"This won't work, and that won't work either. Do you know what he likes?" Chen Yan'an asked.
"I..." Jing Li hesitated to speak.
Chen Yanan opened his eyes wide: "You didn't ask at all? Then how are you going to help him find it?"
Jing Li felt a little guilty for some reason, and whispered: "I was just thinking... to screen them myself first..."
Chen Yanan showed an expression of sudden enlightenment.
He leaned forward and said, "Why don't you write a letter and ask first? Since you are looking for a man for your brother, you should follow his ideas. What's the point of you worrying here?"
"But… "
"Don't you want to ask?" Chen Yan'an raised his eyebrows slightly, with a teasing tone.
Jingli looked away.
"I knew you didn't want to find him a husband." Chen Yan'an said, "My sister got married early, and I did the same when I was looking for a husband for her."
Jing Li asked: "How?"
"This one has a bad family background, that one has a different personality, he doesn't like everyone and thinks no one is worthy of her, and he doesn't even want to ask her who she really wants." Chen Yanan said leisurely, "He found many reasons, but in fact he just doesn't want her to get married and can't bear to let her go."
Chen Yanan raised his eyebrows at Jing Li and said with a smile: "You pulled me aside to talk so much today, isn't it the same as this?"
Jing Li: “…”
Jing Li looked away, his ears burning: "I am different from you."
"Why is it different?" Chen Yan'an acted like an experienced person and said earnestly, "Relax your mind. No matter how close your brothers and sisters are, they will eventually get married and start their own families. You're married now, don't you hope that your brother can find happiness too?"
"I… "
Jing Li lowered his head.
Is this really what Chen Yanan said
He actually... just doesn't want Qin Zhao to find a husband
But that was Qin Zhao's wish...
Seeing that he was in a bad mood, Chen Yanan quickly walked over to him and comforted him: "Don't be sad, Brother Qin will think I bullied you when he comes back. Can't I just stop talking? I—"
"I'm not sad." Jing Li interrupted him, "I'm not like what you said, I will ask him, I will ask him in a moment!"
"What do you want to ask?"
The door creaked open, and Chen Yanan took a half step back guiltily: "Brother Qin, we didn't do anything!"
Qin Zhao: “…”
Jing Li: “…”
Qin Zhao naturally didn't misunderstand anything. He just glanced at Chen Yan'an lightly and put the things in his hand on the stove.
"Wow, you're buying meat again!" Chen Yan'an's eyes widened. "How much does such a big chicken cost?"
Qin Zhao did not answer, but asked: "What were you talking about just now?"
Chen Yanan: "Nothing, my sister-in-law said she wanted to—"
"Cough cough!" Jing Li coughed twice and winked at Chen Yanan.
Chen Yanan: “?”
"Oh, nothing, nothing..." Chen Yanan quickly changed his words, "We were just chatting, chatting for a while."
Qin Zhao's eyes swept over them slowly.
These two fools are as stupid as each other.
He did not expose her, but asked again: "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, yes, I have something to talk to you about." Chen Yan'an then remembered why he came and said, "Today is a private school holiday. You haven't forgotten your promise to help me with my studies, right?"
Qin Zhao nodded.
The private school had one day off every ten days, and even more on holidays designated by the court. Qin Zhao had promised Chen Yan'an that he would teach him on the private school's days off, and he naturally remembered it.
There was no separate study room at home, and it was not convenient for Chen Yanan to enter the bedroom, so they could only stay in the outer room.
Chen Yan'an took out the book and spread it on the table. Qin Zhao first asked him to recite the previous paragraph, and then asked about the progress of the private school lessons.
Sure enough, after not seeing each other for a few days, Chen Yanan had fallen behind in his studies.
Chen Yanan was not very talented, and was unable to grasp the learning methods immediately, so he could only ask Qin Zhao to explain them to him bit by bit.
What they are talking about today is still the book "Shangshu Zhengyi".
The writing style of this book is obscure. To Jing Li, these ancient texts are no different from listening to heavenly books. He doesn't understand a single word.
He simply gave up the idea of learning and lay on the table in a daze.
Qin Zhao didn't have this book at home, but he was very familiar with it. No matter what Chen Yan'an asked, he could quickly recall it and give an answer. His proficiency even made Jing Li doubt whether this book was compiled by him.
Jing Li was bored and flipping through Chen Yanan's textbook. Qin Zhao glanced at him and suddenly said in a calm voice, "Stop here first. You should sort out the previous part and memorize it. I will test you in half an hour."
Chen Yanan: “???”
Does this person have to be so cruel
Facing the other party's incredulous look, Qin Zhao said: "If you want to learn from me, you have to listen to me, otherwise please go back."
"No, no, no, I'll carry it on my back. I'll carry it on my back."
Qin Zhao said, "Go outside and carry it."
“Got it…” Chen Yanan responded and obediently moved the stool outside.
Qin Zhao retracted his gaze and looked down at Jing Li: "You want to learn too?"
Jing Li hummed, and said, "I don't want to learn these, I just want to learn some words."
He had no plans to take the imperial examination, but after all, living in that era, being illiterate was indeed a big problem.
