The next morning, Meng Anci prepared gifts and went to the Su Household to thank Su Wenqian for his guidance over the past few days. Qing He and Meng Anzhi, on the other hand, packed their belongings at home, preparing to return to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors.
The study in the Su Household mansion.
Meng Anci held a cup of tea with both hands and bowed respectfully to Su Wenqian, who was sitting opposite him.
"Thank you for your guidance, teacher."
Su Wenqian reached out and took the tea, his eyes filled with satisfaction. His two sons had also taken the imperial examination this year, but they had only achieved the second rank of Jinshi.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and smiled, "I've also had the tea of the top scholar."
Meng Anci's face flushed red.
Su Wenqian couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips. He gestured for Meng Anci to sit down. "I've read your essays. The one for the palace examination was more incisive than the one for the provincial examination."
Meng Anci's eyes lit up. "Teacher, you've seen my article!"
Seeing his shocked expression, Su Wenqian found it somewhat amusing. "No matter what, I'm someone from the Ministry of Revenue. It's not difficult for me to read an article afterward."
He looked at Meng Anci earnestly and said, "Your writing is sharp and insightful, greatly pleasing His Majesty. But remember that you will be working with your colleagues from now on, so don't be rash. I've heard that His Majesty doesn't intend for you and Zhao Zhiyuan to be involved in specific matters."
Seeing that Meng Anci's bright eyes had dimmed slightly, he comforted him, "You silly child, this is a good thing. You can spend a few years training at the Hanlin Academy and build a foundation... so you won't plunge headlong into partisan strife."
"Use these three years to thoroughly understand the temperaments and personalities of the court officials; this will greatly benefit your future career."
Meng Anci nodded, "I understand."
Su Wenqian suddenly changed the subject, "I heard you're going Qingzhou Prefecture?"
"Yes. I'm going back to pay respects to my parents."
Su Wenqian nodded, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Go. Be careful on the road."
Meng Anci up, bowed again, and withdrew. Just as he reached the door, he suddenly heard Su Wenqian say, "Your aunt didn't bring Zhu Huaizhang a gift, did she?"
Meng Anci around and gave him a sly smile, " Lord Zhu is only the prefect of Qingzhou Prefecture, but you are her nephew."
After saying that, ignoring Su Wenqian's flushed face, she ran out in a flash.
When they returned to the Anzhi Hall, Qing He had already packed their luggage onto the oxcart, and Madam Qin was loading food onto the oxcart in large and small bags.
Qin Baitang stood to the side, "Master, when are you coming back this time?"
"The emperor has granted me a three-month leave, and I should be back around May." Jin Shanyao finished speaking and turned to leave, but Qin Baitang called her back.
He hesitated for a moment before saying, "The shops in the capital..."
Jin Shanyao around and glared at him. " Old Qin, what are you thinking? Whether I'm in the capital or not, you're still the manager. You're the most important person in my heart."
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci exchanged a glance. Oh no... here we go again.
Qin Baitang was taken aback, and quickly waved his hands, "No, no, I just..."
Jin Shanyao her fan, "Stop saying anything. You're in charge of the shops in the capital, and you're also in charge of the shops in Willow and Poplar County and Qingzhou Prefecture."
As she spoke, she walked up to Qin Baitang, straightened his collar, and said sincerely, " Old Qin... Anzhi Hall can't live without you, and neither can I. Trust me... I'll take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days."
Qin Baitang's heart skipped a beat. "Good heavens... how did this conversation suddenly turn into a death trap?" he thought. "Master... I'm only fifty-eight years old. I can live a few more years. I appreciate your kindness."
Jin Shanyao her tongue, disapprovingly saying, "We've known each other for years, our relationship is special, why are you being so polite with me..."
"Oh my goodness... what nonsense are you two spouting?" Madam Qin put down what she was holding, quickly walked over, and covered Jin Shanyao's mouth.
He spat at the ground a couple of times, then said with dissatisfaction, "You two can chat if you want, otherwise get to work."
Jin Shanyao and Qin Baitang exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak, and quietly went about their own business.
After the oxcart was loaded, Jin Shanyao and the others got on. Madam Qin handed Meng Anzhi a bag of oil paper, saying, "Freshly baked jujube cakes... take them to eat on the road. There are blankets behind you; cover yourselves with them if you get cold, understand?"
Holding the jujube cake, Meng Anzhi said earnestly, "I understand, Grandma Qin... Please take care of yourself. We'll move to the capital to be with you in a few months."
Madam Qin nodded twice, following behind the oxcart and repeatedly instructing, "Be careful on the road. If you encounter any robbers, give them your money... Understand?"
"Knew..."
The oxcart swayed and rattled all the way to Qingzhou Prefecture. He had been filled with anxiety on the way there, but returned feeling completely relaxed. Meng Anci seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden, and he became more and more lively.
"Sis... you're still reading a book???"
Meng Anzhi glanced at him, then shifted her body so her back was to him and continued watching. Meng Anci peeked out from behind her, saying, "Prolonged staring injures the blood, prolonged lying down injures the qi."
Meng Anzhi gave him a disapproving look. "Are you asking for trouble again?"
"I'm the top scholar now. If you dare touch me, it's like assaulting a high-ranking official of the imperial court, which will get you punished and imprisoned." Meng Anci with a smug expression.
Before, when the two of them studied together, Meng Anzhi didn't find it difficult. Now that she's the only one struggling, her heart... feels like it's been soaked in bitter melon; the taste is indescribable.
She shoved the book into Qing He's arms, then turned and grabbed Meng Anci's collar, pinning him against the oxcart. "I'll make you the top scholar, I'll make you suffer the punishment..."
Her fists rained down on him as she punched and shouted, "Send someone to arrest me! Send me to jail!... If people didn't know better, they'd think you'd ascended to heaven!"
Meng Anci clutched his head and cried out in pain, "Sister... you're committing a crime..." He thought that becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination would improve his status at home, but this was not what he expected.
"How can hitting my own brother be considered a crime? At most, it's just a family dispute..."
"Ouch... sis... don't hit me in the face, I still have to see people!"
"You dare to boss your sister around like that, and you still have the nerve to go out and meet people..."
Jin Shanyao and Qing He exchanged a glance, suppressing their laughter, and neither dared to speak.
The oxcart traveled day and night, stopping only for one night, and finally returned to Qingzhou Prefecture on the morning of the third day.
Two fierce-looking men sat at the entrance of the Anzhi Hall. Seeing the oxcart stop in front of the shop, they shouted sternly, "Who told you to stop here? Get out of here!"
Jin Shanyao looked up in surprise, glanced at the signboard... then at the rouge shop next door. Yes, it was true.
It's her house, why won't she let us in???
Jin Shanyao off the oxcart and walked towards the two burly men. The two men stood up abruptly... They had only been in Qingzhou Prefecture for a few days, and on their very first day, they were both thrown into prison.
Now they've gotten smarter. One group blocks the door in the morning, and once they're arrested and thrown in jail, a second group follows... their strategy is to keep things running continuously.
There are always those blind fools who rush forward.
"Can't you understand human language??? I told you..." The word "get lost" had barely left his lips when Jin Shanyao it back down with his hand.
The speaker lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud.