Chapter 11

With that gilding, they could secure better marriages and provide the men of the family with another source of support.

It was a scandalous thing to say.

But her brother’s fall was not entirely bad for Pei Ying.

She had never spoken those thoughts plainly to anyone.

I prepared a fine set of brushes and ink, along with a visiting card, and gave them to Pei Ying with all my old books and examination notes.

As I saw her out, my brother happened to return from the military camp.

Pei Ying smiled openly.

“You must be Shenbi’s brother, General Li?”

“Young and accomplished—and as handsome as they say.”

Her steps were light and easy.

Soon she disappeared into the bustling crowd.

My brother had never had a woman compliment him so frankly. He scratched his head and stayed red-faced for a long time.

Only after she was entirely out of sight did he hurry after me to ask her name.

“Want to know? I’m not telling.”

“…”

“Look at all the delicious things I bought you today. Aren’t I a good brother?”

“Hm.”

“Last time, you said our botuo soup was too salty. I went out especially to buy some that wasn’t. Aren’t I a good brother?”

“Hm.”

“Still, this tastes familiar… The woman at the stall was strange too. She kept her face covered. When she heard my sister had come first in the examination, she refused to take any money. She nearly forced it back into my hand…”

I lowered my head over the soup and complained in a thick, muffled voice.

“My brother is such a fool.”

This was Chunxin’s cooking.

“Why are you crying? Doesn’t it taste good?”

“Oh, don’t cry, my little tyrant… All right, all right. Is it really that bad?”

“If it really isn’t good, we’ll go and find her again next time!”

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