Chapter Eight: Fierce Name, Even More Terrifying Man

The next day, at dawn, Ye Xiu cooked a pot of congee using the leftover rice from yesterday.

Two eggs, four steamed buns, and two plates of pickled vegetables.

Ye Wuji had also woken up and was brushing his teeth and washing his face.

“Father, how did our family handle gift-giving before? What was the usual procedure?” Ye Xiu asked while eating.

“Our family?” Ye Wuji took a sip of congee, his face brightening with excitement. “A grand gift of ten thousand taels was only enough to gain entry. Getting things done required a different price. Your grandfather was a man of integrity—if he accepted money, he got the job done; if he couldn’t, he refunded in full. That’s why he had a great reputation in the circles.”

“Then, what if…” Ye Xiu looked at his father cautiously, “since you’re about to retake the exam, shouldn’t we send something to Professor Wang at the government office?”

“You mean Old Wang?” Ye Wuji feigned anger. “He was promoted solely by your grandfather. He owes our family gratitude. Why would we give him gifts?”

“Father, favors and obligations can’t always be measured like that,” Ye Xiu knew his father’s pride wouldn’t let go easily, so he continued coaxing, “Grandfather is still held at the Censorate. Without a patron, we have to understand the ways of the world. What do you think would be appropriate to give him?”

“Sigh!” Ye Wuji sighed heavily, then gave in smoothly. “He doesn’t need money, so we can’t give cash. Gift-giving is an art—you either give something precious that he sees every day, or something ordinary but impossible to buy with money. With our current situation, we have to keep it simple.”

Ordinary but impossible to buy with money?

Ye Xiu narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, then suddenly brightened. “Father, how about the ‘Four Boxes’ gift from the common folk?”

“The Four Boxes?” Ye Wuji quickly waved his hand. “He’s a professor now. Giving the Four Boxes would sound like an insult.”

“Father, the Four Boxes I’m talking about aren’t what you think.” Ye Xiu pointed toward the direction of the capital. “These are things the emperor barely eats even once a year. Does that sound prestigious enough?”

“...” Ye Wuji widened his eyes in disbelief. “Son, don’t joke. Five years ago when we entered the capital, you’ve had the imperial cuisine before. Even the dogs wouldn’t eat that if you fed it to them.”

“Father, just trust me.”

After clearing the bowls, Ye Xiu prepared the Four Treasures of the Study for Ye Wuji.

The “Correct Interpretation of the Five Classics” was laid out on the table. He picked up a brush and wrote down two classic exam questions from the Hongwu era.

“Father, I saw these two exam questions while reading at the Jade Spring Study. Use the ‘Correct Interpretation of the Five Classics’ and try working through them.”

After grinding the ink and moistening the brush, Ye Xiu placed a paperweight firmly on the paper. “From now on, besides reading, your only task is to practice questions. I’ll check your homework every day.”

Ye Wuji was at a loss. With all those archaic phrases and lamentations written down, would Ye Xiu even understand them?

He had only been studying the sages’ texts for a few days and didn’t even know how to punctuate, yet he was going to check his homework?

But once he sat down and saw the questions, Ye Wuji immediately put aside his disdain.

He took a deep breath: these questions were so tricky!

“Father, I’m heading to the study. I’ll be back at noon to cook.”

“All right.” Ye Wuji responded and was already immersed in the exam questions.

Ye Xiu stepped out of the courtyard but froze in place.

A burly butcher was blocking his path, gripping a bloodied long knife.

Could it be that his father had died from the fishy herb?

Ye Xiu trembled all over, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

He wanted to run, but thinking of his father at home, he gave up the idea.

“Good sir, the grudge has a culprit. I’m the one who mentioned the fishy herb. It has nothing to do with my father.”

Ye Xiu feigned calm. “At worst, it’s a life-for-a-life. Go ahead and strike; in twenty years, I’ll be a hero again.”

The butcher frowned, staring at the knife, seemingly understanding something.

To Ye Xiu, it looked like the butcher was weighing the pros and cons of killing him.

This only made Ye Xiu more terrified, his back drenched in cold sweat.

Just as he was about to soil his pants from fear, a gentle voice came from behind.

“Brother, Mother told you to cut half a sheep to deliver to the benefactor. Why are you holding a knife out here? You scared the benefactor. Can you take responsibility?”

The butcher hesitated, then dropped the knife and knelt before Ye Xiu.

Thump, thump, thump!

A solid three knocks on the ground. “Benefactor above, Zhao Yide kowtows to you.”

“Ah? This…” Ye Xiu was bewildered, unsure how to respond.

“Is it you?” The young girl’s voice was filled with joy as she knelt down too. “You saved my father’s life. You’re our family’s great benefactor. May we pay our respects to you!”

“Get up quickly…”

Ye Xiu hurriedly helped Zhao Youyou up, never expecting her to be the little wonton beauty.

But looking at Zhao Yide and Zhao Youyou together, they hardly resembled family. The difference was too great.

The touch of skin made Zhao Youyou’s face flush with embarrassment.

At that moment, Ye Wuji, hearing the noise, came out and saw the scene, utterly confused. “Son, what’s going on?”

“Sis, I’m not good with words. You say it.” Zhao Yide stood and looked at Zhao Youyou.

“My brother treated my father’s illness according to the benefactor’s instructions and really brought him back from the gates of death.”

“Really saved him? Then why is he carrying a bloodied knife?”

Ye Xiu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The ancient explanation for typhoid was vague, and pneumonia wasn’t even recognized.

Thus, a seemingly minor cold could be a deadly killer in those times.

“This morning, we slaughtered a sheep. Mother said to send half of it to you. My brother wanted to thank youI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.