Nian Jiaojiao ignored the murmurs of the crowd and calmly pulled Yu Chuan to sit down.
The ox cart was pulled by two yellow oxen, and the space inside could seat more than ten people.
Simple straw curtains covered the sides, and as the ox cart moved forward, a cool breeze kept seeping in.
Now, with Nian Jiaojiao and Yu Chuan, there were twelve people in the cart, but Nian Jiaojiao felt no warmth at all.
"Yo, little sister, you brought your husband out this time?"
The speaker was a woman in coarse linen, about thirty or forty years old, with crow's feet starting to appear at the corners of her eyes. What was most striking was a large mole on the right side of her nose. kuAiδugg
From her memories, Nian Jiaojiao knew this was Aunt Wang who lived at the east end of the village. She was usually gossipy; if she knew something, it meant the whole village would know.
It's better to offend a gentleman than a villain.
Nian Jiaojiao smiled at Aunt Wang and said:
"Yes, just taking my esteemed husband out for a stroll."
She kept a low profile, not intending to reveal anything about her plans to take the imperial examinations or visit Yu Chuan's family.
"Is that so? Sister Nian is truly a wife who dotes on her husband."
While saying this, Aunt Wang clearly did not believe her.
Nian Jiaojiao didn't care what she thought. She held Yu Chuan's small hand and looked at him, saying:
"He's my husband, of course I'll dote on him."
Yu Chuan blushed from her teasing and lowered his head like a quail.
"Pfft—"
A suppressed laugh broke the pink bubble between them.
"Hahaha, you're kidding me!"
"Everyone in the village knows what you're like. They all know you're notoriously harsh to your husband. Who are you trying to fool now!"
Nian Jiaojiao looked at the woman opposite her who had laughed out loud.
She was about the same age, with sallow skin and enlarged pores, but her features were relatively regular, the kind of "ordinary person" who would be hard to find in a crowd.
The woman also had another identity—she was a friend of Nian Jiaojiao's fourth sister, who was about to start school. She usually greeted Nian Jiaojiao with sarcastic mockery.
"Can you stop talking?" Nian Jiaojiao frowned.
"Why? This ox cart isn't yours, so you can't control it, can you?"
Nian Jiaojiao then covered her nose and mouth as if disgusted:
"I, I can't breathe, why is your mouth so smelly?"
"This place might not be mine, but it belongs to everyone. You're not just stinking me out; it's immoral to make everyone uncomfortable."
After speaking, she fanned the air in front of her as if to disperse the smell.
Hearing Nian Jiaojiao's words, the people in the ox cart, influenced by the placebo effect, seemed to genuinely smell something and frowned in disgust.
Especially the two women next to Fang Fang instinctively shifted their bottoms outwards.
But the carriage was only so large. When the two moved, they squeezed into others.
Aunt Wang, whose seating space had shrunk, couldn't stand it:
"Don't come over here. Where are you trying to squeeze me to?"
The girl who squeezed into Aunt Wang also pouted aggrievedly:
"Aunt Wang, can you blame me? I'm afraid of the smell too."
At these words, Fang Fang's face turned livid, and Nian Jiaojiao clapped her hands in admiration.
Sister, what a great follow-up!
"Nian Dabao! What nonsense are you spouting? How am I smelly? I think you're the one who's smelly."
Fang Fang shouted with a hint of guilt. She had eaten a lot of leeks, eggs, and garlic today…
But with her loud shouting, due to the cold weather, her hot "fragrant" breath filled the entire carriage.
"Ugh—"
The person next to Fang Fang gagged.
Everyone was displeased.
Aunt Wang, the most "high-ranking and powerful" person in the carriage, spoke: "Fang Fang, you should stop talking."
"But..."
Before Fang Fang could finish, everyone glared at her. Fang Fang had no choice but to close her mouth aggrievedly.
But her gaze was fixed on Nian Jiaojiao, as if trying to bore a hole through her.
Nian Jiaojiao didn't care what happened next. She was completely absorbed in Fang Fang's last shout at her.
Nian Dabao?
Dabao?
Bao?
Bao…
How could she have overlooked the original host's biggest point of contention?
The original host shared the same surname with her, and her given name was Dabao. Nian's mother, who named her, had finally welcomed her first daughter, meaning she was a great treasure in Nian's mother's heart.
Nian Jiaojiao: "…"
She wanted to change her name!
Definitely!
…
Shanshui Town.
"Everyone, we've arrived at Shanshui Town!"
As the coachman called out, everyone got off the cart one by one.
"Chuan'er, we should buy some gifts before we visit."
Separating from the villagers, Nian Jiaojiao looked at the shops by the roadside.
Yu Chuan took out more than 400 wen from his怀: "Wife, this is all I have."
When he returned this time, his birth father had given him one tael of silver. After deducting the cost of medicine and travel, this was all he had left.
"Uh… let's buy some fruit."
The two bought apples and pears for 132 wen from the roadside.
Carrying the fruit covered in cloth bags, they looked like they were carrying quite a lot.
Bringing a 100-wen gift or a 400-wen gift to the Xu family would be equally shabby.
Nian Jiaojiao didn't pretend to be wealthy. She simply chose gifts based on their cost-effectiveness.
After walking for about half an hour, Nian Jiaojiao and Yu Chuan finally arrived at the gate of the Xu Manor.
…
Xu Manor.
Zhang Dafu sat leisurely on a lounge chair, holding a warm stove.
"Dafu."
Zhang Dafu opened his eyes upon hearing the call.
"Third Young Master? You… what is this?"
This married third young master had just left a few days ago, so why was he back again?
What married man returned to his maiden home so frequently?
Then, she noticed the woman beside the man.
Her face was covered in pimples, she was slightly overweight, and well… rather plain.
"This is my wife, we've come to visit my mother together."
Zhang Dafu was a new doorkeeper at the manor and had naturally never met Nian Jiaojiao.
After hearing Yu Chuan's introduction, she asked no further questions and quickly opened the main gate.
After entering the Xu Manor, there was a long corridor. Blooming autumn chrysanthemums were placed all around, adding a touch of elegance to the courtyard.
The corridor led directly to a quadrangle courtyard, with the reception hall directly facing it.
Madam Xu sat in the main seat.
"Xuan'er, how have your studies been recently?"
"Mother, everything is going smoothly."
The speaker was a 13-year-old girl in a pink robe.
"Next year you can take the preliminary examination for scholars. You must not slack off in your studies."
"It is natural for you to pass the preliminary examination. I am not worried about this."
"However, although the preliminary examination for scholars is not divided into two lists like the examination for Jinshi, the top scorer is greatly different from ordinary scholars."
"Therefore, Xuan'er, next year you must not only pass but also achieve the top spot."
"Yes, Mother."
…
As the two were talking, a middle-aged woman with a plump figure walked in.
"Master, the Third Young Master is back."
Before the person on the main seat could speak, the girl in the pink robe spoke first:
"Hey, running back to your maiden home every other day. Those who don't know would think our family is impolite."
Upon hearing this, Scholar Xu's brows furrowed. He made up his mind to properly educate Yu Chuan later, so as not to ruin their family reputation.