After being rejected by Meng Anzhi, Shiyan didn't dare to come over for a long time. This time, he was too excited and couldn't help but come over.
Now that they were together, he felt his cheeks burning, and he awkwardly stammered, "An... Sister Anzhi... Where's Anci? I'm here to see him..."
Meng Anzhi smiled as usual, "I'm packing my things in the study, you can just go there."
"Hey... hey... I'm coming right now," he said, walking towards the study. He took two steps and stopped, unable to resist turning back to look. He saw Meng Anzhi turn around and go into the room.
Shiyan felt a pang of bitterness in his heart; he was no longer worthy of her... Back when Meng Anci was a mere scholar, he had wanted to gamble on their years of friendship, but now Meng Anci was the top scholar in the imperial examination.
Her status had also risen accordingly, and now she was beyond his reach! He abandoned his unrealistic thoughts and knocked on the study door. He only entered after hearing Meng Anci call him in.
" Anci... Congratulations on becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination..."
Meng Anci looked up from a pile of books, smiled after recognizing the visitor, and said, "You've come at the right time. I've just finished organizing all the books for the imperial examinations, and I was just thinking of bringing them to you."
Shiyan let out a long sigh, "Without you guys around... I don't know if I could pass the exam on my own."
Meng Anci retorted, "Study... You're only fourteen, what are you afraid of? I heard there was a guy named Fan who started taking the imperial examinations at twenty and didn't pass until he was fifty-four."
He took the imperial examinations more than twenty times over thirty years. He passed the provincial examination and the provincial examination in the year he became a Xiucai. After his mother passed away, he observed a three-year mourning period before taking the metropolitan examination and the palace examination.
"Think about how old he was back then, at least fifty-seven years old, and yet he still managed to become a third-rank official in the capital."
Shiyan was greatly encouraged by this, his heart filled with fighting spirit. His eyes gleamed as he asked, "Is this sir dead?"
Meng Anci found a stack of books and placed them at his feet, patting him on the shoulder and sincerely saying, " Shiyan isn't the point; the point is the heart that strives for the goal."
As he spoke, he picked up another stack of books and stuffed them into Shiyan's arms, "Listen to me... study diligently, believe in yourself, you can succeed."
Holding the book, Shiyan pressed on, "What if we fail?"
"That's because you didn't work hard enough..." Meng Anci said, pulling out another stack of books. Shiyan looked at the half-full room of books and felt dizzy. No wonder Meng Anci was able to become the top scholar in the imperial examination.
The books he gave us could fill half a study in Shi Household. " Anci... you go ahead and do your work, I'll go get a carriage from home," he said, and ran out before Meng Anci could reply.
Meng Anci stood in the room for a moment and then moved all the scholars below the rank of Xiucai to the next room, asking Shopkeeper Wang over to Xiao Huzi.
After a busy day, it was already evening when we finished cleaning up, and the whole family got a good night's sleep.
The next morning, Zhou Xiaosi loaded the oxcart. "Master... you really don't need me to go back with you? I'm strong, I can dig a lot of dirt."
Meng Anzhi smiled and said, "No need. You stay home and study your medical books diligently, so I can take you with me when we go to the capital."
"Sigh... I'll listen to Master," Zhou Xiaosi chuckled. He and Qing Yang stood at the entrance of the Anzhi Hall, watching the oxcart disappear into the distance.
Qingzhou Prefecture and Willow and Poplar County were only a day's journey apart, and with the oxcart traveling quickly, they entered the city gate of Willow and Poplar County near dusk.
The familiar yet unfamiliar street instantly brought back a flood of memories. Meng Anzhi excitedly pointed to the street corner, "Auntie... look there, Shopkeeper Qin's shop is still there."
And that corner... The first time we set up a stall, we squatted there, squatting all day long. It Shopkeeper Qin who couldn't stand it anymore and brought us chairs."
Jin Shanyao followed her finger and looked down, recalling how silly the two of them had looked back then, and couldn't help but laugh.
"Auntie, do you remember that time we took shelter from the rain, standing under someone's eaves, our clothes and sleeves completely soaked... We were both like drowned rats, with nowhere to step?"
Jin Shanyao laughed heartily, "I remember... I was kicked out for telling the truth. Luckily, he let us stand under the eaves, otherwise we would have been soaked to the bone."
Meng Anci felt a pang of sadness as he listened to his aunt and sister's conversation. He knew nothing about it... because while the two were working hard to earn money, he was studying at the academy.
The oxcart swayed and rattled as it arrived at the Anzhi Hall. As soon as it came to a stop, a servant came out to greet it. Upon seeing who it was, the servant exclaimed, " Miss Qing, what brings you here?"
Qing He smiled and said, " Shi Nan... this is the host family, why don't you come over and greet them?"
Shi Nan was a servant boy bought by Qing Yang. Having never met his master before, he paused for a moment, then quickly bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, Master..."
Jin Shanyao her hand, "We're all family, no need for such formalities. Go and prepare the room we used to live in; we'll stay here tonight."
Shi Nan responded and led the oxcart towards the backyard. After taking a few steps, she couldn't help but look back... This is the master of the house. He's really tall.
Hearing the voices outside, Tao Yunshan came out and saw Jin Shanyao and the two children. A look of surprise flashed across his face, but then his face lit up with a smile.
"Master... why didn't you let me know you were coming? I could have come to pick you up."
Jin Shanyao smiled and walked inside, "What are you waiting for... You're busy all day long, I can't add to your troubles."
As she stepped across the threshold, the shop's furnishings came into view, and memories flooded back as if they had happened just yesterday. Jin Shanyao smiled at the siblings and said, "It must have been five or six years since we've been back."
"Seven years have passed..." Meng Anzhi looked around and saw the familiar yet unfamiliar furnishings. Her heart ached. She realized that they had come so far without even noticing.
Tao Yunshan led them to the backyard. "Master, I've been keeping your rooms clean. I live in the side room; just call me if you need anything."
Jin Shanyao and said, " Anci has become the top scholar in the imperial examination and wants to stay in Willow and Poplar County for a few more days. I'll have to trouble you these next few days."
Tao Yunshan was taken aback, then his face lit up with joy. He quickly clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to Meng Anci, "Congratulations, young master, on becoming the top scholar!"
Meng Anci and said, "Brother Yunshan, there's no need for such formalities. You've worked hard all these years guarding the estate and Lush Mountain."
Tao Yunshan was delighted by the praise. He led the man into the main room, instructed the kitchen to prepare food and hot water, and then withdrew.
The three of them quickly ate dinner, washed up, and then went to rest on the kang (a heated brick bed).
The candlelight flickered in the room, and the siblings were unusually quiet today.
Jin Shanyao sat between the two of them, looking at one and then at the other, "What are you thinking about?"
After a long silence, Meng Anzhi finally spoke, "Auntie."
"Um?"
"I'm going back to Little River Village tomorrow... I'm a little scared."
Meng Anzhi's gaze fell on the shadow on the wall, her voice muffled, "I'm afraid that if we're not home, the yard will collapse, and then the house will be seized..."
Jin Shanyao, "No, no one can move that house... Besides, Qing He and Qing Yang come to check on it every year and pay Old Woman Li for looking after it. Have you forgotten?"
Meng Anzhi remained silent for a while, then reached out and grasped the sleeve of the Jin Shanyao.
"Auntie."
"Um?"
"I don't remember what my parents look like..." Her voice was a little hoarse as she tried her best to control her emotions and make her voice sound normal.
Meng Anci covered his eyes with his hand and listened quietly to their conversation. His parents looked exactly like his sister, but he didn't know if he was right.