Zhong Yan took the answer board. “If we hadn’t met you, this child’s talent would have been buried.”

Yang Xi tidied the board. “It’s not just this child whose talent is being buried. Knowledge is in the hands of the powerful and wealthy. Ordinary people with talent don’t even have the opportunity to learn. The country is wasting too many talents.”

Zhong Yan took the answer sheets of his grandsons (excluding his eldest grandson) and thought that without him as their grandfather, his grandsons’ talents wouldn’t be considered high.

Zhong Yan watched Yang Xi correct the answers. “Brother Zhou, you’ve taught them well.”

Yang Xi smiled. Her knowledge was mostly modern. She changed the subject. “Actually, I’m quite happy. The children in the village have changed a lot since they went to school.”

Zhong Yan watched the children change little by little. “Knowledge is a person’s courage.”

Yang Xi quickly finished correcting the answers and asked Li Zheng, who was guarding the board, to take them to the front yard. Zhong Yan stood up. “Shall we go and see them together?”

Yang Xi shook her head. “I’ll rest for a while.”

Zhong Yan followed Li Zheng to the front yard. The children were all waiting for the results. Zhong Yan immediately noticed his dejected grandsons.

Based on their grades, six out of the dozen or so students from Shanghe Village were placed in the advanced classes, two of whom were Liu Lizheng’s grandsons, somewhat unexpectedly for Third Yang.

Only three from the Zhong family made it into the advanced classes; the children who had been eager to get up early in the morning now wished they could disappear into the ground.

Zhong Xu looked at Ye Qiheng, pursing his lips; he was just two points short of first place.

Ye Qiheng was also lamenting; he was just two points away from first.

The exam was a big deal for Shanghe Village, and the children spread the word after school, making Ye Shun’s two sons even more prominent, especially Ye Qiheng.

The next day, to Yang Xi’s surprise, Sun Shi arrived with Second Zhao’s daughter. Yang Xi asked Wu Qianyi to take the girls to another room to study.

Sun Shi noticed the girls studying; she had already heard about it from her grandson, but the Zhou family had become estranged from them, and naturally, she hadn’t considered sending her granddaughter to school.

Yang Xi, seeing the shy Second Miss Zhao, reacted quickly. “You’ve come for Second Miss Zhao?”

The form of address reflects one’s attitude. Hearing this, Sun Shi rehearsed the words she was about to say, her tone becoming even more strained. “Yes, my second granddaughter is of engagement age, and I was thinking of asking you to help convey a message to the Ye family.”

Yang Xi’s smile faded further. Knowing Ye Qiheng’s potential, she was afraid of losing a good granddaughter’s husband and shamelessly asked her to pass on a message.

Everyone in the village knew that the Ye family helped the Zhou family; her helping the Zhao family convey a message meant to the people of Shanghe Village meant that the Zhou family agreed to the marriage.

Yang Xi’s gaze remained unchanged, indifferent, yet it put considerable pressure on Sun Shi. She didn’t want to come; her second granddaughter often spoke highly of her, and she had gradually accepted it. She also wanted to repair her relationship with the Zhou family; the Ye family was indeed a good match.

Yang Xi didn’t even glance at Second Miss Zhao. She greatly admired Wu Qianyi, and even Wu Qianyi hadn’t conveyed a message to the Ye family. Why should the Zhao family have the audacity to come knocking?

Seeing Sun Shi’s forehead beaded with sweat, Yang Xi leaned back against the cushion and said calmly, “It was fate that brought us all the way south, but this fate can’t withstand the test of time. How much affection do you think is left?”

The Zhao family was well aware of the unequal relationship. Living together in Shanghe Village, the Zhao family hadn’t caused trouble for the Zhou family, and Yang Xi had never taken their family squabbles to heart. Their perspectives differed, and they had never cared. Even when the Huang and Hu families schemed against each other, she and Zhou Yu didn’t pay much attention.

But this time, during her visit, Yang Xi discovered that while the Zhao family dared not scheme against the Zhou family, they were setting their sights on the Ye family.

