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Having parked the cart in the low shed beside the small building, and then helped to carry some things inside, Ning Yi couldn't help but think of a phrase as he stepped into the hall: "entering the inner chamber." It felt rather wicked, and he smiled involuntarily.

Although the two of them chatted for a while every morning, this was the first time Ning Yi had entered the interior of the small building.

This small building stood by the river, surrounded only by some trees. It was quiet and elegant, without too many buildings nearby. It might be cool in the summer, but it seemed a bit cold in winter. Even though the outer walls had been thickened for the winter and some drafty places had been sealed with thick curtains, the owner of the house had been out for more than half a day. Coming inside suddenly, it felt even colder than outside. There weren't many things in the living room, but it seemed quite refined. Nie Yunzhu seemed a bit flustered about having a guest, running around trying to find something, but the tea was already cold and there was nothing to eat. In the end, she just invited Ning Yi to sit down, and carried a small charcoal stove outside to move the fire from the stove on the cart inside.

She placed the small charcoal stove in the center of the room, not far from Ning Yi, and then put a teapot on it: "Uh... it'll be ready in a little while."

Ning Yi laughed, amused. The smile made Nie Yunzhu feel a little embarrassed, and then she remembered: "Those salted duck eggs..." She ran to the inner room and brought out two jars, placing them on the table in front of Ning Yi: "Anyway... they were made according to what Young Master Ning said. I don't know if they're edible."

When she was preparing to set up the pancake stall, she had planned to sell tea eggs and salted eggs as well. When she mentioned it to Ning Yi, it reminded him of something, so he asked her to make what was in front of him now. Ning Yi provided the money, and the production process was similar to salted eggs, but using lime water, camphor ash, and less salt than salted eggs. He only said to do it as an experiment, and to strictly follow the proportions. Now, more than twenty days had passed, and he figured they should be able to see the results.

Nie Yunzhu was also a bit interested in these salted duck eggs with their strange pickling methods, but now she was more interested in the music that Ning Yi had talked about on the road. She only hated using her beauty to please others, but she didn't hate the arts themselves. She wondered what kind of songs a person who could write a *Shui Diao Ge Tou*-level poem liked to hum in ordinary times. Although she didn't ask normally, she was naturally curious in her heart. At this time, she brought a basin of clear water and a porcelain bowl for Ning Yi, and then brought over her family's *guqin*, ink, and paper. Without saying anything, she sat down across from him at the round table.

Ning Yi took a duck egg from the jar and threw it into the water to wash. Seeing her expression, he couldn't help but smile, nodding: "Alright, I'll sing it for you, and you can write down the lyrics. But don't laugh if it doesn't sound good. The name of this song is 'Garland Rain'...嗯, it's this *jialan*..."

Snowflakes fell, and the sound of singing faintly drifted out from the small building.

"Prosperity's voice, escaping into the empty gate, tormenting the world,
Dreams are cold, life is spent in wandering, how many volumes of love debts?
If you acknowledge, life and death wait in vain,
Waiting in vain, cycle after cycle, the rings of time...

The pagoda, broken into several levels, breaking whose soul?
Pain goes straight, a remnant lamp, the collapsing mountain gate.
Allow me to wait again, for history to turn,
Waiting for the wine to mature, waiting for you to play, a song on the *guzheng*..."

A string sounded softly...

*******************

In the Su Manor, the examination at the library had already ended, and Ning Yi had not appeared. After chatting briefly with Elder Su and others, Song Mao returned to the courtyard arranged for him by the Su family and instructed his steward, Song Kai, who had followed him, to prepare the things and gifts for his departure.

For him, this trip to Jiangning might be a bit tight, especially in the first few days. There were some rules about who to visit first and who to visit later. While thinking about these things, Song Kai came in again: "Master, Young Master Wenxing requests an audience."

Song Mao nodded: "Let him in."

Su Wenxing was the son of Su Zhongkan, and ranked fifth among the third generation male descendants of the Su family - this ranking naturally included more than just the Su family's third branch, but also many cousins. However, this Su Wenxing was born to Su Zhongkan's legal wife, and Song Mao was his maternal uncle, who had been extremely fond of him since he was young. Song Mao had already anticipated why he would come.

The saying that there were no talented people in the Su family's third generation was widely circulated, but judging by appearance alone, Su Wenxing, who was twenty-three years old this year, could be considered handsome. After entering, he first bowed and greeted Song Mao. Song Mao smiled, saying some words before him: "Wenxing, you said this morning that that fame-seeking impostor is really this Ning Yi, Ning Liheng?"

"Uncle, it's really him. We've already investigated his background. For twenty years, he's been a nobody, a bookworm who doesn't understand anything. If he hadn't brought his family to ruin, why would he have had to become a son-in-law in our Su family..."

Song Mao smiled: "I don't think so."

"That *Shui Diao Ge Tou* from the Mid-Autumn Festival, he also said in front of Grandpa and Father that it was recited by a Taoist priest, but Grandpa said it strictly, telling everyone not to spread it. We couldn't publicly talk about this outside..."

Su Wenxing was depressed in his heart, and at this time, he felt at ease in front of this uncle who loved him, talking incessantly. Song Mao smiled and pressed his hand down, then pressed it down twice: "Whether this matter is credible or not is still uncertain. If he really is seeking fame and stealing other people's poems, your uncle will naturally try to find out..."

"But Uncle, you praised him so much in the library today, if..."

This morning, Su Wenxing had told Song Mao about Ning Yi's matter. Just now in the library, Song Mao didn't know that Ning Yi was the teacher of those children at first, so it was easy to say. But after knowing, he still praised him endlessly. Su Wenxing felt a bit depressed, fearing that he had purely added to the other party's reputation. Although Ning Yi was only a son-in-law now, his reputation, after all, had to be turned into chips to bet on Su Tan'er's side.

