Volume One, Chapter Nine: Let’s See What You’re Capable Of!

Old Shen’s face darkened as he lowered his voice, “Keep it down!”

Of course, he knew Hongye was the family’s hope, and he was reluctant to give Hongye’s things to Yu Bai.

But if Yu Bai really went to borrow ink, brushes, and paper from another family, their family’s reputation would be completely ruined.

The stipend from the clan school was meant to buy writing materials for the students; medical expenses should have been covered by the family.

Using Yu Bai’s study allowance to buy medicine might silence the third wife’s family, but it wouldn’t stop the gossip in the clan.

Old Shen cared deeply about his reputation.

His father had served as a county magistrate, and he himself still aspired to that position.

If such matters became public, it would harm Hongye’s chances in the imperial examinations.

Old Shen did not want to argue too much with Lady Zheng; he snapped harshly, “If you want our eldest grandson to pass the exams, you have to give Yu Bai the things he asked for.”

Lady Zheng stomped in anger but went to the eldest wife’s room and fetched the ink, brushes, and paper, shoving them all into Lady Luo’s arms.

A pair of slanted eyes glared fiercely at Yu Bai. “Let’s see what you’ll amount to!”

Yu Bai cupped his hands respectfully toward Lady Zheng. “Yu Bai will not disappoint Grandma’s expectations.”

Lady Zheng was so furious she nearly toppled over and slammed the door loudly as she left.

Outside the eldest wife’s window, a shadow flickered past.

Yu Bai’s still youthful face was calm and serene as he returned inside with his mother.

Lady Luo wiped her hands on the sides of her clothes and said with lingering fear, “Next time, don’t anger your grandparents.”

“I’m only reclaiming what belongs to me; why would Grandpa and Grandma be angry?” Yu Bai replied.

He sat cross-legged on the bed.

Though his health had improved considerably, the long walk today was still tiring.

Lady Luo folded the quilt neatly and placed it behind him for support.

She knew she couldn’t reason with her son, but inside she was deeply anxious.

The Shen family had not divided property; all finances and household items were controlled by the grandparents. If angered, they could make life unbearable for this orphaned mother and son with just a thought.

For example, even if Yu Bai wasn’t home today, some food could have been saved, but the grandmother said Yu Bai was at the clan school and would eat there, so no food was left at home.

She was hungry too.

After pouring tea for Yu Bai and setting it by the bed, Lady Luo quietly left the room.

Yu Bai spread out his books and skimmed through them to get a general understanding so he wouldn’t make mistakes when copying later.

Just as he was about to pick up his brush, a transparent box appeared on the bed next to the scroll.

“This is called cake. The shop across from our school sells it. You probably haven’t tried it before, so here—try some.”

Yu Bai placed the clear box on the kang table. Inside was a fan-shaped pastry, covered in a layer of white substance of unknown origin, decorated with pink flowers.

He studied it for a moment and noticed two spoons at the bottom of the box.

Su Jin had told him this material was called plastic.

He tentatively opened the box; a sweet aroma instantly filled his nose, making his stomach growl.

Yu Bai stared at the plastic spoon in his hand, wondering if it could scoop the cake.

He poked the cake with the spoon, and the tip sank completely into it.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he took a spoonful and tasted it.

The cake’s sweetness spread across his tongue, quickly filling his entire mouth.

Yu Bai’s eyes glowed as he gazed at the cake.

He split the cake in half and enjoyed his portion to the fullest.

With the last spoonful, a wave of reluctance surged in his heart.

After finishing, he closed the box and set it aside, then carefully wrote a thank-you letter to Su Jin, praising the cake as a delicacy of the mortal world.

Su Jin laughed.

Over the past ten days, she had chatted a lot with Yu Bai and knew he loved sweets. Passing by the cake shop near the school today, she had spent 38 yuan on this cake.

Though many students liked this shop, no one praised it as extravagantly as Yu Bai.

They chatted a bit more, and Su Jin learned that Yu Bai hadn’t eaten lunch.

“You’re sick—how could they have the heart not to feed you?”

“It’s just because I didn’t give them the inkstone they wanted last time. This is a small lesson for me today,” Yu Bai said calmly.

Even hearing his calm recounting made Su Jin angry.

The Shen family not only took all of Yu Bai’s three years’ worth of allowance but even coveted his treasured inkstone?!

What a bizarre family!

“Have they always bullied you like this? Can you move out?”

She quickly received an answer: “In Dayue, there’s no concept of severing ties. Disrespecting elders ruins your future. Even if you go home to farm, people will look down on you. It’s hard to stand in the clan.”

Su Jin felt suffocated.

In ancient times, filial piety was a burden that could crush people.

The saying “a father is the ruler over the son” applied here.

Here, “father” represented Yu Bai’s grandfather.

What nonsense!

“Does your mother just silently endure all this?”

Su Jin didn’t even know why she asked that.

Perhaps she secretly wished her own mother would protect her.

Her mother had her own life and little energy to spare.

Thinking of that familiar figure, Su Jin’s eyes clouded with confusion, but she quickly pushed the thought aside.

Because Yu Bai’s letter had arrived.

“Dayue is different from your era; women have no say. Since my father died, my mother could only rely on me. When I grow up and pass the imperial exams, she will finally have a chance. But now that I’m seriously ill, her life at the Shen household has become even harder.”

Su Jin was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

A father gone too soon, a mother like a steamed bun, a broken boy.

“Your mother could secretly hide food for you.”

Yu Bai smiled faintly when he read this.

Women in the future truly had it better to even entertain such thoughts.

He wrote back, “I don’t even have lunch; where would she get food to hide?”

Su Jin stared hard at the letter, as if trying to see through the words.

Even Lady Luo was going hungry?

Mother and son—one working from dawn till dusk, the other sick and weak.

The Shen family actually had the nerve not to feed such people?

Hmph.

If the Shen family won’t feed you, I will!

Su Jin immediately ordered two takeout meals to be sent over and angrily wrote a long letter.

The aroma of food wafted to Yu Bai’s nose, alongside Su Jin’s letter.

Just reading her words, Yu Bai could imagine how angry she was.

“What should I send you to help you vent your anger at the Shen family?”

Tracing the paper with his fingers, a smile curved at Yu Bai’s lips.

That smile lit up the dim room like a thousand rays of light.

Picking up his brush again, the smile in his eyes deepened. “Nothing else is needed, only medicine. I would trouble you for more of that.”

He already owed her his life; how could he ask for more?

Copying history alone could never repay Su Jin’s kindness. Once he recovered, he would do everything possible to help Su Jin find a way to restore the scroll!

She was just a student with little money, and lately had been helping him so much, probably stretching her resources thin.

Yu Bai wrote again, “Recently, I have received quite a bit of medicine and food from you, which must have cost a lot. Do you still have enough money? I have some large bills here—can they be used in your world?”

When this letter reached Su Jin, she threw her head back and wailed.

Money.

She really didn’t have much left.

Usually, she lived on a monthly allowance of a thousand yuan. She had always been frugal enough to manage, but now with three to feed, her money slipped away as if it had legs.

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