With limited funds, they only bought the most essential household items. Still, because the kitchen was completely bare, by the time they finished shopping, both of them were carrying quite a lot.
The return trip, however, was far less peaceful than the way there. Evening was the most relaxed time of day for villagers, and the moment they stepped into the village, someone noticed them.
"Well, isn't that Qin Ke? Back from the town, doing some shopping?"
Qin Ke looked at the speaker and searched his memory. He recognized him as a fellow villager from Qinghe Village—Song Yaozu, about the same age as himself.
Unlike the Qin family, who were genuine farmers, the Song family's great-grandfather had been a poor scholar. Even after the family declined, they still placed great importance on education. Among three generations, Song Yaozu had been chosen as the one to cultivate. The entire family worked the fields to support his studies, hoping he would one day pass the imperial exams and bring honor and fortune to them all.
Private academies in ancient times were notoriously expensive. Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones—each was a significant expense.
Qin Ke narrowed his eyes. From the original owner's memories, he knew that although Song Yaozu claimed to study at a private academy in town, he often spent his time drinking and playing with rich youths instead of actually studying.
"Do you need something?" Qin Ke asked coldly. He wasn't oblivious to the sarcasm in Song Yaozu's tone. Besides, Song Yaozu had often mocked the original owner before—nothing more than a self-proclaimed scholar looking down on a muddy-legged farmer.
"I heard people say you went to fetch water at the river this morning. What's this—planning to live properly now?" Song Yaozu spoke to Qin Ke, but his eyes never left Lu Youqing.
Qin Ke frowned and stepped sideways, blocking the offensive gaze.
"What does that have to do with you?"
Annoyed at having his view blocked, Song Yaozu glared at Qin Ke. He suddenly felt that something about Qin Ke was different from before, but he didn't dwell on it. As usual, he slung an arm over Qin Ke's shoulder with a grin.
"I'm just concerned about you. I heard the moment I got back that you bought a woman from town. Looks like the rumors were true. I figured—you're at that age. Time to get yourself a wife."
"But why is my sister-in-law covering her face? We're all villagers—bound to see each other sooner or later. No need to be shy."
From afar, he had already noticed Lu Youqing's figure—slender and graceful, more refined than any woman he'd seen in the brothels. If she really was a beauty, perhaps he could find a chance to taste her charms.
As he spoke, he reached out to yank the cloth from her face.
Qin Ke slapped his hand away and pulled Lu Youqing behind him in one smooth motion.
"Keep your hands to yourself. You've read books for so many years—did you shove all that learning down a dog's belly? You didn't learn a shred of propriety or shame, but you picked up every filthy trick just fine."
Qin Ke had nothing but contempt for this kind of person and didn't bother to spare him any face.
Song Yaozu was stunned by the slap. Qin Ke hadn't held back at all; his hand immediately reddened. Hearing the scolding, Song Yaozu's face darkened.
"Qin! Are you asking for it? You're nothing but a stray dog kicked out by your family—looking for a beating?"
"Then come on," Qin Ke shot back, stepping forward deliberately. "No matter how bad things are for me now, at least I'm supporting myself. Unlike you—burning your family's money to attend an academy and still failing to make scholar after all these years. I wonder if your family knows what you actually do in town every day?"
Strike a snake at its vital point—Qin Ke hit exactly where it hurt. He lifted his chin, openly daring Song Yaozu to make a move.
Song Yaozu, of course, didn't dare. Qin Ke knew that well. Raised without ever lifting a hoe, all skin and bones, Song Yaozu was no match for him.
"You—don't spout nonsense!"
Song Yaozu panicked, hurriedly glancing around to see if anyone else had overheard.
His repeated failures to pass the scholar exams had already drawn complaints from his family.
His elder cousin had just married, and the new wife was difficult from the moment she entered the household, pushing to divide the family and questioning why they should keep funding Song Yaozu's studies every year.
His uncle and aunt were already dissatisfied. They had once hoped he'd pass the exams and elevate the entire family, but after years of failure, they had lost faith and no longer wanted to invest in him.
His grandfather was old and could no longer suppress the resentment. This visit home was to inform him: if he failed again this year, he would return to farming.
If his family found out what he did in town, they would never support his education again.
With guilt gnawing at him, Song Yaozu no longer had any mind to stare at Lu Youqing. He pointed at Qin Ke in fury.
"You… you just wait!"
Then he hurried off.
Satisfied at having vented his anger, Qin Ke turned around with a grin—only to find Lu Youqing staring at him thoughtfully.
"Is there something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?" Qin Ke touched his cheek, confused.
"It's nothing."
Lu Youqing withdrew her gaze and continued walking home, lowering her head. "Won't this cause trouble?"
"It's fine. He won't dare say anything when he gets back."
Sensing her worry, Qin Ke added, "Don't worry. I may be poor right now, but I'll never let anyone bully you."
Protect… her?
Lu Youqing murmured to herself. Since her mother's death, no one had ever said they would protect her. What kind of person was he, really?
Unaware of her thoughts, Qin Ke organized the newly purchased goods once they got home, then started a fire to cook some porridge.
Back in his previous life, living alone, he had spent his weekends experimenting with cooking. He wasn't bad at it. Though spices and ingredients were limited here, at least he could cook enough to keep them from starving.
As he was lighting the fire, Lu Youqing suddenly came in after bringing in the laundry.
"I want to learn how to cook from you. I can't rely on you for everything forever. I need to learn."
Standing in front of Qin Ke, she spoke her request.
Hearing this, Qin Ke felt an inexplicable warmth in his chest. Whether it was because she had implicitly accepted living together—or because she had finally abandoned thoughts of death and chosen to live again—he didn't know.
But it made his eyes curve into a smile as he patiently guided her, hand over hand, step by step, in cooking the first meal of her life.
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Currently at chapter 66 for advance chapters
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