Chapter 25 Lin Wen'an: The author who wrote the book is despicable!
When it snows, the sky and clouds appear silent and gloomy.
Instead, the snow on the ground reflected a hazy, misty light, like willows in the rain, shining through the edge of the oil-paper umbrella and directly onto the man's high nose. This also made the crystal earrings perched on his nose appear as if veiled in mist.
Yao Ruyi couldn't quite make out his expression. She had called out to him earlier, but he seemed lost in thought and didn't respond. Instead, he turned his head slightly and looked out of the window into the courtyard.
They seemed to be drawn in by Grandpa Yao's powerful and eloquent voice as he reprimanded Meng Chenglin and the other two.
The three poor people stood there with their heads down and hands clasped, almost as if they were about to be thoroughly criticized by Grandpa Yao, who quoted classical texts and relentlessly, without taking a breath, until they were reduced to three wilted, dried-up vegetables.
The new prescription given by Dr. Chen was effective. Since the addition of those qi-boosting and blood-tonifying herbs, although it was unclear how much his mind had recovered, Grandpa Yao's voice had become even more powerful and resonant.
Yao Ruyi followed the man's gaze and then looked away. This man is really tall. She raised her gaze again, scrutinizing his face.
This person wasn't in the original owner's memories, but the original owner's memories were too fragmented to be considered valid.
He must have been about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with thick black hair that was neatly combed and tied in a bun in a bamboo crown. He wore a plain, light blue cotton robe, without even a snow-proof cloak.
Holding an umbrella in one hand, he had a long, well-defined face with high brow bones and a high nose bridge. His slender, slightly upturned eyes were half-hidden behind two crystal lenses, and two thin silver chains loosely wrapped around his ears.
Scholars in the Song Dynasty loved to wear powder and flowers in their hair. Although their clothes were simple in pattern and color, they had many accessories on their heads and bodies. But even though this person wore a refined-looking embroidered hat, he had a clean and unpretentious air about him, completely untouched by any artificiality.
Yao Ruyi blinked; it was the first time she had ever seen a living person from ancient times wearing glasses.
People in ancient times in TV dramas don't wear glasses.
She had seen the Aidai shop when she was buying goods. At that time, she had no common sense and even fantasized about buying some reading glasses from the shop to sell. So she boldly and confidently walked in.
After circling around and asking the price, he pretended not to like it and had something urgent to attend to, then quickly left.
At that time, eyeglasses were made by hand-polishing the lenses from the finest natural crystal, and then custom-making the frames and nose pads from precious materials such as gold, silver, copper, tortoiseshell, and ivory. Some had single lenses, while others had double lenses. The styles of the temples were also diverse: some had a single temple held in the hand, some had foldable double temples, some were strung with silk or cotton thread and tied behind the head, and some, like this person, were inlaid with silver chains.
A typical pair costs several tens of taels.
The best ones cost over a hundred taels.
After slipping out of the shop, Yao Ruyi realized why there was no one in that shop. It was something that ordinary families couldn't afford, and those who could afford it wouldn't need to come in person.
The man before her, though simply dressed, possessed an air of authority and an air of superiority that suggested he was no ordinary person. Yao Ruyi wondered if he might be a newly arrived son of a powerful family at the Imperial Academy. But upon further thought, she doubted it, since every powerful person was always dressed in fine clothes and surrounded by a retinue.
In short, he was a very handsome man, but also somewhat eccentric.
Just then, inside the courtyard, Yao Qizhao spat out tea foam in anger, seemingly regarding Meng Boyuan and the other two as his worthless students. He raised his ruler and began to strike them: "You all solved this problem terribly! I've explained this problem to you several times already! Were you even using your brains in class? You can't even solve such a simple problem! How are you going to pass the imperial examinations in the future! What are you looking at me for? I don't have any words on my face! Now rewrite it!"
Hmm... Grandpa Yao looks terrifying after transforming into Dr. Yao.
