After Chu Luoxun left, Gu Nanjiao said with a serious expression, "Little sister, didn't I say I'd find you a new martial arts school?"
Lu Xiaomei lowered her head and remained silent. Gu Nanjiao was unusually stern, so it was best for her to stay quiet.
Gu Nanjiao asked again, "You ran over there without even saying goodbye. Do you know how worried your mother and I were?"
"I'm sorry, sister-in-law, but I really want to learn kung fu. The master... the owner of the school is very kind. I've already paid the money, so there's no reason for me not to go."
"Fine, go if you want! From now on, no matter what you do or where you go, you have to let your family know." Gu Nanjiao said helplessly.
Lu Xiaomei is not young anymore, and she has her own opinions on everything.
It's also possible that I've been too busy lately, leading to excessive mental stress and a tendency to overthink things.
If my little sister wants to go, then she can go!
"Sister-in-law, you're so kind! Once I learn kung fu, I'll protect you by your side." Seeing that Gu Nanjiao had agreed and would no longer restrict her from going to the martial arts school, Lu Xiaomei hurriedly flattered her.
"Alright, stop joking. You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"
Speaking of food, Lu Xiaomei's stomach started rumbling. She rubbed her stomach and said, "Sister-in-law, did you save any food for me? I'm really hungry!"
Just then, Lu's mother brought over a bowl of noodles, placed it in front of Lu's younger sister with a stern face, and said, "Eat up!"
Looking at the plain, watery noodles, Lu Xiaomei looked pale and said, "Mom, is this all we want, plain noodles?"
"Otherwise what?" Lu's mother was still angry about Lu Xiaomei sneaking off to the martial arts school.
"Mom, I was wrong. I'll let you know next time I go somewhere." After saying that, Lu Xiaomei started eating heartily.
Clear broth noodles are fine too; it's better than nothing.
...
Before we knew it, the autumn exams were approaching.
Gu Nanjiao originally wanted to go to the capital to take a look, but she was too busy and had to give up the idea.
Gu's father also went to the capital to take the imperial examination, and Lu Yanzhao and Lin Ji traveled together, so they could look after each other on the way.
Gu Nanjiao took out five hundred taels of silver notes and gave them to Gu Qingyan: "Father, take good care of yourself on the road. You can hide some of these five hundred taels in the soles of your shoes and keep the rest in small denominations on your person."
He then took out another five hundred taels and handed it to Lu Yanzhao: "Don't skimp on the journey. Hire a carriage if necessary, and choose a safe inn. I've prepared a change of clothes for you. Take care on your journey."
Lu Yanzhao and Gu's father looked at each other, clutching the silver notes, and said in unison, "This is too much, I don't want it."
The two refused to accept the money, but Gu Nanjiao simply got angry and ignored them, so the two had no choice but to accept one hundred taels.
Father Gu patted Gu Nanjiao's shoulder and said with relief, "Jiaojiao, I know you feel sorry for your father. Five hundred taels is too much. I'm afraid it will cause trouble. One hundred taels is enough for us, father and son. We are going to take the imperial examination, not to go sightseeing."
"All right!"
They will be leaving for the capital tomorrow, so Meiwuzhai will be closed for the day and will prepare a large feast for them tonight as a farewell dinner.
The employees had a day off, and in the kitchen, Lu's mother and Lü Siniang were busy washing and chopping vegetables.
Gu Nanjiao was just about to go to the kitchen to help when Lu Yanzhao suddenly pulled her to the backyard.
The backyard was empty, and after the two left, no one would be so tactless as to disturb them.
Lu Yanzhao silently observed Gu Nanjiao, then suddenly leaned in and gave her a light kiss, as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the water.
"What are you doing? It's not good if someone sees you." Gu Nanjiao pushed her a few times, glanced left and right, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that there was no one around.
"What does it matter if we're seen? We're husband and wife, are we not allowed to say goodbye?"
Gu Nanjiao is not a sentimental person, and she can't bring herself to say anything mushy to say goodbye right now.
She could only pat Lu Yanzhao on the shoulder: "It's your first time taking the exam, just do your best. It doesn't matter whether you pass or not. Fan Jin didn't pass the exam until he was fifty. You're still so young, don't be nervous."
Lu Yanzhao grabbed her hand and smiled wickedly, "So little confidence in your husband?"
