Regardless of Wang Wanwan's thoughts, Xu Huaixian had successfully secured control over the household's meals.
The next morning, despite his physical discomfort, he forced himself up early to take his medicine. Carrying a box of bird's nest, he instructed Wang Wanwan: "Stew this."
Wang Wanwan stared at the entire bird's nest in shock. "The whole piece?" The physician had said a small strand could expand greatly when soaked—just enough for Xu Huaixian's daily morning portion after half an hour of stewing.
"There are four of us," Xu Huaixian said, eyes barely open. "Everyone should taste some—divided portions won't be much anyway."
"But—" Wang Wanwan hesitated.
"Who manages the kitchen—you or me?" Xu Huaixian narrowed his eyes slightly.
Silenced, Wang Wanwan took the bird's nest to prepare.
Drifting back to his room half-asleep, Xu Huaixian found Chen Liejiu dressing. Seeing his drowsy state, Chen Liejiu smiled. "Want more rest? I'll wake you when food's ready."
"No need." Xu Huaixian sat at the table, rubbing his temples to stay awake as he opened one of the original host's books. "I'll read awhile."
Diligence is the path to the mountain of knowledge.
Before the original host's memories faded completely, he needed to thoroughly absorb the textual knowledge, making it his own—laying foundations for the Xiucai examinations.
Chen Liejiu almost said, No need to work so hard—just go through the motions. We don't expect scholarly honors from you.
But reconsidering, such words would devastate Xu Huaixian's confidence—implying he couldn't succeed despite his frailty. Depriving him of scholarly pursuits might make him feel worthless, risking despair and worsened health.
Instead, Chen Liejiu adopted an admiring tone: "With such dedication, my husband will surely earn honors—making the village envy my excellent match!"
Initially just skimming archaic classical texts, Xu Huaixian paused at this praise. Imagining Chen Liejiu—currently the feared village bully—transformed into the most envied ger through his academic achievements...
Instantly motivated, Xu Huaixian's goals expanded beyond mere Xiucai pretenses to Jinshi ambitions.
Like his past life—eschewing entertainment for civil service—here, without patriotic fervor for the emperor, striving for Chen Liejiu's sake felt profoundly different.
Suddenly, the punctuation-less classical prose seemed less daunting. Immersed, he read for nearly two hours until Chen Liejiu brought stewed bird's nest.
"Cooled perfectly." Chen Liejiu smiled at their synchronicity. "Rest your eyes with some food?"
"Alright." Accepting the bowl, Xu Huaixian noted his full portion versus Chen Liejiu's nearly broth-only serving. Sipping, he diverted attention: "Your hair looks loose."
"Does it?" Chen Liejiu reached up.
"Don't move—you'll mess it completely." Xu Huaixian stopped him. "Let me fix it."
"Alright." Unsuspecting, Chen Liejiu leaned in.
Xu Huaixian removed the faded old hair ribbon, replacing it with the vibrant red one bought yesterday—the non-purchase-only item requiring ten-tael spending at the cosmetics shop.
Tying hair as spouses, no doubts between lovers.
Though not yet true marital partners, Xu Huaixian's heart resonated with the sentiment. His first love—he hoped wouldn't be betrayed.
"Done."
Chen Liejiu touched the unfamiliar ribbon texture. "What did you use?"
"Also a hair ribbon."
Seeing the exquisite red silk, Chen Liejiu's eyes shone—his first meaningful gift since his parents' death.
Xu Huaixian, noting his visible delight, still spoon-fed him bird's nest: "Do you like it?"
"Love it!" Chen Liejiu swallowed happily. "I'll treasure it dearly."
Both the ribbon and the person.
Chen Liejiu's new accessory became household knowledge instantly.
Wang Wanwan covered giggles—amused for unknown reasons.
Chen Xiaomei tallied: Second Brother gave sister-in-law face cream, elder brother a hair ribbon. Though she'd received candy, it wasn't her true desire.
Deciding against passive waiting, she took initiative—arriving before Xu Huaixian with an egg basket.
Ignoring her initially, Xu Huaixian finally asked over his book: "Something you need?"
Eyes brightening, she offered a boiled egg. "For you!"
Xu Huaixian eyed it skeptically.
"...Or a chicken?" she bargained reluctantly.
"Would you really?"
"Not really." Her face twisted painfully—her six hens laid eggs diligently. Losing one meant fewer eggs—poor exchange.