Yao Ruyi shrank back upon hearing this, and turned her head to see three wilted pickled vegetables... no, Meng and Lin sat down with mournful faces, grinding ink with a pitiful expression, almost crying; Cheng Shujun remained calm on the surface, but after being hit on the head with the ruler, he looked ashamed, obediently laid out the paper, picked up the pen, and began to rewrite earnestly.
Yao Qizhao squinted his bull-like eyes, gripped his ruler that he used to "win people over with virtue," bowed slightly, and stared intently at them as they wrote each word.
For some reason, the man in front of him relaxed his shoulders as he heard Grandpa Yao cursing louder and louder. It seemed that the worries he had been carrying for a long time were finally relieved at this moment, and his originally indifferent gaze slowly warmed up.
He turned around, looked at her quietly for a while, and then asked hesitantly, "Is it... Ruyi?"
Yao Ruyi's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, this is someone she knows!
She quickly searched through the original owner's memories for any familiar faces or relatives who wore glasses, but found no trace of them. She immediately suppressed her overly bright business smile, stopped talking, and only gave him a reserved nod.
This man seemed to be naturally very perceptive. Almost the instant Yao Ruyi nodded, he realized that she didn't remember him and also noticed the fleeting nervousness in her eyes.
His brows furrowed slightly.
Yao Ruyi felt a sense of unease. In her past life, she had moved from one relative's house to another as a child, enduring the cold treatment from her aunts. This had instilled in her the ability to read people's expressions from a very young age. She sensed that this person was different from all the neighbors in the alley. His eyes were clearly gentle, yet it seemed as if he could see right through her.
Fortunately, he paused slightly and didn't say anything more about it. He glanced at the courtyard again out of the corner of his eye, then slowly took a step forward, stood under the eaves of the Yao family's house, and put away the oil-paper umbrella.
He leaned slightly forward and tapped the umbrella against the threshold to remove the snowflakes clinging to its surface before looking up at her and speaking slowly:
"I am Lin Wen'an."
His voice was like the snow of early winter—cold and somewhat soft.
"It's been so many years, you've grown so much."
"I've come to visit you, sir."
***
A moment later, Yao Ruyi led Lin Wen'an inside. She said she was going to fetch some snacks for the guest, but in reality, she slipped into the shop and quietly crouched against the wall, listening intently to the sounds coming from the corridor.
I didn't hear much else, just Lin Weiming's excited chatter as he circled around Lin Wen'an, shouting things like, "Uncle, why didn't you write to let me know you were coming back? My dad could have picked you up at the dock! Uncle, you've lost so much weight! Is your leg healed? Uncle, what happened to your eyes? Why are you wearing glasses? Did you get glaucoma?"
Yao Ruyi almost choked on her own saliva listening to this; this child really knows how to chat.
Lin Wen'an initially answered him patiently, but after hearing the words "glaucoma," he couldn't hold back any longer. He paused and said, "Please calm down. I want to talk to you alone for a while."
"Oh, okay, okay, go ahead and tell me! I... I'll go home and tell my parents right away!"
Meng Boyuan, who was pretending to be writing furiously but actually drawing turtles on the paper, had his ears perked up. When he saw that Lin Weiming was about to slip away, he immediately stood up and said righteously that he would go with him, and also pulled Cheng Shujun, who was really engrossed in studying, up as well.
Grandpa Yao's face lit up with joy upon seeing Lin Wen'an, and his earlier anger vanished. However, he still remembered that the articles these three had written were worse than wiping one's bottom in the latrine, so he loudly instructed, "Remember to keep writing when you get back. The more you write and practice, the better you will be!"
Cheng Shujun was about to honestly agree, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Meng Boyuan and Lin Weiming quickly covered it, and he was dragged away by them.
The three of them agreed haphazardly, and thus took the opportunity to escape from Grandpa Yao's clutches.
They had to pass Yao Ruyi's small shop to get out. She was afraid that Lin Wen'an would notice something amiss and was squatting down to eavesdrop, so she quickly stood up, smoothed her hair, patted her clothes, and, for some unknown reason, took two steps forward and pretended to scoop two spoonfuls of pine nuts and melon seeds from the pile of roasted nuts.
