As dawn broke, Meng Anci packed his bag, preparing to go to the county government office for the second round of examinations.
Jin Shanyao repeatedly as she walked out, asking, "Has everything been checked properly?"
"Don't worry, Auntie, there's nothing lacking in writing materials, food, and water," Meng Anci replied calmly, his eyes clear and bright.
"Okay, let's go."
Jin Shanyao escorted Meng Anci into the examination hall, then took out a storybook and squatted down in the sunlight to continue reading.
I felt chest tightness and shortness of breath after reading only two pages; this book is definitely something serious.
She closed the book and stared at Meng Anzhi without saying a word.
Meng Anzhi felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze. "Auntie, don't look at me like that, it's creepy."
Jin Shanyao her coldly and said, "If after you get married, your husband has a 'white moonlight' (a past love interest), and he mistreats you, insults you, beats you, or even forces you to take abortion drugs for her, what would you do?"
Meng Anzhi stared into Jin Shanyao's eyes and tentatively said, "Kill him."
Jin Shanyao smiled contentedly and patted her little head. "Keep reading. Oh, and by the way, read for an extra half hour tonight, the ' Compendium of Herbs) '."
A bolt from the blue... Meng Anzhi felt like dying. She spent all her time studying, even more so than preparing for the imperial examinations.
Meng Anci exams for five consecutive days, and his hand felt numb from writing. Now, he feels nauseous whenever he sees paper with writing on it.
The results of the county examination would be announced in half a month, so the academy gave us an eight-day break.
Lu Chi took him to the countryside for horseback riding to relax. Dahuang was worried and has been staying by Meng Anci's side for the past two days.
Since the beginning of the year, Meng Anzhi has been charging five copper coins for a consultation, while medicinal herbs are priced according to market prices.
As a result, fewer people tried to take advantage of the situation, while fortune tellers were in high demand every day.
That day, when Jin Shanyao the door, a soft cry of "Oh dear!" was heard, and then a young woman stumbled in.
The young woman's face was still streaked with tears, and she looked somewhat disheveled.
She hastily wiped her face, stood up, and apologized to Jin Shanyao, "Excuse me, I've disturbed you."
After saying this, he turned to leave, but was stopped by Jin Shanyao.
Lately, all she can think about is the scenario of you chasing me, and me having no chance of escape.
Seeing the young lady's expression so suddenly was like a scene from a storybook coming to life.
The pent-up frustration of the past few days surged into my heart instantly.
Jin Shanyao her fist involuntarily, "Young lady, have you been bullied?"
When the young woman heard her ask, she suddenly burst into tears. "Miss, we are complete strangers, but I have no one to talk to. I feel so frustrated."
Jin Shanyao felt a surge of humanity and even wanted to chat with the young woman. She took the young woman's hand and led her to the consultation area.
She thoughtfully poured her a cup of hot tea and asked her questions like a caring older sister.
"Young lady, tell me what's wrong, and see if there's anything I can do to help."
Hearing for help, the young woman cried even harder. She twisted her handkerchief and said aggrievedly, "I'm the second oldest in my family. My father doesn't love me and my mother doesn't care about me. My older sister got married early, and I do all the housework."
My father, in order to find a wife for my younger brother, actually married me off to...
Jin Shanyao hand on the table, thinking to herself, "This is exactly like something out of a storybook!" She exclaimed indignantly, "You're being married off to a seventy-year-old man?"
The young woman shook her head in surprise.
"A cunning and wealthy merchant?"
The young woman shook her head again.
She shook the Jin Shanyao dry and fell silent. In this small border county, the highest-ranking official she knew was the county magistrate.
Although the county magistrate was outgoing, he didn't seem fickle and wouldn't do something as despicable as forcing a woman into becoming his concubine.
The young woman interrupted her, seeing that she was about to guess, "My father married me off to a hunter."
Jin Shanyao a deep breath, understanding... "The Rough Man Falls in Love with the Drama Queen," Jin Shanyao gestured for her to continue.
The young woman held her teacup, took a sip of hot water, and her emotions calmed down considerably. "My mother-in-law keeps pressuring me to have a third child. I don't want to. What should I do?"
Jin Shanyao confidently tapped the table and leaned back in her chair... "Lying in bed, my wicked mother-in-law forces me to give birth to a son"—nine out of ten storybooks have this plot.
At the time, she wished she could break the writer's pen, but alas, she had the ability to subdue demons and monsters but had no opportunity to use it. Now that someone had asked, she decided to give them all.
