Wednesday 9 August 2023

WLAEF 45




Chapter 45


"Go back to sleep." Shen Feng Ming said.

"What about you?" Jiang Yun Zhu asked.

"I'm thinking about something."

Jiang Yun Zhu: ...Okay!

The next morning, Jiang Yun Zhu got up. Her mind was much clearer. She felt that she might have been too hasty yesterday. Someone once offered a thousand liang of gold to Old Mister Wu to check an illness, but Old Mister Wu didn't even give him a look. So what did cooking a dish amount to?

Anyway, Old Mister Wu was going to stay at their home for a few days. She’ll slowly let him see her sincerity.

After the meal, Jiang Yun Zhu had something to do. She stopped Jiang Lin and the others, "You heard what I said to Gentleman Gu yesterday. I don't want to bother him from today and let him concentrate on preparing for the exam.

You guys review what you have learned before. After the New Year, when the family has money, we will send you to school. "

The top thesis author Gu Yan Zhou was now in the critical period of preparing for the exam. She didn't want to delay him. She had done the math. Currently, the family could earn five silver coin a day. There was still more than a month before the New Year. They could earn almost twenty liang silver. It should be enough for the fee.

Jiang Lin, Jiang Yun Xue, and Jiang Wu had different reactions. Even Mrs. Chen and Jiang Cheng stopped and listened to her.

Jiang Lin quietly examined at Jiang Yun Zhu. It seemed that he had something to say.

Jiang Yun Xue turned pale. Gu Yan Zhou came to their house to teach them. She could join along. But attending school? What should she do? She had never heard of any family sending daughters to study. She squeezed the corner of her clothes tightly, feeling her throat was a little congested.

She liked studying. More so than Jiang Lin and Jiang Wu.

Jiang Wu blinkingly looked at Jiang Yun Zhu with his dark eyes. Going to school? Was it fun?

Jiang Yun Zhu took in their reactions. She asked Jiang Lin first, "What do you want to say?"

"Elder Sister, I don't want to go to school." Jiang Lin said while checking Jiang Yun Zhu's reaction, afraid that she would get angry.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Before, even if you wanted to go to school, the family don't have any money for you to go. Your elder sister couldn't bear to see you suffer for the rest of your life and told me that she wanted to send you to school. Is this your attitude?" Mrs. Chen had a feeling of indignation.

In fact, she and Jiang Cheng hoped that there will be a scholar in the family. If Jiang Lin or Jiang Wu could be like Gu Yan Zhou, she could wake up with a smile in her dreams.

Jiang Lin stood there silent.

"Why don't you want to go to school?" Not at all angry, Jiang Yun Zhu asked Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin looked at her shyly. Seeing that her face was pleasant, he continued, "I'm already this old. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up when I go to school. And..." These days, he was with Gu Qi Feng every day. Gu Qi Feng often poured out his bitterness to him.

In Gu Qi Feng's eyes, Gu Yan Zhou was that family’s child. Gu Yan Zhou started studying at the age of four, could compose poems at the age of six, coulld write articles at the age of nine, and had already passed the Xiucai examination at the age of fifteen. As for Gu Qi Feng, he couldn't even compare to a single finger of his.

And the most terrible thing was that his parents kept comparing Gu Yan Zhou with him and told him to follow his example. This way, he could take the imperial examination in the future and bring glory to the family.

Now Gu Qi Feng could go up nor down.

Hearing this, Jiang Lin started to worry. During the period of learning characters with Gu Yan Zhou, he noticed that he wasn't as good as Jiang Yun Xue. Compared with Gu Yan Zhou... Forget it, there was no way to compete.

So he was thinking, once he attend school, wouldn’t he be the same as Gu Qi Feng?

The family spent so much money supporting him to study, but he failed to achieve anything. How couldd he face Mrs. Chen and Jiang Yun Zhu?

It was better not to go at all. Just following Jiang Yun Zhu on doing business was pretty good.

Jiang Yun Zhu slowly extracted the worries in his heart. She smiled, "Who said that I’m letting you go to school because I want you to take the imperial examination?"

As soon as she said this, Jiang Cheng, Mrs. Chen, and Jiang Lin were all stunned. If not for the imperial examination, what was he studying for?

