When Qin Zhao personally escorted the bailiff out of the door, the people surrounding the door had already dispersed, and Jing Li was cleaning up the firecracker debris in front of the door.
Qin Zhao also went to the corner and got a broom to help him sweep.
"Where is Chen Yanan?" Qin Zhao asked.
Jing Li said, "He went to the government office to check the rankings. It was a chaotic morning, and he didn't even know if he passed the exam or not."
Qin Zhao responded and asked, "Didn't he say anything to you?"
"say what?"
"… fine."
It seems that the boy knows how to judge the situation.
It’s fine to just talk about the child marriage in front of Qin Zhao, but if you really dare to tell it to Jing Li, you will definitely be in trouble.
Jing Li stood up and asked, "You don't even ask me how I got rid of those matchmakers?"
Qin Zhao hadn't taken this matter to heart at all. He only remembered it when Jing Li mentioned it and asked, "How did you do it?"
"I told the matchmaker that my husband and I were in love and would not tolerate anyone else. The only person who could enter my house was a concubine or a servant, and serve me in a humble manner." Jing Li winked at him, his tone quite proud, "Then they all ran away."
Most of those who could find a matchmaker to propose marriage were ladies from prominent families, and at the very least, their looks would not be too bad. No one would be willing to be suppressed under a Shuang'er and become a concubine.
Qin Zhao laughed: "Aren't you afraid of people gossiping about you?"
"Just tell me, it's the truth." Jing Li said, "I'm just stingy and I can't stand anyone who's targeting you."
Qin Zhao finished sweeping up the last bit of debris, took the broom from Jing Li's hand, tilted his head and kissed Jing Li on the side of his face: "Got it, ma'am."
There were 40 people admitted in this college entrance examination. Chen Yanan was lucky enough to get 36th place. However, He Zhixing and his classmates were not so lucky. They both failed and had to wait another year.
They were mentally prepared and not disappointed.
After all, the review time is short this time, and I come to take the college entrance examination just to adapt to the environment first. I don’t have too much hope, and it doesn’t matter if I fail.
As for Chen Yanan, he attributed all this to the blessing of the little fish. He bought a lot of toys and clothes for the baby that day, and even asked someone to make a rocking crib for him.
"This is to fulfill a wish." Chen Yan'an looked at the little cub sleeping soundly in the crib and said in a low voice, "And I made another wish. If I treat him well, maybe he can help me realize it. No, he must help me realize it."
Jing Li knew what his wish was without him having to say anything.
This guy has been secretly in love with Ayi for more than a year, just waiting to pass the imperial examination so that he can go back and propose marriage.
But looking at his appearance, Jing Li doubted whether he could bring himself to say that.
"Remember to go back and convince your mother first." Before Chen Yan'an left, Jing Li couldn't help but reminded him.
Chen Yanan's mother has a strong personality, so it is still unclear whether she will agree to Chen Yanan marrying Shuang'er.
Jing Li was really afraid that Ayi would be bullied again if he followed him.
"I know. Aren't we going to go back and tell her?" Chen Yan'an said, "Don't worry, I won't let Ayi be bullied."
Jing Li was a little surprised.
When he first met this little fat boy, he was still impulsive and willful. He didn't expect that after a year, he had matured a lot.
… Yeah, I lost a lot of weight too.
Chen Yanan seemed to see what Jing Li was thinking, and he chuckled: "I am the second scholar in our village, so you should have some confidence in me."
Qin Zhao: “The third one.”
"..." Chen Yan'an compromised, "Okay, I'll be third, that's not bad either, there aren't many scholars in our entire county."
The boat back to town slowly approached the shore. The boatman helped Chen Yan'an carry his luggage aboard. Chen Yan'an asked, "Brother Qin, are you really not going back to the village?"
Qin Zhao shook his head: "I am in the city preparing for next year's provincial examination."
"It's not just the provincial examination." Chen Yan'an blinked meaningfully and pretended to be sad, "Alas, I have to show my courtesy now, otherwise after two years, when Brother Qin becomes the new top scholar, I will no longer be able to marry him."
Qin Zhao chuckled: "Hurry up and get on the boat."
