Your third brother Ji, he’s about to risk everything for a beauty!
Su Ting came alone, holding two cans of oil in his hand, and was watching the customers in the front hall eating a kind of golden round cake.
Seeing Yu Jinnian come out, he quickly stood up straight, greeted him with “Happy New Year,” and without waiting for a response, pushed the small oil cans into Yu Jinnian’s hands. “There isn’t much to bring from home, these two cans of small-mill sesame oil are the best.” Afraid Yu Jinnian would misunderstand, he quickly explained, “I didn’t steal or rob it; I earned this through my work. Please, little doctor, accept it!”
Yu Jinnian hesitated, not because he doubted the oil’s origin, but because he knew that Su Ting’s family was not well off either, and Bai Haitang still needed to nourish his body. It would be better for them to keep the oil for themselves.
But Su Ting was stubborn, perhaps feeling guilty for having stolen from Yu Jinnian before, and insisted that he accept it.
“Alright then,” Yu Jinnian finally said. “It’s a token of your goodwill.”
He took the oil and set it aside, then led Su Ting to the backyard to ask about Bai Haitang’s condition.
Su Ting said, “Thanks to your medicine, Haitang’s appetite has improved a bit lately. On New Year’s Eve, not only did he eat an entire bowl of rice, but he also ate an extra egg. Now his complexion is better, and he feels a bit more strength in his body.” He frowned. “But his other symptoms remain the same. He’s often gloomy, sitting alone quietly. I asked him about it, but he won’t tell me… I think he has something on his mind.”
“I can cure physical ailments, but I can’t cure heartaches. When I saw him last time, I could already tell his emotional burden was heavy. I even told him then that it wasn’t yet time to despair… alas,” Yu Jinnian sighed. “You’ll have to take care of him more, cheer him up, take him out for walks. Don’t let him stay cooped up at home all the time.”
Su Ting nodded. “I understand.”
Yu Jinnian went back to his room to fetch his pen and ink. He had already silently worked out a treatment plan when he diagnosed Bai Haitang before the New Year. After five days of spleen-strengthening treatment, Bai Haitang’s current condition was still within his expectations. Confident in his diagnosis, he didn’t need to examine him again; he just needed to write down the prescription he had already planned.
He said, “This prescription will need to be taken for a while. It’ll probably be mid-month before you see any results. Don’t rush.”
Su Ting understood and didn’t mind how long it would take. As long as it was good for Haitang, he was willing to follow all of Yu Jinnian’s instructions.
Before handing the prescription to Su Ting, Yu Jinnian took out some “Shengsheng Roudan” pills he had made in his spare time. These pills were made from cinnabar, alum, saltpeter, mica, and other substances. Though each ingredient was poisonous, they were actually dangerous medicines, and dangerous diseases needed dangerous cures. As long as the dosage was controlled, it could still be an effective remedy.
In a previous life, one of his ancestors, Chen Sirong, spent 20 years writing a book titled *The Secret Record of Syphilis*, a specialized work on syphilis. It was this book that provided a reference for treating syphilis, which had long been a headache for doctors.
The formula Yu Jinnian was using today came from that book’s “Wuzi Huadu Pills,” which contained bezoar, fresh peels, fritillaria, prepared rhubarb, myrrh, pangolin scales, and more than a dozen other medicinal ingredients. Combined with a small dose of Shengsheng Roudan, they were ground and mixed into new pills to be taken. Fortunately, Bai Haitang had caught the eye of someone like Jiang Bingren, a wealthy young man. Otherwise, with Su Ting’s poverty, he wouldn’t have been able to afford even the medicine.
While checking the prescription for any mistakes, Yu Jinnian listened to Su Ting muttering under his breath as he stared at the prescription.
Listening carefully, Yu Jinnian realized that Su Ting was silently trying to figure out the effects of the ingredients. Some of his guesses were quite reasonable, while others were wild speculations. Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but say, “A medicine’s effect isn’t as simple as adding or subtracting the properties of a few ingredients. The key lies in how the medicinal flavors work together. It’s like how one plus one doesn’t always equal two.”
Su Ting pondered, murmuring, “One plus one doesn’t equal two…”
“Alright, go get the medicine now.” Yu Jinnian folded the prescription and handed it to him.
As Su Ting returned to the front hall, his nose caught the scent of something oily and sweet. He turned his head to see the same dazzling golden cakes he had noticed when he entered. The freshly fried ones were even more tempting. He reached for his waist, intending to buy some for Haitang to try. But after weighing the few coins in his palm, he reluctantly put them back.
