Recaps

Rong Zheng taught Ye Chen to build strength and control his breathing by carrying water, while villagers gossiped that he was exploiting his young brother-in-law. Ye Yun trusted Rong Zheng and saw both Ye Chen and himself growing healthier and happier in their new home.

• Rong Zheng had Ye Chen carry water and coached him on posture, pacing, and breathing as they walked to the vegetable plot.
• Villagers saw Ye Chen working and spread rumors that Rong Zheng was mistreating him and might mistreat Ye Yun as well.
• Ye Yun welcomed Rong Zheng and Ye Chen home with hot water, and Rong Zheng affectionately teased him before washing.
• Ye Yun reflected that Rong Zheng treated their household well, and he noticed Ye Chen becoming more confident and cheerful as he practiced and studied.
• Ming-ge'er told Ye Yun that his complexion and appearance had improved, and Ye Yun's smile showed how much happier he had become.

Rong Zheng and Feng Xuanwen brought their Cthulhu-style storybook to Shopkeeper Sun, who agreed to publish an initial run of two hundred copies on favorable terms. After Rong Zheng proposed using a storyteller to promote the book, they signed a contract and planned to collect the printed copies in five days.

• Rong Zheng inspected the house under construction, then met Feng Xuanwen at a teahouse to read the storybook Feng had written from his story.
• Rong Zheng praised Feng Xuanwen's manuscript, and the two took it to the Distant View Bookshop to meet Shopkeeper Sun.
• Shopkeeper Sun was impressed by the story's originality, and Rong Zheng explained its Cthulhu-style horror and supernatural elements.
• Shopkeeper Sun agreed to print two hundred copies and take twenty percent of the proceeds, while Rong Zheng proposed having a storyteller at the Forget Worries Pavilion promote the book.
• Rong Zheng, Feng Xuanwen, and Shopkeeper Sun signed a contract and arranged to collect a copy in five days; Rong Zheng reminded Feng Xuanwen to wait and see how it sold.

Rong Zheng hunted and sold a giant wolf to Huang Yi, a fellow student at Azure Cloud Academy, then arranged to have a white fox made into a scarf for Ye Yun. At home, he reassured Ye Yun that he was unharmed and discussed his upcoming studies and Ye Chen’s education.

• Rong Zheng lured a lone wolf into attacking and killed it with his knife.
• Rong Zheng sold the wolf to Huang Yi’s household for a hundred taels and learned that Huang Yi also studied at Azure Cloud Academy.
• Rong Zheng commissioned Shopkeeper Zhou to make the white fox into a scarf for Ye Yun.
• Rong Zheng gave Ye Yun ninety taels and reassured him that the blood on his clothes was from the wolf, not an injury.
• Rong Zheng told Ye Yun he would focus on academy studies and teach Ye Chen at home for now, then teased Ye Yun about kissing him.

Rong Zheng finished planning the new house’s courtyard, teased Ye Yun, and cooked a spicy rabbit dinner for his family. He invited Ye Yun and Ye Chen to visit town the next day for storytelling and furniture shopping.

• Rong Zheng asked Master Zheng to add a vegetable garden, a leisure area with a pavilion and jujube tree, and a livestock shed to the new courtyard.
• Rong Zheng teased Ye Yun while he fed the rabbits, making Ye Yun blush and hurry indoors.
• Rong Zheng prepared spicy rabbit with vegetables, and Ye Yun helped ready the ingredients.
• Ye Chen showed Rong Zheng and Ye Yun the fish he had caught with Wang Liang and the others, and Rong Zheng reminded him to avoid strong currents.
• Rong Zheng, Ye Yun, and Ye Chen ate spicy rabbit and other dishes, then Rong Zheng told Ye Yun the new house would be finished in about ten days.
• Rong Zheng invited Ye Yun and Ye Chen to town the next day to hear a storyteller and shop for furniture.

Rong Zheng took Ye Yun and Ye Chen into town to shop and hear storytelling, treating them to new writing supplies and a meal at Forget Worries Pavilion. They settled near the stage to eat as they waited for the story.

• Rong Zheng took Ye Yun and Ye Chen into town, where villagers admired their fine clothes and learned they planned to visit a teahouse.
• Rong Zheng held Ye Yun’s hand as they toured the market and bought candied hawthorns for all three of them.
• At Distant View Bookshop, Shopkeeper Sun gave Rong Zheng a copy of the two hundred printed copies of Realm of Wonders and Strangeness, and Rong Zheng bought writing supplies for Ye Yun and Ye Chen.
• Rong Zheng reassured Ye Yun that they were family after Ye Yun thanked him for the expensive supplies.
• Rong Zheng brought Ye Yun and Ye Chen to Forget Worries Pavilion, where they ordered tea and dishes and began eating near the storytelling stage.

