Chapter 129: The Flattery Begins

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Wenyao’s space was filled with fine wines, of all kinds and qualities, but she couldn’t let the old lady know about it. She only told her that Qiu Rongrong had sent over a jar of good wine, specially for her father, and that she had hidden it away. Today, she planned to bring it out for Shopkeeper Qiu and Doctor Jin to enjoy.

The Luo family never doubted Wenyao’s words, especially since she had indeed started doing business with Qiu Rongrong. So, no one asked further.

The whole family spent quite some time wandering through the vegetable market. Li, Cai, and Wen Yingwendi, along with the grandfather and grandson, all returned to Jishi Hall with their hands full.

Seeing how much they had bought, Shopkeeper Qiu and Doctor Jin joked, “Looks like our Yao Yao is going to be worn out.”

Li and Cai hurriedly replied, “No way, there are so many of us here, we can’t let Yao Yao do all the work alone. She only needs to take charge of cooking.”

This made Shopkeeper Qiu and Doctor Jin laugh heartily.

The group stayed at Jishi Hall until the afternoon. With no more patients around, they sent Hong Hai to fetch Wen Xiuyi, and together, they headed back to Gutong Village.

Just one day had passed, yet the news of the Wen family sending three children to the academy spread quickly throughout the village. The village chief even waited at the entrance, eager to confirm if it was true.

If it was, the Wen family would truly be something special in Gutong Village. And if any of the three boys succeeded in their studies, it would be an unprecedented honor.

From afar, the village chief saw the Wen family’s ox cart approaching and stood up, only to notice a carriage slowly following behind.

The carriage didn’t hurry, trailing leisurely behind the ox cart.

The village chief’s lips twitched in a wry smile. The Wen family really was different now.

“Uncle, Aunt, you’re back?” The village chief greeted as the ox cart drew near.

Old Wen pulled on the reins of the ox, looking over. “Village chief, what a coincidence. What brings you here? Out for a walk?”

The village chief smiled awkwardly. “No, I was waiting here specifically for you and my aunt.”

Luo Shi rolled her eyes subtly from the ox cart.

Why was I suddenly ‘your aunt’? The village chief never spoke to her so politely before.

She turned slightly toward the village chief. “What wind blew you here, waiting for us? What’s going on?”

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The village chief, accustomed to Luo Shi’s sharp tongue, wasn’t offended and said directly, “I heard from everyone that today you sent Dàtóu and Wen Fawen to the academy. I wanted to ask how it went. Did they get in?”

Luo Shi thought to herself, whether they succeeded or not was the Wen family’s own business, yet the village chief was the first to show concern.

But it made sense. For hundreds of years, Gutong Village had only produced one scholar, and a mediocre one at that. Now, having sent three children to the academy, if any of them made something of themselves, it would be a great honor for the village.

After all, clans within the same village were closely tied—one’s glory was everyone’s glory, and one’s loss was everyone’s loss.

Just then, the eldest son poked his head out of the carriage. Luo Shi glanced at the village chief, then made space for the second and youngest sons. “Village chief, come up. Any business can wait until we’re home.”

The village chief eagerly climbed onto the ox cart.

With one more passenger aboard, the ox started moving more slowly, much to Old Wen’s concern.

Finally reaching home, Old Wen stopped the cart abruptly and urged them to get down quickly. He carefully loosened the ox’s harness and asked his two sons to move the cart frame aside. Then he led the ox back to the stable in the backyard.

Luo Shi curled her lips in disdain. “Look at your grandpa’s fussiness.”

Wenyao stifled a laugh, linking arms with the old lady and entering the house.

Wen Xiuqing and Wen Xiuzhu resignedly parked the carriage and carried the goods back to the kitchen.

Inside the Wen household, the village chief recognized Shopkeeper Qiu and Doctor Jin stepping down from the carriage, which reminded him of the fate of the Li family. The official aura he usually displayed before the villagers immediately softened as he greeted them warmly.

Old Wen settled the ox and invited everyone inside. Luo Shi brewed tea and served it to the guests. Looking at the village chief, she finally spoke, “Village chief, you don’t have plans tonight, right? Stay and have dinner with us.”

The village chief promptly took his seat. “Thank you, Aunt.”

“No trouble at all, more chopsticks won’t hurt. You all chat; Wenyao and I will prepare.” Luo Shi said and left.

Only then did the village chief ask Old Wen about the three children’s hopes for schooling. Without a definite answer, he couldn’t rest easy.

Fortunately, Old Wen’s response made him breathe a huge sigh of relief. “That’s wonderful. Gutong Village might finally be turning a corner.”

He looked at the three hopefuls with a beaming smile, his wrinkles gathering in one place. “Dàtóu, Wen Fa, Wen Jin, you three must study hard.”

“Mm,” the three nodded.

Seeing the Wen family’s current situation, the village chief felt a mix of emotions. How he wished there were more promising youths in the village, but not every household could afford to send their children to school.

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“Unfortunately, our village is poor, and few families can afford to educate their kids. Look at neighboring Li Family Village—they even have their own village school.” The village chief spoke his mind unconsciously.

Mentioning this, he was filled with envy. Because of Li Village’s school, whenever various village chiefs reported to the county office, he always felt inferior to Li Village’s chief.

He could only watch helplessly as other village chiefs flattered that man, all just to send their children to study at Li Village.

He had tried before, but they looked down on their village. Gutong Village had neither abundant grain production nor money.

Doctor Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu quietly sipped their tea, as this was a matter for the village itself—they had no say.

Old Wen empathized with the village chief. Even when they went out to work, people from Li Village looked down on them.

No one wanted to endure such humiliation.

Wen Xiuyi glanced at them and blurted out, “Then why don’t we set up our own school?”

The words had barely left his mouth before Old Wen slapped his hand and gave him a sharp look.

The village chief’s eyes lit up immediately, then he sighed theatrically. “The problem is, we have no teachers. And as you’ve seen, not every family here can afford schooling.”

Old Wen now just wanted to kick the village chief out; he knew that this sly old fox never came with good intentions.

Then the village chief added, “Not everyone has the vision and insight of Uncle Wen here.”

Old Wen, now being praised, was speechless.

Wen Xiuyi shut up immediately after Old Wen shot him a glare—he knew he didn’t understand the village’s situation well and that it was best to remain silent.

“Ah, anyway, enough about that. Today, the three children were all admitted to Qingfeng Academy. Whether they achieve anything depends on their own fate.”

“Hey, village chief, I heard you switched to the curved plow recently? How is it? Does it work well?”

Old Wen deliberately changed the subject, cutting off the village chief’s long speech.