Xiao Yunying asked Luo Sheng with her eyes: Do you know who your son is bringing?
Luo Sheng replied with his eyes, "I don't know, I haven't heard of him making any friends."
Xiao Yunying gave him a disdainful look. What use are you?
Luo Sheng...
She asked curiously, "Who are you bringing back for dinner?"
Luo Yang has always had a cool and aloof personality since childhood, and ever since that incident, he has become even more icy and distant towards people he doesn't know well.
Since taking office, he has always handled everything with an official attitude, and I haven't heard of him making friends with anyone.
Luo Yang asked calmly, "Mother, do you remember when we were studying at Yunshan Academy, we were called to the school for fighting once?"
"I remember, you and that person became friends after a fight?"
"...No, he's just a spoiled brat, I won't associate with him."
Who is that?
"The fight started because Ali stopped him from bullying a student from a poor family. Now that student is a clerk in the county government and said he wanted to come home to thank his parents for speaking up for him. I agreed."
"He's your advisor?"
"Not beside me, but at the county government office."
Xiao Yunying waved her hand: "Don't worry about these details... What's his name, and when did he apply for the position of clerk at the county government office?"
"His surname is Yan, and his given name is An. He was admitted last March."
Xiao Yunying keenly noticed that the word "examine" was pronounced slightly heavily, as if she was emphasizing something. She sized up Luo Yang's expression and boldly guessed, "You recruited him?"
Luo Yang admitted, "It was my suggestion. After the last imperial examination, he fainted in the examination room due to illness and was unable to finish the paper, so he failed. However, his family was of average means. His family had already incurred a lot of debt to support his studies and could not afford to let him repeat the exam for another three years, so he had no choice but to give up the path of imperial examination."
After that, he sold calligraphy and paintings on the street or copied books for bookstores to pay off his debts. Actually, he was quite knowledgeable, so I suggested that he try applying for a position as a clerk in the county government. At least his monthly salary was stable, and he wouldn't have to work in the wind and sun. If he was willing, he could use his spare time to study hard, save up his salary, and try again in the next imperial examination.”
A bold idea popped into Xiao Yunying's mind: "Luo Yang, you've been quite talkative today."
She asked a casual question, and this kid gave such a long and detailed explanation; this was the first time.
Luo Yang paused, put down his chopsticks, and said, "I just didn't want Mother to misunderstand anything."
"Misunderstanding? What could I possibly misunderstand?"
Luo Yang asked helplessly, "So, did Mother agree to let him come to our house for dinner?"
“Sure, come on, let me see what kind of person my son is praising so much.”
“There’s no need for constant praise.” Luo Yang was speechless. “Since Mother has agreed, I’ll bring him home for dinner next time I have a day off.”
"no problem."
Ten days later, it was Luo Yang's day off. Xiao Yunying got up early and began preparing the ingredients needed for lunch.
Luo Yang returned around noon. Xiao Yunying went out upon hearing the sound, her gaze first falling on the young man beside Luo Yang.
Luo Yang looked at Xiao Yunying walking straight towards him: "Mother, this is..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Yunying pushed him aside.
Xiao Yunying looked at the thin but decent-looking person in front of her and said, "You must be Yan An."
"Hello, Auntie." Yan An took out the gifts he had brought: "These are pastries and candied fruits that I bought in the city. Please don't find them offensive."
Xiao Yunying took the things: "You're so thoughtful, good child. How old are you this year?"
"I'm nineteen this year."
Are you married?
Yan An looked at Luo Yang as if pleading for help, but replied without hesitation, "To be honest, my family is in dire straits... and I am still unmarried."
"That's alright. My Luo Yang is twenty-three and still not married. No need to rush. You two can even live together as companions."
Luo Yang said helplessly, "Mother, you're talking nonsense again."
"I won't say anything more. Come inside quickly. The food will be ready soon. Please go in and sit for a while."
"Thank you for your help, Auntie."
Yan An bowed to her and followed Luo Yang into the reception room.
Xiao Yunying watched his retreating figure and nodded in satisfaction.
This child has good posture, speaks neither humbly nor arrogantly, and has clear eyes; he must be a good person.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have caught Luo Yang's eye.
Although Yan An said that his family had no money, she knew that it was just an excuse.
He at least held the title of a scholar and was handsome. Based on these two points alone, even without a dowry, many good women would be willing to marry him, and some would even pay him extra.
As for why he was unwilling to get married...
Xiao Yunying shifted her gaze to Luo Yang's retreating figure...
During the meal, Xiao Yunying was very enthusiastic and asked some questions in a tactful way, finding out most of Yan An's family background.
He wasn't a local; when he was a child, his family fled to this place because his hometown suffered a drought.
His mother starved to death on the road, and his father fought with those who came to steal the remaining food to protect it. He was seriously injured and did not survive. So now he and his grandmother depend on each other for survival.
He should have another aunt, but they've lost contact with her now.
He was able to go to school before thanks to his grandmother hiding her gold bracelet, which she had given as part of her dowry, and exchanging it for silver so that they could barely settle down there and support his schooling for a few years.
Her grandmother found a job washing clothes to earn money. Later, when Yan An was admitted to Yunshan Academy, they didn't have enough money, so his grandmother borrowed a lot from the employer to make up for the tuition fee...
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