Chapter 11 The Ancient Scholar Used as Cannon Fodder (Part 11) The story...
The details of the incident were clear, the murderer was identified by name and had a motive, and the county magistrate quickly dispatched constables to An County to arrest the perpetrator.
After everyone left, Shen Tianqi sighed. All his belongings were lost, and he was now penniless. Although the government had paid for his medical expenses, he had no idea where he would get three meals a day. He couldn't expect the government to provide him with three meals a day.
When the old doctor came to change his dressing, he gave him two taels of silver, saying it was left by the scholar who brought him to the clinic, and that the scholar was the one who reported it to the authorities.
Shen Tianqi hurriedly asked, "Do you know the name of my benefactor?"
The doctor stroked his beard and thought for a moment. “There were three people who brought you here. The two in charge were scholars. The one who left the money was a tall, thin man surnamed Chu, who I heard was the gentleman who passed the imperial examination this time. The other one was my colleague, surnamed Zhao. His second uncle was with him, I think his name was Zhao Jingmo.”
Of the hundred people who participated in this autumn imperial examination, the only young man with the surname Chu on the list was Chu Nanfeng, whom he had met once before.
Those traveling with him were probably students from the same academy, whose names should be easy to find.
Shen Tianqi accepted the two taels of silver and carefully noted down the names of the two people. He would always find a way to repay their life-saving grace.
Chu Nanfeng was unaware that someone had designs on him. He took six paintings and led Lin You around most of the town, visiting five bookstores. He sold each painting for four or five taels of silver, earning a total of twenty-six taels of silver.
While his status as a successful candidate in the imperial examinations certainly contributed to this, his paintings were indeed quite good; at least his study was not a losing proposition.
Chu Nanfeng specially prepared an extra money jar, put twenty-three taels of silver inside, and said with a smile, "I'll add the money from selling the paintings before and save it for you. If you want to buy anything else, just let me know."
"Chu Nanfeng, you don't need to share my money. I'm just your personal system. Besides, you still need to save up for your travel expenses to take the imperial examination."
Lin You quickly declined, saying she had never heard of any system that would give away something and then have to split the money with the recipient.
"Don't worry, sister. There are still half a year until the imperial examination. We'll definitely have enough money to save for the exam." Chu Nanfeng didn't wait for her to postpone any further and turned to another road, which was the small street selling snacks and treats that he had mentioned.
Lin You couldn't persuade him, so she stopped talking and decided to save it up and give it to Chu Nanfeng when he really needed money.
After thinking it through, Lin You stopped worrying and directly asked Chu Nanfeng to take out one tael of silver from the money jar, as she was going to buy quite a few things today.
At the end of the snack street, there is a stall that makes fried dough twists. The dough twists, as thick as a finger, are evenly wrapped around two long bamboo chopsticks. The owner skillfully spreads the chopsticks apart and twists them, and a ball of dough twists shaped like a butterfly is thrown into the boiling oil.
The tender white butterflies were turned over with bamboo chopsticks and quickly turned into an enticing golden yellow. The owner skillfully scooped them out and placed them in a basket to drain the oil. The fried dough twists were thin and glistening with oil. They made a crackling sound with the slightest touch, and you could tell they were very crispy without even tasting them.
Lin You waved his hand and spent sixteen coins to buy two catties, then continued walking forward.
Not far ahead, we encountered a peddler selling pea flour cakes. The peddler carried his load on a shoulder pole as he walked through the streets and alleys. Every now and then, a child would stop him, take out a coin, and exchange it for a small piece of pea flour cake.
It was a gentle pale yellow, soft and delicate. A child with a sweet tooth would hold it in their hand, bring it to their lips, and take a small sip, and their mouth would be filled with sweetness.
Chu Nanfeng handed over three coins and bought a palm-sized piece of pea flour cake, wrapped it in oil paper, and then wandered inside.
The candied hawthorns were stuck into bundles of grass that were more than half a person tall, with long bamboo skewers holding more than a dozen hawthorns. The red berries were coated with a glistening sugar coating, and you could buy two skewers for five coins.
Of course, Lin You initially planned to buy three skewers, but after Chu Nanfeng made it clear that he didn't like them, his portion wasn't included.
The baked flatbread, crispy and crumbly from being roasted in a charcoal oven, is covered with a dense layer of sesame seeds. One bite releases its aroma and crumbles easily. Paired with braised pork belly, brownish-red in color and marbled with fat and lean meat, it's so delicious that you'll want to swallow your tongue.