Just as he was about to leave, Yu Jinnian called out from behind him, “Su Ting!”
“Little doctor, do you have any other instructions?” Su Ting asked.
Yu Jinnian glanced at the plate of cakes on the customer’s table, then pulled out an oiled paper packet. “Take this home and eat it. It’s the popular scalded dough fried cakes that have been selling well these days.”
Su Ting quickly shook his head. “This isn’t right. I’ve already received so much kindness from you; how can I take more?”
“Now you’ve learned to be polite, haven’t you?” Yu Jinnian chuckled. Su Ting knew he was referring to the time he had stolen from him, and couldn’t help but lower his head in shame. But Yu Jinnian didn’t dwell on the past. After all, Su Ting had lost weight working under Young Master Jiang, so he didn’t want to keep bringing it up. Smiling, he handed the oiled paper packet to Su Ting and gave him an out: “It’s not for you, it’s for Bai Haitang. His body is weak, and the medicine is bitter. He should have something sweet and tasty.”
Mentioning Bai Haitang, Su Ting was finally willing to accept the packet. He was deeply grateful to Yu Jinnian, nearly kneeling in thanks.
Yu Jinnian couldn’t stand such formalities, so he waved his hand and told him to leave quickly.
Su Ting had never dared to tell Haitang that he had been kicked out of the academy, nor that he was now doing manual labor to make a living. Whenever Haitang asked, he always made excuses about doing book-keeping or writing letters for people. When he returned to their small courtyard, he took a deep breath and called out, “Haitang.”
He heard a clatter from inside and feared that something had happened to Bai Haitang. He rushed inside, taking three steps in two. Pushing the door open, he saw Bai Haitang kneeling on the floor beside the bed, holding a small broom. Startled, Bai Haitang looked up at Su Ting, his eyes evasive. His eyes suddenly grew dry and sore, and in a blink, a layer of moisture covered his eyelids.
Su Ting was startled, thinking that Bai Haitang had fallen from the bed. He hurried over to help him up, asking, “Why are you crying? Did you hurt yourself when you fell?”
Bai Haitang stood up with the help of Su Ting’s arm and shook his head.
Su Ting glanced under the bed, feeling that something was off, as if Bai Haitang was hiding something. However, he knew that Bai Haitang was like a frightened bird, easily alarmed at the slightest probing. He couldn’t ask directly, so he gently engaged him in conversation, “Today I spent the day writing letters for people and then went to get a new prescription from the little doctor, so I came back a bit late. What did you do all day?”
“Nothing,” Bai Haitang replied softly. “I didn’t do much, just waited for you.”
Su Ting was slightly surprised, “You just sat here waiting for me?”
After a moment of silence, Bai Haitang nodded, “Mm.”
Su Ting said, “In a few days, once I’ve saved enough money, I’ll buy you a couple of chicks and ducklings. Raising some animals will give you something to do, so you won’t sit here thinking too much all day. The little doctor said your illness will get better, it just takes time. It’s not a big deal.”
“I understand,” Bai Haitang replied.
A few days later, Su Ting really did bring home four little chicks and two ducklings, carrying them in a basket as he excitedly hurried home. Bai Haitang was boiling water at the time. Since Yu Jinnian had told him that sitting by the stove wouldn’t cure his illness, Su Ting finally felt comfortable letting him handle fire. However, Bai Haitang sat there staring blankly at the flames until the sound of chirping caught his attention.
He turned to see Su Ting pulling the little chicks out of the basket one by one. The two ducklings immediately fluttered their wings and ran away as soon as they hit the ground. Su Ting chased after them but couldn’t catch them, only managing to grab a chick and place it in his hand. The chick was soft and fluffy, its little orange feet cool against Su Ting’s palm as it patted around.
The chick was so tiny that it seemed like a little pressure could crush it. Bai Haitang carefully held it in both hands, looking up at Su Ting with uncertainty.
Su Ting smiled, “Isn’t it fun? These ones aren’t for eating; they’re for you to raise and play with.”
Bai Haitang placed the chick on the ground, gently stroking its fuzzy yellow head. Perhaps it was warmer near the stove, as the chicks, unafraid, gathered around Bai Haitang’s small stool, chirping noisily.
Su Ting quickly made dinner. After they ate, they sat by the bed talking. Bai Haitang only let Su Ting touch him through his sleeve, but Su Ting was content, holding Bai Haitang’s hand close and cherishing the moment. “In a few days, it’ll be the fifteenth. The city will be hung with lanterns, and there will be a lantern festival. Haitang, would you go with me to see the lanterns?”
