bayedsolid Chapter 39 Xiao Family
Chapter 39 Xiao Family
"It's fate that we met by chance, sir, you don't need to take it to heart." Yunyi smiled. "However, your health is not suitable for long journeys."
“I will carry my grandfather on my back.” The young man clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yunyi. “My name is Xiao Lingshan. I will definitely repay your life-saving grace if I have the chance in the future.”
"The Xiao family?" Yunyi's eyes flashed. "The Empress's Xiao family?"
“That’s right.” Xiao Taiping nodded. “My name is Xiao Taiping.”
The Xiao family can be considered the most scholarly family in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Putting aside their ancestors, all three brothers of Xiao Taifu were top scholars in the imperial examinations. In particular, the eldest brother, Xiao Tai'an, was a grand slam winner of the "small three-top" and "big three-top" examinations.
The three brothers were known as the Three Outstanding Men of One Family, and can be considered a model for scholars throughout the world.
Later, his elder brother Xiao Tai'an entered the imperial court as an official and eventually rose to the position of Grand Tutor.
The second son, Xiao Taiping, the old man whom Yunyi just treated, stayed in his hometown of Jiangnan and founded the Shengshi Academy, which became the largest academy in the Jiangnan region and had a wide influence.
The third brother, Xiao Taihe, was impatient with going to court and preferred traveling and doing business, so he was known as the number one Confucian merchant of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
More importantly, their descendants are also very outstanding.
However, this illustrious family was implicated in the Crown Prince's affair and exiled to Black City.
Yunyi nodded, then looked at the woman beside her: "If the old man is still feeling unwell, I'll teach you a few acupoints. You can massage them for him often, and he'll feel much better."
This woman was Xiao Taiping's daughter born late in life. She was known as the most talented woman in Jiangnan, but because she was betrayed by her fiancé, she remained unmarried and became the first female teacher of Shengshi Academy.
The original owner had heard of her deeds, but at the time, the original owner looked down on Xiao Jinxiu, thinking that a woman who didn't get married must be crazy.
But Yunyi felt that this kind of woman also had courage.
Xiao Jinxiu glanced at Yun Yi in surprise, then nodded: "Thank you."
"Here...here..." Yunyi took her hand, pressed a few acupoints, and then asked, "Did you remember them?"
Xiao Jinxiu's eyes widened instantly, but she quickly regained her composure and nodded vigorously: "Thank you, young lady. May I ask your name? And in the future..."
"We'll talk about it later." Yun Yi smiled and turned to the escorts. "Sirs, Mr. Xiao's health is not good. We are already in Longxi territory, and there is only one day's journey left. I hope you can make an exception. Otherwise, if something happens, you will not be able to explain it to us, will you?" As she spoke, she slipped a piece of silver to them.
"Hehe." The tall, thin escort chuckled. "Young lady, you wouldn't happen to be a member of the Xiao family, would you? Why are you so enthusiastic?" As he spoke, he weighed the loose silver in his hand, quite pleased with himself.
“I have long admired Mr. Xiao’s name.” Yunyi sighed. “He is a model and role model for scholars. Although I am a woman and cannot take the imperial examinations, it does not prevent me from admiring learned people.”
"Hehe, that makes a lot of sense. Alright, don't worry, we won't let him die." The escort waved his hand, knowing that if he really died, it would cause them a lot of trouble.
"Thank you, sirs." Yunyi smiled and curtsied. "In this world, cause and effect are intertwined, and Heaven is watching. Every bit of good deeds will eventually help to avert some misfortune." After saying that, she turned around, got on the donkey cart, and left.
The guards exchanged glances but didn't take it seriously; they were just going along with it for the sake of the money.
At this moment, Xiao Jinxiu, supporting Xiao Taiping, used her sleeve to let her father see what was in her hand: "Father, that girl..."
They gave me a silver note and a bag of sugar.
You know, sugar is usually very expensive, and it's even more expensive now that we're in exile.
Yunyi discovered that these people all had low blood sugar. Even if they didn't eat well, drinking some sugar water could alleviate their discomfort. So she took a bag of sugar from the few bags she bought in Qingshui Town and gave it away.
"Put it away." Xiao Taiping took a deep breath. "We've met a good person, A-Shan."
Xiao Lingshan hurriedly came over: "Grandfather."
"If we are able to leave in the future, we must find a way to repay your kindness," Xiao Taiping instructed his grandson, though he feared he would never have that chance.
"Okay." Xiao Lingshan nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Old Zhou drove his cart quickly away from those people, and only breathed a sigh of relief when they were out of sight: "Girl, you're really bold."
Yunyi smiled. If her abilities hadn't been 90% restricted, she could have been even bolder.
"Is that really the great Confucian scholar of today?" Old Zhou thought for a moment and then asked again.
"Old Zhou, you really know a lot."
"Hey, I've been driving the cart in town every day for ten years now. I meet different people every day, and I can learn a lot from just a few words from each one. What's more, I often meet people I can chat with, which broadens my horizons even more."
"Have you read the book?"
"I read it, but unfortunately, something happened in my family later, and I couldn't take the imperial examination." Old Zhou sighed.
"Then you now..."
"If one person is full, the whole family won't be hungry."
Yunyi's eyes lit up: "So you can live anywhere?"
“Girl, what you asked is…it makes a lot of sense. I have no family, no children, no ties, I live wherever I can find food.”
"If I were to hire you, how much would you cost per month?"
"what?"
"I need someone to help me with some things. I was worried you'd be reluctant to leave your hometown, but now it seems that's not a problem. Why don't you consider it?"
Old Zhou fell silent.
Yunyi didn't urge her, and began to close her eyes to rest. She had gotten up too early in the morning and hadn't slept well last night, so she was feeling a little sleepy.
"Miss... if you hire me, will you provide food?"
"Food, lodging, and clothes will be provided." Yunyi didn't even open her eyes.
"That monthly wage... If the gentry in Qingshui Town hire a long-term laborer, it's about half a tael of silver a month. I also have a donkey here..."
"Including your donkey, I'll give you two taels of silver a month."
"How many?"
"Two taels of silver. Of course, if you do a good job, you'll also get red envelopes during holidays."
"I...I'll think about it." Old Zhou hesitated instead. Such a high wage! Could this girl be a bad person?
Yunyi continued to feign sleep.
Finally, the car arrived at Carp Town, where Old Zhou woke me up.
Yunyi told him to stop at the entrance of Xue's Medical Clinic first, and after selling the herbs in his basket for half a tael of silver, he returned to Xia Family Village.
“If you’ve thought it through, you can sign the contract and stay today. If you haven’t, go back and think it over carefully. Come back to me when you’ve made up your mind.” Yunyi pointed to the newly built house. “That’s my yard. The roof beams will be raised in the next few days. It’s easy to find.”