Still, she nodded bravely. "If you want one...just one." As long as you cook it deliciously—worthy sacrifice.
"Who am I?" Xu Huaixian diverted.
"You're you." Obviously.
"What should you call me?"
Xiaomei clamped her mouth shut—still resentful over his earlier deception. Calling him "Second Brother" felt like surrender!
Xu Huaixian resumed reading, casually remarking: "Heard chicks can hatch without hens—just eggs needed. Anytime, any season."
Her mind raced: If eggs cost one wen for two, and chicks sold for three wen each—one wen investment could yield five wen profit!
Fingers counting confirmed the math. Excited, she looked up—only to find Xu Huaixian absorbed in reading, utterly indifferent.
Infuriating!
She agonized over money-making ideas, while he conjured them effortlessly yet cared not.
She yearned desperately for wealth—to eat eggs extravagantly, spare Chen Liejiu dangerous wolf hunts...
But profits required calling him "Second Brother."
Pride or prosperity?
Finally, a sweet "Second Brother!" burst forth.
Xu Huaixian glanced up as she beamed. "Second Brother!"
The first hurdle cleared, subsequent calls flowed naturally. "Second Brother, teach me chick-hatching now! I'll share profits half-half—fair deal!"
Quite the negotiator for her age.
Xu Huaixian considered their finances: Yesterday's earnings plus existing savings totaled nearly sixty-five taels—seemingly ample for rural retirement.
Yet his medical costs could devour this within months—urgency resurged.
Copying books for income seemed viable until inquiries revealed dismal pay:
Children's primers (1,000 characters): mere wen after ink/paper costsImperial exam tomes (monthly copying): 200-300 wen maximum
Not even covering one dose of medicine.
They couldn't idle, awaiting miraculous windfalls like yesterday's—secured only through Chen Liejiu's money-house connections.
Sustainable income required proactive ventures—farming too slow, food businesses too risky for his health. Perhaps poultry breeding suited best—home-based with ready partners.
Seeing Xiaomei's hopeful eyes, Xu Huaixian closed his book. "Fetch candles—I'll teach you."
"Yay!" She dashed for supplies, triumphant.
The first step in hatching chicks was selecting fertilized eggs laid within the past seven days—these had the highest success rates.
Chen Xiaomei's basket contained few recent eggs, and without a rooster, fertilized ones were scarce. After careful selection, Xu Huaixian picked five eggs—likely from some wandering hen's illicit affair.
Staring at the meager yield, Xiaomei's face crumpled. "Only five usable?" Her get-rich-quick scheme seemed distant now.
"Patience breeds prosperity," Xu Huaixian cautioned her impulsive nature, finding five eggs ideal for practice. "Rushing might waste all your eggs."
Earlier, while fetching candles, he'd tempered her expectations—artificial hatching had lower success than natural brooding. Better disappointment now than devastation later.
"Fine." Though disheartened, Xiaomei accepted this. "Hopefully two succeed."
Seeing her adjust expectations, Xu Huaixian proceeded. He prepared a wooden crate lined with rice bran, nestled the eggs inside, and covered them with quilts. The original host's winter warmer—filled with boiling water—was tucked beneath for heat.
Positioned where sunlight could reach through the window, the setup was complete.
"...That's it?" Xiaomei blinked incredulously.
Some random box, cotton padding, and a warmer—could this truly hatch eggs?
Xu Huaixian nodded. "That's it."
Maintaining 37-38°C was the only requirement. Modern methods used rice cookers or electric blankets, but here, sunlight plus the warmer sufficed for daytime.
Fortunately, while gathering materials, he'd found two ox-bladder water bags—Chen Liejiu's old travel gear—excellent for nighttime insulation when filled with hot water and placed alongside extra quilts.
Ideally, a heated kang bed would provide steady warmth, but southern regions lacked this northern feature. Large-scale operations could wait until after mastering small batches.
Despite Xiaomei's skepticism, Xu Huaixian's confidence convinced her to trust him—what if it works?
With this project, Xiaomei abandoned outdoor play, obsessively tending her five eggs. Xu Huaixian instructed rotating them every few hours for embryo ventilation, which she timed religiously—eager for her chicks' arrival.
Days later, Xu Huaixian—having nearly finished reviewing the original host's books—sat annotating texts in the main hall. Thorough commentary was essential for mastery, and cross-referencing with residual memories deepened understanding.
