Chapter 51 — I’ll Buy It No Matter The Price!
“Cattle and sheep we can buy. As for eggs, forget it. Didn’t Little Uncle say we could just catch more chicks? Raise them properly and won’t we have eggs soon enough? Daddy, our family may have some money now, but we should still save where we can. Didn’t you say you’d send us to study? And the house needs repairs too. All of that costs silver.”
Cattle and sheep were livestock—buying them was an investment, unlikely to lose money. Eggs, on the other hand, were consumables. He decisively struck that expense from the list. Afraid the boy would start nagging again, Ling Jingxuan, having failed in his attempt to seize financial authority, quickly surrendered.
“Fine, we’ll do as you say. Take this silver back and put it away properly. I have something to discuss with your little uncle alone.”
For the stingy little bun to concede this much was already impressive. Ling Jingxuan took out a ten-tael silver ingot from the hundred taels, then added several one-tael pieces before tying the bundle back up and handing it over.
Ling Wen accepted the bundle and ran out excitedly. Xiao Baozi scampered after him, tailing him closely. Only when the two small figures disappeared from sight did the Ling brothers exchange a smile.
Well then. Save if we must. As long as their little buns were happy, that was enough.
The smile faded from Ling Jingxuan’s face.
“Jingpeng, later go to the market and find Old Wang. Order fifty large earthenware jars—the kind that can hold fifty jin. Don’t make the mouths too wide; standard wine-jar size will do. Then order another two hundred of those small jars like yesterday’s. Remember: carve a dark ‘Ling’ character on the body of each jar, and engrave ‘Ling Family Fruit Jam’ on the base. Also, add another two hundred wine jars to yesterday’s order. Don’t let Xiao Wen know for now.”
He pushed the ten-tael ingot toward him.
Jingpeng chuckled. “Alright, I understand. Shall I also bring back some piglets and chicks while I’m at it?”
“That works. Get two piglets first. Fifty chicks. And buy a few hens that are already laying. By the way, is there a decent carpenter in our village?”
Ling Jingxuan thought briefly before nodding. The two little buns clearly had their hearts set on piglets. Best to get them early. At least then they wouldn’t keep staring at him every time he spent money. Truth be told, whenever he reached for silver and heard that small voice call him Daddy, he couldn’t help but shiver. He was thoroughly intimidated by that child by now.
“Our father is a carpenter, isn’t he?” Jingpeng carefully tucked the silver away as he spoke casually. “During the slack farming season, he often makes wooden goods to sell at the market. Otherwise, where do you think the grain we send you comes from?” He also knew some simple carpentry, but only to the extent of helping his father.
“I’d actually forgotten,” Ling Jingxuan said, brows lifting in surprise. “Then we’ll wait and speak of it when Father comes.”
It truly wasn’t in the original host’s memories. Perhaps his father had learned the craft these past few years just to help support him.
The thought warmed him.
His parents were overly honest—too honest, really. Easy targets for bullying. They would never be able to protect their children from the world. But from the bottom of his heart, Ling Jingxuan was grateful. At least they loved him sincerely, didn’t they? As for everything else… if others bullied his honest parents, he would simply return the favor in kind. He had never wanted anyone else’s protection to begin with.
“You want Father to make those wooden stoppers for the wine bottles, don’t you?” Jingpeng asked.
“Mm. And to build a pigsty and chicken coop while he’s at it. By the way—aside from Old Master Ling’s private school, is there any other private school nearby?”
Jingxuan nodded, then asked the question suddenly. They would likely grow busier from now on. The children ought to be sent to a private school sooner rather than later. Otherwise, if he wasn’t home, certain shameless people might come knocking again.
“No,” Jingpeng replied helplessly. “You know Grandfather is the only xiucai among the surrounding villages. Everyone sends their children to his school. No one else can teach.”
Ling Jingxuan understood. It was precisely because of Old Master Ling and the Ling family that this matter was troublesome.
“Is that so? Then tomorrow I’ll go to the town and take a look. If there’s no other option, we’ll send them to school there. At worst, I’ll buy a carriage and drive them back and forth every day. A child’s education can never be neglected. As for someone like Old Master Ling—I would never entrust my children to him.”
