"Doctor Guan, do I look like a man who can't perform?"
"It's not a matter of physical capability..." Scholar Jiang placed a chess piece, his expressionless face stating, "I simply haven't met someone I connect with yet!"
Doctor Guan Zhongbo: "???"
Connect with?
By the time you find your destined person, your hair will likely be white.
"Love requires taking initiative. You sit here playing chess with this old man all day, and your wife isn't going to fall from the sky. So, you need to..."
"Doctor Guan, Mr. Jiang!"
Before Doctor Guan Zhongbo could finish his sentence, Niu Caixia walked in, carrying a plate of pastries...
These were small mooncakes and osmanthus cakes she had made herself. To bake these pastries, Niu Caixia had specially built a small earthen kiln for herself, capable of baking cakes and cooking food.
The moment Scholar Jiang saw Niu Caixia, his eyes lit up. He quickly jumped down from the large kang, "Caixia, you just needed to tell me when the pastries were ready, why did you have to bring them over yourself..."
As he took the tray, Scholar Jiang accidentally brushed against the back of Niu Caixia's hand. She shivered as if electrocuted, "It-it's nothing. The kitchen isn't far from here anyway, so I just brought them over as I passed by!"
It had to be said, Mr. Jiang was indeed exceptionally handsome, with a fair complexion and skin even more delicate and smooth than a girl's...
Niu Caixia's heart pounded, her cheeks flushed. She slowly lowered her head.
Scholar Jiang was even more overjoyed, his eyes curving into smiles, "Caixia, I want to go to the county town to buy some things this afternoon. How about... how about you accompany me?"
Perhaps due to prolonged labor, Niu Caixia's skin appeared particularly rough.
Scholar Jiang wanted to buy her some skincare products. After all, she was a girl, and who didn't love beauty?
Niu Caixia's face turned even redder upon hearing this. She quickly shook her head, "N-no, I still need to go to Gou Gou Lake to buy loaches. Jinshan has passed the imperial examination, and Auntie wants to celebrate..."
It was inevitable that villagers would gossip if a man and a woman traveled together.
Moreover, Niu Caixia was a widow, and she had to be even more careful about her words and actions...
Scholar Jiang felt a hint of disappointment.
It seemed that inviting Caixia out was not going to be easy.
Doctor Guan Zhongbo, stroking his pipe, swept his gaze over the two of them.
Was he being an eyesore here?
"Ahem..."
Doctor Guan Zhongbo jumped off the kang, patting his backside, "Caixia, Mr. Jiang was just saying he's not young anymore and wants to find a wife to spend his life with. In my opinion, you're quite suitable. After all, Xiao Jiuhong already calls Mr. Jiang 'Dad.' You can't let Jiuhong grow up without a father, can you?"
Scholar Jiang: "..."
Niu Caixia: "..."
Old Guan, can't you speak more tactfully?
It's quite embarrassing.
Seeing the shy and hesitant expressions of the two young people, Doctor Guan Zhongbo shook his head helplessly, "I suddenly remembered I need to go count ants. You two chat slowly, I'm leaving..."
With that, Doctor Guan Zhongbo, pipe in mouth, swaggered out.
Niu Caixia tightly twisted her sleeves. After a long silence, she finally said, "Um, um, I'm going to Gou Gou Lake to buy loaches. Mr. Jiang, g-goodbye!"
Scholar Jiang blinked, his heart pounding.
If he couldn't seize such a good opportunity before him, was he even a man?
"Caixia!" Scholar Jiang took a step forward, blocking Niu Caixia, "I'll accompany you to buy loaches..."
Niu Caixia neither nodded nor shook her head. Instead, she quickly returned to the main hall, picked up a bamboo basket, and went out.
Scholar Jiang, filled with joy, eagerly followed...
Not long after they left, a carriage arrived outside the Yun family's gate.
Coincidentally, Xiao Xinling was out walking her dog. She saw Yun Jinhe helping Murong Qing alight from the carriage, with Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu following behind, grinning.
"Sister Xinling!" Yun Jinhe cupped his hands.
Xiao Xinling chuckled, "Jinhe, why are you back? Did the Imperial Academy give you an early holiday? Or did your teacher kick you out?"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
Sister Xinling, your insight is too sharp!
You saw through the truth of the matter directly?
Yun Jinhe coughed lightly, his gaze evasive, "N-no, something happened at the Imperial Academy, and I'm on a month's leave, so... so I came back to the village to see my family..."
"That's right, that's right!" Yao Jinsheng quickly chimed in, "The Imperial Academy is undergoing renovations, so all students are on holiday. Tianxiu and I had nothing to do at home, so we came to Dashui Village to hang out!"
Xiao Xinling: "..."
Are you trying to fool ghosts here?
Does the court intend to tear down and rebuild the Imperial Academy?
You can fool others with these words, but you can't fool Xiao Xinling...
She had studied at the Imperial Academy for three years, and her father, the Emperor, valued education greatly. Even if the Imperial Academy were being renovated, they wouldn't have a month-long holiday. Therefore, there must be something fishy going on.
"Not telling the truth, are we?" Xiao Xinling plopped herself onto Xue Ling's back, crossing her arms, "Do you want me to tell Auntie and Uncle that you're skipping classes without reason and not studying properly?"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
Sister Xinling, what did I do to offend you? Why are you acting so unreasonable?
Seeing this, Murong Qing quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, "Sister Xinling, it's not what you think!"
"Then what is it?" Xiao Xinling rolled her eyes.
Murong Qing glanced around, ensuring no one was passing by, then leaned in and whispered a few words into Xiao Xinling's ear...
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xinling's expression shifted from calm to indignant, and finally, she was so furious she felt like she was struck by lightning and smoke was coming out of her ears, "Damn it, Prime Minister Yang was upright and honorable his entire life, how could he have such a scummy son? Jinhe, Jinsheng, Tianxiu, you did well to beat him! Why didn't you beat him to death, hmph!"
She would tell her father about this later and have him deal with Prime Minister Yang...
A father's responsibility for his son's actions. Yang Jingrui's arrogance must have been cultivated by Prime Minister Yang.
Murong Qing smiled slightly, "So please keep this a secret for us, Sister Xinling, and don't tell Auntie about Jinhe's leave!"
If Zhao Guihua found out about this, what would happen?
In Zhao Guihua's heart, Jinhe was a perfect child, sensible and obedient since childhood, never fighting, brawling, or cursing...
Murong Qing feared that Zhao Guihua's heart couldn't take it if she knew about this.
Xiao Xinling nodded without a second thought, "Okay, I won't say anything..."
But she had to hint to the little crybaby so that the little crybaby could thoroughly deal with Prime Minister Yang.
The group chatted about the locust plague outside the gate for a while longer before entering the courtyard to pay their respects to Madam Gu.
Meanwhile, in an inn in the county town, a painful groan could be heard...