Fortunately, the three of them were also in dire straits, afraid of being caught and forced to do their homework. They only gave her a casual greeting as they passed by before running away as fast as they could.
They left, and Yao Ruyi could still hear Lin Weiming's loud voice echoing in the alley: "Mother! Uncle is back! Quickly tell Xiao Shitou to go to the yamen and call Father back! Also, have Si Lang and Wu Lang buy some good wine and food. Uncle is at the Yao family's now!"
The Yao family finally quieted down. Big Yellow and the puppies were fast asleep in their tiny kotatsu. Except when Yao Ruyi led Lin Wen'an into the yard, Big Yellow, smelling the strangers, poked its head out and bared its teeth, growling fiercely a few times. The other cats and dogs were all lying on their backs, sleeping with their paws outstretched. Among them, Tie Baojin and the white-haired dog were even hugging each other tightly, forming a big round ball of fur that bounced up and down with their purring.
Yao Ruyi took a cup of hot tea out, not daring to look at Lin Wen'an too much. After putting down the tea and snacks, she hurriedly slipped back to the shop. It was still this little shop, which she had built up from scratch, that made her feel at ease and safe.
Through the wall, they could hear Grandpa Yao holding Lin Wen'an's hand, chattering on and on, asking earnestly, "How are you? Have you had a good seven years in Fuzhou? Are your father and sister well? Is Uncle Cong also healthy...?"
Yao Ruyi was a little jealous upon hearing this.
Just now, when she led Lin Wen'an into the house, Grandpa Yao, who had been frowning as he watched Meng Cheng and Lin write their article, heard Yao Ruyi ask, "Grandpa, look who's here?"
"Who is it?" He looked up in confusion, and when he saw Lin Wen'an following behind her, he was so excited that he threw his cane and ruler on the table, and as if his legs were nimble again, he ran up to her with outstretched arms: "Mingzhi! Wen'an! Your leg is better? You can walk? Good, good, good! That's great!"
He even pronounced Lin Wen'an's name off the top of his head. When he got close, he carefully touched Lin Wen'an from head to toe, patted his arm, and said with concern, "You've lost so much weight..."
Lin Wen'an stood quietly, no matter how Grandpa Yao moved him, he smiled slightly, his eyes like spring water melting ice, constantly looking at Grandpa Yao carefully, as if he was also checking on Grandpa Yao's health.
This teacher and student, reunited after a long separation, had perhaps worried about each other for years, even though they were thousands of miles apart. Only now could they finally put their minds at ease.
At that moment, Yao Ruyi felt an indescribable sadness, as if she were superfluous and her heart felt empty.
You know, even Grandpa Yao often doesn't recognize her as "Ruyi". He often says to her in a daze, "You're not Ruyi, what's your name?" Even if she answers that she is Ruyi, Grandpa Yao will pause for a moment and then ask her where Ruyi went to play and when she will be back.
Sometimes, when they mistook her for a cook, they would simply call her "Little Girl."
But the next moment, Grandpa Yao seemed to suddenly come to his senses upon seeing Lin Wen'an, and he warmly beckoned her over: "Ruyi, come here quickly and call him Uncle Lin! Do you remember? But when Wen'an left the capital, you were only eleven years old... It's normal that you don't remember after so many years."
The original owner really didn't remember. Yao Ruyi sidled over, obediently curtsied, and called out "Second Uncle."
She was about the same age as Lin Weiming. Lin Wen'an was both her grandfather's student and as close as father and son, so it was only right for her to call him "uncle"—although this "second uncle" looked really too young.
Lin Wen'an also felt a little uncomfortable, only nodding politely, his eyes still holding a hint of scrutiny and doubt. Many years later, in his memory, his master's granddaughter was a very quiet and withdrawn child. Back then, even when urged by his master to greet people, she would never respond so obediently, but would lower her head, bite her lip, and stubbornly remain silent.
Sometimes they would even lower their heads and run into the house, slam the door shut, and refuse to come out to see guests.
People say that you can tell what a person will be like at three years old. Although Lin Wen'an had never seen Yao Ruyi at three years old, he felt that the girl in front of him was very different from the stubborn and silent little girl in his memory, and he was not sure if he recognized her.