Jing Li asked: "Can you teach me how to read?"
Qin Zhao nodded: "Okay."
He took some rough paper and ink from the bedroom, spread them out in front of Jing Li, and without sitting down, he dipped the ink directly into the paper and wrote two words.
Qin Zhao's writing style is vigorous and powerful, his strokes are crisp and sharp, and his edge is hidden, which is quite different from his own personality.
Qin Zhao said: "This is my name."
"It's so complicated..." Jing Li blinked and once again felt the benefits of promoting simplified Chinese characters.
Even a name has so many strokes. If you take the imperial examination, you will not only have to test your knowledge, but also your hand speed.
"It's okay, I'll teach you." Qin Zhao handed the brush to Jing Li, bent down slightly, and held his hand.
Jing Li: “!”
Jing Li was rarely so close to Qin Zhao when he was fully awake. Although he would occasionally find himself in the other's arms when he woke up in the middle of the night, he would always sneak out while the man was still asleep.
After knowing that Qin Zhao liked men, he became even more determined not to sleep with Qin Zhao anymore.
Otherwise, what if Qin Zhao misunderstands me
Misunderstanding... It's nothing, I just don't want to be hated by him.
Qin Zhao held Jing Li's hand and started drawing on the paper, but Jing Li was unable to concentrate and could not help but look up at him secretly.
Qin Zhao looked different from usual in this angle. He was slightly bent over, with a strand of hair hanging down in front of his forehead, the ends of which swayed slightly with his movements, as if tickling his heart.
Qin Zhao supported the table with one hand and held Jing Li's hand with the other, as if he was holding him in his arms. The medicinal fragrance from Qin Zhao filled Jing Li's nose, and he secretly took a sip. Qin Zhao had already finished writing the two words while holding his hand.
Qin Zhao asked: "Have you learned it?"
Jing Li: “…”
I didn't have time to look at it at all.
Jing Li raised his head and shook it innocently: "Do it again."
That little look is exactly the same as when it was a fish eating.
They are all so righteous.
Qin Zhao was not angry. He just smiled and pinched Jing Li's face: "If you don't pay attention, I will punish you."
He held Jing Li's hand again, slowed down, and slowly drew on the paper.
Jing Li's body was very cold, as if he couldn't warm it up no matter how hard he tried. Qin Zhao held his hands for a while but they didn't get warm at all. However, the temperature wasn't freezing, but just right, making it particularly comfortable to hold.
Jing Li didn't mean to let Qin Zhao come back, but when this man came close to him, his thoughts were in a mess and he couldn't care about what he was doing.
After writing it several times, Jing Li's mind was still blank and he couldn't remember anything.
Qin Zhao put down his pen and stood up: "Let me think about how to punish you."
"I'm... sorry." Jing Li lowered his head.
Qin Zhao smiled and said softly, "Copy it fifty times first, you will remember it eventually."
Jing Li said listlessly: "I know..."
So, half an hour later, when Chen Yan'an came in to recite, he saw the young man obediently moving a stool and sitting next to him, writing the two words "Qin Zhao" stroke by stroke, filling up a whole page of paper.
His eyes suddenly became indescribable.
Qin Zhao is the best at having fun.
Chen Yanan had a good memory. He stumbled through reciting what Qin Zhao had just taught him. At a glance, he saw that Qin Zhao was also reading a copy of the Book of Rites beside him.
Chen Yanan asked curiously, "You finally figured it out, and are you ready to try the scientific examination?"
Qin Zhao: "It's possible."
"I told you long ago that you should give it a try. With your knowledge, you will definitely have no problem passing the examination for a scholar. You might even pass the imperial examination. Then you'll be the first juren from our village!"
Qin Zhao shook his head: "It's too early to talk about this."
"That's right, let's talk about it after we pass the Tongsheng exam." Chen Yan'an said, "It's good this way, then we can have someone to accompany us to the county town, so I don't have to go alone every time, which is lonely."
He thought for a moment and then asked, "Come to think of it, you are planning to study at home by yourself, instead of looking for a private tutor?"
Qin Zhao closed the book and said calmly, "I don't need it."
Chen Yanan: “…”
He could see that although Qin Zhao looked humble, he was actually more arrogant than anyone else.
But who can blame them for having the capital
Qin Zhao spent the whole afternoon teaching Chen Yanan more than ten pages of articles. Seeing that the sky was gradually getting dark, he said, "It will probably rain tonight. You should go back first."
It is almost summer now, which is the rainy season.
Chen Yanan also glanced at the sky and nodded: "Then I'll come back next time I have a day off."
Qin Zhao saw him out.
Chen Yanan glanced at Jing Li who was still practicing calligraphy in the room, pulled Qin Zhao aside, and asked, "Did you really send the koi away?"
Qin Zhao remained calm and said, "Send him away."
"What a pity!" Chen Yan'an said, "Even if you don't want to keep the koi and cause trouble, you can send it to the county town to exchange for some money. Why do you have to lose both your money and your life now?"
"..." Qin Zhao said, "That's not how this word is used."
Chen Yanan waved his hand: "It's all the same."
