After the Upper Yuan Dynasty, there weren't as many visits and social engagements. All the common knowledge began to move away from the warm atmosphere of the New Year's Eve and develop into ordinary daily life.
The speed at which the poem "The Green Jade Case" spread was hard to estimate. In short, after a few days, people began to talk about it in the teahouses and taverns. As for Ning Yi, there were many discussions about his talent and why he married into the family. At this time, no one said that he was plagiarist anymore. Some people seemed to have given him the title of "Jiangning's Number One Scholar". Of course, there were also many people who said that he had an eccentric temperament and was arrogant because of his talent. In a nutshell, he was the so-called wild student.
Taking an unconventional approach could solve the problem, but there would definitely be side effects. However, this side effect was what Ning Yi had been looking forward to. After that, people would stop trying to probe him, and he could also study chemistry in peace. Recently, he had ordered a batch of porcelain bottles to be used as test tubes, which could be used to review simple chemical reactions.
What was more interesting was that on the morning of the 16th, when he went out for a jog, he met Nie Yunzhu waiting for him at the door of the small building. After seeing him, she gracefully curtsied, "Hello, Great Scholar Ning." She had the feeling of a scholar and a beauty. Ning Yi nodded, "Hello, little girl." Nie Yunzhu's face instantly turned red and she took half a step back. Her face looked like it was about to burn up. Her big eyes looked around, looked at Ning Yi, and then immediately moved to other places, as if she couldn't find a place to call home.
"Ning, Young Master Ning, how can you say that …"
"Ah? You just said that Great Scholar Ning is good … Shouldn't I respond in this way? "
"How can you say that! Young Master Ning should say … should say … should say … "She stood there and thought for a long time. Then she burst out laughing," In short, he is too frivolous … "
After this little interlude, Nie Yunzhu no longer brought up his identity as a great scholar and was able to chat with him like before. Of course, he was still very interested to ask about the situation at the poetry meeting last night, the behavior of the people and so on. Knowing that Qi Lan was also there, he smiled and asked her reaction, "Miss Qi Lan is said to be very good at poetry. Have you been impressed by Young Master Ning's poetry?"
"She should be convinced. With this young master's talent, what else can she do if she isn't convinced … don't you think so?" Ning Yi was too preoccupied with observing the female assassin to know anything about Qi Lan. After thinking for a while, he gave a perfunctory reply. Nie Yunzhu smiled. "Young Master is right."
"I think so too …" Ning Yi stood up with a smile. "Let's go. There's still a long way to go."
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
The sun rose late in winter. At this time, the whole sky was still gray. In the small building, there was a flickering light. Nie Yunzhu stood in front of the building and watched him leave. There was still a deep smile in her eyes. The weather was still cold. After Ning Yi's figure completely disappeared in the gray, she looked up at the sky, smiled and spat out a white mist. She rubbed her palms, turned around and walked back up the stairs.
He would definitely be in a good mood today.
A few days later, he met Kang Xian on the street. This old man sat in a sedan chair and did not know where he was going. There were eight sedan chairs and four fixed servants. When they saw Ning Yi, they stopped in front of the road and stopped him. Kang Xian gave a few orders and let the sedan chair follow behind, "Cultured scum!"
"Happy New Year, Elder Kang … Did I do something outrageous again?"
"Looking for him in the crowd for thousands of times. Suddenly looking back, he is in the dim light. The words are good, but the situation is wrong. Leave some leeway in everything. At your age, even if you have the heart to live in seclusion, you should not show it to this extent. "
The two walked along the street that had not melted yet. Kang Xian was thinking about the same thing as before, but when he talked about it, there was not too much serious expression in it. Ning Yi smiled, "That's it?"
"Of course not! Today is the 19th of the first lunar month. It has been 19 days since the New Year, but you did not come to visit me. I am very angry about this, and the consequences are very serious … By the way, I passed by here once before the New Year. Your confidante's stall was set up in the street ahead. Has it changed place now, or has it not been set up yet? "
Kang Xian pointed to the street ahead. Ning Yi shook his head and said, "Old people have to be responsible for their words. Don't be so ambiguous … Not many people bought food before the New Year. Naturally, they closed the stall and set it up again. It will probably take a few days for it to be sold together with the new batch of century eggs. Why do you ask this, Elder Kang? "
"It's because of your century eggs … Although the taste is strange, it is still edible. The most important thing is that it looks good. I thought that if I put a bowl on the table and just look at it, it will be pleasing to the eye. After a few days, when Miss Nie sets up the stall, I will ask her to send some to my place. "
Ning Yi nodded, "According to each person's taste, you can also add some vinegar, sauce, and so on to the taste. Let your family chef test it a few times, but don't eat too much at one time. If you eat too much, your body will feel uncomfortable."