"Studying is to let you understand things." Jiang Yun Zhu smoothed his collar as he spoke. In modern times, she went to college, but ended up in a career that had nothing to do with the major she studied. Could she say that going to college was useless?

That experience broadened her horizons. It was the most unforgettable memory in her life. She didn't want Jiang Lin and the others to miss it.

As for money, money was earned to be spent.

"Elder Sister!" Jiang Lin's eyes flickered. Did she really think like this? In fact, he really wanted to go to the school to have a look.

"Yun Zhu, this..." Jiang Cheng hesitated. Since Jiang Yun Zhu put it like this, wasn’t Jiang Lin going to wildly play?

Jiang Yun Zhu winked. Even if she forced Jiang Lin, it would be useless. He had already begun to resist reading.

"Elder Sister, you are the best." Jiang Lin felt that Jiang Yun Zhu was the best elder sister in the world. If Gu Qi Feng was told this, he would probably go crazy with envy.

"You still have to study hard, otherwise you will waste money and your own time and energy." Jiang Yun Zhu laughed.

"En." Jiang Lin nodded fiercely.

Jiang Yun Zhu turned to Jiang Yun Xue.

"Elder Sister." Jiang Yun Xue called out in a low voice. Her voice was choked.

Jiang Yun Zhu looked at her and sighed. In this era, women had it too unfair.

"Do you like studying?" She asked Jiang Yun Xue.

Jiang Yun Xue didn't dare to look at her and just replied like a mosquito, "En."

"Then let me inquire for you to see if there was a female school in the county." Jiang Yun Zhu said. In fact, she knew that Huaying Academy in Lu Prefecture recruited female students.

Huaying Academy was opened by the Lin Family.

Speaking of the Lin Family, they were astounding. Up to now, there have been three top thesis author and more than 30 advanced scholar in their ancestry tree. They were praised by the emperor himself.

Huaying Academy was their clan's own academy. The female students recruited were all daughters of their own family or relatives and friends. Jiang Yun Xue... Thinking about it carefully, Jiang Yun Zhu seemed to have met someone from the Lin Family in the dream, but there was interaction. It was very difficult for Jiang Yun Xue to enter Huaying Academy.

She didn't mention it, least that she give Jiang Yun Xue hope and couldn't arrange it.

Jiang Yun Xue's attention was all on the feamle's school she mentioned, "Is there really a female's school?"

She asked, as if seeing a glimmer of light in the dark night.

"I didn't know either. I need to find out." Jiang Yun Zhu replied.

Jiang Yun Xue felt that it was enough. As long as there was hope.

Mrs. Chen watched from the side and sighed.

It was only then that Jiang Lin felt how lucky he was to be able to go to school. Jiang Yun Xue was clearly better than him at studying.

"Younger Sister, once I learn it, I'll teach you when I come back." He told Jiang Yun Xue.

"En." Jiang Yun Xue tried her best to force a smile.

"If you really want to go to a female's school, you should study hard. Otherwise, if you have the opportunity in the future, they will not want you if your knowledge isn’t enough." Jiang Yun Zhu said to Jiang Yun Xue. She remembered that Huaying Academy had quite high requirements.

There was a light in Jiang Yun Xue's eyes. She should study hard!

Seeing her like this, Jiang Lin felt guilty for no reason. No, she was already learning faster than him. If she works even harder, how will he teach her in the future?

He felt he would be in dire straits from being chased by books.

He didn't back down though. Younger Sister was pitiful enough. If he act any more delicate, what kind of elder brother was he? At most, he will play less and sleep less in the future to learn those things.

In the end, it was Jiang Wu's turn. Jiang Yun Zhu made the final decision to send him to school for two years and see how it goes.

The whole family was discussing when someone knocked on the door outside. Mrs. Chen went to open the door and saw a young couple. The man was neat and tidy, while the woman was gentle and soft.

"Who are you?" She had a guess in her heart, but she wasn't sure.

"Are you all better?" Jiang Yun Zhu came out of the room and asked the man.

Xue Jing smiled and replied, "All better."

As he spoke, he turned around twice for fear that Jiang Yun Zhu wouldn’t believe him.

Xue Jing was originally suffering from mental illness. But after seeing Jiang Yun Zhu, his mental illness disappeared. It went without saying he recovered quickly. Now he was ruddy and healthy.