Su Ting was mindful that Bai Haitang might not want to go out and face people, so he deliberately phrased it as “accompanying him.” Sure enough, Bai Haitang, with a soft heart, agreed but made one condition: “Ting Lang, let’s not go to crowded places.”
Su Ting readily agreed, “Alright, we won’t. We’ll just stroll by the river and look around.”
A chick suddenly wriggled out from under the bed, struggling with something wrapped around it.
Su Ting looked down, picked up the chick, and saw that it had somehow gotten tangled in a length of red thread. “Where did this red thread come from?” he wondered aloud, helping the chick out of its predicament.
Bai Haitang froze for a moment, then turned his head and said, “I don’t know… maybe the place wasn’t swept clean.”
Su Ting glanced at him, puzzled but said nothing more.
That day, work at the oil press ran late, and Su Ting didn’t leave until after he had accompanied Bai Haitang for an afternoon nap. Before leaving, he tucked the blanket around Bai Haitang, who was sleeping soundly. His delicate, handsome face rested quietly on the pillow, a bit thin and pale. Su Ting slowly leaned down, almost touching Bai Haitang’s lips when, suddenly, Bai Haitang moved.
Su Ting, feeling guilty, immediately pulled back, realizing that Bai Haitang had only turned over in his sleep. The moment had passed, and he felt too embarrassed to try again. He watched Bai Haitang for a while longer before whispering, “I’m leaving,” and quietly slipped out.
What Su Ting didn’t know was that as soon as he left, the person sleeping on the bed opened his eyes.
Bai Haitang got dressed, wrapped his head and face with a cloth, and quietly left the house with a small basket. After a few turns, he slipped into a shop at the end of an alley, looking rather suspicious. Just as he stepped inside, he saw a woman talking to someone else and immediately backed out.
However, the woman noticed him and hurried over, calling out, “Haitang? Is that you, Haitang?”
Bai Haitang had no choice but to stop, reluctantly answering, “Aunt Xie…”
Few people knew about his past support of a scholar, and during their polite and respectful relationship, Bai Haitang had felt a sense of pride, eager to share it with someone. One day, he couldn’t help but mention it to a cook from the opera troupe, the very same Aunt Xie standing before him. Aunt Xie was kind-hearted, and though her husband had passed away, she had remained with the troupe for over ten years, watching Bai Haitang grow up. To him, she was someone with whom he could confide.
A few years ago, Aunt Xie had met a man who treated her well, and she remarried, leaving the troupe.
Now, seeing her again, Bai Haitang noticed her lively spirit. Clearly, she was doing well, and while he was comforted by this, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of melancholy over how much things had changed.
“I knew it was you,” Aunt Xie said happily. “I heard you’re no longer performing, and that’s good. It’s better to live a quiet and honest life than anything else.”
“Mm.” Bai Haitang responded vaguely.
Aunt Xie continued, “My current man, though not very accomplished, is honest and dependable. He works at an oil press now. Just the other day, he mentioned how capable your Su Ting is—he works quickly and doesn’t shy away from hard work. The foreman at the oil press even praised him, saying it’s a waste to have such a scholarly person working the mill. They’re planning to promote him to the accountant position!”
Bai Haitang froze for a moment. “…The oil press?”
“Yes! Haitang, if you ask me, a man who’s diligent and steady is all you really need. You don’t have to wish for him to achieve great things. What matters is that he’s hardworking and treats you well. I think your Su Ting is quite good. If he becomes an accountant, who knows, he might even be promoted to a foreman one day!” Aunt Xie continued reminiscing happily, unaware that Bai Haitang’s expression had changed.
“Thank you, Aunt Xie! I… I have something to do… I need to go.” Before Aunt Xie could finish praising Su Ting, Bai Haitang, clutching his basket, hurried away.
Aunt Xie called after him in confusion, “Aren’t you going to buy anything?”
Bai Haitang rushed back to the small courtyard, closing the door behind him. The basket on his arm slipped down and clattered to the ground. He leaned against the door and slowly slid down, his gaze empty as he sat there in a daze. It wasn’t until a little chick came over and pecked at his fingers that he realized his face felt itchy. He lifted his hand to wipe it and found it wet with tears.
He picked up the chick and set it outside the door, then unsteadily made his way to the bed. Kneeling down, he dragged out a box from deep underneath.
Opening the box, it revealed some simple wooden jewelry—hairpins, rings, and bracelets—all made from wood. There was also a pair of red silk earrings with little wooden beads attached. A sewing basket was placed on top, and beneath it, a corner of bright red fabric peeked out.
