The Scholar’s surname was Gu, and everyone called him Scholar Gu. He was a refined man who, aside from attending the Academy, seldom left the house, and his yard was usually very quiet.
An old servant followed him to tend to the gate, an old granny to cook for them, and he also had a young servant waiting upon him.
He was very proper in his ways; as a neighbor for so many days, there had never been any disreputable people showing up at his front yard. Occasionally a few Scholars would visit, and they would discuss books, essays, and other refined topics.
According to Madam Gu, Scholar Gu didn’t look like he came from an ordinary family, even though his clothes seemed plain, they just looked better than everyone else’s.
Even when speaking, he carried a hint of the Capital City’s accent, particularly pleasant to listen to.
The following ten thousand words of praise for that Scholar Gu are omitted.
Wang Yongzhu did pay attention, though. This Scholar Gu seemed to come from an extraordinary background, and he was indeed very distinguished. In the short time since he had rented her property, he had already made such a good impression on the neighbors.
As they walked along, speaking of Cao Cao and then Cao Cao appeared, they were just talking about Scholar Gu when they reached the entrance to the alley, they heard Madam Gu’s surprised and delighted voice, "What a coincidence today, isn’t that Scholar Gu?"
Everyone followed Madam Gu’s gaze and looked over.
They saw a tall, handsome man standing by the side door of the front yard, dressed in a deep blue scholar’s robe with a green pouch hanging from his waist. Standing there, even the surrounding breeze seemed to become gentle and cultured.
He seemed to have heard Madam Gu’s voice, and his initial step toward entering his yard paused as he turned around, slightly nodding his head in their direction.
Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu and her group, he revealed a hint of puzzlement but didn’t ask anything further.
It was Madam Gu who enthusiastically went forward to greet him, "Scholar Gu, you’ve returned! What good timing, come, come, this is Little Brother Song from the Song Family who lives in your back yard, and his wife and mother-in-law. They just moved in today, and from now on we’re all neighbors; if there’s anything, we can let each other know."
That was the introduction between Scholar Gu and Song Chongjin and his family.
Scholar Gu immediately displayed a smile like a warm spring breeze and nodded to Song Chongjin, making a greeting gesture, "Brother Song—"
Song Chongjin returned the gesture.
Scholar Gu’s eyes brightened, but he didn’t say much, only smiling at Song Chongjin, "Since Brother Song’s family has just moved in, I assume there must be many cumbersome tasks to be taken care of. I shall take my leave for now; Brother Song, just call out if there’s anything."
Song Chongjin didn’t stand on ceremony either, nodding his head and saying only one sentence, "You are too kind."
Scholar Gu then politely nodded to Old Granny Zhang, his gaze not even drifting towards Wang Yongzhu beside her, in a manner that seemed very considerate.
Madam Gu wanted to chat more with Scholar Gu, but seeing that he left after those few words, she could only reluctantly keep company with Old Granny Zhang.
Once Scholar Gu had left, Song Chongjin took Wang Yongzhu’s hand and bid farewell to Madam Gu, politely going their separate ways.
While busy in the kitchen hut, Old Granny Zhang asked, "Is this Changqing Academy that Madam Gu was talking about the same one that the second boy wanted to go to but wasn’t accepted?"
Song Chongjin nodded.
"Judging from Madam Gu’s tone, Changqing Academy is quite impressive, isn’t it? Why don’t you go to Changqing Academy as well, Chongjin? Now that we have come to the county city, this matter of studying, your mother definitely supports you! If you’re going to go, go to the best, right? It can’t be that only a tenant of ours can study at Changqing Academy while our Chongjin still has to consider other places!"
Song Chongjin grunted affirmatively, taking it as an answer.
Old Granny Zhang turned her head and instructed Wang Yongzhu, "Yongzhu, when it comes to spending money, we must spend it! I’ve heard from that beast of a second son before, that in those big academies, the teachers who instruct the students are at least Graduates, and there are even those retired officials who come back to teach after they’re too old to serve."
"Not to mention anything else, these people have definitely seen more of the world than we have and would surely teach better than other academies! As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. We couldn’t afford the tuition at Changqing Academy in the past, but now, our family is not short on silver. If we’re going to enroll, we should ensure Chongjin goes to the best one!"
Wang Yongzhu silently touched her nose. She was just about to explain to Old Granny Zhang that Changqing Academy might not be a place you could simply enter with money, but she did agree with Old Granny Zhang’s idea; if you’re going to enroll, it naturally should be in the best academy.
Otherwise, what was the point of moving to the county seat?
Before she could open her mouth, she felt her skirt being tugged by Song Chongjin from below. With a pull, Wang Yongzhu fell backward, only to be swiftly caught in Song Chongjin’s arms.
Old Granny Zhang was scared out of her wits, but seeing Wang Yongzhu safe and sound in her son-in-law’s embrace, she managed to calm down a bit.
She urged Song Chongjin to carry his wife back inside to rest, insisting that she could take care of the rest.
Helping Wang Yongzhu back into the room, she directly asked, "Was there something you wanted to tell me just now?"
Song Chongjin nodded, opened a chest in the room, and took out a calling card bearing Zhu Haoran’s name. The card might not be worth a thousand gold, but it was certainly worth dozens.
"What is this?" Wang Yongzhu had never seen it before.
"This is the calling card Lord Zhu gave me, telling me to look for him once I arrived in the Capital City. He had also studied at Changqing Academy for a year, and now he is a favorite of the Emperor. With this card, the matter will assuredly be handled properly."
Wang Yongzhu understood; it was essentially a letter of recommendation – and a very influential one at that.
Now that this matter no longer needed worrying about, Wang Yongzhu also mentioned her own plans: "You go handle the enrollment at Changqing Academy in the next two days, and I’m going to check out the shop and the dye works we bought last time. They’ve been left idle for so long; I’m not even sure what state they’re in now."
"It’s also the perfect time to notify Shopkeeper Wu to come over to discuss the transfer of the dye works. Spring is almost upon us, and the dye works need to begin operating. After the transfer, the dye works will need refurbishing and hiring; otherwise, we’ll miss the right moment."
Wang Yongzhu furrowed her brow; she had said she would speak with Shopkeeper Wu after the new year, but this year had been so busy that it had slipped her mind.
This time, passing through Qilidun, she originally planned to inquire with Shopkeeper Wu, but hearing he had gone out again, she had no choice but to let it be.
She decided to first take a look at the shop and assess it, figuring out what it was suitable for, because it couldn’t just stand unused, right?
After the couple agreed on their plans, the next day they left the house together but went their separate ways at the door.
Wang Yongzhu had only gone a few steps when she encountered a pair of master and servant, which turned out to be Scholar Gu and his servant, whom she had met the day before.
For a moment, all six eyes met, and not a word was spoken.
It was Wang Yongzhu who finally smiled and nodded at Scholar Gu before turning away. She hadn’t walked a few steps when she heard Scholar Gu’s young servant ask in confusion, "Young Master, why are you still not moving? We’re going to be late—"
A frustrated groan followed, then the sound of chaotic footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Wang Yongzhu looked back only to see Scholar Gu, who no longer held any semblance of a Scholar’s refined restraint. One hand lifted his robe, the other was dragged by his young servant, as he ran, stumbling and laboring awkwardly. The refined and gentle temperament that seemed to personify the bright moon and gentle spring from the day before had vanished in an instant.