Chapter 131: Contending for Supremacy

Tang Yichen was reading when he heard his name called from outside. It suddenly dawned on him that today was the day his family was visiting the city.

He set down his book, disregarding the obsessive-compulsive habits he usually adhered to, and rushed outside.

The gatekeeper, seeing Tang Yichen, said with a smile, "It’s a rare sight to see the scholar Tang so flustered."

Tang Yichen self-consciously straightened his clothes and asked, "How do I look today?"

"Handsome," the old man chuckled. "Scholar Tang is the most handsome student we have here."

"Uncle Zong, don't tease me," Tang Yichen said sheepishly. "Are my family members at the gate? I'll head over there now."

The reason Tang Yichen had asked Uncle Zong was that he had been working late on his studies and was so captivated by the library's collection that he spent all his spare time there. Worried that he might look haggard and cause his family to fret, he had asked about his appearance.

When Tang Yichen reached the gate, he saw Granduncle Tang waiting there with a basket, several large jars placed at his feet.

He looked around, but not seeing Qin Huiyin, he asked in confusion, "Granduncle, where is my little sister?"

Granduncle Tang handed over the basket and said with a warm smile, "She had something to attend to and will come to pick me up later. The basket contains freshly grilled meat skewers; eat them while they're hot. You probably can't carry these large jars by yourself—do you have any friends who can come help? If I were allowed inside, I’d have carried them in for you myself."

"Did she go to the dam?" Tang Yichen asked with a faint smile.

Granduncle Tang replied, "...Heh, if these freshly grilled skewers get cold, they won't taste good. She just wanted to get them to you as quickly as possible."

He had waited at the gate for quite a while before Tang Yichen appeared, proving that her decision was correct. Had she delivered the items to him before heading to the dam, the skewers would have gone cold.

Tang Yichen smiled faintly. "I'll wait with you until she comes."

"No need for that. You should go inside and tend to your business. Besides, you won't be able to finish all these skewers by yourself—go on in and share them with your fellow students."

Tang Yichen said, "Granduncle, please wait here for a moment."

He went inside and called out a few fellow students to help carry the jars. He then opened the basket and said to them, "This is my sister’s handiwork. If you don't mind, please share it and have a taste."

"It smells so good! We don't mind at all—we'd take even more if there were any!"

"This scent... is that 'Ever-Smiling Eatery' your family's shop?" one of them asked. "Oh, no wonder your sauce is so delicious."

Granduncle Tang laughed, "Yichen has a very caring sister who worries that her brother isn't eating or sleeping well while away, so she brings him something to eat every few days."

One student grabbed five skewers and shoved them into Tang Yichen’s hand, saying, "Many thanks, Brother Yichen; we won't stand on ceremony. Come on, let's go distribute these before class starts."

Granduncle Tang added with concern, "Make sure to keep the seasoning sauce for him."

"Don't worry, we'll help him take it to his room."

Granduncle Tang said to Yichen, "It seems you get along well with them."

"Everyone is focused on their studies, and there are more kind-hearted people than not."

He meant that there were bad-hearted people everywhere, but since that was unavoidable, it was best to simply not associate with them.

Elsewhere, Qin Huiyin pulled her ox cart to a stop.

"Little sister, you're back," the gatekeeper said, more warmly than last time.

Qin Huiyin keenly sensed the difference and smiled as usual. "Big Brother, I'm looking for my brother. Is he free today?"

"Supervisor Song is busier than before; I don't know if he has a moment. Wait here, and I'll go in and ask."

After the guard left, Qin Huiyin took out two skewers and handed them to the other guard, smiling as she probed for information. "Big Brother, why did that guard just call my brother 'Supervisor'?"

"Your brother got another promotion." The man took the skewers, his face full of longing as he inhaled the aroma, then devoured them in one bite. "Little sister, your culinary skills are truly superb."

Qin Huiyin smiled. "I'm glad you like them."

As she spoke, she handed him two more.

"My brother has only been a manager for a few days, how did he get promoted again?" Qin Huiyin asked. "Did anything happen these past few days?"

"Of course..."

"Of course not," Song Ruize’s voice came from behind. "It's just good luck. The dam foreman appreciates my work and assigned me a few more responsibilities."

"Brother." Qin Huiyin felt a bit guilty for being caught digging for information. "This uniform looks great on you. Becoming an official really makes a difference; you look so sharp."

Song Ruize’s lips curled upward. "You bring me things every day; are you actually making any money?"

"You already gave me your monthly wages, so I've made a huge profit," Qin Huiyin teased him.

"From now on, my monthly wage will be one tael of silver."

"You don't intend to hand over your future wages to me too, do you?" Qin Huiyin asked in surprise.

"Mhm." Song Ruize took the basket and passed it to the people behind him.

Song Ruize hadn't come out alone; behind him were the burly Chen Yong, Jiang Qibin, and Zhang Erzhu.

Zhang Erzhu clearly had something on his mind. He looked at Song Ruize, but didn't dare to speak.

"Brother Erzhu, after Brother Dazhu went back, he insisted on splitting the household. Your grandmother didn't agree, and they are still at a stalemate. But this time, Brother Dazhu is very firm and won't yield. Rest assured, he definitely won't let the person you like be taken away."

Zhang Erzhu finally smiled. "Sister Yin, please pass a message to my brother. Tell him I'm doing just fine here, and Ruize is looking after me. The work I'm doing now is the lightest, and I'm not tired at all. Also, tell him to ask Miss Chunni, if she doesn't want to wait for me, then..."

"As far as I know, Sister Chunni just turned fifteen, so there shouldn't be any rush for her to get married."

"Taxes have to be paid. Her family might not be willing to pay the tax for her," Zhang Erzhu said helplessly.

"Then you can help her pay it!" Qin Huiyin suggested. "If you really like her, keep her with you first. Money is an external thing; it can always be earned."

A spark of hope returned to Zhang Erzhu’s eyes. He said happily, "You're right, little sister. Why was I being so stubborn? Please tell my brother for me. He can keep a ledger of how much silver he spends for me, and I will pay him back when the time comes."

"Alright."

Song Ruize coughed lightly.

Qin Huiyin looked back at him, frowning. "You don't look well. Are you sick?"

Jiang Qibin muttered from the side, "He's not sick at all. He's in perfect health. Even if you asked him to go up the mountain to fight a tiger right now, it wouldn't be a problem."

"Brother Qibin, are you not happy today?" Qin Huiyin noticed Jiang Qibin’s sarcastic tone.

His presence today felt strangely muted. Usually, the moment he appeared, she would notice him immediately, but today she hadn't paid him any mind.

Receiving a glare like an ice blade from Song Ruize, Jiang Qibin smiled and said, "I'm not unhappy. Brother Ze thinks I'm too noisy and told me to talk less."

"That's not true. Don't listen to my brother; he's naturally quiet, and he needs a little sunshine like you by his side," Qin Huiyin said.

"Hear that? Hear that, little sister? You should listen to your sister; she is the noble person in your life," Jiang Qibin said, feeling emboldened now that he had an ally.

The other brothers nearby couldn't stand it and looked at him with disdain.

Qin Huiyin quickly pulled the cloth off the basket and said to them, "These are freshly grilled skewers. You all should divide them up quickly; they won't taste good if they get cold."