Chapter 79 part 1

 Yearning Madly; Learning a Skill

"You've got to be kidding me, right?" He Lin rushed back to find Jiang Baiye hitching up the carriage, looking rather tense. "Where are you going?"

Jiang Baiye wasn't in the best mood; he didn't feel like engaging with He Lin.

"I can guess even if you don't say it—you aren't going to the Prefecture Academy, are you?" He Lin exclaimed in disbelief. "Brother, you two only parted ways yesterday!"

"It's only been a single day!" He sounded as if he’d seen a ghost.

Jiang Baiye paused and corrected him, "To be precise, it’s already been a day and a half."

He realized he hadn't seen Li Zhi for a full day and a half; no wonder every moment had felt like an eternity, dragging on endlessly.

He Lin still couldn't fathom it. Even back when his own parents were at their most inseparable—to the point where everyone around them was sick of it—they hadn't been *this* bad.

"Is there something urgent you need to tell him? It might not be convenient to see him right now. Why not wait a few days until those cloaks and down jackets are finished, and deliver them all at once?"

Jiang Baiye paused in the middle of hitching the carriage. "Did the tailor say they’d be ready in a few days?"

He Lin rubbed his nose. "Just about. Surely you can't wait an extra day or two?"

He actually couldn't wait. Jiang Baiye went back to hitching the carriage. "Hey, wait a sec. Let me give you some honest advice: in my experience, a little distance makes the heart grow fonder. If you go rushing over there so eagerly—given Li Zhi’s cool, reserved nature—he might not appreciate it, and you’d just be distracting him from his studies."

Jiang Baiye already had one leg swung over his mount.

He Lin marveled at his imposing posture. "It sure is great to be tall and long-legged."

Jiang Baiye looked him up and down, skeptical. "Where exactly did you get this experience?"

"From years of observation. Don't you think my parents, uncles, and aunts are all incredibly loving? Not a single one of them has a concubine."

"Elaborate on that." Jiang Baiye was intrigued; he had always acted on instinct and hadn't really employed a deliberate strategy before.

That was where He Lin hit a wall. "Well, it’s certainly not the way *you’re* doing things. You have to give each other some space. If Li Zhi found out you were neglecting your own business just to pine after him all day, he’d definitely feel pressured."

Jiang Baiye thought that made sense. Even though He Lin was often clueless about his own affairs, the saying that "onlookers see clearly" held true.

He gripped his riding crop, looking pained. "Alright, I’ll go see him tomorrow instead."

He Lin was left dumbfounded—after all that talking, *that* was the only takeaway? For Jiang Baiye, the following day dragged on agonizingly. Back at the academy, the commotion surrounding the incident with Lu Lizhi’s trunk the previous night had spilled over into class hours; students from other cohorts, curious about the affair, came over to investigate and were soon itching to get involved themselves.

The crowd caused a scene, prompting Instructor Yi to step in. He shooed the onlookers away and immediately punished the students involved by making each of them copy out a specific poem one hundred times.

Lu Lizhi, the person at the center of it all, found his movements restricted; even his request to switch dormitory rooms was rejected. He had hoped to bribe the gatekeeper to pass a message to Jiang Baiye outside regarding the trunk, but the gatekeeper looked miserable. "Scholar Lu, please just go back to your studies. If Instructor Yi finds out about this, I’ll be in deep trouble!"

Professor Huang was hands-off, having delegated full authority to Instructor Yi—a man of rigid principles and extreme strictness whom all the students feared.

Lu Lizhi found the situation troublesome. He thought of Instructor Yi’s elderly father; the instructor was known to be a devoted son, yet Lu’s own scheduled leave was still over a month away—not until the end of the year.

It had only been a single day, yet he was already finding it unbearable.

That evening, Song Haocheng noticed Yu Zhijie tampering with Lu Lizhi’s bedding again. Although Lu Lizhi had spent the previous night studying and hadn't even touched the edge of his bed, this sort of thing was hardly a sustainable situation.

"Brother Yu, it is best to show mercy where one can," Song Haocheng said, tapping lightly on the corner of Yu Zhijie’s desk. Yu Zhijie’s face darkened. Was he the one behind last night’s incident? Song Haocheng? He was capable of such things? He and Lu Lizhi had no connection whatsoever—why did he step in to help him the moment he arrived?

However, when Lu Lizhi failed to return to the dormitory the following night, Song Haocheng began to worry.

Outside, a bone-chilling wind and snowstorm raged. He waited for a long time; noticing that Yu Zhijie also seemed puzzled, he wondered if Yu had actually been the one to pull those stunts.

By the third day, Lu Lizhi still hadn't returned. Song Haocheng climbed out of his warm bedding, hurriedly threw on some clothes, and went out to look for him.

He finally found Lu Lizhi in the library, engrossed in a book. Relieved to see him safe and sound, Song Haocheng asked in surprise, "You can come here to read in the middle of the night?"

Normally, one couldn't; Lu Lizhi had spent a fair amount of silver to bribe the staff. But what had brought Song Haocheng here?

"I was worried something had happened to you..." Song Haocheng told him about how Yu Zhijie had poured ice water on his bedding and planted a snakeskin there.