Rong Zheng arranged for Yan Shan to promote their storybook at the Forget Worries Pavilion, and Yan Shan agreed to tell a few installments to test its popularity. Rong Zheng then bought furniture with Ye Yun and Ye Chen for their new house, leaving Ye Yun to pay the ten taels.

• Yan Shan captivated the guests at the Forget Worries Pavilion with his tale of Ning Cai and Liu Qian.
• Rong Zheng gave Yan Shan their storybook, and Yan Shan praised its novelty and agreed to try telling it.
• Rong Zheng asked Yan Shan to mention that the book was sold at the Distant View Bookshop, and Yan Shan agreed.
• Rong Zheng explained the plan to Ye Yun, then took Ye Yun and Ye Chen to shop for furniture for their new house.
• Rong Zheng selected furniture and checked the bill, while Ye Yun paid the ten taels.

Rong Zheng and his family finished moving into their new house and held a simple housewarming meal for their relatives, neighbors, and village elders. The chapter ended with the guests enjoying the feast and congratulating the family on their new home.

• Rong Zheng inspected the completed house, praised Master Zheng's crew, and invited curious villagers inside to admire it.
• Rong Zheng told the villagers he would keep the move-in celebration simple, then cleaned the house with Ye Yun and Ye Chen.
• Ye Yun reflected on how much their lives had changed, and Rong Zheng reassured him that he had promised to give him a better life.
• Over the next three days, Rong Zheng and Ye Yun moved their belongings and new furniture into the house, and Rong Zheng arranged his books and writing supplies in his new study.
• Rong Zheng told Ye Yun they would invite their elders and neighbors for a housewarming meal, and Ye Yun agreed.
• Wang Zhang-shi, the village chief, the Ye clan elders, Ming-ge'er's family, and nearby neighbors attended the gathering, where Rong Zheng served a generous meal and the guests offered congratulations.

As Ye Yun and Rong Zheng’s life prospered, Eldest Uncle Ye’s family descended into public shame and constant fighting. On Ye Chen’s birthday, Rong Zheng’s loving gifts and reassurance helped Ye Yun begin to release the fear left by his abusive past.

• Villagers praised Ye Yun and Rong Zheng while condemning Eldest Uncle Ye’s family, whose members blamed one another and fought over their misfortunes.
• Ye Yun reflected on his lingering anxiety and past abuse while Rong Zheng noticed his distraction and offered him affection.
• Ye Yun gave Ye Chen handmade shoes for his eighth birthday, and Rong Zheng presented him with a short sword to use after passing his martial arts assessment.
• Rong Zheng gave Ye Yun a white fox-fur scarf and reassured him that their peaceful life was real and that his family’s past had nothing to do with him.
• Ye Yun broke down in Rong Zheng’s arms as the reassurance helped him let go of the fear and pain he had carried.

Rong Zheng began attending the academy and impressed Teacher Zhao with his recitation, scholarship, and improved writing. After receiving guidance on his policy essay, he left with a clearer focus for the examinations less than half a year away.

• Ye Yun helped Rong Zheng dress for his first day at the academy, and Rong Zheng teased him affectionately before leaving.
• Rong Zheng met Huang Yi in class, agreed to form a mutual-guarantor group with him for the examinations, and learned the requirements for sitting them.
• Teacher Zhao called on Rong Zheng to recite the Amplified Instructions on the Sacred Edict, and Rong Zheng recited it flawlessly and explained its meaning.
• During the midday break, Rong Zheng asked Teacher Zhao to review his policy essay, and the teacher praised his writing while advising him to focus more on current affairs.
• Rong Zheng asked Teacher Zhao about other subjects, and Teacher Zhao noted his growth and encouraged him to prepare because his chances in the examinations were good.

Rong Zheng’s storybook, Realm of Wonders and Strangeness, became a bestseller and drew eager readers across town. After sharing the profits with Feng Xuanwen, Rong Zheng learned of his friend’s family’s hardship and offered his support.

• Chen Yuling’s friends praised Realm of Wonders and Strangeness, and Chen Yuling promised to lend her copy to Ger Le after reading it.
• Chen Yujie became absorbed in his sister’s copy, and he and Chen Yuling fought over the storybook.
• Huang Yi told Rong Zheng that the book was being discussed at school, then asked Rong Zheng to teach him how to write essays.
• Shopkeeper Sun reported that nearly four hundred copies had sold and gave Rong Zheng and Feng Xuanwen their shares of the profits.
• Feng Xuanwen repaid Rong Zheng and explained that the money could help treat his ill mother, and Rong Zheng offered to help him.

