Before leaving Willow and Poplar County, Meng Anci made a special trip to visit Master Zhao.
Today, Green Mountain Academy in Willow and Poplar County is renowned for producing both the top two scholars in the imperial examinations. Many people send their children there because of this reputation.
As they were leaving, they bumped into Zhao Zhiyuan coming out of the Licentiate Candidate Institute, and both of them were taken aback.
Meng Anci and said, "So you've come here to be a teacher?"
Zhao Zhiyuan walked out with him. "My uncle said the children at the Licentiate Candidate Institute wanted to see what the second-place scholar looked like, so he asked me to come and teach him for a few days. I'll go back to the capital after the holiday."
What about you? Did you come back by yourself? How long have you been staying in Willow and Poplar County?
Meng Anci found it amusing. "Are you concerned about me, or do you want to know if my sister has returned yet?"
Zhao Zhiyuan, with his handsome features and a smile playing on his lips, gazed ahead, neither denying nor confirming. "Is Aunt Yao going to the capital with you? Or are you going by yourself?"
The two reached the entrance of the academy. Meng Anci stopped and looked at Zhao Zhiyuan seriously, saying, "For the sake of us growing up together, I'm just giving you a friendly reminder: stay away from my sister."
Zhao Zhiyuan, his thoughts exposed, wasn't angry; instead, he chuckled softly, "Your warnings couldn't even intimidate Shiyan, yet you come to me with them."
Meng Anci sighed inwardly. It was because Shiyan didn't meet his sister's standards; did she really think his sister was some kind of clueless fool? He raised his hand and patted Zhao Zhiyuan's shoulder.
"You'd better watch yourself..." he said, then turned and left without looking back.
Back at the Anzhi Hall, Meng Anci told Meng Anzhi about meeting Zhao Zhiyuan, and keenly noticed that his sister's eyes darkened slightly.
Meng Anci knew things were going badly... If Zhao Zhiyuan continued to rely on his little bit of cleverness to get close to his sister, in the end, he would be the one who suffered.
The next day, Jin Shanyao gave Tao Yunshan a few instructions, and then took the siblings and Qing He back to the prefectural city.
On the way back, Qing He took out the dried sweet potatoes that her parents had prepared.
"Master... try it, my mother dried them herself, they're especially delicious..." she said, handing one to Meng Anzhi and one to Meng Anci, and then began to eat them herself.
Jin Shanyao and asked, "How are your parents?"
"Well... now all he does is brag to the villagers about how outstanding my sister and I are, how much money we send them every month, and how he was so happy when he heard that the young master became the top scholar in the imperial examination that he bought two strings of firecrackers and hung them on the front door. It makes the villagers think that my sister and I have gotten married, and they all come to congratulate us..."
Meng Anzhi giggled upon hearing this, "Since Auntie is so happy, I'll give you two bags of dried sweet potatoes?"
Qing He mumbled through a piece of dried sweet potato, "They wanted to give me braised pig's trotters, but I didn't... those things are so oily, they'd go bad before I even got home."
Jin Shanyao on a sweet potato chip and casually asked, "Have you told your family that you're coming to the capital with me?"
"I told you... as soon as they heard I was going to the capital, they were overjoyed, like they were bringing glory to their ancestors..." Qing He sighed, "Master, I'm sticking with you for life. If I were to redeem myself and leave the manor without permission, my mother would kill me with a knife..."
Jin Shanyao couldn't help but laugh when she thought of Qing He's mother chasing Qing He all over the street with a knife. Just as the group was talking, the cry of an eagle rang out in the air.
Qing He looked up and asked, "Why did Yasheng follow us?"
Yasheng was Xiaoli's eagle, originally used to relay messages, but Lush Mountain was guarded tightly by two successive managers, so it was never put to use.
Before leaving, I took it with me so that it could familiarize itself with the route from Willow and Poplar County to the capital. In the future, it would patrol between Willow and Poplar County and Qingzhou Prefecture and send messages to the capital if anything happened.
After all, eagles fly much faster than they run on the ground.
Xiaoli glanced at Yasheng, then at Dahuang out of the corner of her eye, secretly thinking, "Stupid dog... A few capable underlings are enough. Unlike you, you've brought in a whole bunch of dogs, a huge swarm, like a big dog gang."
As night fell, the oxcart returned to Qingzhou Prefecture.
Qing Yang had already asked Nanny Chen to prepare the meal and put the water in the pot to warm it up... When they returned, they immediately washed up and ate, without delaying anything.
