Crisis
Shen Qingwu was called away on business. Liu Yingqu walked out of Wei Xian Ju feeling refreshed. He now had fifteen taels of silver in his pocket and entered a bookstore.
"Young master, is there anything you want? We have the finest white paper and inkstones, perfect for someone like you," the shop assistant hurried forward to greet Liu Yingqu. Although Liu Yingqu dressed plainly, his aura was extraordinary.
"I'll look myself first." Liu Yingqu wasn't fooled. He nodded politely and went to the paper section. The shop assistant's mouth twitched and went to serve others.
The paper here was indeed pure white and flawless. One sheet cost twenty wen. Liu Yingqu was stunned. Even the rougher paper was two wen per sheet.
No wonder poor families couldn't afford to support a scholar. Liu Yingqu didn't even look at the expensive inkstones. The original owner's inkstone was still usable.
He flipped through the books in the shop. The paper was mediocre, and the handwriting inside was neither good nor bad. Liu Yingqu had a sense of it.
He had asked Shen Qingwu before coming. This bookstore offered fair prices and was popular among scholars. Liu Yingqu was confident now.
He approached the counter and slowly said, "Shopkeeper, I want to copy books to earn some living expenses."
Shopkeeper Zhang, yawning nearby, opened his eyes to look at Liu Yingqu. "Write a few characters first. We don't accept just anyone."
Liu Yingqu held the brush, his knuckles distinct. His writing was pleasing to the eye. He wrote the Diamond Sutra. The Empress Dowager in the palace revered Buddhist scriptures, and many people had started liking them.
Shopkeeper Zhang, still lazy, took Liu Yingqu's paper and was half-awakened from sleep.
This handwriting required years of practice. The strokes were strong and lean, showing character.
"Your handwriting is good," Zhang said in surprise. "What are your wage requirements?"
For others, Zhang would pay market prices, but seeing this handwriting, he immediately saw business potential.
"I heard the shopkeeper is fair. I'm just supplementing my living expenses. Just pay me the standard price," Liu Yingqu humbly said, gently cupping Zhang's hand.
"Then I'll pay you one tael of silver per book copied," Zhang smiled, pleased. Then he added, "If you only copy books for our shop in the future, I'll pay you two taels per book."
Liu Yingqu was amazed. Merchants were indeed shrewd, but Zhang's offer exceeded his expectations. He cupped his hands: "I agree to copy books exclusively for the shop."
Zhang beamed and took two books from the shop to hand to Liu Yingqu: "Copy these two books first. We'll provide the paper for copying."
Shopkeeper Zhang brought over the contract. The two of them wrote down their names and pressed their seals.
Liu Yingqu then bought some low-quality paper at the shop before finally leaving the bookstore.
Shopkeeper Zhang held the piece of paper Liu Yingqu had written, touched the characters on it, and admired them. Forming a good connection with this scholar could not only make money, but if Liu Yingqu became successful, wouldn't that be an opportunity for him as well?
Maybe he would even become the top scholar; Shopkeeper Zhang began daydreaming.
"Sister-in-law, how much are you selling this rice for?" After eating two meals at the Liu household, Liu Yingqu noticed they were just porridge with scattered old rice and wild vegetables, with three black wheat buns on the table. He used to have meat at every meal, but now that he had found work, he could slightly improve his living conditions.
"Five wen per jin for fine rice, four wen per jin for coarse rice, and three wen per jin for old rice," said the woman wrapped in a headscarf.
"I'll take two jin of fine rice and one jin of coarse rice," Liu Yingqu said readily, handing over the copper coins to the woman, carrying the three bags of rice which were somewhat heavy.
"Remember to come again next time, handsome scholar," the woman called out warmly.
Liu Yingqu's face flushed slightly. He then went to the butcher and bought half a jin of meat, spending twelve wen.
He bought some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, spending a total of twenty wen. Knowing his own physical condition well, he didn't buy any more. He walked to the agreed place to wait for the village ox cart.
"This trip to the city was worth it. I sold all the white wheat buns and even had a bowl of wonton for lunch."
"I sold all my firewood too. The master gave me leftover food from the kitchen to eat. It was really delicious."
"Yingqu is back, huh? Buying so many things again?" People from the same village, knowing Liu Yingqu was one of the few scholars, recognized him immediately.
Every time he went to the city, he brought back good things, but he wasn't very good at buying food. Usually, he bought new clothes to dress himself neatly.
"He even bought meat? Aunt Tan is really lucky," a woman said with a smile.
"Studying is good. Even if you study poorly, you can still read and write. With some luck, you can become an official."
"Yingqu, are you taking the imperial exam this year?"