Rong Zheng struggled to write a poem until the snowy courtyard and its plum blossoms inspired him. He agreed that Ye Yun should accompany Doctor Ye on house calls, then returned to the study to write.

• Rong Zheng tried to compose a poem for Teacher Zhao but found his inspiration lacking.
• Rong Zheng watched Ye Chen practice swordplay in the snow and saw Ye Yun sewing in the courtyard pavilion.
• Ye Yun told Rong Zheng that Doctor Ye had invited him to accompany him on house calls.
• Rong Zheng supported Ye Yun's decision and reminded him to dress warmly in the cold.
• Rong Zheng found inspiration in the snowy courtyard, returned to the study, and wrote a poem in one sitting.

Rong Zheng earned Teacher Zhao’s praise for his poem, while a dispute over his mutual guarantee group revealed that Wei Xing was trying to exclude him, possibly to curry favor with Xu Qi. The group found Mu Han as a replacement, and Rong Zheng was left with the problem resolved and Huang Yi teasing him about his past examination failures.

• Teacher Zhao praised Rong Zheng’s poem, suggested changing a character, and asked to display it at school; Rong Zheng agreed.
• Huang Yi saw Rong Zheng’s diligence and encouraged him to try to surpass Xu Qi.
• Chen Yujie told Rong Zheng and Huang Yi that Wei Xing had withdrawn from their mutual guarantee group because Rong Zheng had failed the preliminary examinations three times.
• Fang Zihao refused to withdraw and suspected Wei Xing was helping Xu Qi, whose uncle was the county education commissioner.
• Rong Zheng, Huang Yi, Chen Yujie, and Fang Zihao asked Teacher Zhao for a replacement, and Mu Han agreed to join their group.
• Huang Yi teased Rong Zheng about never mentioning his three preliminary examination failures, and Rong Zheng stayed silent.

Rong Zheng and Ye Lin hunted a huge wild boar and sold its meat in the village, earning three taels of silver each. Ye Lin became captivated by Ming-ge'er and showed him special favor, though Ming-ge'er barely noticed him.

• Rong Zheng agreed to hunt with Ye Lin, warned him about wolves and tigers beyond the back mountain, and joined him in tracking a wild boar.
• Ye Lin drove the boar beneath Rong Zheng's tree, and Rong Zheng snared it and shot it in the eye before Ye Lin finished it off.
• Rong Zheng and Ye Lin brought the nearly three-hundred-jin boar to the village and arranged to sell its meat at a low price.
• Ye Lin saw Ming-ge'er sewing in Rong Zheng's courtyard and immediately imagined courting him, but Ming-ge'er addressed Rong Zheng and left to get money for meat.
• Rong Zheng and Ye Lin sold nearly all the boar, Ye Lin charged Ming-ge'er half price, and each hunter received three taels of silver.

Rong Zheng and Ye Yun prepared for and celebrated the New Year with Ye Chen, then made dumplings together. After learning that Ye Yun's eldest uncle's family had returned their ten mu of land, Rong Zheng proposed hiring Yao Jizheng's family to farm it while he prepared for the county exam.

• Rong Zheng smoked most of the pork, and he and Ye Yun cleaned the house and bought New Year supplies with Ye Chen.
• The family put up couplets and lanterns, prepared a lavish New Year's Eve dinner, and welcomed the New Year together.
• Rong Zheng and Ye Yun visited the village chief, Wang Zhang-shi, and Doctor Ye during the holiday.
• Ye Yun, Rong Zheng, and Ye Chen made dumplings, and Rong Zheng sent some to Wang Zhang-shi's family.
• Rong Zheng asked Ye Yun to hire Yao Jizheng's family to cultivate their ten mu of land, and Ye Yun agreed to ask them.

Rong Zheng traveled to the county town with four fellow candidates and completed all five sessions of the county examination. He finished each paper before the deadline and returned to the inn with his companions to celebrate while they waited for the results.

• Ye Yun packed Rong Zheng's examination supplies and food, then saw him off as he left for the county town with his mutual guarantee group.
• Rong Zheng and the four candidates reached the county town, settled into an inn near the examination venue, and prepared for the exam.
• Rong Zheng passed the entrance search and completed the first session's essays and poem, finishing early after the lunch break.
• Rong Zheng continued through the repeat sessions as candidates were eliminated, remaining confident in his answers.
• Rong Zheng completed the final two consecutive sessions, then returned to the inn with Huang Yi, Chen Yujie, and the others.
• Chen Yujie treated the group to a celebratory meal, and they discussed the examination while waiting for the results.

