TIPS – Chapter 83

_{My translation’s chapter count does not follow the original sequence. For example, this chapter was originally Chapter 40, but in my translation, it’s Chapter 83. This is because the original chapters are too long to be translated as a single unit, so I split them into multiple parts.}

Shen Dongqi hurriedly waved his hands in panic and said, “No, no, that’s not what I meant. What I mean is…” Could Song Jingwei perhaps raise the tuition fee a little? He stammered as he expressed his thoughts.

“That won’t do,” Song Jingwei said. “My purpose is to benefit the common people. Charging two taels of silver is already a last resort—how could I ask for more?”

Even Zhang Benqing nodded in agreement. “Yes, it would be even better if it were completely free.” After all, having such a philanthropist in his jurisdiction was something he welcomed wholeheartedly.

Shen Dongqi’s face turned red. He knew it wasn’t realistic, but he still had to find a way to solve his own private school’s problems. Sighing, he said, “Actually, this isn’t really about me. I make my living as a traveling merchant, so I don’t rely on the private school’s income. Whether the school stays open or not doesn’t really matter to me.”

Song Jingwei suggested, “The students leaving is simply because they think your tuition fee is too high. If you reduce it by a third, keeping most of your students shouldn’t be difficult.” From his perspective, many parents were likely just using the threat of leaving as leverage to get Shen’s school to lower its tuition—they might not actually intend to leave. Of course, some had truly decided to withdraw, as evidenced by the five or six families who had inquired about alternatives over the past few days.

“A third?” Shen Dongqi gasped. That was too much of a cut.

“What’s wrong? Since you don’t rely on the school for income, why worry about a little money?” Song Jingwei said. “You want your school to survive, yet you also want to make a full profit? There’s no such thing in this world.”

His words were straightforward, and everyone silently agreed.

Shen Dongqi looked embarrassed. “…I suppose that’s the only option.” Lowering tuition by a third—he just hoped his two elders at home wouldn’t go mad over it.

He finished the meal without tasting a thing, then left gloomily with Liu Yue, heading back to the Shen family home. Meanwhile, Song Jingwei continued strolling and chatting with Lord Zhang. The official enjoyed conversing with this young man, who often shared unique insights and unheard-of methods.

After every discussion with Song Jingwei, Zhang Benqing always felt enlightened, as if he had gained new knowledge.

“You’re quite remarkable, which is why I’m very curious—why did you agree to marry in such haste?” He observed that Song Jingwei looked only seventeen or eighteen. In this region, men typically married around twenty-one or twenty-two, and only those who were truly unable to find a wife would resort to marrying into another family. What man would willingly marry into another household and raise another man’s children?

“It’s a long story, with too many reasons,” Song Jingwei said with a smile, not intending to elaborate.

“Haha, fair enough. I see that you’re in much better spirits now—perhaps it’s not such a bad thing after all,” Zhang Benqing sighed. A setback might actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

“Yes, thanks to Lord Zhang’s support, things should only get better from here,” Song Jingwei responded with a faint smile.

That afternoon, he personally escorted Zhang Benqing on his way. Before parting, he took a small wooden box from his robe and said, “I happened to acquire this and thought it would suit your refined tastes.” Without much ceremony, he handed it over.

Zhang Benqing glanced at it—the box was simple but exquisitely carved. Accepting it wasn’t inappropriate.

Once he was seated in his sedan chair, he opened the box to find a gold-inlaid jade fan, with an elegant quatrain inscribed on it—truly refined and tasteful. He laughed heartily and said, “Song Jingwei really is a materialistic man—gold and silver, indeed!”

Meanwhile, as Song Jingwei walked back, he suddenly sneezed. Seeing him from a distance, Shen Junxi quickly walked over and handed him a delicate white handkerchief.

“Why do you carry something like this with you?” Song Jingwei asked after using it.

“It’s for you, just in case,” Shen Junxi signed, taking back the used handkerchief and carefully folding it before tucking it away in his robe.

