Chapter 20: Don’t blame my father for the misunderstanding, blame those people with ulterior motives...
Maybe the atmosphere in the room was too weird.
Fang Zhiyue suddenly said, "By the way, I have something to give to Sister Yao."
As he said that, he turned and walked towards the small bamboo couch. After taking something out from under the pillow, he turned back to Si Yao.
Si Yao stared at him with his lacquer-like eyes.
Her eyes shifted slightly downwards to his hands, waiting for him to speak.
"This little walnut carving is for Sister Yao, please don't despise it."
Fang Zhiyue pursed his lips a little embarrassedly.
Si Yao took the gadget from his hand, and his eyes gradually warmed up, as if spring water was rippling in them.
She lowered her head and carefully examined the object in her hand.
The small walnut sculpture was carved into a short-armed and short-legged little man in a student's uniform, holding a sage's book in one hand. Although there were no carved facial features, one could tell at a glance that this little man was Si Yao. It was very strange.
Even someone like Si Yao, who is indifferent to material desires, couldn't help but be dazzled by the sight.
She held the carved walnut tightly in her palm, slowly raised her eyes, and looked at Fang Zhiyue: "I like it very much. Why did my father think of giving me this little thing?"
"Didn't you give me a calligraphy copybook before..."
Fang Zhiyue felt a little embarrassed and ashamed when she looked at him. "Besides, I made you angry again today, so let this be my apology."
"As long as you don't mind, Sister Yao."
"How could I dislike something given by my father? I will always wear it on my body."
Si Yao's voice was soft, and it seemed a little ambiguous in this dim room.
Fang Zhiyue always felt that something was strange.
"As long as you like it..."
He then added, quickly changing the subject: "By the way, haven't you had dinner yet? I'll go make it now--"
After saying this, he didn't wait for Si Yao to respond.
Turned around and walked out of the house.
Because Si Yao came back suddenly, the family was not prepared at all.
Fang Zhiyue only cooked some simple meals.
He looked at Si Yao who was sitting opposite him, and said apologetically, "I will go to the town tomorrow and buy some meat and fish. I will cook a delicious meal to celebrate for you."
"No need to bother. I returned home as soon as I got back from Yunzhou. Tomorrow I need to go to Yunlu Academy to tell my teacher. I'm afraid I won't be back until very late."
"Is that so? That's fine. It's not too late to celebrate the day after tomorrow."
Fang Zhiyue curled the corners of his lips and chuckled.
Seeing that the porridge in her bowl was empty, he quickly stood up and took it: "I'll get you another bowl."
*
The next morning, Si Yao went to town.
It was rare for Fang Zhiyue to get up later than her, and when he got up, she was no longer at home.
After a simple breakfast, he went back into the house to carve walnuts.
It was not until he heard a noise outside the courtyard gate that Fang Zhiyue woke up.
"Who is it?"
He came to the gate and asked in a low voice.
I thought it was those matchmakers who came to block the door again.
"Uncle Fang, it's me..."
Unexpectedly, a clear boy's voice was heard outside the door.
Fang Zhiyue was stunned for a second, then quickly opened the door: "Xiao An, why are you here so early?"
"Is Ayao at home? I'm here to see her."
Yan An smiled and got straight to the point.
Fang Zhiyue was stunned again when he heard this, thinking that Si Yao had already informed him of her return in advance.
After all, Si Yao just came back last night, but he came to the door early in the morning.
After regaining his composure, he spoke slowly, "...Sister Yao happened to be in town. She said she was going to Yunlu Academy and wouldn't be back until very late."
"I see..."
After hearing him say this, Yan An was obviously disappointed.
He lowered his eyes slightly, then raised them again and smiled, "I have nothing to do anyway, so why not just wait here for her to come back? Is Uncle Fang busy? I hope I won't disturb you."
He asked this question but had already stepped in.
Fang Zhiyue quickly made way and led him inside, "Of course not. Xiao An, please come in."
Si Yao, who had already gone to town, had no idea that Yan An had come to visit.
After arriving in town, she went directly to Yunlu Academy to find Master Qi.
"Students greet their teachers—"
"Why are you back?"
Master Qi was shocked when he saw her: "Shouldn't you be in Yunzhou attending the Luming Feast right now?"
"There was an emergency at home, so the student rushed back."
Si Yao lowered his eyes slightly, his voice very calm.
"Confused!"
Master Qi stood up angrily and pointed at her, "The Luming Banquet was so important. As the top-ranked candidate, you should have shined at the banquet, winning the favor of the Yunzhou Governor and the great scholars of Yunyin Academy. It would be of great benefit to your future. If you come back so rashly, you'll probably be known as someone who's arrogant and conceited."
"You, what can I say about you?"
Master Qi flicked his sleeves and sat down again.
Si Yao never looked up from beginning to end, and just listened to her teachings with a humble attitude.
The room fell into a brief silence.
After a long time, Master Qi finally calmed down a little.
Seeing Si Yao still bowing, she sighed softly, "Forget it, things have come to this point and there is no turning back. I know you are indifferent and don't like those intrigues and schemes. But if you want to be an official in the future, you will inevitably be exposed to them. The art of being an official is a profound subject. You must plan ahead. While studying well is a good thing, being too arrogant is also a flaw. You will continue to work hard at Yunyin Academy for the next two years. I hope you can correct this bad habit."
