Snail Village, Pei Household
"Mother, the Black Wind bandits have been taken care of. The village should be safe now. I have to bring Ye Su 'er back." Pei Zi Yun smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness.
"My son, you and Ye Su 'er are childhood friends, I know that. But the Ye family is not a farming family, and she is not a good match." Pei Qian Shi hesitated before saying, "The Li family said that Second Miss is only fourteen years old, and is well-educated. Do you think …"
Seeing Pei Zi Yun's stupefied expression, she sighed and said, "There is also the High Scholar Liu Ji Chuan, Master Liu, who has the same intentions. Do you think …"
"Are there many people who have the same intentions?" Pei Zi Yun frowned and asked.
"Yes, you are just an Elementary Scholar, and are not worth all this attention. But after your examination, they will announce your results to the public. You were recommended by Master Fang, and everyone who saw your results said that you are qualified to become a High Scholar."
"And you are only fifteen years old, and have a bright future ahead of you. Many people are interested in you." Pei Qian Shi said, "You are my son, of course I want to find someone good, someone who can take care of you."
"Mother, a wife who is made of straw is not suitable. When I was a scholar, you felt that Ye Su 'er was suitable. When I was an Elementary Scholar, you felt that Second Miss Li and High Scholar Liu's daughter were suitable. When I was a High Scholar, who do you think was suitable?" Pei Zi Yun asked, and knew that since he had become an Elementary Scholar, there were already a few people who had come to ask him about it.
"Mother, I know you are doing this for my own good. But when it comes to marriage, it is better to look at feelings and relationships."
Seeing that Pei Qian Shi had nothing to say, Pei Zi Yun stood up and said, "Mother, I shall go and fetch her now."
Pei Zi Yun walked out of Snail Village, and the villagers all had a different look in their eyes. Not a single person had died, and the Black Wind bandits had been annihilated. At this point, the gatekeeper looked at the map and said, "This Master Pei is really a literary star that descended from the heavens. Not only did he become an Elementary Scholar, he even came up with a plan for the Chief Patrol Officer to exterminate the Black Wind bandits.
Zhang Dashan raised his tired eyes and looked at Pei Zi Yun from afar. He sighed and said, "It is fortunate that such a person was born in our village."
As he spoke, he suddenly thought of Ye Su 'er and felt that he had not done enough. He then said, "If the village had protected Ye Su' er, she wouldn't be missing now. Although the village seems to be on good terms with Elementary Scholar Pei on the surface, I can see that there's something fishy going on."
"Haha, Zhang Dashan, you're really thinking too far ahead. When our shift changes later, we'll go home and rest. You've been working all night, and you're still thinking about these things. Aren't you tired? I'm not talking anymore.
It was early summer in April. It had rained last night, and the afternoon sun was shining. The trees and flowers on the side of the road were in full bloom. The road from the village to the monastery was like a painting.
At this point, Pei Zi Yun could see a peach blossom forest from afar. There was a river flowing through the forest, and from time to time, fish could be seen leaping out of the river.
Pei Zi Yun reached the steps outside the monastery. It was quiet. This monastery did not seem to accept any incense offerings, and seemed to be a place for meditation. Thinking this way, Pei Zi Yun reached the door and hesitated. He paced a few steps before deciding to knock on the door. The person who opened the door was not the sharp-tongued Xiu Er, but the middle-aged Taoist nun.
Pei Zi Yun smiled and welcomed her, "So it's the Monastery Leader. It's been half a month, and I feel that the disaster has passed. I'm here to fetch Ye Su 'er."
When the Taoist nun saw that it was Pei Zi Yun, she did not open the door. Instead, she said coldly, "You're here to fetch Ye Su 'er right? She's not here anymore."
"What?" Pei Zi Yun's expression changed, and his eyes turned cold, "Monastery Leader, what do you mean? Did something happen to Ye Su 'er?"
The Taoist nun's expression did not look good, and said coldly, "Ye Su 'er's relatives found her, and took her away!"
