When Zhao Yan saw He Tiantian arrive, he quickly got up to greet her.
He smiled bitterly and said with some helplessness, "These aunties do this every day, I'm used to it."
He Tiantian sighed inwardly, "What's wrong with your habits? If you're too embarrassed to say it, I'll say it for you later."
Zhao Yan thought to himself that Aunt He must have something to say to him. So he changed the subject, "Auntie, what brings you here?"
He Tiantian then recounted to Zhao Yan everything that Magistrate Liu had said that day.
“Your mother specifically told me to come back and tell you, so that you can be mentally prepared if Cheng Fang really comes.”
Zhao Yan gave a wry smile and shook his head.
“Auntie, you don’t know about Cheng Fang and Lu Yu. Back when they were at the academy, they took advantage of their families’ power and influence in the area to bully people like us who have no backing. Oh well, it doesn’t matter if they don’t come.”
He Tiantian frowned and comforted her, "Yan'er, with the county magistrate handling this matter, everyone can see your innocence. As long as you can put your mind at ease even if the Cheng family doesn't apologize."
Zhao Yan nodded. "Auntie, I'm very open-minded about this. My most important thing right now is to take the imperial examination next year. As long as it doesn't affect my exam in the capital, nothing else matters."
That makes sense, and He Tiantian agrees.
"Alright, then you can continue your studies. I'll head back now."
Zhao Yan personally escorted He Tiantian to the door, saying, "Auntie, please take care."
He Tiantian waved her hand, indicating that there was no need to offer any more.
However, Erhua's mother and Wang's sister-in-law were still at the door. Since Zhao Yan opened the door and saw them, he naturally had to greet them.
So he greeted them one by one, "Hello, aunties."
Zhao Yan's voice was very clear and bright, completely different from the rough voices of the other men in the village.
As soon as he spoke, the women dared not raise their voices anymore. They were afraid that speaking like that in front of Zhao Yan would be undignified.
He Tiantian looked around and her gaze fell on Cheng Taotao's infatuated eyes.
She paused for a moment, then turned and left without saying anything more.
Erhua's mother rubbed her hands a little embarrassedly, "Oh, it's Yan'er. Did our chatting at the door disturb your reading?"
Zhao Yan shook his head and said modestly, "It's alright, Auntie."
Widow Zhang, on the other hand, felt very uncomfortable. As a rough person, she felt that seeing a scholar like Zhao Yan was a kind of desecration to scholars.
She reassured him, "It's no trouble at all. I think we should go. We shouldn't delay Yan'er's exam next year."
"Yes, yes, how could we roughnecks like us delay the scholar's studies? Come on, let's go somewhere else."
As she spoke, Sister-in-law Wang urged the others to quickly find another place.
Zhao Yan didn't even have a chance to explain. During the days he lived in the village, these people kept calling him a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations.
It's as if he's already passed the imperial examination; I'm truly ashamed.
The area in front of the Zhao family's house suddenly became quiet. Zhao Yan went inside and closed the courtyard gate again.
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