Bai Haitang reached out to touch it, his lips pressing into a thin line before suddenly slamming the box shut and shoving it back under the bed.
Meanwhile, in the back kitchen of a noodle shop, a pot of water had just come to a boil.
Yu Jinnian hurried in with a bowl of flour, poured in a little oil, then added raw flour into the boiling water, stirring quickly. This was the method for making scalded dough. Once he felt the dough had the right consistency under his chopsticks, he scooped it out and placed it on the counter, mixing in a portion of fermented dough to knead together.
He wrapped the small dough pieces with fillings of brown sugar, white sugar, and red bean paste. After frying them in hot oil, they became scalded dough fried cakes.
In recent days, these fried cakes had been selling like hotcakes. Customers in the front hall nodded approvingly as they ate, and even those heading off to work early in the morning came in with frost still on their coats, ordering fried cakes for breakfast. They paired them with soy milk and pickled vegetables, creating a mix of salty and sweet flavors. The red bean paste filling was popular enough, but the brown sugar and white sugar versions would melt into syrup once they hit the oil. When the customers bit into the cakes, the syrup would spill out from the inside.
It warmed both the body and the heart, with a sweetness that soothed the stomach.
It wasn’t just the fried cakes; there were also the various braised and marinated meats and fresh tangyuan (glutinous rice dumplings) that many customers had pre-ordered before the New Year, all of which needed to be ready before the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth. Yu Jinnian had plans, not wanting to be stuck in the kitchen during the festival. He hoped to go to the temple fair with Ji Hong to enjoy the lanterns and guess riddles. Since he was too busy to manage everything himself, he roped in Duan Ming and Shi Xing to help out.
As he stood under the eaves, Yu Jinnian frowned, feeling like he had forgotten something important, but he couldn’t recall what it was. Shaking his head, he decided to let it go and rushed to the front hall to attend to the customers.
These past few days, Ji Hong had been spending more time at the Fang family inn with Min Xuefei than at the noodle shop. While tidying up behind the counter, Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but feel a little jealous, his attention drifting outside. It was impossible for him not to care about Min Xuefei. After all, the second son of the Min family and Ji Hong had grown up together, their bond dating back long before Yu Jinnian had entered the picture. They had shared intimate conversations by candlelight, even playing chess together. And there was still the connection between them through Ji Hong’s older brother.
If Yu Jinnian were to compare their closeness, Min Xuefei was far more familiar with Ji Hong than someone like him, who had known him for less than six months.
Yu Jinnian knew his feelings were a bit biased, but he believed he should trust Ji Hong.
Leaning on the counter, he rested his head and watched the melting snow outside, sighing to himself, *Maybe it’s true that love makes people blind.* Once you start caring about someone, it’s impossible not to pay attention to their every move. Even the sway of a flower or a blade of grass near them can seem like a subtle hint, and even a normally rational person can fall into the trap of overthinking everything.
Qing Huan glanced at him, amused. “So even you, Brother Nian, sigh sometimes.”
Yu Jinnian responded, “Why wouldn’t I sigh?”
Qing Huan, wiping down a table, said, “I’ve always thought Brother Nian had such a good temper, never angry or upset. Are you worried because too many people like you?”
Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but laugh. He raised his hand in a mock fierce gesture and said, “Do you want me to show you what it looks like when I lose my temper?”
Qing Huan jumped back, laughing, and ran to the shop entrance, suddenly calling out, “Oh no, Young Master Ji is back!”
“Where? Let me see!” Yu Jinnian darted out from behind the counter and squeezed to the front of the shop to look, but the street was crowded with people, and Ji Hong, the person he was looking for, was nowhere to be seen. Realizing that Qing Huan had tricked him, he turned, ready to chase her down.
The two of them ran to the backyard, but Qing Huan, with her bad leg, soon couldn’t keep up. Bent over and clutching her knees, she gasped with laughter. “Alright, alright, spare me, Brother Nian! I won’t do it again!” As she caught her breath, she looked up and said again, “Oh no, Young Master Ji is really back this time!”
“Again? Do you think I’m a fool who’ll fall for the same trick twice?” Yu Jinnian snorted, hands on his hips.
Suddenly, a familiar voice chuckled from behind him, “What are you two up to now?”
Yu Jinnian was stunned and gave Qing Huan a glare.
Qing Huan shrugged, indicating, “I told you Young Master Ji was back, but you didn’t believe me,” and then ran off.
Ji Hong walked over, raised his hand, and ruffled the boy’s hair, asking, “Who’s the little dog?”
