"As long as little sister had a good sleep, that’s what matters. Come, let’s go in together!" Yun Muyou said and took the lead into Cixin Academy.
Yun Jinnian followed behind.
After entering Cixin Academy, they paid their respects to the elderly lady, who did not give them a hard time and calmly instructed them to sit down.
Xu Xinmo sauntered in, took a seat beside the elderly lady with her lips pouted, seemingly unhappy.
"What seems to be the matter?" the elderly lady asked softly.
She hugged Xu Xinmo in her arms and pinched her little hand.
"I want to eat sugar oil glutinous rice cakes!"
The elderly lady laughed, "Is that all? Just ask the head chef to make some!"
Xu Xinmo kept shaking her head, "But I want the ones from Xufuji on Vermilion Bird Street!"
"Let Ming Liu send someone to buy them!"
"Grandmother, I want to go buy them myself, please let me go on my own!"
The elderly lady snorted with laughter, "You say you want to eat sugar oil glutinous rice cakes, but really, you just want to go out and play, right?"
"Grandmother, if you know it already, why do you have to say it?" Xu Xinmo protested.
After thinking for a moment, the elderly lady said, "Take more people with you, and come straight back after buying. Don’t dally on the way!"
"Thank you, grandmother, you’re the best!" Xu Xinmo said and kissed the elderly lady on the cheek before asking Yun Muyou, "Big cousin, will you come too?"
Yun Muyou naturally wanted to go since it was a chance to go out.
"Then let’s go together!" Xu Xinmo said, smugly curling her lip at Yun Jinnian.
Yun Jinnian smiled faintly.
She didn’t care at all.
It was so cold outside, and going shopping with Xu Xinmo would be less enjoyable than staying alone in Niannian Garden to read medical books.
The medical books that Chu Yu had brought over the night before were truly fascinating, and reading them had been highly beneficial.
Once Yun Musi and Yun Mulan had arrived, Xu Xinmo pulled them along to leave.
Yun Jinnian also stood up to leave Cixin Academy and headed to Qiyue Academy.
Bai Que was directing people to carry several boxes into the room, while Mrs. Han was sipping tea on the side, her exceptional beauty and her white attire making her look like a painting.
"Mother!" Yun Jinnian called softly.
Mrs. Han promptly set down her teacup and smiled at Yun Jinnian, "Come over here!"
Yun Jinnian came closer and sat beside Mrs. Han, who then said, "I was just about to send someone to call for you, we’re going out to your grandfather’s house soon!"
Yun Jinnian was astonished.
"Your father will take us, after we have lunch there, we’ll come back after dinner. Aren’t you going to study medicine with your grandfather?"
"That seems rather sudden!"
Mrs. Han rubbed Yun Jinnian’s head, "Silly child, once the new year starts, you’ll have to attend school for young ladies and won’t have time to study medicine with your grandfather, who is also leaving after the new year!"
"Is grandfather leaving?"
"He has always lived freely; the Capital City is too restraining for him," Mrs. Han said, her gaze growing distant.
As if she was reminded of something and sighed, she then regained her composure.
The mother and daughter talked intermittently, with Yun Jinnian speaking less and Mrs. Han not one to chatter incessantly. The few exchanged words, however, were enough to exude warmth.
Yun Qi came striding in, clearly in an excellent mood.
Yun Jinnian immediately stood up, "Greetings, Father!"
"Is everyone ready? Once we’re ready, let’s go. We’ll stop by Vermilion Bird Street to buy some snacks before heading to your grandfather’s house!"
Mrs. Han stood up to straighten Yun Jinnian’s cloak and led her outside.
The confections from Xufuji were known to be expensive, with the finest ones costing dozens of taels of silver per plate, and even then not always obtainable.
The family of three left Yun Residence, boarded the warm carriage, while Ming Yang and Bai Que sat in the carriage behind, heading straight for Vermilion Bird Street.
The carriage came to a halt.
Yun Qi helped his wife and daughter down from the carriage as they prepared to enter Xufuji when two beggars supporting each other approached.
One old, one young; the older one was a grandmother, and the younger, a boy not much in age, both dirty and thin.
The young beggar came forward, his voice hoarse as he begged, "Kind sirs and madams, please spare a few coins for a poor soul!"