Chapter 78

 Selling the Trunk; A Rival Appears

Before returning to his assigned dormitory, Lu Lizhi went to see the dormitory warden. The warden was a ruddy-faced old man who, upon seeing someone approach, hurriedly hid the liquor he had been dozing over.

"Something the matter?"

Lu Lizhi showed him a pre-written note. The old man’s eyes glazed over; he couldn't be bothered to decipher the writing and, seeing a stranger, clearly intended to brush the matter off.

Lu Lizhi had anticipated this; he produced a string of copper coins from his sleeve—money Jiang Baiye had prepared for him in advance, knowing there would be occasions at the academy requiring payment to smooth things over.

At the sight of the coins, the old man’s eyes went wide. "Which dormitory are you in? What’s your name?"

Lu Lizhi produced another note. The old man, who had been about to flip through the registry, paused mid-motion when he realized the young man wasn't speaking.

Suddenly grasping the situation, he laughed heartily. "Tell you what—assignments have already been made according to the rules. Come back tomorrow; I’ll check which dorms have vacancies or see if anyone is willing to room with you, and we’ll see if we can rearrange things then."

—I need a single room.

As Lu Lizhi held up the note, he also brought out a silver ingot.

The old man fought hard to suppress the urge to agree immediately and eagerly escort him to the room. He did so because Yu Zhijie had previously given him specific instructions on how to handle the situation should his mute roommate ever come looking for him. Yet, he could barely resist the temptation now; how could this unassuming scholar be so wealthy? He had never encountered anyone so generous!

With this thought in mind, he reached out, even as he calculated how to fob the man off for the moment.

However, just as his fingers were about to touch the silver ingot, Lu Lizhi leisurely withdrew it.

He stood up and walked away without another word.

"Hey, why are you leaving? I haven't finished speaking yet!" The old man hurriedly gave chase, only to see that elegant, graceful figure drift away—vanishing into the covered walkway in the blink of an eye.

"So, he didn't want to pay after all? He was just playing me for a fool!" It wasn't worth offending the person backing Yu Zhijie just for a bit of money, anyway.

He mused that, on top of being a mute scholar—likely without power or connections—this fellow was probably destined to be tormented mercilessly by Yu Zhijie.

Many others thought the same; eager for a spectacle, they gathered together with great relish. "Did you hear? Lu Lizhi has actually been assigned to the same dormitory as Yu Zhijie!"

"You don't say?"

"Those two have a long-standing feud. Last time the exam results were posted, they got into a brutal fistfight right there on the spot!"

Confined within the academy with little to do for entertainment, these students were just as keen on gossip as the neighborhood aunties—and they even began placing secret bets on the outcome. "Let's bet on who wins if those two get into a fight later."

"Then I’m definitely betting on Yu Zhijie." Although Yu Zhijie wasn't as tall as Lu Lizhi, he had a solid, sturdy build; he could certainly take a beating better than Lu Lizhi, whose slender frame looked almost like a girl's.

"I’m betting on Yu Zhijie too—this is my entire fortune!"

The group drifted off to other dormitories, egging others on to place bets. When Ding Xiaohui and the others heard this, they hurriedly put down their books.

"The Academy forbids this sort of thing; aren't you afraid of being punished by Master Yi?"

A student who often hung around Yu Zhijie spoke up: "If we get into trouble, it’ll definitely be because you lot snitched! If you don't want any hassle, you'd best mind your own business!"

"Exactly, exactly. We're just having a bit of fun; it’s harmless enough."

"It’s not *your* fight, is it? You’re building your amusement on someone else's suffering!" Dong Yuanjiu was indignant and tried to run off to warn Lu Lizhi, but someone blocked his path.

"Hey now... it’s late. If a fight breaks out and you get caught in the crossfire, that wouldn't be good..."

It was a warning—not just for them, but for anyone else thinking of meddling.

Meanwhile, the very person everyone was watching—Lu Lizhi—had already guessed that something was amiss with his dormitory. Yet, he walked inside carrying the chest he had arrived with, his expression entirely composed.

