It was already class time, and everything in the school was quiet except for the sound of reading aloud from each classroom.
Shanshan followed Master Liu and saw a child poking his head at the door of the classroom from a distance. When he saw them walking in, he immediately shrank back. It seemed that someone shouted "Master is here". After a burst of noise, when they came to When we arrived at the door, all the students inside were already seated.
As soon as she entered the door, several pairs of eyes looked over, and Shanshan also took the opportunity to look at all the students in the classroom. Here she saw her two cousins at home, as well as the twins from the Xuanping Hou Mansion. Meeting her gaze, Qi Qing snorted and turned her head.
Shanshan also saw several little girls about her age.
She thought happily in her heart: It's okay if my cousin doesn't like to play with her, there are many students in the school anyway!
"This is Wen Shan and Tuoba Heng who have just entered school." Liu Fuzi introduced: "They will be your classmates from now on."
Those curious eyes fell on him. Shanshan pursed his lips and smiled happily at the other children.
Master Liu pointed to two empty desks: "You can sit there."
Shanshan sat down carrying the book bag her mother had made for herself.
She took out her textbook and pen and ink. Master Liu soon started class.
He first checked the students' homework before starting to teach today's knowledge. What I learned in school was similar to what I learned at home. They were all enlightened by reading the "Three Character Classic" and "The Thousand Character Classic".
Halfway through the morning class, during the recess, Shanshan and Shitou's tables were immediately crowded with other children.
"Your name is Wen Shan?"
"Why are his eyes gray?"
"Are you from the capital? I've never seen you before."
"Who is your father?"
The students in Qingsong Academy are all children of official families, and each family has contacts with each other. Most of them have known each other before they went to school, and it is rare to see a new face.
Shanshan's eyes were bright and she was about to answer when a voice suddenly sounded next to her: "Her father has died a long time ago."
Everyone turned to look at Qi Qing, who was sitting not far away and said, "She and her mother are living in our house now."
A child asked: "Qi Qing, is she a relative of your family?"
Qi Qing rolled her eyes and said, "She is from Yuncheng. Do you know where Yuncheng is? I have never seen her before. She just lived in my house not long ago."
Shanshan opened his mouth, trying to explain something, but his cousin seemed to have no problem. She wrinkled her face in embarrassment.
The other students suddenly lost their curiosity about her origins, and some children looked at the new classmate with gray eyes in surprise. Shitou was taller than other children and had a different appearance. Everyone who saw her would take a second look. Qi Qing said with a smile: "He used to be a beggar and was picked up by kindhearted people."
The children who gathered around looked at each other and immediately dispersed without interest.
Shanshan was at a loss. She looked at Qi Qing, who made a face at her and turned her head away.
The short break passed, and the master soon came back for the rest of the class. Shanshan had been looking forward to it for many days, but she didn't make any new friends. She looked around eagerly, but no child met her eyes.
noon.
Qi Yun came over to have lunch with her, "Shan Shan, are you still used to staying in school?"
Lunch was delivered from home, and the dishes were carefully cooked by the uncle's kitchen. It was rare for Shanshan to lose his appetite, so he said in despair: "Cousin, no one wants to make friends with me."
Qi Yun was stunned for a moment: "How could that happen?"
Shanshan can't explain why. She glanced at Qi Qing, who was at the same table, and knew that after her cousin spoke, the other students lost interest in her. But my cousin didn't seem to have said anything wrong. She didn't have a father, and Brother Shitou had also been a beggar.
Qi Qing pouted: "What do you want me to do?"
"Fourth sister." Qi Yun reminded: "Shanshan has her first day of school today. You are her sister, so take care of her."
"If others don't like to play with her, what does it have to do with me?" Qi Qing glanced at the stone next to her and suddenly became unhappy again: "How can he eat with us?"
"Why not?"
"Not together at home."
Qi Yun said patiently: "I told you before, this is a school, and we are all students of the school. Since we are students, we should sit together."
Qi Qing snorted, stood up and put most of the dishes into her bowl: "I won't eat with you, I'll go find my brother."
Qi Hui exchanged homework with his classmates today and did not eat with them.
Shanshan is even more lost.
She looked at the students sitting together in twos and threes around her. They all had lunch with their familiar classmates, communicated closely, and shared delicious food with each other. Shanshan was extremely envious. She looked to the side and saw that besides her older cousin, there was only one stone who was working hard.
