Yuan Yunzhong snorted lightly and said no more.
A group of people sat down in the pavilion on the back hill.
By this time, the female family members had already inquired about the other child’s living habits, personality, and interests. However, as the saying goes, "Look up when giving a daughter away in marriage; look down when taking a wife," Xiong Wenqing still needed to pass the Song Family’s test.
Fortunately, Eleventh Grand Master Song was accustomed to these matters. Once everyone sat down, Xiong Wenqing astutely directed a servant boy to boil water for tea and arranged for someone to stand at the entrance to prevent any strange men from coming in. He also had someone serve the pastries and fruits that had been prepared beforehand to the Song Family, conducting himself with the utmost composure, showing that the Xiong Family had indeed put great effort into his upbringing.
Eleventh Grand Master Song nodded repeatedly, inquiring about Xiong Wenqing’s daily routine.
Xiong Wenqing was clearly well-prepared, and his voice was clear yet humble, "We have engaged a teacher at home, and I am currently studying the ’Spring and Autumn Annals’ with him. Next year, I plan to take part in the child prodigy exam.
"During breaks in learning, I sometimes accompany my father to the fields, and during busy farming or autumn harvest, I help our steward patrol the mountains or collect rents."
For families such as theirs, it was expected that the younger generation should act this way.
If one has a talent for studying, it is natural to nurture it, but if not, then studying is simply for understanding the principles of life. What is important is learning how to manage family affairs under the guidance of the elders.
Eleventh Grand Master Song was even more satisfied, and seeing Madam Qian nod slightly, he indicated that Xiong Wenqing had passed this part of the test.
Madam Qian was also pleased.
Not only was Xiong Wenqing good-looking, but he also had a clear and spirited gaze, conducted himself with agility and measure, clearly a smart and capable child.
She too slightly nodded to Eleventh Grand Master Song.
This matter was as good as settled!
The Xiong Family and Old Master Yan’s couple couldn’t help but smile and breathe a sigh of relief at this sight.
Who would have thought that Yuan Yunzhong’s voice would suddenly rise in the pavilion, "Reading the ’Spring and Autumn Annals’? ’Zuo Zhuan,’ ’Biography of A Ram,’ or ’Guliang Commentary’?"
He asked Xiong Wenqing in a calm and unhurried manner, "Aside from the ’Spring and Autumn Annals,’ what other books have you read?"
He appeared to be testing Xiong Wenqing’s knowledge.
The hearts of everyone present were instantly raised, and their gazes involuntarily fell upon him.
In terms of scholarship, not to mention the people present, it was probable that not a single person in the whole of Liang County, or even in Wuyuan, could match him.
The Song Family was anxious because they feared Yuan Yunzhong might stump Xiong Wenqing with his questions—the Song Family had come to form a kinship with the Xiong Family, not to make enemies. What good would it do the Song Family if Xiong Wenqing were to lose face in such a setting?
The Xiong Family was also worried that Xiong Wenqing might not be able to answer the questions posed by Yuan Yunzhong—although everyone knew that Xiong Wenqing’s scholarship couldn’t compare to Yuan Yunzhong’s, today was the day Xiong Wenqing was to be judged by the female protagonist. Who would want to lose face in front of the bride’s family on such a day?
Everyone felt anxious.
Only Xiong Wenqing, though somewhat nervous, still tried to answer Yuan Yunzhong’s question with as much grace and propriety as possible: "At the beginning of my enlightenment, I studied the ’Three Hundred Thousand,’ and then I followed my teacher’s instructions to read ’Great Learning,’ ’Doctrine of the Mean,’ ’Analects,’ ’Mencius,’ as well as the ’Book of Changes,’ ’Book of Documents,’ ’Book of Poetry,’ ’Book of Rites,’ ’Spring and Autumn Annals.’ My master said that ’Spring and Autumn’ goes hand in hand with ’Zuo and You,’ therefore, he had me read ’Zuo Zhuan.’"
’Three Hundred Thousand’ refers to ’Three Character Classic,’ ’Hundred Family Surnames,’ and ’Thousand Poems.’
’Zuo Zhuan’ is one of the three major commentaries on the ’Spring and Autumn Annals,’ known as ’Zuo’s Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals.’