Because it was the season for planting medicinal herbs, the date of their return to Beijing was postponed.
Anzhi Hall has been bustling with visitors lately, all coming to pay their respects to Meng Anci.
Xiao Huzi, carrying a satchel, swaggered into the shop, pushing through the crowd. Just as he was about to step into the backyard, he was suddenly lifted into the air, spun around, and then landed steadily.
Xiao Huzi stared blankly at Jin Shanyao, "Auntie, what are you doing??"
Jin Shanyao stared down at him, "Where are you going? What's in your bag?"
Xiao Huzi awkwardly hid his bag behind his back, looking up at her with a hurt expression, "Auntie... we've loved each other all these years, and you actually doubt me?"
The Jin Shanyao swayed, a cold smile playing on its lips. "Open it?"
Xiao Huzi looked like he was about to cry. He moved his bag in front of him with a wronged expression and reluctantly opened it a crack. Jin Shanyao followed his gaze and looked inside.
Besides the notebook, there were also a few pieces of candy. She looked away and cleared her throat. "Take out your purse and let me check how much money is in it?"
Helpless, Xiao Huzi pulled out his small purse and held it above his head. "Auntie... what you did today hurt me. I'm a scholar, how could I not know that bribery and accepting bribes are serious matters that could cost me my head?"
Jin Shanyao noticed that he actually had one or two taels of silver in his purse, and with a sneer, she handed the purse back to him, saying, "I didn't expect you to be richer than Lord Zhu."
"The ability to earn money has nothing to do with age," Xiao Huzi stuffed his purse into his clothes, looked up and asked, "Auntie... can I go in now?"
"Hmm... let's go in."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huzi tossed his satchel behind him with a flourish and swung his little arms as he headed to the study in the backyard.
"Knock knock knock... Top scholar brother, it's me, Xiao Huzi... Can I come in?"
Meng Anci was tidying up his study when he heard Xiao Huzi's voice. He turned around and saw Xiao Huzi peeking through the crack in the door.
Meng Anci and said, "Come in."
Xiao Huzi chuckled, pushed open the study door, and was deterred by the sight of so many books. But remembering the purpose of his visit, he had no choice but to brave his fear and enter.
Xiao Huzi stood next to Meng Anci, forcing a stiff smile, "Top Scholar Brother... you're not still looking for books for me, are you?"
Meng Anci, holding the Records of the Grand Historian, smiled and said, "Want it?"
Xiao Huzi quickly shook his head, "Please spare me, I haven't finished reading those books you gave my third grandfather yet..." As he spoke, he took out two pieces of candy from his satchel and handed them to Meng Anci.
Lowering her voice, she said, "Here, I had a hard time bringing this candy in. My aunt was blocking the door, and I couldn't even get a word in edgewise with all the other gift-givers."
Meng Anci had just taken the candy and put it in her mouth when Xiao Huzi leaned in, "I have a good job up my sleeve, let's split the profits 50/50..."
Meng Anci felt the candy in his mouth taste incredibly bitter... Was this the price of accepting bribes? He lowered his voice like Xiao Huzi, "Tell me what it is?"
Xiao Huzi glanced outside the door, then whispered in Meng Anci's ear, "My classmates' names are all scribbled like dogs, so I told them I could get the signature of the top scholar in the imperial examination. Ten coins a name, and I told them to go back and practice, and I guarantee they'll become the top scholar too."
He raised an eyebrow at Meng Anci as he spoke, "How about it? You can make a fortune just by writing a few names."
Meng Anci suppressed a laugh and said, "You could have easily found someone else to write this for you, why did you specifically ask me?"
Xiao Huzi disagreed, "Business is all about sincerity... If I fake this deal, who will trust me anymore? My reputation will be ruined..."
Meng Anci was surprised that he was so intelligent at such a young age. "Okay... whose name should I write?"
Xiao Huzi rummaged through his bag and pulled out a booklet, handing it to him. He then stepped on the crossbar of the chair and braced his hands on the table.
" Hu Zhizhao..."
Meng Anci slightly, turning to look at him. Xiao Huzi chuckled sheepishly, "Shouldn't I write my own name first, then everyone else's?"
Meng Anci nodded noncommittally.
The pen glided across the paper, writing the three characters "Hu Zhizhao." Xiao Huzi lay on Meng Anci's desk, tilting his head and revealing a satisfied smile.