Ning Yan was deep in thought when the soldier leading the way spoke.
"Mr. Jiang, I've brought them."
The scholar first raised his head and stared blankly for a moment, as if slow to react. Then he pointed to the cushions in front of the table.
"Sit."
Ning Yan grew even more suspicious of the scholar's identity.
After taking her seat, she pretended to look worried and hugged her daughter close. Her Qi and Blood had yet to recover, so she did look somewhat ill. "The physician just said that both my daughter's pulse and mine are abnormal. I wonder what hidden or stubborn ailments we have. Is there any way to cure them?"
"You and your daughter?"
The scholar seemed a little surprised.
He had thought there was only one person. He hadn't expected a mother and daughter.
That was unusual.
The nationwide physical examination campaign had been in full swing for more than ten days now. They traveled from county to township to village every day, and quite a few people had been brought before him, but few had truly promising roots. Often, they would work hard all day and come away with only two or three promising candidates.
Some were too old, their talents wasted beyond recovery; others were too young and had mediocre aptitude...
Finding a good seedling depended far too much on luck.
He hadn't found anyone yet today, and had thought he would come away empty-handed. He hadn't expected two to turn up at once!
Ning Yan nodded timidly.
Jiang Sheng had yet to activate the Way of the Scholar. After days of travel and exertion, his mind and body were both under strain, and he had to conserve his literary energy. He gestured for Ning Yan's daughter to hold out her wrist. "Madam,