“Oh,” Song Jingwei sniffled. “I think I might be catching a cold. Let’s go back and have some ginger soup.”

Hearing this, Shen Junxi didn’t dare to delay. He immediately took Song Jingwei’s hand and led him back. As they walked, he occasionally glanced sideways to check on him. Seeing his reddened nose, Shen Junxi frowned.

“It’s fine—I might not actually catch a cold.”

“Mm…” Shen Junxi tightened his grip on Song Jingwei’s hand. Feeling its warmth, he relaxed a little. They had been outside all day, walking in the wind. He felt distressed just looking at him.

“I’m not even sick yet. Stop making that face,” Song Jingwei muttered, unable to bear his constant worry.

“Mm.” Shen Junxi finally looked away but soon signed, “What did you give that official?”

He had seen Song Jingwei take something from his room earlier, likely a gift for Lord Zhang.

“What else? Money,” Song Jingwei replied casually. In his eyes, anything that could be sold was money—silver. Art? Antiques? Sorry, he had no appreciation for such things. He was a businessman, a true materialist.

Shen Junxi was a little surprised. His mouth opened slightly, and his eyes widened. He had thought Song Jingwei and Zhang Benqing were friends, but now it seemed different from what he had assumed.

“What’s wrong? Surprised?” Song Jingwei smirked. “Let me tell you, the strongest bonds in this world are those based on mutual benefit. Relationships that involve interests develop well; those without benefits tend to drift apart over time.”

Shen Junxi shook his head, disagreeing with those words. He signed, “Benefits are not absolute.”

Song Jingwei agreed, saying, “That’s true—Benefits are not absolute. But most people aren’t that lucky. What they encounter is absolute.” Only a small number of fortunate people experience the rarest and most precious emotions in this world—feelings that have nothing to do with Benefits, pure and simple.

Shen Junxi fell silent at these words, seemingly accepting this perspective. After all, Lord Zhang had indeed accepted Song Jingwei’s money, which proved his point. He gazed at Song Jingwei with words unspoken, his eyes filled with thoughts that simple sign language could not fully convey.

“Actually, you’re quite fortunate to live so simply,” Song Jingwei said. The young man beside him was uncomplicated and easily content—wasn’t that a happier way to live?

“Mm.” Shen Junxi smiled, pushing aside his momentary doubts. Right now, he was holding his beloved’s hand, walking home together—so simple, yet so fulfilling.

In stark contrast to their contentment, the Shen family home was filled with gloom. The atmosphere was heavy because the second son had suddenly returned and announced, “The matter of the private school is settled—big brother won’t increase the tuition, and he won’t close the school either.”

Old Master Shen said in a deep voice, “If this doesn’t work and that doesn’t work, then what do you suggest?”

Shen Dongqi replied, “The only option is for us to lower the tuition.” Seeing the shock in his parents’ and younger brother’s family’s eyes, he braced himself and continued, “Not only that, we have to lower it by a third—otherwise, this won’t work.”

“Are you crazy?” The entire family spoke in unison. “How can we cut that much?”

They relied on the private school’s income to maintain a somewhat comfortable life. If they suddenly reduced tuition by that much, how would they survive?

“Then what do you propose? If you don’t want to lower the fees, just close the school,” Shen Dongqi said irritably. His trip today had been humiliating at his older brother’s place, and he was already frustrated. If not for this family, why would he have to lower himself and beg?

“Second Brother, what do you mean? Are you saying you won’t handle this anymore?” Shen Dongying panicked. His second brother’s tone clearly signaled that he was ready to wash his hands of the matter.

“It’s not that I won’t handle it—it’s that I can’t handle it.” Shen Dongqi warned, “You all want to go up against them, to assert your authority over them. Let me tell you something clearly—our eldest brother’s family is no longer the same as before. None of you should even think about going against them because you won’t win.”

