Qi Huan held a warm stove in her hands, turned to the side and smiled: "It's in the carriage. Wait for me, I'll get it for you right away."
Seeing Chen Jinyou's drooling expression, she suddenly remembered Heizi at home. Whenever she poured dog food for Heizi, he had the same look, peering expectantly.
Thinking of this, Qi Huan couldn't help but laugh out loud. At the same time, she quickened her pace, nimbly climbed onto the horse-drawn carriage, and took out a small jar of tiger skin chicken feet that she had prepared earlier.
Although she could make tiger skin chicken feet, yesterday was Yue Ming's wedding day, and she was busy running around, so she didn't have time to go to the kitchen. Instead, she took out the snacks she had received from a delivery the last time and repackaged the tiger skin chicken feet into a clay jar.
Chen Jinyou took the clay jar, his mouth wide open, revealing his pearly white teeth.
"Ah Huan, do you have chopsticks?"
"...I forgot to bring them. You can take it home to eat."
"Alright, then I'll go home first."
Holding the clay jar, Chen Jinyou ran swiftly, chasing after the horse-drawn carriage that had already started moving, shouting loudly: "Dad! Wait for me!"
After the carriage stopped for him, Qi Huan finally withdrew her gaze and turned to go home.
At this moment, an old man called out to her. After politely bowing, he said: "You must be Miss Qi, right? I am Weng Tingqiu, expressing my gratitude on behalf of the students of Mo County for Miss Qi's generous donation. And also to thank Miss Qi on behalf of myself and the other officials exiled here."
After the mudslide, it was a blessing in disguise for them. They no longer needed to wield heavy hatchets, but could instead continue to hold their pens and study and teach.
And all of this was thanks to this young lady before them.
Weng Tingqiu bowed respectfully, and Qi Huan quickly stepped aside to avoid his bow, humbly saying: "This is what I should do as a citizen of Li Country. I hope Li Country will have more pillars of society. I also wish the elderly Weng a world full of brilliant students."
"If everyone thought like you, why would our Li Country not prosper?" The old man stroked his white beard and sighed heavily.
Unfortunately, the current monarch was oppressive and extravagant, indulging in luxury and desire, exploiting the people's blood and sweat to feed his own greed, showing even less awareness than the young lady before him.
Seeing his dejected expression, Qi Huan pondered for a moment and said: "Elder Weng, don't lose heart. The darkest hour is before dawn, and we will surely welcome the moment of light.
Until then, we must steadfastly continue on, no matter how rugged the path or how muddy the road ahead, as long as we persevere, we will surely walk the path of righteousness."
Her gaze shone with an irresistible brilliance, like a beam of light illuminating the real world.
Weng Tingqiu's eyes held admiration: "Miss Qi speaks truly, a promising future awaits."
Unbeknownst to them, a group of people had gathered around them. Some were exiled officials, some were scholars in white robes and scholar's hats. These people had originally intended to seek out Weng Tingqiu, but unexpectedly heard what Qi Huan said.
They were all facing various difficulties. The exiled officials were still resentful of their fall in status, while the scholars were struggling with whether to continue on this path, as the monarch was shamelessly selling official positions, making it extremely difficult to rise through the imperial examination system.
But Qi Huan's words encouraged them. Although it was difficult to walk at night, if there was light ahead, why fear the long journey and hesitate to move forward?
They firmly echoed: "A promising future awaits!"
Seeing their spirited expressions, Qi Huan's heart also felt inflamed.
This was probably the deeper meaning behind her donating money and building academies.
Just as the poet Du Fu wished, "May I have thousands of mansions to shelter all the scholars in the world, and bring smiles to their faces."
Fortunately, she had the money, and she made it happen! Although for now, she had only done it in Mo County, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In the future, she would earn more money, build more academies, shelter more impoverished scholars, and... earn more points.
Upon hearing the words "points," the system hastened to cheer her on: "Well done, host! Keep it up, host!"
It then continued: "Congratulations, host, for successfully comforting the fallen scholars of this era. Virtue points +10. Additionally, you have also successfully encouraged the other exiled officials and scholars. Good deeds +57, points +57."
This unexpected gain in points delighted Qi Huan: "System, you always say the sweetest things in the world!"
"Hmph, I don't believe it. Women's mouths are deceiving demons. Didn't you always say in your heart that Shu's words were the sweetest in the world? How come now, you're saying that I speak the sweetest words?"
"...Let's just mute it."
It was getting late, so Qi Huan bid farewell with a smile.
But what she didn't expect was that a few days later, many poems about her began circulating in the city. This must be the most direct way for scholars to express their feelings.
...Some of the poems were still relatively normal, merely praising her kindness, her generosity, and her righteousness.
But some poems were filled with affection between the lines.
Li Shuchen crumpled the poems sent by Qi Yuan into a ball after reading them. He picked up his brush and wrote more than a dozen love poems for Qi Huan.
After reading them, Qi Huan laughed uncontrollably.
"Shu, compared to poetry, I still think it would be sweeter if you just said 'I love you' directly."
"..."
Li Shuchen: Somehow, he suddenly felt like he was throwing affection at a blind person.
...In fact, there were obscure words in his poems that Qi Huan didn't recognize.
However, feeling his care and affection, Qi Huan was still very delighted.
She carefully folded the paper and kept it close to her chest, then beckoned Li Shuchen with a crook of her finger.
Li Shuchen leaned down.
Qi Huan stood on her tiptoes, moved close to his ear, and said: "Thank you, Shu. I'm very happy."
She cupped Li Shuchen's face and took the initiative to offer her tender lips, licking and sucking passionately.
Thanking him for giving her such a wonderful first love experience.
After kissing, she retreated slightly, her eyes curved in a smile: "Shu, I'll make you tiger skin eggs for lunch. Come on, let's start the fire!"
As for why she didn't make tiger skin chicken feet, one reason was that chicken feet were not easy to collect, and the other was that the chicken feet here were too skinny and bony.
Since they were not suitable, they might as well not eat chicken feet and have their children - eggs - instead.
She held Li Shuchen's hand, but after a few steps, she suddenly heard his deep voice: "I love you. Li Shuchen loves Qi Huan."
Qi Huan paused, replying, "You have an eye for detail."
She smiled radiantly, outshining the sunlight behind her. Her expressive eyes and delicate features etched themselves deeply into Li Shuchen's heart.
Upon entering the kitchen, he stoked the fire in the stove until it blazed fiercely, mirroring the ardent feelings he held for Qi Huan.
As the water bubbled and roiled, Qi Huan retrieved an egg timer from her spatial storage, and after seven minutes had elapsed, she scooped out the eggs and peeled off their shells.