While Rong Zheng took his exam, Ye Yun hired Yao Jizheng and Madam Ding to tend the household’s thirteen mu of land, giving the struggling family steady work. The villagers soon heard about the arrangement and debated whether Rong Zheng would pass his exam and gain scholarly honors.

• Ye Yun visited Madam Ding and offered to hire her and Yao Jizheng as farmhands for seventy wen per person per day.
• Madam Ding accepted the offer, and Yao Jizheng agreed to begin work before Rong Zheng returned to sign the contract.
• Yao Jizheng and Madam Ding started tending Rong Zheng’s thirteen mu of land the next day.
• A neighboring villager learned that Rong Zheng had hired the couple to manage all his fields.
• Villagers discussed Rong Zheng’s wealth and argued over whether he would pass his exam and become a tongsheng.

Rong Zheng returned from the county town and reunited with Ye Yun, while the household discussed Yao Jizheng’s employment and Ye Chen’s schooling. In the county, Xu Huaqing secretly downgraded an outstanding exam paper to protect his nephew Xu Qi’s chance of becoming the case champion.

• Rong Zheng returned after six days away, embraced Ye Yun, and agreed to draw up Yao Jizheng’s farmhand contract with the village chief.
• Wang Zhang-shi and the village chief visited to ask Rong Zheng how his exam had gone, and he said it went not bad.
• Rong Zheng and Ye Yun shared an intimate reunion that left Ye Yun’s lip split; the next morning, Rong Zheng told Ye Chen he could delay attending school for now.
• Xu Huaqing reviewed the exam papers and found one that he considered the finest, but recognized that his nephew Xu Qi’s paper was also highly recommended.
• Xu Huaqing placed the outstanding paper among the merely recommended papers instead of accepting it, hoping to preserve Xu Qi’s chance at the case champion title.

Pei Guangshen discovered that the education official had demoted an exceptional examination paper to favor his nephew Xu Qi, and he corrected the rankings. More than twenty days later, Rong Zheng and Ye Yun learned that Rong Zheng had placed first in the county examination and left town together.

• Pei Guangshen and Qian Shumian found an exceptional paper in the recommended stack and realized that the education official had favored his nephew Xu Qi.
• Pei Guangshen reviewed the remaining papers, awarded first place to the deserving candidate, placed Xu Qi eleventh, and summoned the education official to reprimand him.
• Rong Zheng and Ye Yun arrived in town to see the county examination results, and Rong Zheng spotted his name at the top of the list.
• Rong Zheng lifted Ye Yun so he could see the results, and the bailiff announced that Rong Zheng was the top scorer from their town.
• Rong Zheng took Ye Yun's hand and left as the crowd searched for the county's first-place candidate.

Rong Zheng received official congratulations and rewards after placing first in the county examination, and his village and classmates celebrated his success. At school, he learned that Xu Qi had placed eleventh and that the county magistrate had taken action against Xu Huaqing.

• Rong Zheng returned to the village and told Ye Chen that he had taken first place in the county examination.
• Two bailiffs arrived at Rong Zheng's home with twenty taels of silver and the Four Treasures of the Study, while the village chief and villagers celebrated his achievement.
• Wang Zhang-shi, the neighbors, and Yao Jizheng brought Rong Zheng congratulatory gifts, and Ye Yun prepared sweets and return gifts for the visitors.
• Rong Zheng went to school, where Teacher Zhao and his classmates congratulated him; Huang Yi shared the mutual guarantee group's exam results.
• Rong Zheng treated Huang Yi, Fang Zihao, and Chen Yujie to lunch, where they discussed Wei Xing's failure, Xu Qi's eleventh-place result, and rumors that the county magistrate had acted against Xu Huaqing.

Rong Zheng took the four-day prefectural examination, finished confidently, and returned to the inn. He declined Fang Zihao’s invitation to visit pleasure houses, reaffirming his commitment to his husband, while Huang Yi chose to stay with him.

• Rong Zheng saw guards catch a candidate with a hidden cheat sheet and enter the examination compound after passing his own search.
• A lantern-carrying boy led Rong Zheng to his cramped cell, where he took the three-session prefectural examination over four days.
• Rong Zheng completed his papers in good form, checked them, and handed them in before leaving the examination grounds.
• At the inn, Fang Zihao invited Rong Zheng, Chen Yujie, Mu Han, and Huang Yi to visit the city’s pleasure houses.
• Rong Zheng declined because he had a husband, and Huang Yi decided not to go with the others.
• Rong Zheng told Huang Yi that a scholar’s romantic spirit showed through his writing, leaving Huang Yi thoughtful.