Jin Shanyao squinted and said in a sinister tone, "I have a plan that can ensure your stable position in the family and prevent your mother-in-law from pressuring you to have children."
The young woman's eyes were expectant. "Go ahead," she said.
Jin Shanyao chuckled slyly, "Do you know how to gamble?"
The young woman was taken aback, "... No."
Do you drink alcohol?
"... wouldn't either."
Jin Shanyao a deep breath. "You'll resort to tantrums, indirect insults, sowing discord, and whispering in someone's ear—you'll do it all, won't you?"
The young woman was dumbfounded by the question and instinctively shook her head.
Jin Shanyao, exasperated, sighed, "Oh dear, you can't do this or that, no wonder you're being bullied." She comforted the young woman by taking her hand.
"The reason your mother-in-law can pressure you is because you are too sensible and too filial."
If you're a conman, swindler, thief, and adept at all sorts of vices like drinking, gambling, whoring, and smoking, your mother-in-law will be busy cleaning up your messes and preventing you from squandering the family fortune. She won't have time to urge you to have a third child.
The young woman stared in shock, trying to pull her hand away.
She just didn't want to have a third child; she didn't want a divorce.
The young woman was so frightened that she staggered to her feet and ran out of the shop.
Jin Shanyao stared at the young woman's retreating figure, nodding in satisfaction. "Good that you listened. In this world, females should help females."
The light on the table dimmed, and Magistrate Yang appeared opposite her at some point, accompanied by a man whose gaze was filled with inquiry.
Magistrate Yang chuckled and joked, " Master Jin, I'd also like to ask, my mother is pressuring me to have a third child, what should I do?"
This guy's just looking for trouble. Jin Shanyao her eyes and said, "Leave."
"Huh? What... what does this mean?" Magistrate Yang was stunned. "Does the master want me to divorce him and find another wife to have a child with?"
Meng Anzhi, who was inspecting the medicinal herbs nearby, chuckled. "My aunt means you should stay away from your mother."
After she finished speaking, she shook her head helplessly. What was Magistrate Yang thinking? Changing wives to have three children.
Meng Anzhi replaced the missing medicinal herbs, put the chair back in its place, and sat down in front of Jin Shanyao.
Seeing that there were people queuing behind him, Magistrate Yang whispered, "Miss Jin, I need to talk to you. I'll wait for you in the backyard." After saying that, he turned and left. Jin Shanyao saw him stride away, leading the people beside him into the backyard.
His speech and demeanor were as natural and unhindered as if he were in his own home.
Jin Shanyao silently, "What gives Magistrate Yang the courage to come and go as he pleases? Is it power?"
It's no wonder she thought that way; so far, Magistrate Yang was the highest-ranking official she had ever met.
After Magistrate Yang left, a woman wearing a brocade jacket sat down. Before she could speak, she sighed and took out fifty taels of silver, placing it on the table.
"Miss Jin," she tried to smile for a long time but couldn't manage a laugh, "I want to find out where my husband is. He's been leaving early and coming home late for the past six months. I suspect he's keeping a mistress."
Jin Shanyao put away the fifty taels of silver. Based on the description of the lady's voice and appearance, and the places her husband often went, she slowly released her Spiritual Power and quickly found the location.
"North Street, South Alley, the third house on the left, we can catch them red-handed if we go now," the woman said, stumbling to her feet, her beautiful eyes hardening with a fierce look.
Jin Shanyao recalled a book called "My Husband's Doting Love for His Mistress Leads to My Death," and thinking of the heroine's experiences, Shu Xin felt a pang of pity.
"Madam... let's get a divorce."
The woman glared at her, muttered "Are you crazy?", and turned to leave.
Jin Shanyao his face and called to the onlookers, "Stop watching, everyone. The divination for today is finished."
Someone spat out a curse, advising people to divorce; may they be struck by lightning...
Jin Shanyao dumbfounded. What did this mean...? Had she been struck by lightning? Had she committed some terrible sin?
Within half a day, news of her divination and advice to people to divorce spread throughout the county. People said that her ability to find lost items and people was undeniable, but that she was a bit unethical.
Whenever you consult a marital counselor about matters of the heart, it boils down to just two sentences.
The disturbance... brought unrest to the household.
Divorce... it caused them to be separated from their families.
Is this solving a problem? This is solving people!
Jin Shanyao's reputation plummeted, and his unethical behavior became notorious throughout the county.