Lu Lizhi hadn't realized that Song Haocheng had been the one secretly helping him. Just then, he turned to a page and pointed to the character for "Thanks."

*Qingyuan-jun spoke to me!* The word "trouble" hovered on the tip of his tongue but remained unspoken; instead, he chose a book from the shelf and pointed to a line of text.

—No need for thanks.

He turned a few more pages.

—It is not worth mentioning.

He had clearly found the right spot quickly; Lu Lizhi’s eyes brightened, as this was a book he had been intending to read.

He had read a great many books—not only the standard Four Books and Five Classics but also miscellaneous works that proved highly useful to him, broadening his horizons and enriching his writing.

After all, as a scholar who rarely ventured beyond his own doorstep, how else could he learn of the landscapes and cultures of the outside world? How else could he craft deeply memorable characters shaped by such diverse backgrounds?

This was precisely why so many scholars and men of letters undertook journeys of study.

Taking in the scenery and expanding one’s horizons helped build a reputation; furthermore, forging friendships and establishing connections was immensely beneficial for a future career in officialdom. Next, they began to converse using the books they had read. Surprisingly, the exchange grew increasingly smooth and natural—just like a real conversation—as the texts provided the perfect words to fully articulate exactly what they wanted to say.

What was truly remarkable was discovering that the other person had read so many of the same books they had!

Their tastes were so alike that they became completely engrossed in their discussion.

At first, Song Haocheng had felt a bit nervous, but through these books, he seemed to discover a different side of Lu Lizhi—a different side of Lord Qingyuan.

It was a side unlike what others saw.

Vibrant and endearing.

Full of a desire to express himself and possessing unique insights; not aloof in the slightest.

However, as the hour grew late, Song Haocheng began to worry about Lu Lizhi. Lu hadn't slept the previous night, and Song feared his body wouldn't hold up if he kept going like this.

"Aren't you going back to rest?" Lu Lizhi shook his head. He intended to stay here and study—or simply doze at his desk—until dawn; once Professor Huang returned, he would be able to apply for a private dormitory room.

Having Song Haocheng here would actually make things inconvenient.

There was a heater in the library, so it wasn't particularly cold, yet Lu Lizhi was utterly exhausted. He thought of Jiang Baiye’s warm body and suddenly realized that without him nearby, no place—no matter how comfortable—could offer him a restful sleep.

"Then I’ll keep you company. The Master said that even with all the schooling we’ve received, we still can't outperform you, so he felt he must be at fault somehow—that’s why he was so harsh. But he’s actually a very good person." ”

Lu Lizhi was left speechless. Had he shot himself in the foot? Because he had performed well on the exam—thereby denying Instructor Yi the chance to punish him with latrine-cleaning duty—was the instructor now being especially harsh on him?

The two of them quietly resumed their reading. Snowflakes drifted down soundlessly in the deepening night.

Eventually, Lu Lizhi could hold out no longer and slumped over his desk.

Song Haocheng, who had been dozing, was startled awake. Seeing Lu’s condition, he wanted to cover him with a blanket, but naturally, there wasn't one available. He recalled a scene from the novel *Asking of Romance* (*Wen Fengliu*) and hurriedly moved to take off his own outer robe to drape over Lu.

Yet, it was precisely that book—*Asking of Romance*—that suddenly made him think of Qi Jiu and what he had witnessed at the inn that day.

Lu Lizhi liked men; there was someone he loved—and that person was someone just like Qi Jiu!

Song Haocheng’s fingers froze mid-air. He didn't know what he was doing; such an action could easily be misunderstood...

In the end, he found the library attendant and asked them to cover Lu with something. Exhausted himself, he had no choice but to hurry back to the dormitory to rest.

Yu Zhijie had been keeping a close watch on him and Lu Lizhi; seeing him return only at this late hour, his eyes glinted in the darkness.

He remembered that there seemed to be a formidable man by Lu Lizhi’s side—the very same one who had kicked him... That fellow...

The next day, whispers began to circulate quietly around the academy.

Lu Lizhi was attracted to men; he had disappeared with Song Haocheng for the better part of the previous night; and—recalling what Fei Hongyu had said earlier—anyone with a discerning eye could see he was quite comfortable with such matters. Plus, he and Song Haocheng were inseparable...

A truth that evoked complicated feelings seemed poised to surface.

Lu Lizhi was completely unaware of all this. Upon waking that day, he felt an unusual sense of dejection; a faint, lingering feeling of grievance lodged in his throat, leaving him chilled to the bone.

It had only been three days—three days without Jiang Baiye’s voice, his smile, his embraces, his scent, the delicious meals he cooked, or his presence by his side.

Lu Lizhi had never imagined that he—someone who had endured so much hardship and loneliness—could become so sentimental and delicate.

It seemed he really had been spoiled.

Before dawn the next day, Jiang Baiye rose. To his dismay, his nightmares had grown increasingly terrifying, leaving him filled with a volatile, aggressive energy; he felt a fierce urge to simply bundle Lu Lizhi up and hide him away, keeping him out of everyone’s sight.