Grandpa Yao had already pulled Lin Wen'an to sit down by the stove.
That's why Yao Ruyi used the excuse of getting some snacks to quietly slip away and hide in the shop.
In the courtyard, Lin Wen'an slowly sat down, holding onto the edge of the table.
After sitting down, the first thing he saw was a small ceramic stove on the table in front of him. The stove was short and stout, just right for a small round table. Inside the stove was a small, flat, perforated lump of coal. The small lump of coal burned slowly, covered with a layer of ash, so the sparks were trapped inside, flickering warmly, and there was no smoke or choking.
On the stove sat a round, thin ceramic plate, surrounded by peanuts, dates, chestnuts, walnuts, and a few roasted sausages. In the center was a plump, coarse ceramic pot with a side handle, seemingly brewing almond tea with dried osmanthus flowers. It smelled very sweet and had a milky aroma.
Within easy reach of the gentleman were a plate of candied persimmon cakes, two stacks of handkerchiefs for wiping his hands, and... two old pickle jars planted with scallions and garlic.
He could almost picture how, on such a winter day, the gentleman would snuggle his legs in the warm kotatsu, comfortably eating and drinking, playing with the cats and dogs, and enjoying the snowy scenery and... onions and garlic?
It would be quite pleasant to scold the students when I have some free time.
When he heard his husband praising Ruyi for growing up and becoming very capable, and for managing the household affairs, a sense of relief appeared in his eyes.
Lin Wen listened quietly to his teacher's rambling, temporarily setting aside his budding doubts and wariness. Yes, people grow up, and one should look at a person with new eyes after three days of separation. Life is like a river flowing forward endlessly, so why always talk about how someone was in the past? Judging the present from the past is wrong, and I really don't know how he could have such a thought.
Thinking this, his gaze lingered again on the two jars of scallions and garlic.
The gentleman was usually very refined. If he wanted to brew tea around the stove, he would usually place elegant items on the table, such as Buddha's hand citron, pine, cypress, orchid, small bamboo, or plum branches... This was the first time he had ever seen the gentleman put scallions and garlic on the table.
Doesn't this smell... overpower your nose?
Yao Qizhao noticed that he was paying attention to the scallions in the two jars of pickled vegetables on the table, so he said to him with a gentle expression, "It's cold in winter, and Ruyi said she was afraid the scallions would freeze to death, so she moved them to the stove to keep them. It's not exactly elegant to have them here, but they are a rare touch of green in winter. What's better is that you can pick them and stir-fry them with eggs. By the way, speaking of which, those persimmon trees, mimosa trees, and salvia splendens that you planted back then are all still alive and well! Ruyi has been going to water and weed them often lately. She's always been a bit of a simpleton, and when she goes over, she'll talk to the trees for a while, which is a bit like you when you were young."
Lin Wen'an was taken aback, his heart trembling slightly. He lowered his eyes and smiled softly.
The plants he planted, and he himself, are still alive.
"Thank you so much, sir, for taking care of this house and the plants over the years."
"What's the big deal? Oh, by the way, why did you come back alone?"
“Uncle Cong and his family must have gone back to tidy up the house first. I went to the capital to pay my respects to the Emperor before returning, so I was delayed until the afternoon to come and see you, sir. It was truly my fault.”
"No rush, no rush. What's there for an old man like me to see?"
Lin Wen'an smiled, but a question lingered in his mind. Judging from the question, the master must not have seen Uncle Cong yet. But he had clearly instructed Uncle Cong to visit first and bring the tonics he had collected to the master. Why hadn't he come?
Lin Wen'an had just arrived in the capital when he was invited to a banquet by Wang Yong, the Prefect of Kaifeng, and the Emperor. After a long and detailed discussion, he was finally able to leave. Before attending the banquet, he told Cong Bo that he must visit Mr. Yao first, and if he found Mr. Yao unwell, he should report back to him. However, even after the banquet ended, Cong Bo did not send anyone. Lin Wen'an thought that Mr. Yao's health must be fine, but he was still worried if he did not come to see him himself.