Anything that could be solved with money was a small matter. For the sake of the children, he would willingly spend every tael he had earned. He did not ask that they pass the imperial examinations, earn titles, or rise to high office. He only wished that they grow literate, sensible, clear-minded—capable of discerning right from wrong and able to protect themselves from being bullied.
If a man could not even teach his own family properly, how could he teach others?
Even if he were not merely a xiucai but a zhuangyuan, Ling Jingxuan would still never send his children there.
“Buy a carriage? Do you know how much that would cost?”
Upon hearing that, Ling Jingpeng’s eyes widened in shock. In his ears, it was as if he could already hear the clatter of silver flowing away like water.
Ling Wen, who had just stepped through the door, also frowned at the mention of buying a carriage. Yet, unlike usual, he did not flare up and scold his father for extravagance. Instead, he seemed to be quietly calculating the feasibility of studying in town—and of purchasing a carriage.
“No matter the cost, we will buy it,” Ling Jingxuan said firmly. “Jingpeng, Xiao Wen, Xiao Wu—remember this: some money we may save, but some must never be spared. Education is one of them. In ancient times there was the tale of Meng Mu moving three times for her son’s sake (1). Though I don’t yet have the means to buy a house in town for you, I can certainly afford a carriage to take you back and forth. Besides, our dealings with the town will only increase. Having a proper means of transport will make everything easier and save time. This matter is settled.”
It was the first time since transmigrating that Ling Jingxuan had exercised absolute authority, allowing no room for argument. The little bun loved silver—fine, he could earn more. But when it came to education, he would not yield a single step.
After a moment, Ling Wen nodded.
“Mn. Daddy has the final say. I don’t want to study at that old grandpa’s place anyway.”
Rarely had he been so un-stingy. Though the pain in his eyes was impossible to hide, he agreed nonetheless. The Ling brothers both paused, then recalled what had happened yesterday. With Ling Wen’s intelligence, he had likely sensed certain undercurrents. They exchanged a quiet smile. This was for the best. It spared them the trouble of persuading him further.
“Good boy,” Ling Jingxuan said softly, ruffling his hair in a rare display of sentimentality. “No matter how much we spend, Daddy will earn it back.”
The two little buns looked at one another and nodded heavily at the same time—one beaming with delight, the other pressing his lips tight.
“Alright. Your little uncle is heading to the market to handle some matters and will bring back piglets and chicks for you. I plan to visit Tiewa’s house afterward. Do you want to go with your uncle, or with me?”
All that needed discussing had been discussed. Ling Jingxuan said nothing of the military conscription. Ling Jinghan’s illness would soon be cured; his own days would steadily improve. Before that, however, his parents must separate and live independently. His instincts told him that the upcoming conscription might prove to be a rare opportunity.
“Me! Daddy, I want to go catch the piglets!”
At the mention of piglets, Ling Wu rushed forward in excitement. His round eyes curved into bright crescents. Ling Jingxuan laughed and scooped him into his arms.
“It’s only raising piglets. Why are you this happy?”
“Of course I’m happy! Daddy, you don’t know—last year I saw someone in the village slaughter a New Year pig. It was so lively! When Tiewa’s family killed theirs, they invited us to eat the pig-slaughtering feast. It was delicious. When we raise a big, fat pig, can we invite Tiewa’s family to eat our pig-slaughtering feast too?”
To an outsider, the child’s words seemed concerned only with eating. Yet to the Ling brothers, they stirred a deep ache. The children had endured too much hardship before. No wonder their temperaments were… peculiar.
“Alright then. Let’s hurry to the market. Xiao Wen, are you coming?” Jingpeng asked, taking Ling Wu from his brother’s arms and standing.
If he remembered correctly, Xiao Wen had always wanted to raise pigs as well.
Ling Wen, who hadn’t said a word yet, shook his head.
“No. I’ll stay and watch the house. I also want to practice the new characters I learned last night a few more times.”
If studying cost that much silver, he would not allow himself indulgence to play. He would study diligently and one day earn Daddy a high-ranking official ranfk in the future.
“That’s fine. Then take Xiao Wu with you,” Ling Jingxuan said decisively before Jingpeng could object. Jingpeng nodded and carried Ling Wu out.
