The people irrelevant to the courtyard were dispersed. Fifth Aunt asked Zhan Feiyu to sit in the adjacent side room, and then whispered to the village chief, recounting Xiao Yao Shi's vulgar words.
A moment later, hurried footsteps were heard from outside.
"Old clan elder, you are here." Seeing the old clan elder and several clan elders entering the courtyard, the village chief hurried to greet them.
"I'm not so old that I can't walk. You just need to anger me less." The old clan elder's words seemed to be scolding the village chief, but everyone in the main hall knew they were directed at Xiao Yao Shi.
Sitting down in a chair, the old clan elder looked at Old Man Zhan, who was quietly smoking, and said angrily, "Zhan Changshun, can't your family be a little more peaceful? Must you stir up trouble in the village and the clan, causing unrest? Such a troublemaker, are you planning to keep her for the New Year instead of divorcing her?"
Scolded, Old Man Zhan lowered his head, stopped smoking, and shrunk into a corner, looking both pitiful and hateful.
The clan elders also had dark expressions, showing no sympathy for Xiao Yao Shi, whose face was beaten like a pig's head.
"Fifth, what do you think should be done about this matter?" The old clan elder squinted at the fifth clan elder sitting below. He was Old Man Zhan's cousin and had always sided with them.
Xiao Yao Shi, sitting on a small stool, glanced up. Seeing the fifth clan elder's grim face, her heart sank. She stiffened her neck and shouted, "My husband is earning money for the village. You can't divorce me!"
The old clan elder, village chief, and clan elders disdained to pay attention to the blustering Xiao Yao Shi and couldn't be bothered to speak.
Thinking she had scared them, Xiao Yao Shi immediately straightened her back and glared fiercely at Li Shi sitting opposite her. "Li Fengyu hit me. Hmph, if the village and clan don't give me an explanation, don't blame me for turning ruthless."
"My family has always wanted my husband to go there to sell vegetables. If the villagers can't earn money then, it's not my concern." With confidence, Xiao Yao Shi tidied her hair. As she smoothed it, a strand of hair was pulled out from between her fingers. She was so angry that she wished she could pounce on Li Shi and pull all her hair out.
"Third brother, what do you say?" the village chief asked Old Man Zhan.
"This..." Old Man Zhan looked at the smug Xiao Yao Shi, then at the grim-faced, silent Li Shi.
In the past, Old Man Zhan thought his eldest daughter-in-law was more gentle and a good match. But it had been more than half a year, and Li Shi not only didn't live with his eldest son but also didn't let his eldest son come home.
Thinking of his aching back from working in the fields, Old Man Zhan took a puff of his pipe and blurted out, "Although the second family's words are unpleasant, the second son is helping the village sell vegetables. If this matter is left as it is, then so be it."
"That won't do. Was I hit for nothing? My eldest son is going to be engaged to Master Xie's daughter next year. The Xie family of Taifu Restaurant is my in-laws. If you bully me like this, you are not giving the Xie family face. I don't think the village needs to sell vegetables anymore!"
Xiao Yao Shi raised her chin, adopting a high-handed stance of not backing down. Li Fengyu dared to hit her! Bah, if she didn't kneel and kowtow to apologize this time, this matter wouldn't be over!
"Changshun, you think so too." Looking at the silent Old Man Zhan, the old clan elder sneered. Well, that question was asked in vain.
Fifth Aunt sat beside Li Shi. The women would not interfere in the important matters of the clan, but they really couldn't stand Xiao Yao Shi's smug and arrogant demeanor.
Fifth Aunt couldn't help but say, "What's so great about marrying a foolish girl to your son! You still have the nerve to show off, bah! Aren't you afraid of having a litter of fools in the future!"
Fifth Aunt was already a grandmother, and she wasn't a cruel person. She was truly angered by Xiao Yao Shi.
"I..." Xiao Yao Shi stammered in anger, pointing at Fifth Aunt furiously. With a slip of her tongue, she revealed what Old Man Zhan the second had said earlier.
"What's there to be afraid of with a fool? She is the daughter of the Xie family from Taifu Restaurant, with a dowry of at least a thousand taels. You poor wretches can't earn that much money in your lifetime! When my eldest son achieves official status, then... I'll marry another principal wife. What are we afraid of!"
