Volume One, Chapter 13: Who Dares Enter the Tuberculosis Ward?

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Shen Shouzhong suddenly realized, "So the fragrant smell that drifts through every day comes from the third household."

Although Shen Yubai ate inside the house, the aroma wafted outward.

Even though the Shen family was relatively well-off, meat was a rare treat, only enjoyed during festivals and special occasions. Because of this, everyone’s noses were especially keen; even the slightest scent of meat was unmistakable.

Shen Shouzhong had always assumed the meat aroma came from another household, and that Shen Xiulian followed the scent, but she dared not enter Shen Yubai’s room.

She certainly didn’t want to catch tuberculosis.

However, she wished to eat meat herself, so today she deliberately brought up the matter while her eldest brother was displeased.

“Last time, the third brother’s wife went back to her maternal home, and since then the smell of meat never stopped. They must have brought a lot of meat from the Luo family, cooking it every day for Yubai, nursing his tuberculosis back to health.”

Shen Xiulian added fuel to the fire.

Shen Shouzhong’s eyes darted around. “Giving meat to someone with tuberculosis is a waste. If it were for my Hongye, it would surely help him pass the imperial exams!”

Zheng Shi slammed the table. “Go and search it out!”

“Stealing the meat that the Luo family gave Yubai to nurture his health would be scandalous.”

Even in an intact Shen family, one cannot snatch the gifts from the maternal family, lest the village mock them.

But Zheng Shi refused to relent. “If she has good things, she ought to show filial respect to our elders.”

The old Shen patriarch did not wish to argue and simply asked, “Will you go?”

The room fell silent.

Who would dare go into the tuberculosis room?

Yet, knowing there was meat there but being unable to take any made them all feel as if scratching at their own hearts with claws.

On the other side, after being pushed out of the village, Shen Yubai refused to get off the cart and walk, ignoring the pleadings of Uncle Luo and Mrs. Luo.

The two could not persuade him and let him have his way.

After walking a while, Uncle Luo spoke of his conversation with the Shen family.

Mrs. Luo became anxious. “Father and mother must be unhappy.”

“They are capable of these deeds and aren’t afraid of what others say,” Uncle Luo said resentfully.

Of course, he knew a widowed mother and her child would be bullied, but this was excessive.

Yubai was, after all, the only bloodline of the third household. The Shen family, out of respect for Shen Shouxin, should have helped treat Yubai’s illness.

But the Shen family was utterly stingy.

Over the years, if not for the Luo family’s help, mother and son would have been in even worse shape.

In truth, the Luo family was no wealthier than the Shen family.

The Shen children attended the clan school, while the Luo family had to unite the entire household to support their eldest son’s studies at the private academy.

Scraping food from the fields was already difficult; supporting a scholar was even more so.

The old Luo patriarch had hoped to let his eldest son try, and if he was not cut out for studying, that would be that.

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Yet, the eldest Luo uncle passed the preliminary exam at twenty and the provincial exam at twenty-six.

This proved he had the talent for studies, and the family spared no expense to support him.

In the same year Luo uncle passed the provincial exam, Shen Shouxin also passed.

Though they differed in age, their relationship was close, and so a marriage was arranged, with Mrs. Luo marrying Shen Shouxin.

Afterwards, their fates diverged sharply.

Shen Shouxin went on to pass more exams and officially entered the civil service.

Meanwhile, Luo uncle repeatedly failed the exams.

Gradually, the gap between the Luo and Shen families widened.

Later, when Shen Shouxin died in office, Mrs. Luo brought Shen Yubai back to the Shen household.

The once esteemed official’s wife became a widow, and with Shen Yubai often absent from his grandparents’ side, and with the favored eldest grandson Hongye present, Yubai was increasingly neglected.

Fortunately, Shen Yubai was clever and respected at the clan school; no one dared openly bully mother and son.

After Yubai contracted tuberculosis, the Shen family believed he wouldn’t live long and changed their attitude.

They pushed all the household chores onto Mrs. Luo and the food quality for the two deteriorated. The others would not even enter the third household’s room, avoiding Shen Yubai as if he were a plague.

