Chapter 203: Miss Yan Becomes the Female Dean
Grandpa Ling rolled his eyes at Jin Sui in a very un-Taoist-like manner, “Even the windows are inlaid with glazed glass, you really dare to imagine! Even if glazed glass were cheaper, ordinary people couldn’t afford it.”
However, having a glazed glass skylight in my Taoist temple for stargazing would be quite nice. It would perfectly match the old Taoist’s immortal-like demeanor.
Grandpa Ling originally wanted to find a good livelihood for the Taoist temple first, and then go earn money from the Northern Frontier people. Don’t think Taoist temples have small expenses; they have very large expenses!
He also wanted to often give alms to the poor, which would require even more money. Besides earning from the gentry of Yandi, it would be even better if he could earn a sum from the Northern Frontier people.
As a result, upon hearing that the Northern Frontier people’s favorite item was the glazed glass that his granddaughter made by burning sand, Grandpa Ling instantly lost interest in participating in this business.
He was afraid of being beaten by the Northern Frontier people who found out the truth later. His granddaughter could still run, but he, a Taoist, couldn’t run away from the Taoist temple. He dared not get involved in this business.
Jin Sui offered him a suggestion: “I’ve already helped Grandpa build a reputation, by selling medicine!”
“Not the kind of medicine like dog-skin plasters and vitality pills. Just selling penicillin, and then developing some medicine to treat livestock diseases, would guarantee you enough money to build a golden palace.”
Grandpa Ling was overjoyed: “This is reliable! Much better than selling glazed glass. In the future, Grandpa will sponsor the medical students from your academy to study.”
Yan Twelve Niang eventually came to Jin Sui’s place to bathe, because she had many things she wanted to say to Jin Sui alone. She knew Jin Sui was busy, and they didn’t have many opportunities to whisper.
What she wanted to say was, of course, about Han Xing. In the misty haze, her voice was a little sweet: “Eldest Brother seems to have noticed that I like Han Xing.”
Jin Sui: … Anyone with eyes can see that, right?
Your liking for someone was so obvious, like a flame. Before, it was for Fake Li King, which was me. You expressed your love with the fervor of a moth to a flame.
Everyone else said that it was hard to find a second woman like me in the world, but could they find a second Twelve Niang?
Which girl would go to the Northern Frontier alone for a ‘man’ who had rejected her multiple times?
Now, although you’ve restrained yourself a bit with Han Xing, even in a crowd, your eyes are always on Han Xing. Who wouldn’t see it?
“What did your Eldest Brother say?”
Twelve Niang was a bit dejected: “Eldest Brother said that although the Yan family doesn’t need me to marry for alliances, I can’t marry beneath my station. Han Xing’s official position is too low.”
Jin Sui asked softly: “Did you tell Han Xing this?”
Twelve Niang quickly shook her head: “Of course not! What if he thinks I’m looking down on him?”
“Then are you planning to marry him now?”
Twelve Niang actually became shy: “It’s too early for me to get married now.”
Jin Sui clapped her hands: “Then that’s settled! Since you’re not in a hurry to get married, just wait. Han Xing will definitely be promoted.”
Of course, under Li King in the border city, he could at most be promoted to a fifth-rank general. Jin Sui wanted her to wait for Gu Changxiao to return to Chang’an, at which point it would be possible to grant Han Xing a noble title.
Twelve Niang seemed to suddenly realize: “That’s right! How did I not think of that? I’m not in a hurry to get married anyway, and I have many things I want to do.
I want to run the Rouge Shop well, earn more money from the Northern Frontier people, and redeem those Han Slaves. When Han Xing is capable of marrying me, and Eldest Brother agrees, then I’ll get married!”
“But Sui Sui, what if Han Xing is snatched away by another girl?”
“Break his legs!”
“No! I won’t hit women!”
“What are you thinking? I meant break Han Xing’s legs! You directly tell him that you will wait for the day he comes to propose, but if he dares to change his mind, break his legs!
I’ll help you do it then!”
Twelve Niang giggled: “Sui Sui, you’re so kind!”
Jin Sui stepped forward and kissed her cheek, saying in an exaggerated tone: “You almost became my woman! It’s only right that I protect you.”
Twelve Niang became shy again: “Sui Sui, don’t be like this.”
She couldn’t help but think of when Sui Sui was Li King. My goodness, if Li King back then had kissed her like this, whether she was a man or a woman, she would have married into the Prince’s Residence long ago.
Jin Sui chuckled: “I happen to have something to ask for your help with, Twelve Niang. Besides managing the Rouge Shop, come to my academy as a teacher!”
“Teacher? Me? I don’t know anything!”
After hearing Jin Sui explain the concept of the academy, and that it would accept female students to learn textiles, medical care, embroidery, food processing, and so on, Twelve Niang felt even more guilty: “I, I really don’t know how.
I don’t know any of the things that young ladies are supposed to know, like playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, embroidery, and cooking tea ceremony!”
Soon Twelve Niang’s spirits lifted again: “If it’s to teach them martial arts for self-defense, I can do that!”
Jin Sui chuckled: “You don’t need to teach anything real. Just have your Yan family’s embroiderers teach. I’ll pay high wages.
