar has plenty of ways to earn—there are many paths one can take.” He just needed to get used to switching from simplified to traditional characters.

Feng Cuicui was still a little hesitant.

Li Su played his trump card. “If others hear that I’m eating white rice while the family is eating chaff and wild greens, they’ll call me unfilial. That won’t help with the imperial exams.”

“Alright, my son is truly promising—he knows how to care for his parents now.” Both Feng Cuicui and Li Daping’s eyes were full of relief.

After the meal, the Li family returned to the fields to continue working. Li Su didn’t go that afternoon; he stayed home to work on his design drawings.

With his photographic memory, the process went smoothly.

After finishing, he practiced calligraphy in his room. He could write with a brush and had trained specifically, but his practice had always been in simplified script, not traditional.

Little Li Ziru was very well-behaved and didn’t disturb him. She quietly chatted with the chicks…

Crouched in front of the little chick, Li Ziru said, “Little Yellow, I feel like Uncle has become much gentler. Not only does he not scold me, he even gives me eggs.”

“Eggs are so tasty.” She licked her lips as she spoke.

“Little Yellow, when will you start laying eggs?” Li Ziru lifted the chick, peering up at its belly from below.

The chick gave a helpless peep, “Chirp, chirp, chirp…”

Li Ziru pinched its beak. “No noise—don’t disturb Uncle while he studies, or he’ll come out and eat you in one bite!” She made a chomping motion, her gaze on the chick so hungry it was as if she truly wanted to eat it.

Just as Li Su opened the door, he heard this sentence. He could only think: he had never had the habit of swallowing chicks whole. He really didn’t know what sort of image he had in this little girl’s eyes.

Li Ziru, seeking praise, announced, “Uncle, I covered Little Yellow’s beak so it wouldn’t disturb you.”

From the tiny chick’s eyes, Li Su saw only terror and helplessness. He hoped she wouldn’t squeeze it to death.

“Ziru, is there anything you want? Tomorrow I’ll go into the county, I can buy something for you,” he said, looking at her.

Li Ziru’s eyes widened. “R-really?” Her dark, watery eyes were fixed on him.

Li Su nodded. “Uncle keeps his word.”

“I want candy! Last time, Erniu’s big brother bought her malt sugar. I begged her for a lick but she wouldn’t share. She said it was sweet and delicious.” Li Ziru’s face was full of longing. If Uncle really bought her malt sugar, she wouldn’t speak ill of him ever again.

Li Su realized Ziru was a little glutton.

“Alright, I’ll buy you malt sugar tomorrow.” He agreed at once. He’d buy some for the other two children as well—kids all loved sweets.

He hadn’t even gotten the money yet and he already knew how he’d spend it.

That night, lying in bed, Li Su closed his eyes and mentally reviewed the day’s studies when a knock sounded at the door.

He got up and opened it. “Mother?”

Feng Cuicui held a small jar. “Fourth, use this medicated oil on your shoulder. You’ve never done farm work before—plowing for a whole day must have been hard.”

In her heart, Feng Cuicui silently cursed her husband for being so tough.

A wave of warmth welled up in Li Su’s heart. “Thank you, Mother.”

He secretly vowed to himself that he would succeed and give his family a good life.

In his past life, family ties were shallow—his parents were wealthy and needed nothing from him. But this time, things were different.

Feng Cuicui gave him a gentle smile. “Alright, rest now.”

—

The next morning, after breakfast with his family, Li Su went off to the county while the others went to the fields.

Feng Cuicui pressed some money into his hand. Li Su said he had his own, but she insisted, and in the end, he took it.

He rode an ox cart to the county and headed straight for the private school where the original owner had studied. The teacher was an old scholar with around thirty students, who had formed three distinct groups.

One group was from the villages, one from the county town, and the third consisted of those ostracized by the first two.

When the original owner arrived, he offended the village group with his words. The town students didn’t want to associate with him either, so he was left out. That was when his “good friend” appeared—another outcast.

Unlike the original owner, this friend’s exclusion was well-deserved: he gambled, didn’t care for his studies, and flirted with girls—he had all the air of a small-time rogue.

The teacher never expelled anyone as long as they paid the fees—he needed money for his wife’s medicine.

He taught all students the same, and how much they learned depended on themselves.

When Li Su entered the school, there was still some time before the teacher’s arrival, but nearly all the students were present.

Li Su’s appearance drew their attention. They couldn’t help but feel he’d changed. It was clearly the same face, yet he seemed more handsome, carrying an air of distinction.

Had his very bearing changed so much in such a short time? The question flickered through their minds.

Li Su didn’t glance at anyone else. He walked straight toward the young man who owed him money.