Chapter 199 World Eight (Twenty-Two)

Baoshan's beautiful eyes moved slightly, and she pretended to be hesitant. She said timidly, "Cousin Yunshan will definitely not agree to this."

If Shen Yunshan was such a person who cared about other people's opinions, he would not have taken Shen Liushi to Luo County out of concern for her eye disease. He would probably just comfort Shen Liushi and keep her in that remote village to prevent other students from discovering Shen Yunshan's poor family background and mocking him.

Shen Liushi held the wrist of the treasure fan, her eyes softened: "Our family has limited money, otherwise we would not have wronged you. If we hired a maid, it would barely be enough to shut up the mouths of others in the academy. But I always feel uneasy when others stay around Yunshan.

Only you, with your sweet and sensible nature, can keep me safe by Yunshan's side."

Shen Liushi was so sincere that Baoshan, who had a soft temperament, naturally agreed: "Aunt, I don't feel wronged... I will listen to you. Whatever you say about this matter, that's it."

Hearing this, Shen Liu was very pleased and started to make new clothes for Baoshan.

Since he was a student, he should dress like one. Shen Liu cut two pieces of cloth and made a blue robe with a white collar, the same as the uniform worn by students at Xiangjiang Academy. The extra cloth was used to make a headband for Bao Shan. After all, Bao Shan, once she entered Xiangjiang Academy, could no longer remain a child; she had to tie up all her long hair.

After Shen Yunshan finished the small test, his body stretched a little. He returned to the courtyard where Shen Liu lived, and the table was already full of food.

Although the meals were simple, they were delicious, and there was a pot of warm wine next to the food.

The wine is clear and has a lustrous sheen. It tastes sweeter than spicy, perhaps because it's made with rice. Drinking too much won't harm your health.

Bao Shan was wearing a smoky gauze dress, and under the bright moonlight, her skin looked even more delicate, like an immortal.

Her eyes were gentle, and she stretched out her white hands to pour wine for Shen Yunshan and Shen Liushi.

Shen Yunshan turned around and saw the pearl flower in Baoshan's hair trembling slightly. It was the one he bought for Baoshan.

Shen Yunshan said softly, "Don't worry, cousin. Enjoy your meal. I'll pour some wine for mother."

Baoshan slowly put down the wine pot, her beautiful eyes first looked at Shen Liushi, then at Shen Yunshan: "No need, I had a meal before cousin Yunshan returned home."

After saying this, Baoshan lowered his eyelids and left in a hurry.

Shen Yunshan felt something was strange, but before he could think about it, he saw Shen Liushi looking up at the bright moon in the sky and whispered, "Today's moon is very similar to the night your cruel father left."

When mentioning Shen's father, Shen Yunshan frowned slightly, and a flash of indifference passed through his eyes.

Shen Yunshan was precocious, so when his father left, although he was young, he remembered the scene of that day clearly.

The house was ransacked, and even Shen Liu's bed and bedding were in a mess.

Shen Yunshan despised his father. In his eyes, he was irresponsible and used the money saved by Shen Liushi to pursue his so-called "living under the moon and flowers". Shen Yunshan still remembered that the year Shen's father left, Shen Liushi ran to almost every corner of the village.

Even the bitter wild vegetables were dug out by Shen Liushi, blanched briefly, and then put into her stomach.

Shen Yunshan regarded Shen Liushi as his closest person, but he rarely relied on her during their daily interactions.

Now seeing Shen Liushi like this, Shen Yunshan’s heart softened slightly, and he opened his mouth to deny Shen Liushi’s words: “Mother is wrong.”

Shen Liu turned and looked at him.

Shen Yunshan spoke indifferently, without any resentment or nostalgia when he mentioned his father: "When that person left, the crescent moon was missing a corner. Now it is complete, how can it be similar?"

Shen Yunshan picked up the wine jug and filled Shen Liushi's glass with wine: "Besides - it's been so many years, that person may have already been exposed in the wilderness..."

Seeing Shen Liushi’s eyes flicker, Shen Yunshan slowly changed his words: “It’s just a guess, everything is possible.”

Shen Liushi raised the wine cup and handed it to her lips. After the thin wine touched her lips, she gently put it down and asked, "Are you okay in the academy?"

"Everything is the same as before, nothing new."

Shen Liushi frowned slightly, “I heard that many students from Xiangjiang Academy are going to the capital with their servants.

If you are alone, even the staff at the inn where you stay will look down on you."

Shen Yunshan paused, thinking about how Shen Liushi, who lived in a small courtyard, could know the inside story of Xiangjiang Academy. It must be someone other than Feng Wenjing who said it. Shen Yunshan pinched his brow lightly, his tone full of helplessness: "Mother, don't think too much. I don't like other people around. I can't concentrate on studying when there are shadows swaying in front of me."

In the past, when it came to academic matters, Shen Liu would always give in.

But today, although Shen Liushi's face showed hesitation, she finally said, "If you think the book boy is disturbing you, tell him not to move around so as not to delay your studies."

Seeing that Shen Yunshan was about to speak again, Shen Liushi continued, "My son, don't worry about the money. A few days ago, I made wedding clothes for a wealthy businessman and received a lot of rewards. And I have already decided on the candidate for the book boy. It is your cousin Baoshan——"

Shen Yunshan's body stiffened slightly, and he stood up hurriedly, his tone slightly hard: "Ridiculous! How can my cousin be a servant and stay by my side..."

Shen Liushi explained, "I have already asked Wen Jing. It is common for female relatives to act as servants and serve as students in Xiangjiang Academy. It is not as absurd as you say.

I have made up my mind. After the precious fan goes to Xiangjiang Academy with you, I will return to the village.

After all, my eyesight has improved, and staying in Luo County is a waste of money.

