Chapter 185 World Eight (VIII)

Bao Shan's eyes were blurred with tears, and her voice was hoarse: "Seriously, is Cousin Yunshan lying to me?"

Shen Yunshan's face stiffened slightly, and he couldn't explain the feeling in his heart. Bao Shan believed the lies of the evil man. But the truth told by his cousin aroused Bao Shan's suspicion.

He nodded slightly, pointing to the mark on the document where Bao Shan had been deceived and explained patiently, "If it were truly a contract of sale, one would have to write their name or fingerprints in person. Markings like these won't count."

Baoshan's cheeks flushed, and she slowly withdrew from Shen Yunshan's arms, saying softly, "I don't understand these things. I made a fool of myself and made my aunt and cousin Yunshan worry about me. I really shouldn't have done that."

Shen Yunshan didn't take the matter seriously. Supporting a student required considerable expense. Even ordinary farmers would only send their most promising son or grandson to academy, and countless farm girls were illiterate. It was simply that someone had exploited this incident to deceive the naive girl, and the treasured fan couldn't be blamed in any way.

But Bao Shan didn't understand the reasoning behind this, she only knew that it was her ignorance and lack of knowledge that had caused all these troubles. Therefore, Bao Shan's brows were furrowed, and her beautiful face was full of guilt.

Looking at the self-blaming Bao Shan, Shen Yunshan frowned, walked up to the villain, and asked him whether he wanted to make a small matter out of a big one or deal with it as usual.

The man had several broken teeth and his speech was a little unsteady. He looked at Shen Yunshan with hesitation.

"How about making a big deal out of a small matter, or handling it as usual?"

A cold look flashed in Shen Yunshan's eyes, and he looked like a handsome and weak scholar who was easy to talk to.

"We'll handle it as normal, asking the government to handle it impartially. Whether you get a beating or go to jail will all depend on the county magistrate's words. We'll make a big deal out of a small one..."

Shen Yunshan looked at Bao Shan, who was leaning against Shen Liushi's side, and whispered, "My cousin is timid and frightened. If you can comfort her a little, I won't pursue this matter any further—"

There was room for maneuver in the words, not having to be too explicit, but enough for the person on the ground to understand.

The man had done many bad things and was already afraid of officials. When he heard he wanted to see the county magistrate, he immediately shook his head and said, "Let's make a big deal out of a small one. I have some money on me. I'll give it to the girl to comfort her."

Shen Yunshan took the purse from the man and let him leave.

Watching the evil man's figure gradually go away, Shen Yunshan took out ten copper coins from his purse and handed them to several children who were watching, asking them to keep an eye on the evil man's whereabouts and report to the police after he calmed down.

When he saw the county magistrate, he told him that someone had bad intentions and was trying to kidnap others and disturb the peace of this area.

The nimble children naturally nodded in agreement.

It is not common to be able to punish evildoers and make money like this.

Shen Yunshan was not worried, as the county magistrate did not believe what the children said.

The county magistrate had just taken office and was in urgent need of handling a few cases to show off his power and promote his reputation as an official.

If the children report the case to the police, the evil person who attempted to kidnap the children will naturally suffer the consequences.

Shen Yunshan picked up the bamboo basket that was lying on the ground, and there were still a few scattered bamboo shoots in it.

Presumably, Baoshan was anxious to sell these bamboo shoots, which gave the evil man an opportunity to take advantage of him.

The purse was stuffed into Baoshan's hands. The tears in her eyes still lingered as she spoke timidly, "Cousin Yunshan?"

Shen Yunshan said calmly, "This is compensation for you. We still have some time, so if you want to buy something, hurry up."

Baoshan's beautiful eyes trembled slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she turned around and whispered a few words in Shen Liu's ear.

Shen Yunshan saw how intimate the two were, and it seemed as if he, his own son, had become an outsider.

Shen Liushi took Baoshan's hand and left in a hurry.

A moment later, the two returned to Shen Yunshan, holding rice paper tied with dark brown straw ropes in their arms.

Shen Yunshan's eyes were slightly startled, as if he had not expected that the two of them would go to the study in such a hurry.

He lowered his eyelids, his long, thick lashes casting shadows on his cheeks. "Is that all you need?"

The rice paper was white, highlighting the radiance of Bao Shan's skin. She nodded softly, "This is enough."

When they returned to Uncle Wang's place, while Baoshan was sorting out her writing brushes and ink, Shen Liushi pulled Shen Yunshan aside and sighed softly, "Baoshan is truly a good girl! She's always thinking about us, mother and son." She simply said, "This copper coin was begged by cousin Yunshan, so he can buy some rice paper for you."

I asked Baoshan if I could buy some cloth to make new clothes.

But she shook her head and said that when she lived with her aunt, she wore old clothes and she was used to it.

Besides, studying is important to you, so give me all the remaining copper coins."

Shen Liu took out the remaining copper coins and showed them to Shen Yunshan.

Shen Yunshan's eyes moved slightly.

Although Baoshan said that he didn't need material possessions.

But she looked so pitiful that Shen Liushi was moved.

Shen Liu thought that if she really didn't give Baoshan anything, she would not be as virtuous as Baoshan's aunt Zhou Wangshi.

Shen Liu sighed, and when she mentioned Baoshan, her voice was filled with pity: "Baoshan has a hard life, but she has a kind heart. But you saw today that she is so illiterate. If others saw her, they would inevitably feel bullying and humiliation."

Shen Yunshan seemed to realize something and whispered, "What does mother mean?"

Shen Liushi: “We have bought enough rice paper this time. If you have time, you can teach Baoshan to recognize a few words.

When I go out in the future, I won’t let others deceive me so easily.”

Shen Yunshan raised his eyebrows slightly: "Is this what mother meant, or what my cousin meant?"

