Chapter 8

The shopkeeper glared at Han Qiao.

Han Qiao’s voice was calm, neither servile nor overbearing. “I won’t hide it from you, shopkeeper. The books I sold you were all written by my husband. He may be literate, but because of bad luck he hasn’t been able to pass the first level of the imperial examination, so has been depressed.”

“Two days ago, I had a good discussion. We decided to sell the books at home and make money by copying out new ones.”

Hearing this, the shopkeeper’s interest was piqued. He muttered, “Do you still have enough writing supplies at home?”

“We do, but the Xuan paper is a bit rough,” Han Qiao said truthfully.

Sun Yiming had stopped reading and writing long ago, but he did not give up his writing supplies.

He always complained that he did not succeed, but that was because he never tried hard enough. He never even went out to seek instruction. That kind of person wanted to pass the imperial examination? Give me a break.

“In that case I can get you some Xuan paper, ink, and books to copy. The price…” The shopkeeper wanted to say more, but he hesitated.

Businessmen always wanted to get the best goods at the cheapest price.

Han Qiao understood what was being implied. “Shopkeeper, name a price.”

“I will pay your husband a hundred cash coins per copy of Thousand Character Classic.”

“Can you give me a weasel hair brush?”Han Qiao asked.

“Yes.”

After negotiating the price, Han Qiao took enough paper and ink for ten copies.

She promised to send over the copied book before sunset tomorrow.

“May I know your name, Madam?”

Because Sun Yiming was a scholar candidate, it made sense for the shopkeeper to call her madam.

“My Husband’s surname is Sun.”

The shopkeeper instantly understood who Han Qiao was.

There were not many people in Ninghe Town named Sun who had tried and failed for so long to pass the examination.

“My surname is Xie. Take care, Madam Sun.”

“Thank you for your time, shopkeeper.”

Han Qiao and Sun Xiu left the bookstore and headed home.

Sun Xiu was so excited that her eyes turned red. “Mother…”

“We can’t use this money recklessly,” Han Qiao said softly.

Sun Xiu hurriedly nodded.

Han Qiao laughed and patted her head. “What I mean is to not let outsiders know that we have money. We should only spend money on the things we need. We have to be prepared in case we get kicked out of the Sun house.”

“We three sisters will all follow you,” Sun Xiu said.

“I know, but you also know that if your father and I separate, it won’t be easy to take you with me, so we need a more careful plan. We have to act cautiously.”

Sun Xiu’s quiet nod showed that she understood.

“I’ll follow along with whatever Mother has planned.”

“Good girl.”

Sun Xiu was a little surprised after being praised. An embarrassed smile on her face, she couldn’t move for a moment.

This was the first time her mother had praised her.

She was both shocked and touched.

Han Qiao went home with the child.

At that moment, in the backyard of the Lin house, Heng Yi was seeing Landlord Lin’s niece.

“Are you the hunter that my uncle mentioned?” Wu Zhilan tilted her head and disdainfully looked upon Heng Yi.

At first she did not like Heng Yi, so she didn’t bother with politeness.

“Yes.” Heng Yi had little to say.

He had no experience with wooing ladies.

That Wu Zhilan didn’t like him was painfully obvious.

“So you’re a hunter? You hunt for a living? Your family all lives in one house? And you fork over all the money you make to your mother for safekeeping?”

Heng Yi nodded.

Wu Zhilan pursed her lips. She had even little respect for him now.

“Then, do you have any money saved up?”

Heng Yi shook his head after a moment of silence.

“…”

Wu Zhilan laughed with ire. “You don’t have anything. What right does a hunter have to marry me? You’re quite a bit out of your league, you know. You’re not even worthy enough to carry my shoes.”

After mocking him, she flicked her sleeves and stomped out of there.

Heng Yi remained where he was. His face showed no emotion.

No anger. No apprehension. Nor even shame.

He calmly found Landlord Lin and bid him farewell.

Landlord Lin was rather polite. “How was it? Did you see my niece?”

Heng Yi nodded. “Thank you for your good intentions, Master Lin. I’m not worthy. I’ll be leaving now.”

