“You’ll agree whether you like it or not!”
“Behave yourself.”
Jiang Ji’s long brows drew together, his expression stern.
Behave?
Ye Li cried injustice inwardly. The only reason he had been acting coquettish was to protect the pride of an eighteen-year-old scholar!
Having lived a whole lifetime already, he knew how much boys that age cared about face. So he had deliberately softened himself, acted meek and sweet, just to give his bargain husband an easy way to accept.
And he wasn’t buying it?
Fine.
He had another tactic.
With that thought, Ye Li’s manner shifted at once. “I’m not behaving?”
He jabbed a finger hard into Jiang Ji’s shoulder several times and snapped, “Jiang Ji, are you going to deny me after pulling up your trousers?!”
“?”
That accusation was grave indeed.
Jiang Ji immediately protested. “When have I ever—”
“You are doing it right now!” Ye Li cut him off, poking him again. “Who was it that kissed me till my tongue hurt last night? Who was it that rammed into me again and again until my backside still aches now?!”
“!”
How could he speak of such things so calmly—in broad daylight?!
Jiang Ji instinctively glanced toward the courtyard gate. Seeing it shut tight, he finally let out a silent breath.
“Why are you feeling guilty? Am I not telling the truth?” Ye Li pressed on. “You’ve done everything there is to do, and now you want to draw a clear line between us. Are you just waiting to pass the xiucai exam so you can kick me aside?”
“Do you look down on me and plan to marry some rich beauty instead? Are you trying to be Chen Shimei?!”
The barrage of accusations left Jiang Ji’s head pounding.
And they were pure slander!
He had already answered this very question last night!
He shook his head. “I’m not. But… who is Chen Shimei?”
The question deflated Ye Li’s righteous momentum.
Fortunately, while he had yet to invent a convincing story for how he learned to make tofu, something as trivial as Chen Shimei had long been prepared for.
He pointed toward Baxian Town. “He’s a scoundrel—from opera stories. I heard passing merchants talk about him when I was in town. This Chen Shimei passed the highest exam and—”
He rattled off the tale in detail.
At the end, he glared at Jiang Ji again. “You’re keeping your distance from me—are you planning to follow his example?! I’ve changed my ways, but you still haven’t thought of living properly with me, have you?!”
Jiang Ji drew in a deep breath and shook his head. “I’m not.”
“You don’t earn your money easily. Keep it for yourself. When I return to the academy, hire someone to push the mill.”
Last night, he had discovered several hardened calluses on Ye Li’s palms…
Ye Li had not expected to hear the words hire someone to push the mill. He froze for a moment, then inwardly broke into a grin.
He hadn’t even gotten to that part of his pitiful plea yet, and his bargain husband had suggested it himself.
So he did care.
Outwardly, however, Ye Li gave a cold laugh. “Hiring someone to push the mill doesn’t cost much. Letting money sit around would only delay what truly matters.”
“Besides, if you fail to pass the xiucai exam because you’re out doing odd jobs instead of studying, do you know what I’ll do then?”
Jiang Ji’s expression shifted slightly.
Ye Li snorted and slapped his thigh. “I’ll turn this whole household upside down!”
The threat made Jiang Ji’s scalp prickle. He believed Ye Li would absolutely do such a thing.
Before Ye Li could continue, he hurriedly said, “Fine. From now on, you’ll support my studies!”
The speed of his capitulation nearly made Ye Li burst out laughing.
He secretly pinched his palm to suppress the grin and kept his face stern. “You should have agreed sooner. Making me waste so many words.”
“Now let’s discuss the specific arrangements.”
“Though my daily income is steady, it hasn’t been long, and I still owe Second Uncle money.”
“I plan to repay him in the next couple of days.”
The large stone mill had cost over three hundred wen; the tofu molds less than a hundred. Jiang Dahe had also lent him fifty wen in cash.
Altogether, more than four hundred wen.
“After I repay the debt, I’ll set aside thirty wen each day. You come home once every ten days, and I’ll give you three hundred wen each time. That makes nine hundred wen a month.”
“When you head to the prefectural city for the exam, I’ll see about giving you more. How does that sound?”
Jiang Ji shook his head. “No need. Just give it to me before the exam.”
Why make it so troublesome?
“I don’t exactly have a reputation for reliability in front of you. Rather than worry I might suddenly change my mind, it’s better to put the money in your hands first. Only when you’re at ease can you study properly.”
“…All right.”
Jiang Ji wore an expression that said: whatever you say.
“Then it’s settled.”
Ye Li finally smiled again. Hooking his arm through Jiang Ji’s, he beamed. “Good husband, I’m off to press the tofu. Remember—we’re family now.”