“Xiao Wen, don’t put too much pressure on yourself just because you’re going to study in town. It’s not only about studying—whatever we do, we mustn’t suppress ourselves too harshly. I know reading and learning are a child’s duty, but don’t forget: play is a child’s nature. Only by balancing work and rest can you bring out your greatest potential.”
After his younger brother and the child had pulled the handcart out the gate, Ling Jingxuan lifted Ling Wen into his arms and spoke with rare seriousness. He did not want the boy burdening himself so heavily. If that were the case, he would rather keep him at home and teach him personally.
“Mn. I understand. I’ll rest as much as I can.”
He hadn’t expected Daddy to see through him so easily. Ling Wen lowered his head in slight frustration. After a long pause, he suddenly looked up again, eyes bright and resolute.
“I will definitely earn Daddy a high official’s rank one day. I won’t let Daddy spend that money in vain.”
“Heh… then I’ll be waiting.”
Ling Jingxuan arched a brow and broke into a radiant smile. His son wanted to win him honor—shouldn’t he be pleased?
At this moment, perhaps Ling Jingxuan treated the child’s vow as nothing more than childish bravado and did not take it to heart. What he did not know was that, from this very instant, the youngest Grand Chancellor in the history of the Great Qing Dynasty began to take shape.
“Mn!”
Ling Wen beamed in return. After chatting a little longer, father and son parted. Once Ling Wen went to the back courtyard to practice his calligraphy, Ling Jingxuan suddenly remembered that he had yet to deliver someone’s medicine today. He hurried to the kitchen, picked up the bowl of cooled decoction, and carried it inside.
“It’s fortunate yesterday’s stubbornness didn’t cause serious harm. Rest another four or five days. Once the wound on your head scabs over, you can get up and move around a bit. And remember—no more forcing yourself these next few days.”
After taking his pulse as a matter of routine, Ling Jingxuan found himself in an unusually good mood. Even his tone was gentler than before.
Seeing the warmth in his smile, Yan Shengrui felt an ease spread through his entire body. He couldn’t help smiling back.
“Mn. I’ll listen to you.”
The tone—far too intimate—caused Ling Jingxuan to freeze for a fraction of a second, then quickly looked away and stood.
“Rest well. Xiao Wen is practicing in the back courtyard. If you need anything, call him. I have to head out.”
After yesterday’s events, he could no longer regard the man solely as the stranger who had once violated the original host. But to accept him? That was impossible. At least, not now.
Just as he turned to leave, Yan Shengrui spoke again.
“You made the right decision sending the children to study in town. That old man isn’t fit to be a teacher.”
Ling Jingxuan stopped mid-step.
“You heard that?”
How could that be? Even if their house was shabby, there was still a wall between rooms. Unless—
His phoenix eyes narrowed sharply.
“Don’t tell me you can even hear what we say in the bedroom?”
Damn it. Was this bastard one of those legendary martial arts masters? If they lived together, what privacy did he have left? Even whispers would be overheard.
“Mn. My hearing and eyesight both seem to be quite good.”
Yan Shengrui blinked and nodded, looking uncannily like the little buns when they proudly showed off. Father and sons looked as though they had been cast from the same mold—even their shameless cuteness matched.
“…Spare me. Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Ling Jingxuan pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation. So the man truly was a martial expert. Come to think of it, he was once a Grand General who commanded thousands—how could his martial skills be poor?
Yan Shengrui did not reply this time. He merely kept smiling at him, as if to say: You never asked.
If he could, Ling Jingxuan would have liked to slap him twice.
Damn it. Once he recovered, he would have to make him leave. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even dare speak freely in his own home.
“Heh… is it really that hard to accept?”
Watching Ling Jingxuan storm off in visible irritation, Yan Shengrui couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
Wasn’t it a good thing that his martial skills were strong? If anyone dared bully them under his watch, he could simply swat the offender flying with a single palm.
Wasn’t that rather reassuring?
- The story of Meng Mu moving three times (孟母三迁) refers to the mother of Meng Mu relocating repeatedly to ensure her son grew up in a proper learning environment. It symbolizes a parent’s dedication to a child’s education.
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Translator: LazyHermitGal
Author: LazyHermitGal
A Lazy Hermit Gal. A little support goes a long way! If you’d like to help me keep creating, you can do so at https://ko-fi.com/lazyhermitgal
