Regardless of what happened to the man after he returned, time flew by, and it was time for Meng Anci to take the county examination.
Early in the morning, Meng Anci packed his brush, ink, and inkstone, slung his small satchel over his shoulder, and walked out dressed in red.
What came into view was a row of people: Jin Shanyao, Meng Anzhi, Dahuang, Xiaoli.
Lu Chi, Qing He, Qing Yang stood in a row.
Meng Anci wasn't nervous at first, but being stared at by so many people made her feel awkward. "What's going on here?"
Qing He smiled and said, "Of course, it's to cheer up the young master."
Lu Chi: "Don't be nervous, this is just a small test."
Meng Anzhi took out a small porcelain bottle, lifted Meng Anci's robe, and poured it onto the bottle. The medicine quickly spread across the clothes.
"My medicine contains mint; pick it up and smell it when you're sleepy."
Meng Anci stared at the wet hem of his clothes, feeling indescribably moved. He pursed his lips for a long while before walking to Jin Shanyao's side, taking her hand, and leaving the courtyard without saying a word.
Meng Anzhi followed behind, wondering if her younger brother wasn't touched. This potion was invigorating and she had spent the whole night making it.
The county government office was only a hundred meters away from where they lived, just a few steps away.
"Don't be nervous during the exam. Believe in yourself. You'll know the answers to all the questions, and you can guess them all correctly."
Meng Anci looked up and called out "Auntie" in dissatisfaction, which made Jin Shanyao laugh heartily. She bent down, cupped his little face in her hands, and rubbed it for a while.
"Oh, my little darling... come inside quickly."
The county examination consisted of five sessions, one per day, with participants entering at dawn and leaving at dusk.
The first session mainly consisted of reciting the Four Books and Five Classics from memory and writing simple policy essays.
Meng Anci was surrounded by classmates, so he wasn't nervous. After finishing his exam, he placed the paper on the table, and someone came to collect it.
After the event ended, Meng Anci ran out of the county government office and searched around before finally spotting his aunt and sister, who were squatting under the eaves eating steamed buns.
Jin Shanyao forward and stuffed the steamed bun into Meng Anci's hand, "It came out just in time, the bun is still warm."
She naturally took the handbag and led the two children home.
Meng Anci took a bite of the steamed bun, almost spilling meat juice on himself. He quickly pulled back his stomach and said, "Auntie, why don't you ask me how my exam went?"
Jin Shanyao her head and said, "How did you do on the exam?"
"It's great. Teacher Qin has taught me all the questions on the test."
With a smile on his lips, Meng Anci ate the steamed bun with gusto. After finishing the bun, he returned home.
Just as I reached my doorstep, I suddenly heard an angry roar from behind me, "Miss Jin! Why are you mocking me!"
Jin Shanyao looked in the direction of the sound and saw the man who had come to him for treatment a few days ago.
Rabies is rare, and Jin Shanyao remembers it very clearly.
She let the two children go inside first, then asked the man, "What do you mean by that, sir?"
The man, with a scholarly air about him, carried a bag of medicine and strode up to Jin Shanyao.
Her face flushed red, she said, "You said I have heart disease, but what medicine did you prescribe for me?"
His voice was quite loud, and since it was noon, many people on the street stopped to watch the spectacle.
Jin Shanyao practicing medicine for a thousand years and has encountered several cases of medical disputes, but this man, who has no power and yet dares to speak to her like that, is the first of his kind.
She asked, puzzled, "Is there something wrong with this medicine?"
The man, holding the medicine packet, trembled with anger. "You quack! This is rabies medication!"
"Hey, you..." Jin Shanyao her head. "You said you were bitten, so was it wrong of me to prescribe rabies medication for you?"
Who said I was bitten?
"Didn't you say it yourself? On the day of the betrothal... in the grove..."
"Alright, stop talking."
The man quickly stopped Jin Shanyao from speaking, his face turning as red as a pig's liver. Those around him understood the implication and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Someone, not afraid of stirring things up, shouted, "Young man, what happened behind the grove? You got bitten! Where were you bitten?"
The man was so ashamed he wanted to disappear into the ground. He never imagined that a girl would say such shameless things in public.
Jin Shanyao was completely bewildered by the laughter, not understanding what everyone was laughing at.
At this moment, Qin Baitang stepped out from behind the crowd and said gently, "Young master, let's go inside and talk." He gestured for the man to follow him into the house.
Close the door to keep out onlookers.
Qin Baitang smiled and said, "If you don't mind, young master, you can tell me about your symptoms."