After seeing Chen Yan'an off, Qin Zhao held the child and took her husband by the hand and got on the carriage back to the inner city.
As soon as he got on the carriage, Xiao Yuzai couldn't wait to wave his arms and asked Qin Zhao to help him lift the curtain.
What he wore today was the small clothes that Chen Yanan gave him. The soft light pink top had two small fish embroidered with gold thread on the collar. It looked vivid and somewhat like his original appearance.
The kid leaned on the car window and looked outside. I don't know what he saw, but he started giggling and babbling.
—Since he got used to making noises, this kid has never been quiet for a moment.
The little fish were so cute, like porcelain dolls, that many passers-by looked into the car.
If we count from the day the little fish hatched from the egg, he is only three months old now, but he is obviously growing faster than his peers and is more active.
While other three-month-old babies can only move their heads and fingers, this little guy can already wave his arms freely, sit up for a short time, and turn over with the help of his father.
But it is still not as flexible as when it is a fish.
You know, when this kid was a fish, jumping around was no problem at all, he could jump from the bedroom to the study room by himself. But now, he can't even walk, and can only be held by his two fathers all the time.
But the little fish seems to prefer the feeling of being a human.
Jing Li was still very excited when he first became a human, but later he began to dislike this little bastard who always pestered them and left them no time to be alone. Qin Zhao coaxed the little fish cub to turn back into a fish and went back to sleep in the fish tank at night.
But the kid wouldn't listen. Several times he jumped onto the bed in the middle of the night and turned back into human form. No matter how the two of them tried to coax him, it was useless and they could only accept their fate.
"He just likes you to hold him." Jing Li pinched the kid's chubby little hand and muttered.
"I don't think so."
Qin Zhao hugged the soft body tightly and said softly: "He just wants to be like us."
Because his fathers are all in human form, he wants to become a human faster.
A few days later, on August 14, a carriage heading out of the city stopped in front of the house early in the morning.
Jing Li buttoned up the clothes of the sleepy Yuzai and asked nervously, "Are Yuzai and I really going?"
"I have to go for three days. Are you willing to not see me for three days?" Qin Zhao was already dressed. Seeing Jing Li's hair was still loose, he pulled her to the dressing table. "Besides, that's a hot spring villa. Don't you want to go and have some fun?"
Jing Li hummed: "I do want to..."
But this time it was a bureau organized by the prefect, and the people who went were all famous scholars in the prefecture. Jing Li had never seen such a scene before... and was a little nervous.
"Don't worry, I'm here." Qin Zhao helped him put his hair up and inserted a wooden hairpin carved into the shape of a fish into his hair. He said softly, "My husband is so handsome, there's nothing to worry about."
That was true, but an hour later, when Jing Li and Qin Zhao arrived in the mountains by carriage, they saw from afar several carriages parked in front of the hot spring villa and yamen runners guarding the door, and their legs inevitably went weak.
Qin Zhao was about to get off the car with his baby in his arms, but Jing Li stopped him: "What if I say something wrong..."
"No." Qin Zhao held his hand with his backhand and whispered, "If you are really scared, then hold me tighter."
This hot spring villa is located in a deep mountain outside the city. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides and the city is completely invisible.
There was someone waiting at the gate of the villa. Qin Zhao showed the invitation. After carefully checking it, the person bowed to Qin Zhao and said, "It turns out to be Master Sanyuan. I have been waiting for you for a long time."
Qin Zhao returned the greeting.
"My last name is Liu, and I'm the housekeeper of this hot spring villa. Just tell me if you have anything to say." Housekeeper Liu personally led Qin Zhao in and said with a smile, "I didn't expect Mr. Qin to have a wife and children at such a young age. I'm afraid this has hurt a lot of people's hearts."
Qin Zhao is now very famous in the city, not only because of his title of Xiao Sanyuan, but also because of his face.
Not many people knew Qin Zhao before, but after he won the third place in the imperial examination, many people went to his house to join in the fun and saw what he looked like. It would have been fine if he was talented, but he was also so good-looking. Word spread quickly, and his fame spread.
Qin Zhao held Jing Li's hand tightly and said calmly: "Butler, you are joking."
