After settling Lu Xiaomei in, the two drove their carriage back home.
To avoid worrying Lu's mother, the two specially changed into new clothes, and the carriage was also repaired.
The business at Meiweizhai was booming as always, and Lu's mother handled business matters in an orderly manner, becoming more and more skilled.
The girls' academy run by Lin Ji and Ying Niang was very popular. As the first girls' academy in the county, and with the support of Zheng Shanzhang of Nanxiang Academy, the number of people signing up was so high that they almost broke their heads.
At first, Lin Ji refused to help, saying that she didn't need Lu Yanzhao's help to find a backer. After being turned down several times, she realized how important connections and a backer were.
No matter what you do, feigning righteousness won't solve anything. Connections and backing are crucial. It's foolish not to use connections.
Lin Ji is now a junior headmaster at the academy, teaching and nurturing students while preparing for the imperial examinations three years later. Ying Niang is also busy; the girls' academy has set up classes in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and etiquette, as well as classes in managing household affairs. For a time, it was widely known in Luoshui County that Master Ying was a renowned talented woman in the county, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, etiquette, and all other skills.
Many daughters from wealthy families in the city enrolled, and some were even invited to their homes to be personally taught by Yingniang. They learned the three obediences and four virtues, how to manage the household, and how to do housework. Yingniang also taught her daughters music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs.
Ordinary families, after paying tuition, only hoped that their daughters could learn a few words so that they could become maids and hold their heads high in their husbands' homes, free from being bullied.
Unlike the rigorous studies at boys' academies, girls' schools only required two or three hours of study each day. The school was decorated in a quiet and elegant style, and everyone respectfully addressed Yingniang as "Teacher."
The boys' school where Lin Ji taught was located in Beiyuan, facing the girls' school across the distance.
Lu Yanzhao and Gu Nanjiao would drive their carriage to Nanshan Temple to visit Lu Xiaomei every few days. The little girl had gotten much darker and thinner. But she had become much stronger; she could chop a hard piece of wood in half with her bare hands.
Time flies, and before we knew it, the New Year had passed. Candidates from all over the country began to prepare to go to the capital to participate in the spring examination.
In early February, when the weather was still chilly despite the warming trend, and the willow branches had just sprouted tender buds, Lu Yanzhao was about to embark on his journey to the capital.
On the day before departure, Lu's mother seemed a little nervous. She had never dared to imagine that Lu Yanzhao could become the top scholar in the provincial examination, but she was surprised to find that he came in first place, which made her more hopeful.
When Lu Yanzhao went to the capital, Gu Nanjiao went with him, followed closely by Lü Siniang and Gu's father.
The essay was temporarily entrusted to Liu Meihua. He lived with Zhang Xiaohu at the academy, returning home every two weeks. Lü Siniang planned to bring him to the capital after he passed the preliminary examination.
Huang Qingqing was caught in a dilemma, standing between the two carriages. Both of them were husband and wife, and she felt awkward no matter which carriage she was in.
She doesn't want to eat dog food; wouldn't she be stuffed to death on the way?
No one knows where Bai Su got the news, but she insisted on driving an ordinary carriage to the capital with Gu Nanjiao and the others.
Bai Luochen left Bai Su behind to handle the saltpeter mine matter, and now that it's almost finished, Bai Su is going to the capital to find Bai Luochen.
Huang Qingqing was a little hesitant to look at Bai Su, but she really didn't want to be caught in the middle of two couples and have to endure their public displays of affection. After a moment of internal struggle, she boldly raised her head and smiled brightly at Bai Su: "Manager Bai, are you also going to the capital? Could you give me a ride?"
Bai Su was stunned. The woman in front of her wore a light blue dress that accentuated her slender figure. The matching belt cinched her waist so tightly that it could be encircled with one hand, making her breasts appear even fuller.
Her smile was sunny and confident, her face was round and radiant, and she was very charming and cute.
Bai Su narrowed her eyes: "You are...?"
Huang Qingqing felt a tightness in her chest. How long had it been since they last met? And he didn't even recognize her anymore.
"If we don't know each other, we don't know each other," Huang Qingqing composed herself, put on a bright smile, and said calmly, "Manager Bai, I am Huang Qingqing! You must have a bad memory."
"Huang Qingqing?" Bai Su was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked up and stared intently at Huang Qingqing's face: Isn't this Huang Qingqing? When did that ordinary woman become so radiant?
"Manager Bai, is it alright?" A woman's clear voice came from beside him. Bai Su quickly snapped out of his daze and scratched his head a little embarrassedly: "Of course!"
Huang Qingqing was not at all shy, and quickly got into the carriage by lifting her skirt.
Bai Su's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. She pursed her lips awkwardly and followed Huang Qingqing into the carriage.
He had intended to help Huang Qingqing, but he hadn't expected this woman to be so dashing. The way she nimbly stepped onto the carriage was even more impressive than when she whipped Lu Yanping.
Without lingering, the group set off in their carriage.
The delicious restaurant in the county town was temporarily handed over to Lu's mother to manage.
Yingniang said that since she had recognized Lu's mother as her godmother, she would definitely fulfill her duties as a daughter and told Lu Yanzhao and the others not to worry, as Lu's mother was being taken care of by her and Lin Ji in the county town.
Not far away, Chu Luoxun stared intently at the departing carriage, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes flashing with an ambiguous light.
The show is about to begin, and he's really looking forward to it!
...
After arriving in the capital, Gu Nanjiao led them to a rented courtyard. With a few days until the imperial examination, they decided to take the opportunity to explore the capital with Lu Yanzhao and relax.
Gu Nanjiao had specially changed into men's clothing, her hair meticulously combed, and she wore a golden crown. Two neat little mustaches adorned her lips, and she waved a white paper fan, appearing dashing and unpredictable. She was clearly a young master from a wealthy family.
Lu Yanzhao's eyes twitched. If it weren't for his stature and build, he would have almost thought he was some spoiled brat. Compared to Gu Nanjiao, Lu Yanzhao's attire was much more understated. He wore a light blue robe with no embroidery on the hem, and an old bamboo hairpin in his hair, making him appear very low-key.
But his appearance always manages to attract attention, no matter how simply he dresses.
The two walked onto the street, attracting the attention of passersby.
Young women and married women pointed and whispered about Lu Yanzhao, occasionally letting out a sigh.
"Whose young master is this? He's so handsome."
"It's just a pity that it's a homosexual relationship?"
Look how closely they're clinging to each other; if you didn't know better, you'd think they were a married couple.
"What a pity, it was two men?"
Lu Yanzhao: "...?"
Obviously, the passersby didn't realize that Gu Nanjiao was a woman disguised as a man. Lu Yanzhao wondered if these people had something wrong with their eyes.
Judging from Gu Nanjiao's attire, it's obvious at a glance that she's a woman. How come they didn't realize it?
Everyone says that girls in the capital are well-behaved and their words and actions are very careful. Why are they saying this today? He feels that the world is going to the dogs and that they are being outrageously bold.
"Look, look, isn't that taller one even more handsome than the Rabbit God of Nanfeng Pavilion?"
"Yes, yes! Maybe it was booked by the rich young master next to him."
At this moment, someone recognized Gu Nanjiao: "Why does that rich young master look like the manager of Jiaoniang Pavilion? Could he be a woman disguised as a man?"
"Aren't the managers of Jiaoniang Pavilion two women? Are you blind? This is clearly a man."
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