Chapter 42: Though You Remain Calm, We Grow Anxious

Wen Xiuyi pondered for a moment and thought this might just work.
“How about we go to the old house and ask?” As soon as Wen Xiuyi spoke, he was ready to act. Since it was still early, he wanted to settle this matter quickly so his son could set his heart at ease and start learning medicine.
“Let’s go, let’s ask them.” Wen Yao was also someone who acted as soon as she spoke. Even Da Tou clapped his hands and stood up, full of spirit.
Wen Jun’s mouth twitched. “Is there really such a rush?”
The three of them turned to him in unison and said, “You may not be in a hurry, but we are.”
There was nothing Wen Jun could do but follow their pace.
At the old house, everyone was getting ready to rest, not expecting them to come at this hour.
“What brings you here so late? Has something happened?” Madam Luo was sitting cross-legged on the kang and asked, while Old Man Wen had already taken off his outer robe, which was now draped over his shoulders as he sat beside her.
Wen Xiuyi rubbed his hands together and said, “Mother, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Seeing his manner, Madam Luo glanced at his fidgeting hands and said bluntly, “No money. No land.”
…Preposterous.
Wen Xiuyi stopped rubbing his hands and said directly, “It’s not that. Here’s the thing: I want Xiao Jun to learn medicine, but if he does, we’ll be short-handed at the stall. So I wanted to ask if Wen Nong would be willing to help me at the stall, with a wage of two hundred coins a month.
Don’t worry, there’s no hard labor—just lending a hand, cleaning up, going with me in the morning, and returning with me in the evening.”
Madam Luo was stunned for a while, looking from Wen Xiuyi to Wen Jun.
“You want this child to study medicine? Are you sure?” she asked.
In truth, she and Old Man Wen had always had hopes for Wen Jun. After all, he’d been studying with Madam Liu since childhood. If not for Wen Xiuyi’s interference, Wen Jun would have long since sat for the exams.
Now that Wen Xiuyi had finally mended his ways, they were hoping to bring up the matter of the exams soon themselves, and yet here they were, saying they wanted Wen Jun to study medicine?
After all, once you learned medicine, the imperial exams were no longer relevant.
Wen Xiuyi naturally understood Madam Luo’s thoughts. He nodded. “It’s decided. The boy likes it, so I want to respect his wishes. Since he wants to learn medicine, it’s not a bad thing. That’s why we’re here so late—to ask you and Father if Wen Nong could take Xiao Jun’s place.”

Madam Luo fell silent, exchanging a look with Old Man Wen. Since the eldest had already discussed and decided among themselves, there was not much more to say.
“We’ll have to ask your second brother and his wife, and Wen Nong as well. Yao Yao, go call them here,” Madam Luo said.
Wen Yao agreed at once and went to the second house’s window to call out, “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Wen Nong, Grandma wants to see you.”
Ever since the eldest branch arrived, Li Shi had been curious about what brought them so late, but with Wen Xiuzhu around, she didn’t dare go eavesdropping. Now, hearing Wen Yao’s call, she came out immediately.
Wen Xiuzhu and Wen Nong followed her.
Li Shi asked Wen Yao why Grandma wanted them, but Wen Yao only said they’d know once they went in. Though puzzled, Li Shi followed them into Madam Luo and Old Man Wen’s room.
“Father, Mother, you wanted to see us?” Wen Xiuzhu asked.
Madam Luo nodded and motioned to Wen Xiuyi. “Your eldest brother wants Wen Nong to help at the stall for a monthly wage of two hundred coins. What do you think?”
“What?” Both husband and wife were taken aback, and even Wen Nong was surprised. They wanted him? And for pay?
He knew about his uncle’s stall and had been there before. There wasn’t much work to do; the hardest part was washing dishes. For such an easy job, his uncle was offering two hundred coins a month.
Wen Xiuyi added, “Yes, besides the monthly wage, I’ll also teach Wen Nong how to cook fried rice. If we ever stop running the stall, he can take it over. You know the business at the pier—it’s quite good. It’s a decent livelihood.”
If Li Shi had hesitated before, her eyes instantly shone at these words.
Passing down the skills to Wen Nong—if her brother-in-law meant what he said, Wen Nong’s future would be secure. And since he wasn’t married yet, any money he earned would be handed to her for safekeeping.
Their branch could finally start saving up.
As for Wen Xiuzhu, he had been surprised at first, but now he was even more astonished.
Surprised as he was, Wen Xiuzhu still said, “Brother, how can this be? The stall and the skills are yours—if anyone’s to inherit them, it should be Xiao Jun. If you need help at the stall, Wen Nong can help out, but there’s no need for wages. We’re all family.”
Li Shi nearly bit her tongue in frustration, wishing she could rush over and cover Wen Xiuzhu’s mouth.
But since he’d already said it, she couldn’t contradict her own husband in front of everyone, so she could only glare at him repeatedly.
What a golden opportunity—how could he turn it down? Was he a fool?

Wen Nong nodded repeatedly. “That’s right, Uncle, I don’t need any wages. I’ll help out when you and Wen Jun need me.”
Wen Xiuyi, however, waved his hand. “No, it’s not for me and Wen Jun. It’s just for me—since I plan to let Xiao Jun study medicine, I’ll be alone at the stall. If you don’t want the wages, I’ll find someone else.”
He had taken advantage of the old house in the past, but as Professor Wen, he would never let that happen again.
Even between brothers, accounts should be clear.
Li Shi realized this would not do—Wen Nong had to take the job, and only Wen Nong could.
She ignored what Wen Xiuzhu and Wen Nong had just said, and declared, “Brother, what are you saying? We’re all family. How could we stand by and not help when you’re busy?”
Madam Luo glanced at Li Shi, then looked away. “Your eldest brother is right: even between brothers, accounts should be settled clearly. If Wen Nong isn’t willing, someone else will be hired. He shouldn’t work for nothing.”
“But… I don’t mind at all,” Wen Nong said, dumbfounded. He’d only meant that family didn’t need to be paid, but now it seemed like he was in the wrong.
Madam Luo was decisive and made the final decision. “That settles it, then. Wen Nong, from tomorrow on, you’ll go with your uncle to the stall.”
Wen Nong nodded. “Yes, Grandma.”
Madam Luo turned to Wen Xiuyi and asked, “Since you want Wen Jun to study medicine, have you found a place? A teacher?”
“No, we only decided over dinner tonight. We wanted to discuss Wen Nong’s matter with you first,” Wen Xiuyi replied.
Madam Luo was exasperated by this unreliable family—nothing prepared, and they already wanted to learn medicine? Ridiculous.
She couldn’t bear to look at her son any longer, lest she shorten her life by a few years.
“Go discuss the rest on your own. That’s settled. It’s late—go home.” Wanting to live a few years longer, Madam Luo simply sent them off.