In the carriage, Ming San fanned himself, squinting suspiciously at Zhan Feiyu. "No red rain fell from the sky, so why are you being so kind?"
Ming San remembered the first time he met Zhan Feiyu at the Huang family's. Perhaps it was because Scholar Gu had refused to take him as a disciple but instead accepted a young girl, Ming San had been arrogant and his words particularly harsh.
Who would have thought Zhan Feiyu was no pushover? The two of them had clashed verbally.
From Ming San's understanding of Zhan Feiyu, the young girl appeared delicate, but there was a ruthless streak in her. Yet, she had just given away five taels of silver. There had to be a trick.
Zhan Feiyu rolled her eyes and replied nonchalantly, "It's just five taels of silver, am I that stingy?"
Now it was Ming San's turn to roll his eyes. The girl wasn't stingy, but she was fierce! Thinking of Liu Baihu's broken left leg twice, Ming San felt that Zhan Feiyu had been merciful for not whipping the extortionist Liu with her horsewhip. Giving money? That was definitely "fishy."
"Aren't we in a hurry? Why bother with five taels of silver? It's better to copy a couple more books," Zhan Feiyu grinned, her eyes crinkling charmingly, making her look utterly cunning.
Glancing sideways at Zhan Feiyu, who was clearly lying, Ming San snorted, "You can only fool that little fatty Qi Heng with those words."
"I noticed two shifty-looking individuals in the crowd earlier; they're probably pickpockets," Zhan Feiyu explained with a smile, then turned to He Nuan beside her. "Is the one in the blue short jacket and the thin one with a scar on his right cheek a pickpocket?"
When it came to studying, Zhan Feiyu was an expert, but when it came to judging people, someone like He Nuan, a martial artist, was more adept.
He Nuan was not surprised by Zhan Feiyu's perceptiveness and replied gently, "There are usually pickpockets lurking outside pawnshops. Miss, you are correct about those two. The one with the scar had previously stolen a jade pendant from a wealthy young master."
Regardless of how much pawnshops undervalued items, they still had to give some silver. Therefore, pickpockets always loitered outside pawnshops, succeeding five or six times out of ten.
Zhan Feiyu gave Liu Shi five taels of silver for two reasons. Firstly, she genuinely didn't want to get entangled and waste time. After all, she was a scholar and valued her reputation. Any matter that could be resolved with money was not a problem.
Secondly, Liu Shi would surely be happy to get back the five taels of silver, but then it would be stolen by pickpockets. The thought of that satisfying feeling made Zhan Feiyu chuckle.
As for the pickpockets benefiting in the end, it didn't matter. Zhan Feiyu was not a saintly figure overflowing with justice.
Ming San, who had been watching the spectacle from the carriage, hadn't noticed the two petty thieves in the crowd at all. With a snap, he closed his fan and exaggeratedly sized up Zhan Feiyu, causing Hong Er to become wary.
"I say, we're both scholars, why are your eyes so sharp?" Ming San sighed, realizing it was no wonder Scholar Gu had taken this girl as his disciple; she was practically a demon of wisdom.
Amused by Ming San's evident frustration, Zhan Feiyu clenched her right fist in a bodybuilding pose. "I am skilled in both literature and martial arts!"
Thinking of Zhan Feiyu getting up before dawn every day to practice boxing, Ming San fell silent. Well, when it came to self-discipline, the little girl was undoubtedly number one.
After the carriage left, Liu Shi, though still grumbling, pocketed the five taels of silver, and the onlookers dispersed.
"Oh, you blind fool! Can't you watch where you're going?" bumped into, Liu Shi, who had already fallen, felt her injured arm twinge. She cursed angrily.
"Auntie, I apologize. I was pushed," the young man in the blue short jacket said, bowing and apologizing profusely. Perhaps fearing Liu Shi would extort him as she had Zhan Feiyu, he then scurried away.
"Mother, let's just go back. The sun is about to bake us alive," Wei Wen urged impatiently. Although she had only received five taels of silver, pawnshops always undervalued items. It was better to steal more from the Wei family to pawn than to make a fuss now.
In the crowd, Lü Biao squinted at Liu Shi and the others as they left. There was still a bruise on his face. He had come to the medical clinic for medicine today and had unexpectedly seen Zhan Feiyu again.
"Brother Biao, what are you looking at?" his subordinate asked, confused. He was a ruffian who frequented the streets and recognized the pickpocket who had just stolen Liu Shi's money.
The subordinate not only failed to warn Liu Shi but also planned to find Zhao Liuzi later. If he stole five taels of silver, he should at least get two taels as a share! Seeing is having!
Lü Biao touched his still-aching cheek. "Find a few people to investigate who that woman who just went to the pawnshop was."
Although the subordinate didn't understand, Lü Biao had been in a bad mood these past few days due to being beaten, so the subordinate didn't dare to argue. He agreed and quickly found people to inquire.
