Chapter 43: Chapter 43:1 Can Help You_l
Translator: 549690339
Wei Jinyi is not even a student, let alone having taken the exams necessary to become a scholar, let alone a degree holder.
He has not taken any exams.
Though he is an unloved illegitimate son, if he wanted to take the exams, surely Wei Mingting and Mrs. Yun would agree. After all, it would be an honor for the family if he were to succeed.
“In the past, I had no interest in it.” Wei Jinyi replies.
“In the past?”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“There has been a slight change.”
“Are you thinking of taking the exams then?” Wei Ruo asked.
Wei Jinyi is just sixteen now. It might be a bit later than his half-brother Yichen, but in an era where scholars took exams for life, it wasn’t considered too late.
Wei Jinyi didn’t respond to that. Instead, he asks about Wei Ruo’s situation, “I heard mother is arranging for you to take classes at the magistrate’s office.”
“Yes, I hope she does it slowly.” Wei Ruo replies.
“You don’t want to go?” Wei Jinyi asked.
“Mm, I don’t want to go.” Wei Ruo frowned and sighed helplessly.
“Is it that you don’t want to go to school or don’t want to go to the magistrate’s office?” Wei Jinyi asked again.
“While I don’t particularly want to go to school, I despise the idea of studying with Wei Qingwan even more.” Wei Ruo responded.
Possibly due to owing their lives to each other, Wei Ruo was not as guarded with Wei Jinyi. She shared things that she couldn’t say to others in the Wei Family with him.
Wei Jinyi knew about the situation last time as well.
Wei Ruo says, “In fact, I wanted to find a female tutor, but it was vetoed. I don’t know how long I can delay with the excuse of the wasteland in the south of the city.”
Wei Ruo could absolutely afford to hire a tutor. She could even find a decent one, but it would be troublesome to get the military prefecture’s approval without exposing herself. As of now, Wei Ruo couldn’t figure out a suitable solution.
Wei Jinyi stared at the frowning Wei Ruo and said, “I can help you find a reputable female tutor.”
“You can find a reputable female tutor?” Wei Ruo looked at Wei Jinyi skeptically.
Renowned female tutors aren’t easy to hire. It’s not just about money.
“My biological mother hailed from a scholarly family and has some connections in this field. I maintain contact with my mother’s side; I believe it’s not too difficult to help you find a female tutor.” Wei Jinyi explained.
Wei Ruo didn’t know much about Wei Jinyi’s biological mother’s situation. But looking at his serious expression, she realized he earnestly wanted to help her and felt confident about doing so.
So, Wei Ruo didn’t hesitate.
“If you can find a good female teacher, maybe I can make it work and convince them to let me avoid studying with Wei Qingwan.” Suddenly, Wei Ruo had a plan.
Wei Jinyi watched her curled perfect smile and the lively eyes sparkling with cunningness, somewhat expecting her arrangement in this matter.
Wei Ruo, after chatting with Wei Jinyi for a while, Xiumei and Xiaobei carried the prepared dishes back.
Three dishes and one soup, steaming hot with tantalizing aroma.
Wei Ruo asked Xiumei to sit down and eat with them, and Wei Jinyi called for Xiaobei as well.
They were not stiff people. As there was no one else around that day, they didn’t need to keep the clear distinction between master and servant.
The stone table in the Octagonal Pavilion was occupied by four people. Of the four served dishes, three were not spicy.
Wei Ruo had warned Wei Jinyi beforehand that the stir-fried chicken giblets would be as spicy as the earlier seafood hotpot. She advised him not to touch it and to drink more chicken soup.
Initially, Wei Jinyi didn’t touch the chicken giblets, but after tasting the other three dishes, he decided to try them.
With the experience of the last choking episode, he took very small bites this time, chewing slowly.
It seemed he wanted to figure out why such a spicy taste could attract Wei Ruo so much.
When Wei Ruo saw that he tried again, she watched him curiously.
Seeing that he didn’t choke like last time, she asked, “How is it?”
“I don’t think it’s delicious, but it’s not hard to swallow.” Wei Jinyi evaluated.
“If you have the chance to eat it a few more times, maybe you’ll fall in love with this taste.”
“Mm.”
As it was inconvenient for her to move around, Wei Ruo stayed in the pavilion of the bamboo grove the entire afternoon. Xiumei brought her some account books.
She and Wei Jinyi each engrossed in their books. They read their own books without disturbing each other, keeping the silence.
At some point, Wei Jinyi glanced at the words Wei Ruo had written. Her handwriting was very immature, like that of a newly learned child. Probably in the whole household, the only one with similar handwriting was the seven years old Wei Yilin.
After having dinner together in the evening, Wei Ruo was again helped by
Xiumei to limpingly return to Tingsong Garden.
After Wei Ruo left, Wei Jinyi wrote a letter and gave it to Xiaobei to deliver it outside the residence.
When Xiaobei came back, he brought back a reply saying that they would certainly handle the matter entrusted by the young master.
###
After the Grain in Ear period, the temperature began to rise again. However, compared to previous years, it was still a bit cooler.
Many old farmers were already worrying about this year’s harvest. If this continued, this year’s harvest would not be good, and it might even be worse than the past two years.
After a few days of rest, Wei Ruo’s body fully recovered. So, she once again went to the wasteland in the south of the city.
The test field she had chosen had been cleared of weeds and had already received the first batch of sealed, fermented straw and humus fermentation residues.
This material was acidic and could neutralize the alkalinity of saline-alkali land, making the soil suitable for growing common crops.
Wei Ruo arranged for the long-term workers to bury the second batch of humus today.
Both of the long-term workers and Mrs. Zhang didn’t quite understand Wei Ruo’s arrangement, but they completed their tasks very well.
Today, Wei Ruo wanted to go down to the field and work for a while, but Mrs. Zhang persuaded her to stay in the carriage. If she needed anything done, she could just instruct them.
So, Wei Ruo leaned against the carriage, directing the two workers and Mrs. Zhang.
By noon, Wei Ruo sat down to rest under the camphor tree next to the experimental field. Xiumei was on her left, Mrs. Zhang on her right, and the two workers were by the small river further away.
Xiumei took out the lunch that had been prepared before they left: braised pork over rice paired with boiled choy sum.
Wei Ruo had also prepared the same lunch for Mrs. Zhang and the two workers. Each portion was packed in its own food box.
After giving one box to Mrs. Zhang, Xiumei walks to the river bank to give the rest to Agui and Xiaoba.
Both Mrs. Zhang and the two workers were stunned when they received the food boxes.
The young lady had actually prepared a portion for all of them!
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and eat. It’s already lunchtime. How can you work without eating first?” Wei Ruo said to the three of them.
The three snapped back to their senses, quickly setting down their cornbread and opening the boxes Wei Ruo had given them.
Meat! Big chunks of meat!
Excitement twinkled in the eyes of Mrs. Zhang and the two workers..