The imperial exam was held every three years. Liu Yingqu was only twenty and had already taken it three times, never missing one. Each time he failed, only passing the lowest level, the county student exam, which qualified him to study in Qingshui County.
"I don't know yet," Liu Yingqu said. When the ox cart arrived, he placed his basket on it.
The woman nearby rolled her eyes and said, "At your age, you should get married first."
"Sister-in-law, I have no such plan yet," Liu Yingqu smiled. "Without a career, how can I talk about marriage?"
In his current state, how could he marry a wife?
The original owner had many troublesome romantic entanglements, and Shen Qingwu was lurking nearby, watching closely.
The ox cart moved slowly and arrived at Qingquan Village. A man wearing a short shirt stood by the roadside. Seeing Liu Yingqu, he immediately ran over: "Liu Yingqu, hurry home and take a look. Old Deng is here to take someone!"
"Why would he come at such a time!" Liu Yingqu didn't even care about the things on the ox cart and hurriedly ran off.
"What's going on?" the women shouted.
"The Liu family sold Yunyuan to Old Deng as a concubine. It's truly sinful. Old Deng is over sixty years old."
"He used the money from selling the younger brother to buy food. That's despicable! I even wanted my daughter to marry him." The woman was indignant.
"Liu Yingqu wouldn't marry someone from the village. His eyes are set high, looking towards the city."
Some kind-hearted villagers helped Liu Yingqu carry the basket and joined the commotion.
Liu Yunyuan had just finished cutting grass in the field. The only money left at home was taken by Aunt Tan to the city for Liu Yingqu. Liu Yunyuan was sulking and put down the grass to feed the chickens.
Suddenly, a series of loud banging noises erupted at the house.
"Yunyuan, I'm here to take you! Come with me to the Deng family!" An old voice sounded frightening.
"The time hasn't come yet, and you're already forcing your way in," Aunt Tan stopped Old Deng from entering. "Our Yunyuan won't go with you like this."
Liu Yunyuan came out of the room. He saw Old Deng, whose gray hair was messy, yellow teeth, blackened fingers, and short stature. He was even older than Aunt Tan, standing at the door in a standoff with her.
Old Deng also saw Liu Yunyuan. At sixteen, Yunyuan was in the prime of youth, with a fair face and slender figure, much more attractive than Old Deng. Old Deng grinned, showing his yellow teeth: "Yunyuan, I'm here to take you."
Liu Yunyuan stood aside, not daring to step forward, his heart sinking.
This was his own elder brother arranging a marriage for him. Yunyuan had known about it but never met this sixty-year-old man before. Now, seeing him made his eyes go blurry. He steadied himself to avoid collapsing.
"Liu Yunyuan, are you trying to back out?" Old Deng squinted, sensing the situation. "We agreed to buy you as a concubine for ten taels of silver! Why is your family unwilling now, trying to kick me out?"
"Mother, please judge!" Old Deng shamelessly called someone thirty years younger than him "mother," making Aunt Tan tremble with anger and regret.
She regretted agreeing with her second son's words to marry Yunyuan to Old Deng.
"Not now," Aunt Tan blocked Old Deng, shaking her head. Her face was pale, instantly aging ten years. She glanced at Liu Yunyuan, signaling him not to come forward.
"Your Liu Yingqu still has to take the imperial exam. If you don't let me take Yunyuan today, I'll sue Liu Yingqu. Let's see how he can take the exam then!" Old Deng shouted, looking at Liu Yunyuan with ill intent. "If Yunyuan comes with me, we're family. I'd have to call Liu Yingqu brother, so why would I sue him?"
Old Deng's words were full of threats.
Aunt Tan's finger stiffened. Liu Yunyuan fought back nausea and stepped forward: "Our Liu family won't go back on our word. I'll go with you."
"That's good, Yunyuan. I'll treat you well," Old Deng smiled, his gray hair making him look very old. "You can call me master. I'll cherish you."
"Yunyuan!" Aunt Tan refused to let Liu Yunyuan go. Liu Yunyuan's body stiffened. Only when close could he smell the old man's decaying odor.
"What? Mother, do you still have objections?" Old Deng shouted. "Everyone, judge this. The Liu family is bullying an old man like me!"
Because of the earlier commotion, a crowd had gathered at the Liu family gate, all pointing and whispering.
"Sinful! They already sold him and just gave him to Old Deng."
"The Liu boy is no good. Old Deng is just a hooligan!"
"You're bullying an old man! I don't want to live anymore!" Old Deng threw a tantrum.
"You're bullying us orphans and widows and blocking the door. What are you doing?!" Suddenly, a thunderous voice rang out.
