Meng Anci returned to the Anzhi Hall and told her about his upcoming stay at the Su Household. Jin Shanyao immediately sat up straight. "Go... I'll take you there first thing tomorrow morning. A great teacher produces a great student; we can't miss this opportunity."
Meng Anci and said, "You're not angry that I made the decision on my own?"
"What's so strange about it? If it were about exorcising demons, I'd be more than willing to do it, but this imperial examination? I really have no idea what they're testing."
Jin Shanyao stroked her chin, pondering to herself. Since Su Wenqian was so attentive, she couldn't overstep her bounds. Shouldn't she reciprocate by sending something in return?
What should she give as a gift? She racked her brains all night and finally decided to show her utmost sincerity... by giving a tree.
The next day, before dawn, Jin Shanyao went to the flower market. She walked from one end of the street to the other, but couldn't find a single tall and graceful tree.
The flowers and trees in front of me were either hunched over and curled up, or stuffed into pots, living such a miserable life that I had no right to give them away.
Jin Shanyao around in circles, but couldn't find anything decent to choose from, so he simply left the city gate empty-handed.
There was a wild grove outside the city. She wandered around for half an hour and finally spotted a bare little orange tree on a dirt slope.
Regardless of its appearance, at least it stands upright. Jin Shanyao squatted down, dug it out with its roots intact, protected the roots with her Spiritual Power, wrapped it in cloth, and carried it back to the city.
The Su Household.
Jin Shanyao carried a thin, bare orange tree that was taller than a person on her back, while Meng Anci carried a large bundle on his back, with a Dahuang standing beside him.
The two of them stood there at the entrance of the Su Household, looking exactly like poor relatives from the countryside seeking refuge.
Just as Meng Anci was about to knock on the door knocker, the gate of the Su Household suddenly opened from the inside, startling everyone inside and outside the courtyard.
Su Wenqian's smile froze instantly. After a moment, he reacted and hurriedly said to the person beside him, "Please take care Lord Li."
Lord Li bowed to Su Wenqian to take his leave. As he passed by Jin Shanyao, he brushed aside a tree branch to avoid scratching his face.
Seeing that only Su Wenqian was left, Jin Shanyao happily said, "Nephew... I've come to see you."
Lord Li, who had not gone far, stumbled and almost fell forward. He resisted the urge to turn back, slowed his pace, and listened carefully.
What are you doing carrying a tree in the dead of winter?
"Gifts... This tree took me a lot of effort to grow..." As the voice faded, the courtyard gate slammed shut with a bang.
Only then did Lord Li dare to turn around, clicking his tongue twice at the tightly closed courtyard gate, "I never expected Lord Su to be of such a low generation, my nephew." He suppressed a laugh and hurriedly left.
Inside the Su Household mansion.
Jin Shanyao, carrying the tree, followed Su Wenqian with light steps. "Let me tell you, this is an orange tree... planted in your yard, when autumn comes, it will be incredibly beautiful, a bright yellow-orange..."
Su Wenqian stopped and asked in confusion, "Where did you get this tree?"
"There's a barren mountain about two miles outside the city. I dug this up on the mountain..." Jin Shanyao placed the orange tree on the ground, looked into Su Wenqian's eyes seriously, and said, "Of all the trees on the mountain, this one stands the straightest."
Su Wenqian's heart skipped a beat. "There aren't any barren mountains outside the city, they all belong to someone..." He pointed to the orange tree, then to the Jin Shanyao, and after a long pause, he finally managed to say, "You're really something."
Jin Shanyao looked him over suspiciously, feeling that there was something off about his "praising" expression.
"Should we plant this tree or not?"
Su Wenqian gritted his teeth in anger. Who would offer stolen goods as a gift? He retorted, "What do you think???"
Jin Shanyao's gaze darkened slightly. After a moment's thought, she said, "A petty person is no gentleman, and a man without restraint is no true man... If he were to haggle over a mere tree, he would be a despicable person."
"A tree for a fool, might as well be planted..."
