Chapter 80
Jiang Baiye was halfway through his ride when he realized he didn't actually know much about horseback riding; yet, having already started, he maintained a brisk pace despite the wind and snow.
His heart began to race and burn with anticipation as the distance between them closed.
He didn't recklessly rush straight to the prefectural academy; instead, he made a brief stop at the He residence. He arrived just as two tailors were delivering a batch of custom-made down jackets, heavy cloaks, and other winter gear.
Given the short turnaround time, the items delivered were naturally for Jiang Baiye’s family; the He family’s order was scheduled for a later batch.
Jiang Baiye was very pleased with what he saw. The down jackets followed contemporary styles but featured an inner layer of premium, lightweight goose down, making them even warmer than the usual thick, padded coats.
The members of the He household loved them too and urged the tailors to bring in more hands to get their orders done quickly; the twelfth lunar month was fast approaching, and the weather was growing colder by the day.
The He family was spending several times more on charcoal this year than in previous winters—though, of course, their frequent small hotpot meals played a part in that.
Jiang Baiye decided to freshen up with a quick bath first. He changed into a black, long-style down coat and layered a fur-lined cloak over it. He felt instantly warmer without looking bulky; as he strode through the wind-swept corridor, He Lin was left completely dumbfounded by the sight. "Are you trying to dazzle Li Zhi?"
Jiang Baiye, who usually didn't care much about his appearance, chuckled. "Do I really need to go out of my way to dazzle him?"
"Don't be too confident; you might just trip up when you least expect it."
The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.
Jiang Baiye’s expression darkened instantly as he thought of that potential romantic rival—a character the book had described in great detail as handsome and elegant.
He quickened his pace and headed to Dr. Pang’s room.
"Close the door—quick!" As the cold wind seeped in for just a moment, Dr. Pang shivered violently and hurriedly shoveled a large mouthful of scalding hot vegetables into his mouth.
"You’ve run out of hot pot base; make some more, will you? It’s absolutely essential in winter!" Dr. Pang mumbled between bites.
"Is the medicine ready?" Jiang Baiye cared about only one thing. "Didn't you say you’d found a substitute for that other ingredient?"
The plan to force the seedlings to grow quickly in the greenhouse had naturally failed; the young plants Jiang Baiye brought back had soon withered and died. Fortunately, Dr. Pang didn't strictly require them. "What’s the rush? Here."
Only then did Jiang Baiye notice the dozens of medicine packets piled on the table beside him; he was instantly delighted. "I’ll take these back for him to use!"
"Hey, wait a moment. The oral medication needs to be supplemented with medicinal baths, and he’ll need acupuncture every ten to fifteen days. You two need to coordinate the schedule carefully; once the treatment begins, it shouldn't be interrupted, or the effectiveness will be greatly compromised!"
Doctor Pang stood up. "The packets wrapped in yellow paper are for oral use—one dose daily, taken warm after meals. The ones in green paper are for medicinal baths—once every three days, soaking for an hour each time. These are merely preparatory and supplementary measures; acupuncture is the decisive factor. Remember, you absolutely must not delay!"
Naturally, Jiang Baiye and Lu Lizhi wouldn't put off something so important. However, the Prefectural Academy wasn't a convenient place for this—especially in the dead of winter, when bathwater would cool down quickly; who would top it up with hot water?
If he lost track of time while studying and forgot to take his medicine, who would remind him? And who would brew the medicine for him?
Despite his inner anxiety, Jiang Baiye maintained his composure and prepared a sumptuous lunch at the He family home.
Doctor Pang, who hadn't eaten a decent meal in days, was instantly satisfied—though he soon realized that the meal hadn't been prepared solely for him.
Jiang Baiye set aside a portion—roughly a third—and packed it into a food box, preparing two separate servings. There was fish head and tofu soup with a rich, milky-white broth; flaky pastries with a soft, sweet chestnut filling; sweet potato balls; candied steamed sponge cake; beef brisket stewed with radish; braised chicken wings; and shredded potatoes in vinegar sauce...
He couldn't manage it all alone—the process involved so many steps—so the He family's cooks and servants all pitched in to help, creating a bustling, energetic scene.
Jiang Baiye packed up two food boxes, along with warm clothing and prepared medicine; then, dragging He Lin away from his meal, he set off.
He Lin whined tearfully, clutching a flaky chestnut pastry that crumbled at the touch in one hand, and a piece of steamed cake and a sweet potato ball in the other. "You're in such a rush—at least let me finish my meal before we go."