So he rushed over without even going inside his own house.
Fortunately, he arrived. Although the gentleman had become thinner and older due to illness, he was not as desolate as Wang Yong described in his letter—that he had "almost lost his family and home." The gentleman's complexion was ruddy and his voice was booming! The house was also tidy and he had even opened a shop.
Wang Yong must have deliberately tricked him into coming back!
He cursed his old friend inwardly.
Wang Yong was nearly twenty years older than him, but they were in the same year of the imperial examination. In that year, they both passed the imperial examination, and Wang Yong was selected as the top scholar by the late emperor in the palace examination, while he was ranked third.
But later, the Emperor secretly told him that the second-place candidate had already been chosen. Originally, before the palace examination, the late Emperor had reviewed the essays of the two candidates and intended to select Wang Yong as the top scholar. However, after seeing Wang Yong during the palace examination, he found him somewhat unattractive. The third-place candidate was valued for his appearance and demeanor, and only a handsome and talented man could be chosen. If Wang Yong were selected as the third-place candidate, wouldn't the three top scholars riding horses together through the streets be a laughing stock?
Therefore, after weighing the options, he became the third-ranked scholar.
Wang Yong held a grudge about this and would often complain to him in a drunken voice, saying that passing the imperial examination only happens once in a lifetime, and what was wrong with him? Why should he be the top scholar? He should have been the third-ranked scholar!
Afterwards, the teacher and student chatted about his time recuperating in Fuzhou.
Yao Ruyi hid in the shop. She had clearly heard what Grandpa Yao said earlier because his voice was loud.
She stood there, stunned.
Why is Grandpa Yao so lucid today? He not only calls her "Ruyi," but he also remembers her moving scallions and taking care of the plants, things he usually forgets as soon as he turns his head!
Was Grandpa Yao truly confused or feigning it? If he was feigning confusion, why was he covering for her today…? Yao Ruyi's mind was in turmoil, and a long-held worry resurfaced—the original owner of this body hadn't left her with any memory of the day she took her grandfather to commit suicide; she didn't know what had happened. But when she was unexpectedly transported here, this body was already cold and slightly stiff, her lungs filled with carbon monoxide. Her limbs were weak and limp, almost unable to move, and she only managed to survive by sheer will to live, coughing and crawling desperately.
When she later went back to drag Grandpa Yao away, he was half-conscious and his face was covered in tears.
The situation was too urgent at the time, and there was no time to think about it. Grandpa Yao was always confused, so she gradually relaxed and put this doubt aside.
Looking back now, if Grandpa could remember many things when he was lucid, would he also remember what happened that day? Did he... also witness his granddaughter come back to life after she had died?
Yao Ruyi was startled.
She shook her head violently, banishing these thoughts, and silently convinced herself: Grandpa Yao is occasionally lucid, and Lin Wen'an's return today is a great thing for him; it's possible that he's lucid because he's happy.
It's not that mysterious. If Grandpa Yao were really just pretending to be confused, he wouldn't have gotten lost! So, his confusion is real, but his gradual improvement is also real. One day, Grandpa Yao will remember everything.
She remembered that when she was about to open a small shop, Grandpa Yao had told her, "Just go for it and don't worry about anything..." Was Grandpa Yao actually sober at that time? She just didn't realize it.
After about fifteen minutes, Yao Ruyi gradually calmed down.
Well, what's done is done. Regardless, she'll continue living with the same optimism as before, even in the face of death. Grandma always said, "What's there to worry about? Just take it one step at a time. The worst that can happen is you die halfway through your journey."
That's right!
She got up, mustered her courage, and was about to go out when she suddenly heard a "tap tap tap" sound at the window.
Yao Ruyi peeked out but saw no one. It wasn't until she heard a soft "Sister Ruyi" that she realized who it was and quickly looked down towards the source of the sound.
Little Stone, Little Song, and Jasmine, three little rascals, all wearing woolen hats and thick cotton-padded coats that made it hard for them to lift their arms, struggled to stand on tiptoe, gripped the edge of the display case, and looked up at her with sweet smiles: "Sister Ruyi, we've come to buy candy!"