Yu Jinnian looked at him, wanting to laugh but also feeling a bit embarrassed. He gently rubbed his forehead against Ji Hong’s hand for a moment before quietly whispering, “Woof…”
Ji Hong saw him blushing slightly, and after the playful interaction with Qing Huan, his pale cheeks were tinged with pink. Ji Hong’s heart stirred, and he lifted the boy’s chin and leaned down to kiss him. Yu Jinnian wrapped his arms around Ji Hong’s shoulders and opened his mouth to respond, their kiss deepening as they clung to each other. Just when they were lost in the moment, Yu Jinnian suddenly twitched his nose and abruptly pushed Ji Hong away.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Yu Jinnian asked, “When are those two from the Min family leaving?”
Ji Hong was startled and replied, “The latest message said that the snow up north has blocked the roads, making it difficult for carriages to pass. So, they plan to leave after the New Year. Why?”
Yu Jinnian puffed out his cheeks in annoyance. “You smell like sandalwood.”
Ji Hong finally understood—Yu Jinnian was jealous. He chuckled, “Their room is filled with incense. How could I avoid picking up the scent? If you don’t like it, I’ll have them throw all the incense away next time.”
Yu Jinnian muttered, “That’s not what I meant…”
Ji Hong stepped forward and hugged him, resting his hand on Yu Jinnian’s squirming back. He whispered, “Don’t move. Let’s stay like this for a while, and then I’ll smell just like you. Or, you could take me to your room and cover me with your scent?”
Ji Hong’s thumb brushed along the back of Yu Jinnian’s neck in a teasing manner, making Yu Jinnian shudder in his arms. Of course, Yu Jinnian understood exactly what Ji Hong meant by “covering him with his scent.” At the peak of his youth, certain desires began to stir within him. While plotting in his mind about how to “do this and that” to Ji Hong later, he still playfully huffed, “Shameless!”
“Let’s go, I’ll help you make yuanxiao.” Ji Hong pinched Yu Jinnian’s pretend-angry face.
…
In the Fang family inn.
Min Mao sat at the table, sipping wine and picking at some side dishes. He craned his neck to watch his older brother playing chess against himself, not understanding what was enjoyable about it. He thought it would be much more interesting to go outside and enjoy the scenery.
After a large group of black stones was captured by white, forming a huge dragon, Min Mao couldn’t hold back anymore. For someone as talkative as him, keeping his questions bottled up was worse than being tied to a guillotine. He plopped down next to the chessboard and asked, “Second brother, what did Third Brother Ji mean earlier? What exactly have you two been discussing these past few days?”
The chessboard shook, and a few pieces bounced into the air.
Min Xuefei remained silent, unmoving, until he had decided on his next move. Then, he said, “He was talking about why Second Brother Ji died.”
“Huh?” Min Mao still didn’t understand, and couldn’t figure out why his brother had suddenly brought up Second Brother Ji. “Wasn’t Second Brother Ji kidnapped by the Beidi people? Back then, Lord Ji was overseeing the northern army, and the enemy, in a fit of madness, sent spies to infiltrate and assassinate him. But by a twist of fate, they ended up kidnapping both Second and Third Brother Ji… Didn’t the Beidi tribe get wiped out?”
“The Beidi spies were an elite group of thirty. How could they have snuck into Beiyan Pass so silently? And how could a ‘twist of fate’ just happen to lead them to Second Brother Ji, who was out on a flower-viewing trip? That day, even the guards at the manor didn’t know Second Brother’s whereabouts, so how did the Beidi people, who couldn’t even speak the common tongue, know? If this isn’t clarified, what happened to Second Brother Ji could easily happen to the rest of the Ji family. Or perhaps, it will be us next.”
Min Mao was speechless.
“The Beidi were merely pawns! If the black stones are gone, the white stones will follow. Little brother, the court is likely about to descend into chaos.” Min Xuefei let go of a handful of white stones, letting them clatter across the board, disrupting the peaceful game. He stood up, smiling, “Your Third Brother Ji might just raise hell for the sake of a beauty!”
Min Mao asked, “Which beauty?”
Min Xuefei ignored him and gazed out the window, saying, “Who would’ve thought that the noble son of the Ji family would be captivated by such a little enchantress.” Turning around, he saw Min Mao pulling out a porcelain box from his sleeve, rubbing something on his hands. From a distance, it looked like a jar of rouge. Frowning, Min Xuefei asked, “What is that?”
Min Mao happily replied, “That little enchantress you just mentioned made this. Second Brother, you should try it! It works wonders. I’ll never have to worry about frostbitten hands again!”
Min Xuefei: “…”