Chapter 17 Are Mr. Yan and Sister Yao very familiar with each other?
Before setting off for Yunzhou.
Si Yao went to Hu's calligraphy and painting shop again.
As soon as Boss Hu saw her, he greeted her with a smile: "Boss, why did you come here so suddenly today? Are you here to deliver a letter of invitation?"
She looked in her hands, her eyes shining.
Si Yao walked past her and went straight to the private room on the second floor.
It was a busy time for the shop, and many scholars in student uniforms were wandering around the shop.
Si Yao didn't want to meet any acquaintances here.
Boss Hu saw her walking upstairs and followed her.
After entering the private room, Si Yao directly explained his purpose: "I will leave for Yunzhou tomorrow. After this trip, I may live there permanently. The reputation of Hu Ji Shop has spread, and it is time to see a wider world."
She is very confident in her abilities.
I will definitely be on the list of candidates in this autumn examination.
Yunlu Academy had nothing left to teach her. For the Spring Examination two years from now, she would definitely stay in Yunzhou and continue to cultivate further.
"Master, do you want me to move Hu's shop to Yunzhou?"
Boss Hu was very insightful and understood what she meant instantly.
Si Yao nodded and said, "You can open a branch in Yunzhou. Didn't you sign a contract with someone? You can take advantage of the Mid-Autumn Festival to promote it. Although Yunzhou is only a lower state, it is much richer than Qinghe County. You can also sell those walnut carvings you collected."
When Boss Hu heard this, his eyes lit up slightly.
I think this method is feasible.
Ever since Hu's shop started to flourish, she had considered opening a business in the state, but she had always been hesitant.
I just don’t know how to stand out among the thousands of shops.
She had originally bought the walnut carvings simply for their novelty, thinking they might be more attractive if taken to the state or capital. She had never considered opening a shop dedicated to them.
Now that I think about it, it was her narrow-mindedness.
but……
Boss Hu was a little worried, "If this shop only sells carved walnuts, wouldn't it be a bit too limited?"
This kind of exquisite gadget cannot be made in a day or two.
If the shop only sells these, it will probably close down within a few days.
“Don’t worry…”
Si Yao had obviously made preparations. "I will put Mr. Moshang's paintings and calligraphy into the shop."
Mr. Moshang's reputation has spread and he is also well-known in Yunzhou.
With the paintings and calligraphy of Mo Shang Jushi, there is no need to worry about the shop not being able to continue operating.
"If that's the case, then there's nothing to worry about."
Boss Hu was completely relieved, his chubby face full of smiles.
She chuckled twice and said, "However, Master, please don't forget this place when the time comes. Remember to send back a copy of the painting and calligraphy."
Nowadays, there are countless people in Qinghe County who want to collect Moshang Jushi’s paintings.
Even the magistrate Yan of the government office would send servants to inquire every month to see if Mr. Moshang had produced any new paintings.
Si Yao is now her cash cow.
As long as you hold on to her thighs, the money will come to you.
When Boss Hu thought of this, the smile on his face became more flattering.
"Don't worry, Boss. Leave the new shop in Yunzhou to me. We will definitely open it before the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Um."
Si Yao responded with a cold expression.
After explaining everything, there was no more to stay.
Left the shop directly.
*
The next morning, Si Yao boarded a passenger ship to Yunzhou with the students from the academy who were taking the autumn examination.
The autumn wind blows on the river.
Mu Tong sat in the cabin, enduring the nausea rising in his heart, and looked at Si Yao who was sitting next to him and still had the mood to read a book.
His eyes were filled with admiration. "Junior sister, have you ever been on a boat before?"
"No."
Si Yao took the time to look up, his expression as cold as usual.
"Then how come you don't get seasick? You say you're a good student, and that's fine, but you're also in great shape. You don't look like a weak scholar who only knows how to study."
The more Mu Tong spoke, the more jealous he became.
I feel that God is really unfair!
How come all the benefits can only be given by Si Yao?
What's wrong with giving her some?
Her eyes were filled with resentment. "Junior sister, oh junior sister, do you still have any shortcomings?"
Si Yao ignored her tantrum.
I got up, found a quiet place to sit down, and continued reading the book in my hand.
Life on the boat was boring, and apart from three meals a day, the only things to relieve boredom were poetry and books.
By the time they arrived in Yunzhou, it was ten days later.
As soon as he got off the boat, Mu Tong's health was restored and he felt refreshed again.
She carried her bag and said to Si Yao in a loud voice, "Junior sister, I heard that the folk songs in Yunzhou are really unique. Should we go and listen to them? There are still three days left before the Autumn Examination. It's time to relax before the exam and not be so tense all the time."
"Go ahead, Senior Sister. I'm not interested in that."
Si Yao got off the dock and went straight to the Confucius Hall.
That is a resting place specially prepared by the state for students preparing for exams.
"Hey - Junior Sister."
Seeing that she left without even turning her head, Mu Tong quickly chased after her.
After arriving at the Confucius Hall, the two received their own room numbers.
Mu Tong glanced at Si Yao, then shouted in surprise: "Junior sister, we two are in the same room."