"If it gets cold, it won't taste as good." Jiang Baiye wrapped the two food boxes carefully in layers of soft cloth, though a keen observer could see he was being particularly protective of one of them.
He Lin sighed. "You two aren't even really a thing yet. Li Zhi certainly isn't as clingy as you; he's probably busy studying all day and doesn't have time to think about you."
Jiang Baiye snatched away the small plate of sweet potato balls sitting next to him. "You don't have to eat anymore, then."
"My lord, I was wrong! I'm not full yet!"
As they spoke, the carriage rumbled along the main road—where the snow had already been cleared away—and soon came to a stop at the entrance of the prefectural academy.
He Lin had visited a few times before; familiar with the routine, he stepped forward to explain that he wanted to see his younger brother, He Min. "It's freezing today, so we've come to bring him some food and warm clothes—he is so young, after all."
Moved by the boy's youth and swayed by the generous amount of silver He Lin offered, the attendant immediately went inside to report their arrival. @Unlimited good stories, all at Jinjiang Literature City
A short while later, someone came running to tell them they had gone inside.
Xi, following He Lin without looking around, was mistaken for a servant of the He family by the gatekeeper.
He Lin even laughed at him, "Why do I feel like you're a little guilty?"
Jiang Baiye didn't want to cause trouble for Li Zhi, so he went through his brother.
Who knew, the protagonist had changed his appearance, and with the man...
It was also by chance that Jiang Baiye overheard two students whispering on their way to the toilet.
"I live alone."
"Didn't Yu Zhijie cause him any trouble?"
"Don't say that, I heard that Lu Lizhi tugged at Yu Zhijie's belt, which scared Yu Zhijie so much that he took the initiative to send him out, and now avoids him like the plague, going out of his way to avoid him." "What's going on with Song Haocheng? I don't believe he likes men too."
"I don't know. I heard they stayed in the library late at night, alone together, and they've been getting very close lately..."
Jiang Baiye stopped. He Lin, who had already walked quite a distance, turned back and saw that he had gone down another side path. This guy, he really couldn't wait.
I thought he was going to find Lu Lizhi, but I didn't expect him to turn around and come back.
"What's wrong?" ”
Jiang Baiye remained silent.
The very thing he had worried about had come to pass; in terms of compatibility, how could a mere "cannon fodder" character from a book like him possibly compare to the other man's right-hand aide?
"Heh..."
He Lin shuddered. "Please, don't laugh like that."
"Let's go see your younger brother first."
"Maybe not? I'm afraid he'll be scared to tears by you."
Jiang Baiye walked ahead; he needed to compose himself. Besides, meeting He Min now would make it easier to seek him out later.
Even though the rumors linking Li Zhi to someone else were just that—rumors—they still made him feel unsettled.
Naturally, the two couldn't just wander aimlessly around the academy; a staff member guided them to He Min's private dormitory.
Students who brought personal attendants usually stayed in private quarters for convenience. While the accommodation fees were higher, these rooms offered far more freedom and privacy than the communal dormitories. It was an unspoken rule at the academy that anyone living in private quarters was either wealthy or well-connected, so they weren't subject to the same strict supervision as the other students.
It was currently the midday break, a time when many at the academy were resting; most people were in the classrooms... Some were reading in their rooms, while others had returned to their dormitories.
Lu Lizhi had just stepped out of his newly assigned room when he thought he caught a glimpse of Jiang Baiye.
He quickly focused his gaze, but there was no one there—only a vast expanse of snow blanketing the tree branches and grey roof tiles. The biting cold mirrored his own mood.
He was hallucinating again.
Lowering his eyes, Lu Lizhi headed toward the small canteen. At this hour, only cold leftovers remained, but it was still better than enduring the whispers of others; besides, the food here was mediocre at best, and he had little appetite anyway.
In just a few short days, he had visibly lost a great deal of weight.
Song Haocheng spotted him from a distance and, after a moment's hesitation, handed him the meal he had just collected. "You're late; there isn't much left." ”
Lu Lizhi went to check anyway; the people in the small canteen were already clearing the tables and washing the dishes.
He declined Song Haocheng’s offer, recalling the pastries and snacks he still had—treats Jiang Baiye had prepared for him.
Without realizing it, he found that he only felt happy when he saw things that reminded him of Jiang Baiye. Yet, other aspects of his life were going quite smoothly: he had scared off Yu Zhijie, secured a private dormitory room, and Instructor Yi’s opinion of him had shifted dramatically for the better.