Chu Nanfeng spent another eight coins to buy four baked buns and thirty coins to buy a pound of braised meat.
There was also the crystal-clear maltose coated with pine nuts and melon seeds, the white and soft cloud cake sprinkled with osmanthus flowers, and after buying the sweet roasted sweet potato, Lin You also took a liking to the sugar painting next to it.
After Chu Nanfeng's hands were full, Lin You reluctantly headed back home. Prices here were much cheaper than in the town where they took the exam. One tael of silver could be exchanged for a thousand copper coins, costing only a little over a hundred coins in total. However, Chu Nanfeng's dignified and refined image was greatly diminished.
He was originally wearing a long-sleeved robe, but now he was carrying five or six oil paper bags in each hand, holding two strings of candied hawthorns in his left hand, and holding a sugar painting shaped like a little rabbit in his right hand. His whole demeanor instantly became adorable.
Lin You sat on Chu Nanfeng's shoulders and watched him walk five blocks carrying candied hawthorns and sugar paintings. Passersby turned their heads and immediately became happy, even their tone of voice when talking to Chu Nanfeng became much lighter.
Chu Nanfeng couldn't help but chuckle. Her older sister's pranks were like those of a child; even her younger sister was more cunning than her.
He walked along the road, holding his candied hawthorns and sugar paintings, seemingly unconcerned, and even nodded and greeted acquaintances when he encountered them.
People passing by couldn't help but glance over, looking on with curiosity. Lin You even heard someone whispering that after passing the imperial examination, Chu Xiangong didn't act like a big shot at all.
Lin You was very happy, thinking she had tricked Chu Nanfeng, and generously said she wouldn't hold it against him for introducing her as a ghost earlier.
"It was all my fault for speaking inappropriately. Sister, you are so magnanimous, broad-minded, and humble. We men are far inferior to you. You are truly a heroine among women!" Chu Nanfeng said while greeting the neighbors.
Lin You couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Okay, stop talking nonsense. You're just trying to fool me. I'm not a three-year-old."
But you're easier to coax than a three-year-old.
Chu Nanfeng's tone was very sincere, and his smile deepened. "Every word I said is true, and they are all from the bottom of my heart."
After successfully appeasing Lin You and leaving a friendly impression on the neighbors, Chu Nanfeng carried his things home.
She gave Chu Qing a string of candied hawthorns and a sugar painting, and handed another string of candied hawthorns to Chu's mother, saying, "Mom, your goddaughter bought these for you."
Chu's mother paused for a moment before smiling and accepting the gift. "Good, our eldest daughter is very thoughtful, much better than you, you rascal. Come, come, see if you like what your godmother has arranged."
Then, Lin You, who had just been appeased, exploded again!
"Aaaaah! Chu Nanfeng, I don't want a memorial tablet! I have a system work permit! I'm not a ghost!!"
Chu Nanfeng hadn't expected his mother to be so efficient, having already prepared the mourning hall for Lin You. Because the house was small, the items were placed to the right of his bedroom window, next to his desk.
Perhaps because Lin You is a girl, Chu Nanfeng hung a curtain in the middle of his already small bedroom, dividing it into an inner and outer room.
Of course, because Lin You refused to acknowledge it, the memorial tablet was light pink, surrounded by beautiful porcelain vases and fresh flowers, which looked very girlish.
"Nanfeng, I don't know what our eldest daughter's name is either. Could you write it down for her later? She'll be part of our family from now on."
As she spoke, Chu's mother gathered a plate of dried fruits and candied fruits, arranged them in a beautiful shape, and placed them in front of the memorial tablet.
"I'll make you some new clothes later. My eldest daughter is definitely not a ghost."
Lin You watched her actions and couldn't help but twitch her lips. "Godmother, when you say I'm not a ghost, can you please stop setting out offerings for me?"
Chu Nanfeng, you're just joining in the fun! Even if you set up an elegant and unique incense burner, it's still just an incense burner!
Lin You originally intended to ask Chu Nanfeng to throw away this pile of messy things, but looking at the osmanthus hairpin in front of the memorial tablet, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Although she was an orphan, Lin You also had a younger sister. When she first met Lin Shan, she was about the same age as Chu Qing, very thin, but with bright, sparkling eyes.
