The Nian family.
Nian Jiaojiao spent a night at the Xu family and returned the next day after lunch.
It wasn't for any other reason, but the drastically changed attitudes of some people were truly overwhelming for her.
The most noticeable among them was the fifth young master Xu, Xu Ruoliu.
Early the next morning, Xu Ruoliu was waiting by Nian Jiaojiao's door with a washbasin. The moment Nian Jiaojiao opened the door, she was greeted by his gentle and shy smile, which startled her and made her step back several paces.
Afterward, he insisted on serving her for washing up and preparing meals, often staring at her and giggling behind his hand. This whole display made Nian Jiaojiao's scalp tingle, and she quickly took Yuchuan and returned.
Within a few days of returning, Nian Jiaojiao started school.
In the town, those who passed the Tong Sheng exam in the first half of the year could enroll. If one wished to attend the academies directly under Fengcheng, which was administered by Shanshui Town, they would have to wait until the second half of the year.
Therefore, at the suggestion of Madam Xu, Nian Jiaojiao first enrolled in the private school in Shanshui Town and then, in the second half of the year, would enroll in Chenxiang Academy in Fengcheng under Madam Xu's recommendation.
Shanshui Town had two private schools: Shanshui Private School and Qin Family Private School.
As the name suggested, Shanshui Private School had several Xiu Cai scholars as teachers. Qin Family Private School, on the other hand, was a solitary establishment with only one Xiu Cai, Master Qin.
Madam Xu originally intended for Nian Jiaojiao to attend Shanshui Private School, but Nian Jiaojiao disagreed.
Shanshui Private School was the academy where the female protagonist, Nian Zhenzhen, began her studies, and it was also the starting point for her rise to prominence. Nian Jiaojiao did not want to be involved in such matters.
When Nian Jiaojiao offered the absurd reason to Madam Xu that Qin Family Private School sounded more "pleasant to the ear," Madam Xu didn't pry further and let her choose.
After all, it was only for one semester, and she didn't want to dwell on this matter. She merely instructed Nian Jiaojiao to ask the teachers if she had any questions, or to come to the Xu mansion for help with her studies.
Additionally, Madam Xu had initially asked Nian Jiaojiao to stay at the Xu mansion for convenience, but Nian Jiaojiao refused again, citing a desire to train her body.
From now on, Nian Jiaojiao planned to run to school from the village to town.
The Xiu Cai examination was not comparable to the Tong Sheng exam. The volume of questions was incredibly daunting. It was heard that such an exam lasted for three days, and candidates stayed in poorly equipped examination halls for three days. A slight decline in physical fitness could make it impossible to persevere.
Therefore, improving willpower and physique was imperative.
Madam Xu, upon hearing Nian Jiaojiao's reasoning, greatly approved.
With such academic talent and unwavering willpower, how could this daughter-in-law of hers not achieve great things?
...
Qin Family Private School.
The private school had a rule of two days off per month, which were combined as a consecutive holiday at the end of the month.
Nian Jiaojiao had been attending school for half a month, and it was precisely the end of the month, her time for rest.
She was walking out, wearing the school's distinctive white robe with blue trim, and was greeted by many fellow students.
"Nian Tong Shou, are you spending time with your husband during the break!"
"Nian Tong Shou, I actually had a question I wanted to ask you. I can wait to ask after your break!"
"Nian Tong Shou, see you later."
...
Initially, she had expected to face the kind of bullying seen in historical dramas on television when she came to the private school. However, it was surprisingly harmonious here. In her time here, Nian Jiaojiao had rarely witnessed blushing between classmates.
However, she had intended to enroll discreetly.
Unexpectedly, on the day the Tong Sheng examination results were announced, a student from Qin Family Private School was present and recognized her.
Thus, the moniker "Nian Tong Shou" began to circulate throughout Qin Family Private School.
The students showed no jealousy towards the arrival of a Tong Sheng at the private school; rather, they were excited.
After all, for the past seven years, the "Tong Shou" had mostly been students who had enrolled in Shanshui Private School, or descendants of Xiu Cai and Ju Ren scholars. These descendants were meticulously taught by their elders and had not attended any private school.
Therefore, as classmates of the "Tong Shou," the students of Qin Family Private School felt a sense of shared honor.
...
With the two days of rest, Nian Jiaojiao planned to go back and rest well.
One reason was that she had not studied so intently for a long time, which inexplicably made her feel as if she had returned to her middle school days. The tension of studying and the regular schedule made her feel a bit unaccustomed.
The second reason was that spending four hours each day running at high speed between the village and the town had caused her daily exercise to be a bit "excessive."
After half a month, Nian Jiaojiao had undergone another significant transformation.
Her body had developed muscles, becoming more solid. Her skin was more refined, and her lines were very smooth. She appeared more heroic, with less of the delicate charm of men from Da Yue.
...
Qinghe Village.
The Nian family.
On the wooden bed in the master bedroom, a woman was sprawled out in a "big" character, fast asleep without any regard for her appearance.
Yuchuan gazed at Nian Jiaojiao's tired face for a long while, then quietly walked out of the room and gently closed the door.
Living room.
Five men were seated at the table, holding a family meeting.
Yuchuan: "It's really too tiring for our wife to run back and forth like this every day."
Xingyun: "Yes, I heard that studying requires even more energy. Will this affect our wife's studies?"
Xuan Yi: "Yuchuan, how much money has our wife entrusted to you?"
Yuchuan took out the money bag and poured out the silver within. The shining silver piled up into a small mountain, astonishing everyone into silence for a moment.
Xingyun stammered: "Wh-wh-why so much!"
Yuchuan shook his head and said:
"I didn't expect it either. The books written by our wife have created a sensation. It's said that the books have already spread to Fengcheng, and even other cities have heard about this book and are eager to purchase it. San Chi Book House is already considering setting up a branch in Fengcheng specifically to sell our wife's books."
The book "The Butterfly Lovers" had already reached its third installment. The sales of each installment now reached over two thousand copies. It was important to note that from the second installment onwards, sales directly impacted the profit sharing.
Xingyun swallowed hard: "Then, then, how much money is there here?"
Yuchuan replied: "I've calculated it. It's about four hundred taels of silver."
At this moment, Nan Qing also spoke: "The houses in Shanshui Town are not expensive. More than a hundred taels of silver should be enough."
Xuan Yi nodded: "Tomorrow, I'll go with Yuchuan."
Xingyun: "Then, then should we tell our wife?"
Nan Qing: "No need. She'll agree."
Thus, while Nian Jiaojiao slept soundly, the matter of buying a house was decided by the four men.
...
Magistrate Cheng's residence.
Magistrate Cheng seemed preoccupied. Her husband of several decades, the doctor, naturally noticed her absentmindedness.
"Wife, is something amiss?"
Logically speaking, it had only been a short while since the New Year, and there were no major issues in the county yamen. Why was she so pensive?
Magistrate Cheng was silent for a moment, and finally, unable to hold back her doubts, she spoke:
"Logically speaking, Nian Jiaojiao should be extremely intelligent to be able to achieve Tong Shou. She has already dined at our home twice, and I have indirectly expressed my intention to arrange a marriage with her. It's been so long since the New Year, and she hasn't even come to pay a visit."
Saying this, Magistrate Cheng felt even more uncomfortable.
"You tell me, does she look down on my son?"