Su Wenqian's years of academic foundation nearly crumbled. He looked up in astonishment at Jin Shanyao, "Is that how this phrase is used??"
"Well, knowledge? You have to learn it and apply it flexibly, don't just parrot others, you have to have your own unique insights." After Jin Shanyao finished speaking, Su Wenqian saw Meng Anci frequently beside him.
Seeing the expressions on the Xiaoman, all saying "I'm right," he felt his head buzzing. Before he could come to his senses, Jin Shanyao had already carried the tree to the backyard.
She glanced around the yard, found a spot with excellent feng shui, and placed the tree on the ground with a thud.
"Plant it here... and I guarantee your family will have peace and prosperity."
Su Wenqian was completely exasperated by her. The long-lost feeling of tightness in his chest surged up again. He took a deep breath, but before he could speak, he saw the Dahuang had already started digging a hole.
In the blink of an eye, a tree pit appeared before them. Jin Shanyao planted the tree, turned around, and saw Su Wenqian staring at her with a disgusted expression.
Knowing that Su Wenqian was being old-fashioned again, Jin Shanyao said helplessly, "Alright, I'll go to the flower market later and buy an orange tree to replace it. Is that alright?"
Why go outside the city to dig for flowers when you can find them at the flower market?
Upon hearing this, Jin Shanyao silently clenched his fists. "Nephew... don't force me to hit you on our first meeting."
Su Wenqian glanced at Meng Anci, "You'd better think carefully before you act, otherwise..."
Meng Anci looked completely bewildered. He silently adjusted his bag; he had no idea. He was just here to learn.
When Madam Su arrived, she saw Jin Shanyao carrying two trees out. Looking into the yard, she noticed two inexplicable craters on the ground.
"Miss Jin... what's wrong?"
"Oh, Lord Su told me to go and compensate them for the tree, or he won't teach Meng Anci anymore." After saying this, Jin Shanyao carried the tree and left, leaving Madam Su frozen in place.
It took her a moment to realize what had happened. She quickly ordered the servant to fill in the pit in the yard and then hurried to the study.
Upon entering the house, one could see a Dahuang lying at Meng Anci's feet. This dog had always followed Meng Anci wherever he went, and Madam Su was already used to it.
She glanced at the pile of packages on the table, then at the child engrossed in writing his essay, and immediately complained to Su Wenqian, " Anci just arrived, couldn't you have let him settle his things first before he started studying?"
Hearing the voice, Meng Anci looked up and saw it was Madam Su. He quickly put down his pen, stood up, and bowed. "Greetings, Madam. This matter has nothing to do with my teacher; it was my own request. My teacher rarely gets a day off, and I wanted to study a little longer."
"You two, master and disciple..."
Madam Su smiled helplessly, called a maid to take Meng Anci's luggage to the guest room, and as she turned to leave, she suddenly turned back and asked, "Oh, by the way, why did Miss Jin pull up our tree?"
Meng Anci glanced at Su Wenqian furtively, then silently lowered his head and continued writing his policy essay.
Su Wenqian coughed lightly and added, "They said the location of our trees wasn't good, so they're moving them to a different spot."
Madam Su nodded thoughtfully, "Hmm... The old man said that planting the wrong tree will affect one's fortune. Miss Jin is very kind."
Su Wenqian's lips twitched, but he didn't reply. He couldn't very well say that Jin Shanyao dug up someone else's trees and demanded compensation, and that in a fit of anger, she had dug up two of her own trees.
On the other side, Jin Shanyao carried two trees on her back and went straight to the desolate mountains outside the city.
She stood by the pit where the orange tree had once stood, thought for a moment, then tossed two taels of silver into the pit and muttered to herself, "I've already left some silver; it's not considered taking it by force. If you want the orange tree, wait two days, and I'll give you another one."
"Consider these two Yang Shu as compensation in advance." As soon as she finished speaking, she stepped into a hole, planted the two Yang Shu one after the other, and turned to leave.