Chapter 30: Eldest Cousin

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The Fifth Uncle also sent a message to his family, asking Yan Lingzhou to live at his place in town for a while. He had also offered to guide Yan Lingzhou with his studies so that he wouldn’t miss the Imperial Examinations in the spring.

If it wasn’t for the fact that his great-grandfather was in poor health, his father not being home, and his third and fourth uncles were too busy earning money in town. He would have gone to town to live with his fifth uncle.

If Gongyu Mingxi’s knowledge was really on par with Yan Yongwu’s, Yan Lingzhou could stay in the village and study. He could still look after the family and urge his younger brothers to study, which was better than going into town to study with his fifth uncle.

Now that his family was making tofu, his third and fourth uncles didn’t have to go into town to work part-time anymore. He was the eldest grandson of the family, so he could still help his family by staying home.

Yan Qixun checked on the tofu and scooped out a piece to taste. She felt that the taste of tofu wasn’t too strong, and the texture wasn’t too firm either. It wasn’t bad, and it was good enough to sell. However, she had told Yan Lingzhou to adjust the proportion of the salt brine next time. Perhaps there were some minor adjustments to be made.

Yan Lingzhou naturally agreed. This was now his family’s source of income. It couldn’t have imperfections, so it became necessary for them to strive for perfection. 

All the brothers in the family studied, so they needed a lot of money. With the tofu-making business as a source of income, Yan Lingzhou’s family could now breathe a sigh of relief.

After speaking about tofu, Yan Lingzhou asked Gongyu Mingxi, “Aunty, Xiao Xun said that if I ever needed help with my studies, I could come and ask for your help. I have some questions that I have gathered. Could you give me some advice?”

Naturally, Gongyu Mingxi wouldn’t refuse. Yan Lingzhou was the eldest grandson of his family and was considered one of the best students in the younger generation, apart from Gongyu Mingxi’s son, Yan Lingwei. Yan Lingzhou was very spiritual and had a steady personality. He also took great care of his younger siblings and had the demeanor of an elder brother. Gongyu Mingxi admired him very much.

Yan Yongwu had also valued Yan Lingzhou very much. If it weren’t because him to lack of money, he would have brought his nephew into the city to broaden his horizons.

Seeing that her nephew did not look down on her just because she was a woman and humbly asked for her advice, Gongyu Mingxi was delighted. “Of course. I usually teach your cousins to read every morning. That way, when your Second Uncle isn’t around, they won’t forget their studies. If you don’t mind, you can come over to read with your cousins every morning. If you ever have any questions, please come and ask me.”

Yan Lingzhou was overjoyed. It could be seen that Gongyu Mingxi was genuinely talented. This second aunt of his was not a person who likes to brag. Yan Lingzhou quickly bowed to Gongyu Mingxi. “If that’s the case, I will have to be a trouble to you.”

Gongyu Mingxi smiled and said, “We’re family. I am just like your Second Uncle. I naturally hope that both of you can be successful. You won’t be a bother.”

However, after giving it some thought, Gongyu Mingxi said, “Most of our books were destroyed by the fire. I didn’t pay much attention to scientific studies before that. Seeing as you are going to attend the entrance exams next spring, teaching you will not be the same as teaching your younger brother and sister.”

“If you have any questions from the previous exams at home, bring them over when you return tomorrow. That way, you can understand what I am going to teach you so that you can sit for the exams.”

Yan Yongwu had mentioned previously that Yan Lingzhou had a high chance of attending the exams next spring. If he had more guidance, it should not be a problem for him to take the exam. There was an eighty percent chance of scoring an Imperial College position. When Yan Lingzhou heard what Gongyu Mingxi said, he immediately agreed to her suggestion.

When Yan Lingzhou arrived the next day, his second aunt gave him a private lesson that lasted two hours. Yan Lingzhou was highly impressed. He did not expect that Gongyu Mingxi would come up with all sorts of references with ease. She was even more eloquent with her words than his second uncle. He felt that she was easier to understand. It made him feel enlightened.

