After saying goodbye to Lin Ji and Lu Yanzhao's classmates, the family went home.
On the way, Lu's mother told him about setting up the stall near the academy. After she finished speaking, she looked at Lu Yanzhao with some unease, afraid that he would feel ashamed because of it.
Lu Yanzhao didn't care about any of that. On the contrary, he thought it was a good thing. With a stable stall, he didn't have to brave the wind and rain. He could help out after school. Most importantly, he could see the people he wanted to see.
Seeing that her son not only showed no dissatisfaction but also supported her, Lu's mother felt relieved and smiled with relief.
Dinner was quite lavish, after all, Lu Yanzhao was back!
During dinner, Lu's mother said, "It's already May, almost half the year has passed, and the house still hasn't been repaired. How about we find someone to build a new house for us tomorrow?"
Lu Xiaomei exclaimed happily, "Finally, we're going to live in a new house!"
Gu Nanjiao was also very happy. Finally, she wouldn't have to sleep in Lu Yanzhao's room anymore. She would have her own room and could do whatever she wanted.
Gu Nanjiao went back into the house and took out fifty taels of silver, saying, "Mother, is the silver that Sister Lü gave me today enough for us to build a house?"
Lu's mother said, "Jiaojiao, building a house is fine, but you can't pay for it."
Gu Nanjiao smiled gently: "Mother, why distinguish between 'yours' and 'mine' among family members?"
“That won’t work either. Mother has saved up quite a bit of money recently, enough to build a house. Besides, building a house in the countryside doesn’t cost much.”
Gu Nanjiao knew nothing about building houses. She thought that since she was living in the countryside now, there was no need to build a very nice one. Not only would it cost a lot of money and effort, but more importantly, it would easily attract envy.
Most houses in the countryside are built with adobe bricks and thatched roofs. Better houses have a base of red bricks, an upper layer of adobe bricks, wooden beams on the roof, and tiled eaves.
But Gu Nanjiao really felt bad about not contributing a single penny.
"Mom, I can pay for this, we'll talk about it later..."
Gu Nanjiao wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Lu's mother: "No, Jiaojiao, I have already saved enough money to build the house. No one can say otherwise."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade her otherwise, Gu Nanjiao simply stopped talking.
Lu Yanzhao ate his meal quietly without saying a word the whole time.
After a while, Lu Yanzhao put down his chopsticks, elegantly wiped his mouth, took out a small cloth bag, opened it, and revealed gleaming silver.
Gu Nanjiao estimated it to be about twenty taels.
Lu's mother asked in surprise, "Where did you get so much money?"
Although Gu Nanjiao was equally surprised, she vaguely guessed where the silver came from; it was probably a subsidy from the imperial court. But where did Lu Yanzhao get the other five taels? He hadn't been to the mountains for a long time.
Earning five taels of silver by copying books? That's impossible!
Lu Yanzhao said calmly, "The imperial subsidy has arrived, a total of fifteen taels. The remaining five taels are from my book copying and wine selling. I'm on vacation these two days, so you two don't need to worry about building the house."
Lu's mother quickly said, "Son, you can give the money you earn to Jiaojiao. You can take care of the house building, but I must pay for it."
Lu's mother's firm tone left no room for refusal, so Lu Yanzhao had no choice but to nod: "Alright, then you can go about your business tomorrow, and leave the house construction to me."
Gu Nanjiao hesitated, wanting to say something more, but was interrupted by Lu's mother: "Just do as Yanzhao said, Jiaojiao, let's continue to set up the stall tomorrow, and we won't worry about the house."
"Alright!" Gu Nanjiao said helplessly.
Under the dim light of an oil lamp, Lu Yanzhao sat upright and very serious, writing something.
Gu Nanjiao appeared behind him without his noticing.
It must be said that Lu Yanzhao's handwriting is truly beautiful, with powerful strokes that appear perfectly natural.
Noticing someone behind him, Lu Yanzhao turned around and saw Gu Nanjiao slightly lost in thought as she looked at the handsome face magnified in front of her.
Lu Yanzhao smiled and asked, "Does it look good?"
Gu Nanjiao answered without hesitation, "Beautiful!"
After saying that, Gu Nanjiao felt her cheeks burning.
"Oh? What's so good about it?" Lu Yanzhao stared straight at Gu Nanjiao, his voice deep and rising at the end.
"The...the handwriting is beautiful." Gu Nanjiao stammered, and when she met Lu Yanzhao's eyes, her heart skipped a beat.
Damn it, I actually had a crush on a girl!
Gu Nanjiao quickly turned her head away. The oil lamp was dim in the night, so Lu Yanzhao probably didn't see her infatuated blush.
Lu Yanzhao smiled and lowered his head, then didn't ask any more questions.
Gu Nanjiao steadied herself and said, "I'm talking to you about something serious. When you're looking for someone to build a house tomorrow, remember to tell them to build a small partition next to my room. It doesn't need to be too big; it'll be for taking a shower."
"knew."
After a while, Lu Yanzhao put twenty taels of silver on the table and said indifferently, "From now on, I'll entrust all the silver to you for safekeeping."
Gu Nanjiao repeatedly refused: "You keep it yourself, I can't do it. Besides, who knows how much it will cost to build a house? How can we let Mother pay for it all? You keep it for a rainy day."
Lu Yanzhao took out five taels and handed them to Gu Nanjiao, saying, "These five taels are all earned by me, you keep them. Use the remaining fifteen taels to build a house."
Gu Nanjiao wanted to refuse again, but seeing Lu Yanzhao's face turn cold, she had no choice but to accept it.
What kind of situation is this? She has to keep Lu Yanzhao's money safe.
But thinking about it, Lu Yanzhao really is a hidden talent; he earned so much money without making a sound.
"When did you start brewing and selling wine?" Gu Nanjiao was really curious. Could it be that the wine he brewed when he was a child could still be sold now?
Lu Yanzhao gave Gu Nanjiao a deep look but didn't say anything, so Gu Nanjiao also kept quiet.
After washing up, I went to bed.
Since Lu Yanzhao has been staying at the academy recently, Gu Nanjiao is all alone in her bed, enjoying herself.
Now that the weather is warm, unlike winter when you can wrap yourself up like a dumpling and lie there all night, Gu Nanjiao simply left her feet exposed, only covering her upper body.
Lu Yanzhao continued copying something under the oil lamp, showing no sign of wanting to sleep.
"Are you copying from a book or reviewing your lessons?" Gu Nanjiao asked.
Lu Yanzhao replied casually, "Reviewing my lessons."
"So hardworking!" Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but sigh inwardly. If she had worked that hard back then, she might have been a top student too.
I spent four years in college, barely managed to get a bachelor's degree, and after graduation, I started my own business, working overtime and staying up all night until I was exhausted.
Now that she's transmigrated to ancient times, she doesn't want to be a workaholic like before, working overtime all the time. Money can be earned back, and the key is to be more laid-back and enjoy life.
Thinking about having to set up a stall tomorrow, Gu Nanjiao decided to go to bed early and get up early. She decided not to think about anything else and quickly drifted off to sleep.
Hearing the even breathing sounds around him, Lu Yanzhao put down his pen and turned to look at Gu Nanjiao.
The weather in May was a bit hot, and Gu Nanjiao was only covered with a thin layer, her fair and delicate feet exposed. Moving the gaze upwards, her slender waist and high, exquisite curves were faintly visible.
Lu Yanzhao's eyes darkened: He looked like he had grown up quite a bit.
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