There were many students taking the exams, so in order to save space, there was one room for every five students in the Confucius Hall.
Whether students from the same place can get together depends entirely on luck.
Si Yao didn't have any special reaction to this. Seeing that the room was on the second floor, she went straight up the stairs.
Mu Tong also hurriedly followed.
The two entered the room on the far left of the second floor.
When I opened the door, there were already three people inside.
After seeing Si Yao and Mu Tong, he first looked them up and down, then stood up and bowed to them politely.
"Hello, both of you—"
"I'm from Jingui County. My surname is Zhou and my courtesy name is Rusheng."
"I am from Yamazaki Prefecture, my surname is Zheng, and my courtesy name is Minxuan."
"I'm from Guhua County, my surname is Kong, and my courtesy name is Mengruan."
The three of them spoke one after another, acting like gentlemen.
Mu Tong responded in kind, introducing them on Si Yao's behalf: "Her surname is Si, and her courtesy name is Yuzhuo. My surname is Mu, and my courtesy name is Changsu. We're both from Qinghe County."
After the five people greeted each other.
Mu Tong was an active person and quickly became familiar with the other three.
The other three looked at Si Yao, who still had an indifferent expression, and were a little curious.
He couldn't help but whisper to Mu Tong, "Senior Sister Changsu, has Junior Sister Yuzhuo always been like this? She looks young, yet she's here to take part in the Autumn Examination?"
For girls, although fifteen is considered an adult, they are still too young to be among the students taking the autumn examination.
"Don't underestimate my junior sister because she's young. She's the best scholar and always takes first place in our academy. She's a bit cold and quiet, but she's very easy to get along with."
Mu Tong said to the three of them.
She smiled slightly, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask her. She will tell you everything she knows."
With Mu Tong acting as a regulator, the atmosphere in the room became more harmonious.
The other three people were no longer so reserved and uncomfortable when facing Si Yao.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was the day of the exam.
The autumn examination lasts for three days, and eating, drinking, defecating and urinating all occur during it.
Every year, many students are dragged out of the examination hall midway through.
Before entering the arena, Mu Tong encouraged the four people: "We will definitely persevere and make it to the list!"
Afterwards, everyone took their belongings and entered the venue.
*
At the same time, in Xingyu Village, which is far away from Yunzhou.
Fang Zhiyue was sitting in the house carving a walnut when someone suddenly knocked on the gate.
He put down what he was holding and quickly went to open the door.
Unexpectedly, there was a young man in luxurious clothes standing outside the door, with several followers following him. It was obvious that he came from an extraordinary family.
He was stunned for a moment, "This... young master, have you come to the wrong place?"
This was the only reason Fang Zhiyue could think of for the other party to come to his house.
“I didn’t go wrong.”
The noble young man looked him up and down.
Without waiting for him to speak, she walked straight in.
"My last name is Yan."
Yan’s surname…
Fang Zhiyue heard from Aunt Zhang that the county magistrate of Qinghe County was named Yan.
He looked at the nobleman behind him and felt a little uneasy.
I wonder why the young master of the county magistrate's family came here?
"Master Yan..."
Fang Zhiyue asked somewhat cautiously, "What can I do for you?"
"I'm familiar with Si Yao—"
After Yan An sat down on the chair prepared by the servant, he looked at Fang Zhiyue and said, "She's gone to Yunzhou to take part in the Autumn Examination. She's worried about you being home alone, so she asked me to take care of her. After all, we're both men, so our interactions won't cause gossip."
While he was speaking, he was also observing Fang Zhiyue.
Looking at his timid appearance and not very outstanding appearance, I really don't understand why a cold woman like Si Yao would care so much about her fake father.
He has asked someone to investigate.
Only then did Fang Zhiyue know that this was the husband her grandfather bought for her mother to bring good luck.
But the two of them never got married, and he was not included in the Si family's genealogy. This Fang Zhiyue had nothing to do with Si Yao at all.
Yan An really didn't understand.
How could she be so willing to support such a weak, ordinary, and elderly boy? From what the villagers had heard, Si Yao actually respected her as his fake father.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Fang Zhiyue felt more and more uneasy when he looked at her, and even her voice couldn't help but stumble: "Yan, Master Yan, thank you for your kindness, but I'm fine at home. You, you don't have to bother me so much."
"You are Ayao's little father, I must respect you, so there is no need to be so polite."
Yan An chuckled softly, his voice a little carefree: "Uncle Fang..., you can just call me Xiao An."
Fang Zhiyue naturally didn't dare to be so casual.
But he was a little curious about the relationship between him and Si Yao.
"...Young Master and Miss Yao have a good relationship?"
Fang Zhiyue couldn't help but recall her angry look when he mentioned the engagement with the Chen family to her.
Is it because of this Mr. Yan that Sister Yao is so resistant?
"We do have a good relationship. I've even visited her at Yunlu Academy several times."
Yan An covered his lips and chuckled twice, looking like a young boy in love.
The more Fang Zhi looked at him, the more certain he became of his thoughts.
When he looked at Yan An again, he seemed to have already regarded him as his future son-in-law: "...Xiao An, would you like to come in and sit down?"
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