When I arrived at the school, it seemed no different from home.
"Qi Yun, so you are here."
The three of them turned their heads together, and the prince stood behind them with a smile. He was also wearing the uniform of the school, and he was young and handsome in a blue gown. Qi Yun quickly stood up and said, "Your Highness."
"I asked why I can't find you anywhere. It turns out it's your cousin who went to school." The prince lowered his head and looked at Shanshan. The little girl didn't know what had happened to her. She looked like she was lost and sad. Her round little face was full of tears. Melancholy. He was delighted to see it: "What happened?"
Shanshan said sadly: "Your Highness, I am annoying."
"Who said that?"
"I think so."
When I was in Yuncheng, Yuncheng was a small place, and the Wen family was well-known for being charitable and charitable. Many people in the city recognized her. Every time Shanshan went out, the children she met were happy to play with her.
After arriving in the capital, her cousin didn't like her, and the students in the school didn't like her either. Shanshan had never received such cold treatment.
The prince laughed dumbly.
Qi Yun held his forehead and said: "Shan Shan is young, Your Highness, don't be surprised."
"What's this?" The prince thought for a moment and said, "Just wait here."
After that, he turned around and left, and after a while, he came back holding a little girl. The little girl looks only a little older than Shanshan, and she looks cute and well-behaved.
Shanshan sat up straight and looked over with bright eyes. She recognized it at a glance. This was a girl in her class.
"Jiahe, this is Shanshan, Qi Yun's sister." After the prince introduced him, he said to Shanshan, "This is Gu's sister."
"I know, I recognize her." Wen Jiahe looked at Shanshan curiously and gave her a friendly smile, "She is the new student today."
Prince: "Jiahe, she came to the capital not long ago. She just arrived at the school today. Please take care of her."
Shanshan's eyes brightened even more, like a puppy waiting to be fed. The little girl in front of her stretched out her hand, and she immediately took it. If there was a tail behind him, the afterimage would probably have shaken out by now.
The two little girls walked away together, and Shitou followed them silently holding his rice bowl. Qi Yun looked away and said with some surprise: "Why would Your Highness care about this matter?"
The prince touched his nose and looking back, he was surprised by his actions. But when he saw the little girl's lost look, he couldn't bear it and always wanted to comfort her.
Thinking of this, the prince glanced sideways at his friend: "You don't need to talk to me, but your sister is in trouble, and you just ignore it?"
Qi Yun: "..."
He opened his mouth to defend himself, but couldn't. Before he could come up with an explanation, the prince waved his hand again: "Forget it, although you are good at learning, you may not be good at being an elder brother."
Qi Yun: "..."
…
dusk.
The school was over, and students wearing cyan uniforms walked out one after another. Shanshan was carrying a book bag, turning his head and talking to Wen Jiahe, and the two walked side by side.
She was talking with great joy, even talking and gesticulating. When she walked out of the school gate, she accidentally tripped over the threshold and was caught by Shi Shi who was following behind her.
The stone held her steady, then took off her book bag and carried it on her back.
Wen Jiahe stepped onto the carriage of the eldest princess' mansion and said goodbye to her with a smile: "Shanshan, see you tomorrow."
Shanshan also waved to her happily: "See you tomorrow!"
"Next time when the school is on vacation, I will take you to play in the village outside the city."
"OK!"
She watched Wen Jiahe get into the carriage, then raised the curtain and waved to her, Shanshan responded cheerfully, watched her carriage drive away, and then walked towards the carriage waiting outside the school in the Zhongyong residence.
Others were already sitting inside.
Qi Qing had a stinky face, and when she saw her getting in, she snorted heavily. Before Shanshan's butt fell down, she said quickly: "Don't sit next to me."
Shanshan didn't mind either, so he moved to the other side, and Qi Xing sat inside, leaving room for her.
Qi Qing added: "Do you know who she is? She is the daughter of the eldest princess, and her father is also a general."
"I know." After a long time, Shanshan had already introduced his new friend to each other. Not only did she know that her new friend was the daughter of the eldest princess and the prince's cousin, but she also knew that her family had a puppy. She also loved theater as much as she did.
Qi Qing: "Do you think she is sincerely playing with you? It's just the first time she sees you and she feels fresh."