Towards the end, Xiao Yao Shi still had some sense. In fact, her plan was to get rid of the fool later.
A fool would just fall into the river and disappear. Then the dowry money would all go to the eldest son, and he could marry a daughter of an official family. Hmph, what did they know!
"Alright, you don't need to pressure us with Taifu Restaurant. The villagers won't starve to death even if they don't sell vegetables," the old clan elder said, tired of listening to Xiao Yao Shi's boasting. "Changshun, I'll say this here: Master Lin has the talent of a scholar, and Xiao Yu is the hope of our Zhan clan. If I hear such nonsense in the village again, your whole family will have to move out!"
Old Man Zhan was stunned for a moment, probably not expecting the old clan elder to protect Zhan Feiyu so much.
Xiao Yao Shi was also dumbfounded. She had even brought up Taifu Restaurant, but the old clan elder didn't care. Was he senile?
But looking at the dignified old clan elder, and seeing that the other clan elders and the village chief did not object, Old Man Zhan and Xiao Yao Shi both wilted. They were both unhappy, but they didn't dare to bluster anymore.
When Xiao Yao Shi was called out of the room by Fifth Aunt, the old clan elder stated the outcome. "Xiao Yu, don't worry. Even if the village doesn't sell vegetables, no one will spread rumors."
This was also because Old Man Zhan the second had helped the villagers earn money. Otherwise, the old clan elder would not have given Xiao Yao Shi a final chance and would have directly driven them out of the village.
"Thank you, Grandfather." Zhan Feiyu nodded obediently. It was already very difficult for the clan to do this for her.
Although this was because of her talent in studying, wasn't that how things were in the world? If she couldn't bring benefits and advantages to the clan, why should the villagers give up the opportunity to earn money?
Li Shi affectionately touched Zhan Feiyu's head, but the worry and unease in her eyes did not dissipate. Such unbearable rumors could not be suppressed. Even if no one spoke of them openly, those people would still talk about them in private.
The old clan elder then instructed the village chief beside him, "You and your wife go and tell the villagers later that no one is allowed to spread such vulgar words, or don't blame me for punishing them according to the clan rules! Will the children in the village no longer go to private school?"
Master Lin's character was beyond doubt. He taught his students with all his heart, and his tuition was also cheap. If they really offended Master Lin, the village children would have nowhere to study.
"I know." The village chief also understood this. Only when it concerned the children's education would the gossipy women know to be afraid.
The old clan elder looked at the fifth clan elder again. "Fifth, you also go and talk to Old Man Zhan the second. I say the same thing: the villagers will not starve to death without the money from selling vegetables!"
Therefore, don't use Taifu Restaurant to talk about it. Compared to that little bit of money, the old clan elder cared more about Zhan Feiyu's future. If she achieved official status, the entire village would benefit.
Even if Xiao Yu didn't become a female official, if she opened a private school to teach students and cultivate a few scholars for the Zhan clan who could study for the imperial examinations, that would be a great merit that would benefit future generations.
Moreover, with Xiao Yu's appearance and talent, her marriage would surely be good. With the support and care of her in-laws, why would the Zhan clan not prosper?
The old clan elder explained it clearly, and the clan elders nodded in agreement. They, these old bones, had no other skills, but at least their vision was not so shallow, and they knew what was important.
Zhan Feiyu understood that these unbearable rumors were directed at her. If a scholar's reputation was ruined, they could not participate in the imperial examinations, and thus would have no value. At that time, the old clan elder would probably not be able to suppress the villagers.
"Grandfather." After considering it, Zhan Feiyu decided to give the old clan elder and the others a heads-up. "It's not that I'm being alarmist, but if the foolish girl from the Xie family marries over, it's hard to say how many years she will live."
"Whether it's drowning or dying of illness, if there's a death later, the Xie family will definitely resent the village. For now, it's good that everyone earns some money from selling vegetables, but don't put all your livelihood on Taifu Restaurant." Zhan Feiyu also heard this from Li Shi.