"Relatives? Someone took her away? " Hearing this, Pei Zi Yun hesitated, and his tone was full of suspicion, "That's not possible. If Su 'er wanted to leave, she would not tell me. Could it be that you're threatening her, or that something has happened to her and you're hiding it from me?"
At this point, the Taoist nun looked angry, "Do you think I'm lying to you? Luckily you wrote 'Peach Blossom Origins', and my senior sister came over to take a look. When she saw Ye Su 'er, she realized that you're related by blood. Hence, she took Ye Su' er away. Since you've become an Elementary Scholar, you should be rich and powerful.
Don't look for her anymore. "At this point, he heard footsteps and looked up. It was the little Daoist nun, Xiu Er. She was holding a letter in her hands, and the handwriting on it was very familiar. Xiu Er handed the letter over to Pei Zi Yun and said," This is a letter sister Su 'er left for you. Please do not make things difficult for my master. My master is not good with words, but what she said is true. Sister Su' er followed her willingly, and is not to blame my master. "
She received the letter and read it, "Brother Pei, my aunt found me and told me some things. I have to leave for three years. After three years, I will come back to look for you, Su 'er!"
The Taoist nun's attitude was cold, as if she knew that Pei Zi Yun had been rejected outside Free Cloud Sect. Pei Zi Yun suddenly understood, and turned around to leave. Finding Ye Su 'er was not difficult, but in order to truly integrate with her, he had to become a cultivator. The most important thing now was to complete the mission, and to repay the kindness of the original owner's mother and family.
Just as he was about a kilometer away, he suddenly turned a corner. Several ox-carts appeared, and a lady alighted. She was accompanied by two serving maids, each holding a fan and a Ruyi scepter.
"You are Pei Zi Yun?" The lady asked. It was almost dusk, and the sun was slowly setting. Looking at him, he was reminded of the 'Book of Songs, National Style, Great Man'.
"She is tall, and her clothes are embroidered. Son of Marquis Qi, wife of Marquis Wei. Sister of the Eastern Palace, Aunt of Marquis Xing, Private of Tan Gong Wei. Hands as soft as a feather, skin as smooth as jade, collar like a deer, teeth like a rhinoceros, eyebrows like a moth's, sweet smile, beautiful eyes … "
Pei Zi Yun thought to himself as he clasped his hands, "Yes, I am."
The lady said plainly, "You're here to look for Su 'er?"
"Yes, I am. May I ask where Ye Su 'er is?" Pei Zi Yun raised his eyebrows as he asked. He had a premonition in his heart.
"I am Su 'er's aunt. Thank you for taking care of her all these years. It's just that she cannot be with you." The lady bowed as she spoke.
"Miss is not an evil person. Why are you doing this?" Pei Zi Yun saw that the lady spoke in a refined manner, and asked.
"Your appearance shows that your ancestors are weak, and your scholarly aura is strong. You already have the Imperial Qi to protect you, and have the potential to become a High Scholar. It's just that Ye Su 'er is not an ordinary person. She has a noble disposition, and is not suitable for you. Please do not ruin her Dao career."
These words were spoken plainly, and Pei Zi Yun raised his eyebrows. He was not enraged, and thought to himself, 'This person is not handsome, but his demeanor is not bad.'
The lady then said, "I've heard that Free Cloud Sect has given you a Dao manual. As long as you cultivate to the tenth level, you will be able to enter the Dao Sect. Perhaps, you will be fated to meet her again."
Pei Zi Yun's heart sank as he gripped his fists tightly. There was an indescribable feeling in his heart. It was a mixture of regret, happiness, and confusion.
In the previous life, Ye Su 'er did not manage to find her backing, and was forced to wander elsewhere.
Pei Zi Yun's eyes darkened as he thought of what the Taoist nun had said. He then asked, "Miss, how did you find this place?"
"This is all thanks to you."
"You wrote The Peach Blossom Spring, and I liked it a lot. Hence, I came to see if you have the ability to enter the Dao Realm. It's a pity that you are not fated to enter the Dao Realm. However, I saw Ye Su 'er. She is the long lost daughter of the Ye family. Perhaps the heavens used your hands to help me find her."
