Chapter 4: Cold Spring and Sudden Heavy Snow
Yunlu Academy, Student Dormitory
Si Yao had just sat down on her bed when a student suddenly ran in and stopped in front of her.
"Si Yao, your family asked me to bring this to you."
She placed the three copper coins next to her, but didn't leave immediately. She asked curiously, "Hey—is that your brother? You two don't look alike at all."
As the favorite student of Master Qi in their academy, Si Yao always gets first place in every quiz.
Many people want to make friends with him.
But she has a cold personality and acts indifferent to everyone. She is neither impolite nor approachable.
As for her family situation, people in the college had no idea.
The student felt that he had seized an opportunity and might be able to ease the relationship between them.
Si Yao picked up the three copper coins.
Fang Zhiyue's honest and reserved face suddenly popped up in my mind.
She ignored the student.
After saying thank you, he continued to read the book beside him.
The student was disappointed and looked a little embarrassed.
After standing there for a while, he turned around and left the dormitory.
As soon as she left, Mu Tong, who lived in Siyao's clinic, came over immediately. They were both students of Master Qi, and Mu Tong had joined the school a year earlier than her.
"Ayao, I remember the teacher said that you only have one grandfather in your family. When did you have a brother?"
Mu Tong asked curiously.
I think I have some friendship with her.
"Have you finished memorizing the lesson the teacher gave you?"
Si Yao answered the question irrelevantly and glanced at her indifferently.
Hearing this, Mu Tong instantly shrank his neck and his tone weakened: "There are a few things I don't understand about that homework. I was just waiting for you to come back and help me clear it up."
Logically speaking, she was Si Yao's senior sister, so she should be more knowledgeable than her.
But Si Yao is really too perverted.
However, after only one year at Yunlu Academy, he had already won first place in all subjects.
It prevents these people from even feeling jealous.
Mu Tong has always been a thick-skinned person. He thinks that they have the same teacher and are closer to each other than others.
Therefore, every time I encountered a difficult problem, I would ask Si Yao for advice.
Although Si Yao looked cold, he would answer her questions every time.
After a few times, Mu Tong felt that she was a person with a cold exterior but a warm heart, just a little less talkative than others.
"If I remember correctly, the Master will check it tomorrow. Senior Sister, do you want to be punished by the Master?"
Si Yao reminded.
Mu Tong completely lost interest in gossip.
I quickly took out the homework and asked her for help, "Okay, Ayao, please help me quickly."
The two leaned against each other.
Si Yao patiently explained to her in a clear and logical manner.
After listening to it, Mu Tong felt her ears and eyes clear, and she suddenly understood what had confused her for several days.
She smiled gratefully, "Thank you, Junior Sister Yao, for clearing up my confusion. I'll treat you to a meal some other day."
Si Yao didn't pay attention to her words and just picked up the book and started reading again.
*
Xingyu Village
When Fang Zhiyue came back, it was already dark.
The bright moon has been hanging high in the sky since I don't know when, and its silver light has poured down on the earth, giving it a layer of cool air.
"Dad, I'm back..."
He put down the bag in his hand and spoke softly to the old man of the Si family.
The old man of the Si family was sweeping the floor with a broom. When he saw him come back, he stuffed the broom into his hands and said, "Why are you back so late? Did you go out to be lazy?"
He had an ugly expression on his face, and his cloudy eyes stared at him, looking a little mean.
Fang Zhiyue hurriedly explained, "I, I didn't. After I arrived in town, I went to Mr. Chen's house and gave the clothes to Manager Wu. Then I went to Yunlu Academy and gave the money to Sister Yao. I didn't dare to delay for a moment and came back directly."
He left all three cents to Si Yao.
Fortunately, Aunt Zhang didn't charge any money when her ox cart came back.
Otherwise he would have no choice but to run back.
"Dad, look..."
Fang Zhiyue showed the two large bundles behind him and said, "This is what I got from Manager Wu. I can earn five cents this time."
The old man of the Si family took a look.
His expression brightened slightly. "You still have some conscience. I originally intended to give Yao'er the half-a-yuan of money as travel expenses. But I ended up using it on you."
"Don't worry, Dad. I will find a way to pay for Sister Yao's travel expenses."
Fang Zhiyue said awkwardly, "I'll get more clothes and save more money."
"OK--"
The Si family's father didn't say anything else, just glanced at him and said: "Sweep the floor first. When you're done, go make dinner. Sister Yao is not at home, so just make some wild vegetable soup."
When Si Yao is not at home, the father of the Si family usually only eats two meals. Therefore, this evening meal will be eaten later.
After he finished his instructions, he went into the main house.
As the night grew darker, Fang Zhiyue first moved the two bags behind him away and quickly started sweeping with a broom.
Late at night, he sat on his small bamboo bed.
He reached under the bed and took out his small bag.
The wild peach pit, from which he had previously carved only a rabbit head, now also had its body carved out.
Fang Zhiyue took a small carving knife and carefully modified it. Finally, he placed the finished product on the palm of his hand and looked at it from left to right.
The wild peach pit is not big, half is a peach pit, and the other half is a rabbit running on four legs. It is particularly interesting to look at.
He held it and looked at it happily for a long time before putting it back into his small bag.
The ones he had carved before were discovered by his aunt and uncle before they were finished, and they were all thrown away.
