Chapter 329: Chapter 325: Making Plans _1
 

Thus, Yingbao began to narrate all that she had experienced, talking about the Peony that had appeared in the Stone Spring Mountain and in the cave, along with a bit of embellishment. It left everyone aghast and in utter awe.

“Can peonies bloom in winter?” Li He was a little confused.

Li Dao gave his younger brother a glance. “They said it’s a miracle. Do you understand what that is? Even if peonies blossomed in winter or auspicious dragons appeared in the sky, they would not be considered strange.”

Li He scratched his head, nodding in agreement.

“I wish I could encounter a miracle,” Erni fantasized with shining eyes. “Then I could ask for some Divine Medicine, something that could grant us eternal youth.”

She had it all planned out in her heart. She’d give one to father, one to mother, one to brother, keep one for herself, and also give one to Yanru’s mother. Together, they would all live forever.

Jiang Quan ruthlessly shattered her dream, “Stop dreaming. Do you think Divine Medicine grows like leeks on the ground? If they had to meet followers like you, the Goddess would have to spend all her time making medicine for you.”

Erni shot a glare over at her second cousin, “I want a few! What of it?”

Jiang Quan gave a snort and muttered, “Delusional dreamer.”

“What did you mutter?” Erni leaned in.

Jiang Quan slipped away.

Yingbao: ….

She suddenly remembered her Five Dingzhi, which should also count as a Divine Medicine. She should let her parents and brothers consume more of it, so they could live long and healthy lives.

In the afternoon, when Sister-in-Law heard that Jiang Quan had brought back a cart of fruit, she also came over to help the store while holding her child.

She also brought some news, “My father has found out that a special product store has been opened near West Street. The products they sell are exactly the same as ours, even the packaging is the same. The store is called Cao’s Specialties and it was opened by the County Magistrate Cao Can.”

“No wonder.” Jiang Cheng sneered.

Chou Rong added, “What’s strange is that Cao’s Specialties also sells Jin and Xue’er’s ears, but not in large quantities.”

“Let’s just do our own thing, who cares about him.” Jiang Quan said, “I don’t believe that they also have lychees and grapes longan.”

Chou Rong laughed, “They really don’t.”

Yingbao didn’t pay much attention to the Cao family’s shop. There will be other shops following suit after theirs, which is not surprising at all.

At this time, many people started to come in to buy fruit, and Jiang Cheng hired an ox cart to deliver goods around.

Although there was a carriage at home, the old horse had just dragged a cart of goods so far. After returning to the county town, it naturally needed to rest.

There are also many wealthy families in the county town. They ordered lychees and other fresh fruits in the store a few days ago. As soon as the goods arrived, they asked to have them delivered.

Observing that the ox cart was spacious, Yingbao also climbed into the cart. She needed to make a trip to the Medical Bureau to deliver some fruits to her master and brothers.

Oh yes, she also needed to take a look at Yuanbao’s school and bring some fruits for him and his master to taste.

The ox cart slowly moved under the scorching sun. When it arrived at a house, Jiang Cheng hurriedly picked up a large basket of fruit and went to knock on the door.

The front door opened, someone took the fruit in, and then sent out money.

At that moment, Yingbao was sitting in the ox cart, sweat soaking her head, thinking about the blocks of ice stored in her spiritual dwelling.

Those pieces of ice were piled in a corner and had not melted yet.

But the area within one foot of the ice was cold. So, she placed all the fruit she had picked from her spiritual dwelling near the ice for refrigeration. They would be refreshing if she took them out to eat now, but she dared not do that.

Seeing that his cousin seemed hot, Jiang Cheng used his own straw hat to fan air for her, complaining, “I told you not to follow, but you didn’t listen. What if you get heatstroke?”

Yingbao: “I can’t have heatstroke.” She would eat a piece of ice to lower the temperature if it gets worse, no way she could have a heatstroke.

The ox cart moved intermittently, and soon delivered all the fruit to the designated homes. Jiang Cheng then arrived at Yuanbao’s academy, and he and Yingbao got off the ox cart together.

The academy is called Yude Academy, which was established by a man with the surname Xie, who was a literati himself.

At this moment, the doors of the academy were tightly shut, and one could faintly hear readings inside.

Jiang Cheng hesitated for a while, but eventually, he went up and knocked on the door ring.

Soon, a woman in her thirties came to open the door. Seeing Jiang Cheng, she immediately welcomed them in.

The woman was the young daughter-in-law of the academy’s Master. She usually cooked for the students in the academy and also watched the gate.

She asked the two to wait in the guest hall, while she went to fetch someone from the classroom.

Jiang Cheng placed the basket of fruit that he had brought in on the ground and sat down with his cousin on the side.

“Big brother!” Yuanbao quickly came into the room. Seeing Yingbao, he was very happy, “Yingbao, you’re back from your travels.”

“Hmm.” Yingbao took out some books she bought in the Prefecture City from her bag and handed them to Yuanbao, “My master has added annotations. Hearing my oldest cousin say that you will be taking the examination next year, these books should be useful for you.”

Knowing that his younger cousin’s current master was a knowledgeable person, Yuanbao took the books as if he had received a treasure and began to flip through them immediately.

Indeed, on these books, the words and phrases had been annotated explaining their meanings more exhaustively than the master’s lectures.

“Thank you, Yingbao.” There could be nothing more important than this. Yuanbao was overjoyed.

Because a classic book with detailed explanations was genuinely a rarity.

No wonder they often say that it’s hard for poor students to excel.

It’s not that they’re not smart or hardworking, it’s just that they honestly can’t compete with the resource-rich students from great families.

Books on imperial examination can be easily bought as long as you have money.

But once you buy it, you have to understand the content right?

Many classics discuss both ancient and current affairs, and quote as per the scenario. If you don’t know the allusions, you can’t understand the meaning at all.

In that case, you either have to read a lot of books, or find a teacher to guide you.

But in reality, poor students rarely come across books with annotations by grand scholars, and can’t even find renowned tutors.

When they enter the examination venue, even if they have good handwriting and can recite all the books, they can only pass the county examination.

When it comes to the prefectural and metropolitan examinations, it’s not as simple as reciting books.

Examinees also have to write discourses, edicts, proclamations, statements, judgments, etc., as well as compose strategies based on the classics, historical records, and current affairs news. These test your understanding and strategy for current political affairs.

For these poor students who live in seclusion, these discourses are nothing short of deadly.

“Don’t mention it.” Yingbao grinned, “When you pass the examination and become a scholar next year, we can also benefit from it.”

Yuanbao rubbed his head sheepishly and murmured a response.

After leaving the academy, Yingbao said goodbye to her older cousin and rushed to the Medical Bureau.

At the Yin Yang Department of the Medical Bureau, Zhou Wuchang had just returned. He was washing his hands and face and talking to his oldest apprentice when he saw his young apprentice running in with a fruit basket in her hands.

Yingbao placed the fruit basket on the table and asked, “Master, are you going to Chuanhe Town tomorrow?”

Zhou Wuchang took a glance at the fruit basket and nodded, “Indeed, your master has to make a trip to Chuanhe Town.”

He wanted to check the situation in Dongchen Village, which had drawn so many people’s attention.

“That’s great, I’ll go pack.”

Actually, there was nothing much to pack. But it was essential to carry her medicine box.

Yingbao rushed out of the room and then came back, asking Zhou Wuchang: “Master, has Pei Shixian started aiming for Dongchen Village?”

Zhou Wuchang: “?”

“The people who came to our store to buy things today kept asking if we have had Pei Shixian perform some Immortal Law on our fruit.”