Xiaomei moved the incubation crate outdoors—today's weak sunlight couldn't penetrate indoors, and she worried insufficient warmth would deter hatching.
As she adjusted the quilts, Chen Gui's wife arrived with her youngest son, a basket on her arm. "Xiaomei! Why stay cooped up? Little Pillar misses playing with you!"
Xiaomei froze. Since when does Pillar play with me?
Still, she politely asked, "Aunt Gui, what brings you?"
"My man's lost his appetite," the woman simpered. "Thought to trade for some rice—easier on his stomach."
Noting the basket's greens and eggs, Xiaomei deemed this fair and allowed entry, calling to Wang Wanwan: "Sister-in-law, Aunt Gui's here to trade rice!"
"Coming." Wang Wanwan set aside Xu Huaixian's half-sewn garment and took the basket to the kitchen.
Most villagers ate cheap, twice-harvested indica rice—only purchasing premium white rice for special needs like children or invalids. Neighbors often bartered small quantities, and the Chen household's generosity made them preferred traders.
While Wang Wanwan measured rice, Aunt Gui—uncomfortable idling—noticed Xiaomei fussing over a quilt-wrapped bundle. "What's this?"
"Hatching chicks." Xiaomei checked the temperature—slightly warmer than her skin—satisfied.
"Hatching chicks?" Little Pillar snatched the quilt away, revealing five eggs. He howled with laughter, "HAHAHA! Mother, look! She thinks she's a hen—brooding eggs in blankets!"
"My chicks!" Xiaomei lunged for her precious eggs, but Pillar—taller and quicker—dangled them overhead, taunting, "Eggs aren't chicks! Only hens hatch eggs—are you a hen?"
In the scuffle, the eggs fell—shattering on the ground.
Xiaomei's eyes reddened. Ten days of care—gone! Enraged, she attacked Pillar, pounding his head. "You owe me chicks! OWE ME!"
Aunt Gui shrieked, pulling her away, but Xiaomei bit Pillar's shoulder—clinging despite slaps and pinches.
Xu Huaixian emerged to find Xiaomei's face swollen, chin bruised, yet unyielding, while Aunt Gui wailed, "My poor baby!" over Pillar's superficial bite marks.
"You crossed the line," Xu Huaixian coldly admonished, prying Xiaomei loose.
"Me?!" Aunt Gui screeched. "This wretched girl mauled my son! We'll sue for damages!"
Xu Huaixian examined Xiaomei's injuries—far worse than Pillar's—and sneered, "Your 'precious son' started this. Those were viable eggs—worth more than your whining brat."
Aunt Gui gasped. "How dare you! That mongrel girl's life isn't worth my son's fingernail!"
Ah—sexist trash. Xu Huaixian's扶贫 experience had bred deep contempt for such attitudes.
"Xiaomei's value eclipses your son's," he stated icily, soothing her swollen cheek. "Her future chicks make her our golden child, while yours—" He eyed the sniveling Pillar, "—will likely rot in this village thanks to you."
"Wanwan," he called, "return this woman's items. Our 'unlucky' household's rice might curse her family."
Wang Wanwan—seething inside—"accidentally" dropped the basket, smashing its eggs.
Aunt Gui paled—those were for trading elsewhere!
Xu Huaixian coughed violently into a handkerchief, revealing blood streaks. "Wanwan...fetch your brother...I fear...this rage has..."
Aunt Gui fled screaming, "Not our fault!" dragging her bawling son.
Post-drama, Xu Huaixian tended Xiaomei's wounds, her silent tears finally falling.
"They weren't just eggs," she whispered. "Brother said...I'm not a curse..."
Xu Huaixian understood—villagers had blamed her for her parents' deaths until Chen Liejiu renamed her "Baozhu which means Treasure Pearl," declaring her their family's jewel.
Today's cruelty reopened those wounds.
"Listen well," he said firmly. "Those eggs would've hatched—proving your capability. That woman's ignorance doesn't define reality."
He wiped her tears. "We'll start anew—better methods, more eggs. When those chicks peck free, everyone will see—you're no curse, but a miracle worker."
Xiaomei's grip tightened on his sleeve—not from greed for profit, but for validation.
Xu Huaixian patted her head. Some battles weren't fought with fists, but through quiet, undeniable success.