SLH | Chapter 27

The Ceremony Teacher

March 28th, a good day for marriage.

On this day, Song Tingzhu put on a long robe of a color he hadn’t worn for a long time. As soon as he stepped out of the house, Liu Xiaomei came up to him, showering him with compliments.

“Sao Fu Lang, this outfit looks really nice. Why have I never seen you wear it before?”

Song Tingzhu smoothed out the creases on his sleeves and said with a smile, “It’s a bit too flashy.”

This outfit was bought by Granny Liu when he was young and liked eye-catching colors. It ended up being too big for him, so he couldn’t wear it properly until he turned fourteen. By then, he no longer liked the color.

Song Tingzhu lowered his eyes in thought. He wondered if Granny Liu had received the letter he sent.

“Sao Fu Lang, it’s time to go.”

“Okay.” Song Tingzhu slung a bamboo basket over his back and noticed Xia Ge’er pouting at the doorway, looking out expectantly. He waved with a smile.

“Xiao Shumei.” Xia Ge’er was a bit unhappy; he wanted to go too. His little aunt had promised they would run errands together for Xiao Shumei yesterday, and he had even sworn to it.

The little guy’s pouting face was so amusing that Song Tingzhu couldn’t help but coax him, “Xia Ge’er, be good. Xiao Shumei is going to earn some money. When Xiao Shumei comes back, he’ll bring you some candy, okay?”

Xia Ge’er nodded, but still looked a bit downcast.

“Xiao Shumei has a task for Xia Ge’er. Only Xia Ge’er can do it, or else Xiao Shumei won’t be at ease.”

The little guy perked up, curious, “What task?”

Song Tingzhu patiently coaxed, “It’s a nice day today. Could you help Xiao Shumei take the books from the bottom shelf outside to get some sun? Those books are Xiao Shumei’s most precious things, and only by entrusting them to Xia Ge’er can Xiao Shumei go earn money with peace of mind.”

Hearing this, Xia Ge’er immediately agreed, raising his fist and saying in a cute voice, “Okay, I promise to complete the task!”

Song Tingzhu ruffled the little guy’s hair and said gently, “Wait for Xiao Shumei to come back.”

“Uh-huh~”

“Sao Fu Lang, Old Master Peng is here.” Liu Xiaomei called from outside the courtyard.

“I’m coming.” Song Tingzhu waved goodbye to Xia Ge’er and then left the courtyard.

“Zhu Ge’er, I’ve brought you good news.” Old Peng laughed heartily, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out with his smile.

Song Tingzhu voiced his guess, “Is someone looking for a letter writer?”

“Not just that, there’s a young man who often rides my ox cart. His family is hosting a birthday banquet for an elder and wants someone to write a few longevity characters. He couldn’t invite those scholars, so he thought of taking my ox cart to town to find someone who writes letters. I recommended you to him.”

Old Peng gestured with his hands, “I showed him the characters you wrote, and he didn’t hesitate at all. The deal was made right then and there!”

Song Tingzhu smiled slightly, “I have to thank Old Master Peng for bringing me business.”

“The thanks are unnecessary, I also got a good deal out of it.” He said, raising his whip, “Everyone sit tight, we’re heading out.”

It was still early, and there weren’t many people on the ox cart. By the time they passed the big banyan tree, only three more people had gotten on. Old Peng didn’t mind, and the ox cart swayed leisurely out of the village.

“Zhu Ge’er, Xiaomei, you two are dressed so nicely. Where are you headed?” asked a young woman.

Song Tingzhu didn’t know her, but after Liu Xiaomei whispered in his ear, he greeted her, “Sister-in-law.”

“We’re going to Shanghe Village.”

The woman was Wang Xue, the daughter-in-law of Aunt Cai. Knowing her mother-in-law was on good terms with the Liu family, she started a conversation.

“Shanghe Village? I don’t recall the Liu family having any relatives there.” Wang Xue murmured to herself. She wasn’t the type to pry and didn’t ask further, turning her attention to other topics.

“Is Xia Ge’er feeling better after being frightened when he went to buy tofu last time?”

“He’s already fine. Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law.”

“That’s good to hear. That Liu Lao’er’s family really isn’t good, bullying such a young child.”

“Who says otherwise? My youngest was beaten by that Jie kid yesterday, his face covered in blood marks. When we went to their house to reason, Cui Yulan acted like a fighting rooster, her tail almost sticking up to the sky. Just because they have a scholar in the family, I don’t know what they’re so proud of.”

These words were a bit sour. Lianxi Town doesn’t produce many scholars in a year, and Yunxi Village hasn’t had a promising scholar in over a decade. Liu Yushu passing the exam is indeed something worth being proud of.

The villagers want to gain favor with the Liu family and avoid offending them, so they are always accommodating and flattering in person, while gossiping behind their backs.

A woman who had a grudge with Liu Lao’er’s family sighed, “Sigh, what can we do? They have a capable son.”

Liu Xiaomei leaned over and whispered to Song Tingzhu, “Liu Yushu just passed the scholar exam, and his family is already acting so high and mighty. Aren’t they afraid of the master’s words coming true?”

Song Tingzhu looked up, “What master?”

“Sao Fu Lang doesn’t know? It’s been spreading in the village for a while. A while back, the granny hired a fortune teller who said Liu Yushu is a star descended from heaven, but his star position is unstable. He needs to keep a low profile until he passes the imperial exam, or else his fate will be turbulent.”