Although Luo County is a good place, there are too many embroidery workshops. Even if I have hand embroidery work, no one is willing to give it to me. They all go to look for the embroiderers in the embroidery workshops.

I have nothing to do in Luo County all day, so I might as well return home."

Seeing Shen Yunshan's cold expression, Shen Liushi continued, "You and Baoshan have a relationship like cousins. You can depend on each other in Luo County. I wanted Baoshan to be your servant to bring honor to you.

But I also have another thought in mind, Baoshan looks good.

If she stayed in the village, the best she could do was marry a wealthy businessman. If she was worse off, she could only marry a farmer.

But she stays in Luo County, by your side. If any of your classmates are interested, Baoshan can live a peaceful life for the rest of her life."

Shen Yunshan's brows were furrowed, and his tone was slightly cold: "It is really inappropriate for Baoshan to enter Xiangjiang Academy as a girl. Mother, please don't talk about this anymore."

Shen Liu knew that her son, though gentle and polite on the surface, was actually extremely stubborn and could not be easily persuaded to do anything. Shen Liu sighed softly, "Forget it. Since you don't want to, I certainly can't go against your wishes. But I will not stay in Luo County with the treasure fan. Hu Xiu Niang wrote to me a few days ago, saying that Zheng Xiucai had proposed to her, and I had turned it down.

Now it seems that Zheng Xiucai is a good candidate.

He comes from a wealthy family and is handsome, and Baoshan seems to be interested in him.

It is better for girls to get married as soon as possible. If Baoshan can become a scholar's wife, her life in the future will not be too hard."

Get married?

Shen Yunshan's heartbeat paused slightly. Yes, among the unmarried girls in Luo County, Baoshan was still young.

But in that remote village, people get married at the age of thirteen or fourteen, so at Baoshan's age, she has to start looking carefully.

If he hadn't let Baoshan stay as a servant, he would probably receive a letter from Baoshan saying she was married within half a month.

Last time, Shen Yunshan warned Zheng Xiucai. Zheng Xiucai clearly had a fiancée and the two had already made an engagement, but Zheng Xiucai came to provoke Baoshan again. He was really not a good man.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Xiucai found Hu Xiu Niang again. It was unknown whether she had really broken off the previous engagement or wanted to plot against the treasured fan.

Shen Liu sighed softly, turned around and was about to leave.

In a matter of moments, Shen Yunshan had to make a decision. To leave or to stay, it was just a matter of a thought.

Shen Yunshan moved his fingers slightly and called out to Shen Liushi: "What mother said makes sense."

Shen Liushi stopped.

Shen Yunshan lowered his eyelids and avoided Shen Liushi's sight: "I'll trouble you with the book boy's matter, cousin."

Hearing this, Shen Liushi's eyebrows relaxed: "It's good that you have figured it out. I will tell Baoshan and ask her to go to Xiangjiang Academy with you as soon as possible."

Only after Shen Liushi left did Shen Yunshan loosen his tightly clenched fingers, which were covered with red marks.

Shen Liushi told Baoshan about this, and then looked at Baoshan carefully, and asked tentatively: "Do you feel sad that you can't see Zheng Xiucai?"

Baoshan smiled softly, without a trace of shyness on her face: "Zheng Xiucai is good, but he can never compare to cousin Yunshan."

Seeing that Bao Shan had no romantic feelings for Zheng Xiucai, Shen Liushi finally felt relieved and said in a gentle voice, "When Yunshan graduates from high school, there will be many good men for you to choose from. Isn't that better than just having one scholar?"

Baoshan's cheeks were all pink, and she said in a weak voice, "Auntie."

Baoshan was wearing a page boy's uniform with a blue base and a white collar. All her long black hair was tied up with a blue cloth, leaving not a single strand of hair hanging down. She tied her hair into a round bun that hung behind her head.

Bao Shan and Shen Yunshan walked together. Although their clothes were similar, their statures were very different.

It is like a thin, pitiful and shaky sapling planted next to the green pines and cypresses.

Bao Shan followed Shen Yunshan reliantly, holding a bag that was extremely disproportionate to her slender and frail body.

This was packed by Shen Liushi. She was going back to the village today, so she sealed Baoshan's clothes, some silver and money, and the dried fruits and pickles she had made in the past few days in a clay jar and put it in this bundle.

Shen Yunshan's brows moved slightly, and he stretched out his long arm, then took the bundle containing the precious fan in his arms and took it into his own hands.

"Cousin Yunshan."

Bao Shan called out softly, her watery eyes turning slightly as she looked at the students coming and going. They were all carrying heavy things with their servants, making it easier for the students to walk. How could she let the students carry the burdens for the servants?

Shen Yunshan knew what she was worried about just by looking at Baoshan's trembling, bewildered eyes. He said calmly, "Master Ruzhang taught us to always consider the weak. If you were to carry the heavy load, I would be reprimanded by Master Ruzhang today, not tomorrow."

Her long, black eyelashes trembled slightly as Bao Shan followed closely behind Shen Yunshan. She bit her lips with her pearly teeth and shook her head gently, saying, "I don't want my cousin Yunshan to be punished."

Shen Yunshan: "In that case, there is no need to follow the example of other students."

Baoshan obediently agreed and dared not ask again, so she took the bag herself.

Xiangjiang Academy is filled with lush bamboo forests, vigorous pines and cypresses, and shade can be found everywhere.

The students coming and going were all wearing blue-bottomed, white-collared disciple uniforms, with elegant and refined demeanors, and the gentlemanly demeanor could be seen in their movements.

When classmates met Shen Yunshan, they nodded slightly.

But when he saw a frail little servant following behind Shen Yunshan, he could hardly hide the shock in his calm eyes.