Jiang Yun Zhu introduced both sides- Xue Jing, the cook she hired; Mrs. Ruan, his wife; and this side were the members of the Jiang Family.

There was a donkey cart behind Xue Jing and Mrs. Ruan. There were many things on the donkey cart.

"You said you could rent a house for me." Xue Jing said shyly. After discussing with Mrs. Ruan, they decided to move to Changshi Village together.

That day when Jiang Yun Zhu came back, she rented a house for him. So she immediately took him to see it.

It was a house not far from their home. The yard wasn't as big as Jiang's house. Though there were only three rooms, the house was very nice. At least much better than the house that Xue Jing duo were living in in the county.

There were courtyards at the front and back. In the front, there was a small river. At the back, there was a green hill. Mrs. Ruan immediately fell in love with this place. She lived in a cramped place for a long time. Now coming to this open place, she instantly felt like the sky was high and the clouds were clear.

She took a long breath and felt that even the air became fresh.

"When spring comes, plant some melons and fruits in the yard. You won't have to buy vegetables then." Mrs. Chen cheerfully said. This was Mrs. Ruan’s plan. When spring starts next year, the garden will be planted full of melons and fruits. It will save a lot of money.

And the things grown at home were fresh and tender!

"En." Mrs. Ruan nodded. She was beginning to look forward to such a life.

Everyone helped to unload the donkey cart. Jiang Yun Zhu told Xue Jing not to worry, just wait until the house was tidied up before going to work.

Verbally, Xue Jing promised to. Not long later, he came to Jiang's house. He was pining on watching Jiang Yun Zhu cook. Mrs. Ruan was hardworking and considerate. She let him come.

Jiang Yun Zhu looked at the sky. It was still early.

"What's for lunch?" Old Mister Wu looked intp the kitchen from the outside. In fact, he had breakfast not long ago. Now, he was already thinking about lunch.

For breakfast this morning, Jiang Yun Zhu made small wontons in chicken soup and tofu buns. The small wontons were delicious, while the tofu buns were unique. Old Mister Wu endured it so that he wasn’t overstuffed.

He asked Jiang Yun Zhu because he wanted to see if there were any surprises today. After all, yesterday’s ‘bright moon and clear spring’ was really amazing.

Jiang Yun Zhu didn't have a ‘bright moon and clear spring’ kind of dish. Still, she wanted to satisfy Old Mister Wu as much as possible. After checking the sky, she decided to go to the city to see what fresh ingredients were available. Afterward, she will inquire about the school.

"I'll go with you." Old Mister Wu said immediately. He was idle and had nothing to do.

Jiang Yun Zhu was fine with it. After packing up, the two left the house in Jiang Cheng's mule cart.

"Are you going to send Jiang Lin and the others to school in the county?" Jiang Cheng was surprised. He thought Jiang Yun Zhu said that he was sending Jiang Lin and the others to school in the town. After all, it was close to home and the fee should be cheaper.

"Father, I want to come to the county to do business in the future. Then wouldn’t it be more convenient for Jiang Lin and Jiang Wu to go to school in the county." Jiang Yun Zhu had already thought it out.

"County?" Jiang Cheng was taken aback again. This was the first time Jiang Yun Zhu had told him this idea.

"I went around the town when we moved here. There is no good business at all." Jiang Yun Zhu explained. That's why she chose to sell food at the bottom of the mine mountain.

The county was different. The county was lively and bustling. There were many opportunities to make money. If one manages it well, one could earn more.

Jiang Cheng pondered about it carefully. That seemed to be the logic. However, it was difficult to do business in the county. Just look at Xue Jing and his wife and one would know.

"Do what business? Following me is much better!" Old Mister Wu harrumphed. He didn't love money. Though it wasn’t a gold and silver mountain, the money he made was at least enough for the Jiang Family to spend their entire lives.

Jiang Yun Zhu smiled. Was it so easy to study medicine? She should continue cooking!

"Then where shall we go first?" Jiang Cheng asked after entering the county city.

Jiang Yun Zhu had already decided, "Go to Wenyuan Academy." Wenyuan Academy was the best academy in the county. Gu Yan Zhou attended there.

