Chapter 5

Until he returned to the small courtyard, Shen Rui was still somewhat dazed in deep thought.

It turned out that he had been reborn five hundred years ago, and Shen Rui was no longer Shen Rui but had become Shen Rui.

This family was far from normal.

The old lady kept her grandson by her side, doting on him in public, but from an outsider's perspective, this doting was all superficial.

Even though nominally the old lady was personally raising her grandson, she merely handed him over to wet nurses and maids to take care of, playing with him like a kitten or puppy for a short while each day. The maids and servants around him were one more mischievous than the other, always enticing him to play. The few who were sensible and tried to advise him were soon dismissed for various mistakes.

When Shen Rui turned six and started his education, he grew tired of the obscure teachings of his tutor, and the old lady indulged him, saying that he was still young and didn't need to exhaust himself over studies.

Under such indulgence and the influence of those around him, Shen Rui became even more mischievous and lively.

Shen Rui's birth mother, Lady Sun, had no choice but to send two equally lively and clever maids to him.

Because these two maids were good at playing, they led the young master to play wildly in public, earning his deep affection. When the wet nurses and senior maids pointed out their faults, the young master would protect them with his "tyrannical" nature, allowing them to stay by his side for a few years.

In front of everyone, the two maids dared not openly advise, but their private words and actions had some effect, preserving the young master's inherent kindness.

Such a grandmother, with such laughable "doting."

His mother was cold in public but taught him like a little adult in private; his half-brother was not humble or despicable but had the demeanor of an eldest son and elder brother.

The only normal one, his father, loved to quote classics and, apart from quizzing his son on his studies, had nothing else to say; and the "second mother," though beautiful, was not crude like Lady Zhao but was a gentle and weak woman, like a parasitic flower.

The young master was not truly ignorant of the world. As a child, he was constantly misled, making mistakes big and small. As he grew older, under his birth mother's guidance, he began to act with more restraint. Although he still appeared proud and willful, he never committed any major wrongdoings.

The young master was not entirely unaware of his grandmother's "ruinous doting" and often felt a deep, inexplicable sadness. Even though he had no talent for studies, he would read a few more pages when no one was around, even if he didn't understand them. He had memorized the books he should know at his age but did not show it in public.

This grandmother seemed to truly despise her grandson, but what about his mother? Her own son was almost ruined and had a lower status in the family than her half-sons. Was she really content with this?

Observing her private teaching, she seemed to be a clear-minded person. Did she not know the high status of scholars among the "four classes" of society?

Not only did she have no ambition for her son to become a dragon, but she also deliberately guided him to be content with mediocrity, to be a small landowner.

Was she too saintly?

Did she not realize that her son was not favored and had no backup plan?

Shen Rui felt some sympathy for the young master. His birth mother had just died, and he was beaten to death by his father. What a bitter fate. But without the young master's premature death, there would be no Shen Rui's "awakening."

Since Shen Rui had become Shen Rui, what he needed to do now was to prevent another premature death.

He clenched his fist, determined that from now on, he was Shen Rui.

"Whimper..." A sound came from the inner room, clear in the quiet of the night.

Shen Rui remembered the maid tied to the bed and hurried into the room. The quilt on the bed moved slightly. He approached, tucked the paper package under the mattress, and then untied the bindings on Liuyao's hands and removed the blindfold from her eyes.

Liuyao's eyes were red, tears welling up, but seeing Shen Rui's stern face, she dared not cry.

Shen Rui, thinking of how skillfully Liuyao had combed his hair and changed his clothes, did not explain why he was untieing her. After a moment, he asked, "When you were at home, did you take care of your younger brother? How old is he?"

Liuyao nodded, "Yes, my brother is seven. He started school this spring." Mentioning her brother, her eyes brightened, and her usually dull face came to life.

Shen Rui nodded, understanding why Liuyao's stepmother had sold her. Her brother was in school and no longer needed care. Selling Liuyao not only brought in money but also saved on a dowry. At the time, dowries were important, even for poor families. A bride would not leave home empty-handed, with quilts, chests, clothes, and other items costing several taels of silver. At Liuyao's age, if she hadn't been sold, her dowry would have been prepared. Although a bride's dowry was often accompanied by a bride price, it was still less than the dowry, which was why the custom of drowning female infants was common in the south.

Even though Liuyao was mistreated by her stepmother, she did not resent her and still treated her stepmother's children as siblings, showing her inherent kindness.

Shen Rui asked, "Is your brother smart? How is his schoolwork?"

Liuyao's eyes brightened even more, and her lips curved upward. "My brother is very smart. Everyone in the village praises him. He learned to recite the 'Three-Character Classic' after just a few days in school. Everyone says he will become a scholar."

Clearly, the siblings had a good relationship, and Liuyao, usually timid and inarticulate, spoke more fluently.