The man looked at him, then at the Jin Shanyao, blushing, and said, "I... I fainted last night on our wedding night, as soon as I touched...
Jin Shanyao's expression was as if she had drunk vinegar, all scrunched up. "I'm telling you, you're a grown man, and you're talking in such halting fashion. Tell me what you encountered? A ghost? You just fainted like that?"
Qin Baitang gestured for Jin Shanyao to remain silent and tried to calm the man who was about to explode in anger.
"We're both men, I understand. I was just like you when I first got married," he said, taking the man's pulse and then withdrawing his hand after a careful examination.
"Your heart is fine, you're just too excited. Try to distract yourself tonight, and it will get better naturally in time."
The man blushed and bowed to Qin Baitang, saying, "Thank you for your explanation, Divine Doctor."
After saying that, he got up and left. As he passed Jin Shanyao, he glared at her and said, "Pah... quack doctor."
Jin Shanyao pointed at the man, a thousand words stuck in her throat, finally managing to utter, "How is he a quack?"
Qin Baitang was amused and laughed heartily, keeping in mind the desire for professional exchange.
"The man loved his wife so much that every time they were intimate, his Blood Qi would rush to his head, causing him to faint briefly."
She shook her head and walked out, muttering with a laugh, "She's still a naive girl who hasn't experienced much in love; she lacks experience in this area."
Jin Shanyao head in exasperation... First, she was angry at the word "quack doctor," and second, she was angry at Qin Baitang for saying that she lacked experience and was no good, and that cases like today's must never happen again.
Otherwise, how could she teach Meng Anzhi? Thinking this, she turned and left the shop.
Qing He said anxiously, "Master, dinner will be served soon."
"I'm not eating anymore." I'm too ashamed to eat anything.
A thousand-year-old demon is no match for a mortal doctor; he's utterly ashamed.
Jin Shanyao as she walked through the main street and went straight into the study, slapping her fair hand on the counter.
"Shopkeeper, give me fifty copies..."
Her words trailed off abruptly. What books should one read about emotions?
The shopkeeper, having only heard half of the conversation, held his breath and dared not put it down... Fifty books—this wasn't just a customer, this was a god of wealth!
He waited intently for the next part, but Jin Shanyao waved for a long time without managing to utter a name.
In her frustration, she slammed her hand on the table. "Girl, describe it! If you can describe it, I can find it for you!"
Jin Shanyao a deep breath, "It's about you human beings, books about emotions, preferably with a touch of madness."
The shopkeeper stroked his beard, his eyes slightly narrowed. Human affairs, emotional books, and books written while ill.
He had an idea... His eyes lit up instantly, and he darted to the bookshelf, quickly pulling out several books and presenting them to Jin Shanyao as if they were precious jewels.
"The Mad Princess Falls in Love with Me, the Stable Boy," "After My Death, My Husband Cries at My Grave Every Day," "Locked Up for Three Years, He Said It Was Exclusive Love," "I Stole the Villain's Heart by Going Mad," "After Rebirth, I Drived the Abusive Male Lead of a Novel Insane," "I Raised a Villain in the Human World."
The shopkeeper smiled knowingly, "Young lady, listen to me, just watch and see, and don't utter a sound."
Jin Shanyao through the book titles, nodding repeatedly with satisfaction. "Not bad, not bad, every single one of them has a major flaw."
"Go find a few more books, give me as many as you can."
"Okay... alright..."
The shopkeeper's voice was filled with joy. These books were all written by "Da Feng Shua Hu," and every single one of them was a flop, a complete failure, and not a single one made any money.
Today was a good day to clear out inventory, and the shopkeeper pulled them all out at once. "Sir, take a look. There are seventy-three books in total. Shall I deliver them to your residence?"
The shopkeeper smiled obsequiously, his back bent so low he was almost bowing ninety degrees.
"No need, just tie it up. How much?"
"Oh dear... what's the point of his book? Nobody reads it. Give him thirty taels."
"What?" Jin Shanyao thought she had misheard. The shopkeeper quickly smiled apologetically, "If you think it's too expensive, twenty taels is fine, but it can't be any lower. If it's any lower, we won't even make back the money from the paper money."
Jin Shanyao, carried a bundle of books back to the Anzhi Hall, and locked himself in the room as soon as he entered.
Meng Anzhi was worried that she was hungry, so she brought her food several times, but she didn't eat it.
Meng Anci, "Is Auntie alright? She seems to have been quite traumatized."
"It's nothing, he's just scolding the writer. Go back to sleep, you have your second exam tomorrow."
Meng Anci, turning back every few steps.