Chapter 23: Making Money with Scholars
Gu Rongyu felt a trace of pity when he heard Chang Xixi stuttering, "But I'm scared."
"Afraid! How could I be afraid? They bullied you so badly last time! However, if anyone dares to bully me, even if they come ten times, I can send them back."
Chang Xixi glanced at the clothes she was wearing and said, "I haven't put on my makeup yet... I'm afraid they'll criticize me. Wait for me, I'll definitely drive these bastards away."
After tidying up her appearance, Chang Xixi poured tea into a coarse bowl, set up a long table and stools in front of the door, and boiled a large pot of water and placed it on the table.
Pointing at the tea, he said, "I don't have any fancy snacks here, but I do have a bowl of coarse tea. I'm afraid you're not used to it. But you came too early, you have to wait until I've finished my meal."
The scholars gnashed their teeth, but they could not find any fault with Chang Xixi because she was so polite!
They could only drink the tasteless tea in large bowls at the door, staring at the sun rising higher and higher, their skin burning from the sun.
Chang Xixi then slowly walked out carrying a stool, followed by Gu Rongyu, who was holding an account book and pen and ink.
"Chang, what are you doing?"
"Nothing. We'll know in a quarter of an hour." Chang Xixi sat down, tapping her fingers on the wooden table. "Someone of you can send a representative to tell us what we're doing here today."
The scholars were chattering away in low, incoherent voices, which gave Chang Xixi a headache. Why didn't his own scholar show off his knowledge all day?
After an incense stick of time, a scholar wearing a blue cloth shirt, holding an ordinary bamboo fan and with a stern face finally came out.
"We'll give you a question, and you'll give us a question. Whoever answers it first wins."
"This is not simple."
Chang Xixi beckoned Gu Rongyu to sit down as well, and pointed at the scholar and said, "What's your name, where do you live, and what do you do for a living? Ten cents per question."
"What do you mean?"
"Literally, if you want me to debate you about literature, you have to follow my rules. My rule is ten cents per person. If you don't agree, get out. I have to go home and make braised pork."
Chang Xixi stood up with a smile and made a gesture to leave. She also asked Gu Rongyu to pack up the account book and planned to close the door and ignore these scholars.
They all came here to provoke her because they had nothing better to do, so extorting a little money from her was nothing.
The scholars whispered to each other again, and the scholar took out ten coins from his sleeve and put them on the table. Gu Rongyu turned around and asked for the name and family background, and wrote them down. Then it was the next person.
Chang Xixi smiled and took out a jar from the house, which was used to hold money.
Those who paid to register entered the courtyard one by one. Within a cup of tea, each of them came out with their faces covered, looking dejected.
The scholars were all furious. What...what was going on? Even though they were well-educated, they were still no match for a woman!
Chang Xixi saw that it was almost time for lunch, so she walked outside the courtyard gate and said to Gu Rongyu, "Husband, I'm a little tired. Let's cook and eat before coming out. You're tired too."
Gu Rongyu stood up and glanced at the scholars. A look of sarcasm appeared on his face. It was shameful that a man of honor was kept captive by a woman!
Hearing the scholars' sarcastic remarks, Chang Xixi just smiled and said, "Are any of you married yet? Do you all have wives and children at home?"
"I don't have a wife, but I do have two concubines at home." The man who spoke was graceful and elegant, and was a leader among the scholars.
"Then when you return home, will those concubines be scolded by you, and will they bring you water to wash and massage your shoulders and back?"
"Yes, this is what women should do! What's wrong with it?"
"Then your concubines have their indentures with you, and they call you Master or Master?" Chang Xixi asked again.
"Of course. How could they be on par with me with their status?" He had a smug look on his face, his head held high, as if this was something worth showing off.
Chang Xixi was indeed smiling, and pursed her lips as she said, "My husband and I can support each other. We didn't have that kind of superior-subordinate relationship before. I can take care of his life, and he will also give money to my family's expenses. We respect each other like guests, and we won't have any second thoughts. I don't worry that he will leave me. Even if one day, he really leaves me... I will feel that our relationship has run its course and there is no need to force it."
"What connects us is love and responsibility. It's not a so-called master-servant relationship, nor is it a forced smile. I didn't order my husband to do anything. He did all this voluntarily."
Gu Rongyu was stunned. What is love?
The third daughter of the Chang family had lived in the Zhou family for more than ten years, and she had read at least a lot of books such as "Biographies of Women" and "Women's Virtues".
Why would she say such words that would never be spoken in a boudoir? Instead, she spoke like those prostitutes who had read too many erotic books.
These words completely infuriated the scholar. It was clear what Chang Xixi meant. She was mocking him for being unloved. The people around him who were nice to him were only trying to curry favor with him because of his status or other interests. No one was sincere.
The scholar left in shame and anger.
Chang Xixi was not satisfied and said to the scholar's back, "If it weren't for your family's small fortune, I'm afraid no one among your colleagues would like you."
It's like salt in the wound!
The scholar was so angry that his whole body was shaking. He fell directly on the edge of the field and cursed his mother in anger. He was no longer as handsome and elegant as before. The other scholars burst into laughter.
"Today's challenge is full. Those who signed up can come back tomorrow. Remember to line up early! No one will be waiting if you're late! In the afternoon, I'll be grinding for my husband and then going back to my parents' house to make clothes."
After saying that, he closed the door gracefully, but the scholars were still complaining at the door.
The ten scholars who had previously gone in to compete with Chang Xixi all took out their questions and shared them with everyone, and the comparison was incredible.
Chang Xixi's knowledge is even better than theirs! She could definitely teach in a private school, for a woman like her! It's such a blessing for Gu Rongyu, this sickly person.
After closing the door, Chang Xixi did not go back to her room directly. Instead, she stood in front of the door, pricked up her ears and eavesdropped on the conversation of the scholar outside.
People of letters look down on each other, so they will definitely keep talking as if they are discussing exam subjects!
As expected!
These people! Haha, she calculated it right, there will be more fun to watch tomorrow.
Gu Rongyu counted the money in the jar, there was exactly one or two taels of silver, which was much more than what he earned from copying books. Then he thought about the money that the second branch of the Chang family had lost before.
He really didn't expect where Chang Xixi got so many clever ideas, making her both hateful and lovable.
"Husband, I'm going to make you work hard these few days. In the future, we can make money like this and buy a house in the city."
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