Qi Yun frowned: "Fourth sister, don't talk nonsense."
Qi Qing pouted her lips unhappily: "I'm not wrong. Look at her just now, running after Wen Jiahe. It's so embarrassing! We don't have such a person in our family."
"Fourth sister!"
Shan Shan is not angry either. Although her mother always said she was stupid, she could tell the difference between good and bad. Just like she always didn't like to hear what her cousin said. Wen Jiahe spoke softly and softly. She liked her new friends and also Love hearing her talk. She just opened her round eyes and looked at Qi Qing curiously.
Qi Qing said fiercely: "Don't look at me!"
Shanshan said "Oh" and looked away obediently.
As the carriage swayed, she picked at the seam of the little goldfish on her book bag and frequently raised her head to look at Qi Hui. Even while sitting in a rickety carriage, he was still holding a book and reading diligently.
Qi Qing was dissatisfied again: "What do you think my brother is doing?"
Shanshan was a little embarrassed to ask because he was afraid of being scolded again, but in the end he couldn't help being curious: "When I came out just now, I saw my second cousin following His Highness the Crown Prince. He seemed to have something to say, but His Highness the Crown Prince was there. When talking to the eldest cousin, he ignored the second cousin. Fourth cousin, what is this?"
"You..." Qi Hui's face turned red: "What do you know? I am asking His Highness the Crown Prince for advice."
"Has His Royal Highness answered you?"
"Your Highness is very busy."
Shanshan blinked and said in confusion: "The eldest cousin is here, why don't you ask him? The eldest cousin is also very powerful, and His Royal Highness will discuss knowledge with him."
Qi Yun asked at the right time: "Second brother, what don't you understand?"
"...No more. Qi Hui's face was stiff, "I've read it. "
When the carriage arrived home, he was the first to stand up and get out. Qi Qing glared at her and followed her.
…
Wen Yiqing was comparing the inventory in the house. When she heard her daughter calling her outside, she responded without raising her head. Sure enough, after a while, a small green figure opened the door and came in. He was covered in sweat and found her with a red face.
"mother!"
The nanny poured her a glass of water, and Shanshan drank it down. Before she could catch her breath, she couldn't wait to tell her about what happened in the school today.
She just went to school today, and everything she saw was new. The teachers in the school, the new friends she made, and even the sights she met on the road were all mentioned.
Wen Yiqing responded, doing two things at once, and quickly finished what he was doing. When it’s done, Shanshan is also finished.
She asked: "Have you ever encountered anything unpleasant?"
Shanshan thought for a while: "No more."
Originally there was. But His Royal Highness the Prince introduced his sister to her. Wen Jiahe was two years older than her. Although she was young, she was gentle and attentive, and he took good care of her. Along with her new friend, other children also come to play with her, which makes Shanshan very happy.
"And Brother Shitou."
Wen Yiqing: "What happened to the stone?"
"When others talk to him, he only nods and shakes his head. He has not made any friends." Not only does he have to go to school and make friends, but he also has to look after someone. Shanshan sighed heavily: "Oh, I have worked hard."
Wen Yiqing smiled.
Shitou scratched his head at the side without any excuse. He took out today's homework from his book bag and went to the desk beside him to start working on it.
…
Shan Shan lives like a fish in water in school.
She had just come to school, she was new to everything, she had a familiar temperament, she was kind to everyone, she always had a sweet smile on her round little face, and she could not dislike anyone. Within a few days, I quickly became involved with the children in the class.
This morning.
It was customary for everyone in the uncle's house to go to school in a carriage. This morning, the carriage and horse just started and suddenly stopped.
Qi Yun asked: "What's wrong?"
The coachman said: "There is someone blocking the car in front."
Shanshan poked his head out curiously.
I saw a man walking out of the carriage opposite. He was handsome and elegant in purple clothes. He came over with a boy and waving a folding fan.
Shanshan shouted in surprise: "Uncle Shen!"
Several other people in the carriage also looked at the sound.
"Sorry, everyone, please take a moment." Shen Yungui raised his chin, and the boy walked over from the carriage holding something as high as a hill. He smiled and said: "Shanshan, I heard that you went to school, and I prepared something for you."
He picked up the first one: "The Four Treasures of the Study."