Seeing Liu Xiaomei’s head shaking like a fortune teller’s, Song Tingzhu couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You, a young girl, learning from a fortune teller.”

Liu Xiaomei giggled, “It’s fun.”

The three women continued chatting about various households. Song Tingzhu leaned back, listening quietly, and before he knew it, they had arrived at Shanghe Village.

“Zhu Ge’er, we’re at Shanghe Village.” Old Peng stopped the ox cart and called out.

Song Tingzhu hopped off the cart, thanking him, “Thank you, Old Master Peng.”

“No need to be so polite.” Old Peng raised his whip, pointing ahead, “Look, the Hua family is here to pick you up.”

At the village entrance stood two women, one plump and one thin. Song Tingzhu recognized one from the other day, surnamed Huang.

“Aunt Huang, Auntie.” He and Xiaomei approached, greeting the two women.

“This is the young man that Dahua praised so much. He’s indeed handsome.” The plump woman squinted her eyes, smiling at Song Tingzhu with her eyes almost disappearing.

Aunt Huang said, “This is your Aunt He from the He family, also here to help. Zhu Ge’er, let’s talk as we walk.”

Song Tingzhu nodded, following the two women along the path.

“Your Aunt Hua has been running to the village entrance several times since morning, afraid something would hold you up. There are so many things to do at home, how could she keep doing that? Your Aunt He and I said we’d wait for you at the village entrance, so she could go back and handle other things.”

“Auntie, don’t worry. Since I’ve agreed, I won’t back out at the last minute.”

Aunt Huang laughed, “Auntie can tell at a glance that you’re reliable. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have suggested to Aunt Hua to let you be the ceremony teacher.”

Aunt He couldn’t help but praise, “Not only are you good-looking, but you can read too. If my eldest could marry a husband like you, I’d be over the moon.”

“Don’t even think about it. Not to mention Zhu Ge’er’s looks, which are rare even in town, just being literate””there aren’t many literate men in the surrounding ten miles, let alone girls or young men.”

“True, it seems my eldest won’t have such good fortune.” Aunt He felt a bit unwilling but had no choice but to give up the idea.

“We’re here, just around the corner.” Aunt Huang smiled, “Guests haven’t arrived yet. Let’s get you and Xiaomei to the kitchen for a bowl of celebratory noodles, so you won’t be hungry when it gets busy later.”

Song Tingzhu nodded with a smile, “Thank you, Auntie.”

As they spoke, they arrived at the Hua family.

The Hua family had red silk draped over their gate, and the courtyard was spotless, with only a few rows of stacked ceramic jars against the wall.

Song Tingzhu asked and learned that Hua Er’niang’s husband, Ma Guangzhong, had married into the Hua family. Both of Hua Er’niang’s children took the Hua surname.

Ma Guangzhong was skilled in pottery, and when he was young, his family had a small kiln. Later, it was destroyed by enemies, and his parents couldn’t bear the loss, passing away within two years, leaving sixteen-year-old Ma Guangzhong with a mountain of debt.

Unable to find a wife, Ma Guangzhong married into the Hua family. Hua Er’niang didn’t mind his debt, and the couple lived a quiet life, eventually turning their fortunes around. While not the wealthiest in the village, they were doing well.

Song Tingzhu and Liu Xiaomei had already eaten breakfast before leaving, but they couldn’t refuse the celebratory noodles offered by the host family. So they each took a bowl and ate until they were full.

“Sao Fu Lang, there’s a poached egg at the bottom,” Liu Xiaomei said quietly, her eyes shining.

She was already full, but now she felt she could eat another bowl, with an egg!

Song Tingzhu noticed the little girl’s thoughts, feeling both sympathetic and helpless.

He gave his poached egg to Xiaomei.

“Sao Fu Lang, that’s yours!”

“I can’t eat anymore.” Song Tingzhu flexed his wrist, smiling at the little girl, “If you don’t eat it, it’ll go to waste.”

Only then did Liu Xiaomei pick up her chopsticks, taking a bite and exclaiming, “It’s a soft-boiled egg.”

“If only Xia Ge’er could come too. He loves soft-boiled eggs.”

Unintentionally, those words stuck with Song Tingzhu. Even after Xia Ge’er got married, every time he returned home, he would have someone cook him a small bowl of noodle soup with soft-boiled eggs.

After they finished eating, it was time for the guests to arrive. Song Tingzhu, carrying pen and ink, followed Hua Er’niang to the courtyard.

At the other end of the table sat someone who was there to announce the gifts. He looked about twelve or thirteen years old. Seeing Song Tingzhu, he turned his gaze away, snorting disdainfully.

“This is He Auntie’s son, Yan Cheng. He’s studied for two years and wants to be a ceremony teacher. When he heard I hired you, he got upset with me.” Hua Er’niang went over and tapped the boy’s head, warning, “Do your job well. If you cause trouble, I’ll tell your mother and have you punished.”

Xu Yan Cheng covered his forehead, pouting and responding with a reluctant “Oh.”

As soon as Hua Er’niang turned away, he crossed his arms, refusing to look directly at anyone.

“I’m telling you, keeping track of gifts isn’t just about writing them down. You also have to calculate the accounts correctly.”

Song Tingzhu wasn’t angry. Seeing the young man’s paper and pen ready, he smiled and said, “Want to have a competition?”

“Sure, let’s see who wins!”

———————–

Author’s Note: Tomorrow’s update will be a bit late, around 10 o’clock~

Next book pre-order “Returning to the Famine Year to Raise a Husband,” please add it to your collection [pink heart][flower sprinkle]