To everyone's surprise, Yu Zhijie didn't pick a fight; instead, he lit a candle and sat there reading a book, looking for all the world like a diligent student. ...that is, if one ignored the smile that appeared on his face as Lu Lizhi walked over to the bed assigned to him.

Just as Lu Lizhi was about to sit on the bed—causing Yu Zhijie’s excitement to nearly boil over—he suddenly turned and walked to the table instead, instantly dashing Yu Zhijie’s hopes.

However, the sight of the teapot on the table reignited his anticipation.

He picked it up—Lu Lizhi actually picked it up!

Lu Lizhi made a move to pour some tea; after all, who would suspect anything was wrong with it, given that it had been prepared and delivered by the cafeteria staff?

Lu Lizhi was indeed feeling thirsty, and under Yu Zhijie’s uncontrollable, fixated gaze, he raised the teacup to his lips.

But the very next moment, something crossed his mind, and he set the cup back down.

Yu Zhijie thought, "..." *Are you messing with me? Could he possibly know something? He only just got the key—he shouldn't even know who his roommates are yet, right?*

Little did he know, Lu Lizhi had already done some probing at the dorm warden's office and discovered something was amiss. He had learned the whole story there, yet strangely, upon inspecting everything in the room, he hadn't found a single thing out of place.

Even the bedding was brand new—wait, no...

Yu Zhijie watched as Lu Lizhi sat down at the table. Grinding his teeth, he was just about to speak when two people came panting into the room.

"Man, Song Haocheng, you’ve absolutely worn me out—why did you suddenly decide to move your bedding? ...Huh? Lu Lizhi? So *you’re* the one living with us!"

Song Haocheng gave a slight nod, his demeanor cool and aloof, and immediately returned to his book. He had already decided not to sleep tonight; reading a bit more would be a good use of the time anyway.

"Brother Fei, Brother Song—where have you two been? You still have some snow on you," Yu Zhijie said warmly, attempting his next move.

Deliberately giving Lu Lizhi the cold shoulder!

Just as they were about to answer him, they suddenly noticed something.

"Hey, Lu Lizhi, what is that thing?"

Lu Lizhi was taking a candle out of his traveling chest and looked at him in puzzlement.

"Why does your chest have... that? That wheel..."

Seeing their intense curiosity, a glint appeared in Lu Lizhi's eyes. He closed the chest, set it upright, and then pulled out a handle—one that could even extend and retract.

To their amazement, the heavy chest could be moved with ease; thanks to its four wooden wheels, Lu Lizhi could hook a single thumb around the handle and pull it along effortlessly.

Fei Hongyu and Song Haocheng stared in sheer astonishment, and even Yu Zhijie was dumbfounded. What on earth was this thing? It looked incredibly practical. "Good heavens, where did you get this? I had so much stuff back then that I had to have my study boy carry it all on a shoulder pole—it was exhausting!"

Song Haocheng nodded in agreement. "Usually, the book boxes and satchels we carry are incredibly heavy; a single trip can crush your shoulders and leave deep red welts. I’d love to know where you bought this—I want one too."

"Me, me, me—I want five! One for my uncle, one for my cousin, and two for my parents. This thing is amazing; you could pack anything in it!" He exclaimed as he took the pull-handle from Lu Lizhi. After trying it out himself, he lifted the chest to gauge its weight.

"Unbelievable!"

Lu Lizhi gestured for Song Haocheng—who was eager to have a go—to try it as well. Once they had tested it, the two of them made up their minds instantly: they were buying it!

Yu Zhijie, who had initially intended to stir up trouble, now found himself torn: one moment he was eyeing the self-rolling chest with envy, and the next, he was looking sullenly at Song Haocheng and Fei Hongyu, who were hovering around Lu Lizhi.

*Aren't you two usually aloof and hard to talk to? How can you be chattering away so animatedly with Lu Lizhi, who has a face as cold and unyielding as a rock?*

Just then, the onlookers who had been waiting for a fight to break out wandered over. "What are you guys doing?"

"Holy cow, what kind of amazing thing is this?"

In no time, the entire row of dormitories was abuzz with excitement over Lu Lizhi’s pull-along chest.

