365 Meeting
Liu Shi was originally holding Little Ah Yu’s hand and walking on the streets. During last year’s Flower Festival, something almost happened to Little Ah Yu. This year, Liu Shi refused to let Little Ah Yu leave her sight no matter what.
“Mother, isn’t that Uncle Baldy?” Little Ah Yu suddenly saw a shiny bald head in the crowd.
The bald man turned his head and Little Ah Yu immediately recognized him.
Liu Shi had yet to react. “What bald uncle?”
Following Little Ah Yu’s finger, Liu Shi only saw a head.
A short-haired head.
In Great Chang, only two types of people were bald.
One was a monk with a shaved head. They had a special way to shave their heads. Generally speaking, their hair would not grow back.
The other type was prisoners who had committed serious crimes, but because their crimes did not warrant death, their heads would be shaved.
After this kind of person was released from prison, their hair would slowly grow back.
Liu Shi had only heard of such people from the storyteller. She did not expect to see them in town.
Ever since there were more outsiders in town, these messy people had actually sneaked in.
Her hand tightened and she pulled Little Ah Yu to her side. “Ah Yu, there’s nothing much to shop on the streets. Let’s go back first. It’s more lively at home.”
Little Ah Yu nodded. She was originally about to follow Liu Shi back as well. She also felt that the streets were too crowded today.
It felt even more crowded than last year.
Actually, it was only because Little Ah Yu had grown taller. Last year, she could shuttle between the legs of the crowd, but this year, she could only squeeze through the crowd.
[Kid, don’t leave yet. Do you remember the candy I bought for you yesterday?]
When Little Ah Yu heard Meatball’s voice, she immediately stopped.
Of course, Little Ah Yu remembered the candy.
They were worth 10 points. Usually, Meatball would never be willing to exchange for it.
But yesterday, Meatball had exchanged the candy for Little Ah Yu and told her that there might be a mission.
Only then did Little Ah Yu hold back her craving and not secretly eat it.
“Is it for someone?” Little Ah Yu looked left and right. Unfortunately, she was a little short. In the tall crowd, she could barely see some heads.
[It’s the bald uncle you saw just now. There’s a person wearing grayish-brown clothes beside him with a silver sword at his waist.]
There were many people in grayish-brown clothes, but very few of them had swords at their waists.
After all, most of the people who came to shop in town were villagers from the nearby villages, as well as those guests who came to tour. They would not carry a sword for no reason.
Little Ah Yu pulled Liu Shi’s sleeve. “Mother, can I play for a while longer?”
Liu Shi smiled. “Of course. It’s just that there are too many people now. Let’s choose a place with fewer people.”
“I want to go to the inn. Liu’er and the Teacher are helping to write couplets there,” Little Ah Yu said.
Since her daughter had a request, Liu Shi naturally did not refuse. She immediately held Little Ah Yu’s hand and walked over.
The inn was not the most prosperous place on Nanhe Street. On the contrary, it was at the entrance.
There was also a fork that led to Puji Temple.
When she arrived at the entrance of the inn, she saw Teacher Yang setting up a small stall. There was a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in front of him.
Liu’er was helping grind the inkstone.
Teacher Yang’s movements were smooth. After a while, he finished writing.
The person who received the words thanked him happily and left in a hurry.
Coincidentally, a gentleman from Qingmu Academy was silently admiring the writing at the side.
Teacher Yang’s knowledge might not be comparable to the gentlemen from Qingmu Academy, but he was good at writing.
Even the teachers in Qingmu Academy often praised him.
However, they did not approve of Teacher Yang writing for the villagers for free.
After all, the gentlemen believed that everything was inferior, and only the educated were privileged.
Especially the words written by a Teacher. How could they be casually showcased to those ordinary people?
Those commoners could not understand it anyway. It was nothing more than playing the lute to a cow.
“Teacher Yang, Liu’er!” Little Ah Yu ran towards them happily.