It was cold, and the child's skin was thin. After only a short while outside, two red blushes appeared on his tender cheeks. Little Stone held up his hand and said, "I want lion candy!"
Jasmine said, "I want to eat candied hawthorns."
Xiao Song hesitated for a moment between the little stone and the jasmine, then whispered, "I want them both!"
Little Stone, the eldest of the three and quite knowledgeable about food, shook his head at Xiao Song like a little adult, saying, "No, no, you have to order something different so the three of us can take turns eating. That way, one person can eat three different things!"
Xiao Song thought for a moment, her eyes darting back and forth across the shelves, and finally said, "Then I want red bean dumplings." Red bean dumplings are made by wrapping red bean paste in a dough of glutinous rice flour. They are chewy and delicious when you bite into them.
Little Stone glanced at the price tag on the candy jar, counted on his fingers, and estimated that the amount was just enough. He breathed a sigh of relief and jumped up excitedly: "Sister Ruyi, we want three lion candies, three candied hawthorns, and three bean balls!"
“It’s cold outside, come in and sit down to eat. Your older sister will treat you to almond soup.” Yao Ruyi smiled as she walked to the door, lifted the heavy, windproof cotton curtain, and the three little ones cheered as they squeezed in through the gap.
Yao Ruyi opened the sugar jar and used bamboo tongs to take out the sugar in the same way.
At this time, lion candy was a type of animal-shaped candy popular in the Song Dynasty. It was made by boiling honey, crushed peanuts and maltose together into a syrup. While the candy was still soft, it was either pressed with a mold or shaped by hand, and then it could be eaten after cooling.
Especially during major festivals like the Lantern Festival, Winter Solstice, and Spring Festival, the streets are filled with all sorts of fancy sweets. Lion-shaped candies are the most common and popular during these celebrations. This is because the lion is considered an auspicious animal in Buddhism during these times, carrying good fortune.
The lion candies that Yao Ruyi's shop buys are handmade, with round heads and chubby faces. Each one is a little different, and at first glance, they look quite like fat cats. They are more sturdy and cute than those made from molds.
Little Stone had been wanting this candy for a long time, but a few days ago his mother wouldn't give him any pocket money to buy it. She even scared him, saying, "You keep pestering me for candy every day. Be careful not to get your teeth rotten. Don't cry if you have to go to the dental clinic to have your teeth pulled in the future."
But today is the Winter Solstice, a festive occasion, and parents tend to find their own mischievous children more agreeable. In particular, Little Stone had just braved the cold to run errands to deliver a message to his father, and his mother, seeing him eagerly asking for a reward, gave him a few coins and allowed him to buy candy.
After he went out, he counted the four copper coins in his palm, pondered for a while, and then his big eyes darted around. He went to knock on the doors of the Liu and You families first, and that's how he got Xiaosong and Jasmine to go out and buy candy together.
He only had four coins each, not enough to buy much candy, but the three of them together had fifteen coins. Sister-in-law You was the most generous to Jasmine, giving her six coins!
Lion-shaped candy cost three coins and six cash, candied hawthorn skewers cost three coins, and bean dumplings cost three coins and six cash. Little Stone collected the money from Xiao Song and Jasmine, and lined up the coins one by one in front of Yao Ruyi's counter. He counted them several times to make sure he hadn't miscounted, and then pushed them in front of Yao Ruyi: "Sister, here's the money."
This little stone, as long as he doesn't have to memorize things, his brain is still quite sharp!
Yao Ruyi accepted the candy with a smile and handed it to them as well.
Near the courtyard gate in the small shop, Yao Ruyi set up a narrow side table where two or three people could sit and eat instant noodles on weekdays.
Little Stone held the oil paper package containing the candy with great care and reverence. He led his two younger sisters over to sit down and carefully divided the three kinds of candy into three equal portions. Like a little adult, he instructed, "You paid more this time. When I save up some money, I'll treat you to some more."
Xiaosong and Moli didn't care about any of that; they just yelped and buried their heads in their food.