The commotion soon drew the attention of the disciplinary instructors and dormitory supervisors; before long, a whole crowd had gathered, clamoring to buy one. Lu Lizhi seemed to have anticipated this; he had his brush and ink ready and proceeded to note down their names and the quantities they wished to order.

However, he could not simply manufacture whatever they requested on the spot.

To that end, Lu Lizhi required a deposit of two taels of silver—half the total price.

"Two taels just for the deposit? That’s awfully expensive! It’s a novel invention, sure, but couldn't one just make it oneself?"

"You’re mistaken there. Aside from requiring wear-resistant timber, simply shaping the wheels demands exceptional craftsmanship from the carpenter. Even the slightest deviation would cause instability, making it difficult to control the direction..."

Song Haocheng’s analysis was logical and persuasive, winning the agreement of many. "That kind of wood likely isn't cheap, either."

This was precisely the point Lu Lizhi had intended to make; he hadn't expected Song Haocheng to grasp it so quickly and articulate it on his behalf.

He couldn't help but cast a grateful glance at him.

Song Haocheng’s neck flushed red instantly—*Lord Qingyuan just nodded at me!*

A four-tael suitcase was not something everyone could afford; many of the poorer scholars abandoned the idea and quietly stepped aside.

Moreover, given the bumpy dirt roads they had to traverse, such a high-end item was hardly practical for them.

However, a significant number of students at the prefectural academy had gained admission through family connections and financial backing; they were certainly not short on funds.

Consequently, there were still plenty of students who could afford the purchase. In the end, Lu Lizhi had noted down the names of over twenty people; a dozen or so paid the deposit on the spot, while others anxiously declared, "I’ve nearly run out of money lately, but I’ll buy one as soon as I get funds from home—you simply must wait for me!"

Lu Lizhi made it clear: he would prioritize making the suitcases for those who paid the deposit first.

That settled it for those who had still been wavering; they decided to place their orders immediately. Once they got their hands on this "suitcase," they could travel and study freely without being weighed down by heavy books.

The prospect was simply delightful!

Lu Lizhi carefully put away the fifty-odd taels of silver he had earned. Naturally, the suitcase had been designed by Jiang Baiye—with Lu Lizhi sketching the plans for Uncle Jiang to build—and it even featured a lock and a hidden compartment.

Yu Zhijie gritted his teeth as he watched Lu Lizhi bask in such popularity; he almost couldn't resist buying one himself.

Someone, oblivious to Yu Zhijie’s complex mix of emotions and jealousy, chimed in, "Zhijie, you should get one too; I just bought two."

"Yeah, exactly—I’ve already paid my deposit." The deposit money, in fact, was the very cash they had used for their wager earlier.

Yu Zhijie felt like he was going to cough up blood. When the crowd finally dispersed and quiet returned, he decided to get some sleep and figure out how to deal with Lu Lizhi the next day.

Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced the air!

Lu Lizhi looked over in surprise at Yu Zhijie, who had jumped three feet into the air.

Yu Zhijie’s gaze was fixed on the snakeskin—the very one that was supposed to have been left on Lu Lizhi’s bed. If it weren't for the fact that snakes and insects were all in hibernation during winter—making them impossible to catch—he wouldn't have gone out of his way to have someone find a shed snakeskin!

But why on earth was it lying on his bed?

Yu Zhijie was thoroughly disgusted, and Fei Hongyu let out a shuddering "eww." Although Lu Lizhi wasn't afraid of snakes, the object was filthy, and the mere thought of it made his skin crawl.

Only Song Haocheng paused for a moment without betraying any emotion; no one noticed his subtle reaction.

Lu Lizhi managed to weather the day's various provocations reasonably well.

Jiang Baiye, however, was too uneasy to settle; he tossed and turned in bed for a long time before finally drifting into a fitful sleep.

A man who usually slept soundly and dreamlessly, he found himself haunted by the same recurring dream all night long.

In the dream, he recalled details from the book—content that had been buried deep in his memory and nearly forgotten.

There was a supporting male character named Song Haocheng. He and Lu Lizhi had met early on at the prefectural academy and remained companions throughout their journey. They passed the imperial examinations together—one as the *Zhuangyuan* (top scholar) and the other as the *Bangyan* (runner-up)—and later aligned their political visions, working hand-in-hand to govern the realm. Together, they weathered natural disasters, quelled riots, served at the frontier, and even undertook diplomatic missions to foreign lands.

