The carriage continued on its way, and everyone racked their brains but could not find the most suitable solution.
Wen Zhiyun bit her lower lip, hesitating several times before finally speaking, "Perhaps...perhaps...there is a way."
Everyone, including Jiang Chengfeng, turned to look at them.
The already timid Doctor Wen was startled, but luckily Jiang Sheng was right next to him and quickly grasped his slender, pale fingers. "Fourth Brother, don't be afraid, speak with confidence."
Wen Zhiyun took a deep breath. “What the Fang family is afraid of is that my eldest brother studies hard and will become the top student again. As long as my eldest brother is ‘sick,’ the Fang family will stop plotting against him.”
Not only is he sick, but if Xu Mo is willing, he can even play the role of a drunken, frustrated student indulging in the pleasures of women.
If the Fang family believes this, the next six months will be safe.
“I can give my elder brother acupuncture, so that he appears weak and sickly without harming his body, or even has tuberculosis and cough,” Wen Zhiyun said earnestly. “It’s not difficult to make him look pale; just apply some cosmetics.”
But what's the difference between that and deserting in the face of battle?
Using illness and weakness as a pretext, and feigning despair to mislead the enemy, one can evade conspiracies, but also waste time that should be spent studying diligently, and even more so, damage one's unwavering belief.
Wen Zhiyun's intentions were good, but they went against Xu Mo's upright and unyielding spirit.
After careful consideration, Chang Yan said, "If there's really no other way, let's choose this one."
Silence fell again; there was not much time left for deep thought.
Because we've arrived at the second courtyard.
Zhang Xianglian looked around and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the familiar carriage. With tears in her eyes, she asked, "What happened? What's wrong? Are the children alright?"
"It's alright, it's alright, everyone's back," the head chef reassured him.
Zhang Xianglian then stopped crying, "I'll go get the dishes; the children must be starving."
The siblings filed off the bus, with Jiang Chengfeng being the last to disembark.
Logically, he should have brought up the abandoned Jiang family carriage, or asked Jiang San and Jiang Si to send him back to the Jiang family.
For some reason, Jiang Chengfeng remained silent.
The siblings in the second courtyard couldn't be mentioned, so they simply invited him into the courtyard to have a meal together.
Zhang Xianglian's skills couldn't compare to the Jiang family's master chef, but they had a unique flavor, and Jiang Chengfeng ate two large bowls of it earnestly.
After the meal.
Just as the siblings were about to get up, he finally spoke, "Perhaps I also have a way, would you like to hear it?"
Indeed, everyone has a purpose in their words and actions.
The long banquet was not unexpected. "Please, Young Master Jiang, speak freely."
“My plan is that I will serve as Young Master Xu’s page for six months,” Jiang Chengfeng said earnestly. “But he must teach me to study and help me pass the imperial examination in three years.”
Both of Jiang's sons failed the imperial examinations, only reaching the level of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar). They also participated in the provincial examination the year Xu Mo took the provincial examination, but both failed.
This incident also drew ridicule from rival families, who believed that the younger generation of the Jiang family was incapable of shouldering great responsibilities.
“My elder brother went to fight in the northern frontier, and I’m staying in Fengjing. I can’t just be a scholar and live off the Jiang family’s wealth.” Jiang Chengfeng said self-deprecatingly, “The Jiang family can protect me and ensure I have enough to eat and wear for the rest of my life, but what about my children, my grandchildren, and the glory and pride of our Jiang family?”
Without an heir, there is only decline.
It could be money, or it could be pride.
Realizing that complacency was a waste of life, Jiang Chengfeng set his sights on Xu Mo.
No one is more suitable to be a guide for progress than a student who has won the top honors in the imperial examinations. Xu Mo's excellence is self-evident, and it is true that he needs protection now.
Jiang Chengfeng also happens to have some status, which allows him to even stand up to the Fang family.
This is an exchange, a win-win situation, and also a display of the cunning and strategy cultivated by the Jiang family.
Don't question the spoiled rich kids. They are one way when they don't work hard, and another way when they do.
Jiang Chengfeng's eyes shone brightly as he stared intently at Xu Mo while also secretly observing Chang Yan.
a long time.
Xu Mo nodded and uttered a single word, "Okay."
He was willing to give up his talent and poetry to bring down Zhu Zhi back then, so what difficulty is there in teaching a not-so-stupid young master from a prominent family?
Jiang Chengfeng extended his hand, and Xu Mo responded. Their two equally slender fingers clasped together, and the deal was done.
He sighed deeply, yet felt that this was the best way.
They are so vulnerable and desperately in need of protection.
Jiang Sheng could ask Old Madam Jiang for help, and Xu Mo could ask Minister Dou for help, but the help obtained through such requests was far less comfortable and reassuring than the exchange with Jiang Chengfeng.
That's enough.
Now that the decision has been made, let's make good use of this momentum.
Chang Yan's eyes flashed with anger. "Brother, the Fang family is going too far. We can't just let this go."
Aren't they afraid of Xu Mo's hard work? Aren't they afraid of Xu Mo winning the top score in the imperial examination? Don't they like to cheat in the imperial examination?
Let's play a six-month game of chess then.
The two sides play a game of chess, and the winner is determined by a contest.
The three boys looked at each other, as if they understood what the other was thinking, and burst into laughter in unison.
Only Jiang Sheng nudged the chubby little Doctor Wen, "Fourth Brother, what are they laughing at?"
"Yeah, what are you laughing at?" Wen Zhiyun asked, completely bewildered.
They found out very quickly.
In the time that followed, Xu Mo continued to study diligently, but he no longer discarded his articles casually. Instead, he tore them into small pieces and threw them into the deepest part of the ashes.
The size of the fragments is also clever; they are just the right size to be pieced together, but always a few pieces are missing.
Xu Mo hid behind the door, listening to the noise of the ash pile being turned over outside, a cold smile on his face, waiting for Fang Yuan to be led astray by the erroneous article.
The scheme to find a bargain has failed!
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