Chapter 477: Heartache
Editor: Atlas Studios
“Besides, it will take at least half a month for the authentic item to reach here. Moving it around will easily take another 20 days. How much knowledge can one learn in 20 days?”
Qi Haoran looked so heartbroken as if he was so studious.
“Besides, naturally, good things are left for good brothers, right?” Qi Haoran patted his shoulder and said.
Chen Qian looked at Qi Haoran and said seriously, “Haoran, if you can really bring the real painting over, I’ll agree to another request of yours as long as it’s within my abilities.”
“Sure, sure!”
Carrying the letter of recommendation, Qi Haoran rushed to Chen Guangdi’s villa in the suburbs with a silk bag. Without handing over his own post, Qi Haoran handed Chen Fang’s letter to the servants.
He was quickly invited in. Chen Guangdi was playing the zither in a pavilion halfway up the mountain. Qi Haoran looked up at the sky. At this moment, the sun had just risen and the October weather was already a little wet and cold. When the wind blew on his body, it even felt bone-chilling. How much willpower did one have to get up early in the morning to go up the mountain to play the zither?
However, Qi Haoran still stepped forward respectfully and stood at the side.
After the song ended, Chen Guangdi looked up at Qi Haoran and asked with a frown, “Which family are you from?”
“Teacher, I’m Chen Qian’s classmate.” Seeing Chen Guangdi frown even more, he hurriedly said, “But this time, I’m here for my cousin…”
An hour later, Chen Guangdi put down the folded book in his hand and rubbed it reluctantly. “This is Qian’er’s father’s treasure. How did you get it?”
Qi Haoran chuckled and pointed at the letter. “The same method as that letter.” It was all given by Chen Qian.
Did he beg for it?
When did his cousin become so generous?
Moreover, it seemed that his cousin could not make the decision for his nephew in this matter, right?
Chen Guangdi thought for a moment and said, “The villa is very big. Since a few of my students are also participating in the Spring Quarter Examinations next year, ask him to move in and study with them tomorrow.”
Qi Haoran heaved a sigh of relief and bowed.
After Qi Haoran left, a middle-aged man with an ashen face walked out from behind a large rock at the side. He bowed and said, “Master, this thing is Master Sheng’s treasure and he doesn’t even let you take a peek at it. How did that kid get his hands on this thing?”
Chen Guangdi picked up the item and smiled. “No matter how he got it, it’s in my hands now. Don’t spread this news. I’ll admire it in detail when I get back tonight.”
Qi Haoran, who had gone down the mountain, ran back to ask Fan Zijin for credit and to help pack his luggage.
Fan Zijin said in surprise, “Why would Elder Chen agree to guide me?”
Qi Haoran proudly told him about the deal between him and Chen Qian. Fan Zijin’s expression changed and he kicked him angrily. He roared, “You actually let go of such a precious thing just like that. If you didn’t want the item, you could’ve just given it to me!”
He was so angry that he jumped around the room. Then, he circled around Qi Haoran non-stop. In the end, he couldn’t help but kick him again. “Do you know that it’s a priceless treasure? Do you know?”
Qi Haoran dodged and glared at him. “No matter how priceless a treasure is, it’s just a collectible. It can’t be eaten or drunk. I really don’t understand why scholars like you find it so precious. Anyway, I’ve already given it away. Just tell me if you want to go to the villa.”
Fan Zijin gritted his teeth. In the end, his heart ached so much that he fell onto the couch. He kept pounding his feet and chest as he cried. “Why am I so stupid? I should have checked Big Brother’s treasury back then. Such a treasure was wasted by you just like that…”
Although Fan Zijin felt it was a great pity, he still asked Yanmo to pack up his things and move to the villa tomorrow. He even looked a little aggressive.
After being scolded, Qi Haoran shrunk his neck and sat at the side. Fan Zijin worked on a set of questions as if he was venting. When he looked up and realized that Qi Haoran was still here, he pursed his lips and asked, “What are you still doing here? Didn’t you say that you wanted to take care of Ah Ling?”
“Do you think I want to be here?” Qi Haoran was a little discouraged. “I lied to her and said that I was attending court. Previously, I promised her not to tell anyone about her pregnancy before it was confirmed. But now that the matter’s blown up, how can I dare to go back?”
Fan Zijin narrowed his eyes and asked, “In other words, she doesn’t know what’s going on outside yet?”
Qi Haoran nodded. “I’ve already ordered for the servants to be strictly prohibited from talking about the news outside. Moreover, if she doesn’t leave the residence, it shouldn’t be a problem to hide it from her for a few days. But she can’t very well stay at home indefinitely. I wonder if she’ll settle scores later.”
Fan Zijin threw down his pen and stood up. “Let’s go. I’ll go back to the Qi Residence with you to take a look. Speaking of which, I haven’t visited Little Treasure for a few days. Also, I’m craving gourd chicken.”
The gourd chicken was a famous dish in the Jingzhao Prefecture. The chefs they brought from the Jingzhao Prefecture knew how to prepare it, so Qi Haoran did not suspect anything and brought Fan Zijin back to the Qi Residence.
The moment Fan Zijin saw Mu Yangling, he told her about Qi Haoran’s mistake and how he wanted to keep the matter from her.
Qi Haoran roared and hugged Fan Zijin, wanting to drag him out. However, Fan Zijin grabbed the door tightly and raised his head firmly. “Sister-in-law, you have to teach him a good lesson regarding this, lest he acts before discussing things with others in the future…”
At this point, Fan Zijin’s eyes were filled with tears. “Giving away a priceless treasure like it was useless paper…”
Mu Yangling looked at the two of them in shock. In the end, she slowly closed her mouth and turned to face Spring. “Didn’t the kitchen stir-fry chestnuts? Go get them. We’ll sit and watch the show.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Qi Haoran immediately let go, threw Fan Zijin aside, and ran over eagerly. He said carefully, “Ah Ling, this is all my fault. At that time, I was so happy that I forgot what I had written on the memorial. If you’re angry, you can hit or kick me, but you can’t hold it in lest you suffocate the child.”
Mu Yangling opened her eyes and glanced at him. “Alright, I’m not angry. If I were so easily angered, I would have been angered to death by you long ago.”
She turned to look at Fan Zijin. “What did you do to offend Cousin Zijin though?”
Fan Zijin snorted and tidied his clothes. He sat at the table and poured himself a cup of tea. “He exchanged Emperor Shizong’s ‘Emperor Shizong’s Admonishment Memorial’ with Chen Qian so that I can go to Chen Guangdi’s villa to study and revise.”
“Chen Guangdi? The former head of Pine Mountain Academy?”
Fan Zijin nodded with a dark expression. Smiling, Mu Yangling said, “Isn’t that a good thing? I heard that Chen Guangdi is quite knowledgeable. Studying with him for four months is better than studying alone for a year.”
“What’s so good about that? That’s the ‘Emperor Shizong’s Admonishment Memorial’ we’re talking about.”
Mu Yangling’s eyes were filled with confusion as she said, “Doesn’t that thing only have collectible value? Anyway, the contents of that item are written in books. Even if we get the real piece, one can only leave it at home to grow dust. It can’t be eaten or drunk. How can it be more practical than studying with Old Chen?”
Qi Haoran nodded repeatedly and said, “That’s right, that’s right.”