Yun Jiao smiled, "Why, do you want to learn?"
Liu Lang glanced at Jiang Youzhi and fell silent again.
Jiang Youzhi said gently, "If Liu Lang wants to learn, starting tomorrow, he can follow Third Brother to study."
"It’s just right since Third Brother doesn’t need to go to the academy, he has plenty of time."
Liu Lang glanced again at Mrs. Chen, and Mrs. Chen said irritably, "If you want to learn, just learn. Wasn’t it you who refused when your Third Brother wanted to teach you before?"
Liu Lang pressed his lips together, "I used to hope that Third Brother would become a government official, and I could follow him to enjoy the perks. Now, it’s hopeless."
Yun Jiao laughed out loud.
Mrs. Chen slapped him on the head, "How can you talk like that!"
Jiang Youzhi instead chuckled, "Mother, don’t blame him. It’s a good thing; regardless of the reason, at least he knows to strive forward now."
Mrs. Chen suddenly turned to Yun Jiao, "We also need to buy a carrying pole and rope, we’ll need to fetch water later."
In the south, it’s rare to dig wells. There is a river in front of the village that provides water for the villagers.
Yun Jiao nodded while writing, "Then we also need to buy alum."
After writing, Yun Jiao read it out loud once, letting everyone review to see if anything was missing.
Mrs. Chen became increasingly worried as she listened. She feared even five taels of silver might not cover all.
Once Yun Jiao took the list outside, Mrs. Chen also left. Jiang Youzhi then asked Liu Lang what Grandpa and Second Uncle and Third Uncle said during the family division.
Liu Lang hesitated for a moment but mimicked their words.
However, he wasn’t foolish and didn’t mention anything related to Jiang Youzhi’s background.
After listening, Jiang Youzhi analyzed their words once and understood that Liu Lang hadn’t said it all.
He was lost in thought for a while.
The next morning, Mrs. Chen called Zhang Dalang from next door and others to set up a stove, while Yun Jiao rode a carriage into town. Dıscover more novels at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝙣𝙚𝙩
She headed to the academy first.
The driver, Liu Er, was from the village. Today, Yun Jiao agreed to hire his carriage for the day for fifty coins.
Liu Er drove the carriage to the academy entrance, and Yun Jiao told the gatekeeper servant that she was looking for Xu Zhizhong, and the servant led her inside.
Xu Zhizhong was called out, and he thought someone from his family had come. When he emerged, he saw a young girl with a petite frame, fair skin, quite pretty, and somewhat familiar-looking.
Yun Jiao gave him a slight bow, "I am Youzhi’s sister-in-law, here to collect his luggage."
Xu Zhizhong slapped his forehead—no wonder she looked familiar, he’d seen her at the medical clinic yesterday.
As he led Yun Jiao to the dormitory, he asked, "Is Brother Jiang feeling better?"
Yun Jiao replied simply, "He’s alright."
The dormitory was a room for two, shared by Xu Zhizhong and Jiang Youzhi.
Yun Jiao quickly packed up Jiang Youzhi’s books and luggage, then took down the sword hanging on the wall.
The sword was heavy, with an ebony sheath decorated with silver filigree, probably worth some silver.
Seeing such a large bundle that Yun Jiao couldn’t lift, Xu Zhizhong offered, "Let me carry it to the academy gate for you."
Yun Jiao thanked him. She carried the sword while Xu Zhizhong carried the bundle, and they walked out together.
At that time, it seemed close to class time, and they encountered many people along the way.
Everyone gave Xu Zhizhong a teasing smile.
A teenager ran over, glanced at Yun Jiao, and joked, "Zhizhong, is this your fiancée chosen by your family?"
Xu Zhizhong blushed, "Don’t talk nonsense, this is Youzhi’s sister-in-law."
The boy awkwardly scratched his head and ran off.
Xu Zhizhong helped put the bundle in the carriage, and Yun Jiao thanked him repeatedly before getting in the carriage and leaving.