The lady was honest, and the words of the Taoist nun were exactly the same. She then asked politely, "Is there anything else?"
The lady was polite and dignified, but Pei Zi Yun had a feeling that she was even more mysterious than the Zhao Ning he knew. He pursed his lips and said, "I don't believe that Ye Su 'er would return so easily, and abandon our friendship. What reason do you have to convince her?"
"You are very agile, and very interesting."
The lady smiled, "The reason I convinced her was that your mother met many matchmakers, and she is just an orphan. If she didn't have any means, how would she be able to marry brother Pei?"
"Aren't you afraid that she would come back and look for me when she becomes a Daoist?"
"I'm not afraid. If you are unable to enter the Dao Realm, no matter how many feelings she has, they will slowly fade away. It's not that she is indifferent, it's not that she has forgotten her feelings. It's just that a Daoist and a mortal are worlds apart."
As she said this, the lady boarded the oxcart and nodded her head before leaving. It was as if she was saying goodbye to Pei Zi Yun.
Pei Zi Yun paused for some time before he turned around and left as well. His back was drenched in cold sweat, and his shirt was wet. The lady was polite and dignified, but the feeling she gave him was fear. In order to stop himself from trembling, he clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh.
There was no slap in the face, no violence, and the difference between them was obvious.
Pei Zi Yun walked towards the village, frowning. He didn't know when the wind started to pick up, but a dark cloud flew past, covering the sky with a grey hue. After a long time, Pei Zi Yun sighed, having thought things through.
"First, I have to obtain the authority over the Plum Blossom, and absorb the Spiritual Roots. This means that I have to appease my mother and the Pei family."
"Obtaining the title of Scholar in the County Examinations, Scholars have no Scholarly Achievements. The so-called White Robed Elementary Scholar is not an Elementary Scholar, but a Scholar."
"Although an Elementary Scholar has obtained Scholarly Achievements, he does not have to pay his respects to the County Magistrate, and cannot be punished. He can also be exempted from personal duties, and can only learn from his family. According to the standards of the current era, he cannot be considered a Scholar."
"High Scholars are different. Although the current dynasty has restricted the number of people who can obtain Scholarly Achievements, they can still become officials. They can become a Scholar, or even a County Magistrate."
"For example, an Elementary Scholar would only receive some respect from the County Magistrate. If they don't become a High Scholar, it would be hard to say. However, a High Scholar would receive the respect of the County Magistrate for life, and there would be fewer disasters."
"Take the land for example. Although it is nominally possible to buy land, in actual fact, everyone has their own set of rules. An Elementary Scholar with a hundred mu of land is considered safe and sound, and no one dares to lay their hands on them. However, after 300 mu of land, it's hard to say."
"A High Scholar can at least have 300 mu of land, and even a thousand mu of land would be stable. This is completely different."
"In the ancient times, there were three things that needed to be done. The Ancestral Temple (Clan Field), Scholarly Achievements, and Farmland." Pei Zi Yun looked at the mission board and thought to himself, "I am an Elementary Scholar. I can build the Ancestral Hall. I can hire someone to build it now. I just need to hold a meeting with the clan members, and give them some money."
"As for Scholarly Achievements, the Province Examinations will be held in the Autumn, around the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Autumn Examinations are still some time away. The old Elementary Scholar's standard is roughly that of a High Scholar. However, there are still some flaws. In order to pass the High Scholar's test, I have to strengthen it. I've already planted a secret weapon.
"As for Scholarly Achievements, mother has 3,000 taels of silver. The dynasty has only been established for a few years, and has been through many wars. The population is small, and the land is barren. Even if it is a good piece of land, it would only cost about 7 or 8 taels of silver per mu."
"Mother can purchase the land now, and aim for 350 mu of land. 300 mu will be my family's, and 50 mu will belong to the Ancestral Hall. This way, we will have a place to worship and learn."
"The foundation of the Pei family has been established for a hundred years. This will also make up for the karma and obligation I owe to the Pei family."
"If that's the case, the system's mission of fulfilling my family's wishes will be completed."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