Before Jiang Ji’s expression could fully settle into its usual complicated state, Ye Li suddenly leaned forward and pecked him quickly on the lips, then sprang up and ran.
Jiang Ji: “…”
He was dumbstruck.
This was the courtyard!
Ye Li wasn’t merely talking—he truly dared to kiss him.
But the lingering warmth and softness on his lips brought back memories of last night, of lips and tongues entwined.
His face flushed red; even his ears burned.
Drawing a quiet breath, he grabbed Jiang Ya’s small garment and scrubbed vigorously.
Broad daylight. Clear your mind.
After teasing and fleeing, Ye Li finished his tasks in the kitchen and did not return to the well. Instead, he went straight back to the western room.
He needed to think carefully about the road ahead.
Though tofu puffs were selling well, if he’d had a choice, he wouldn’t have chosen this trade.
It consumed far too much time.
And the income, for now, was limited.
A little over a hundred wen a day. After paying a hired hand and setting aside money for his bargain husband, only about a hundred remained.
A hundred wen a day meant three taels of silver a month.
If he ate and drank a little, how much could he truly save?
He needed another source of income beyond tofu puffs.
Truth be told, he knew how to make many soy products.
But no tofu.
In all of Yezhao Slope, his was the only household selling tofu.
He had to think of something else.
What should he sell?
…
He was rolling about on the kang when footsteps sounded outside. They crossed the main hall and stopped at the western room door.
Jiang Ji’s low voice came through. “Ye Li?”
“Come in.”
The door opened, but Jiang Ji remained standing at the threshold.
After pressing his lips together, he asked, “Are you really planning to hire someone to push the mill?”
“Yes. You’re drenched in sweat every time you do it—how much more so for me?” Ye Li patted the space beside him. “Sit. It’s your room, after all.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Ji stepped inside and sat beside him.
“Do you have someone in mind?”
“No. Do you?” Ye Li looked at him curiously.
The gaze wasn’t intense, yet Jiang Ji still shifted his eyes away, looking instead at the tall wooden table nearby.
“Not exactly. Yesterday I went to Second Uncle’s house. He was scolding Xiaoliu for being too picky. He had found her a marriage prospect, but she refused.”
“You know Second Uncle’s temper. I advised him to wait until after my academy exam. If I pass the xiucai, Xiaoliu’s family would have a scholar among its kin. Perhaps she could find a better match.”
“But I can’t guarantee I’ll pass. So I thought… if you’re hiring someone, you might consider Xiaoliu.”
“If she can earn wages and have her own savings, then no matter whom she marries in the future, she’ll have more confidence.”
He hurried to add, “Of course, it’s only a suggestion. The decision is yours.”
He didn’t want to ask Ye Li for anything.
He knew Jiang Liu, a young girl, wasn’t suited to heavy labor.
But compared to her lifelong happiness, what was his pride worth?
If he failed the exam, at least she would have an income.
Ye Li truly hadn’t expected Jiang Ji to recommend Jiang Liu.
She was only sixteen.
Let her push the mill?
That was hardly feasible.
But this was the first time his bargain husband had offered him a suggestion.
And it concerned Jiang Liu’s future.
Who would have thought—this bargain husband was so responsible and considerate toward his cousin.
What a fine young man.
He’d picked up a treasure.
Suppressing his satisfaction, Ye Li smiled. “Have Xiaoliu come over. I’ll ask if she’s willing.”
At that, Jiang Ji finally turned to face him. “Then I’ll go to Second Uncle’s at noon.”
“Good. Take a piece of tofu with you.”
Jiang Ji nodded. “I’ll go sharpen the sickles now. The sheets are washed.”
He started to rise.
Ye Li moved quickly and wrapped his arms around Jiang Ji’s waist. “Wait!”
“What is it?” Jiang Ji’s body stiffened slightly.
“I want to kiss you. You’re hardworking and responsible to your family. At noon I’ll fry some eggs and give you an extra piece!”
Ye Li leaned in to kiss him.
Unlike the earlier ambush, this time his movements were slow.
If Jiang Ji wanted to avoid him, he easily could have.
But as Ye Li drew close, Jiang Ji’s dark pupils flickered. Then, unexpectedly, he leaned forward and pecked Ye Li’s lips lightly.
Seeing Ye Li’s eyes widen in surprise, Jiang Ji’s face warmed. He turned his gaze aside and murmured, “Thank you,” before rising swiftly and striding out of the western room.
From behind, it almost looked like he was fleeing.
Ye Li burst into laughter.
Falling back onto the kang, he rolled over, hugging the quilt.
Good husband.
Truly a very good husband.
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