The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 688 Always Heart-Wrenching (2)_1

Chapter 688: Chapter 688 Always Heart-Wrenching (2)_1

Pei Wendong and two others came over to ask after Pei Qin’s welfare. Seeing her clad in a different outfit and coming out with a relaxed expression and a slight smile, it was clear she was in a good mood. Pei Wendong’s expression darkened as he went into the house to see Pei Qin.

Pei Qin, yawning, said, "You all should go and listen too! Whether useful or not, after listening, differentiate and absorb!"

Pei Wendong’s face looked somewhat displeased as he cast his eyes down.

"A young scholar who has passed the Imperial Examination should maintain a sense of normalcy," Pei Qin laughed as she looked at him.

Pei Wendong was momentarily taken aback, then clenched his fists, "I’m sorry, elder sister." He knew he should regard everything about Songyang Academy with equanimity, but he just couldn’t rid himself of the discomfort in his heart. He didn’t want anyone to bully his elder sister!

"Go on!" Pei Qin nodded.

As the three of them left the house, Chang Yonglin patted him and whispered, "I think it’s your brother-in-law who’s really feeling stifled. Sister Qin didn’t want to marry him before. If there really was someone else, Sister Qin would kick him to the curb first!"

Pei Wendong gave him a white look, saying that was all well and good, but if his brother-in-law was stolen by another woman, the elder sister would definitely not be happy. Now that he was no longer a little kid and had a voice of his own, he would stand by his elder sister in everything. In the future, it would be his turn to protect her! So, his task now was to grow! Drawing in a deep breath, he said, "Let’s go!"

The trio entered the room, greeted everyone, and then sat down to listen.

Several students saw Pei Wendong and Xiao Yong, and their expressions changed. Mo Heng was a young scholar, and he had taught two young Scholars. It was also said that the newly titled Palace Graduate, Fang Liuming, had received his guidance. Looking at his unmatched handsome appearance and indifferently cool demeanor, he was certainly not to be underestimated.

Everyone geared up, discussing everything from domestic affairs to personal character cultivation, and from politics to warfare, each expressing their viewpoints and refuting arguments.

Pei Wendong and Chang Yonglin also often engaged in debates due to differing opinions, but to see such heated, red-faced exchanges was a first for them, leaving them somewhat dumbstruck.

Indeed, as Mo Heng said, it was just like a quarrel, albeit a quarrel among literati.

Pei Qin stuck a finger in her ear and simply decided to go to the front courtyard.

The few people in the backyard argued all afternoon, drank several pots of tea, and didn’t stop until they were too hungry to continue.

Several students, still not having had their fill, invited Mo Heng for a poetry competition that evening.

Mo Heng declined with a ’I’m not available’, ate dinner, and then sent the others away.

Pei Wendong, Chang Yonglin, and Xiao Yong had listened for most of the day, taking many notes. After Mo Heng’s explanations, they indeed benefitted greatly.

The next day, several students came over again, hoping to receive a calligraphy treasure from Mo Heng.

Mo Heng gifted each of the visitors a bag of pine-patterned eggs, but no calligraphy treasures.

The students, leaving with the pine-patterned eggs, felt elated despite not having bested anyone in debate. The three young prodigies had shown impressive insights, and taking home the esteemed pine-patterned eggs, they popularized them at Songyang Academy. Soon, the fame of the eggs traveled from Yuelu Academy all the way to places like Changsha Prefecture in Jiangnan.

People in Taiping Town started a new round of discussions. Mo Heng’s scholarship was such that even the talents from Songyang Academy and Yuelu Academy admitted inferiority. Indeed, he was formidable. Even his student Fang Liuming had passed the Imperial Examination and become an official. Surely, if Mo Heng were to participate in the examination himself, he could easily claim the title of head scholar!

More people stopped speculating that Pei Wendong had achieved his Scholar title through his family’s influence. Mo Heng’s scholarship was excellent, thus it was natural for his students to excel and obtain their titles justly. If Mo Heng had not already been in officialdom, students from all around would surely have flocked to him for instruction.

Fang Li began to ponder, "We should send Er Lang to the town as well! Let Mo Heng teach him too!" His youngest son was even brighter. If he had been sent there two years earlier, he would surely have been able to achieve the title of young Scholar just like Wendong and bring it home.