The woman called "auntie" had a face turning purple with anger.
Wasn't she thirty-one years old, a veritable "grass" of womanhood?
And the kind that was verdant and full of life!
"Who are you calling auntie?!"
Nian Jiaojiao looked at her with feigned surprise, blinking innocently like Xingyun, "I haven't even reached 17 yet. You, old lady, should be at least ten or twenty years older than me..."
As she said this, Nian Jiaojiao seriously counted on her fingers, as if the numbers were too many to count.
The passersby who had stopped to watch the scene burst into laughter. Even the other three women supporting Mei Lan couldn't help but lift the corners of their lips.
"You, you, you..."
The woman trembled with rage, her tongue even fumbling her words.
Nian Jiaojiao mimicked her, smiling sweetly, "Me, me, me, me, what about me?"
The woman released her hold on Mei Lan, puffed out her chest, raised her head, crossed her arms, and sneered at Nian Jiaojiao, "Do you know who my daughter is?"
Nian Jiaojiao raised an eyebrow slightly, "Oh? I don't."
The woman said proudly, "My daughter, at only 19 years old, is already the Tong Shou of our Qingzhou Prefectural City! She is currently in the Heavenly Character Class Three at Baichuan Academy, highly regarded by the academy!"
Heavenly Character Class Three was a place only Tong Shou could enter.
Heavenly Character Class Two corresponded to scholars who passed the first level of the imperial examinations.
And Heavenly Character Class One corresponded to those who passed the imperial examinations at the highest level.
There was a saying in Qingzhou: "Those in the Heavenly Character Class become high officials!"
And this saying had deeply ingrained itself in the hearts of the people of Qingzhou.
Therefore, when the woman spoke these words, the surrounding onlookers all showed expressions of envy and apprehension.
However, at this moment, Nian Jiaojiao happily exclaimed, "I told you I should call you auntie, and you wouldn't admit it! Look, your daughter is older than me!"
Upon hearing this, everyone collapsed.
Little girl, that's not what she meant, alright?
But, precisely because of Nian Jiaojiao's remark, the aura of authority the woman had just conjured completely dissipated.
The woman was furious, but there was nothing she could do about Nian Jiaojiao.
Her daughter was indeed accomplished, but still far from becoming a true high official.
Normally, the neighbors respected her a bit due to her daughter's future prospects, and this woman truly saw herself as the mother of an official.
At this moment, Mei Lan began to speak.
Mei Lan softly clutched her chest, her smile like a blooming white lotus. "It's alright, this young master just accidentally bumped into me while looking down."
Nian Jiaojiao frowned upon hearing this.
No, just because Yuchuan didn't fall doesn't mean it was entirely Yuchuan's fault. You weren't looking where you were going either!
However, Mei Lan's words drew sympathy from the four women. They all sighed, "Mei Lan, you are just too kind." "Yes, yes." "Mei Lan, you are the white lotus in my heart."
Nian Jiaojiao: ...
Yet, no matter what they said, Mei Lan's gaze never left Nian Jiaojiao's face. His eyes seemed to have hooks, drawing her in.
If half the women in Da Yue saw this scene, they would probably pounce like wolves.
But his gaze only made Nian Jiaojiao's body tremble.
Sensing the arrival of an unwanted admirer, Nian Jiaojiao immediately said, in a very direct manner, "Uh, that, Young Master Mei Lan, right?"
"Mmm, this humble one is~"
"Your face powder is about to fall off."
Mei Lan's smile froze on his face.
However, to avoid embarrassment and maintain his image, Mei Lan still said shyly, "Oh dear, you're so mean~ You're always joking~"
Just as Nian Jiaojiao was about to open her mouth to say she wasn't joking, Mei Lan, noticing her intent, quickly cut in, "Since everyone is fine, Mei Lan shall take his leave now~"
After speaking, he didn't forget to bow and thank the four women who had helped him, "Thank you, ladies, for your assistance. Mei Lan is deeply grateful..."
The women straightened their backs, accepting the handsome man's gratitude.
As Mei Lan passed by Nian Jiaojiao on his way out, he spoke again, "Today Mei Lan was impolite. When this lady visits my Nuan Cao Ge another day, Mei Lan will eagerly await!"
Nian Jiaojiao kept her eyes straight ahead.
What Nuan Cao Ge?
How would I, Nian Jiaojiao, know?
Am I the kind of person who goes to such places?
Seeing this, Mei Lan could only leave in disappointment, while Nian Jiaojiao received envious and jealous glances from everyone.
"Alright, Chuan'er, let's go."
It was getting late, and she needed to get down to business.
This bookshop was more than ten times the size of the San Chi Bookshop, with countless books of all kinds. Although the quantity of books was large, the management was clearly meticulous, with the books on the shelves neatly arranged.
Nian Jiaojiao approached and saw a bookshelf labeled "Demons and Monsters," clearly indicating that the books on this shelf were about supernatural creatures.
If she could reach an agreement with the publisher, her book would also be placed here in the future.
However, imagination was beautiful, and reality was harsh. When she found the publisher, he was very interested after reading the synopsis, but they couldn't agree on the price.
The price offered by the publisher to Nian Jiaojiao was only the price for a newcomer.
And when the publisher inquired about Nian Jiaojiao's previously published works, he shook his head.
Qingzhou was far from Fengcheng, and the publisher had clearly never heard of the book "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai," let alone Nian Jiaojiao's pen name "Qinglian Jushi."
Since "Liaozhai Zhi Qi Nanzi" was a series, Nian Jiaojiao was unwilling to sell it for so little, so she could only take Yuchuan and head home.
"Wife, I believe the excitement of your book is no less than the previous one."
Yuchuan spoke to comfort Nian Jiaojiao, fearing she would be disappointed.
Nian Jiaojiao naturally understood Yuchuan's intentions, and she knew the future value of this book, so she wasn't discouraged.
"Never mind, there's no rush for this matter. We have enough money at home to get by for a while. I'll be going to the academy to study tomorrow, but I'll also take some time during lunch to inquire around."
Nian Jiaojiao's words made Yuchuan hesitate.
His wife was studying and also working hard to manage household expenses, yet he couldn't help her much...
Immediately, Yuchuan's mind was made up.
He must resolve the matter of the book while his wife was studying.
...
The next day.
Baichuan Academy.
As soon as Nian Jiaojiao arrived at the academy entrance, the eunuch who had received her before welcomed her in.
At this time, she was wearing a scholarly robe that was white with yellow trim, and the hem was embroidered with interwoven yellow chrysanthemums and leafy patterns.
Being led into the academy by the eunuch, Nian Jiaojiao felt a strange reluctance.
Huh?
Why would she, a top student, have such emotions?
Hmm.
She really missed the warm beds of her husbands!
Indeed, male beauty had corrupted my arduous struggle, pure and white heart!
Just as Nian Jiaojiao was feeling absent-minded, the eunuch enthusiastically introduced her, "Tong Shou Nian, you will be attending classes in Heavenly Character Class Three from now on. Speaking of Heavenly Character Class Three, it is the best class for our Tong Sheng students at Baichuan Academy. Of course, you will definitely be able to enter Heavenly Character Class Two in the future, and finally Heavenly Character Class One."
Nian Jiaojiao didn't listen carefully to the latter part of his words.
This Heavenly Character Class Three sounded familiar...