Others jokingly likened the two to a person and their shadow; Song Haocheng would always humbly insist that he was merely Lu Lizhi’s right-hand man.

All of this was perfectly normal.

What wasn't normal was that, when Jiang Baiye pieced together certain barely perceptible details, he realized this man was very likely... attracted to men!

Jiang Baiye woke up with a start. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a large face looming right over him, staring intently. Startled, he gasped, "Dr. Pang, why are you trying to scare me?"

Dr. Pang straightened up, looking pitiful. "I'm hungry."

"But it's only..." Jiang Baiye glanced outside; the sun was already high in the sky. "Is it noon already?"

On a whim the night before, he had spent a long time sketching designs for the residence. Although he hadn't produced anything concrete—wishing all the while that Li Zhi were there to help him draw something others could actually understand—he had managed to sort out his ideas well enough to explain them verbally to the craftsmen.

He had ideas on how to design a clean, flushable latrine and how to create a bathroom with a hot-water shower—which would involve setting up a running water system and perhaps even a mechanical pump.

As for the other buildings, the row of rooms facing the street could be designed to house carriages and stables, along with a gatehouse for a doorkeeper to guard the entrance and announce visitors.

In the second courtyard, the east wing would serve as the kitchen and dining room, the west wing as a study and art studio, and the main hall as a reception area for guests. The third courtyard would be for living quarters: the east and west wings would be guest rooms, while the main building would be the private residence for him and Li Zhi.

The side rooms flanking the main building could be designed as the bathroom and latrine.

The final row of rear buildings could accommodate a few more guest rooms, servants' quarters, and a storage room for odds and ends.

Beyond all that, the top priority was the landscape design; the home needed to be comfortable to live in, but the scenery also had to be beautiful and pleasing to the eye—after all, that was the sort of thing that would make Li Zhi happy. While lost in thought, Jiang Baiye had already prepared lunch for Dr. Pang and several members of the He household.

He kept the meal relatively simple: Steamed Pork Belly with Preserved Mustard Greens, Sweet and Sour Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish, and a Spicy Seafood *Mao Xue Wang* (a spicy stew featuring duck blood curd).

The He family had been captivated by the duck blood curd they’d tasted in a hotpot previously and had been craving it ever since.

They were sure to be delighted by today’s *Mao Xue Wang*.

And indeed, they were—

Most of the men—including Master He—had already departed for the capital, and even He Lin’s mother was away at the family’s country estate, inspecting shops and managing the businesses that made up her dowry. Only the women remained at the manor.

Consequently, everyone gathered in the Old Madam’s courtyard for the meal, and they ate with sheer delight.

"Mother, the happiest part of my day is mealtime!"

"You really ought to watch yourself; for a young lady, you seem to have put on quite a bit of weight."

At these words, many of them felt they had indeed gained weight—after all, they usually only ate a little...

...a bowl of rice—leaving one feeling only about seventy or eighty percent full—but now, every meal is so delicious that it’s hard to stop eating.

Naturally, one is bound to gain weight.

"Don't worry; as long as you don't get as big as Dr. Pang, you'll be fine."

Dr. Pang, catching a stray bullet for no reason: "..."

Initially, Jiang Baiye felt that staying with the He family was an imposition; after all, Dr. Pang was only there because of him and Li Zhi, and their appetites were enormous.

Yet, to keep him around, the He family not only covered the cost of every meal but also insisted on paying him a wage.

Jiang Baiye naturally refused the pay; after all, he had to eat regardless.

After the meal, he decided to take a stroll around the area near the prefectural academy. Although he felt he was doing a competent job as a husband—and Li Zhi was devoted to him and obediently listened to his words—

The rules of the story world were still formidable.

Song Haocheng was a far more troublesome character than He Lin. While the latter was merely an acquaintance with whom he had business dealings, the former was a partner with whom he shared a tacit understanding in every aspect!

Honestly, just thinking about it made him feel like he needed to take some action...