Jing Li blushed and nodded.

Qin Zhao turned and left, striding out of the courtyard. He turned back to look at Chen Yan'an, who was still standing by the door, with a calm expression: "Are you not leaving yet?"

"Come, come!"

Chen Yanan's face flushed red, and his heart was full of regret.

He shouldn't be curious about what Qin Zhao would do when he returned!

He's so jealous!

The two men's backs quickly disappeared, and Jing Li withdrew his gaze.

He secretly asked Chen Yan'an, and learned that the usual process of the Mid-Autumn Poetry Festival was to appreciate flowers, drink wine, compete in poetry, and praise each other. It was not yet noon, and if they went to the poetry festival now, it would be difficult for it to end before the sun went down.

Jing Li was not in a hurry. He waited patiently at home for half an hour before he took the copper coins from the small wooden box at the foot of the bed and went out.

The Mid-Autumn Poetry Festival was held in a village on the outskirts of the town.

When Chen Yan'an and Qin Zhao arrived at the village, there was only a child waiting outside. Chen Yan'an explained his purpose and presented a visiting card for the poetry gathering before he was allowed in.

They only had a visiting card, and if they went to a larger town, they would not be able to enter without a visiting card.

Because their town is small and there aren't that many educated people, the poetry gathering is open to bringing a few friends. The requirements aren't high; as long as you're at least literate, you're welcome. Having read a few books or poetry collections is a plus.

That's why Chen Yan'an was able to bring Qin Zhao along.

There was a small artificial lake in the manor. This wasn't Chen Yan'an's first time there, so he led Qin Zhao through the lakeside veranda with ease. "This manor belongs to Mr. Fang. Although he's a businessman, he particularly enjoys writing. Every year he lends it to scholars for poetry and couplets."

Qin Zhao asked, "Is it the Fang family in town?"

"Yes, I remember you still know the young master of the Fang family, Fang Tianying?"

Qin Zhao nodded.

Chen Yanan sighed, "That young Master Fang was my classmate before, but he only came to the private school a few times. He would go home and make a fuss, refusing to study, and was beaten several times by his father."

"...I heard that not long ago, Young Master Fang ran away from home, scaring Master Fang so much that he couldn't sleep for several days. Since then, Master Fang no longer forces him to study, and instead lets him stay at home and learn the business."

Qin Zhao: "..."

It turns out that this was the reason why Fang Tianying ran away from home.

Qin Zhao asked, "Is Fang Tianying also coming to the poetry gathering today?"

"Most likely he won't come," Chen Yan'an said. "Master Fang did intend to have Fang Tianying come over to educate him, but the young master thinks the writers at this poetry gathering are just boasting and praising each other, and are pedantic and hypocritical, so he looks down on them. To be honest, I also..."

"Isn't this Brother Chen?" Someone called out to the two of them from behind.

They turned around and saw a tall, thin young man in a jade-colored brocade shirt. He smiled before he spoke. "I thought Brother Chen wouldn't come here today. It's already August, why did you let Brother Chen come to the poetry gathering? If it affects the county exam in February next year, Brother Chen will have to wait another year, right?"

Chen Yanan's face flushed red, and he said stiffly: "What does it have to do with you? If you want to know, just ask the master!"

The man didn't answer and looked at Qin Zhao beside him.

"Brother Chen, did you bring friends with you today?" The man looked Qin Zhao up and down. He was dressed in ordinary clothes, with a gentle and peaceful temperament, quite noble.

He bowed to Qin Zhao and asked politely, "I wonder which master this brother is your disciple?"

This man has a handsome face, but there is always an invisible arrogance in his conversation, which makes him not very likable.

Qin Zhao returned the greeting and said calmly, "I am just an ordinary farmer and have not become a disciple."

The man was startled, then asked, "Are you planning to become my disciple?"