"There's a good friend of mine in Yunyin Academy. I'll write a letter, and you can take it to Yunzhou and give it to her. She's very knowledgeable, but has a very strange personality. She hasn't accepted any students in two years. Whether you can catch her eye depends on your ability."
"Thank you, teacher."
Si Yao bowed deeply and did not stand up for a long time.
Master Qi raised his hand and said, "Come to the academy to look for me at this time tomorrow. Go back today."
"Yes, the student is leaving."
Si Yao turned around and left Jingxueju.
She left Yunlu Academy when it was already past noon.
Si Yao didn't stay in the town and went straight back to Xingyu Village.
At the Si family's house, Fang Zhiyue and Yan An were sitting in the yard.
The two of them had been sitting for a whole day, watching the sun set and dusk approaching.
Yan An, however, had no plans to leave.
Fang Zhiyue pursed his dry lips and asked, "...Xiao An, are you staying for dinner tonight?"
"Sorry to bother Uncle Fang."
Yan An sat in the chair and nodded.
It seems that he will not give up until Si Yao returns.
Seeing this, Fang Zhiyue had no choice but to get up and walk towards the stove to arrange dinner.
As soon as he entered the stove, there was a noise at the gate of the yard.
Si Yao, who had gone to town early in the morning, pushed the door and walked in.
"Ayao, you're back——"
The excited voices of the children immediately came from the yard.
Si Yao raised his eyes and saw Yan An walking towards him quickly.
She frowned instantly, "Master Yan, why are you here?"
"Sister Yao, you're back..."
Just at this moment, Fang Zhiyue, who heard the noise at the stove, came out holding a spatula.
His eyes fell on the two of them, "Xiao An came looking for you early in the morning. Sit down and talk to him first. Dinner will be ready soon."
After saying that, he hurried back to the stove, as if he was afraid of disturbing them.
Si Yao heard the name he called her and saw how eager he was to make room for them.
His dark eyebrows were furrowed tighter and tighter, and there was a layer of cold light in his eyes.
She looked at the man in front of her, her tone somewhat hostile: "Why did Master Yan come to my house? When did he become so familiar with my father? What did Master Yan say to my father? What is his purpose?"
Si Yao asked a series of questions, pressing Yu Yan'an aggressively.
Yan An was not frightened by her, but chuckled: "Ayao, why do you ask when you already know the answer? I am familiar with Uncle Fang for you. As for the purpose."
He glanced at her with a hint of affection, "Of course I want you to see my good side and be willing to marry me."
"Uncle...Fang?"
Si Yao ignored his seductive glances and only heard these two words.
He looked at him expressionlessly, "Mr. Yan seems to be nineteen this year, and my father has only just turned twenty-one. I'm afraid it's inappropriate to address him as Mr. Yan."
After saying that, he walked straight towards the stove without even looking at Yan An's surprised expression.
Inside the stove, Fang Zhiyue was breaking the vegetables in his hands.
Unexpectedly, a figure suddenly appeared behind him and snatched the dish from his hand: "Let me do it——"
Fang Zhiyue turned around immediately and was stunned when he saw Si Yao behind him: "Sister Yao? Why did you come in? Xiao An is still outside. Go and keep her company."
As he said that, he was about to take the dish from her hand.
Si Yao easily dodged it, "Little father."
She called out very seriously, looking at him with eyes as dark as ink.
"I have nothing to do with him. Don't call him so intimately in the future."
"What's wrong?"
I saw that she looked wrong.
Fang Zhiyue asked in a low voice: "Did you have a fight?"
Obviously, Yan An had brainwashed Fang Zhiyue thoroughly during this period of time, and had made him firmly believe that there was something unusual between the two of them.
Si Yao stared at him without saying anything.
She just suddenly reached out and picked up the loose hair that hung in front of his forehead.
"Yao, Sister Yao?"
Fang Zhiyue was frightened by her sudden intimate action.
He subconsciously shrank back, but there was nowhere to retreat and he could only be forced in front of the stove by her.
"My father trusts others so easily, I'm a little jealous."
"I, I didn't..."
Fang Zhiyue spoke hesitantly and hurried to explain: "If you don't like me calling him like this, I will call him Master Yan from now on. You..." Be more normal.
He swallowed the last sentence back into his stomach.
"Never mind, this can't be blamed on my father."
Si Yao slowly let go of his hand, took a step back, and the darkness in his eyes faded away.
We can only blame those with ulterior motives.
"Little Father, please go out. Leave this to me. Master Yan is a man after all, and it would be inconvenient for me as a woman. So, Little Father, please go out and accompany him."
Having said that, he pushed Fang Zhiyue out of the stove.
Fang Zhiyue was forced to come out.
Seeing Yan An sitting in the yard with a bad look on his face, he walked over a little awkwardly.
"...Sister Yao wants to cook for herself, Master Yan, please don't be angry."
Yan An glanced at him.
The tone was hard to discern: "A gentleman should stay away from the kitchen. Her hands are not meant for cooking."
There was a hint of reproach in his words.
Fang Zhiyue was a little bewildered, "No, no, it was just this time today."
"She must have cooked for him personally because Master Yan was here."
Yan An was not very happy to hear this.
He just felt that Si Yao was avoiding him.
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