Chapter 5, The Scholar's Livelihood (Part 2)

"Chao Sheng, you are in for a treat." As soon as Shen He entered, he chuckled and said, "On my way back, I ran into the eldest son, and I saw him holding two fish, looking around curiously." The eldest son, who is of a similar age to Shen Mo, is surnamed Yao. Due to his tall stature, everyone calls him "Eldest Son," and over time, this nickname has replaced his original name.

At this moment, the crucian carp soup was ready. Shen He directly brought the clay pot to the bedside, blowing on his fingers to cool them down. He then placed the bedding behind Shen Mo, helped him sit up straight, and prepared the bowl and chopsticks for him, before smiling and saying: "Quickly eat while it's hot; this small crucian carp is quite nourishing."

Silence fell once more, having eaten a fish and drunk a bowl of soup, he patted his belly and said: "I am full."

However, for the sake of his silent studies, Shen He had no choice but to give up this best option and resolutely decided to go out and sell his calligraphy

"Don't choke on it," he said with a silent laugh.

Silently, he said: "Father, take a pair of chopsticks and a bowl, and let's eat together"

"Do not rush, take your time eating," Shen He said with a loving smile. "Eating more will help you recover quickly." After saying this, she poured the bowl of chicken soup back into the pot and placed it on the stove to heat up.

The reasoning is quite simple, as society values those who engage in intellectual labor and looks down upon those who perform physical labor. Activities such as wandering the streets to tell fortunes or setting up stalls to sell calligraphy and books, while not strictly physical labor, ultimately tarnish one's scholarly reputation. Anyone with hope would not persist in such a lowly profession for long.

Shen Hedun expressed unease, saying: "How can this be? How can you ask someone for their belongings?"

Just take your time to repay. "Silently grinning, he said: 'If you can't repay me, then your grandson will have to.'"

"Why not go teach?" Shen Mo asked in silence, "That income should be more stable."

The two of them remained silent like this, in the small attic, with only the crackling sound of firewood, as Shen He placed the cleaned crucian carp into the clay pot

"Evening gloom." Shen He finally spoke without reservation, scooping a bowl of chicken soup and tasting it in small sips: "Father has already decided what to do; I will buy a chicken for you tomorrow."

While drinking soup, Shen Hebian said, "I paid attention today and noticed that in front of the City God Temple, there are people offering services to write family letters, compose couplets, and transcribe inscriptions. By the end of the day, they can earn at least a hundred or so coins. This way, in a month, they can earn at least two taels of silver. In addition to the six dou of grain provided each month, the two of us can have enough to eat and drink, and if we tighten our belts a bit, we can save up two taels for you to continue your studies.

Yao Changzi is known for his loyalty and righteousness, and he shares a particularly good rapport with Shen Mo, often spending time together. One day, Shen Mo was bitten by a snake, and it was thanks to Changzi that he was carried back; otherwise, his life would surely have been claimed by the King of Hell.

Shen He rolled his eyes and said, "That shouldn't be the case..." and then accepted this gift.

In the affluent regions of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, one tael of silver can buy two shi of rice, but Scholar Shen can obtain six dou without laboring. This means that if he were to work as a tutor, he would only earn an additional one shi and four dou of rice per month, or seven qian of silver. However, if he were to set up a stall and write characters, the situation would change significantly. According to an unwritten rule, occupations with high mobility, such as selling calligraphy or fortune-telling, or engaging in physical labor, are regarded as urgent measures to alleviate immediate needs and will not result in the cancellation of his rice allowance. If he were to set up a stall and write characters, the situation would change significantly. According to an unwritten rule, occupations with high mobility, such as selling calligraphy or fortune-telling, or engaging in physical labor, are regarded as urgent measures to alleviate immediate needs and will not result in the cancellation of his rice allowance.