...
Over the years, scholars had visited the Wei family one after another. Even though Grand Tutor Wei had remained reclusive and refused visitors, Zhan Feiyu was an exception.
Some people wondered if Grand Tutor Wei favored young girls who were educated and literate, so they began teaching their sisters at home, planning to visit again another day.
This led to an unusually quiet entrance to the Wei family these past few days. Zhan Feiyu, with Ming San, entered the premises smoothly.
"You are Ming Jinlun's youngest son?" Grand Tutor Wei, sitting in his wheelchair, spoke with a cold gaze and harsh words. "The head of Qingya Academy has raised another Fang Zhongyong."
Ming San's expression was awkward and stiff. Grand Tutor Wei wasn't just cold and reclusive; his words were like sharp swords!
Ignoring Ming San, Grand Tutor Wei snorted at Zhan Feiyu, "And you, who gave you permission to bring outsiders in without authorization? Didn't you agree not to be adopted?"
In this regard, even though Ming San was seventeen years older than Zhan Feiyu, his thick skin was clearly no match for hers.
"Since so many people have already come, one more young master like him won't make a difference. I've copied so many books my hands are about to fall off, and I can barely hold chopsticks," Zhan Feiyu said, shaking her fair, tender wrists.
Every day, A Nuan would give her hot compresses with medicinal herbs and apply a special medicated oil. Zhan Feiyu suspected her right hand was truly going to be crippled.
Seeing the annoyed Grand Tutor Wei, Zhan Feiyu grinned and pulled Hong Er closer. "Why don't you adopt this little fellow? Scholar Zhu is busy with the imperial examinations and probably won't have time to care for Hong Er for the next ten years. When he enters officialdom in the future, he'll likely be married. His wife might dislike Hong Er, so why don't you adopt Hong Er directly, old sir? It's killing two birds with one stone!"
It wasn't that Zhan Feiyu was maliciously speculating about Zhu Changyun's future wife, but the probability of such a situation was about fifty-fifty.
Especially if his sister-in-law had her own children in the future, she would certainly care more about her own children and neglect Hong Er. Moreover, the little fellow was currently in a state where he wouldn't even complain if he was bullied.
"If you have time to meddle in other people's affairs, why don't you read more books?" Grand Tutor Wei continued his harsh words.
However, compared to his previous state of complete silence, only the old steward who served him closely knew that Grand Tutor Wei was better off like this, at least willing to talk to people.
Zhan Feiyu grinned and straightened her small back. "I am the top scholar of Nanxuan Prefecture!"
She was just that boastful!
If anyone else had shown off like this, Grand Tutor Wei would have had the servants drive them out. But Zhan Feiyu had the capital to be boastful. She studied under Scholar Gu and had become the top scholar in the prefectural examination after only two years of tutelage.
Secondly, Zhan Feiyu's appearance—a fair, rosy face, dark eyes, and a charmingly cute smile—made even the cold-tempered Grand Tutor Wei, who was only verbally unyielding, feel pleased inwardly.
"With the example of a prodigy like Shang Zhongyong before you, speak again when you achieve the triple crown!" Grand Tutor Wei looked at Ming San with even more disdainful and critical eyes, his gaze filled with doubt, as if worried that Zhan Feiyu, a promising scholar, would be led astray by Ming San.
Ming San, the renowned wild scholar of Nanxuan Prefecture, was now being looked down upon. He could barely maintain his composure. If time could turn back, he would definitely have studied diligently and become a top scholar before retiring to a life of leisure!
"Master, the items have arrived," the old steward hurried in, looking at Zhan Feiyu with particular affection.
It was better for that silver to go to Miss Zhan than to the enemies of the first and second branches. At least the master had been in better spirits these past few days and had eaten half a bowl more.
Just moments ago, he had been complaining about Zhan Feiyu, and now he was sending clothes and jewelry to the young girl, not just one or two pieces, but emptying entire shops. Grand Tutor Wei, unable to bear the embarrassment, put on a stern face. "Since you're here, I'll go to the study."
Before Grand Tutor Wei could ask the servants to push him away, there were exclamations from the courtyard, followed by excited and eager female voices.
After returning from the pawnshop, Liu Shi was still grumbling. After all, a vase worth twenty taels had been sold for a pittance of five taels, and she had also fallen. It was normal for Liu Shi to be angry.
But when she reached the entrance of the Wei family, she touched her pocket and found that the five taels of silver were gone again. Liu Shi hadn't realized she had been robbed yet. She searched herself all over and immediately began cursing like a shrew, wishing death upon the thief.
Wei Zhiping and Wei Wen also had grim expressions and were unhappy. Liu Shi was an elder, and the first and second branches were currently managed by Liu Shi. The money was naturally collected by her. But after losing the money, and then losing the five taels she had finally extorted, it was no wonder they were angry.
