Zhou Gu felt that half a day’s learning was good and that Su Rong should not be too tired now.
He turned to her and said, "Let’s have dinner. If you’re too tired and don’t feel like moving, shall Yuewan feed you?"
Madam Zhou thought, what a decent fellow he is, he even suggested being spoon-fed.
The Governor Su chuckled satisfactorily, nodding continuously, finding Zhou Gu to be very affectionate despite his young age.
The concubines and their daughters were astonished, and thought, who would have thought the Young Master Zhou was such a caring person? He didn’t seem to be pretending, and given his status, there was no necessity for him to pretend to care for Su Rong.
Only Su Xingze said nonchalantly, "Su Rong, eat!"
Su Rong picked up her chopsticks slowly, turned to Zhou Gu, tilted her head, smiled, and muttered warmly, "Zhou Gu, you’re really nice."
Zhou Gu blushed as he had never done such a small favor in front of everyone before and felt somewhat embarrassed, thus he stayed silent.
After having dinner, it had already become dark, but since it was the sixteenth day of the lunar month, the moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the ground brightly.
Su Rong asked Zhou Gu, "Are we going out again tomorrow?"
Zhou Gu said, "We’ll follow Brother Su’s arrangement. I had a great time today, additionally, it was quite enlightening."
Upon hearing this, Su Xingze said, "In that case, let’s go to the Wen Hui Tower tomorrow! Regarding the autumn exams, some teachers from the Academy are guessing the examination questions at the Wen Hui Tower. Let’s take a look too."
"Do they openly guess the examination questions?" Zhou Gu had never heard of this before.
"Yes, this has always been a tradition in Jiangning. However, they haven’t been right for several rounds now." Su Xingze said, "It’s all for fun, it’s harmless to have a look."
Zhou Gu nodded, feeling that if they were openly guessing the questions correctly, how many candidates would stand out? The examination question hairdressers from the Imperial Court must have already been unable to stay in their seats in Jiangning.
Everyone left the front hall and went to their respective courtyards. When they parted ways, Su Rong felt somewhat reluctant to separate from Zhou Gu, mostly because they hadn’t seen each other a whole day, "Zhou Gu, are you tired? The moonlight is so beautiful, would you like to take a walk?"
Zhou Gu shook his head, "A walk? Aren’t you tired?"
Su Rong pointed to her belly, "Even if I am tired, I need to digest before I sleep."
Zhou Gu nodded, "Well, let’s take a walk then!"
Su Xingze glanced at the two and did not stop them, and then turned around and left.
The two of them took a stroll around the water pavilion, Zhou Gu talked with Su Rong about who he came across today when he followed Su Xingze, especially Jiang Xing, "Unless otherwise, your big brother could make it to the first-class, and Jiang Xing is certain to enter the second-class. As for other people, they should be able to make it to the third-class."
Su Rong nodded, "My big brother has always been really good, having studied with uncle Xie. Two years ago, he was invited by the head of Yunshan Academy to assist in teaching. Jiang Xing is also pretty good, slightly inferior to my big brother, but has a solid foundation and possesses an attractive literary grace. If he performs outstandingly, he may even surpass us."
Zhou Gu was surprised, "How do you know all this?"
"Of course I know. I used to not have any money to spend, so I stole my brother’s poetry manuscript to sell. Later, Jiang Xing found out, and he also gave me his poetry manuscript to sell. In order to fetch a high price, I naturally had to put in some effort. Their fame today, especially my brother’s wide reputation, also has much to do with my promotion." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
Zhou Gu: "..."
He didn’t know what to say, and could only think, Su Rong, you’re quite capable.
Su Rong saw his expression, guessed what he was thinking, and said reluctantly, "I had no choice, my monthly stipend was just that little. My mother has been saving money for our dowries since we were very young. Every month, my sisters and I each get two taels of silver. I love to go out and play, how could two taels of silver be enough? So I had to find another way."
Zhou Gu commented, "Your way of finding a new way is indeed ingenious. Didn’t your big brother beat you up?"
Su Rong laughed, "No, but he was upset when he found out, so he stationed guards in his study, more guarded than my father’s study."
Zhou Gu finally understood why there were so many guards in Su Xingze’s study. He was quite impressed and said, "You’re indeed amazing."
He looked at Su Rong, "How did Jiang Xing find out? He actually willingly gave you his poetry manuscript to sell?"
"Once he ran into me at the Wen Hui Tower. I was selling my brother’s poetry manuscript to someone, and he happened to notice it. Su Rong, thinking that Zhou Gu did not seem to mind the many things Chen Zhou had told him about her, took a risk and honestly told him, "He was shocked and asked if Brother Xingze was short of money such that I had to sell his poetry manuscript. I quickly denied it, and told him it was me who was short of money."
Zhou Gu laughed, "So, how many of his poetry manuscripts did you sell?"
Su Rong scratched her head, "Just dozens of them!"
In fact, it was a couple of dozen.
Zhou Gu didn’t buy it, "Seriously, dozens?"
Su Rong helplessly admitted, "Yes, I am telling the truth. It was a couple of dozens."
"So many? How much money did you make?" Zhou Gu was astounded.
"Sometimes more than a hundred taels, sometimes several dozens, I never specifically calculated it. He said it was to repay me for saving him from a vicious dog, so I didn’t hesitate."
Zhou Gu didn’t know what to say anymore, "You made so much money, what did you do with it?"
Su Rong wanted to say that she had supported many people, but she couldn’t, so she simply stated, "Spent it on food and fun."
Zhou Gu looked at Su Rong in disbelief, asking her, "Are you short of silver now?"
"No I’m not." Su Rong shook her head. The people she was supporting not only could support themselves now, but they could also earn money to support her. Ravens being fed in return, she was truly not short of silver.
"How are you not lacking silver now? You haven’t been selling Jiang Xing’s poetry manuscripts all this while, have you?"
"No, I stopped selling them two years ago." Su Rong shook her head, and hastily provided a reason, "My brother supplements me privately, and gives me fifty taels a month to spend, so I no longer need to sell poetry manuscripts."
Zhou Gu muttered, "Fifty taels, that’s a lot."
"Yes, my brother is awesome. When he went to Yunshan Academy to assist in teaching, he received a good salary, and was able to earn a hundred taels a month, and he gave me fifty taels to spend." With Su Rong’s praise, it seemed as though she had an unprecedentedly good brother.
Most families would not even spend two taels of silver in a whole month, but Su Xingze gave her fifty taels every month. The other sisters did not receive this treatment. When Madam Su found out, she secretly criticized Su Xingze for his filial piety to her after raising him for so many years. The other sisters were all picked up, but only Su Rong was her own child.
Even Madam Su was jealous of Su Xingze’s kindness to her.
"Is your dowry ready?" Zhou Gu suddenly asked.
"No, it isn’t." Su Rong shook her head, "I’ve been too extravagant these years, and half of the dowry my mother saved up for me has been squandered. Now, my mother is saving up for it again."
"How did you manage to squander even your dowry?" Zhou Gu was shocked, "Don’t you get fifty taels to spend every month?"
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