Chapter 13 Visiting an Old Friend
Three days later, early morning.
Su Yuan was wearing a light blue cotton robe, holding candied fruits in his left hand and a jar of wine in his right hand, standing outside the gate of the palace.
She looked up at the doorplate again and confirmed that this was the home of the old man that Su's father had mentioned, Scholar Wang Zhixing, and walked forward and rang the doorknob.
"Boom boom boom, boom boom boom."
Su Yuan waited outside for a while. As the footsteps got closer, a man in his thirties, with a handsome face and dressed like a husband, opened the door with a "creak".
He looked up in confusion, sized up Su Yuan standing at the door, and asked:
"Girl, were you the one knocking on the door just now?"
"Yes." Su Yuan nodded, then smiled and asked:
"Excuse me, is this the residence of Mr. Wang Zhixing, Mr. Wang?"
"Junior Su Yuan, my late mother Su Li was an old friend and classmate of Aunt Wang. I came here today to pay a visit to Aunt Wang."
After listening to Su Yuan's self-introduction, the man frowned slightly, pursed his lips and said:
"This is indeed the palace, but my wife is busy teaching now. How about this, you come in with me first."
After saying that, the man stopped talking, walked in front and led the way, taking Su Yuan to the reception room.
On the way, Su Yuan chatted with the obviously taciturn man for a few words and finally found out his identity.
Wang Zhixing's doctor was named Feng Wan.
"Put your things on the table beside you and wait here. I'll go and inform my wife to see if she's free."
Feng Wan finished speaking to Su Yuan with a stern face, and without waiting for her to answer, he turned around and left.
"Okay, thank you, uncle."
Su Yuan felt depressed when he saw him like this. This guy was too weird. He didn't know if it was just his personality or if he didn't welcome him.
She'll wait and see how Wang Zhixing himself is doing. If he's like that too, she'll turn around and leave.
It’s not like she has nowhere else to go. She came to Baichuan Academy just because it was her first choice.
Su Yuan put the gift away and sat down to wait for about an incense stick of time, then heard hurried footsteps outside.
She looked up.
I saw a slightly plump middle-aged woman with regular features and a scholarly air walking quickly towards me from a distance.
Feng Wan followed behind her, jogging to catch up with her.
The middle-aged woman walked quickly to the reception room, looked at Su Yuan's face, and said excitedly:
"You are Su Li's daughter, Su Yuan? You know what, when I look closely, you really look like your mother."
"Oh, by the way, what brings you here this time? Tell me, I will definitely help you if I can."
When Su Yuan heard the woman say this, he immediately understood that this was Wang Zhixing himself.
So he stood up, bowed to her and said:
"Junior Su Yuan, nice to meet Aunt Wang."
"I am here this time because I have something to trouble you with. I want to take the examination for the Tongsheng in early spring of next year. I heard from my father that you have opened a private school in town, so I want to go there to study. I wonder if Aunt Wang will accept me as a student."
Wang Zhixing was slightly stunned when he heard this. If he remembered correctly, Su Yuan was already sixteen years old this year.
She was surprised:
"You failed the exam before, and now you want to retake it?"
Su Yuan shook his head:
"I have never taken the Tongsheng exam before, and I only attended a private school for a few months. Most of the knowledge I have learned is self-taught."
Wang Zhixing misunderstood her words.
I thought Su Yuan was forced to teach himself because his family was poor and he had no conditions to go to school.
She looked at Su Yuan with regret. When Su Li was alive, his knowledge was top-notch. If he had not died young, he would have become a high-ranking official now.
It's such a pity that her daughter doesn't have the conditions to go to a private school and has no teacher to teach her.
Feng Wan, who was standing behind Wang Zhixing, listened to Su Yuan's words with contempt. When Su's father brought his young daughter to the town, his wife had given them a lot of help.
After more than ten years, this family had the audacity to come to seek help again. Su Yuan was so old, but he was just thinking about going to school, and he even said that he would take the examination for a student in February next year.
Tsk, you really think you are a god, you can take the exam after studying for only two months, you are here to make fun of yourself.
Feng Wan looks down on Su Yuan, but Wang Zhixing doesn't think so.
Su Yuan dared to take the examination for the title of Tongsheng after studying for less than three months, which showed that she had knowledge and the courage to take the examination.
So Wang Zhixing smiled and said:
"How about this, Aunt Wang will give you some questions to test your knowledge. If you pass, I will let you enter school tomorrow. What do you think, niece?"
Su Yuan heard this, nodded calmly, and said with a faint smile:
"Okay, please ask the question."
Next, Wang Xiucai tested Su Yuan on eight-legged essays, trial poems, classics, regulated verse, and policy essays, and Su Yuan answered them all fluently.
Finally, she wanted to test Su Yuan's knowledge and talent, so she asked her about the Four Books and Five Classics, and Su Yuan could answer them all.
However, my understanding of some areas is not very thorough. If I have a teacher to guide me, I will definitely be able to make some progress.
Wang Zhixing had an idea in mind, and he couldn't hide the joy on his face. The look in his eyes when he looked at Su Yuan was sparkling, as if he was looking at a treasure.
With a heart that cherishes talent, she said to Su Yuan:
"Niece Su, you are very talented and well-read, but there is one thing you don't understand well. If you have a teacher to guide you, you will become a great talent in the future."
"How about this, you will report to Baichuan Academy tomorrow, and the tuition will be waived. You can keep the money for your daily expenses."
After Wang Zhixing finished speaking, Su Yuan hadn't reacted yet. Feng Wan, who was standing behind her, was so angry that his eyes were about to spit fire.
He knew that his wife would be a spendthrift again, which made him very angry.
However, he did not dare to refute, for fear that Wang Zhixing would be angry. He had quarreled with his wife many times before over money and then ran back to his father's house.
At first, Wang Zhixing went to coax him back personally, but after doing it many times, he just let him do what he wanted and let him live with his father.
Anyway, she still had two, three, or four other husbands to serve her, not just him. Gradually, Feng Wan became afraid and dared not to be angry anymore.
When Su Yuan saw Feng Wan's face change immediately after Wang Zhixing said he wanted to exempt him from paying tuition, he understood instantly.
It turned out that he was afraid that she would come to ask for money. No wonder Feng Wan's face changed as soon as she revealed her identity outside the door just now.
Su Yuan looked at Feng Wan meaningfully. Let him think whatever he wants. She couldn't just show off how rich she was just for his sake.
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