When the villagers saw that selling vegetables could earn money, they thought of planting more vegetables and raising more chickens and ducks. The men stopped doing odd jobs, and the women stopped embroidering handkerchiefs and sewing shoes to sell. They devoted themselves to growing vegetables.
Some enterprising people thought of planting vegetables on barren land instead of rice. Some people wanted to use money to buy a few piglets to raise, and then sell the pork to Taifu Restaurant. Some even planned to dig up their fields and turn them into fish ponds.
But the key was that this was not a long-term livelihood. Once Taifu Restaurant stopped buying vegetables, these families would probably have to tighten their belts.
Uh... The old clan elder and the others were stunned for a moment. Thinking of Xiao Yao Shi's character and Old Man Zhan the second's calculating and selfish nature, it was indeed possible that they would silently torment the foolish girl from the Xie family to death, then embezzle the dowry money, and then find a new wife for Zhan Da Lang.
But even if Old Man Zhan the second and the others did it flawlessly and left no evidence, would the Xie family not pursue it? As long as they believed their foolish daughter was killed by the Zhan family, the Xie family would definitely retaliate.
After a long period of deliberation, the old clan elder nodded in agreement. "It's still Xiao Yu who thinks long-term."
The other clan elders looked at each other. Although they felt that Zhan Feiyu was deliberately giving Old Man Zhan the second and Xiao Yao Shi a hard time, upon careful consideration, it was indeed the case.
Leaving the village chief's house and walking outside, Zhan Feiyu concealed a hint of darkness in her eyes.
The wind was rising before the mountain rain, and she hoped that when this storm reached the village, the old clan elder and the village chief would not favor the second branch for a little money from selling vegetables, and would continue to suppress the villagers.
...
County School.
"Little scholar Zhan, this way." The attendant suppressed his surprise and led Zhan Feiyu along the right-hand corridor to the back courtyard.
The rumors about Zhan Feiyu had spread like wildfire in the past few days. The attendant did not expect to see her in person and couldn't help but look back.
Zhan Feiyu wore a slanted-collar yellow ruqun inside and a white narrow-sleeved褙子 outside. Although she had no smile, her eyes were clear and bright, as pure as a little immortal child under the Bodhisattva.
"Instructor Zhao, Master Dou, Master Niu." After entering the room, Zhan Feiyu saluted the three and stood upright in the center of the main hall.
This was the third time Instructor Zhao had seen Zhan Feiyu. The first time was in Jinlin Village. The little girl was wearing coarse cloth clothes, but her innate aura was undeniable, and she recited the Three Character Classic in a clear voice.
The second time was at the Winter Solstice Literary Gathering in Leshan Residence. Facing the provocations and difficulties of scholars like Zhang Xiu Cai, she was neither humble nor arrogant, and her talent was quick and agile, making her the most dazzling pearl at the gathering.
And today, Instructor Zhao said in a deep voice, "The gossip of men is also fearsome. The county school is a place for students to study and advance. If you come here, it will be like a fire in the city that affects the fish in the moat."
In plain terms, it meant that gossip was fearsome! With Zhan Feiyu's current reputation, let alone staying at the county school, even if she only studied, the rumors that would spread throughout the streets and alleys would likely add new content. This time, it wouldn't be Master Lin, but these young talents in the county school. If it were more vulgar and dirty, it would also affect scholars like Instructor Zhao.
Masters Dou and Niu had solemn and guilty expressions. They were both people who cherished talent, but they couldn't disregard the more than twenty students in the county school for the sake of Zhan Feiyu alone. They could only say that the people spreading rumors were hateful and their hearts deserved to be punished!
"I understand." Zhan Feiyu had made the worst-case scenario before coming, but she was still a little sad to hear Instructor Zhao's refusal.
"Rumors stop with the wise, spread by the foolish, and delight in the scheming. After the truth comes out, I hope the instructor can allow me to enroll." Zhan Feiyu bowed deeply.
"That is natural." Instructor Zhao agreed. If it weren't for the circumstances, why would he refuse Zhan Feiyu?
After leaving the county school, Zhan Feiyu did not return to the village immediately. She planned to go to Wenxing Bookstore to buy some paper.
Even if she didn't go to the county school, she could study at home. With more than five hundred exemplary essays, if she understood them thoroughly, she wouldn't have to worry about not being able to write good essays?
