He's really good
Liu Yingqu was momentarily stunned. When he realized, he quickly clenched his fingers into a fist against Shen Qingwu's waist to help him steady himself.
"Are you okay?" Liu Yingqu asked with concern. His ears hidden beneath his black hair were a bit red.
Liu Yingqu reacted so quickly that Shen Qingwu hadn't yet fallen fully into his arms or taken out the soft measuring tape hidden in his sleeve. Shen Qingwu could feel Liu Yingqu's warm touch on his waist, but Liu Yingqu immediately clenched his fist again.
Shen Qingwu was stunned, feeling an indescribable emotion rise in his heart. Liu Yingqu hadn't taken advantage of him; he valued someone warm and genuine inside and out.
Liu Yingqu was still asking questions, but Shen Qingwu could barely hear him. His heart suddenly raced.
Shen Qingwu looked up and smiled. "Liu Lang, you're really good."
Is this the time to say that? Liu Yingqu continued, "How's your foot? Does it hurt?"
"I'm fine. My foot isn't injured. Maybe I stepped on a stone." Shen Qingwu sat on the rock, noticing Liu Yingqu was even less willing to look away now.
"Be careful. Luckily, nothing serious happened," Liu Yingqu said seriously.
"Stand up." Shen Qingwu openly took out the soft measuring tape from his sleeve.
Liu Yingqu obediently stood up, looking at Shen Qingwu with curiosity.
"I see your clothes are a bit old. I'll measure you to make a new outfit." Shen Qingwu gestured and moved closer to Liu Yingqu.
"My clothes are still wearable. I don't need new ones," Liu Yingqu said insincerely, though he secretly craved new clothes.
"Just stand still." Shen Qingwu took the tape measure and approached Liu Yingqu's waist. The soft breathing and Shen Qingwu's warm proximity made Liu Yingqu turn his head away, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Shen Qingwu's face also flushed slightly, suddenly feeling a bit breathless.
Liu Yingqu's waist had no excess fat and was smooth. When close, Shen Qingwu could hear the beating of Liu Yingqu's chest.
"Raise your hand," Shen Qingwu said.
Liu Yingqu raised his hand. Shen Qingwu measured the length of his arm. Soon, he finished measuring Liu Yingqu's figure and finally could breathe freely.
He now felt surrounded by Liu Yingqu's aura.
"I also have a box of snacks. Remember to eat them," Shen Qingwu took out a box of snacks from the bundle.
"And five taels of silver. Take it."
"That's not good," Liu Yingqu looked away.
After finishing a roast duck, taking a box of snacks, and five taels of silver, Liu Yingqu was stunned. Shen Qingwu coming to see him was already surprising; now measuring him for clothes and bringing food was even more so.
Shen Qingwu said, "I was afraid you wouldn't take the silver, so I gave you less. You must take it."
So considerate. Liu Yingqu felt restless.
This was completely different from the original story. Liu Yingqu looked down at the things in his hands, feeling a bit soft inside.
Then he forced himself to clear his mind.
Liu Yingqu hesitated, "You…"
"Riding in a carriage is so uncomfortable. The road was blocked today," Shen Qingwu said.
So delicate, Liu Yingqu thought.
"Liu Lang, study hard. I'll go back now." Shen Qingwu put on his veil and was about to get into the carriage.
"Wait a moment." Liu Yingqu suddenly called out to Shen Qingwu.
Shen Qingwu's expectant gaze fell on Liu Yingqu.
"Be careful on the road, don't make me worry about you," Liu Yingqu said with a smile.
Shen Qingwu climbed into the carriage, his mood immediately brightening: "Uncle Li, do you think he really likes me?"
The carriage driver, an elder from the Shen household, heard his young master's words and chuckled: "Young master, I don't know about your affairs."
"He really does like me," Shen Qingwu said, holding his face.
"Young master, I don't know if this young master Liu likes you, but that young master Liu is still standing right there," Uncle Li said.
Hearing this, Shen Qingwu immediately lifted the curtain and indeed saw Liu Yingqu still standing in place.
Liu Yingqu was stunned for a moment, then saw a hand stretch out from the carriage curtain waving at him.
Back in the study hall, Liu Yingqu was still thinking when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his heart—five taels of silver, gone again. Looking at the snacks under the desk, at least there were still some treats to eat.
"Liu Yingqu, get up and answer the question." A teacher pulled him up to answer.
Since being accepted as Teacher Liu's private disciple, teachers of various subjects liked to call on Liu Yingqu to answer questions, making life miserable for someone like him who preferred to slack off in class.
Liu Yingqu answered the question and then sat down.
"The exam is coming soon, remember to study hard," the teacher reminded them at the end of class.
"Who just called you to the mountain gate?" Jiao Ming asked curiously.
"Brother Liu, is someone here to see you?" Xia Yuan also looked over upon hearing this.
Liu Yingqu was troubled and said, "Family."
Jiao Ming recalled that Liu Yingqu had two younger brothers; otherwise, what else could count as family? Apart from relatives, that left wife and husband.
Xia Yuan said, "The exam is coming soon, I'm so nervous. This time I must get a good grade."
This exam should be the last one before the autumn imperial exam. It was very important; if one could get a good result, it would boost confidence for the autumn exam.