After collecting the profits from Realm of Wonders and Strangeness, Rong Zheng declined Feng Xuanwen’s invitation to study in the prefectural city because of his family and the high costs. As he considered how to earn a living, the vendors’ calls inspired him to think about starting a business.

• Rong Zheng met Feng Xuanwen at the Distant View Bookshop, where Shopkeeper Sun divided the five volumes’ profits between them.
• Feng Xuanwen declined to write another story and told Rong Zheng he planned to resume studying for the academy examination.
• Rong Zheng and Feng Xuanwen split the remaining profits, and Feng Xuanwen treated Rong Zheng to lunch at the Delighted Phoenix Pavilion.
• Feng Xuanwen invited Rong Zheng to study with him in the prefectural city, but Rong Zheng refused because he had family responsibilities and could not afford the expenses.
• Rong Zheng pondered ways to make a living and, after hearing the street vendors, considered going into business.

Rong Zheng made master stock duck after remembering a recipe from his modern life, and the neighbors praised the result. He planned to try selling it at a stall in town, though Ye Yun noted that the first batch had been costly to make.

• Tao Miao brought duck meat to Ye Yun, who returned the favor with a bowl of pig's trotters.
• Rong Zheng remembered how to make master stock duck and asked Ye Yun to buy six ducks so he could test the recipe.
• Rong Zheng prepared the stock and braised three ducks while Ye Yun helped with the cooking.
• Rong Zheng shared the finished duck with Wang Ze's family, and they praised it and encouraged him to sell it.
• Rong Zheng told Ye Yun he wanted to make a larger batch to sell in town, and Ye Yun estimated that the first pot had cost around four hundred wen.

Rong Zheng passed the prefectural examination as its top candidate, becoming a tongsheng and earning farmland as a reward. The chapter revealed that the prefect had chosen him over a celebrated academy student after weighing their papers, while Rong Zheng remained unaware he had nearly lost first place.

• Ye Yun accompanied Rong Zheng to the prefectural examination results posting, where Rong Zheng was announced as the top candidate.
• Rong Zheng returned home with Ye Yun and received ten mu of irrigated farmland from the prefect as his reward.
• Villagers congratulated Rong Zheng and Ye Yun, while Rong Zheng took pride in topping two examinations and gaining confidence in his scholarly ability.
• Before the results were posted, the prefect compared Rong Zheng's paper with Wen Yan's and debated which candidate to rank first.
• The deputy examiner praised Rong Zheng's answers, and the prefect chose him as the top candidate, hoping he might achieve the minor triple first.

Rong Zheng told Teacher Zhao he planned to stay in town for now rather than accept sponsorship or study at White Deer Academy, though he hoped to move to the prefectural city by next year. After a farewell meal with his mutual guarantee group, he returned home tipsy and grew intimate with Ye Yun.

• Rong Zheng told Teacher Zhao he would postpone the academy examination and remain in town while preparing for future exams.
• Teacher Zhao urged Rong Zheng to study at White Deer Academy and mentioned that merchants and local gentry might fund him, but Rong Zheng declined their support.
• Rong Zheng treated his mutual guarantee group to a meal, where Fang Zihao and Mu Han took their examination failures in stride and Chen Yujie and Huang Yi announced they would study in the prefectural city.
• Huang Yi invited Rong Zheng to visit him at White Deer Academy if he came to the prefectural city, and Rong Zheng agreed.
• Rong Zheng returned home reeking of alcohol, saw Ye Yun after his bath, and pulled him onto the bed for a kiss.

Rong Zheng and Ye Yun opened their braised-duck stall in town, where customers quickly bought most of their stock. They sold out by two in the afternoon and returned home to Ye Chen’s warm welcome.

• Rong Zheng, Ye Yun, and Ye Chen prepared more than twenty ducks and loaded them onto their new stall cart.
• Ye Yun collected a market plaque, and Rong Zheng set up the stall on the town’s busiest street and offered samples of their Superb Braised Duck.
• A manservant bought a large order for his young master, and other customers began buying duck parts as well.
• The young master enjoyed the duck so much that he sent the manservant back for more, but the stall was nearly sold out.
• Rong Zheng and Ye Yun sold out by two in the afternoon and returned home, where Ye Chen had heated water and kept rice warm for them.