Shen Dongqi’s words left the Shen family in silence. They understood that he was right—the eldest brother’s household was no longer the same. They could no longer order them around. But as the saying goes, the river shifts sides every thirty years—they were unwilling to accept their fate. Who knew? Maybe the eldest brother’s family would fall on hard times again soon.

“In any case, from now on, we can only maintain a good relationship with them, not make enemies. I don’t care whether you listen to me or not, but…” Shen Dongqi turned to Liu Yue and said, “You should visit the eldest brother’s family more often—don’t let the relationship grow distant.”

Liu Yue nodded. “Alright, I will.” He was actually more than willing to maintain ties with them.

The old master and mistress of the Shen family remained silent. They were already old—were they supposed to swallow their pride and seek reconciliation? That was impossible.

Shen Dongqi didn’t expect to persuade his parents in just one conversation. He simply stated, “As for the private school, that’s final. I’ve decided—we will reduce tuition by a third. If you don’t agree, then I won’t bother with it anymore. Whatever happens in the future is not my concern, and if something goes wrong, don’t come looking for me.”

“…”

Having made his decision, the next day, Liu Yue brought some gifts to visit Shen Dongming’s household. When he saw Yang Shi, he greeted her with a beaming smile, “Sister-in-law, we left in a hurry last time and didn’t bring anything. Today, Dongqi asked me to bring some New Year goods—please accept them.”

It was the first time Yang Shi had ever received New Year gifts from Shen Dongming’s brothers. She was surprised but unimpressed, smiling faintly, “You didn’t have to. We don’t lack anything.” Back when they did lack things, no one had ever brought them gifts.

“Haha, it’s just a small token—it’s necessary,” Liu Yue said awkwardly. He knew she had a point—now that they were doing well, they didn’t need gifts.

“Come in, then,” Yang Shi said, accepting the gifts without hesitation. She was the eldest sister-in-law—why wouldn’t she accept them? If she didn’t, it’d be a waste.

“Is Big Brother at home?” Liu Yue asked as he followed her inside.

“Of course. It’s the New Year—where else would he be?” In previous years, at this time, they would usually be in the mountains gathering firewood. It was exhausting work, and after an entire month, they wouldn’t earn much. But even a little was better than nothing—they had to endure it.

Thinking about the hardships of the past few years, Yang Shi sighed. “This year is the first time we’ve had it easy—not like you all, who could always return home early for the New Year.”

Liu Yue felt embarrassed and at a loss for words. He really couldn’t imagine the hardships Shen Dongming’s family had endured.

After entering the house and greeting everyone, Yang Shi invited him to sit and have some tea.

Shen Dongming asked, “Second sister-in-law, you sure have a lot of free time. What are you here for again today?” Hopefully, it wasn’t about the private school again—that would be a real headache.

“It’s like this.” Liu Yue pulled out an invitation from his pocket and said, “Didn’t Third Brother’s son, He’er, take the exam this autumn? The results of the county-level exam are out—he passed and is now a tongsheng (a recognized student). It’s just the first step, but it’s still a good sign. So, the elders at home thought it would be a good opportunity for everyone to gather, reconnect, and strengthen our family bond.”

Seeing their expressionless faces, Liu Yue braced himself and continued, “We’re all family, bound together no matter what. Sharing a meal and talking things out—why not? Right or wrong, you can’t calculate these things so precisely with your own parents. As long as we turn the page, we can all get along peacefully, and wouldn’t that be better?”

Shen Dongming smacked his lips, feeling the urge for a smoke. He said, “Take the invitation back. We can’t accept it.”

Liu Yue insisted, “Why not? We’re all family—why wouldn’t you accept it? Big Brother is still holding a grudge, and that’s understandable, but this is a good opportunity. Even Father and Mother have softened—”

“They’ve softened?” Shen Dongming sneered as if he had just heard a joke. “Do you take me for a fool? How long have you been in the Shen family? Do you know them better than I do?”

He knew his parents’ personalities better than anyone. There was no way they had suddenly changed.

Not a single word Liu Yue said was believable.