The mule cart continued to move forward. Slowly, more and more paper and pen shops appeared on both sides of the street. Then they saw a tall archway in front of them. High above were lively and vigorous characters, saying "Wenyuan Academy".

Looking inside, there were numerous buildings inside, covering an extremely large area. At this hour, the students should all be studying. Not many people came in and out of the academy.

"Are you going to send Jiang Lin and the others here?" Jiang Cheng felt uncertain when he saw it.

"What kind of broken academy is this?" On the other hand, old Mister Wu disliked it.

Jiang Cheng glanced at Old Mister Wu, only feeling that he spoke too mightily.

Jiang Yun Zhu ignored the two of them, got out of the cart, and looked around. There was a pen and paper shop on the left. There was no business at this time. The chubby manager was standing at the door.

"Manager." Jiang Yun Zhu went over to chat with him.

Seeing that she was a beautiful girl who spoke nicely, the chubby manager was willing to talk to her.

After a while, Jiang Yun Zhu asked about the situation.

There was an enlightenment class under Wenyuan Academy. It wasn’t here though, but in the north of the city. Every year, Wenyuan Academy selects outstanding students from the enlightenment class for admission.

For each person in the Enlightenment Class, there was an eight liang fee a year. As long as they pay the money, they could attend. The limit was for three years. After three years, if one still can't enter the academy, they could only leave.

Jiang Yun Zhu listened and felt that this Wenyuan Academy was a bit of a big wave washing away the sand. Anyone could enter, but it wasn't certain who could come out in the end. This had the advantage of going through all the students in the county and keeping the outstanding students in their own academy.

No wonder this academy was getting better and better.

She immediately decided to send Jiang Lin and Jiang Wu to this enlightenment class. As for the final result, it was up to them.

The chubby manager had never heard of a female's school.

Jiang Yun Zhu wasn't surprised either. During the seven years in her dream, she had traveled to many places and only heard of Huaying Academy recruiting female students.

After thanking the chubby manager, she turned around and sat back on the mule cart.

"You could actually ask Gu Yan Zhou about the school." Jiang Cheng only recalled now.

True. But there was one more factor for Jiang Yun Zhu coming over. She wanted to see if the environment around Wenyuan Academy was suitable for opening a restaurant. She had tasted the sweetness in the mine, and she felt that it was easier to do business in such a crowded place with simple personnel.

After wandering around a lot, she already had a plan in her heart. But now wasn't the hour for getting off school. Some things were still unclear.

This time was different from last time. She had to consider several aspects before making a decision.

After leaving this street, they went straight to the grocery market.

The grocery market in winter was obviously relatively bleak. The meat sold was fine. There was pork, mutton, and the likes. While the green vegetables, there were only cabbage, potatoes, and radishes. Even the lotus root and yam that were sold before were gone.

"Not even a fresh sea bass." When coming to the fish stall, Old Mister Wu began to complain again.

Along the way, he had never stopped. Either here was bad, or there was bad.

Jiang Yun Zhu turned to look at him. What exactly was he trying to say?

Old Mister Wu approached Jiang Yun Zhu, "Do you know the shad in Jiangdong? It melts in your mouth. Also, the perch in Songjiang. It is the freshest in the world. Not to mention the Schizothorax in Erhai Lake, mandarin fish in Lianhuan Lake... Tsk tsk, you like cooking so much, don't you want to get your hand on these?"

Jiang Yun Zhu's mouth was watering when she heard it. All the fish he mentioned were the most delicious in the world.

Seeing that she was tempted, Old Mister Wu continued, "This small county is only so big. Your skills are wasted for nothing. Why don't you follow me? Let's travel around the world..." When Old Mister Wu said this, he squinted his eyes first in bliss.

Jiang Yun Zhu takes him as her teacher. Then the master and apprentice duo enjoy the famous mountains and rivers together. Go to Jiangdong to steam shad. Go to Mobei to drink mare's milk. Go to Qiongzhou to eat crabs. Wouldn't it be better than staying in this poor place?

That's right, he still wanted Jiang Yun Zhu to take him as her teacher and then take her out of this place so that she wouldn't be aggrieved.

It was undeniable that for a moment, Jiang Yun Zhu really wanted to leave with Old Mister Wu. When people stay in one environment for a long time, it will be a little frustrating. Moreover, she did have a lot of delicacies that she wanted to eat and cook.