Just then, three carriages arrived at the entrance of the Wei family. Upon seeing the bolts of fabric being unloaded from the carriages, Liu Shi and the others forgot about the five taels of silver. These fine silk fabrics were worth over ten taels per bolt.
The shopkeepers from three different stores personally led their shop assistants to deliver the items to the Wei family. The goods in the three carriages ranged from several hundred to several thousand taels. The shopkeepers had also brought two guards, making a total of six guards. This was why Liu Shi and the others dared not lay hands on anything and could only follow them into the main hall.
"Master Wei," after the greetings, the shopkeepers immediately directed their assistants and guards to unload the goods. "The items ordered by Steward Sun have all been delivered. Please review them, Master Wei."
When Zhan Feiyu saw the seamstresses opening the wooden boxes and taking out one luxurious dress after another, she was surprised. "Are these for me?"
It wasn't that Zhan Feiyu was being presumptuous, but these dresses were for young girls, in various colors like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The styles were also diverse: fairy-like dresses, pomegranate skirts, ruqun, pleated skirts, gathered skirts...
Not to mention the piles of fabric on the table, all in warm and light colors suitable for making clothes for young girls. The sheer quantity made it look like a fabric store had opened.
After the fabric shopkeepers and seamstresses retreated to the side, the jewelry shopkeeper had his assistants open the folded long tables. Then, one exquisite box after another was placed on the long tables. As the boxes were opened, the dazzling gemstones almost blinded the eyes.
A total of twenty boxes were displayed in a row. Each set contained five pieces of matching jewelry, with each set consisting of twenty to fifty items: hair combs, hairpins, hair ornaments, earrings, bracelets...
The remaining boxes contained various styles and materials of hairpins, hair ornaments, earrings, gold bangles, pendants, and unpolished gemstones. Then there was a box of pearls, and a box of uncarved jade and emerald rough stones. Fortunately, this was indoors; if it were in the sunlight, it would have been absolutely dazzling.
The herbal medicine shopkeeper only brought a few small boxes, but when they were opened, everyone in the room was once again stunned. Two hundred-year-old wild ginseng, a whole box of premium bird's nest, and then lingzhi mushrooms. Most of the good medicinal herbs for nourishing the body for wealthy families were all prepared.
Ming San, born into the Ming family of Qingya Academy and considered a wealthy young master, was still shocked by Grand Tutor Wei's grand gesture. The total value of these items was probably over ten thousand taels. Moreover, the medicinal herbs and the high-quality jade and gemstones were rare finds.
From the luxurious and beautiful dresses displayed, everyone in the room knew that these were prepared by Grand Tutor Wei for Zhan Feiyu, as she was the only young girl, and the sizes of the ready-made clothes also fit her.
"Little girl, if people didn't know, they'd think you were getting married. This is Grand Tutor Wei's dowry for you," Ming San teased in a low voice.
In fact, the dowry of a young lady from a prominent family would typically be around five thousand taels. For daughters born to concubines or those not favored, receiving a thousand taels of dowry was considered generous from the main wife.
Zhan Feiyu glared at Ming San, but looking at the dazzling array of jewelry, accessories, clothes, and medicinal herbs, she felt overwhelmed.
Seeing that Zhan Feiyu wasn't showing signs of overwhelming joy, Grand Tutor Wei was initially satisfied, thinking it meant the young girl wasn't greedy. But then, seeing her frowning and showing no happiness, Grand Tutor Wei became displeased. Did she not like them? Was she looking down on them?
"All of this is yours. Those shops and estates are also yours," Grand Tutor Wei said with a stern face, appearing to be using his authority to pressure her.
Ming San patted Zhan Feiyu's shoulder sympathetically. It seemed Grand Tutor Wei still hadn't given up on adopting the young girl; he was just trying to win her over with money.
Zhan Feiyu rubbed her nose and asked weakly, "Should I say something like 'power cannot corrupt, wealth cannot seduce'?"
Before Grand Tutor Wei could get angry, Zhan Feiyu grinned. "I like the clothes and fabrics, as well as the jewelry. I can't use the medicinal herbs for now; I'm as strong as an ox and don't need nourishment. However, Hong Er could use some nourishment."
"Do as you please with what's given to you!" Grand Tutor Wei snorted, but seeing that Zhan Feiyu hadn't refused, he was very pleased.
In fact, Grand Tutor Wei knew that Zhan Feiyu, having studied under Scholar Gu, wouldn't be greedy for the items worth over ten thousand taels in the room, let alone all his assets. Scholar Gu's family fortune was definitely far greater than these.
Moreover, Zhan Feiyu also had the business of fragrant soap. Although she had donated the money to the wounded soldiers returning to their farms, it also showed that Zhan Feiyu truly didn't care about money.
The reason she didn't refuse was that it was Grand Tutor Wei's heartfelt gesture, the gesture of an old man who had shut himself off for over twenty years due to pain.