"Your century eggs don't taste very good. How can I eat too much?" Kang Xian joked, then patted him on the shoulder, "I also know that the situation in your family is complicated, but you don't have to worry too much about it. At the end of next year, feel free to bring your wife over. With your talent, you don't need this old man's name to help. This old man is also interested to see what kind of woman can make you willingly marry into the family, haha …"
At the end of the first lunar month, the weather gradually warmed up. Piles of snow melted into trickles and flowed into the Qinhuai River. The smell of spring approached step by step. Then, Yushan Academy opened its classes in such an atmosphere. On the first day he went to the academy, he met an unexpected person.
"Brother Ning, from now on, we will be colleagues and teach in the academy together. I have a lot of things I don't understand. Please take care of me."
Li Pin, Li Dexin, was said by the people of Jiangning to be a talent as famous as Cao Guan. It was just that Cao Guan's style was calm, while his character was free and easy, so others often ranked Cao Guan first. It was really puzzling that such a person came to Yushan Academy to teach. Ning Yi greeted him and ignored the rest. Soon after, Su Chonghua came to talk to him. Only then did he know that Li Pin had told Su Chonghua about this last year.
"He must have been impressed by Liheng's talent, so he wanted to come to the academy to further learn. This person is quite sincere." After the Upper Yuan Dynasty, Su Tan'er asked Su Chonghua to have a meal. She probably pointed out that Ning Yi was not interested in the academy, so Su Chonghua's attitude toward Ning Yi became friendly again.
Li Pin was five years older than Ning Yi. It was said that he already had the title of Jinshi, but he had not yet obtained a position. He did not go to Bianliang to make connections, but just hung around in Jiangning to make a name for himself. He was also a strange person. Of course, even if he really wanted to make connections, it would take a lot of effort for someone without much background to obtain a position. He was modest and handsome. Although he already had a wife at home, he was quite popular with women outside. In particular, the name of a scholar was too lethal. In the past, Su Tan'er probably also regarded Li Pin as an idol. But now she was calm. When talking about him at home, she said with a smile, "She must have been impressed by Husband's elegance."
What impressed Li Pin was not necessarily his literary talent. Of course, the two poems might be part of it. But in Ning Yi's view, Li Pin seemed to be more interested in the stories that Ning Yi told. He came to Yushan Academy to teach archery and arithmetic instead of poetry. These classes were all in the afternoon. In the morning, he also came to the class to listen in. At first, he made a group of young students feel quite uncomfortable.
Occasionally, Li Pin would ask some questions about some things that Ning Yi said. These things were also relatively important in Ning Yi's view. Some summarized social laws, research methods that investigated the principles of things, and purely mechanical theories of cause and effect. Ning Yi often said these things to the children casually, but he was also not willing to say things too clearly. Because once it was revealed, it would become modern theories and become deviant. Li Pin would occasionally ask a question, and Ning Yi would say a little more casually. Li Pin might understand, but the children did not and were often quite confused.
Li Pin probably also knew that Ning Yi would not talk to her much at this time, so she only occasionally asked some questions in class. Usually, when they met, she would only greet and chat with Ning Yi.
In February, Nie Yunzhu's cart was pushed out again. She sold pancakes and century eggs together. But to be honest, the century eggs were sold at a higher price. At present, the business was not very good. She only sent a batch to Kang Xian, which was considered a profit. On this day in Qin's Mansion, she was ridiculed by Kang Xian.
"Your century eggs are actually selling for 20 copper coins each. No matter how expensive a salted egg is, it's only 10 copper coins. Moreover, it's at a stall that sells pancakes. Think about it, Miss Nie's pancakes are only two copper coins. With a century egg for 20 copper coins, people who buy pancakes won't buy century eggs. Those who can buy century eggs as snacks usually don't eat pancakes. This kind of combination is really ridiculous."
"Haha, a new thing is sold at a low price all of a sudden. In the future, the price won't go up. In fact, if it were me, I might find a way to sell it for 50 copper coins. She doesn't want to make too much money in that business, so she's just doing it casually."
"Haha, a man who is never content is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Do you think it's a golden hen laying golden eggs for 50 copper coins each? Now you can't even sell it for 20 copper coins … Haha, but you don't have to worry. When I entertain guests in a few days, I'll try to help you publicize it. Many people can afford the price of 20 copper coins. At that time, you have to thank me and owe me a favor …"
Kang Xian said proudly. In fact, he was not asking for a favor. Elder Qin also echoed him. Ning Yi did not care much about favors. At this time, he curled his lips in boredom. "Thank you for your help, Elder Kang. But even if you don't help, I can spread the matter in a month. I'll sell it for 20 copper coins for you to see. How about it?"
"Oh? Really? "
"If a salted egg can sell for 10 copper coins, it's not difficult to sell a century egg for 20 copper coins. It's just that not many people know about it now …" Ning Yi shrugged. "Who asked me to be bored recently …"
*****
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