Chapter Thirty-Five: A Gentleman Judges Deeds, Not Intentions

“A gentleman should be judged by his deeds, not his thoughts...” Liang Youcai muttered the words, as though he meant to grind them to pieces and swallow them.

After a long while, he suddenly laughed. The once-dull, clouded eyes filled with light.

He had finally come to understand.

“Little Sister, let’s go home.”

Liang Youqing looked at him. Though it was night, his eyes shone with startling brightness, and his entire bearing seemed utterly different from before.

“All right.”

Liang Yunqing knew that he had understood at last. Her long efforts to persuade him had not been in vain.

After all, he was the only person in the family who had received a proper education. Though he had been spoiled into selfishness, he was not beyond saving.

Besides, having someone like him as an assistant would mean free labor when it came time to increase the peppercorn harvest.

[Host, so you merely wanted one more laborer?]

“What do you mean by that? I wanted one more educated laborer who wouldn’t cost me a thing.”

[What a schemer.]

“Hmph!”

The two soon returned home. Everyone was waiting in the courtyard.

The moment they saw Liang Youcai walk in, Grandmother and Li Pinghua rushed forward. Li Pinghua was especially frantic, as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle.

“My son, where did you go? Are you all right?”

“My precious grandson, are you cold?”

In the past, Liang Youcai would have basked in their exclusive affection before arrogantly demanding money.

But now, he merely gently moved aside their outstretched hands and knelt before Liang Mingxue, who was being supported by Madam Chu.

“Uncle, I was foolish today and hurt you. I’m sorry.”

Seeing her beloved son kneel to apologize, Li Pinghua first stared at him in disbelief, then immediately pulled him to his feet.

“Son, why are you kneeling to him? You hit him, so you hit him. Just don’t do it again next time.”

“Exactly. Get up quickly.”

Grandmother looked at him with heartache as well.

Watching the two women, so full of twisted reasoning and partiality, Liang Youcai understood Liang Yunqing’s words even more clearly. His parents and elders could no longer be changed.

Fortunately—fortunately, he had awakened.

He freed himself from Grandmother’s grasp and solemnly apologized to Liang Mingxue once more.

Liang Mingxue was bewildered too. Had his nephew taken the wrong medicine today? He had actually apologized. Madam Chu, standing beside him, was equally confused.

The two of them turned to look at Liang Yunqing, who stood at the courtyard gate.

“Father, Mother, are you willing to forgive him?”

Hearing his daughter say this, Liang Mingxue hurriedly pulled Liang Youcai up from the ground, then strode over to her and asked in a low voice, “Yunqing, did you beat him again outside?”

“No.”

Liang Yunqing shook her head.

Liang Mingxue did not believe her. He looked at Liang Youcai anxiously and lowered his voice further.

“Yunqing, he’s the only scholar in our family. You mustn’t hit him on the head.”

A dark line appeared across Liang Yunqing’s face. Helplessly, she explained, “Father, I truly didn’t hit him. He simply realized that he had done wrong.”

Liang Mingxue remained unconvinced. There was no way he could believe that Liang Youcai would admit fault. Ever since childhood, he had been the family’s treasured darling, and he had even passed the examination to become a licentiate.

How could someone so proud ever admit his mistakes? His daughter must have beaten him so severely that she had frightened him into submission.

The courtyard remained lively for a while. After learning from his parents about the family’s recent business ventures, Liang Youcai turned to Liang Yunqing in astonishment.

“Little Sister, you’re truly impressive.”

Li Pinghua felt a little sour at those words, but she still nodded resignedly. In her heart, Liang Yunqing genuinely had some ability.

Besides, the one tael of silver in her purse had been given to her by Liang Yunqing.

At the thought of silver, a smile bloomed at the corners of Li Pinghua’s mouth. She took out the five hundred copper coins she had earned recently and handed them to Liang Youcai.

“Right, these are the food expenses your mother put together for you. Take them to the county school.”

Looking at the weighty coins in his hands, Liang Youcai felt as though he were holding a scorching-hot yam. He wanted to earn money through his own efforts and pay for his schooling.