When Liu’er saw Little Ah Yu, she also smiled until her eyes curved. She first greeted Liu Shi before saying to Little Ah Yu, “Ah Yu, you’re here too? Your shop is very lively today. We haven’t gone to congratulate you yet. Father said that we’ll visit your house after we write 10 more couplets.”
When Liu Shi heard this, she hurriedly said, “It’s fine, it’s fine. You guys settle the serious matter first.”
Liu Shi was also in the Yang Family Private School. Although she was not a proper teacher, the children recognized her. Teacher Yang respected Liu Shi, so the two families interacted more frequently.
When Teacher Yang saw Liu Shi, he smiled and greeted her.
This time, a total of 30 examinees in town had passed the initial screening and went to the county level imperial exam. Old man Wang’s family had sent eight people. Although only one person had passed, it also meant that Old man Wang’s family could be considered a scholarly family now.
In town, as long as a family produced a scholar, they would definitely become a phoenix in the eyes of ordinary families.
Moreover, the reason why the seven children from the Wang Family were not selected was not because they were stupid, but because they had only studied for a year and did not have enough knowledge to begin with. It was normal that they could not pass.
However, as long as they continue to study, they might be able to pass next time.
At that time, they would really have to look at the Wang Family in a different light. Anyone with any brains would want to improve their relationship with the Wang Family now.
Companionship from the beginning was definitely much better than icing on the cake.
Teacher Yang’s attitude towards Liu Shi was naturally more cordial.
As the two of them spoke, they started chatting. Originally, the teachers from Qingmu Academy looked down on Liu Shi.
How could a woman be a teacher? Moreover, she was a woman who did not have much knowledge. She was only teaching the children to recognize things, but she actually had the cheek to bear the title of a Teacher.
Actually, they were still a little ashamed to be associated with Liu Shi.
But it could be seen that when Liu Shi chatted with Teacher Yang, she did not show any fear at all. She even occasionally quoted some classics, so their impression of her changed a little.
Unknowingly, they chatted together.
Seeing that Liu Shi was not paying attention to her, Little Ah Yu gently held Liu’er’s hand and shook it. “Liu’er, accompany me to deliver something. We’ll be back soon.”
Liu’er found it funny. “You can go yourself. Why do you have to bring me along?”
“My mother doesn’t allow me to move around alone. As long as I bring you along, I won’t be alone anymore!” Little Ah Yu blinked cunningly. “Let’s come back quickly later. Perhaps they won’t be finished chatting yet!”
This was Little Ah Yu’s goal. She knew that as long as Liu Shi saw Teacher Yang, the two of them would definitely exchange pleasantries.
The adults were always like this. Regardless of whether they usually chatted more or less, as long as they met on the streets, they could not help but stand together and talk.
Only when they spoke would Little Ah Yu have time to complete the mission.
Liu’er could not win against Little Ah Yu, so she could only listen to her.
Ouyang Changjing was originally waiting for the coachman to bring the carriage out when he suddenly felt a warm sensation in his palm.
It was as if something had been stuffed in.
Because there were too many people, the guards guarding Ouyang Changjing could not get too close. Instead, they gave people a chance to approach.
After all, it was impossible to make space in a crowded place.
Ouyang Changjing’s first reaction was that there was an assassin.
He suddenly pulled out his sword and swung it behind him.
It shocked the people behind.
“What are you doing?!” That person patted his chest. “If your brain isn’t good, don’t bring your sword out to play. What will you do if you hurt someone!”
With that, the person left.
Ouyang Changjing heard a little girl’s voice. “Uncle, I gave you this candy. Remember to eat it.”
He looked down in the direction of the voice and saw a little girl who was not even as tall as his waist raising her milky white hand.
Her black eyes looked at him as if they had pierced through layers of time and stood in front of him.
Boom!
“Ruan Ruan?!” He could not help but blurt out.