Chapter 47: The Test
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Shao Diandian was unaware that Jing Yi was standing right at the door.
Young Master Xiang glanced toward the door and chuckled softly, “Yes, Jing Yi does have a bit of a bad temper. I’ll have a word with him later on your behalf.”
Shao Diandian quickly waved her chubby little hands, “No need, no need. After all, he’s your cousin. Don’t let your brotherly relationship sour over an outsider like me. He’s a bit distant with me but quite good to you.”
...
After Shao Diandian left, Jing Yi came in.
“Cousin, are you really not planning to return to the capital?”
Young Master Xiang said nothing but handed Jing Yi a sealed letter.
Jing Yi opened it and his expression grew grave. “So it’s true...”
Young Master Xiang said, “Everyone we sent out failed. We can’t return until the mission is complete. As for recuperating... it’s the perfect excuse. It won’t raise suspicion in the capital.”
Jing Yi hesitated to speak.
Young Master Xiang asked, “What’s on your mind?”
Jing Yi spoke frankly, “You revealed too much to her.”
Young Master Xiang smiled, “You mean when I told her I’m from the capital? If she was deliberately trying to get close to me, she wouldn’t have looked so natural when I mentioned it.”
Jing Yi suddenly understood, “So you were testing her.”
Young Master Xiang gently stroked the prescription Shao Diandian had left behind. “Her medical skills are suspicious. Back then, our aunt also contracted lung disease, and the treatment was far more arduous and dangerous. But judging by now, maybe I was overthinking. She’s not sent by any faction to approach me. She’s just a little girl who’s been guided by a master.”
“She’s a little woman now—she’s married,” Jing Yi corrected.
Young Master Xiang frowned in surprise, “She’s so young and already married?”
Jing Yi smirked inwardly—married? She’s had three kids already!
--
After receiving the consultation fee, Shao Diandian went to the front guest room and found Shen Chuan.
As usual, Shen Chuan handed her the list of pastries reserved for the next day. Shao Diandian took the list and casually gave him three taels of silver.
“What’s this for?” Shen Chuan asked.
“Commission,” Shao Diandian said.
“Huh?” Shen Chuan didn’t understand. “What commission?”
Shao Diandian explained, “I can’t just keep asking for your help for nothing. Think of it as a token of appreciation. You booked the pastries and took care of Young Master Xiang’s medicine. I never got the chance to properly thank you.”
Shen Chuan waved his hand, “It’s just a small favor. You’re being too formal. Am I the type to care about silver? Besides, my father’s glad I get to show my face in front of the young master more often. I should be thanking you for giving me the opportunity. You cured the young master’s illness, and my father’s grateful too, even if he doesn’t say it!”
Shao Diandian pondered, “That young master...”
Shen Chuan glanced around and lowered his voice, “He’s got a big background, you noticed, right? But no matter how much I ask, my father refuses to reveal his identity!”
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Curiosity killed the cat. Sometimes it’s better to know less.
Shao Diandian smiled, “Just take it. Otherwise, I won’t dare ask for your help again.”
Seeing her insistence, Shen Chuan had no choice but to accept.
Despite being the director’s son, his father was strict. He only had five hundred wen pocket money a month, less than two taels even including what his mother secretly gave him.
Making money... actually feels pretty good!
The two of them went together to wake Shao Erdan in the guest room.
Shao Erdan had clearly taken the academy as a perfect place to catch up on sleep, sprawled on a chair, snoring softly.
Shao Diandian gently shook her silly younger brother awake.
Shao Erdan wiped his drool and mumbled drowsily, “Sister, is the list ready?”
Shao Diandian said, “We can go now. Young Master Shen, goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” Shen Chuan suddenly remembered something and called after Shao Diandian, “By the way, Miss Shao, do you know a student named Chen Haoyuan? The old man said he once saw you talking for a long time at the academy gate.”
The old man he mentioned was the elderly man at the academy’s back gate who always tried to snatch a cake from Shao Erdan.
Shao Diandian asked, “What about it?”
Shen Chuan said, “The academy has a few spots recommended for studying in the government city, and my father is considering picking one out of Chen Haoyuan and another student.”
...
Shao Diandian led the sleepy Shao Erdan out of the academy.
Chen Haoyuan had just bought an ink stick from the opposite study hall and immediately spotted the siblings at the academy gate.
He furrowed his brows sharply, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.
Their classmate followed his gaze and said, “Hey, aren’t they the siblings who sell pastries? Recently, many at the academy have ordered from them. I’ve tried their pastries once—it tastes no worse than Jin’s shop and is even cheaper! Brother Chen, you want to buy some too?”
“No,” Chen Haoyuan said coldly.
He already knew about Shao Diandian selling pastries at the academy.
In the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants were looked down upon. Chen Haoyuan despised the petty vendors reeking of copper coins from the bottom of his heart.
Moreover, what could those two siblings possibly make that’s any good?
Better than Jin’s shop?
Who spread such nonsense?
Chen Haoyuan warned, “Don’t buy food from them in the future! Be careful not to get sick!”
Their classmate said, “No way, their pastries are tasty, won’t cause heatiness, and very filling!”
Chen Haoyuan said indifferently, “It’s obvious you’ve never eaten anything good.”
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Just then, Director Shen also came down from the study hall’s second floor, a place students generally couldn’t reach.
“Director!” Their classmate spotted him first and immediately turned to bow.
Chen Haoyuan quickly composed himself and respectfully bowed as well. “Director.”
“What are you all doing standing at someone’s door?” Director Shen asked.
“We... were just looking at those siblings selling pastries,” the classmate replied, unwilling to admit they were gossiping.
Director Shen looked toward Shao Diandian and Shao Erdan, who were gradually walking away, and asked, “Do you know them?”
The classmate shook his head, “Not really. We’ve just eaten their wife cakes before.”
Director Shen’s gaze fell on Chen Haoyuan’s face.
Chen Haoyuan steadied himself and said seriously, “I don’t know them either!”
--
Back in the courtyard, Director Shen first went to visit Young Master Xiang, who was just recovering from a serious illness. Learning that he needed to rest at the academy for a while longer, Director Shen expressed it was his honor.
He immediately ordered his servants to prepare New Year goods. Celebrating the New Year with his own family and the young master staying behind would surely be different.
“Father!”
Director Shen had just left his study when he encountered Shen Chuan, beaming.
Seeing the mud and snow on Shen Chuan’s shoes, Director Shen said coldly, “Where have you been again?”
Shen Chuan replied, “Nowhere. I was just tired from studying, so I went out for a walk. I’m confident about the autumn imperial exam next year!”
Director Shen couldn’t understand. Shouldn’t a scholar be diligent and single-minded? Why was his son like a monkey, constantly darting about?
If his son’s studies weren’t genuine, he would have tied him up and beaten him many times over by now.
Shen Chuan smiled mysteriously, “Father, I have news for you!”
Director Shen was annoyed by his son’s frivolous manner—nothing like himself.
“Speak,” the stern Director Shen said.
Shen Chuan laughed, “Chen Haoyuan, top student in Class A, is Miss Shao’s eldest cousin! Shouldn’t you consider recommending him to study in the government city?”
Director Shen frowned, “You say he’s Miss Shao’s cousin?”