The attitude is obvious.
Butler Liu shut up after considering the situation.
The hot spring villa was built on the mountain. Butler Liu led them up along the stone road and through a bamboo path. Suddenly, the view in front of them opened up.
This is a courtyard built halfway up the mountain. There are several open-air hot spring pools in the courtyard. Standing in front of the courtyard and looking out, you can see the misty valley in the distance.
"This courtyard is secluded, you will stay here for the next three days." Butler Liu said, "All the necessities of life have been prepared in the house, and there are servants around the courtyard. If there is anything missing, just call us."
Qin Zhao: "Thank you."
Butler Liu added, "The prefect is hosting a banquet in the hall tonight. Someone will come to call you in a while. Don't miss the time."
Qin Zhao nodded in agreement.
Only after Butler Liu left did Jing Li let go of Qin Zhao's hand and carried the kid into the house.
There are two rooms in this courtyard, one is a bedroom and the other is a bathing room, which also has several hot springs.
The outdoor and indoor areas are arranged very appropriately.
“This place is so nice.”
Qin Zhao walked into the bedroom and saw the two children, one big and one small, lying on the bed in the same posture. Jing Li sighed, "The prefect is really rich. He actually invited us to such a nice place and live in such a nice house."
Qin Zhao put the clothes he brought into the closet and said calmly, "It is said that the prefect of Jiangling is honest and incorruptible. This is not like his style."
Jing Li looked at the beam above his head and blinked: "Who invited us here?"
Qin Zhao did not answer.
He tilted his head to look out the window. The afternoon sun was shining brightly, with the clouds breaking and the sun rising.
Qin Zhao smiled softly: "We'll know in the evening."
Jing Li soon discovered the fun of this hot spring villa.
The courtyard where they lived was very quiet, and the road leading up was secluded and few people knew about it. If they went up a little further, they would reach the top of the mountain, where the scenery was endless and there were no outsiders around.
It’s so good.
Jing Li didn't rush to soak in the hot springs, but pulled Qin Zhao to the top of the mountain. The two of them sat on a huge rock on the top of the mountain, enjoying the cool autumn breeze and eating the pastries Qin Zhao had brought them. Before they knew it, half a day had passed.
The sun was setting in the distance, and the little fish had already fallen asleep in Qin Zhao's arms.
Jing Li leaned on Qin Zhao's shoulder, tilted his head to glance at him, and said with a smile: "It's a beautiful woman and a beautiful scenery, but I always feel like there's something missing."
Qin Zhao: "What's missing?"
“Good wine.”
Qin Zhao: “…”
He has not forgotten what happened to this man last year after drinking.
Qin Zhao stopped smiling and said calmly, "Don't even think about it."
"Stingy." Jing Li snorted, dusted off his clothes and stood up, "It's almost time, we should go down the mountain."
After all, it was the prefect who hosted the banquet, and they couldn't be late.
The two were going to go back to the house to change clothes, but when they returned to the yard, they saw a young servant standing in front of the yard: "My master wants to have a private chat with Mr. Qin."
Qin Zhao and Jing Li looked at each other and asked, "Your master?"
"Yes." The attendant said, "My master is in the house, please go in alone, Mr. Qin."
Jing Li frowned: "But the prefect is not-"
"Xiao Yu." Qin Zhao interrupted him and handed the sleeping child in his arms to him. "It's okay. I'll go in and take a look. You wait here for me."
Jing Li was inexplicably unhappy, but he could only nod: "I know."
The attendant stepped aside and Qin Zhao walked into the courtyard.
The door of the main house was open, and a figure stood inside the house with his back to him. He turned around when he heard footsteps.
That's not the prefect.
Qin Zhao stared at the other person's face, walked slowly into the house, turned around and closed the door: "I was just wondering how you would come to see me, but I didn't expect it to be such a... ostentatious way."
"My husband is indeed a bit clingy. You can't find a chance to be alone with me. There's nothing I can do about it."
Qin Zhao smiled softly and said, "Long time no see, Gu Changzhou."
With a dull thump, the other party knelt behind Qin Zhao, his voice trembling: "Your subordinate... pays respect to the prince."