Suddenly, a middle-aged servant hurried out from a corner. "Little scholar Zhan, please wait. My master invites you."
He was waiting for her outside the county school. Zhan Feiyu looked at the arrogant servant coldly. "Get out of the way!"
"Does the little girl still think she's the child prodigy everyone praises?" The servant sneered, looking at Zhan Feiyu with disdain. "Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! So I don't have to resort to force!"
Zhan Feiyu suddenly smiled. "Alright, if I agree to Master Zhang's invitation to the Zhang family's private school, my first condition will be to sell you to the mine!"
The smug expression froze. Looking at Zhan Feiyu walking towards the tea house, the servant's pale face was filled with fear. He stumbled after her. "Little scholar Zhan, please wait! I was rude. Please, little scholar, don't hold a grudge against me and forgive me this time!"
It was precisely because he understood Master Zhang's character that he was so afraid. He was just a servant who had signed a death contract and could be sold at any time, while Zhan Feiyu was the child prodigy Master Zhang wanted to win over.
Ignoring the fearful servant, Zhan Feiyu entered the tea house and asked the shopkeeper to take her directly to the private room upstairs.
"Little scholar Zhan, please sit." Master Zhang smiled and said, even picking up the teapot to pour Zhan Feiyu a cup of tea, showing a posture of respecting talent.
"Is Master Zhang giving me a stick and then a sweet date?" Zhan Feiyu stopped in her tracks, looking at the confident Master Zhang. She said calmly and steadily, "Even if I don't study at the county school, I can still participate in the preliminary imperial examination next February."
Although these rumors were extremely vulgar, smart people knew what was going on.
It was now mid-May. There were still more than half a year until next February. By then, the rumors would have long since subsided. With Magistrate Chen's regard for Zhan Feiyu, he would definitely give her the qualification to participate in the county examination.
And with Zhan Feiyu's talent in studying, passing the county examination would not be difficult. If she performed well, she would surely be able to lead a study group. By the time of the prefectural examination, even if Magistrate Chen's face was considered by the prefect, as long as Zhan Feiyu did not make any mistakes during the prefectural examination, the title of Tong Sheng would be secured.
As for the academy examination, that would depend on whether Zhan Feiyu had true talent.
After obtaining the title of Tong Sheng, would the county school still refuse to admit her? A nine-year-old Tong Sheng! Wouldn't Instructor Zhao want to take a gamble and perhaps cultivate the youngest Xiucai in the Great Qing Dynasty!
Even if she didn't pass in one or two years, but in three to five years, Zhan Feiyu would only be thirteen or fourteen years old, and she could still be called a child prodigy in the entire Nanxuan Prefecture.
"Haha, little scholar, you are young but have a strong temper. However, there is a shortcut, why take a detour?" Master Zhang knew he couldn't fool Zhan Feiyu, so he lowered his attitude.
He thought about it, and it was true. If Zhan Feiyu didn't have this intelligence, how could she be called a child prodigy? Why should he lower himself to see her?
"We have different paths, so we cannot plan together." Zhan Feiyu uttered her refusal, her eyes showing contempt and disdain without any concealment.
Master Zhang's face darkened a little. He thought that since she was rejected by the county school, Zhan Feiyu would have no way out. He didn't expect her to have the backup plan of self-study.
"Little scholar Zhan, do you know who spread these rumors?" Master Zhang threw out another bait. Seeing Zhan Feiyu's surprised expression, he smiled. "Little scholar is valued by Magistrate Chen, but the person behind it is fearless."
Although Master Zhang had added fuel to the fire, he was not the originator of these rumors. Just as he said, Magistrate Chen valued Zhan Feiyu. Unless Master Zhang's brain was flooded, he would never dare to oppose Magistrate Chen.
She was just a little scholar, and a girl at that. Zhan Feiyu didn't think she would block anyone's path to success, so the person who spread the rumors must have a deep hatred for her.
Thinking of this, Zhan Feiyu knew. She smiled meaningfully. "I hope Master Zhang is indeed not involved, otherwise, when Magistrate Chen finds out, Master Zhang's scholarly status will probably be lost."
