The bow was a gift from him, all the other items were chosen by her.

After the autumn archery competition ended, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai walked side by side toward the school, with Yin Xin following behind them.

Liang Shanbo carried his original bow and arrows.

Zhu Yingtai walked beside him, carrying the new bow and arrows he had been given that day.

Back at the schoolhouse, Yinxin closed the door.

As soon as they entered the inner room, Zhu Yingtai handed the new bow and arrows to Liang Shanbo: "Brother Liang, please keep these new bow and arrows."

Liang Shanbo did not reach out to take it, but a slight smile appeared on his lips: "Brother."

Zhu Yingtai looked at him, waiting for his next words.

He laughed and said, "I told you this three months ago. My bow is your bow; my arrows are your arrows. You said you wanted to buy a bow and arrows, and I told you you didn't need to, you could use mine. Do you remember?"

Zhu Yingtai's heart skipped a beat, and she said, "Of course I remember."

Liang Shanbo nodded and continued, "Today I received this new bow and arrows, so I'm giving it to you. It just so happens that this new bow and arrows are the same as mine, which you use often, so you won't get rusty. From now on, you can use this bow, and I'll use mine, and we can practice archery together. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Zhu Yingtai stared at him blankly.

Although she had suspected that Brother Liang might give her the new bow and arrows, she was still pleasantly surprised and deeply moved when it actually happened.

This bow and arrow set was earned by Brother Liang through three months of diligent archery practice. It was won by shooting arrows one by one at today's autumn archery competition. It was a prize personally awarded by Mr. Meng.

If this bow and arrow became the first bow and arrow she ever owned, it would be of extraordinary significance.

Her lips moved, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.

Seeing her dazed expression, Liang Shanbo smiled again and slowly said, "To be honest, I started planning this autumn archery competition three months ago. I was thinking that if I were lucky enough to win first place, and if Mr. Meng insisted on awarding it, I would give you the prize bow and arrows."

So when you asked about buying a bow and arrow, I advised you not to buy one for the time being.

At the time, however, I couldn't tell you my thoughts. I had only been practicing archery for a few days then, and to say I would win the autumn archery competition would have seemed arrogant. Now that I have indeed won the prize, I'm giving it to you, which fulfills my original wish.

Zhu Yingtai felt a warmth in her heart as she listened.

It turned out he had been planning this for three months. His daily practice of drawing his bow and shooting arrows was, at least once intended, to reward her!

Her eyes were almost brimming with tears.

She lowered her head to calm herself down.

Yin Xin stood to the side, watching this scene unfold, and sighed inwardly, "This young master Liang certainly knows how to please a young lady. Young lady, it seems your life is destined to be bound to this young master Liang..."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Is Brother Liang there?"

It was Xiao Hu's deep, resonant voice that came through the outer room.

Startled by the knocking, Zhu Yingtai immediately withdrew her tears.

Silverheart went to open the door.

Xiao Hu walked in, carrying a heavy burlap sack.

"Brother Liang!" He placed the burlap sack at the foot of the couch. "This contains three thousand coins."

Liang Shanbo cupped his hands and said, "Since Brother Xiao has such a kind intention, I accept it. Thank you, Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Hu waved his hand: "No need to thank me. It was agreed before, you won, so I'll give it to you. I keep my word."

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked out without lingering.

Silverheart closed the door.

After watching Xiao Hu leave, Zhu Yingtai met Liang Shanbo's gaze again and smiled slightly: "Brother Liang, since this bow and arrow was a gift from you, it would be a shame not to accept it, especially since I do indeed like it. So I will accept it. Thank you, Brother Liang."

She spoke frankly and did not refuse.

Liang Shanbo had expected her to politely decline at some point, so he laughed and said, "Alright. I'm relieved that you accepted so readily, my dear brother."

In fact, Zhu Yingtai had her own plans.

Brother Liang spent three months painstakingly acquiring this bow and arrows, and then gifted it to her. She received and remembered this token of his affection. She wouldn't refuse it; to do so would be to disappoint him. But she wouldn't accept it for nothing. She would return this kindness in her own way.

……

……

The next day was a day off.