In fact, there is another line of work that offers high income and is considered respectable, which is serving as a legal advisor to dignitaries and wealthy individuals in other regions

Silently, he clearly heard the rumbling sound from the old man's stomach and sighed softly, taking the bowl and saying, "If you eat any more, it will really be uncomfortable." In fact, he had noticed in the morning that after serving himself a bowl of thick porridge, there was only a little clear broth left in the clay pot and the book. Having waited until now, the old man must be extremely hungry.

No." He shook his head in silence and lied without blinking.

It is well-known throughout the country that the Shaoxing scholar is "well-read in poetry and literature, meticulous and capable, and adept at handling documents." Especially for someone like Shen He, who possesses a legitimate degree and hails from Shaoxing, he is highly sought after wherever he goes. Earning a hundred or eighty taels of silver in a year is considered a poor outcome.

This ... ... Shen He, unable to sit or lie still, said: "Yesterday, I was exempted from the medical fees by someone, which was already beyond what I deserved. Now, to ask for more from them, how can I repay such a favor? It cannot be repaid."

Miss Yin's maid... Silence spoke frankly: "It is said that we should replenish our health."

Yet unbeknownst to him, Shen Mo, sitting on the bed, also had red-rimmed eyes and a sore nose, as if a lump were stuck in his throat

Shen He revealed a smile and asked with concern, "That woman downstairs hasn't come up to bother you again, has she?"

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What are you doing?" Shen Mo asked eagerly.

"Eat a bit more." Shen He served him another bowl of chicken soup and said, "Get well soon, so that your father won't worry about you."

He said he waited for you at home but didn't see you, so he went out to look for you. Shen He placed the fish in the basin, skillfully scaling, gutting, and cleaning it, while smiling and saying: "When he saw me, he had already been wandering around for half a day. I told him about your situation, and only then did he feel relieved. He even gave me this fish, saying it would help you regain your strength." All these tasks were learned only in the past year after his wife fell ill. A year ago, Shen He didn't even know how to start a fire, let alone handle fish.

"Ah, do you think I don't want to?" Shen He sighed and said, "I come from a scholar's background, but the county academy cannot teach me anything, and in the primary school, I only receive one tael of silver a month, which is not worth it at all." According to the rules, once he starts engaging in another profession, his qualification for the stipend would automatically be canceled, and the six dou of rice he received monthly would naturally cease.

The fish was placed in the pot, and the work came to a pause. Shen He, feeling exhausted, sat on the stool, chewed on a monk's bean, swallowed it, and took a sip of water, only then realizing the heaviness of the atmosphere. He knew that his suddenly perceptive son must have sensed something, so he pretended to be relaxed and joked, "When I have money, I will eat ten fennel beans in one go"

Why hasn't he come? After resting for a day, Shen Mo was already able to sit up and asked while leaning against the windowsill

This is the Shen Family Courtyard, where there are many rules; it is not like our freely accessible thatched huts. Shen He lowered his voice and said, "There are many people in the clan, and they might say all sorts of things."

"Go back?" Shen He shook his head vigorously, trying to sound casual as he said, "I've had enough of that straw hut; I don't want to go back for even a day." He spoke with his back to Shen Mo, so no one could see his reddened eyes.

No, no. Shen He shook his head and smiled, saying, "Father has eaten outside and is feeling full; a bit of soup will suffice later."

"Indeed, too much is as bad as too little," Shen He nodded in agreement, then lamented, "Having both chicken and fish is truly extravagant." Shen Mo let out a bitter laugh and said, "Tomorrow, we might not even have a meal to rely on; let us drink while we can today."

I can't even get off the ground, so how can I compete with others?" With a gesture towards the head of the bed, he said, "Look, not a single bite has been touched, just waiting for you to come back and deal with it.

Silence prevailed as he pointed to the chicken soup in the jar and said, "It's hot; it spoils overnight." At this moment, the weather was hot and humid, and these fresh foods would spoil after a night, leaving no choice but to be discarded

Shen He nodded, finally noticing the ceramic jar and the medicine pouch on the table, and asked curiously, "Who came to visit?"

After a moment of silence, he softly said: "How about... we move back tomorrow"