Although rumors still circulated, no one dared to bring them out into the open, and he had even made a few friends who were willing to associate with him, unconcerned by the judgment of the world.
And yet, the urge to leave grew stronger with each passing day.
It had already been thirteen full days.
To Song Haocheng, Lu Lizhi looked just like a frost-bitten eggplant. ...occasionally, one could even see him zoning out during class.
He seemed to have guessed something; just as he was about to urge him to eat, a young boy suddenly came running over.
"Senior Brother Lu, my name is He Min. Someone asked me to find you; he said his surname was..." He Min didn't even finish his sentence.
Song Haocheng saw Lu Lizhi look puzzled for a brief moment before becoming visibly excited—it was the first time in over ten days that he had shown such a lively, joyful expression.
As Lu Lizhi quickened his pace toward the dormitories, the thought crossed his mind: what if this was a ruse—a trap?
He would easily fall for it.
Yet, knowing this, he rushed forward without hesitation.
He Min jogged after him, hurriedly pointing the way: "Over there, over there!"
Lu Lizhi realized then just how close He Min’s dormitory was to his own; perhaps the figure he had glimpsed a while back hadn't been an illusion after all!
Lu Lizhi pushed the door open forcefully.
He Lin was startled by the commotion, but the other person remained perfectly composed, continuing to sip his tea—at least on the surface.
Lu Lizhi pursed his lips slightly, staring intently at him.
Jiang Baiye couldn't hold back any longer: "Aren't you coming over?" His tone, however, betrayed a hint of jealousy.
He Min panted, "We can finally eat!" He was hauled out by his second elder brother, who held the food box in one hand and his collar in the other.
With a sharp click, the door was shut from the outside. Lu Lizhi watched as Jiang Baiye opened the food box, took out the dishes, and arranged them one by one.
He naturally sensed that something was amiss.
He reached out and took Jiang Baiye’s hand.
"You’ve been happy lately, haven't you?" Jiang Baiye smiled.
Lu Lizhi tightened his grip on Jiang Baiye’s fingers, but Jiang Baiye did not squeeze back.
"Why have you lost so much weight? Hurry and eat something." Jiang Baiye set aside his own troubled thoughts, though he couldn't pull his hand free.
Lu Lizhi was gripping so hard his knuckles had turned white.
Fearing that the next words out of Jiang Baiye’s mouth would be a ruthless command to let go, he felt a sudden, stifling ache in his chest.
Then, he heard a low sigh.
Jiang Baiye grabbed Lu Lizhi by the arm, pulled him into an embrace, and pressed him tightly against his chest, gritting his teeth as he spoke: "You’re the one who did it—so why does it feel like *I’m* the one who’s done something wrong?"
Confused and feeling aggrieved, Lu Lizhi tried to push him away to ask what was going on, but Jiang Baiye’s arm clamped firmly around his waist, refusing to loosen his hold in the slightest.
The force caused him pain; unable to help himself, Lu Lizhi bit Jiang Baiye—an act that seemed to accuse him of his earlier aloofness and his current ferocity.
But this only provoked Jiang Baiye further.
"What is it? Now that you’ve found a soulmate, do you have no use for me anymore?" "You must have had a great time chatting with Song Haocheng, spending the whole night in the library like that. Are you two going to be inseparable from now on? Fulfilling your dreams and ambitions together—only the two of you truly understand each other, and you have no eyes for anyone else—not even me!"
Jiang Baiye knew he was being unreasonable, but he couldn't help it. Seeing the story from the book play out in reality—and thinking about the significant space Song Haocheng occupied in his life—made it impossible for him to stay calm.
Lu Lizhi stopped struggling. He suddenly realized that Jiang Baiye was jealous—jealous over the rumors sparked by that night in the library.
He was indeed partly to blame for the situation.
He couldn't deny the truth in Jiang Baiye's words; Song Haocheng *did* understand him well—at least when it came to scholarship.
But that was a completely different matter from the feelings they shared.
Lu Lizhi cupped Jiang Baiye's face in his hands.
Jiang Baiye jerked his head away fiercely, unaware of the immense strength in his own grip—as if he wanted to crush the person before him.
Lu Lizhi suddenly felt an urge to smile; it turned out that even someone as confident as Jiang Baiye could get jealous.
He wanted to kiss him.
Jiang Baiye refused to let him touch him. "Eat!" ”
He was still angry and didn't want to forgive too easily; he wanted Lu Lizhi to coax him a bit more and realize the seriousness of the situation—and to stay far away from that fellow Song Haocheng in the future!