Yuan Yunzhong listened and nodded indifferently, saying, "That’s correct! ’Zuo Zhuan’ explains the classics with historical events, and beginners should indeed start with ’Zuo Zhuan’ and then proceed to read ’Biography of A Ram’ and ’Guliang Commentary.’
"Yes!" Xiong Wenqing replied, respectfully saying, "My teacher said the same."
Yuan Yunzhong nodded and said, "The teacher you’ve hired is not bad at all."
Old Master Xiong hurriedly said, "He’s a dismissed candidate who has failed the examinations several times."
Yuan Yunzhong said, "Some people might not be great at studying themselves, but they can still excel at teaching!"
Upon hearing this, everyone seated seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, their gaze sharpened as they looked at him, waiting for him to continue his questioning.
However... they all waited quietly for a long time, but after asking that one question, Yuan Yunzhong, like a curious man whose thirst had been quenched, did not follow up further.
The crowd looked at each other in puzzlement.
When Song Jiyun saw this, he simply stepped forward with a smile and said, "Beforehand, the abbot knew Lord Yuan was coming, so he specially had a novice monk invite Lord Yuan to the Zen room for a chat over tea. I will take Lord Yuan there now; please excuse me, gentlemen!"
"There’s no need for formality, Boss Song! You go ahead if you have business to attend to. We’re just enjoying a quiet moment to drink tea and chat," Old Master Yan was the first to react, quickly getting up to reply and urging Song Jiyun to go ahead, "so as not to keep the abbot waiting. He has always loved collecting fine teas, and since he’s invited you for tea tasting, if it’s not a rarity, it must be something extraordinarily uncommon. You might be in for a treat."
"Thank you for your auspicious words," Song Jiyun said, and after glancing at Yuan Yunzhong, he gestured for him to follow.
Yuan Yunzhong did not cause any more trouble and, after saying goodbye to Old Master Yan and the others, left the pavilion with Song Jiyun.
Song Jiyun walked a good distance from the pavilion, feeling that they were out of earshot, and then lowered his voice to Yuan Yunzhong saying, "Why did you suddenly start testing the knowledge of the Young Master Xiong Family just now?"
Yuan Yunzhong glanced at her and said, "Testing his knowledge? What do you think I could possibly test him on?"
Song Jiyun was utterly confused, "Then why did you ask him what books he had read?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Yuan Yunzhong replied nonchalantly, "I just wanted to see if he had the guts to answer me." He added, "From what I see now, not bad at all!"
Was he helping her test her future brother-in-law?
Song Jiyun looked at Yuan Yunzhong’s still indifferent face and slowly blinked her eyes.
Meanwhile, back at the pavilion, Old Master Xiong also came to a realization.
Watching his son answer Madam Qian’s words humbly, he quietly asked Old Master Yan, "Lord Yuan’s behavior doesn’t seem to fit the impression of a man who’s simply making an equal exchange with Boss Song, does it?"
Seeing Xiong Wenqing’s neither haughty nor humble demeanor, Old Master Yan’s smile was so wide he couldn’t close his mouth. Suddenly, upon hearing the question, he absentmindedly agreed, "If it’s not about making an equal exchange, then what is it?" He then quickly caught the implication and his smile faded as he said, "What are you suggesting?"
He couldn’t help but strain his neck to look at the receding figures of Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong.
They were walking shoulder to shoulder, with Song Jiyun occasionally looking up to say something, and Yuan Yunzhong invariably leaning slightly to listen and reply.
The accommodating manner was all too apparent.
There was no sign of it being merely a transactional relationship.
"Do you suspect that Lord Yuan... has taken a fancy to Boss Song?" His heart skipped a beat, and he took a glance around noticing that everyone’s attention was on Song Jiyu, who was speaking to Mrs. Xiong with a flushed face but gently. He frowned in worry, "Unequal pairing may not be a good thing!"
Especially when Song Jiyun was leading the people of Jingde Town to prepare for firing new blue-and-white porcelain.
Although Yuan Yunzhong had a promising future, being the foremost among the lesser or the least among the great, Song Jiyun staying in Jingde Town may not be a bad thing either.
Old Master Xiong scratched his head, feeling that things might not be that simple.
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