Volume One: From a Country Lad Chapter 27: Life Finally Turns for the Better

"I'm back!"

The donkey cart rolled through the gate, and Six leapt off, bouncing and skipping toward the courtyard.

Zheng Mei saw her son and rushed to embrace him, touching his head, his face, his arms, and his legs, afraid that he might have lost any flesh.

"Mother, this is powder I bought for you in the county. Do you like it?"

Six took out a small box from his pocket and handed it to his mother.

"I love it. Whatever you buy for me, Six, I love," Zheng Mei’s eyes grew moist.

When she married, she had longed for a box of powder, but Doumiao was reluctant to spend the money and didn't buy it for her. She had always been bitter about it, believing she’d never have the chance to own powder in her lifetime. Who could have guessed her son would fulfill her dream?

The children gathered around, admiring Zheng Mei’s gift with envy.

"There are gifts for everyone. Sturdy, drive the cart over."

It was only then that they noticed the donkey cart just inside the gate, and a burly man standing nearby, watching them with a simple smile.

The cart drew closer. Six took out hair ties and butterfly ribbons from the cart, handing them to Leaf and Choi: "Sisters, these are for you."

They had always tied their hair with scraps of cloth—never had they seen such beautiful hair ties and ribbons. The sisters cherished them, too excited to speak.

"Brother, this is for you."

Fifteen took the headscarf and grinned foolishly.

He was twelve now, his hair grown out; with a handsome headscarf, he looked every bit the dashing youth.

Six gave the toys to Wheat-Ear and Duck-Egg.

Wheat-Ear wandered off to play, while Duck-Egg laughed so loudly it sounded like a donkey braying, calling out "Brother, brother" without pause.

"Grandma, your powder."

Six handed another box of rouge and powder to Wang Cuicui, whose eyes immediately brimmed with tears.

She protested that she was too old to need such expensive cosmetics, but her hands clutched the box tightly, fearful someone might take it away.

"And wine for Grandpa and Father."

Unable to carry them himself, Six had Sturdy lift two jars of wine and place them at Xie Gensheng's feet.

Xie Gensheng said nothing, but the smile on his lips stretched all the way to his eyes.

"Come help carry the cloth. Everyone will have new clothes, flowered fabric for my sisters..."

The children rushed over, carrying the cloth into the house.

Then Sturdy unloaded the other goods, and Six picked up two roast ducks, shouting, "Tonight, we feast on roast duck!"

---

"Roast duck for dinner!"

The children shouted, and the entire family was plunged into joy.

"Six, how much did all this cost? Where did you get so much money?" Wang Cuicui suddenly realized something was amiss.

These gifts must have cost a fortune, especially the books—at least dozens of taels of silver.

"Six, did you steal from Chief Su’s house?"

Xie Gensheng’s eyes widened in shock. "Doumiao, hitch up the cart, and return these to Chief Su."

"Oh, Grandpa, I didn’t steal or rob anyone. I made some money over the past few days, went to town with Uncle Su, and bought all this for you," Six explained, half laughing, half crying. "The donkey cart belongs to Uncle Su too. If you don’t believe me, ask Sturdy... Wait—where did Sturdy go?"

Seeing the donkey cart gone, Doumiao hurried outside to check.

"You’re just a child; how could you earn so much in a few days?" Wang Cuicui still didn’t believe him.

Six pulled out the remaining silver from his pocket and handed it over: "Grandma, there’s some left, you keep it..."

Wang Cuicui stared at the silver, her eyes wide. "It’s been barely twenty days—how did my boy earn all this?"

"I wrote storybooks!"

Six kept silent about the sugar. "I was at Uncle Su’s house, writing storybooks, several volumes. Uncle Su paid me as an author; there’ll be more in the future."

Su Laibao had given Six royalties before, so when they heard it was payment for writing, their worries faded.

"Six, you mustn’t be so extravagant from now on. We’re a farming family; we can get by with thrift. Money must be spent wisely..." Wang Cuicui began to admonish her grandson.

She cherished money, but cherished Six even more.

It’s not easy to earn a living.

"Grandma, you’re right. I’ll remember—I'll be careful with my spending," Six said, not arguing.

He knew this amount was a significant expense for a rural household.

But in his eyes, it was all worthwhile.

Xie Gensheng said, "Six, writing books takes brains; you must have been exhausted these days. Tonight, let’s have a good meal and reward Six."

That night, the Xie family enjoyed the most luxurious meal they’d ever had.

Wheat noodles for soup, several stir-fried dishes, and two roast ducks chopped and piled high on platters.

---

The summer harvest was nearly over.

Six didn’t need to help on the threshing floor, just did small chores at home.

"Little brother, you go study. We can handle this work, my sister and I," said Leaf.

"I’ll go cut pig grass."

"No need, there’s alfalfa. Big brother took the donkey cart and harvested it from the fields."

Whenever Six wanted to work, Leaf and Choi hurried to do it instead, urging him to focus on his studies.

Little brother’s studies could earn money, money to buy them nice things; they couldn’t afford to let him be distracted.

In the blink of an eye, the holidays ended, and school resumed.

"Grandma, our family now has ten people, living in two bedrooms—it's really crowded..."

The Xie family had just two bedrooms: Xie Gensheng and his wife with Wheat-Ear in one, Doumiao’s family of seven in the other. The children had all grown up—many things were inconvenient.

"My idea is to build at least three more bedrooms."

"One for big brother, so when he marries, it will be his new room."

"One for my two sisters. They’re grown now; it’s awkward for them to be crowded together."

"I want my own room, because my studies are important and I’ll need a quiet space..."

This was the only time Six made an exception for himself.

There was no choice; to succeed in the imperial exam, he needed to study hard.

Quiet was essential.

"Ah! I don’t object to building bedrooms, but the money..." Wang Cuicui sighed.

She understood better than anyone the necessity, but money was the issue.

Building three bedrooms would likely empty her savings jar.

"Grandma, money’s not a problem. Next month, all my writing fees will go toward building the house. If it’s not enough, I’ll advance next month’s payment..."

Six secretly laughed.

Next month’s sugar dividend would be more than enough.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Cuicui said, "Build them—listen to my boy. Even if we have to sell the pots and pans, we’ll do it."

Xie Gensheng cleared his throat and declared, "It’s decided. Tomorrow I’ll find a craftsman and estimate how much material we’ll need..."