With this strategy, Xu Qi An earned one tael and four qian of silver. Adding to his original three qian and the one qian he picked up, he now had a total of two taels.
The golden buyao (步摇, elaborate hair ornament) that Xu Qi An had his eye on cost ten taels of silver.
He repeated his method, helping three more young ladies solve word puzzles, finally gathering five taels of silver.
“This should be enough to buy one golden buyao, but I still need to buy one for Aunt…” Xu Qi An mused.
“Young sir?” The shopkeeper’s pale face and call interrupted Xu Qi An’s thoughts.
Xu Qi An looked at him silently.
“Could you please show some mercy, young sir?” the shopkeeper pleaded.
“Shopkeeper, that’s not fair. You set the rules,” Xu Qi An replied.
“Just tell me what you want, young sir.”
“I want to buy two golden buyao, but I only have enough silver for one… at half price, that is.”
“I… I’ll gift them to you, young sir,” the shopkeeper said through gritted teeth.
“That’s too kind of you.”
“…I would be eternally grateful if you never come back, sir.”
Sore loser? Xu Qi An left the shop, satisfied with two golden buyao in his possession.
It wasn’t that he wanted to freeload; Xu Qi An wasn’t that kind of person. It was just that the shopkeeper was overly accommodating.
As for the shopkeeper’s feelings, he didn’t care. Anyone who could run such a shop might feel the pinch of losing twenty or thirty taels of silver, but it wasn’t a significant loss.
Moreover, if you play such tricks, benefiting from them, you should be prepared to meet a master. It’s not fair to only profit from others without allowing others to fleece you in return.
Shortly after leaving the shop, Xu Qi An suddenly felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It felt as if countless fine needles were piercing his pores.
This caused his heart to race and adrenaline to surge.
Someone is following me… watching me… with hostile intent… Xu Qi An had a vague realization.
Xu Qi An maintained his composure, pretending nothing had happened, while inwardly calculating.
Who could be following me… Baoqi Xuan? Not. Although the shopkeeper looked like he wanted to beat me up, an expert capable of making me feel this uneasy must have a powerful background. A mere jewelry shop wouldn’t have such talent.
Cloud Deer Academy? That doesn’t make sense either. The great scholars of Cloud Deer Academy are competing to take me as a disciple. Why would they harbor hostility towards me?
It must be the Zhou family!
At this stage, if anyone harbored hostility and was secretly monitoring him, it had to be the Zhou family.
Xu Qi An felt a chill. His past life experience told him that once you’re being followed and monitored, it means the other party will likely make a move soon, perhaps even tonight.
“The plan to visit Cloud Deer Academy was correct. Even though Uncle and I are skilled, the women in our family are vulnerable…”
Xu Qi An’s expression grew serious. The plan to deal with the Zhou family couldn’t be delayed.
Upon returning to the Xu residence, Xu Qi An immediately retrieved the military crossbow he had exchanged (freeloaded) from Song Qing of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and hung it at his waist. He also strapped the heart-protecting mirror to his chest.
Only then did he feel a slight sense of security.
He climbed over the wall to the main residence and saw Xu Ling’yin in the backyard chasing a flock of geese. She had her hands on her hips, stomping her feet forcefully, scaring the little geese into a panic as they ran about, honking loudly.
“Big Brother, Big Brother, don’t I look impressive?” Xu Ling’yin spotted her brother’s return and became even more proud.
“Where did these geese come from?” Xu Qi An was stunned. There were no geese when he left home this morning.
“Mother had someone buy them, saying we should raise our own…” Xu Ling’yin tilted her head and said in a sweet voice, “I forgot the rest.”
It must be that raising our own is cheaper than buying from outside… Xu Qi An made an “oh” sound and said, “Be careful, don’t step on the geese. Aren’t there any big geese?”
“The big geese are over there. I’ll go chase them out!” Xu Ling’yin volunteered eagerly, her short legs carrying her into the flower bed.
A few seconds later, a child’s scream, like that of a slaughtered pig, came from the bushes.
The shrubbery shook violently, and Xu Ling’yin came running out crying “Wah wah wah,” with a large white goose attached to her little leg, biting hard.