Qi Hui saw the sign above with sharp eyes, "Yumoxuan?"
"That's right."
Qi Hui opened his eyes slightly: "I saw this set last time, and it seemed to cost a hundred taels."
Boss Shen shook his folding fan and said casually: "It's not worth it."
"..." Qi Hui sat back again.
Then he picked up a few: "A little jewelry."
It was Qi Qing's turn to poke her head in, "Ruyifang?!"
Shen Yungui praised: "Not bad."
Shan Shan said in embarrassment: "Uncle Shen, my mother said I can't accept your things."
He took out the third box, which was also the largest. "You don't want any snacks?"
As soon as the lid of the box was opened, the smell of the snacks came out, and now even Shanshan couldn't take his eyes away.
She sniffed, her mouth filled with saliva: "But, but my mother..."
"Didn't I give you a gift for your last birthday? Going to school is a big deal, so it's understandable that I would give you a gift. Even if your mother knew about it, she wouldn't be able to say anything. If you don't accept it, just do whatever you want with it. "After saying that, without waiting for Shanshan to refuse, he instructed his servants to unload these things to the door of Uncle Zhongyong's house. In addition to those introduced, there are also many bits and pieces piled up to half a person's height.
After delivering the gifts, he didn't waste any time and quickly got out of the way.
When the two carriages passed each other, he said to Shanshan from a distance: "I bought a new village. Next time your school is on vacation, remember to come to my place."
Shanshan happily agreed.
The carriage drove away quickly. She sat back and looked up to see everyone looking at her.
Qi Yun's expression was a little complicated: "Shan Shan, that person just now was..."
"He is Uncle Shen."
There were so many gift boxes placed at the door of the uncle's house that the servants in the house were also attracted, and everyone looked at them sideways.
Shan Shan was extremely sad: "If my mother finds out, she will scold me again."
Shanshan kept some notes and pen and ink because her mother had warned her beforehand, but she didn't dare to touch anything else. She skillfully instructed the servants of the uncle's house to move the things in, leaving her mother to deal with it.
She had done this kind of thing several times in Yuncheng, and she did it with ease.
Everyone looked at each other.
Even though the uncle's house is rich and noble, he will be shocked by the things all over the place at this time. When they went to school, the elders in the family gave them gifts, but they were not so extravagant.
"He often gives you these?" Qi Qing stared at the gift box of Ruyifang on the ground without blinking. She just took a look, and it was full of new bead and flower jewelry. Although she is still young, she has learned to love beauty.
Shanshan: "Yes!"
"The jewelry in Ruyifang is so expensive."
Shanshan is confused: "Is it expensive?"
Qi Qing: "..."
Shanshan thought for a while and said considerately: "You can ask your mother to buy it for you."
"..."
The carriage fell into an eerie silence.
Until the school, no one spoke anymore, Qi Hui's eyes frequently looked at the set of pen and ink.
Shanshan didn't realize it. After the class, she generously shared the snacks with other students before the master came to class.
Wen Jiahe also brought snacks from home today, so he took them out at this time. When Shanshan tasted them, he exclaimed: "I seem to have eaten this snack somewhere before."
Qi Qing immediately said: "Everyone in the eldest princess's house is an imperial chef. How come you have eaten there?"
Shanshan couldn't remember it for a moment.
The other children were already familiar with her. They were still holding the snacks she had just given out in their hands and had not yet swallowed the ones in their mouths. At this time, they were all talking: "Wen Shan, the snacks you brought are from Baozhizhai." ?"
"It's very difficult to buy this one. You have to queue up for a long time every time. It doesn't work even if you use my father's name."
"It's also very expensive. Every time my mother gives me money, it's gone after just a few pieces."
Shanshan said nonchalantly: "That should be it."
Qi Qing interrupted again: "How could it be from Baozhizhai?"
No one could refute the previous sentence, but they could argue with this one.
"This is Baozhizhai's dim sum. I have eaten it before, and it tastes exactly the same."
"Look, there's a name on the box."
Someone asked: "Qi Qing, why do you always go against Wen Shan?"
Qi Qing was furious: "Who is going against her!"
Shanshan didn't mind either. She never held grudges, and now she asked in a good-tempered manner, holding the snacks: "Fourth cousin, do you want some snacks?"
Qi Qing turned her head hard.
