Everyone turned their heads upon hearing the shout, only to hear three scholars and their own bargain husband all call out in unison, "Teacher!"
Teacher? Like a school teacher?
Xiaoxiao saw the newcomer who indeed looked like a learned man, just like those portrayed on TV, a scholar with a beard.
"Hmm, you three, did you feel ashamed after hearing what others had said?"
The three scholars all hung their heads in silence, completely devoid of their earlier arrogance.
"Go back and write the Three Character Classic ten times!"
Pfft! The Three Character Classic, are these guys still in their enlightenment phase? Writing lines? That really is like a primary schooler.
The three answered hurriedly, then scurried away disheartened.
"Good day, Teacher. This is my wife!"
Seeing this, Yang Ming hurriedly introduced his wife to the teacher, as her words today had made him feel ashamed. On their wedding day, he had called his wife both ugly and lazy. His reading of the Sage’s Book had been in vain, as it proved that judging by appearances was wrong. His wife was truly a person of substance; she was truly beautiful!
"Good day, Teacher." Xiaoxiao, seeing Yang Ming make the introduction, quickly greeted the teacher as well.
"Those words just now were truly wonderful. May I ask under which teacher you studied?"
"You flatter me, teacher. They are merely realizations I’ve come to myself! I haven’t studied under any teacher!"
Xiaoxiao didn’t even know if her family had arranged for a teacher to teach her how to read.
At that moment, the crowd recognized Xiaoxiao.
"I know this young lady. She has written couplets in the county town before, and they were exceptional! And those poems! Miss, do you still write? I’ll go buy a scroll right now!"
Had she become famous? It seemed she must keep a lower profile in the future!
"There’s something today, so let’s not write now. I’ll set up my stall another day if I get the chance!"
Xiaoxiao flatly refused, deciding it was better to keep a low profile.
"What a pity!" The person looked very disappointed, missing out on the chance to see her compose on the spot.
"Yang Ming, your wife writes great poetry. I wonder if I have the honor to observe?"
The teacher always favored learned individuals and held no prejudice against women; his own daughter had been taught to be a talented woman and was very popular among the students at the Academy.
Yang Ming wasn’t sure if Xiaoxiao was willing, so he couldn’t just answer; instead, he looked towards Xiaoxiao.
Xiaoxiao didn’t really want to, but considering her bargain husband was still studying at the Academy, it was better not to offend the teacher, so she nodded at Yang Ming.
No need for dinner, a crowd gathered around, all wanting to see just how Xiaoxiao wrote!
What in the world to write, Xiaoxiao was really in a quandary. To borrow from ancient poets again felt wrong. She really didn’t have much ink in her stomach, always borrowing from the ancients was not ideal.
Xiaoxiao thought about it and decided to use something from a TV series, from My Fair Princess where Ziwei said it; that probably wasn’t from the ancients! But she couldn’t remember clearly, she only remembered that one poem.
So, she took up her brush:
Be like the rock that stays steadfast,
And I shall be like the reed that bends.
The reed is flexible as silk,
And the rock never shifts.
Xiaoxiao really goofed this time, this was actually an ancient love poem, already written by someone from the past.
She was truly bringing disaster on herself by making a public declaration of love! By the time she realized it, it was too late, she was embarrassed beyond measure.
Seeing this, everyone cast envious glances at Yang Ming.
"Yang Ming, you are truly fortunate!"
The teacher sincerely sighed; Yang Ming’s wife was a talented woman and also very bold, complementing Yang Ming well. The couple was quite well-matched.
On the return trip, still in the ox cart, Yang Ming thought about his wife’s love poem the whole way, feeling very pleased!