Chapter 97: Expelled From The County School
Lu Chengjing said, “This matter must be asked of Niangzi.”
Qiao Yu’an looked toward Shang Wan somewhat reluctantly, with a hint of expectation in his eyes.
Shang Wan was not a wishing pool, and besides, raising a wolf in the city—what if Qiao Yu’an failed to watch it and the wolf got out and hurt someone?
Don’t think that pack of wolves on the mountain acted as obedient as rabbits in front of her; those were wolves, not actual rabbits—try swapping in someone else?
Being left with a whole corpse would be fortunate.
“Thinking about it isn’t against the law; think whatever you want.”
Anyway, she wouldn’t help with catching the wolf.
Qiao Yu’an: “……I’m not refusing to pay.”
“Even if you pay, I won’t help.” Shang Wan said, “If you’re capable, catch it yourself.”
“If I’m catching it myself, then I’ll catch it myself.” Qiao Yu’an put his hands behind his back and looked at A Le, “In a bit, follow this young master into the mountains to catch a wolf.”
A Le swallowed hard and said awkwardly, “Young Master, are we going to catch wolves or to feed them?”
Qiao Yu’an: “……”
Spouting such blatant truth?
He glared at A Le. A Le muttered, “Young Master, throwing away two lives for nothing isn’t worth it. My cheap life is one thing, but you with your delicate body—how wasteful to cheapen the wolves in the mountains.”
The kid knew to give him a way out, so Qiao Yu’an……of course took the out.
“What you say makes sense; hiring a wolf can be discussed later.”
A Le hurriedly flattered, “Young Master is wise!”
Shang Wan thought to herself that servant truly resembled master in form—these two together were a pair of living treasures.
“Chengjing, look—these are the things I brought for you.”
At the small desk Lu Chengjing usually used for practicing calligraphy, Qiao Yu’an directed A Le to open the large bundle and take out the things inside one by one.
There were books, paper, ink sticks, and several writing brushes; the paper was the most plentiful, with four or five kinds.
In addition, there were small toys for Yuan Yuan, items for Shi Tou and Xiao Huan, and a small gift for Shang Wan.
Shang Wan was somewhat surprised; there was actually a share for her.
Originally there wasn’t, but in the end Qiao Yu’an had taken Lu Chengjing’s words from last time to heart. Plus, knowing that Shang Wan had spent quite a bit of money buying a wheelchair for Lu Chengjing, he had slightly changed his view of her and specially prepared a gift for Shang Wan.
Qiao Yu’an said to Lu Chengjing, “You definitely waste paper practicing handwriting with your left hand, and buying paper in the village is inconvenient, so I specially had extra packed.”
“You’ve gone to trouble.” A warm feeling passed through Lu Chengjing’s heart. He reached out to move the booklet aside and discovered two more booklets underneath—account books.
He looked up at Qiao Yu’an. Qiao Yu’an looked at the sky and the ground but not at him, unfolding his folding fan and fanning wildly until he sneezed, then quickly closing the folding fan.
Lu Chengjing sighed, “Yu’an, for auditing accounts, you should find someone else.”
Previously, for the sake of the Lu Family, the Qiao Family could turn a blind eye and let Qiao Yu’an do as he pleased. After all, they were shops thrown to him for practice—even if they lost everything, it wasn’t worth much.
But now that he had been driven out by the Lu Family, with the Lu Family’s attitude clear, these account books should no longer pass through his hands.
He didn’t believe Qiao Yu’an didn’t understand this reason.
“No one else calculates as quickly as you.” Qiao Yu’an put a high hat on Lu Chengjing, “You’re Master Ouyang’s favorite student.”
To prevent Lu Chengjing from finding an excuse to refuse, he quickly changed the subject, “Right, several masters asked me about your recent situation.”
Lu Chengjing could only set aside the auditing for now and ask, “What did you say?”
Qiao Yu’an said, “I said half of it.”
