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Rong Xi approached at an unhurried pace and stopped half a body length away.

"Second Brother."

The other protagonist of the book had abruptly appeared before him.

They looked at each other for several breaths. Rong Xi was the first to recover and instructed Liu Zishi behind him, "Go help the Second Young Master unload his luggage."

Liu Zishi answered and left the residence, carrying trunks and cases from the carriage.

Rong Lian glanced at Xi Yan. Understanding at once, Xi Yan ran off to help Liu Zishi.

The many people in the residence were both unexpected and only natural.

Only upon seeing Rong Lian did Rong Xi recall that the book had mentioned how, after the Rong Clan's eldest legitimate son tragically drowned, the second young master of the Rong Clan returned to live in the ancestral residence in Linxi for nearly a year, citing the need for peace and quiet.

He did not return to the capital until the following year's provincial examination.

"Old Liu, prepare a side room for the Second Young Master." After giving the order, Rong Xi led Rong Lian to the main hall.

"Why has Second Brother come here?" Though he already knew the answer, Rong Xi still asked.

The man before him had grown much thinner, and the refined contours of his features had begun to emerge. Rong Lian sighed inwardly and said, "Shengjing has too many troubles. I came here to study in peace. We have not met for several months, yet Elder Brother has lost much weight."

Rong Xi remembered the original novel and understood Rong Lian's character.

As one of the protagonists, he seemed aloof and proud, but he was not narrow-minded. Among the sons of the Rong Clan, he was the most outstanding and also the one who had treated the original owner most sincerely.

He held great ambitions and possessed immense talent, eventually rising to the highest rank beneath the emperor. Yet while his official career went smoothly, his love life was fraught with hardship.

One thought too much and had too many reservations; the other was far too naive. The entire book was a grand melodrama of

tragic love.

The greatest obstacle was undoubtedly that they were both men.

"Elder Brother?" Seeing him lost in thought, Rong Lian could not help calling out.

Rong Xi came back to himself and suddenly smiled. "Second Brother, study in peace. I certainly will not disturb you."

Rong Lian had likely fled Shengjing to escape the feelings in his heart as well.

He truly was somewhat pitiful.

Rong Xi sighed inwardly. They were both fine young men. Though they shared a grave in death, they had never shared a bed in life. It was truly heartbreaking.

There was something strange in his gaze, and Rong Lian could not help feeling a chill run down his back. With a solemn expression, he said, "Elder Brother, you should study with me."

No, he did not want to.

"Second Brother has endured a long journey and must be weary in both body and mind. Old Liu should have finished preparing the room already. I'll take you there so you can rest awhile." Rong Xi tried to change the subject.

Rong Lian knew that a three-foot freeze was not the work of a single day, so he said no more and followed him to the side room.

The room was neat and well arranged, its furnishings complete and all brand-new.

Rong Lian was secretly astonished. He knew the ancestral residence had little income, and the money he had given his elder brother that day could only have covered rice and grain.

Where had the household found spare money to commission new furnishings?

As he had only just arrived, he did not rashly ask. Instead, he simply kept the matter in mind.

After settling Rong Lian in properly, Rong Xi went to the study and bent over his desk to write.

By late afternoon, the meal had been set on the table. As Rong Xi had no time that day, Liu He could only take charge of the cooking. Yet the meal consisted merely of salty flatbread and soup, truly rather shabby.

Rong Lian saw it and felt guilty.

That day, when his elder brother had bullied Liang, he too had been burning with anger. When their father furiously sent his elder brother away to Linxi, he had not tried to stop him.

Thinking of it now, his elder brother had been living in hardship while they had worn fine clothes and eaten rich food in Shengjing. It truly should not have been so.

"Elder Brother, is the household short of rice and grain? I brought some money and silks. If—"

"Second Brother," Rong Xi interrupted him, "your money and silks should be spent on brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. As for household matters, your elder brother will handle them."

Rong Lian did not speak again, but he made up his mind to take responsibility for the household affairs.

Early the next morning, Rong Xi and Liu Zishi rose early to exercise in the courtyard.

Rong Lian and his servant had traveled hard to get here and were still exhausted, not yet awake. They only rose groggily when the golden sun had climbed high.

Seeing Rong Xi and the other two looking spirited as they waited to eat breakfast with them, both showed embarrassed expressions.

Rong Xi had prepared breakfast himself. The lean pork congee was fragrant, soft, and glutinous, while the scallion pancakes were crisp and refreshing. Even though Rong Lian and his servant were restrained enough, they could not help eating thirty percent more than usual.

After breakfast, Rong Lian assumed that yesterday's words had hurt Rong Xi's pride, which was why breakfast had been so lavish and delicious.

Seeing Rong Xi preparing to leave the residence, he asked, "Elder Brother, are you going to the county town? Could you take me along?"

Rong Xi heard this and saw a carriage waiting outside the residence, so he agreed.

When the original owner had been driven to Linxi, the family servants had sent him by carriage to the ancestral residence before returning to Shengjing. Rong Lian and his servant had driven here themselves, so this carriage had not returned to Shengjing and was conveniently left behind for use.

The two of them took their two servants and rode into town.

Rong Lian wanted to buy rice, grain, paper, and ink, while Rong Xi wanted to find Hu Yulin, so they went their separate ways.

When he arrived at the Hu residence, Hu Yulin received him warmly.

"Eldest Young Master rarely leaves the residence. Since you have come today, why not call Shouyuan and gather together at Gourmet Pavilion?"

Thinking of Rong Lian, Rong Xi shook his head. "My second brother arrived yesterday. It would not be convenient for me to stay out long."

"No matter. I'll send a servant to invite him. Since he is Eldest Young Master's younger brother, I should naturally play host." Hu Yulin's narrow eyes curved as he raised his sleeve to instruct a servant.

Rong Xi said helplessly, "No need. He is in town as well."

"Even better. We can go together to Brother Duan's place then."

With things having reached this point, Rong Xi could no longer refuse, so he changed the subject. "I came today to ask Brother for a favor."

At the mention of business, Hu Yulin grew solemn. "Eldest Young Master, please speak freely."

"Brother Xuan Shi is widely traveled and knowledgeable. Do you know whether Mengshan County has any highly skilled kiln workers?" Seeing Hu Yulin's surprised expression, he explained, "I wish to fire some new wares and require the help of a kiln and kiln workers."

Hu Yulin was drawn in by the words "new wares." Though curious, he did not ask, merely saying, "Leave this matter to me. I will certainly handle it properly for Eldest Young Master."

Rong Xi smiled, took a sheet of paper from his sleeve, and handed it to Hu Yulin. "What is written on this paper are the materials needed to fire the new wares. I wish to buy them, but I do not know where they can be found."

"Quartz sand, alkali, limestone..." After reading it, Hu Yulin's lips curled slightly. "Eldest Young Master's thoughts truly are difficult to fathom. If I help you obtain these materials, can you tell me what these new wares actually are?"

Rong Xi knew Hu Yulin had spotted another business opportunity. He did not wish to hide it from him. "Glass."

Hu Yulin frowned. "I have only heard of glazed glass. It is a rare thing. What is glass? Could it be even more precious than glazed glass?"