"Zhan Feiyu, aren't you overestimating yourself?" The attitude of cherishing talent suddenly turned into mockery. Master Zhang's face was stern, and he looked at Zhan Feiyu with a gloomy gaze.
"You are just a child, and now you are infamous. Do you think Magistrate Chen will stand up for you? Wouldn't Magistrate Chen be afraid of this dirt splashing onto himself?" Master Zhang rebuked sternly. Even if she was a child prodigy, her reputation was ruined now!
Zhan Feiyu's situation was indeed difficult. The county school dared not accept her for fear that this fire would spread to the instructors and students of the county school. Magistrate Chen was in the same situation.
Whoever helped Zhan Feiyu would be considered to have an improper relationship with her! This was the purpose of the people behind the scenes in spreading rumors: to destroy a person's reputation with gossip!
Scholars cherished their reputation, and officials even more so. Especially Magistrate Chen, who had offended a second-rank official. If he got involved in Zhan Feiyu's troubles, his official hat might be taken away.
Looking at the enraged Master Zhang, Zhan Feiyu's face was full of smiles. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "Who said I asked Magistrate Chen for help? Does Master Zhang not know where my recommendation letter came from? Or does Master Zhang forget how Zeng Yuquan of Baofeng Cloth Shop ended up in prison?"
Zhan Feiyu became smug, revealing her small white teeth and smiling. She had a backer!
With a sudden stand, Master Zhang's face became extremely unsightly. "You..."
Zhan Feiyu turned and leisurely walked out. Her cold, thin voice made people gnash their teeth with anger. "Master Zhang, you'd better pray that you are innocent. Today's cause, tomorrow's effect. It's not that it's not reported, it's just that the time hasn't come!"
"How dare you, you wretch!" A furious roar sounded. Master Zhang waved his hand violently, and the teapot and teacups on the table fell to the ground. However, even so, it could not quell Master Zhang's anger, and this fury also contained fear and unease.
After leaving the tea house, Zhan Feiyu walked towards the alley on the left and got into the carriage. She cupped her hands to thank Doctor Ji inside. "Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Ji."
"It's nothing. The people have already been sent." Doctor Ji put down the medical book in his hand and looked at the smiling Zhan Feiyu. She was young but full of schemes and calculations, deceiving the instructors and teachers of the county school, and even luring Master Zhang out.
Opening a small gap in the carriage curtain, Zhan Feiyu glanced outside and said eagerly, "Aren't we going to follow them?"
Shouldn't they catch them red-handed?
"If you're not afraid of alerting the enemy, feel free to follow." Doctor Ji said indifferently.
He had transferred people from the military clinic. In terms of tracking and investigation skills, they were far inferior to the Imperial Guards. Of course, if they relied on the county constables, there was even less hope of finding anything.
"Alright, then I'll go back to the village first." Zhan Feiyu compromised. It would only be three to five days anyway. She had this patience.
Half an hour later, Zhan Feiyu, carrying several reams of paper bought from Wenxing Bookstore, boarded the ox cart back to the village.
Under the big banyan tree in the village, Xiao Yao Shi's face finally stopped swelling. At this moment, she was as energetic as if she had been injected with chicken blood, and she was spitting everywhere. "The old clan elder even scolded me. Hmph, the county school doesn't dare to accept her. I'll see which private school dares to accept that shameless dead girl!"
Sister Guihua's courage also grew. She echoed loudly, "If you hadn't said it, sister, who would have believed such a thing! She's so young. If it were another three to five years, tsk tsk, she'd be more flirtatious than a fox spirit reincarnated!"
Several women sitting under the tree had awkward expressions and lowered their heads, doing needlework. The village chief was right. The vegetable selling business wouldn't last long anyway. Why would they go against their conscience to please Xiao Yao Shi? They were also afraid of ghosts knocking on their doors in the middle of the night.
"Oh, you've been kicked out of the county school, and you're still wasting money buying paper and pens? You should buy some coarse grains to fill your stomachs!" Xiao Yao Shi was originally unhappy that the villagers didn't agree with her. Seeing Zhan Feiyu getting off the ox cart, her eyes lit up. The opportunity for revenge had arrived!