But after hesitating for a moment, she shook her head, "Old Mister, maybe I will go if I have a chance in the future. But not now."

Her career had just started.

"In the future? Why in the future? How many futures are there in life? Are you worried about money?" Old Mister Wu said and looked around. With his medical skills, if he casually treats a few people, the money will come.

Jiang Yun Zhu hurriedly stopped him, "Old Mister, I want to have a stable asset so that no matter where I am or what happens, I don't have to worry about money.

Also, I have my family. It’s great to travel around the world, but there are times when I’m tired. At that time, how wonderful it’ll be knowing that there is a place that I can go back at any time?"

Jiang Yun Zhu still wanted to start a restaurant before discussing about other things. Mainly, she didn't want to be forced by old Mister to study medicine.

Home. Old Mister Wu was silent. He used to have a home, a gentle wife, and a beautiful daughter. But when his daughter was ten years old, she fell ill with a strange disease. He had exhausted all his efforts, but he still couldn't save her.

Later, his wife left him. Since then, he never returned home. He lost his home.

Looking at his lonely look, Jiang Yun Zhu felt that she had said something wrong and hurriedly added, "Old Mister, if you didn't dislike it, you can always stay at my house. Go out for a walk when you are bored. When you want to eat the food I make, come back."

Old Mister Wu glanced at her, "You don't disdain this old man?"

Jiang Yun Zhu smiled. She could feel that Old Mister Wu was thinking for her best. Besides, "Maybe I will travel with Old Mister Wu in the future!"

Only then, did Old Mister Wu smile. He asked Jiang Yun Zhu what was for lunch.

Jiang Yun Zhu caught two fat grass carp and had an idea.

After buying the groceries, they went home in the mule cart.

In the largest restaurant in the county. Xiao Qi Song stood on the second floor of the restaurant and looked down in boredom. Since arriving in Wuling County, he had been to the mine once. Afterward, he disdained how remote it was. So he moved to live in the county town.

But in his eyes, this county was a far cry from the capital.

He couldn't help but blame his father. Why did he send him to this middle of nowhere.

Just then, a mule cart rolled by. He casually glanced over. Afterward, he froze and stared at the people on the mule cart.

It was only a general glance. It seemed to be a sight of a beautiful girl. However, they seemed to be stopped by a passing carriage.

Xiao Qi Song moved his body left and right, trying to avoid the carriage and look at the person on the mule cart.

At this time, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a stunning beauty.

Xiao Qi Song stared blankly.

The carriage and the mule cart passed each other. The mule cart turned into a side street, while the carriage accelerated.

"Quick, quick, that carriage." Xiao Qi Song pointed at the carriage and shouted. The servants around him were all used to doing this kind of thing for him and immediately went downstairs to chase the carriage.

On the other street, Jiang Yun Zhu frowned. She seemed to have seen the carriage somewhere before.

She couldn't remember right then and she could only sit in the cart and move on.

At this time, another person came from the other side of the street; Shen Feng Ming and Yang Sheng. They had already found Wei Kang Ping's body. Jiang Yun Zhu's case could be completely closed.

But who killed Wei Kang Ping?

In the past two days, Qilin Guard collected all the cases that happened in Wuling County in the past two weeks. Now, they were going to interrogate Li Quan.

Just in time, they saw Xiao Qi Song walking into the restaurant’s room over at that side.

"Why did he come to Wuling County?" Yang Sheng knew Xiao Qi Song. Speaking of which, he was one of the few people who walked out of the Qilin Guard's Division in one piece. After all, his father, King Huainan was the emperor's uncle, who had the merits of following the dragon. The emperor ordered him to release him. The Qilin Guards couldn't do anything about it.

"The King Huainan isn't willing to let him go to the battlefield, so he could only let him come to the mine to earn military merits." Shen Feng Ming glanced at Xiao Qi Song's back and replied.

"Hmph, King Huainan really treasure this lump. Of course he would protect with care." Yang Sheng commented.

The two of them didn't pay much attention to Xiao Qi Song. After all, he only came to Wuling County for a few days.

At this side, Jiang Yun Zhu returned home. She saw Xue Jing and remembered who was in that carriage. It was the beautiful woman who helped Mrs. Ruan and told her not to meddle in another’s business.

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