Qin Zhao didn't want to talk to him about this matter any more, so he asked again: "What did the little guy say to you just now?"
“You’re talking about sister-in-law? I didn’t, I didn’t say anything…” Chen Yan’an looked away guiltily.
Qin Zhao looked at him calmly.
Chen Yanan couldn't stand his gaze and confessed everything: "Well, it's not a big deal. He probably didn't dare to tell you because he was afraid that you would think too much. He just wanted to..."
After a while, Qin Zhao returned to the house.
Jing Li was still writing at his desk. When he saw Qin Zhao coming in, he excitedly picked up the paper in front of him and showed it to him: "Qin Zhao, I already know how to do it!"
The name on the paper had obviously been written more than fifty times. It was still very awkward at the beginning, but by the last piece it was obviously much smoother and more natural.
Jing Li had learned a little calligraphy before, the only thing he didn't know was the writing system of this era.
Therefore, as long as you remember the strokes, you can learn it quickly.
Qin Zhao took it, but frowned.
This calligraphy speed... isn't it a bit too fast
But he didn't say anything, just nodded: "You learn quickly."
Jing Li: "Please teach me something else!"
Qin Zhao asked: "What else do you want to learn?"
Jing Li said: "You want to learn my name."
Qin Zhao was startled: "Do you have a name?"
"What else? Do you think my name is Xiaoyu?"
Qin Zhao: “…”
Qin Zhao then realized that he seemed to have never asked this little guy's name.
When Qin Zhao brought him home, he just fed him as an ordinary fish and naturally didn't think that fish could have their own names.
Therefore, even though the little fish later turned into a human, he never asked.
"You can continue to call me Xiaoyu." Afraid of being misunderstood by Qin Zhao, Jing Li explained, "I really like you calling me that. Really, you don't have to change it. I just... I just want to tell you that I have another name."
Jing Li likes Qin Zhao to call him Xiaoyu, but he also hopes to find an opportunity to tell him his real name.
As a human name.
Jing Li looked up at Qin Zhao and said seriously, "My name is Jing Li."
Qin Zhao: “…”
Jing Li frowned unhappily: "What's so funny?"
Qin Zhao looked at him for a moment and couldn't help laughing: "Your name is Jinli, and you say you are not Jinli?"
"It's not Koi, it's Jingli!" Jingli said angrily, "Jing means scenery, Li means dawn!"
"Okay, I understand."
Qin Zhao picked up the pen and wrote this name next to his own.
"Jing Li... That's a good name." Qin Zhao repeated the name softly, but felt something was wrong.
It's a good name, but it doesn't sound like one for a fish.
Qin Zhao asked: "Who gave you this name?"
"yes… "
Jing Li was a little hesitant.
He has not yet told Qin Zhao about his time travel, and of course he doesn't dare to say that the name was given by his parents.
But Jing Li didn't want to lie to him.
Seeing Jing Li's hesitation, Qin Zhao touched the back of his head and said, "If you can't say it, then don't say it."
Jing Li raised his eyes and looked at him.
Qin Zhao was really gentle to him.
Whether it was knowing that he could turn into a human before, but pretending not to know and carefully protecting him. Or now, knowing that he had some secrets, but still being considerate and not asking too many questions.
Qin Zhao is really nice.
So good... He didn't want to let this person go.
If he was still a human when he came into this world, he certainly would not be afraid to approach Qin Zhao.
But now he is just a fish, a fake koi that sometimes can’t even behave like a human being and can’t even hide its tail.
Although he didn't show it, Jing Li was always worried in his heart. He was worried that Qin Zhao would dislike him because of this. So he obediently pretended to be a pet fish and tried his best to please him, hoping to stay by his side as a pet.
But he was not satisfied in his heart.
He didn't want to be treated as just a pet by this person.
Chen Yanan was right. Although he said that he wanted to help Qin Zhao find a husband, he actually didn't want Qin Zhao to find one at all.
Because... he wanted to be that guy.
Upright.
"What are you thinking about?" Qin Zhao bent down slightly and moved a little closer.
Jing Li felt like someone stepped on his tail, and his whole body trembled: "No, nothing!"
The ambition just now was completely gone in an instant.
Jing Li lowered his head timidly, managed to calm himself down, picked up the brush on the table and continued practicing calligraphy.
No matter how smart Qin Zhao was, he couldn't guess what his little fish was thinking at the moment.
But he noticed something else.
Jing Li's pen-holding habits, writing force, and even some of the ways of moving the pen, although a little clumsy, are generally correct.
Obviously not the first time writing.
It seems that the little guy is still hiding a lot of things from him.
Qin Zhao's eyes moved slightly, and he didn't intend to force the answer now.
Compared to those, he cared more about what Chen Yanan had just said to him.
He had just been out for half an hour in the morning when the little guy couldn't sit still and started doing bad things.
Where did his brother come from
Qin Zhao thought of this and suddenly called out softly, "Xiao Yu."
Jing Li: "What's the matter?"
Qin Zhao placed one hand on the table, looked down at the young man in his arms, and said softly, "Do you have anything to ask me?"
Jing Li paused for a moment.