As was customary, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were to go to the house rented by the Zhu family in the county town.

In the morning, Zhu Yingtai suddenly said to Liang Shanbo, "Brother Liang, I must go ahead today. You should set off an hour later, and we will meet at the house in the county town then."

Liang Shanbo didn't ask why, but simply nodded and smiled, "Alright. My brother, go ahead first, I'll be there shortly."

Zhu Yingtai smiled at him again and left with Yin Xin.

Liang Shanbo stood at the door, watching her and Yin Xin's figures disappear at the end of the bluestone path, pondering to himself. She asked him to leave an hour later; she must have some private matter to attend to.

He turned and went into the schoolhouse, picked up a book, and quietly began to read.

An hour later, he left the school alone, walked through pine forests and farmland, entered Qiantang County, crossed the main street, turned into a small alley, and arrived at the house rented by the Zhu family.

He knocked on the courtyard gate, and Yin Xin opened it.

He crossed the courtyard and entered the main room.

Inside the main room, on a square table, sat a travel bag. The bag was bulging, its opening open, revealing its contents.

Zhu Yingtai was standing by the square table. When she saw him come in, the corners of her lips curved up. She pointed to the luggage and said in a lighthearted tone, "Brother Liang, come and take a look."

Liang Shanbo walked to the square table and looked down.

His bag was packed full of things, including four reams of Shanxi rattan paper, two ingots of pine soot ink, two rabbit hair brushes, a light gray fine linen-lined blouse, two pairs of linen-lined cotton shoes, a bamboo hairpin, and a book box.

Zhu Yingtai took all these items out and presented them on the square table.

These things, put together, cost nearly two thousand coins.

Liang Shanbo shifted his gaze from the east and west, raised his head, and looked at Zhu Yingtai.

Zhu Yingtai met his gaze, smiled slightly, and said sincerely, "Brother Liang, you gave me a bow and arrow yesterday. That bow and arrow was won when you won the autumn archery competition, it's really valuable, I can't accept it for nothing."

She turned her head, her gaze sweeping over the items on the square table before looking back at Liang Shanbo with a smile in her eyes: "Giving you money would be too conventional, and besides, you just received three thousand coins from Xiao Hu yesterday, so you're not short of money. I thought I'd give you something useful as a return gift."

Her fingers traced over those things one by one.

"These Shanxi rattan paper, pine soot ink, and rabbit hair brushes are all things Brother Liang often uses; we should replenish them."

"This fine linen padded jacket and two pairs of linen padded shoes are for autumn and winter. Winter is coming soon, and Brother Liang's coarse linen robe is too thin and won't keep out the cold. This padded jacket, though not expensive, is lined with silk floss, so it's warm. The shoes are also lined with cotton, so you won't have to worry about your feet getting cold when walking in the snow in winter."

"As you know, I usually like to use bamboo hairpins. I spent a long time choosing this one; its shape is simple and unpretentious, which perfectly matches Brother Liang's temperament."

"This book box will also come in handy for you, Brother Liang. I saw your old book box; it's worn white and the straps are almost broken. This new book box is square in shape and has an elegant lacquer color, which is just right."

She withdrew her hand and looked at Liang Shanbo: "I personally selected each and every one of these items. I sought purity over price, and quality over style."

Liang Shanbo listened quietly as she finished speaking, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

It turned out that the reason she asked him to leave an hour later today was so that she could go to the county town first and prepare all the items for him.

This thought, this sincerity...

He didn't say anything polite, but looked deeply at Zhu Yingtai, bowed, and said, "Thank you, my virtuous brother."

Seeing that he accepted it so readily, Zhu Yingtai smiled and said, "I'm glad that Brother Liang doesn't stand on ceremony with me."

Yin Xin watched her young lady's delighted expression and sighed inwardly.

My lady, you are far too thoughtful!

That padded blouse was specially chosen by you from the shopkeeper, made of fine linen with silk floss; those padded shoes were picked out by you, mimicking the foot shape of Liang Langjun; that bamboo hairpin was selected one by one from a box of bamboo hairpins; that book box was taken from the storeroom because you thought the ones readily available in the shop weren't square enough...

Ugh!