She clearly saw when they were distributing the gifts that this osmanthus hairpin was probably Chu Xiaomei's favorite.
Her younger sister, Lin Shan, would also share her favorite toys and snacks with her, then smile sweetly and obediently at her.
Lin You watched as the family sat around a small table, sharing the cheapest snacks from the street vendor, yet everyone seemed to be smiling happily.
When Chu Qing ate something she liked, she would put some on a small plate for Lin You. Her obedient and adorable appearance melted Lin You's heart.
She decisively abandoned her mission target, squatted on Chu Qing's shoulder, and even notified Chu Nanfeng, "Chu Nanfeng, I'm not keeping you company! I'm going to play with my little sister and stay with her. If you need anything, just send me a message, otherwise don't bother me."
Lin You recently discovered a new skill in the system's introductory section: if the system and the task target are too far apart, the two can send voice messages to each other. However, before the skill is upgraded, they can only send messages three times a day.
As for how to upgrade, you'll have to spend real money. You can double your attempts by spending ten points, or get unlimited calls for one hundred points.
Lin You realized once again that everything in the main system required points, and she herself was a penniless person who had to divide every point into eight petals.
Chu Nanfeng didn't care where she went, but even if this was her first mission, it had been a month since she arrived, so why hadn't she discovered the basic skills yet?!
Before falling asleep, Chu Nanfeng sent Lin You a long message. Lin You looked at the earnest advice and felt guilty, so she touched her nose.
She realized she hadn't quite adjusted her mindset. This wasn't the university life she'd been longing for, nor was it a game. Any slight oversight could affect her future survival.
Lin You took a deep breath, opened the system page, and carefully studied the things she had previously overlooked.
Employee Handbook, System Basic Skills, New User Guidelines, System Agreement
Lin You had often encountered similar things on her phone in her previous life. Every time she downloaded a new app, there would be some kind of agreement form the first time she opened it. It was a long and complicated document, but few people would actually read it. Lin You subconsciously ignored it.
During this time, apart from learning a few basic skills and checking the confidentiality clauses in the system agreement, she didn't look at anything else.
Lin You rubbed her face, trying to adapt to her current identity. This wasn't the modern world, and she wasn't playing on her phone. She really needed to familiarize herself with these terms and conditions.
She first opened the "Beginner's Guide" and read it carefully, finally discovering the crucial information she had missed.
Every system upgrade requires choosing an upgrade direction.
For example, a space-based system can connect several space transactions and extract a share from them; this is called a dimensional transaction system.
For example, a system that transforms people into stunning beauties, allowing them to seduce lucky targets and gain luck points, is called the xx strategy system.
For example, a skill-based system could give novice actors acting skills or struggling students learning skills, and in return, they could gain faith points; this could be called the "XX Comeback System".
There are also systems like the Rich Man System, the Lottery System, and the Wish System, each offering different types of energy, but all must be obtained through legitimate means.
But Lin You felt uneasy. No matter how powerful that skill was, no matter how much it could move mountains and fill seas, or change the world, it was no longer a human being!
She didn't want to be a cold, impersonal system; she wanted to be a person, to smell the fragrance of flowers, taste the flavor of food, walk steadily on the road, and feel the warmth of the sun.
Lin You scrolled down until the very end before finding an upgrade method for reviving the five senses.
She read the details of the method very carefully, and only after reading that it ended with the goal of cultivating oneself to become a human and returning to one's true self did she click to confirm her choice.
The next day, Chu Nanfeng didn't hear Lin You's greeting after getting up. He assumed she was with her younger sister and didn't think much of it.
But after he replied to a thick stack of visiting cards, read half a book, and drew a picture, he still didn't hear any sound from Lin You.
"Sister?" Chu Nanfeng frowned and called out through the mental link.
"Yeah, I'm here," Lin You replied listlessly. She had been squatting on the table next to her memorial tablet for quite some time.
"Is something wrong, sister?" Chu Nanfeng asked softly.
"I'm fine, I just made a choice." Lin You's tone carried a hint of melancholy.
"Is it such an important choice? Will you regret it, sister?" Chu Nanfeng lowered his eyes and continued to ask.
"It's a very important choice, but I won't regret it." Lin You understood what Chu Nanfeng meant. Of course she wouldn't regret it. Since she wouldn't regret it, why should she dwell on it?
A note from the author:
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