Jiang Baiye didn't consider himself a schemer; he always thought he acted on instinct, yet he failed to realize just how calculating those instincts actually were.
Lu Lizhi was completely wrapped around his finger.
Being unable to kiss him was agonizing; the moment he was set down on the ground, he felt an urge to climb right back onto Jiang Baiye’s lap.
The stool was cold and hard; Lu Lizhi curled his fingers, his mind occupied entirely with thoughts of how to snuggle closer.
The food had been well-protected along the way and was still warm—far more delicious than the mass-cooked meals from the small canteen.
Lu Lizhi’s appetite was whetted, and his eyes crinkled with pleasure; this was the taste he had been craving.
Jiang Baiye kept an eye on the time, not wanting to interfere too much with Lu Lizhi’s studies. He took out the packet of medicine and began relaying the instructions Dr. Pang had given, only to notice Lu Lizhi’s mind seemed to be elsewhere.
Just as he placed his hand on the back of Lu Lizhi’s hand, Lu Lizhi turned his own hand over to clasp it, attempting to interlace their fingers.
Jiang Baiye pulled his hand away and spoke with a serious expression, "I’ve already spoken to He Min’s page boy and paid him for the task; he’ll be able to run errands for you from now on. He can handle brewing your medicine, boiling water, and fetching water—the little fellow is quite sharp." ”
As he said this, Jiang Baiye felt a twinge of guilt for employing child labor, but the boy was only eleven or twelve—perfectly safe.
Besides, coming from a poor family, the boy would likely find these tasks quite manageable compared to grueling farm work.
“I’m assigning half of He Min’s study-attendant’s time to you. Since there might be gaps in his studies, you can keep an eye on him and offer some tutoring.”
He Min was also only eleven or twelve; in Jiang Baiye’s eyes, he was equally “safe.” By having Li Zhi tutor He Min, Li Zhi wouldn’t have the energy to interact with irrelevant people.
It also conveniently allowed He Min to act as a little spy, gathering information and keeping a close watch on things.
Jiang Baiye was mentally calculating the benefits of this plan with great satisfaction.
Lu Li Zhi took the suggestion to heart and nodded. He truly didn’t have time to brew medicine or boil water, so having a young attendant would make things much easier, and tutoring He Min was well within his capabilities.
...without neglecting his studies—the best of both worlds.
"From now on, whenever I cook for Dr. Pang, I’ll try to have someone bring a portion for you too. Make sure you eat plenty."
Lu Lizhi blinked. *He isn't coming to deliver it himself?* He wondered, though he immediately felt he was being too clingy; he knew full well just how busy Jiang Baiye was.
"Dr. Pang also said you need to come out every ten days or so for acupuncture—that’s the most important part... I’ll be waiting for you outside, too." Jiang Baiye lowered his voice for that last part, making it sound like an intimate whisper between lovers.
A tingling sensation washed over Lu Lizhi’s heart, yet even as they parted ways, Jiang Baiye didn't let him steal a kiss.
After finishing the delicious meal Jiang Baiye had prepared, He Min exclaimed, "Second Brother, I don't want to study anymore; I just want to go home and eat this every day."
He Lin was about to rap him on the knuckles when a voice sounded right behind him: "Eating it every day? That’s easy enough..."
Jiang Baiye smiled like the Big Bad Wolf trying to trick Little Red Riding Hood. "As long as you help me..."
After leaving the academy, He Lin remarked with mock horror, "You’re far too cunning. It’s truly a stroke of bad luck for Lizhi to run into someone like you!"
He even retreated to the far corner of the carriage, putting as much distance between them as possible.
Jiang Baiye gave him a kick. "Cut the act."
He Lin sighed in resignation. "Now I finally understand how you managed to turn him."
Jiang Baiye’s brow twitched; everyone always assumed *he* was the one behind it all. Still, judging by the original story, Lizhi had indeed been straight as an arrow before. With no room in one’s heart for romance, the blade moves with divine precision.
To avoid becoming a distraction—and hoping for his smooth progress in both academics and an official career—Jiang Baiye decided to step back into the background for the time being.
Upon returning, he meticulously planned the renovation and construction of the estate, hiring craftsmen to begin the work. While the persistent wind and snow would normally have made such work impossible, perhaps because Jiang Baiye’s mood had lifted, the weather cleared up as well.
The sunshine was bright and perfect for construction; moreover, Jiang Baiye offered generous wages to compensate for the biting cold.