Baoshan had already placed the brush, ink, and rice paper, and called out to Shen Liushi, "Aunt, everything is ready."

Her eyes are clear and pure, her posture is gentle, and she looks very well-behaved.

Shen Liushi responded, then turned to Shen Yunshan and said, "That's my idea, of course. Will it delay your studies? If it hinders your advancement, I'll find someone else to teach you the treasure fan."

Anyone else?

Shen Yunshan's eyes were slightly cold.

Judging from Bao Shan's stupid appearance today, if he had not arrived in time, Bao Shan would have been deceived into exchanging silver for money with a so-called receipt.

Not all scholars are kind-hearted; some are despicable at heart.

Given Baoshan's appearance, I think there will be scholars willing to teach her to read.

However, when two people are alone, it is inevitable that other thoughts will arise.

By then, if the precious fan was played with by others and lost her heart, she would have to run back home and cry to Shen Liushi.

Thinking of that scene, Shen Yunshan shook his head gently and said in a gentle voice: "No need, I will teach my cousin."

Shen Liu sat on the ox cart and took out a silk flower from her bosom. It had red petals and yellow pistils, and it looked a bit vulgar.

People of Shen Liushi’s age all like such bright colors.

But when Baoshan saw the silk flower being handed to her, the joy on her porcelain-white cheeks did not seem fake.

Baoshan's eyes sparkled with stars as she held the silk flower in her hands.

"Auntie, is this for me?"

Shen Liushi nodded: "Of course it's for you, do you like it?"

Baoshan nodded softly and picked up the silk flower to put it on her bun.

But she didn't tie it firmly enough, so the silk flowers would fall down from time to time.

Shen Liushi wanted to hold the brush, ink and rice paper beside her, so she asked Shen Yunshan to help her put on the silk flower.

"Offended."

Hearing Shen Yunshan's words, Baoshan lowered her eyes and remained silent. She could sense Shen Yunshan raising his hand, his palm moving gently through her hair.

In order to make it easier for Shen Yunshan to wear the silk flower, Baoshan subconsciously lowered her head.

She could only see the fluttering laces in front of Shen Yunshan's robe, which carried a faint scent of ink and were entwined with the belt on her body.

Baoshan could feel that on ordinary days, those eyes would only become gentle when he was reciting books and facing Shen Liushi.

At this moment, because of the silk flower in her hair, she temporarily suppressed her coldness.

His slender fingers played with her black hair and pinned the silk flower tightly on her bun.

"alright."

Bao Shan touched the silk flower on her head and thanked Shen Yunshan: "Thank you, cousin Yunshan."

This was the scene Li Dongran saw when he arrived.

Bao Shan and Shen Yunshan looked at each other, one was gentle and elegant, the other was weak and charming.

Just by the glances in her eyes, one can feel the deep affection in them, making it difficult for others to get involved.

Li Dongran clenched her palms, barely managing to hold herself together. She walked towards the treasured fan, sizing up the silk flowers woven into its wisps of black hair. Suppressing her inner bitterness, she praised it aloud, "This silk flower is truly beautiful, and it suits the treasured fan perfectly. Did you buy it at the market?"

What Li Dongran really wanted to ask was whether this silk flower was bought by Shen Yunshan.

Li Dongran had never seen Shen Yunshan get close to other girls.

Even if she knew that Baoshan was Shen Yunshan's distant cousin, she shouldn't have bought such a close object.

Bao Shan raised her eyes and looked at Shen Yunshan beside her, her cheeks full of girlish shyness: "Thank you Miss Li for the compliment. This silk flower... I have to thank my cousin Yunshan."

Shen Yunshan thought that Baoshan was thanking him for his action of wearing the flower in his hair, so he did not refute her.

But in Li Dongran's opinion, this action meant that the silk flowers were bought by Shen Yunshan, otherwise why would Baoshan thank him.

Li Qiuran arrived late, also wearing a silk flower on her head.

Compared to the vibrant colors of Baoshan's hair, Li Qiuran's silk flowers were more subdued and elegant. But silk flowers were merely a foil, ultimately meant to complement the person. While Baoshan's silk flowers were vibrant, they only accentuated the delicate, subtle beauty of her features.

In comparison, Li Qiuran's silk flowers are somewhat inferior.

Li Qiuran pulled off the silk flower on her head and threw it into Li Dongran's arms.

"I don't want it anymore. I'll give it to you."

Li Dongran was not at all happy when he received the new silk flower.

How can such silk flowers compare to the ones given by Shen Yunshan himself?

Li Dongran looked dazed and raised his foot to sit next to Baoshan.

Shen Yunshan frowned, remembering how Li Dongran had squeezed the precious fan into a tiny ball when they were in town, and how pitiful it looked. He then said, "Miss Li."

Li Dongran's eyebrows moved slightly.

"Would you please sit next to your sister?"

Otherwise, the precious fan would have been taken by Li Dongran, and he would have to endure it.

In the end, it was just the two of them, their skin close to each other.

Although there is a layer of clothes between them, there is a difference between men and women after all, so it is really inappropriate.

On Shen Liushi's side, there was a spacious space, enough for three people to sit down.

Li Dongran didn't know what her expression looked like. She only heard a dull "OK" that seemed to come from her mouth.

When the ox cart was halfway through its journey, the sky began to darken.

Dark clouds covered the sky, and the occasional thunder frightened the women on the ox cart.

Bao Shan huddled beside Shen Yunshan, her voice trembling: "Cousin Yunshan, are you there?"

Shen Yunshan said helplessly: "Yes."

And it has always been there, but the sky was covered with dark clouds, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. This also scared the timid cousin, and she asked such a ridiculous question for a moment.

Thunder and lightning alternated.

Shen Yunshan clearly felt that the soft body pressed against him was trembling.