As he prepared to head out, he ran into He Yun, who was walking his way. Remembering something, he asked, "How is the inquiry into that plot of land in Chongzhou coming along?" ”

Had it not been for the business of sourcing medicinal herbs, Jiang Baiye would certainly have finalized the deal by now.

He Jun had come to see him precisely about this matter. "It seems there’s a hitch; securing it at a low price is going to be difficult."

"How so?" Jiang Baiye stopped in his tracks; he had his heart set on this plot of land, as it was crucial to his future plans.

"Someone else has set their sights on that land, too."

Jiang Baiye wasn't surprised. People of this era were far from foolish; there were countless individuals with keen insight and foresight. Often, his only real advantage was his foreknowledge.

"That person frequently deals in real estate and land acquisitions. Whenever he targets a property, its value tends to skyrocket. Consequently, the authorities in Chongzhou are reluctant to sell easily now; they want to drive up the price."

"Furthermore, as outsiders, it’s very difficult for us to make the purchase—unless we establish official residency in Chongzhou. That’s the local rule." Jiang Baiye knew that if He Yun spoke this way, he must have a plan in mind; otherwise, he wouldn't have come looking for him.

"We might need to grease the palms of the officials over there..." He Yun hadn't originally been interested in such matters, but after hearing Jiang Baiye’s concept for the "agritainment" venture, he saw great profit potential. He wanted to partner with Jiang Baiye to see if they could scale up the business.

Since He Yun was going to handle the official dealings, it would look incredibly irresponsible for Jiang Baiye to simply play the hands-off boss. Moreover, if He Yun found out that Jiang Baiye had declined the offer simply because he had parted ways with Li Zhi that day, he might well start to question Jiang Baiye as a business partner.

This was especially true given that Jiang Baiye had initiated the project himself; if he didn't show commitment, why should He Yun—who wasn't his father, after all—be expected to run errands for him without complaint?

Jiang Baiye was used to acting on his whims, but for the first time, he had to suppress his impulses and desires.

It was an uncomfortable feeling.

Yet, this was the conduct and sense of responsibility expected of an adult, and he didn't want Li Zhi to see a side of him that lacked ambition or drive.

Jiang Baiye took a deep breath. "As it happens, I’m ready. Let’s go."

He Yun looked surprised. "There’s no need to rush quite so much."

"Let's just get it done quickly." He couldn't afford to wait; he wanted a quick resolution.

He hadn't expected, however, that this "quick resolution" would lead them straight into a brothel.

Both Jiang Baiye and He Yun felt a sense of physical discomfort, but the one truly ill-at-ease was Xu Biao, sitting across from them—thinking to himself, *Why is it this damn brat again?*

And then there was He Yun, the man who ran the medicinal herb shop; wouldn't it be better for him to just stick to healing the sick and saving lives instead of muscling in on their business?

Everyone knew that the officials from Chongzhou Prefecture had summoned them all together to incite a bidding war; while they couldn't stand the sight of one another, none of them wanted to end up paying an exorbitant price to secure the deal.

Xu Biao simply didn't think it was worth it; his goal was to maximize profit at the lowest possible cost—anything else would be a losing proposition.

Yet, having just recently crossed paths with Jiang Baiye and harbored a grudge... He had considered giving up before he even arrived, but now he felt compelled to put up a fight.

Even if he didn't win the bid, driving up the price and forcing that brat to take a loss would be a win in itself.

Xu Biao chuckled and clapped his hands; immediately, a group of men and women emerged from behind the curtain, clad in alluring, sheer fabrics and wafting with the scent of perfume.

He Jun’s body stiffened; he kept his gaze fixed downward, his tension and discomfort obvious to anyone watching.

Jiang Baiye, however, remained composed, a smile still playing on his lips as he observed the group with genuine interest.

Seeing this, Xu Biao—unwilling to let that brat enjoy the company of such expensive entertainers for a bargain—picked one out and said, "Go keep Young Master He company; he looks like he really needs your help." ”

He Yun was speechless... He had clearly shown his resistance!

The County Magistrate and the Assistant Magistrate present could hardly wait; they had already pulled women onto their laps and were feeding them food and drink mouth-to-mouth.

This was the perfect moment to discuss business—provided one could ignore the rising and falling sounds of coquettish moans.

He Yun fought back his discomfort and pushed away the woman pressing against him; the overpowering scent of her perfume made him sneeze. This reaction amused the men at the table, but before they could tease him about it, Jiang Baiye stood up with his wine cup and told a funny anecdote.

It immediately captured everyone's attention.

Not only were the officials captivated, but even the courtesans—who had been trying hard to show off—involuntarily stopped what they were doing to listen to him.

When Jiang Baiye finished, the whole table burst into laughter; some were even clutching their bellies, laughing so hard tears streamed down their faces.

"Oh my, that’s hilarious—it’s killing me!" The Nanyuan County Magistrate couldn't stop laughing; he slapped the table, making the bowls, dishes, and wine cups clatter noisily.

Xu Biao couldn't bring himself to laugh, yet he forced a smile to avoid spoiling the mood for these officials.

Jiang Baiye didn't laugh either; he merely...