But he also realized that if he devoted himself to studying, the time he could spend earning money would be greatly reduced.

He could neither accept the money nor refuse it.

While he was still hesitating, another bag of coins was placed in his hands.

“This is the six hundred copper coins I’m lending you. You’ll have to repay it later. For now, you should concentrate on your studies. Don’t worry about earning money yet.”

Liang Yunqing spoke in a lighthearted tone.

This was also a test for Liang Youcai. She wanted to see whether, with money to spare, he could truly focus on his studies—and whether this transformation was temporary or lasting.

Money was the best way to test a person.

Liang Youcai stared helplessly at the small mountain of coins in his hands. It only made him feel more useless. Even his younger sister could lead the whole family in business, while he knew only how to spend money.

He would have to study harder.

Liang Youcai drew a deep breath and accepted the money.

It was deep into the night.

After a day of turmoil, the Liang family could finally go to sleep. With more than eight taels of silver tucked away, Liang Yunqing carefully considered her plans. Tomorrow, she would go to town and order a new wooden bed.

She also needed a new quilt.

She had endured this room for far too long. Although she had enough money to build another house, the thirty taels were her savings, and she could not spend them lightly.

The more than eight taels in her possession were certainly not enough.

She could only deal with the most urgent needs first: replace the bed and quilt, then make two new sets of clothes for herself and her parents.

Spending money was a joy. Even in her dreams, Liang Yunqing wore a beaming smile.

The next morning, by the time she rose from bed, Li Pinghua had already finished delivering the steamed buns and had even returned from taking Liang Youcai to the county town.

At noon, Madam Chu prepared some coarse-grain porridge and a few pickled vegetables.

The family gathered around the table to eat, and Liang Yunqing took the opportunity to bring up her plans.

“This afternoon, I’m going to town to order a new wooden bed. The quilts need replacing too. Anyone who wants to go can come along.”

Li Pinghua touched the purse at her waist. She wanted to replace her quilt as well. The one in her room had been bought when she gave birth to Liang Youyong, and it was now worn beyond repair.

But quilts were not cheap.

After some thought, Li Pinghua decided to go with them. She would look at the prices first and decide afterward.

Liang Zhiyan did not handle the money, and early that morning Liang Mingxue had called him to go turn the soil in the fields.

As for Liang Youyong, he was a half-grown boy now, and naturally wanted to go along for the excitement.

In the end, Liang Yunqing and several others went to town. Ayan and Xiaohong came along as well, and the group rode Uncle Ma’s cart.

By then it was already noon, and Old Madam Miao had begun packing up her stall. She had earned quite a bit recently and was cheerful every day.

Even Yuanbao’s clothes had been replaced with new ones. The moment Liang Yunqing arrived in town, she spotted the two of them and waved.

“Sister!”

Yuanbao ran over happily and threw her arms around Liang Yunqing. Ayan immediately became displeased. How could someone else try to steal her sister?

“Yuanbao, Old Madam Miao.”

She picked Yuanbao up and walked over to greet Old Madam Miao. The money Old Madam Miao had earned that day—apart from the portion she kept for herself—had all been given to Liang Yunqing.

After taking the money, Liang Yunqing did not linger. She played with Yuanbao for a while, then led everyone away.

“Yours.”

On the road, Liang Yunqing handed the money she had just received to Li Pinghua.

“I’ll take out your share when we get home.”

Li Pinghua happily tucked the money inside her blouse.

The group first arrived at a carpenter’s shop. Liang Yunqing entered and saw several middle-aged men smoothing pieces of wood.

“What would you like to buy?”

An old carpenter in a cotton robe approached from the side. Liang Yunqing looked around before asking, “Can you make a new bed here?”

“Of course. We can make one according to your measurements.”

The old carpenter took several sheets of yellow paper from a cabinet. Each showed a very basic bed design. Liang Yunqing and the others gathered around to examine them.

They stopped only when they reached the wide wooden bed on the fifth page.

“How much does this one cost?”

The old carpenter glanced at it, then measured its width with his hand.