In fact, the teacher said the exam was still half a month away, but even that time was tight. Liu Yingqu also became nervous, thinking of the Southern Road Academy, his heart tightening.
His memory was good, but he was not good at writing policy essays, which to Liu Yingqu were as hateful as theses. He could only find a topic, but expanding it into writing was still very difficult.
"Brother Liu, did Teacher Liu say anything to you?" Xia Yuan asked.
"Teacher Liu told me to memorize books," Liu Yingqu went on to name several books. Xia Yuan and Jiao Ming were silent.
These books were as heavy as bricks; memorizing them was deadly!
No wonder Teacher Liu was so strict.
Liu Yingqu returned to the dorm, took a bath, took out the hairpin he made but hadn't given away yet, put it away carefully, and opened a book to read.
Must get a top three rank? Liu Yingqu sighed in his heart; now even passing the provincial exam was difficult.
Living off others is too hard.
Liu Yingqu read for a while, then wrote down the recipe for pickled spicy chicken feet: chicken feet, pickled chili, ginger, star anise, dried tangerine peel, bay leaves. After writing, he put the recipe into a worn pouch.
This was a guarantee for getting rich. Even if he became a provincial graduate, he wouldn't be very wealthy. Also, after passing the provincial exam, he couldn't stay at Qingshui Academy.
Qingshui Academy only accepted students who hadn't passed the provincial exam.
He thought about how these days he memorized books while Teacher Liu gave him policy essay questions, and every time the evaluation was 'nonsense.'
"Still want to pass the provincial exam? Better go home and farm," Teacher Liu sighed. "I've never seen… forget it, I don't even want to talk to you!"
Just recalling this made Liu Yingqu's heart ache.
Angry, angry, Liu Yingqu fell asleep.
Meanwhile, in another part of the academy, Teacher Liu's study was still lit. He held a stack of Liu Yingqu's homework. The first policy essay was indeed off-topic, but from the second and third, there was progress. Liu Yingqu's comprehension was very high.
Teacher Liu rubbed his beard in satisfaction: "Not bad, but still needs polishing."
People need to be tempered to succeed. Teacher Liu hummed a little tune in a good mood.
In his view, Liu Yingqu could completely catch up to Gu Huanchong, but Liu Yingqu's foundation was weaker, which was inevitable.
Teacher Liu didn't like Gu Huanchong much either. He always felt Gu Huanchong was too calculating, even if he didn't show it, maybe he didn't even realize it himself, but Teacher Liu could sense it. Too slick a person; if he became an official, he might reach a high position, but how he treated subordinates was unknown.
In contrast, Liu Yingqu, who returned after illness, had much clearer eyes and looked much better. Otherwise, Teacher Liu wouldn't have accepted him as a disciple.
"Old man, try this dish," Mrs. Liu brought a plate of food.
"What is this?" Teacher Liu looked at the golden dish, moved his chopsticks, suddenly his eyes lit up, and he quickly moved his chopsticks a few more times.
"A new dish from a local restaurant, called stir-fried mushrooms. I tried it once and brought some for you," Mrs. Liu smiled seeing Teacher Liu enjoying it.
"Mushrooms? Aren't they usually bitter and astringent?" Teacher Liu picked up a piece of mushroom; he knew a bit about them.
"The restaurant processed them; surprisingly, after removing the bitterness and astringency, they're delicious."
Teacher Liu nodded: "That's true."
He lowered his head and continued eating, very satisfied.
"These mushrooms are popular in the county town now," Mrs. Liu continued, "Many people go to the mountains to pick mushrooms to sell."
"Tomorrow, buy two more plates. When Wu Sheng and Yingqu come, let them try it too." Teacher Liu was still thinking of his two disciples.
"Alright, I'll go buy some tomorrow. I think Yingqu is very handsome; I've never seen such a distinctive person." Obviously, Liu Yingqu's good looks left a good impression on Mrs. Liu.
Mrs. Liu also knew Teacher Liu was always strict with Liu Yingqu.
"He's just good-looking. Good looks don't fill your stomach," Teacher Liu snorted coldly.
Shen Qingwu returned home, and Jiang Luoluo immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Young master, the master didn't ask for you."
"That's good. Luoluo, you did well." Shen Qingwu had a bundle when he left, but it was gone when he returned.
Jiang Luoluo sighed; her young master was really obsessed.
"Luoluo, I'm going to change clothes first."
Suddenly a silver coin fell from his body, rolling around. Jiang Luoluo picked it up: "Young master, it's five taels of silver."
Jiang Luoluo didn't pay much attention; her young master had plenty of silver. She was about to put it in Shen Qingwu's usual silver box when Shen Qingwu stopped her: "Let me see."
Shen Qingwu held the silver, a bit happy but also a bit unhappy, complaining: "Who doesn't want silver?"
"Put this five taels in another box," Shen Qingwu reluctantly handed the silver to Jiang Luoluo.
Jiang Luoluo took the silver and put it in the box, where there was also an IOU and a fifty-tael silver note.
"Luoluo, how much do you think my father would ask for as a bride price if someone married me?" Shen Qingwu was a bit worried.
The Liu family was very poor.
"That depends on the master," Jiang Luoluo thought, "At least fifty thousand taels of silver."
That night, having dinner with Shen's father, Shen Qingwu thought of Liu Yingqu's face, blushing and eating several more bowls of rice.
