Yun Jinshan spent the past few days at the academy in a daze.
His daily routine consisted of sleeping during classes, eating after classes, and going home to find his aunt after school.
He and his elder brother, Jinhe, were not in the same class, and they learned different subjects.
However, they could still chat, cause trouble, or tease other classmates every day...
Students who came to the county town to study were a mixed bag, but farm children were few and far between.
The old Yun family valued education. Even if one didn't achieve fame and fortune, literacy, the ability to write and calculate, was a basic requirement.
Only Liu Cuirong felt that studying was a pure waste of time and money.
With that effort, she'd rather take a nap or crack some melon seeds.
"Brother, this is fried glutinous rice cake made by Sister Huaihua. It's sweet and fragrant, and so delicious. Try it!~"
Yun Jinshan took out the fried glutinous rice cakes made at home and gave two to Yun Jinhe...
Yun Jinhe studied diligently and came from a farming family, so he was not picky about food.
He took a big bite and nodded repeatedly, "Mmm, it's indeed delicious. Sister Huaihua's cooking is even better than my mother's."
Zhao Guihua, who was incubating chicks at home, sneezed.
Who was thinking of her?
"Brother, let's go home tonight. Our family is now a 'Yao Men Zhi Jia' (House of the Lucky Gate), all thanks to our little aunt's good fortune."
"That big plaque, so shiny and lustrous, it's so majestic and beautiful!~"
"Brother, if you kiss our little aunt when you go back, you're guaranteed to become the top scholar..."
Yun Jinshan, while eating the fried glutinous rice cakes, praised his little aunt.
He had a loud voice and liked making friends.
After a few days of school, the entire academy now knew he had an extraordinary aunt.
Yun Jinhe still lived at the academy, unlike Jinshan, who ran home every day.
Therefore, he wasn't very well-informed...
He only knew that his little aunt had designed the waterwheel blueprints, saving all the crops in Dashui Village.
This feat gave him more confidence when speaking to his classmates.
"Don't worry, I'll go back with you tonight." Yun Jinhe grinned heartily.
He hadn't seen his little aunt in a long time either and missed her dearly.
His family was busy with farm work, and his father and second uncle had no time to visit him. Coupled with the intensive studies, he was scheduled to take the Xiucai exam in the autumn.
"Brother, tell me if you want to eat anything else, and I'll ask Sister Huaihua to make it for you!~" Yun Jinshan patted his hands after finishing the fried glutinous rice cakes.
Yun Jinhe smiled and said, "The academy has a canteen, so I won't starve. Didn't you eat enough? Come on, I'll take you to eat!"
"Okay!~"
The brothers stood up from the base of the wall, brushed off the dust from their clothes, and slowly walked towards the canteen...
As they passed the main gate, Yun Jinshan suddenly stopped and glanced outside.
"Huh? Brother, look quickly, isn't that Xi'er?" Yun Jinshan pointed outside the gate.
It was truly strange, what was Hu Xi'er doing at the entrance of Jinxiang Academy?
Could she be looking for him and his brother?
Yun Jinhe also narrowed his eyes and nodded, "It really is her!~"
This was very confusing.
Just as the brothers were scratching their heads, they saw a classmate holding up the hem of his clothes and quickly running towards the gate.
"Jiang Dawei?" Yun Jinhe recognized this classmate.
He lived in the county town and was already over twenty years old, yet he hadn't even passed the Tong Sheng exam.
Dean Wei didn't intend to keep him, but Jiang Dawei's family was not short of money. With enough silver paid, he was allowed to muddle along in the academy...
"Brother, let's go and see!"
"Okay!~"
Hu Xi'er was a maidservant of their old Yun family. If she caused any scandalous rumors outside, the brothers would lose face.
They saw Jiang Dawei take Hu Xi'er's small hand, his eyes full of enthusiasm, "Xi'er, you're here!~"
Hu Xi'er's cheeks blushed slightly, and she nodded shyly with a pink hair tie on her head, "Mmm, I'm here!"
"There are too many people here, let's go to the alley ahead to talk!"
After saying that, Jiang Dawei directly pulled Hu Xi'er into a small alley...
This alley was dark and narrow, tall and cramped, and rarely passed by people.
It was the best place for young couples to talk about love.
Yun Jinshan and Yun Jinhe exchanged glances and quietly followed.
"Xi'er, did you tell the Yun family?" Jiang Dawei asked, pressing his hands on Hu Xi'er's shoulders.
He couldn't wait any longer.
Although his family had a principal wife, they didn't have a concubine yet.
He planned to take Hu Xi'er back to be his concubine...
"Tell, tell what?" Hu Xi'er asked knowingly.
She knew exactly what Jiang Dawei meant, but she had already been sold to the Yun family, and the deed of sale was still in Madam Gu's hands.
She had no freedom to marry.
Jiang Dawei frowned, "Of course, it's about marrying me as a concubine. Didn't you tell them?"
This little girl was so slow.
He had reminded her many times to sever ties with the Yun family, and preferably to steal and burn her deed of sale.
But she kept delaying, and he didn't know what she was thinking...
Mist gathered in Hu Xi'er's eyes, and she choked out, "Brother Jiang, if you like me, then go to the old Yun family to redeem me, and then marry me openly."
"If we keep doing this sneakily, and someone finds out, my reputation will be ruined!~"
Jiang Dawei sneered upon hearing this, "Little girl, your reputation was lost long ago."
As he spoke, Jiang Dawei's hands began to roam over Hu Xi'er's body, "Remember when we went into the cornfield? You were even more proactive than I was."
Hu Xi'er's face turned red with shame.
She pushed Jiang Dawei hard and took a step back, "Are you going to redeem me or not?"
Jiang Dawei's family was not short of money, and she believed Madam Gu wouldn't ask for an exorbitant price...
If this man only wanted to take advantage of her without paying a single penny, then Hu Xi'er had no reason to fool around with him.
Rather than living in constant fear and anxiety, it would be better to find another wealthy young master as soon as possible.
As long as she had enough money, she was willing to be a concubine or a maid.
When Yun Jinhe and his brother heard this, they were struck by lightning.
They really wanted to rush out and pin Jiang Dawei to the ground and beat him severely.
But upon careful consideration, Hu Xi'er and Jiang Dawei were in a relationship where one was willing to hit and the other was willing to be hit, and it was entirely their own doing.
Therefore, whether the brothers should step in to help her was still up for debate...
"Why aren't you saying anything? Why do you pretend to be mute whenever this matter is brought up?"
Hu Xi'er glared at Jiang Dawei with misty eyes, "Can't you even afford the money to redeem me?"
"What are you yelling about?" Jiang Dawei shoved her hard.
"Did I say I wouldn't redeem you? Just wait, when I'm in a good mood, I'll go to the old Yun family!~"
He suddenly disliked Hu Xi'er a bit now.
There were plenty of pretty girls in the county town, why should he marry a village girl?
He had played with her and touched her. Now that he had taken enough advantage, he should just leave!~
Hu Xi'er stamped her foot, "You're a scoundrel. You never intended to marry me before, did you?"
From childhood to adulthood, she always thought she was smart and clever and had never suffered a loss.
Today, however, she was tricked by this dog of a man.
Jiang Dawei snorted coldly, ignored her, and turned to walk out of the alley...