The farmstead also required design and planning. The "agritainment" venture wouldn't rely solely on rustic charm—unlike the modern era, where city dwellers crave the leisure of rural life, the appeal here had to be different.
These rustic elements would serve as added bonuses, but the main draw would be the cuisine. He planned to open a restaurant and train a team of chefs in the culinary arts he had mastered; he believed that if the food was exceptional, the aroma would draw customers in, no matter how remote the location.
Beyond that, he envisioned developing activities like boating, fishing, spring outings, lotus picking, fruit harvesting, and even tree planting, flower gardening, hunting, and camping.
His target audience was, naturally, the wealthy and powerful. He planned to incorporate elegant pastimes and host literary gatherings to attract scholars, while also introducing Li Zhi’s storytelling performances and even his calligraphy and paintings—there were countless ideas waiting to be implemented.
For now, the focus was on laying the groundwork, a task he entrusted to He Jun. He Jun knew he wasn't the type to come up with groundbreaking ideas, but he was incredibly reliable when it came to practical execution.
Meanwhile, the Shi family and Jiang Dazhu—having learned that they now owned another estate, one intended primarily for the couple—began to frequent the prefectural city more often. Jiang Dazhu, in particular, found that his earlier reclining chair designs were being copied and the market was becoming saturated, so he began tinkering with other products.
As for the suitcase business Lu Lizhi had introduced to him, it started with students from the prefectural academy, spread to scholars across the entire prefectural city, and eventually attracted other travelers as well.
The business grew steadily; alongside his furniture making, he established a dedicated line for suitcases.
Realizing he couldn't handle it all alone, Jiang Dazhu followed Jiang Baiye’s earlier suggestion and visited a labor agency to select two honest, reliable apprentices. He purchased their indentures and trained them to assist him with the work.
He was busy and happy, with money rolling in; he even gave Lu Lizhi a share of the profits, acknowledging the significant effort Lu had put into promoting the products during the early stages.
Later on, a steady stream of people began visiting the residence across from the He family home. Inside, alongside Jiang Dazhu’s woodworking tools, the space was filled with his finished products, and customers who visited in person often made purchases on the spot.
But those developments came later.
After Jiang Baiye’s visit, Lu Lizhi’s mood visibly brightened. Between his own studies, occasionally tutoring He Min, and the time required for his medicinal brews and herbal baths, he truly had little time for socializing or deep interactions with others. Song Haocheng visited the library a few more times but never saw Lu Lizhi again. He couldn't quite put his finger on what had changed; he felt Lu had grown somewhat distant toward him, though it might just have been his imagination—after all, Lu treated him much the same way he treated Fei Hongyu and Ding Lihui.
Fortunately, Lu Lizhi had regained his spirits. Song Haocheng suspected it had something to do with a certain "Qi Jiu," though he had yet to discover who this person actually was.
The rumors persisted, shifting targets to include anyone who got close to Lu Lizhi; no one was spared.
Eventually, people lost interest in the gossip. There was never any concrete proof or official response, and the academic workload was intense. Lu Lizhi was performing increasingly well, earning the instructors' admiration; they frequently held him up as a model for the others to emulate. This placed immense pressure on the students, leaving them with no mental energy to dwell on anything else.
For ten consecutive days, things went smoothly for Lu Lizhi. He even regained some weight, thanks to the meals Jiang Baiye regularly sent over.
With the addition of He Min and Xiao Zhen (his pageboy)—two lively, entertaining characters—his life would have been perfect, if only he could see Jiang Baiye as well.
Lu Lizhi continued to strive for his goals through his own efforts. Regarding the matter of a private dormitory room, for instance, he refused to leverage his connection to Prefect Yan, even though Professor Huang seemed willing to let him take a shortcut.
Taking a shortcut would have changed how Instructor Yi, Professor Huang, and—most likely—Prefect Yan viewed him.
To earn greater privileges, he had to prove himself through his own merit.
Instructor Yi was a tough nut to crack, but Lu Lizhi eventually managed to sway him with a single essay, successfully securing his approval. "If you had simply said you were going away for medical treatment, I wouldn't have stopped you." Master Yi’s expression was complicated.
Lu Lizhi pursed his lips, knowing better than to take those words at face value.
"Go on then—make it a quick trip. Don't get distracted by play or become too enamored with the carefree freedom of life outside."
Lu Lizhi, who was currently preoccupied with thoughts of how to kiss Jiang Baiye, remained silent...
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