Lu Chengjing immediately felt a bad premonition and pressed, “Which half?”
Qiao Yu’an touched his nose, “I told the masters you’re doing well, eating and sleeping soundly—everything outside is rumor. Soon the Lu Family will recognize you back into the clan, and then you’ll return to the county school to study.”
Shang Wan: Half indeed. So-called half true half false—this guy said all the false half.
Lu Chengjing seemed accustomed to being pitted by Qiao Yu’an and wasn’t really angry upon hearing this, only saying helplessly, “Why didn’t you tell the truth?”
“What I said isn’t entirely false.” Qiao Yu’an couldn’t help turning his fan to cover his guilt, “The former county magistrate wasn’t poisoned by you. Uncle Lu knows he wronged you and will surely find a good day to recognize you back.”
Lu Chengjing’s expression cooled slightly, “I won’t return to the Lu Family.”
“Think it over more.” Qiao Yu’an persuaded, “If you don’t return to the Lu Family, the county school side…”
“Will drive me out.” Lu Chengjing finished his unfinished words, lowering his head to glance at his immobile right hand and giving a self-mocking smile, “In my current state, even if they don’t drive me out, how could I go back?”
Qiao Yu’an feared most seeing his friend wallow in self-abandonment and couldn’t help casting a pleading glance at Shang Wan.
Shang Wan was eating the pastries Qiao Yu’an brought, looking utterly carefree.
Qiao Yu’an instantly flared with anger—what time was it, and this woman still had the leisure to eat pastries?!
Sensing Qiao Yu’an’s about-to-erupt gaze, Shang Wan swallowed her pastry and handed a piece to Lu Chengjing, “Here, have one; you should like this flavor.”
Lu Chengjing took it, bit into it at his lips, chewed carefully, and gave Shang Wan a slight nod.
Shang Wan smiled lightly, “See, I knew you’d like it.”
Qiao Yu’an: “……”
Was now the time to discuss pastries?
“Chengjing, think about Yan Xu’an—if he knew the county school drove you out, wouldn’t he throw a three-day banquet to celebrate?”
Lu Chengjing calmly said, “Three days isn’t enough; it’d have to be at least seven.”
Just for tying in minor examination ranking with him, he threw a three-day banquet. Without this thorn in his eye and flesh, if Yan Xu’an didn’t throw a seven-day banquet, he wouldn’t be Yan Xu’an.
“I’m nearly dying of anxiety for you—how do you have the mood for jokes?” Qiao Yu’an couldn’t understand this husband and wife; he felt his own anger burning to his eyebrows.
“Drink some medicinal tea to cool your temper.” Shang Wan gestured for Qiao Yu’an to calm down, “Or do you want Husband wheeling back to the county school, surrounded by a bunch of lemon fellows mocking him?”
“With me here, naturally I won’t let Chengjing be bullied.” Qiao Yu’an subconsciously retorted, then frowned and asked, “What is a lemon fellow?”
Shang Wan simply explained, “It’s a group of people who can’t stand others being better than them—like being jealous and sour, all sour inside.”
“Lemon fellow, lemon fellow—this term is interesting.” Qiao Yu’an repeated it twice and laughed, “You’re right; they are a bunch of lemon fellows.”
Shang Wan shrugged, “So, Husband’s most important task now is to recover from injury properly; other matters can wait until he’s healed.”
“Young Madam, do you mean Young Master Lu’s injury can be healed?” A Le caught the implication and couldn’t help interjecting.
Qiao Yu’an also looked at Shang Wan expectantly.
The master and servant’s eyes were exactly the same.
“Even if not fully, he can recover to eighty or ninety percent.” Shang Wan didn’t say it completely, making it seem more credible.
Qiao Yu’an said delightedly, “Recovering to eighty or ninety percent would be great!”
But A Le thought of something else and hurriedly asked, “I wonder which doctor is treating Young Master Lu?”