Yang Xi knew how much Zhou Yu valued Ye Qiheng, and her eyes grew even colder. “Can’t you say?”

Sun Shi’s heart pounded. Even though Yang Xi spoke softly, she was terrified, clenching her fists tightly. “No, nothing.”

Yang Xi then looked at the pale-faced Second Miss Zhao. She had no intention of making things difficult for the young girl. “I’m tired.”

Sun Shi hurriedly stood up. “We’ll leave now.”

Second Miss Zhao lowered her head, and Sun Shi desperately pulled her granddaughter away. She regretted her visit to the Zhou family terribly. Her words, “nothing,” had completely severed ties with the Zhou family. She didn’t know how to explain it to her husband. How could she have believed her second daughter-in-law and second granddaughter?

Wu Qianyi returned, surprised to see that her teacher wasn’t angry at all.

Yang Xi chuckled, “Remember, don’t get angry over unworthy people in the future.”

Wu Qianyi said, “I’ve taken note.”

Yang Xi told the girls to come back and continue the lesson, as if Sun Shi hadn’t been there at all.

Zhou Yu, who was in the front yard, only found out after class. Third Yang was unhappy. “My sister is pregnant. What if she gets upset? I’ll go talk to Old Man Zhao.”

Zhou Yu knew his wife well; she wouldn’t get angry. However, they did need to talk. “Go ahead and tell them about the Huang family head.”

Third Yang got up and left.

Sun Shi didn’t expect Third Yang to come. She was quite afraid of this young man. Despite his constant smile, she knew he was not someone to be trifled with.

Li Zheng brought Old Man Zhao back from the fields. Old Man Zhao was still confused. After hearing the purpose of the visit, he was so angry that his vision blurred. All his warnings had been in vain.

Upon hearing about the relationship between the Hu and Huang families, Old Man Zhao fell silent. He had already found out, but he hadn’t expected the Huang family head to go to the Zhou family and be asked to leave.

Old Man Zhao regretted arranging the marriage, but it was too late.

Third Yang left satisfied and went to the Wu family’s land. Wu Shan was there with his two sons, tilling the soil. Wu Shan asked, “Why are you here?”

Third Yang told him what the Zhao family had done.

Wu Shan was speechless.

He also liked Ye Qiheng; who wouldn’t want a good son-in-law? But the Ye family hadn’t made a move, so he didn’t even dare to dream of it. The Zhao family really dared to dream!

Third Yang asked, “Big brother, aren’t you planning to buy more land?”

Wu Shan replied, “I am planning to. I’ve already asked the village head to help me find some.”

“Looking for me?”

There wasn’t a place nearby that he didn’t know!

Wu Shan laughed heartily, “I know you’re busy, but we’re not in a hurry anyway.”

Third Yang told him that Third Wu and Fourth Wu were doing well in the county before leaving to return to the village.

Eldest Wu scratched his head. “Dad, what is Third Yang planning to do?”

Wu Shan didn’t know either. He only knew that his two younger sons had gone to the county a few days ago and were receiving a monthly allowance of 500 coins each, more than some of the county’s accountants earned.

Second Wu envied his two younger brothers, “Even I want to follow Third Yang.”

Wu Shan tapped his son on the head. “You’re too stupid.”

That evening, Ye Shun returned to report on the accounts. Zhou Yu mentioned Ye Qiheng. Ye Shun was angry about what the Zhao family had done. Ye Shun had high hopes for his son, and he hadn’t even decided whether to propose marriage to the Wu family yet, but the Zhao family had already started plotting.

This disgusted Ye Shun!

Yang Xi, because of Wu Fangqing, was quite well-informed. She knew that Zhang Shi had spoken with the villagers, saying that Ye Qiheng had been advised against early marriage.

That day, the price of salt in Yizhou fluctuated severely, affecting several nearby prefectures. The price of salt in Ruizhou also rose, and there was a strong possibility that even with money, one couldn’t buy salt.

(End of Chapter)

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