As long as you are willing to be the dean of the female academy, just holding the title will be enough to prevent others from looking down on the female academy.”
Twelve Niang agreed: “That’s no problem! Do I need to pay for the academy? My Second Brother is a salt representative for the border city and sends a lot of salt to the border city every month.
If I’m the dean, do I need to pay for building the academy?”
Jin Sui was afraid that if she told Yan Jiu when she got home, Yan Jiu wouldn’t allow her to come. We can’t just keep shearing one family’s wool!
“You don’t need to pay. In fact, I’ll even give you a salary! I can recruit teachers for other subjects, but for the female academy, I’ll definitely need you to help me recruit some female teachers in Yandi.
The two chatted about what happened after they separated in the Northern Frontier. Twelve Niang and her group traveled slowly. The name Miss Ji had already spread throughout the Northern Frontier, and the medicine she left behind had been sent to the Royal Court.
“The powerful people who were unwilling to build a Taoist temple for you are now all agreeing. They say that if you return to the Royal Court and stay in the Northern Frontier, they will agree to build a Taoist temple for you, as long as it doesn’t overshadow the Divine Palace.”
Jin Sui chuckled: “I’m not going back!”
“Batel even sent Tuolei to chase you. After he caught up with our team, he turned back. The tribes we passed by were all talking about you. They described you as if you were an immortal.”
Twelve Niang thought of the thing she was most curious about: “Sui Sui, is that thing you flew down from the Divine Palace still there? I want to fly once too.”
Jin Sui remembered what she promised Hei Hu and the others, and smiled: “After spring comes, we’ll research hot air balloons together. I guarantee you’ll all get to fly once then.”
If there were hot air balloons for aerial transport in the border city, wow, after the news spread throughout the land, would the border city truly become a legend? It would be on a completely different level from other prefecture cities!
If Gu Changxiao returns to Chang’an, let our hot air balloons go first and scatter leaflets in the sky. Even if Prince Yu blocks the water and land routes, he can’t block the sky.
The more Jin Sui thought about it, the more motivated she became, wishing it were spring immediately. This winter was too long and affected progress.
The two added hot water twice, and after their heads felt dizzy from soaking, they got up. Twelve Niang stayed overnight at the Ji Residence. Jin Sui didn’t dare to enter the space and kept chatting with her.
However, she showed her the concept drawings of the academy she had drawn. They were rough sketches drawn with charcoal. The medical students were all artists. The quick sketch method gave the concept drawings a sense of realism that watercolor paintings lacked.
Twelve Niang was awestruck by the grandeur of the academy: “Yanzhou also has an academy, but compared to Sui Sui’s academy, it’s like playing house. Oh my goodness, Sui Sui, can I really be the dean?
No, no, I need to learn something too, otherwise I’ll be laughed at by the students and teachers.”
Jin Sui smiled: “You know how to make rouge and powder! You’re a master in that area!”
Twelve Niang nodded: “You’re right! Then I have to do even better! I want to make our Rouge Shop the most famous rouge brand!”
Jin Sui chuckled, this girl was easily pleased. Yan Shiyi was also easily pleased. In a way, Yan Jiu had a very difficult job as an Eldest Brother.
Jin Sui had slept too much during the day, and Twelve Niang was too excited. The two girls talked in bed until midnight and still weren’t asleep, making Jin Sui want a midnight snack.
“Is dinner ready? I’ll make something to eat.”
“It’s strange, I’m not hungry, but when you mention food, I feel a craving.”
“Haha, you’ve grasped the true meaning of a midnight snack.”
For a midnight snack, barbecue is naturally the best. Twelve Niang threaded the meat while Jin Sui grilled it. As she sprinkled cumin, Jin An poked his head in from outside the door: “Sister, I got up for a night trip and smelled the aroma.”
Jin Sui smiled and waved: “Come quickly, we haven’t started eating yet! Go get the tea stove, I’ll make some milk tea.”
Besides bringing the tea stove, Jin An also brought a bag of potato vermicelli: “Let’s have a lamb hot pot. Boiled potato vermicelli is delicious.”
Jin Sui thought of something and personally went to the front yard’s main kitchen to find ingredients. She thought she was being sneaky, but the three apprentices in the front yard were already awake.
They didn’t dare to make a sound, fearing that Miss Ji would be shy and think they would mock her for eating at night.
Jin Sui found a clay pot, cut a piece of ham, took three eggs, a handful of pickled vegetables, kelp shreds, dried tofu, and a bunch of cilantro and garlic sprouts.
The eggs were fried, the ham was stir-fried until fragrant, then pickled vegetables were stir-fried until dry. Hot water was added, followed by softened potato vermicelli, kelp shreds, and dried tofu. It was simmered over low heat, seasoned with salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, and finally topped with fried eggs, cilantro, and garlic sprouts.
The clay pot potato vermicelli was ready: “Try it! Tomorrow night, I’ll make you spicy and sour vermicelli with sweet potato vermicelli.”
Since our border city has vermicelli first, the recipes for various vermicelli should naturally spread. I’ll try snail vermicelli another day.