“This is Shen Dongqi’s idea, isn’t it?” Shen Dongming said. It had to be. Ever since the incident where Shen Junhe was beaten, Shen Dongying’s entire family had been offended. There was no way they’d suddenly start acting nice.

Caught off guard, Liu Yue had nothing to say. He knew this wouldn’t work.

Shen Dongming continued, “We appreciate Second Brother’s gesture, but tell him this—I’ve spent my whole life being treated like a doormat. From now on, when it comes to our parents’ future arrangements, I’ll contribute my share financially. But aside from that, don’t come looking for me.”

His words were firm, leaving Liu Yue speechless.

Now, Liu Yue fully understood where the Shen family’s eldest branch stood. It wasn’t just Song Jingwei who was cold-hearted toward their relatives—Shen Dongming, who had always been honest and kind, and even the soft-hearted Yang Shi had hardened.

He couldn’t help but wonder—if they had come to reconcile a year or two earlier, would things have turned out differently?

But regrets were meaningless.

After finishing his tea, without even getting a chance to warm his seat, Liu Yue picked up the invitation and left.

“Take these things with you as well.” Shen Dongming caught up with him, handing back the gifts that Yang Shi had accepted earlier.

“Big Brother, this…” Liu Yue hesitated, trying to return the gifts, but Shen Dongming stopped him firmly. “Take them. We appreciate your goodwill, but that’s separate from everything else. Our family doesn’t need this anymore.”

Liu Yue turned to Yang Shi with a troubled expression. “Sister-in-law, please talk to Big Brother. Since we brought the gifts, we can’t take them back.”

Yang Shi hesitated before saying, “I’ll listen to Old Shen. Just take them back. You’re welcome to visit in the future, but there’s no need to bring anything.”

And just like that, Liu Yue was sent off, carrying back the gifts he had brought.

After closing the door, Shen Dongming scolded Yang Shi, “You’re too soft. A few gifts, and you let them buy you over? Didn’t you see why they came?”

Whenever someone from the Shen family’s main branch showed up, it was never for anything good.

Yang Shi thought about it and agreed. “You’re right. We don’t even need those things. Why did I bother taking them?” She then said, “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you—I won’t accept anything from them again.”

By late morning, Song Jingwei stepped into the courtyard and heard Yang Shi talking about Liu Yue’s visit.

He asked, “Was it about the private school again?”

“No, not this time,” Yang Shi replied. “Apparently, Third Brother’s son, He’er, passed the tongsheng exam, and Second Brother’s wife came to invite us to a gathering.”

Just for passing tongsheng, they were already sending out invitations? When Xi’er (Shen Junxi) passed the xiucai exam back then, they hadn’t made such a big fuss.

“Oh? Did you accept the invitation?”

“No, of course not.” Yang Shi said decisively. “They’ve wronged us too much. The only reason they sent him here acting all nice is because they want something out of it.”

She and her family had finally seen the true nature of the Shen family’s main branch. If they still had any dignity left, they wouldn’t have come begging so desperately.

“Mm.” Song Jingwei nodded approvingly. He had even less fondness for the Shen family’s main branch than she did.

“Daughter-in-law, you just got up—have some warm water first. I’ll go check on Xi’er. He’s always so careless when doing things,” Yang Shi said.

Not long after, Shen Junxi arrived, carrying a tray of breakfast dishes.

The food was all nutritious and easy to digest. The young man carefully arranged everything in front of Song Jingwei, his attentiveness so overwhelming that it seemed like he’d even feed him if necessary.

Since he hadn’t slept well the night before, he had woken up late. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been such a fuss, making it seem like everyone was waiting on him.

“You all go about your business. I can eat by myself,” Song Jingwei said. It always felt strange to eat while being watched.

“Alright, alright. I’ll get going, then. Xi’er, you stay and take care of him.” Yang Shi smiled, feeling deeply satisfied as she watched her son treat his partner with such care and affection. Then, she left the room.