Chapter 29: Happiness

As soon as Zhou Qing stepped out of the kitchen, she heard heard Wang let out a loud scream.

Turning around with the bowl in her hands, she saw Wang leaning against the door, clutching her ankle with both hands, her face contorted in pain.

Zhou Qing...

Was she really that upset about not getting to eat meat this early in the morning?

Zhou Qing rolled her eyes at Wang and walked away.

Shen Li got up and left the kitchen, nodding politely at Wang as he passed by, then quickly followed Zhou Qing into the second house.

Zhou Qing didn't separate the meat into two portions, so the family in the third house joined them for breakfast in the second house.

Zhou Ping, who hadn't had meat in a long time, downed three bowls of noodles in one go and then laid back contentedly.

Just after breakfast, Cheng Wu called from the doorway, "Sister Qing, are you ready?"

Shen Li immediately put down his bowl and looked at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing gathered the copy of the Analects and the writing done by Huaishan, and said to Zhou Huailin, "Third Uncle, let's meet at Wangjia Tuo Village."

Wangjia Tuo Village was the closest village to the town. It was most convenient for Zhou Qing to meet Zhou Huailin there after finishing her errands in town.

"Alright," Zhou Huailin replied, smiling with an oily mouth from the broth he was drinking.

Cheng Wu sat by the mule cart, feeling anxious and upset about his failed confession yesterday, and then he saw Zhou Qing coming out with that young boss.

Immediately, he felt even worse.

Shen Li smiled at Cheng Wu and nimbly got on the cart, sitting in the spot Zhou Qing usually occupied—the passenger seat.

Cheng Wu glared at Shen Li, "What are you doing up here?"

Zhou Qing climbed onto the mule cart. "He's going to town to buy some things."

Shen Li nodded with a smile, indicating that was exactly the case.

Cheng Wu glared at Shen Li again. "A town boss like you doesn't have his own vehicle? I'm not your driver! Our mule cart from the countryside can't possibly accommodate someone of your status!"

"My cart was borrowed by third uncle to sell characters," Shen Li said, his tone warm and friendly.

The way he said "third uncle" sounded overly affectionate to Cheng Wu.

"What 'third uncle,' who's your third uncle!" 

Cheng Wu was nearly exploding with anger, but with Zhou Qing present, he couldn't directly kick Shen Li off. And Shen Li, lacking in situational awareness, had sat in Zhou Qing's seat.

Really...

Cheng Wu wanted to lash Shen Li with his whip so badly, but he couldn't.

So he could only whip the mule harder.

The mule felt the sharp pain and took off running.

The sudden acceleration of the cart caused Zhou Qing to lose her balance, and she toppled over towards Shen Li.

Just as Shen Li was turning to talk to Zhou Qing, she fell right into his arms.

Shen Li...

Bliss!

Cheng Wu felt like he was going to explode!

"What are you doing, let go of Sister Qing! I knew you were up to no good, taking advantage of her!"

Unable to hold back, Cheng Wu shouted at Shen Li, waving his whip in the air.

Zhou Qing awkwardly climbed out of Shen Li's arms and tugged at Cheng Wu, "What are you yelling about, I just lost my balance."

He made it sound like she and Shen Li had done something inappropriate.

Shen Li's presence annoyed Cheng Wu so much that he was in a bad mood the entire trip, constantly whipping the mule to speed up the journey.

As a result, they reached the town in half the usual time.

"Here's your calligraphy shop," Cheng Wu immediately stopped the cart as they entered the town, hastily trying to get rid of Shen Li.

Shen Li smiled as he got off the cart, "Thanks."

Then, turning to Zhou Qing, he asked, "Shall I help you down?"

Cheng Wu...

"No need," Zhou Qing quickly jumped off the cart.

"Sister Qing, I'll come back to pick you up after delivering the vegetables."

"No need, I'll leave as soon as I'm done at the bookstore, and I won't be returning to the village. I'll be heading to Wangjia Tuo Village to meet up with my third uncle."

Feeling rejected, Cheng Wu said, "I'll take you there, it's far."

Shen Li interjected with a smile, "I have another cart at my shop."

Cheng Wu...

He could vomit blood from frustration, in large quantities.

"Just go deliver the vegetables, they're waiting for you!" Zhou Qing waved at Cheng Wu, then turned to Shen Li, "You go handle your errands, I'll meet you after I'm done."

Shen Li smiled, "There's not much to buy, my shop has everything. I'll just check in and then go with you. Didn't you say we need to buy more red paper?"

Zhou Qing thought it over and agreed.

Since Shen Li was around, she could buy more red paper.

"Alright."

Zhou Qing nodded, and Shen Li quickly went into the calligraphy shop. Zhong greeted him, and Shen Li gave quick instructions, "Immediately buy a mule cart. I've bought a house in Qingyang Village, and I'll be living there. Get some daily necessities and load them onto the cart."

Zhong...

He twitched his mouth and thought of countless questions, finally choosing the most important one, "Milord, where's your cart?"

"I lent it out."

After saying this, Shen Li turned and left the shop, walking back to Zhou Qing with a beaming smile.

Zhong...

Forgot his roots once he got a girl, huh!

When Shen Li returned to Zhou Qing, Cheng Wu had already left, looking dejected and resentful.

The largest bookstore in Qinghe County, Yunhai Bookstore, was crowded when Zhou Qing entered.

Everyone was enthusiastically discussing the same topic.

"Cling to the green mountains and never let go~~~"

Zhou Qing...

The bookstore owner, seeing Zhou Qing arrive, quickly extricated himself from the group of scholars. Noticing Shen Li beside Zhou Qing, he took a closer look.

Shen Li nodded politely to the owner, his demeanor graceful and refined.

The owner couldn't help but take another look.

"Miss Zhou, this gentleman is...?"

Zhou Qing took out the copy of the Analects and the calligraphy done by Zhou Huaishan, placing them on the counter. She glanced at Shen Li and smiled, "A friend."

Shen Li's smile deepened.

"This friend of yours must be quite close to your father," the owner said as he put away the Analects, casually flipping through Zhou Huaishan's calligraphy with a smile. As he spoke, he kept glancing at Shen Li.

Zhou Qing...

Why are you so nosy too?

Responding with a smile, Zhou Qing said, "Can my father continue copying books?"

The owner took out a copy of the Great Learning, "I didn't expect your father to copy books so quickly, he's very diligent. This one is also 200 copper coins."

As he spoke, he counted out 200 copper coins and handed it to Zhou Qing, settling the payment for the previous book.

After handing over the money, he turned to Shen Li and asked, "Young man, do you write?"

Not understanding the intent, Shen Li straightforwardly declined, "No."

The owner chuckled, clearly not believing him.

After receiving the Great Learning, Zhou Qing and Shen Li left the bookstore amid the owner's inexplicable laughter.

The bookstore owner enthusiastically saw them off, watching them until they were down the steps before turning back.

It seemed that young man was most likely the real author of the poem.

What father!

It was clearly...

Tsk tsk~~~

That poem had attracted scholars from all over the county to Yunhai Bookstore, even the county magistrate himself had visited. If only they could get another poem like that.

The bookstore owner sighed with admiration.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qing and Shen Li walked side by side to buy red paper.

With Shen Li there, Zhou Qing bought five rolls this time. Initially, she planned to carry two rolls herself and have Shen Li carry three, but Shen Li took all of them.

With all the rolls stacked high, blocking his view, Shen Li had to rely on Zhou Qing to guide him by holding onto his sleeve.