Volume One, Chapter 12: The Second Uncle of the Luo Family Rampages

Su Jin clenched three copper coins, her heart trembling slightly. This time, Shen Yubai had given her all the copper coins he had. No one had ever been so unreserved with her before.

She wrapped the coins in paper and sent them back to Shen Yubai.

“The money in my hand is enough. Do you want me to help you earn some copper coins? I can sell copper coins later and make a profit.”

Shen Yubai’s brows relaxed. Since Miss Su was unwilling to accept, he would not insist. But the idea of her helping to earn copper coins stirred something in his heart.

Over the years, his mother had endured too much hardship with him, putting all her dowry into their situation and borrowing heavily from her natal family. If she could repay the debt owed to her family and have some silver on hand, she might feel more at ease and no longer be overly constrained by those in charge.

After a moment’s thought, Shen Yubai had an idea.

“Miss Su, is the glass cup you sent last time expensive?”

Upon seeing the words "glass cup," Su Jin’s first reaction was that the name sounded much more upscale than “glass cup.” So Shen Yubai wanted to sell glass cups.

“My current funds could buy ten thousand glass cups!”

Shen Yubai was a little surprised. Although he expected glass cups would not be expensive in the future, he hadn’t imagined they would be this cheap. A student like Miss Su could actually afford ten thousand glass cups.

He chuckled softly, the delicate lines of his collarbone rising and falling.

Su Jin’s letter arrived: “How many do you want?”

“One is enough.”

Su Jin immediately opened Taobao and selected a set of exquisite glass teapot and cups.

Three hundred twenty-one yuan.

No problem, she had money now.

Who could resist such a beautiful set?

Buy!

Two days later, the package arrived.

Unpacking it, one by one, they were placed before the scroll.

Shen Yubai was copying a book when a glass cup about the size of a purple clay teapot cup appeared on the kang bed.

As he picked it up, a second cup appeared.

Then a third and a fourth.

Fearing they might be broken, Shen Yubai carefully moved the cups apart.

Turning back, a glass teapot had also appeared on the kang.

Even calm Shen Yubai showed signs of astonishment at the entire glass tea set.

But recalling Su Jin’s claim that she could buy ten thousand of these, the price did not seem expensive after all.

If he sold these, it could exchange for a considerable sum for Miss Su to spend.

A faint, barely perceptible smile flickered in Shen Yubai’s dark eyes.

After wrapping the items in cloth and replying “received,” he resumed his book copying.

These days, his routine was simple: copy books until tired, sleep, then walk around the room to refresh, and return to copying again.

The “Yue Records” was not thick; he had finished about half and estimated only two more days to complete.

Upon hearing this, Su Jin sent good meals daily to Shen Yubai.

She had money, so every meal had meat, eggs, and fish.

At first, Luo Shi thought to eat less and leave more for Shen Yubai, but seeing the fairy’s generous daily offerings, and that Shen Yubai couldn’t finish it all, leaving leftovers to spoil, she relaxed and ate heartily herself.

Meanwhile, Shen family’s coarse rice porridge was eaten less.

One afternoon, after finishing her chores, Luo Shi carried two bowls of rice soup to Shen Yubai’s room.

Opening the door, a fragrant aroma wafted out.

Swallowing, she quickly shut the door and the window, then quietly asked Shen Yubai, “What dishes did the fairy offer us today?”

Shen Yubai shifted aside, revealing two dishes and a soup.

Braised crucian carp, stir-fried sweet potato tips, and a loofah egg soup, accompanied by two large bowls of white rice.

Luo Shi hurriedly placed the rice soup aside, intending to drink it later if thirsty.

She helped clear the table and brought the dishes onto the kang table.

“If your uncles knew we were eating so well, they’d be angry,” Luo Shi said with lingering fear.

“They wouldn’t dare come into my room.”

Since he fell ill until now, no one but his mother had entered this room.

Even those who had to pass by kept their distance and hurried through.

For this reason, Shen Yubai had not rushed to sell the glass tea set.

“Mother, I feel much better now. Can I go to the county to see a doctor?”

Shen Yubai said this casually.

Luo Shi was pleased: “I thought you were better too. You haven’t coughed all night. Your face is rosy, and you sweat less.”

But then she hesitated: “I’m just a peasant woman; I can’t take you out.”

This was the difficulty.

Although rural women did not have the strict rules of ladies and madams, they still did not go far alone.

Besides, if a woman went out alone and met a villain on the road, it would be disastrous.

As for the Shen family, they could not be relied upon.

Shen Yubai picked up a piece of fish from his bowl and said, “Could you ask someone to deliver a message to my maternal family? If any uncle is free, perhaps they could take me to the county to see a doctor.”

“I’ll ask around this afternoon to see who’s going to Luo Village.”

Luo Village was not far from Shenjiawan. Because of many marriages and visits, villagers often asked each other for favors.

Luo Shi could not easily visit her natal home, lest her in-laws be displeased.

During the noon break, she visited familiar families to inquire.

The next day, Luo’s second uncle arrived.

He even brought a handcart loaded with dried straw.

When relatives came, the Shen family had to show face.

Old Shen personally sat with him for a while and asked the purpose of his visit.

The Luo family was also a scholarly farming family; the eldest uncle was a scholar.

But the second uncle was a straightforward farmer, openly resentful of the Shen family’s treatment, and spoke bluntly: “My poor nephew has been sick for so many years and has never been taken to a clinic. Last time my sister came back borrowing money, saying he had improved somewhat. I thought he should at least be taken to the county hospital to see a doctor. Yubai is still your Shen family’s descendant, but he is my sister’s only support. We can’t just watch him suffer.”

This was openly accusing the Shen family of neglecting their sick descendant and forcing the Luo family to take responsibility.

It was a slap in the face for the Shens.

Old Shen’s face darkened.

Second Uncle added: “We’re blunt people; our words may be harsh, but that’s the truth. Isn’t that right, elder?”

Old Shen gave a few evasive words and quickly sent the uncle away.

Luo Shi placed a mattress on the straw and helped Shen Yubai sit down, covering him with a thin quilt.

She also brought water and sorghum liquor.

Shen Yubai carried a cloth bag, walked from the bed to the cart, and sat down, letting Second Uncle push the cart forward.

After they left the Shen family, Shen Shouzhong jumped up.

“The Luo family is overstepping. Yubai is our Shen family’s son. Why did they take him to a clinic? To a county clinic, no less! They’re insulting us!”

“Mother, how could you let Luo Shi leave?”

Zheng Shi, also simmering with anger, complained, “That old man opened his mouth, saying there’s a lot of work at home, but she’s off playing in the county.”

Old Shen blew out a puff of smoke: “If the Luo family comes to take their nephew for treatment, how can we stop them?”

Letting the maternal family treat the illness was already a blow to the Shen family’s face. If they blocked it, the reputation would be even worse.

Zheng Shi said angrily, “I think he’s much better now. Why bother with the clinic? It’s a waste of money.”

Old Shen’s mind kept replaying the image of Shen Yubai sitting on the handcart.

He did look much more spirited, coughing less.

It seemed there hadn’t been much coughing recently.

“He must be eating well every day, building up his strength. Lately, I keep smelling the aroma of meat.”

Sitting on the kang with Zheng Shi, Shen Xiulian added her comment.