No, I was just trying to comfort you because I was worried you were nervous.
"If I fail the exam, I'll just live off my wife."
Gu Nanjiao was stunned. Lu Yanzhao was really different from others.
Do most men in the world feel ashamed of being a kept man, especially scholars who are inherently proud? Why is Lu Yanzhao somewhat happy about this?
He even made fun of himself.
Gu Nanjiao touched Lu Yanzhao's face without changing her expression and said, "I have to say, it's a real pity that you don't use that face to live off a woman."
Lu Yanzhao wasn't annoyed. He smiled and pulled Gu Nanjiao into his arms, his gaze falling on her delicate white earlobe. He lowered his head and gently licked it, then stopped, as if he still wanted more, and licked it again.
Gu Nanjiao froze, a wet and tingling sensation shooting straight to her head, her cheeks turning as red as ripe shrimp: "Lu... Lu Yanzhao, what are you doing?"
"My wife, are you satisfied with my face?"
"Of course I'm satisfied. Let me go, it's not good if someone sees us." Gu Nanjiao quickly pushed Lu Yanzhao away. When she saw the few small figures hiding behind the door, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
Lu Xiaomei, Wen Zhang, and Zhang Xiaohu crouched behind the door, peeking out with only their heads visible to secretly observe Gu Nanjiao and her companion.
Zhang Xiaohu asked Lu Xiaomei, "Auntie, what are Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu doing?"
Lu Xiaomei scratched her head: "Look at how angry my sister-in-law is, is my brother going to eat her?"
Even the man's mature-beyond-his-years appearance revealed a hint of doubt.
Lu Xiaomei was very worried: "I really didn't expect that my brother would like to eat people. No, I have to call my mother."
"Sister-in-law, please don't let my brother eat you up."
When Lu Yanzhao was pushed away by Gu Nanjiao, he also noticed the three little devils.
As soon as Lu Xiaomei left, Lu Yanzhao called her back.
"Lu Wanning, stop right there!"
Lu Xiaomei thought to herself, "I'd never stop!"
"Mother, Mother, please save my sister-in-law! My brother is going to eat her! He's even bitten off her ears!"
Seeing Lu Xiaomei run away, Wen Zhang and Zhang Xiaohu followed closely behind.
They wanted to go with Lu Xiaomei to testify that Lu's brother really did want to eat people.
It specializes in eating people's ears!
Upon hearing the noise, Lu's mother rushed over, followed closely by Lü Siniang and Gu's father after exchanging a glance.
Lu Xiaomei described what she had seen in detail, not forgetting to glare at Lu Yanzhao with righteous indignation. Wen Zhang and Zhang Xiaohu nodded in agreement.
Yes, Aunt Lu (sister) is absolutely right, we all saw it.
Gu Nanjiao couldn't stay any longer, so she covered her face and ran away.
Damn, I'm so embarrassed!
Although Lu Yanzhao appeared calm and mature, his earlobes couldn't help but turn red.
Lu Siniang and Gu's father exchanged a glance and immediately understood. Lu's mother suppressed a smile and pretended to be serious as she scolded Lu Yanzhao, "How shameless of you to be all lovey-dovey in front of the children! Don't you know to go inside?"
“Mother…I…” Lu Yanzhao stammered, unsure of how to begin.
Lu Siniang chuckled twice: "Ha, that young man is perfectly normal."
Father Gu waved to Wenzhang and Xiaohu, and the two children obediently went over.
"You two must remember: do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper, and do not speak what is improper."
Wen Zhang and Xiao Hu nodded obediently and bowed to Father Gu, saying, "We've got it!"
Because of Lu Xiaomei's loud and boisterous behavior, Lu's mother scolded her, and Lu Xiaomei cried out that she was wronged.
Seeing this, Yingniang took all the blame for Lu Xiaomei's rudeness upon herself.
In order to regulate Lu Xiaomei's behavior, she was punished by not being allowed to eat dinner.
For Lu Xiaomei, this was undoubtedly the greatest punishment. A whole table of delicious food, and she couldn't get a single bite.
Seeing Lu Xiaomei's pitiful state, Yingniang said, "If the teacher is not strict, it is the teacher's fault." Yingniang then went hungry with Lu Xiaomei.
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