The lamb skewers were already grilled, and the milk tea was poured into cups. Just as the three were about to eat, Grandpa Ling called from outside the courtyard: “Jin An.”
Jin An was startled: “It’s over!”
Jin Sui understood perfectly. The old man was also awakened by the aroma, but he thought that since there were female guests staying in the back courtyard, he definitely couldn’t come in.
She quickly asked Jin An to send a portion to Grandpa. Then she heard a whistle from the courtyard wall.
Her eyebrows rose. Is this ever going to end? How much vermicelli do they want me to cook?
She couldn’t bear it and cooked another clay pot, climbing the ladder to place it on the wall. Instantly, Gu Changxiao leaped up and took it: “Sui Sui, don’t let her stay at your house anymore.”
Jin Sui deliberately said: “No! I want Twelve Niang to stay here long-term!”
After the midnight snack, it was almost midnight. Twelve Niang, full and sleepy, lay down on the bed and was about to fall asleep when she suddenly thought of something and got up to ask:
“Sui Sui, there’s something I know I shouldn’t say, but my Eldest Brother, that person…”
Jin Sui interrupted her: “The Li King and I have exchanged tokens.”
Twelve Niang froze for a moment: “Ah? That fox… Lord Li… So, that’s how it is. Then I have nothing to say.”
She pulled the quilt over her head, regretting it a little. She shouldn’t have brought it up, but what about Eldest Brother?
Eldest Brother is really too foolish! He traveled all the way to the Northern Frontier with Sui Sui but never expressed his feelings.
Should she let Eldest Brother compete with Li King for Sui Sui? Currently, Eldest Brother has a winning chance, but would Eldest Brother compete?
Jin Sui turned around and sighed deeply. She hoped Twelve Niang would convey this matter to Yan Jiu, even though Yan Jiu had never shown any interest.
Perhaps she was being overly sentimental! So she couldn’t say anything.
It would be good for Twelve Niang to act as an intermediary. She would have a lot of cooperation with Yan Jiu in the future, and she didn’t want their relationship to become awkward.
Yan Jiu was such a good man, like a banished immortal. She wasn’t suitable. She was just a troublemaker, a mischievous monkey’s sister.
Yan Jiu should be with a cold and noble girl, they would live in harmony, drink tea and admire the snow, always carrying a luxurious carpet wherever they went, and love to wear difficult-to-wash white clothes…
Not like her and Gu Changxiao, climbing walls to get midnight snacks.
The next day, she woke up before Twelve Niang. Just as she was about to go to the front yard to prepare breakfast, Steward Yan arrived with people.
A cook to prepare breakfast, maidservants to help Twelve Niang with her hair and makeup, brand new clothes and jewelry.
Grandpa Ling quietly asked Jin Sui: “Does a wealthy family make such a grand display when they go out?”
Jin Sui nodded: “Yan Jiu is even more exaggerated than his sister! Before, he stayed in the border city for a night, and he had people sprinkle water to wash the ground. Can you believe it?”
Grandpa Ling bared his teeth: “Distinguished guests are hard to entertain!”
Jin Sui watched the busy cooks in the kitchen. They seemed to have brought their own ingredients and planned to prepare dozens of breakfast dishes.
The three apprentices stood outside the door, glancing in from time to time, feeling guilty about the exquisite food. They were all young ladies, and our Miss Ji ate too simply.
Grandpa Ling smiled again: “We get to enjoy a rich breakfast for free, which is great!”
He then asked Jin Sui: “Do you need any maidservants? Look at their maidservants, dressing, shoes, and hair are all done by different people.”
Jin Sui smiled: “I heard that some families have one person wipe the left ear of the stone lion at the entrance, and another person wipe the right ear.”
“I don’t need maidservants. It would be helpful to have someone who can read and write to help me organize documents. Grandpa, don’t worry about it. I’ll pick two smart girls from the Tuntian Camp.”
She still had someone who climbed the wall in the middle of the night. What if she hired a maidservant and scared them?
Twelve Niang was very embarrassed: “These are all people sent by my Second Brother. He did it on purpose. I didn’t stay at the house he prepared for me yesterday, so he’s making this scene.”
Jin Sui smiled: “It’s fine! Just as Grandpa said, we also benefit from a sumptuous breakfast.”
After breakfast, Grandpa was going to the Taoist temple construction site to watch the road construction. Jin Sui was originally going to find Gu Changxiao, but Steward Yan said that the Head of the Family was waiting for her to discuss the wool workshop.
So she went with Twelve Niang to the Yan family’s separate courtyard prepared by Yan Shiyi. Fortunately, the separate courtyard wasn’t excessively large. It seemed Cheng Yu understood and didn’t create special treatment for these gentry children in the border city.
The largest house was like the Ji Residence, with three courtyards. However, the Yan family’s decoration was extravagant, with the entire room carpeted and gold and jade utensils everywhere.
A large bronze stove was burning, and it felt very hot even before getting close.
Yan Shiyi was bossing people around, directing them to clean up the young lady’s embroidery building. As soon as Twelve Niang returned, he pulled her to see the bathroom: “How is our place inferior to the Ji Residence? You insisted on staying with her!”