Having said that, he left.

Landlord Lin, for a moment, was shocked. He called someone in to ask what happened. When he found out how harshly his niece had treated Heng Yi–how she had mocked and belittled him–uncontrollable rage seized him, “Idiot!”

If this Heng Yi was really such a useless loser, then he didn’t deserve his niece.

“He doesn’t know what’s good for him. He only has himself to blame for passing up this excellent offer.”

Landlord Lin sighed.

Han Qiao went back home with Sun Xiu. Sun Ke immediately came forward. “Mother, we didn’t go in there.”

“Is there someone knocking at the door?”Han Qiao asked.

Sun Ke shook her head.

Her sparkling eyes were very cute.

Han Qiao stroked her head. “Go play.”

She called Sun Yi and Sun Xiu into the house and gave them money to go buy vegetables and meat.

“We still have flour at home. Go and buy some meat. If there are leeks, buy some leeks and eggs. Also, buy some caramel.”

When Sun Ke heard the word “caramel”, her eyes sparkled to life.

She still remembered the candies she had eaten during the New Year. They were sweet and tasty.

She looked at Han Qiao eagerly, wishing she could go with her two sisters.

Han Qiao was planning on teaching Sun Yiming a lesson later. It might not be best for the children to be home when she did. “Go with your two sisters. Stay with them at all times. Hold your sister’s hand.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll do as you say,” Sun Ke promised repeatedly.

She followed her two sisters out the door.

Han Qiao went into the study.

Sun Yiming’s red eyes glared at her.

She pulled cloth out Sun Yiming’s mouth. Sun Yiming’s mouth was sore and he labored to spit out, “you bitch.”

“Slap.”

Han Qiao raised her hand and gave him a slap.

Sun Yiming was hit so hard that he was left dizzied. He glared at Han Qiao with anger and hatred, as though completely clueless as to why he had just been slapped.

“I didn’t hit your face yesterday; that was all an eye for an eye. I hit your face today because you scolded me. If you dare to speak like that again, I will not only smash your face, but tear your mouth off.”

Han Qiao’s voice was not heavy, but every word she said was crystal clear.

It was a warning to Sun Yiming.

He wouldn’t have a raindrop of dignity left after today.

Sun Yiming was livid. He pursed his lips and did not say a word.

“I’ll untie you for now. You go to the toilet, wash your face, rinse your mouth and go to the kitchen to eat breakfast. After that you’re coming back here to make copies of Thousand Character Classic for me.”

While saying this, she untied the rope.

“Don’t think about running away. If you run out, I’ll go out into the streets and let everyone know that you are impotent and contracted a venereal disease.”

“And if that’s not enough, I’ll go to the authorities and report you for cheating when you were a student examinee back then…”

“You’re talking nonsense,” Sun Yiming swore.

Han Qiao’s face betrayed a dastardly smile. “Yes I’m talking nonsense, but there will be people who believe me, you know.”

“Maybe one or two of your scoundrels will crawl out and testify against you.”

Sun Yiming pointed at Han Qiao and was so angry that he couldn’t speak.

Indeed, she was right.

If she dared to go to the authorities and accuse him of cheating when he was an examinee, there would definitely be people who would come out and join her.

“Heh. “Han Qiao snickered as she took up the rope.

Sun Yiming had no choice but to do what she said. He didn’t dare test her.

All he could do was endure the pain and climb to his feet. Leaning against the wall, he went to the bathroom in the backyard.

Then, he slowly went back to fetch water to rinse his mouth and wash his face.

There was a bowl on the table. The porridge in the bowl was already thick. He was extremely hungry, so he wasn’t about to be picky. Just as he sat on the bench, his butt hurt so much that he jumped up, crying without restraint.

He couldn’t sit down, so had to eat the porridge standing up.

There was no food in it. It was sticky, making it difficult to swallow. At the same time, he had no choice but to eat.

Sun Yiming heard a bunch of noise outside. He poked his head out the window and saw his clothes being thrown out one by one.

He was so scared that he threw the bowl down and ran up to ask, “Han Qiao, what are you doing?”

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