Shen Rui smiled and said, "Becoming a scholar is not easy. It requires ten years of hard study. Your family must not be well-off if they sold you. A few years might be manageable, but ten years would be a significant expense."

Liuyao, naive and emotional, her smile froze, and she frowned, thinking for a moment before relaxing. "I earn one string of cash a month, and the school fees are eighty coins a month, which is enough."

Shen Rui shook his head. "The school fees are just a small part. People value respect for teachers. Besides the school fees, you need to give additional gifts during the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year, the birthday of the Sage of Literature, and the teacher's birthday, known as 'three festivals and two birthdays.' Additionally, you need writing materials like pens, ink, paper, and books. Even the cheapest paper costs several to dozens of coins per sheet. Books are even more expensive, ranging from several hundred to several thousand coins."

Liuyao's face turned pale. "What will happen to my brother?"

Shen Rui said, "Two years of basic education is enough. Village schools are for children to learn to read and write. The teachers are often old students who couldn't pass the scholar exams themselves, so how can they produce scholar students?"

Liuyao's eyes dimmed, and she murmured, "My brother is so smart... He said he would buy my freedom if he became a scholar..."

At the time, there were two types of indenture: living and dead. A living indenture had a set term, and the indentured person regained freedom after the term. A dead indenture was a lifelong bond. Although the law prohibited commoners from owning slaves and limited the number of servants officials could have, wealthy households often had servants, registered as adopted children or concubines rather than slaves.

Since Liuyao's stepmother sold her to save on a dowry, and she was assigned to the old lady's courtyard and then to this side courtyard, it was clear she was under a dead indenture. Her greatest wish was likely for her brother to succeed and buy her freedom.

Having a goal was good; the worst was having none. Shen Rui said, "If you truly hope for your brother to succeed, there is a chance. If you serve me loyally, I will help you achieve your goal."

Liuyao looked at him with confusion. "Second Brother..."

Shen Rui said, "My study companion not only studies with me but also receives three hundred coins a month."

Liuyao's eyes widened with hope, then she frowned. "Second Brother's position is a good one..."

Shen Rui said nothing, just looking at Liuyao.

Though he looked nine, he was in his thirties inside, and his serious demeanor was unusually steady.

Liuyao felt a bit intimidated, hunching her shoulders and speaking softly, "Is Second Brother very hungry... From tomorrow, I will save my meals for you?"

Shen Rui looked up, smiling faintly. "You know I'm hungry?"

Liuyao whispered, "When I was sick, my mother didn't give me food... She said it was to clear my heat... My brother secretly gave me food, so I didn't starve..."

Shen Rui touched his stomach. After two spoonfuls of honey and four eggs, his stomach was settled. He still had half a handful of rock sugar under his pillow, enough energy for the "seventh day" appearance, but he would need to fast for another day.

In Liuyao's eyes, Shen Rui seemed to be in pain from hunger. Perhaps thinking of her own hunger, her fear lessened, and she felt a bit of sympathy, untying the coarse cloth pouch from her waist.

Inside was a rice cake the size of an egg.

Liuyao said, counting on her fingers, "I thought... Second Brother couldn't bear the hunger, so I secretly saved this to tide you over. Second Brother never asked for food... I didn't dare to do more..."

It was winter, and the rice cake was cold, but its white color was still appealing.

Shen Rui reluctantly moved his gaze from the rice cake, looking at Liuyao with a softer expression.

Despite her timid and fearful nature, she had a kind heart and acted with restraint, making her a good girl.

He shook his head. "I don't need your food. I just need you to do one thing for me."

After explaining, Liuyao's face changed, and she covered her mouth. "Why would Second Brother curse yourself like that?"

Shen Rui smiled bitterly. "If I don't let them know the severity, I might be trapped here and die."

Liuyao hesitated. "Is there no other way?"

Shen Rui said, "What other way? My mother is gone, and with a stepmother comes a stepfather. Even if I don't starve to death, they will find other ways to kill me. I don't want to wait to die."

Perhaps the old lady didn't want his life but to ruin his reputation. Words could kill, and in a society that valued loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and shame, a ruined reputation made life difficult.

Even though Shen Rui was confused about his rebirth, he decided to make the best of it and didn't want to live a hard life.

Others might have tried to comfort him, saying things like, "Don't be too sad, there's still the master and the old lady to protect you." But Liuyao, having suffered under her stepmother, knew that only through hard work and unity with her brother had they survived.

After a long silence, Liuyao finally nodded.

Outside, the fourth watch had already sounded.

The master and servant made their plans and settled down.

Shen Rui, having lived two lives, felt reassured and slept soundly. Liuyao, being timid, was restless with such a big task and only fell into a deep sleep as dawn approached.