Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 169 Purple Jade
As for whether the Rong family would fulfill their promise after recognizing their benefactor, Sheng Changquan wasn't too worried.

After all, most people in this world value their word, especially the Rong family, a prominent family that aspires to join the upper class!

If a family has a bad reputation, everyone around will despise it, and in serious cases, it may even affect the career prospects of its members.

Moreover, if the Rong family refuses to keep their promise, their dishonesty will naturally spread, and if the Rong family encounters such a crisis again in the future, they will probably not be able to find any help.

That is why Sheng Changquan asked Rong Feiyan for a token to prove the authenticity of the matter.

"Oh!"

Rong Feiyan suddenly realized!
"Then... let's use this piece of warm jade as proof!"

Rong Feiyan blushed and took out a crystal-clear purple jade from her neck. She took it off, held it in her palm, and whispered to the front, "I...I wish to offer this jade to show my gratitude for your great kindness today!"

Because this piece of purple jade was worn close to her body, Rong Feiyan was quite shy when she took it out.

After all, it's understandable that a daughter would feel embarrassed if her personal belongings were given to a man outside the family.

Of course, this only applies to women; men, on the other hand, don't blush.

At the very least, Sheng Changquan wouldn't.

By this time, the sun had gradually set, but its golden-red afterglow still lingered on this fertile land.

The golden light filtering through the leaves dappled onto Rong Feiyan's hands, adding to the jade's luxurious appearance.

"sough!"

Suddenly, a cool breeze blew by, and Rong Feiyan's small hand trembled involuntarily. From a mysterious angle, the afterglow of the setting sun inadvertently penetrated into the purple jade, refracting a bewitching purple light.

Brilliant and beautiful!
This jade is absolutely the finest of the finest!

Sheng Changquan silently gave this assessment in his heart, then stepped forward a few steps and, under the timid yet hopeful gazes of the two girls opposite him, accepted the warm jade without touching Rong Feiyan's hand.

"Come with me!"

Holding the token, Sheng Changquan spoke.

However, since he did not want to have too much contact with a powerful family like the Rong family, he only glanced at the two people opposite him indifferently and spoke in a detached tone.

However, because he was wearing a mask, Rong Feiyan and Mudan couldn't see the expression on Sheng Changquan's face. They assumed that this was the style of a master and didn't dare to ask any more questions!
They paid even less attention to the matter after hearing what Sheng Changquan said.

"Yes!"

The two men looked delighted: "Then we'll have to trouble you, our benefactor!"

Rong Feiyan and Mudan readily agreed, and then immediately followed Sheng Changquan, ready to leave with him.

"Ah~"

After everyone had walked away, Xu Changqing, who was standing behind them, suddenly shook his head, looking very sad.

"I'm a benefactor too, why doesn't anyone ask me about it?"

……

Shengfu.

Shou'an Hall.

"Ming'er, where is Quan-ge'er?"

"Why haven't they come back yet?" After arriving in the capital, Aunt Wei's first task was to observe her niece's living environment and see if there was anything amiss. After meeting with Madam Wang and others from the Sheng family, she took the opportunity to rest at Minglan's residence.

Because Old Madam Sheng had a habit of worshipping Buddha, and coincidentally, she had gone to the White Horse Temple in the south to observe vegetarianism, observe precepts, meditate and cultivate for a period of time, and also to pray for the upcoming spring examinations of her two grandsons, only Minglan and others were in Shou'an Hall at this time.

"Could it be that something has happened to Quan-ge'er?"

Aunt Wei was restless in front of Minglan, looking rather nervous and frightened.

Because of Wei Shuyi, she always felt that the Sheng family was a place where filth and evil were hidden. Not only Minglan, but even Sheng Changquan needed to be careful and vigilant to avoid being harmed by others.

"Whee!"

Minglan didn't think there was anything wrong with Sheng Changquan not returning yet; she just thought Aunt Wei looked rather cute.

"Auntie, what are you saying?"

Minglan stood up, walked to Aunt Wei's side, took her hand, and said with a smile, "Auntie, don't worry!"

Minglan comforted Aunt Wei, saying, "Didn't I tell you? A few days ago, my brother passed the preliminary examination and has barely gained some literary fame, so he's had some social engagements these past few days!"

"Moreover, not to mention that my younger brother has topped the list in the preliminary examination this time, and is definitely going to become a scholar!"

Thinking back to the situation when Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changfeng passed the imperial examination a few years ago, especially after Sheng Changfeng passed, he was almost always out early and back late every day, Minglan became more and more certain.

"Oh?"

When this was mentioned, Aunt Wei's attention was somewhat diverted.

"Minglan, is what you said about the top scholar being a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) accurate?"

Although the Wei family was once a family of scholars and farmers, and the old master Wei was a proper scholar, the family had already declined by the time Aunt Wei was born. In fact, the reason why she could recognize a few characters was because Wei Shuyi taught her in place of her father, and she passed it on to her younger sister. So, strictly speaking, Aunt Wei had never attended a private school.

Therefore, it's understandable that she doesn't quite understand the intricacies of officialdom.

"Whee!"

Minglan smiled happily: "Auntie, it's true!"

"That means that as long as the results of the next provincial examination are announced, his name will be on the list regardless of whether my brother participated or not!"

Because she was in front of close friends and family, Minglan changed her usual cautiousness and became more cheerful.

She held Aunt Wei's slightly rough hand and said with tenderness, "Aunt, once my brother passes the provincial examination, you won't have to work so hard!"

Because after passing the provincial examination and obtaining the title of Juren, one can be exempted from taxes on land under the name of a Juren. Therefore, once that time comes, Aunt Wei's family's land can be donated to Sheng Changquan's name, saving the harvest from the land that occupied almost two-thirds of the land.

"Okay! Then Auntie will wait for that day!"

Since donating is a matter of course, Aunt Wei did not refuse, especially when she heard her niece say such a thing, she felt even more comforted.

Because of her sister's difficult childbirth, Aunt Wei didn't want anything from the Sheng family at all. In fact, she refused even when Minglan and Sheng Changquan occasionally tried to give her some money!

Because she didn't want the money that had been tainted by her sister's life!
Aunt Wei said that she could take Minglan and Sheng Changquan's things, but she would never take anything from the Sheng family!

Because she always felt that her older sister's death was inextricably linked to the Sheng family!

Which gentleman asked for a bellyband? In terms of talent, I would call you the best!

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(End of this chapter)