After Xiao Mochen left the northern border, he said to the guards Yan Qingqing had sent him, "Go back and report to your aunt. Tell her I have to go to the capital for business. I will return to Canghe Village after I have dealt with the matters in the capital."
The bodyguard leading the team was Amao. He cupped his hands to Xiao Mochen and said, "Young Master Mochen, Madam instructed us to protect you on your journey to the capital. Only after ensuring your absolute safety will we be allowed to return to Canghe Village."
Hearing this, Xiao Mochen felt a warmth in his heart and sighed, saying, "My aunt is exceptionally intelligent. I thought that not saying goodbye to her would make things less sad."
Upon hearing this, Amao quickly replied, "When she came, Madam instructed that Young Master Mo Chen should not feel burdened, saying that she would come to the capital sooner or later, and that Young Master Mo Chen should rest assured and wait for her in the capital."
Xiao Mochen was delighted to hear this. Yes, how could someone like his aunt stay in Canghe Village forever?
Moreover, his aunt had said she would be his protector, so naturally he had to go to the capital.
His aunt thinks highly of him, so he can't be too bad, right? He has to pay back those who framed him behind his back.
That way, Auntie will have less trouble when she goes to Beijing.
With that thought in mind, Xiao Mochen no longer hesitated and immediately spurred his horse toward the capital.
Yan Qingqing was extremely busy.
After working for more than half a month, all businesses finally officially went into production.
Once the first batch of goods is produced and sold, they can recoup their funds and resume normal operations.
You simply can't do big business without sufficient capital.
Fortunately, the workers in their workshop were extremely loyal to their family, and Yan Qingqing had enough private savings to supplement their income.
Otherwise, it would be quite difficult for these workshops to operate simultaneously.
In February, as spring arrived, some merchants gradually came to purchase goods, and with the return of funds, the workshop finally resumed normal operations.
Seeing the silver gradually increasing in the accounts, Yan Qingqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She was really afraid that several workshops would have to stop production due to insufficient funds, which would mean all her efforts over the past few years would have been in vain.
That day, Yan Qingqing was discussing the next steps for the workshop with Li Xiang'an when the gatekeeper came to report that Scholar Han had arrived.
This Han scholar is Han Yu, who studied in the prefectural city after passing the imperial examination.
During this period, due to the plague and the city being under lockdown, Yan Qingqing had not heard from him for a long time.
A Juren (举人) is different from a Xiucai (秀才); a Juren is qualified to become an official, and even a county magistrate would show him deference.
Besides, Han Yu is a proper scholar with excellent academic background. If he achieves ideal results in the palace examination, his future will be limitless.
Yan Qingqing had tea and refreshments set out in the main hall, and then personally led Li Xiang'an to the front hall to entertain them.
When Han Yu entered and saw Yan Qingqing, he still bowed respectfully and said, "This junior greets Master Mingzhao."
Yan Qingqing laughed upon hearing this, "You are now a scholar who has passed the imperial examination. Even Lord Ling would show you deference. There is no need for such a grand ceremony."
Upon hearing this, Han Yu smiled and said, "Leaving aside the fact that Lady Ming Zhaoshuo is a third-rank imperial consort bestowed by the Emperor, I will be grateful for the life-saving grace you and Lord Ling have shown me for the rest of my life."
After his previous imprisonment, Han Yu has become much more tactful in his speech and actions than before.
Seeing this, Li Xiang'an stepped forward and bowed to Han Yu, saying, "Xiang'an greets Scholar Han."
Han Yu quickly helped him up and said, "Brother Xiang An, what are you doing? Are you trying to make me feel uncomfortable?"
Li Xiang'an smiled and said, "You are now a proper scholar, and I am just a commoner. Of course I must pay my respects to you."
Han Yu's status is different from before. When he was a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination), Li Xiang'an could ignore him, but now he is a Juren (a scholar who passed the provincial-level imperial examination), just one step away from high-ranking official positions and generous salaries.
Even if Han Yu wanted to become an official now, he would still need to.
Yan Qingqing was so polite to Han Yu, so Li Xiang'an was flexible and adaptable. It was just a simple bow, and there was nothing embarrassing about it for Li Xiang'an.
Han Yu chuckled and said, "Let's not be so polite. I'm being presumptuous, being a few years older than Brother Xiang An. Just call me Brother Yu."
I'll be shameless for a moment, and taking advantage of Ming Zhaoshuo's kindness to me, I'll call her "Auntie."
Li Xiang'an readily agreed, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, Han Yu finally sat down.
After Han Yu sat down, he said, "Actually, I came here today specifically to say goodbye to my aunt."
The Emperor had already set the date for the autumn imperial examinations and originally planned to depart before the new year, but the journey was delayed due to rumors of a plague.
Li Xiang'an asked with some confusion, "Isn't the autumn examination in August? Why is Brother Yu going to the capital so early?"
Before Han Yu could answer, Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "You're not a scholar, so naturally you wouldn't know the reason behind this."
Although the autumn imperial examinations are still five or six months away, the journey to the capital will take more than a month, and if something happens along the way that delays the trip, it may take two to three months.
After arriving in Beijing, students from other places not only need to settle down in terms of food, clothing, and accommodation, but also need to familiarize themselves with the local customs and culture.
Many students need a long time to adapt due to the change in environment and climate.
If possible, one should also visit some renowned Confucian scholars and ask them for guidance.
Therefore, the more time available, the better.
Han Yu nodded repeatedly and said, "Auntie is absolutely right. I have studied hard for ten years, all for the sake of passing the imperial examination in the fall. Naturally, I have to make full preparations in advance."
Regardless of whether Yu passes the high school entrance exam this time, he will always take his aunt as his role model and dedicate himself to the country and its people.
Yan Qingqing's heroic act of exhausting her family's wealth to raise food has spread throughout the Great Yan Dynasty, and Han Yu was shocked when he heard the news in the prefectural city.
That's why he had to come and say goodbye to Yan Qingqing despite his limited time.
Yan Qingqing felt a little embarrassed when she heard this. Could she say that she regretted it after making the donation?
The thought of those five or six hundred thousand taels of silver made her feel terrible.
However, if given the chance again, she would still choose to gather provisions for the soldiers on the border.
Han Yu stayed at the Li family's house for quite a while this time, and had a very pleasant conversation with Yan Qingqing and Li Xiang'an. Han Yu found that he benefited a lot from chatting with Yan Qingqing, and Li Xiang'an could also occasionally say some profound truths that he had never heard of before.
Finally, seeing that it was getting late, Han Yu reluctantly got up to say goodbye.
Yan Qingqing asked Ruyi to select a set of fine writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones from her storeroom to give to Han Yu, hoping that he would pass the imperial examination with flying colors and achieve the highest rank.
As Han Yu left the Li family's house, he was still thinking about what Yan Qingqing had told him. He didn't watch where he was going and almost tripped over the threshold of the Li family's house.
Han Yu didn't think anything of it at first, but a few hearty laughs suddenly came from the side and made Han Yu feel a little embarrassed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com