She looked as if she was about to die. “Big Brother, save me…”
Xu Qi An stood by, laughing like a pig.
…
At dusk, Second Uncle Xu returned from his shift, dressed in full military attire with a long sword and military crossbow at his waist. His sharp, vigilant gaze was completely different from his demeanor when in casual clothes.
The three men gathered in the study. After Lü’e served hot tea and quietly withdrew, Xu Ci’jiu said, “Brother and I have made all the arrangements. We can send Mother and Little Sister to the academy tomorrow. It’s perfect timing for Ling’yin to start her education too. The tutor Father hired isn’t very competent and can’t teach her well, but the teachers at the academy won’t have any problems.”
Ling’yin will surely cry with joy when she hears this good news… Xu Qi An couldn’t help but think of the joke from his past life about gifting an enthusiastic child a box of exercise books.
Second Uncle Xu was overjoyed. This undoubtedly solved one of his worries. With the women of the family safely settled, he could focus without concerns.
“Ci’jiu, it’s all thanks to you. I knew sending you to study was the best decision I’ve ever made in this life.”
Xu Ci’jiu felt somewhat embarrassed. “Father, it’s all thanks to Elder Brother. I had nothing to do with it.”
“Ning Yan?” Second Uncle Xu looked at his nephew in surprise.
After hearing his son’s explanation, Second Uncle Xu said with regret, “Ah, Ning Yan, the biggest mistake I made in this life was sending you to practice martial arts.”
Second Uncle Xu now believed that his nephew was a natural scholar.
I’m just effectively utilizing the knowledge from my past life… Xu Qi An said in a solemn voice, “There’s something I need to tell Uncle. When I just returned, I was being followed. Ci’jiu, what about you?”
The father and son’s expressions changed.
Xu Xinnian frowned, “Even if I were being followed, how would I know?”
He was just a scholar in the Enlightenment realm.
Second Uncle Xu stood up and paced back and forth anxiously, saying in a deep voice, “Ning Yan, stay in the mansion tonight. We uncle and nephew should stay close to look after each other.
“Also, I’ll go out later to inform the Imperial Blade Guard to increase their patrol intensity in the area tonight.”
Xu Xinnian and Xu Qi An exchanged a glance, their mood heavy.
…
During dinner, Xu Qi An glanced at his sister Xu Lingyue, who was eating with elegant manners. He coughed, attracting the attention of the whole family.
He took out a small red wooden box carved with the words “Baoqi Xuan” from his bosom and slowly opened it. Inside was an exquisitely crafted golden buyao, it’s head intricately carved into a flower shape, inlaid with pearls, with fine golden tassels hanging down.
Even without considering the design, the amount of gold alone caught everyone’s attention.
Xu Lingyue and Aunt were stunned, their large eyes fixed on the golden buyao.
Golden buyao, due to their intricate craftsmanship and precious materials, had always been coveted by the daughters and women of wealthy families. Ordinary women couldn’t afford such fine jewelry.
Aunt used to have a flower-carved golden buyao, which she treasured greatly.
Xu Qi An, being single, wouldn’t buy a golden buyao without reason. There were only two women in the family suitable to wear it, and Aunt, as the matriarch of the family…
Aunt’s beautiful face broke into a smile, her eyes softening, “At least you have some conscience. Give it here…”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Qi An placed the golden buyao in front of Xu Lingyue. “Little Sister, this is for you!”
Xu Lingyue’s eyes widened, somewhat incredulous. Baoqi Xuan’s jewelry was famous in this area, known for its exquisite craftsmanship and highly favored by the daughters and women of wealthy families nearby.
“Thank you, Big Brother.” Her beautiful face showed a genuine smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
Aunt’s body trembled, her prominent chest heaving up and down. With reddened eyes, she fiercely questioned Second Uncle Xu:
“Tell me, do you want your nephew or me?”
She and this little brat were now mortal enemies.
Second Uncle Xu glared at his nephew and hurriedly served his wife some food. “Calm down, don’t lower yourself to that rascal’s level.”
Xu Qi An felt a kick on his shin and looked up at Xu Xinnian beside him.
Second Young Master Xu continued eating, keeping his head down.