Chapter 52 Xiao Yan was invited to a banquet

Do you want a gift?

"Hasn't the top scholar been chosen yet? Why is the Zhou family celebrating now, without waiting until after the palace examination?"

"Not really. The palace examination will be held soon after Qingming Festival, so the Zhou family will definitely wait for the results before hosting a banquet for the guests." Erya said.

"That's right, that's right." Lu Qiniang said that she also had common sense.

How can you celebrate halfway?

Not to mention the possibility of missteps, even if it is really a done deal, if the news gets out, it will make people think that the person is arrogant and unstable.

"But mother, he's not an outsider. He's the Fifth Young Master, and we're considered close to him. So I think," Erya said, "we should show some appreciation."

Daya also said, "Mother, what Erya said makes sense. We should show our gratitude, at least to let the Fifth Young Master know that we still care about him."

Lu Qiniang was silent for a while and then said, "Forget it, don't bother him anymore, let him concentrate on his studies."

Erya curled her lips. "Back when the Fifth Young Master was so pitiful, with no one to serve him, you insisted on going. Now that he's on the verge of success, you're hiding away again. What's wrong? Are you born with a bad attitude towards fame and fortune?"

Lu Qiniang glared at her and said, "The Zhou family hasn't owed us any money. If we take their money, it doesn't matter where we work."

"The Fifth Young Master's yard is deserted. How can it be compared with the yards of other masters?" Erya was not convinced.

"Would other masters accept us—me, a widow, and the three of you, half grown, and still children of families—into their courtyards?" Lu Qiniang asked. "If you ask me, it's our good fortune to be able to stay with the future number one scholar for a few years and bask in his literary influence!"

She now knows a hundred words!

Thinking of Xiao Yan's passing and the interruption of her journey to learn to read, Lu Qiniang felt regretful and sighed.

Forget it. When Zhang Heyao comes back, she will find someone else to teach her.

She didn't dare to count on Zhang Heyao.

The Zhang family does not allow girls to read and write.

She once wanted to learn, but her mother-in-law said that girls don’t need to learn those things. She can’t read, so isn’t she fine?

My father-in-law believed that women’s education was the beginning of disaster.

Lu Qiniang didn't quite agree, but she didn't have the ability to refute or fight for it.

Now she doesn't want her daughters to be blind.

Although she was eager to do it, she was still a little shy, after all, she was already old.

It was Xiao Yan who encouraged her and taught her patiently.

She is not a smart student. What she learns today, she forgets tomorrow. She can't tell who is who and thinks they are all the same.

Xiao Yan comforted her, saying that she was not slow, but solid.

Some people learn quickly, but forget quickly as well. It’s better to take it slow and solid so that you won’t forget what you’ve learned.

Lu Qiniang knew that Xiao Yan was comforting her.

But that sounds nice!

Who doesn’t like to hear nice words?

Erya looked so disappointed that she said, "I never get any advantage from following you."

"It's just a small advantage, and everyone wants to take advantage of it." Lu Qiniang said, "I won't join in the fun. Let's just live our lives peacefully. It's not like we can't make ends meet. The Fifth Young Master has endured for so many years and finally sees some light. We must not add to the chaos. Let him study hard and prepare to meet the Emperor. That's a huge matter."

Even now, someone makes new clothes for him, prepares meals for him, and invites him to see a doctor when he is sick.

Of course there is.

It's great that he made it through. This is really exciting news.

"Let's have a good meal tonight to celebrate for the Fifth Young Master." Lu Qiniang announced.

"Mom, do we really not need to go? My father and the Fifth Young Master might even be able to serve in the same court in the future..."

"No need to go, it's not that important at this moment. Let's wait until he finishes his exams... Whether we serve as officials together in the future depends on fate." Lu Qinniang said, "Daya, hurry up and cook. While it's still early, pick a few dishes and send them to your uncle."

"Mom, my uncle doesn't allow me to go and see you off..." Daya said softly.

"Oh, yes, forget it. Let's cook. I need to re-hem the sheets. The previous ones don't look good."

Her luck has improved recently, with all kinds of good news coming her way. Life is so good these days.

Fortunately, Daya didn't go to deliver food to Xiao Yan, as Xiao Yan was not at his residence in Jinmafang at the moment.

Liu Xing invited him to a banquet in the restaurant today.

The table was filled with dishes: crystal lotus minced meat, amber pigeon trotters, rouge goose breast, braised pigeon with morels, emerald white jade soup...

Liu Xing was very happy and stood behind Xiao Yan holding the pot to pour wine for him. His face was smiling like a flower. He was not so attentive and considerate even in front of his own mother.

Xiao Yan's expression remained normal, "Brother Liu, you're too polite."

There were only two of them in the huge private room.

The window was open and I could see the stars in the river in the distance. Those were docked boats with people on them, so they had lights on at night.

"It really has to be you, Ji'an." Liu Xing's face flushed with excitement. "If it weren't for you, I never would have thought that I could take over such a large territory."

As a local tyrant, fighting for territory is a common occurrence.

As for Liu Xing, he had some power, but not a big one. Those who were loyal to him could probably be counted on two hands, and they usually hung out together.

In addition, when they have something to do, they either hire helpers with money or "kidnap" them through connections, and there are only a few dozen of them in total, which is enough to make ends meet.

However, Xiao Yan had been here for less than a month, and with just a few pointers to Liu Xing, he was able to rapidly expand his power, and now the number of people under his command had almost doubled.

Today, Liu Xing spent a large sum of money - two taels of silver per table - to entertain Xiao Yan because Xiao Yan had helped him with almost no effort in the recent turf dispute. He just relied on provoking relations between several parties and reaped the benefits.

Liu Xing was really excited.

"Ji'an, from now on you are my real brother!" After three rounds of drinks, Liu Xing burped and said while hooking his arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder.

Xiao Yan calmly avoided him and poured him a glass of wine.

Liu Xing was drunk and still talking a lot, even stuttering a little, but it didn't stop him from repeating the same things over and over again.

"Brother, from now on, I'll be with you. Everything I eat will be yours. Except my wife, I can give you everything! Well, you, your sister-in-law, you just bring trouble to me, you, my ...

A slight smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face.

He thought of Lu Qiniang.

"Wait, wait until I become rich, the first thing I will do when I come back is to make her kneel down and wash my feet! I have poured her foot washing water so many times, I have to get it all back!"

Xiao Yan couldn't help laughing.

Liu Xing got drunk and let himself go. This was probably the extent of his greatest "revenge" on his wife.

"Your wife is no good...so, I'll find you a good one in the future." Liu Xing said with a big tongue, "She, she's with someone else, and I don't want her anymore..."