This is his first finished product.
Fang Zhiyue lay on the small bamboo couch and couldn't help thinking -
This time he must hide well and not be discovered.
The next morning, Fang Zhiyue got up and walked towards the river with a large basin of dirty clothes.
Mr. Chen saw him from a distance.
"You are Grandpa Si's son-in-law, right? The river water is freezing cold this morning. Why are you washing clothes at this time?"
He observed Fang Zhiyue for a long time, and today he finally couldn't help but walk forward out of curiosity.
Fang Zhiyue looked at the boy in front of him. He looked only a year or two older than him. Although his appearance was not particularly outstanding, he was well-proportioned.
He nodded somewhat stiffly: "My wife is Si Wen. The clothes are from a wealthy family in town, so they need to be washed quickly."
Fang Zhiyue smiled at him and continued walking towards the river.
The Chen family's husband didn't leave. He said cheerfully, "My house is actually right next to yours. You can just call me Brother Liu. I've only been married into the Chen family for a year, and I don't have anyone to talk to in Xingyu Village, so I wanted to talk to you."
He's clearly a talkative one.
Without waiting for Fang Zhiyue to speak, he continued, "My wife runs a small business and sells small items in town every day. I also have a brother-in-law at home, who is about the same age as your Si Yao..."
The Chen family's husband squatted beside him and told him everything about the situation at home.
It was the first time that Fang Zhiyue had met such a eloquent person.
He opened his mouth several times to interrupt but was not as quick as him.
Finally, he found an opportunity and blurted out, "Brother Liu, your bucket..."
It turned out that he was so focused on talking to Fang Zhiyue that he forgot that the bucket was still in the river. Now it had been washed away by the river water.
"Ouch—my bucket!"
Mr. Chen slapped his thigh and quickly stood up to chase after him.
Fortunately, it was discovered in time and the bucket was found again.
He picked up a bucket of water and said quickly to Fang Zhiyue before leaving: "Brother Fang, wait for me. After I return this bucket of water, I'll come back to find you with clothes."
After saying this, he didn't wait for Fang Zhiyue to answer.
He picked up the bucket and walked forward quickly.
After a while, he disappeared.
Fang Zhiyue withdrew his gaze and pursed his lips.
Although there was no change on his face, the movement of his hands rubbing the clothes became much faster.
But no matter how fast he washed, he couldn't finish washing the whole basin of clothes.
Not long after, the husband of the Chen family came over with a small basin of clothes and squatted beside him with a smile on his face.
"It's boring to do laundry alone, so we can keep each other company."
He continued speaking again.
But this time, he didn't mention his family affairs, but gossiped about things in Xingyu Village.
Even though Fang Zhiyue was listening absent-mindedly, he was still forced to know a lot of secrets.
When he returned to the Si family, his mind was filled with the cheerful voice of Chen's husband, and he felt a little dazed.
The old man of the Si family was guarding the door.
I saw him coming back with the man from the Chen family next door.
After closing the door, he immediately frowned: "Why are you walking with that Liu?"
"I met him by the river while washing clothes."
Fang Zhiyue replied honestly and put down the clothes in his hands.
He was about to pull up the line to hang out the clothes.
The old man of the Si family came over and whispered, "You are not allowed to have any contact with him anymore. Yao'er is a scholar, how can he get involved with a merchant family? If you harm Yao'er, I, this old man, will not forgive you!"
He said viciously.
It seemed like he was trying too hard and couldn't help coughing a few times.
Fang Zhiyue was startled by his appearance and nodded quickly: "I will listen to Dad and will never associate with him again."
"Dad, don't be angry..."
The days passed one by one.
Because of what the father of the Si family said.
Later, Fang Zhiyue knew that she had to postpone her washing trip to the river until the evening, for fear of running into Chen's husband again.
Fang Zhiyue obviously couldn't just ignore him.
So I just had to avoid him.
During this period, he went to the town twice and successfully exchanged ten cents for washing clothes.
Fang Zhiyue did not keep any of the clothes for himself and gave them all to the old man of the Si family for safekeeping, without waiting for him to go to Manager Wu to get the clothes.
Unexpectedly, the weather was not good and it suddenly snowed heavily.
The road to town was also blocked.
"Damn it, God! Why is it snowing out of nowhere?"
The old man of the Si family was furious at home.
Looking at the snowflakes flying outside, I couldn't help but worry, "I wonder if Yao'er is cold in the academy? She doesn't even have any thick clothes with her. I hope she doesn't get cold."
He turned his head and glanced at Fang Zhiyue who was huddled on the stool.
He frowned unhappily, "What are you still doing sitting here? Why don't you go to Zhang's house and see if she can go to town today so that you can give Yao'er some thick clothes."
Fang Zhiyue stood up quickly when he heard this.
He only had this thin cloth shirt when he married into the Si family, and the sudden late spring cold was really unbearable for him.
After thinking about it, he asked the old man of the Si family, "...Dad, is there any unused cotton-padded jacket at home that I could use?"
He was shivering and unable to stand, his lips were frozen pale.
"There's no way they have anything for you to wear at home. Okay, why don't you go to the Zhang family and ask."
The old man of the Si family urged impatiently.
Fang Zhiyue had no choice but to give up after hearing this and ran out with his head held high.
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