The Great Song Dynasty was the most glorious era in the history of China, and Li Yian was born in that era. Her parents, in-laws, and even her teacher’s faction were all top-notch students in the scientific examination of that era. She, as a female, was able to get into the top literary world of that glorious era and became the most brilliant poet. She was hailed as the number one female poet in history. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that the Imperial Exams were a piece of cake. She didn’t find it challenging to teach a child.

Yan Lingzhou listened to Gongyu Minxgxi’s lesson with sparkling eyes. He was looking at his second aunt as if she was an idol. Yan Lingzhou amused Gongyu Mingxi. He was such a calm child, and it was rare for him to show his childish side.

However, she noticed that his poetry skills lacked maturity. So she gave him the poems that she had written a few days ago. “When you’re free, you can read these poems. Your little cousin, Yan Lingyu, has some natural talent in poetry. She will achieve greatness in the future. You could have a chat with her whenever you have the time.”

Yan Lingzhou was surprised. ‘For Yan Lingyu to have received such praise from Second Aunt, she must be outstanding indeed. I didn’t know that before. Second Uncle never mentioned it.’

As Yan Lingzhou flipped through the poetry book, he said in surprise, “I have never read anything like this before. Oh my goodness, such beautiful writing. Aunty, which Goddess wrote this?”

Gongyu Mingxi was silent. The word beautiful was accurate, as for the Goddess part. However, she could not accept being called that. Although she had always been praised in her past life, she was still happy to hear such nice things.

Gongyu Mingxi giggled and said humbly, “It wasn’t a Goddess who wrote it. It’s my writing. I had memorized one of the books that were destroyed by the fire. It would be good if you could read it in your free time. It’s not that great of a poem.”

Yan Lingzhou was shocked. Although he could not write a good poem such as this one, he had studied poetry for more than ten years. He knew a good poem when he read one. If these weren’t considered great poems, what was he reading in the past?

Yan Qixun wasn’t exaggerating when she had mentioned that her mother’s knowledge was on par with her father’s. Although Yan Lingzhou’s second uncle was also very talented in poetry, from the looks of it, his writing was inferior to his second aunt. He never knew how talented his second aunt was. His second aunt was such a humble person.

Yan Lingzhou looked at Gongyu Mingxi with starry eyes and patted the book in his hand. He felt that if Second Aunt were a man, she would have become even more famous with these poems.

“Aunty, can I borrow your book of poems?”

Gongyu Mingxi waved her hand. “What I give you is yours to keep. However, poems were just a small way of expressing one’s feelings. It’s not necessary to ponder too much over it. The more you read, the better you will get. However, one would need the talent to be even more successful. You seem to have some talent in poetry.

“You and Lingwei have talent in poetry, but the two of you are still far inferior to Yan Lingyu. That is why I said you could chat with her when you have the time. But when it came to practical ability, it would have to be Yan Qixun. You will need to study poetry and articles when you study for the exams. But the examination is for the official position, and for that, you need to be pragmatic.

“I think that you will have to take the time to learn with Yan Qixun for at least two hours every day. It just so happens that it is time for Yan Qixun’s class. You should join us today.”

Yan Lingzhou felt that Yan Qixun wasn’t the little girl he once knew. But since Second Aunt had mentioned it, he thought she wasn’t exaggerating.

After listening in on Yan Qixun’s class, Yan Lingzhou was so overwhelmed that he needed to catch his breath. After silently digesting the information he learned, Yan Lingzhou still couldn’t believe it.

‘Is this my little cousin, Yan Qixun? Then who was the little girl that I used to know? The little girl that I adored so much, the little girl that I used to hold in my arms, and the one that used to annoy me to no end.’

When Yan Qixun’s class ended, it was Yan Lingsu’s turn. Yan Lingzhou was utterly speechless— his mind was blown..