The candy was sweet and fragrant, and the three of them ate it with great relish. Their three chubby legs, wrapped in thick cotton pants, dangled in mid-air and swayed back and forth.
As Yao Ruyi watched them share the candy, she felt all her worries disappear. With a smile, she poured a bamboo tube of almond soup for each of them.
"Thank you, Sister Ruyi!"
The three of them looked up again and thanked each other sweetly in unison.
Yao Ruyi patted each of their heads.
It's so great to be a child; a few pieces of candy can make you happy for days.
At this moment, Grandpa Yao and Lin Wen'an seemed to have finished catching up. It was clear that Lin Wen'an wanted to leave, but Grandpa Yao, with a stern face, held him back and insisted on keeping him for dinner.
Just as Yao Ruyi was about to go over, the doorway suddenly became lively again: Lin Si Cao, with his head covered in snow and his nose red from the cold, led his pregnant wife Ying Shi, followed by four or five sons of varying ages as they rushed in.
Ying spotted Xiao Shitou eating candy at a glance and casually called for him to come along. She then explained to Yao Ruyi, "Ruyi, we're sorry to bother you. We've come to say hello to my uncle."
Yao Ruyi nodded and quickly stepped aside to let them in.
Just as the Lin family passed by, two mule carts hurriedly stopped at the gate. Liu, the registrar who usually looked down on everyone, was now following respectfully behind Feng, carrying large and small packages strung together with hemp rope.
When Liu, the registrar, saw Yao Ruyi, he smiled kindly and gently, and even stepped forward to greet her with concern: "My dear niece, your grandfather's hundred-day leave is about to expire, but I noticed he's still not fully recovered. I just consulted with Lord Feng, and it's been reported to the court. The Emperor's grace is boundless; he's been granted an extension of two months' leave so he can recuperate in peace. He can still receive his salary and stipend. By the way, although your grandfather was on leave for the past three months, his official status is still valid, so he can still receive his salary and stipend. Why didn't you, his granddaughter, come to collect them? Did you forget? No worries, I'll bring them to you later!"
Yao Ruyi was dumbfounded and forgot to reply. In the original owner's memories, you didn't talk like that! You didn't even mention receiving a salary! Not only were you sarcastic and mocking, but you also threatened her, and almost made the original owner cry.
Registrar Liu and Chancellor Feng entered the courtyard with great enthusiasm. They first inquired about Dr. Yao's health and then greeted Lin Wen'an. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, a number of officials from the Imperial Academy who had heard the news arrived one after another. Yao Ruyi couldn't recognize them all. Finally, even her cousin Yao Ji, whom she hadn't seen for over a month, came eagerly carrying a large leg of lamb.
The Yao family's courtyard, which was usually deserted, was bustling with activity for the first time.
Grandpa Yao was almost squeezed out of sight!
For a moment, Yao Ruyi was dizzy, carrying the tea tray and pouring tea back and forth, so busy that her feet barely touched the ground. She also heard the Imperial Scholar Feng cautiously asking Lin Wen'an when he planned to go to the palace to pay his respects to the Emperor, and whether he had been summoned.
Lin Wen'an replied calmly, "I have already paid my respects."
The surroundings fell silent for a moment, then bursts of congratulations rang out again.
Yao Ruyi finally finished serving tea to everyone, then retreated back into the shop with the tea tray in her hand. She pouted and grumbled to herself: Look at this treatment! This Lin Wen'an, a mere extra, is practically being treated like a main character! At least she, a fellow extra in the book, had her name appear! Lin Wen'an, on the other hand, hadn't even shown his name in her memory, making him even more of an extra than her. How could his treatment be so drastically different?
Wait... Could it be that she forgot about revealing her name?
Never mind.
Hmph. It's the author who wrote the book who's despicable!
————————
Ruyi: That despicable author!
She gently stroked her daughter's hair: "No, that's not true. Actually, he's in a worse situation."
I've finished writing it, and after thinking about it, I'll post it ahead of schedule. Sorry for keeping you all waiting! [Sprinkling flowers]
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