Though the Luo family had already done their best to assist, it was but a drop in the bucket.

Though Luo uncle ran a private academy in the village to earn some money, the cost of ink, paper, hiring a master, and paying exam fees was considerable, leaving the family financially strained.

Yesterday afternoon, upon hearing the news, the old Luo patriarch borrowed some money from acquaintances in the village and had Luo uncle bring it early the next morning.

Luo uncle was uneasy carrying over a hundred coins.

He had heard that medical treatment in the county was expensive, and with the cost of medicine, the money might not be enough.

But at this moment, he couldn’t let his sister and Yubai worry; he had to keep up a strong front.

Shen Yubai had not fully recovered and grew tired after walking a short distance.

Luo uncle had him sit on the cart, pushing him along for a while, then letting him walk after resting.

By such means, the three arrived in the county town at the tenth hour (10 a.m.).

Sweat beaded densely on Shen Yubai’s forehead, but he was in good spirits, only somewhat fatigued.

The city gate guards stopped them. “What is your business entering the city?”

Luo uncle quickly cupped his fists and bowed. “Replying to the magistrate, the family child is ill and wishes to visit the medical clinic.”

Seeing Yubai’s pale, sickly face, the guards asked no more. “Three coins per person entry fee.”

Luo uncle nodded repeatedly and handed over nine coins.

The three entered the county town.

Beyond the gate lay a straight street.

Stalls lined the roadside, mostly selling surplus vegetables from the countryside.

Shen Yubai stopped Luo uncle, who wanted to go directly to the clinic. “I’ve been idle lately and copied some books. I want to sell them to raise some money.”

Luo uncle brightened. “Good. Let’s check the bookstore.”

He knew well that copying books earned some money; usually, his eldest brother took such jobs to help support the family.

But this work required neat handwriting, earned little, and was time-consuming, interfering with studies; the family did not want the eldest brother to take on too much.

However, if Yubai could sell some books, today’s clinic fees might suffice.

Luo uncle had taken the eldest uncle to the county many times for exams and knew the town well, quickly escorting Shen Yubai to a bookstore.

Shen Yubai stopped the others from following inside. “Bookstores prefer quiet. Too many of us might offend the shopkeeper. It’s better if I go in alone.”

At the bookstore entrance, and considering it unlikely to cause trouble, Luo uncle and Mrs. Luo gave Shen Yubai some final advice before allowing him in alone.

The bookstore was large, books neatly arranged, with sandalwood incense burning inside, bringing peace to the heart.

The owner must be a refined person.

Shen Yubai decided to try his luck.

A young attendant approached politely. “Sir, what book do you seek? I can fetch it for you.”

Shen Yubai smiled. “May I ask where the shopkeeper is? I have something to sell to him.”

The attendant realized he was a scholar wanting to sell books.

Bookstores sell books, but they also buy books.

However, the bookstore only accepted books personally inspected by the shopkeeper.

Soon the shopkeeper arrived.

He was in his thirties, wore a black square kerchief on his head, a gray long robe, and sported a neat mustache, giving him a scholarly air.

“Our bookstore only accepts books with perfect handwriting, no errors, no ink splotches, and must be clean.”

Shen Yubai bowed. “Young sir, I am not selling books this time, but a set of tea utensils.”

The shopkeeper was taken aback. “If you’re selling tea utensils, you should go to a teahouse. This is a bookstore.”

Going to a teahouse would be easier, but how could he keep the matter from uncle and mother? It wasn’t a matter of distrust but of secrecy.

Secrets are only secrets when known by few.

If everyone knew, disaster would surely follow.

Shen Yubai smiled. “Bookstores are serene places; I believe you, the shopkeeper, are a refined person who appreciates elegant things. Bringing the set to a teahouse would be vulgar.”

The shopkeeper stroked his mustache, looking at Shen Yubai with newfound respect.

“A clever fellow.”

“Very well, please show me.”

The shopkeeper was casual, but when Shen Yubai took the crystal-clear glass cups from a cloth bundle, his mind buzzed.

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