Looking at this nephew talking about this, Song Mao shook his head secretly in his heart, and then patted him on the shoulder: "Wenxing, you are taking over your father's business. Your uncle has told you long ago that you must have a long-term vision. Don't be unconvinced just because others have a little bit of fame. Now in the Su family, although your Tan'er's husband is just a son-in-law, your grandfather will not let anyone touch him. If he really has talent, you can't do anything about him for a while, why not use him to your advantage, build a good relationship with him, and also find out what weaknesses he has. And if he is seeking fame and stealing reputation, then he will fall down one day. The higher you hold him, the harder he will fall. So before he falls, why don't you praise him more?"

Song Mao had a square face, which looked upright and honest. At this time, he sincerely finished these words, paused, and then said: "I still have things to do to go out at this time. Think about these words, Wenxing, and consider them yourself. Wait until the evening to see your father and mother...嗯, I'm leaving."

"I, I understand..." Su Wenxing respectfully saluted, "It was this nephew who was thinking differently just now..."

Song Mao smiled and pushed the door open.

*********************

As Song Mao walked out of the courtyard, another figure was also walking along the road on the other side of the Su Manor towards the side gate.

Xi Junyu, who had come with Shopkeeper Luo, was not going out with Shopkeeper Luo. After the news from the library came, he chatted with a few people for a while before taking his leave alone. The Su Manor's courtyard was very large, and it was not the first time he had come, so he was already familiar with it. He turned around and, from this angle, he could just see the two small buildings where Su Tan'er and Ning Yi lived.

Snow was falling heavily. He stood there and thought seriously for a while before turning around and leaving. He walked through several snow-covered courtyards, and when he was close to the side gate, he heard a voice coming from not far away: "Shopkeeper Xi, what a coincidence!"

In fact, this kind of "coincidence" was not the first time. Xi Junyu's mood was a bit agitated today, and he frowned slightly, but he still cupped his fist in a salute to the other side: "Seventh Young Master, what a coincidence."

Coming over from there was a young man wearing luxurious clothes, holding a folding fan in his hand. He was not very old, and his face was a bit childish and pleasing. Su Wenji, from the Su family's third branch, came over with a smile: "Shopkeeper Xi, you've worked hard. Since we've met so coincidentally, it just so happens that my father is hosting a banquet at the Yinchun Tower today. I wonder if Shopkeeper Xi..."

"Hehe, thank you for Seventh Young Master and Third Master's good intentions, but Junyu still has important matters to attend to. I'm afraid I won't have time to go to this banquet."

"Shopkeeper Xi, don't say that every time..."

"Isn't Seventh Young Master saying the same thing every time?"

"Alright then." Su Wenji straightened his expression. "Shopkeeper Xi, I know you like Second Sister."

Xi Junyu paused, then smiled indifferently: "That's a bit of novelty."

"Shopkeeper Xi, why don't you admit it? Anyone with a heart in the family can see this kind of thing... To be honest, we all thought Second Sister would choose you at first. That day, Father also said: 'I'm afraid that if she chooses Xi Junyu, things will be troublesome.' Now there's no need to hide this from you. Everyone knows your ability. Half of the business under Second Sister's hand is supported by you, but in the end, neither Second Sister, nor the Grandfather nor Father chose you."

Anyway, since he had already opened his mouth, Su Wenji waved the folding fan in his hand, which hadn't been opened yet, and said everything in one breath: "No one knows why they wanted to choose that Ning Yi. Don't say I'm saying it harshly, I'm just stirring up trouble. You would think of these things even if I didn't stir you up. And just now, in front, that Ning Yi stood out even though he wasn't there, do you know? Grandpa will value him more and more. He's just a son-in-law..."

Xi Junyu listened to these words, then smiled indifferently: "Seventh Young Master, I know that they haven't consummated their marriage yet, and they are still sleeping in separate rooms until now, seeming like husband and wife but actually being strangers. As long as they haven't consummated their marriage, this son-in-law is a joke."

"They will consummate their marriage eventually! You and I both know my Second Sister's character. Since she has already started to get along with that Ning Yi, she will consummate their marriage eventually. She has been well-educated since she was young, and she would never do anything that violates feminine virtue. Since she has accepted..."

"Heh, Seventh Young Master, you are discussing your sister so unscrupulously..."

Xi Junyu shook his head and walked forward. Su Wenji gritted his teeth behind him: "It's always like this no matter how we talk! Xi Junyu, you know very well that Sister will accept him sooner or later. The way you are is simply impossible..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xi Junyu suddenly turned his head and walked over in large strides. He was tall and slender, and he already appeared tall. After years of struggling in the business world, his face was gloomy as he walked quickly. In the swirling wind and snow, his aura was indeed a bit intimidating. He stared at Su Wenji for a while, then smiled coldly, shaking his head: "Seventh Young Master, don't be naive..."

Xi Junyu often came to the mansion to discuss matters, and Su Wenji often came to wait. Every time they "coincidentally" met, everyone was polite and said some polite words. Su Wenji had never seen Xi Junyu, who was always calm and composed, with such an expression.

At this time, he was slightly stunned, and then said: "Shopkeeper, Shopkeeper Xi, if you come to our side, you will immediately be the general manager of the entire Su family, and all the resources of the Su family's third branch will be at your disposal. However many requests you have, as long as we can do it, we will naturally agree to them as well. If you can manage these resources well, Second Sister is just a woman after all. If she fails to take over the Grand House in the future, there will naturally be many ways for you to get her... My father said you are a smart person, everyone knows you are a smart person. We have sincerity, there's no need to say extra words, you can think about it yourself..."

**************

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