Everyone paid no attention to her, and after sharing the snacks with each other, when the master came to the first class, they saw that the students all had round and bulging bellies, and their bodies smelled sweet.
After school in the afternoon, Qi Qing got into the carriage. The carriage was empty this afternoon. Apart from her, there were only Qi Hui and Qi Xing, but no Qi Yun.
"Where's eldest brother?" she asked.
Qi Hui lowered his head to read without raising his head: "He said he was going to the study to buy books, so he left first."
Qi Qing nodded.
She lifted the curtain and looked outside. In a short time, the carriage parked at the entrance of the school had left. The students after class dispersed like birds and beasts, and the crowded and lively entrance of the school became deserted in the blink of an eye.
She looked at the grand door of the school and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She lowered the car curtain and said to the coachman: "Go home."
Qi Xing was surprised: "Shanshan hasn't come yet."
Qi Hui also raised his head from behind the book.
The brother and sister looked at each other and saw the same thought in each other's eyes.
He also nodded: "Go home."
Qi Xing: "But..."
She was timid by nature, and after being stared at, she didn't dare to say a word. The driver raised his whip and the carriage quickly left Qingsong Academy.
On the other side, Shanshan still doesn’t know what happened.
She always moved slowly. After packing her book bag and the students were about to leave, just when she was about to go home, He Lanzhou appeared at the door and called her with a gentle smile: "Wen Shan."
Shanshan still remembered him and shouted: "Congratulations, Sir!"
"You don't have to call me that in school." He smiled and said, "You are just like them, just call me sir."
Shanshan changed his words: "Mr. He."
Qi Xing: "But..."
"It's your first time in school. I should have come to congratulate you earlier. It's just that I was busy with work some time ago and couldn't spare the time, so I was a little late." He Lanzhou took out a brocade box and said gently: "I chose one for you. The pen, although simple, is suitable for children of your age."
Shanshan thanked me obediently.
Seeing that she was not very interested, He Lanzhou paused and said, "Don't like it?"
Shanshan shook his head, "I like it."
"Then how..."
"But I have a lot."
Knowing that she was going to school, her eldest aunt gave her a set of the Four Treasures of the Study, and her second aunt also gave her a writing brush. Her mother also prepared everything for her, not to mention that Shen Yungui stopped her today and gave her something else. Less stuff. Even if she had ten hands, she wouldn't be able to use them all.
Shanshan thought for a while and said to him, "Mr. He, please wait."
She bent down, took out a brand new set of four treasures of the study from under her desk, and dragged them in front of him with great difficulty. "Uncle Shen gave this to me, but I can't use it. He said I can use it however I want. You have to learn every day, so it's best to use this."
He Lanzhou lowered his eyes and saw the Yumoxuan logo engraved on the box. How come a scholar in the capital has never heard of Yu Mo Xuan? He himself often visited it, and he could recognize it at a glance. This set of pen and ink was the most precious and valuable set in the shop. The pen barrels were all made of jade.
He lowered his head to look at the brush in his hand. Although he had carefully selected it, he was immediately put to shame by the splendor opposite him.
He felt a little complicated: "I'm here to give you a gift, how can I accept your things?"
"It doesn't matter." Shanshan said, "Because of your help, I can go to school. My mother told me to remember your kindness and thank you."
"Really?" He Lanzhou's eyebrows lit up: "Did your mother say it herself?"
"Yes!"
Children are innocent and speak sincerely without any politeness. He was even more happy and was about to nod with a smile on his face when he suddenly heard something was wrong: "...who is Uncle Shen?"
"Uncle Shen is Uncle Shen."
"He...can he get married?"
"No."
"He is your biological uncle?"
"No."
"he……"
Shanshan looked at him and said clearly: "He also wants to be my stepfather."
He Lanzhou: "..."
The face of the high-spirited and glorious former top criminal suddenly froze.
He lowered his head again and looked at the four treasures of the study with the Yumoxuan logo printed on them, exuding wealth and wealth everywhere, and then looked down at the simple and unpretentious brush in his hand.
His expression suddenly became strange.
Shanshan tilted his head: "Sir?"
He Lanzhou suddenly raised his head.
"You wait here."
Good and good are unknown.
I saw him leaving quickly. After a while, he hurried back with a brocade box. Without any explanation, he stuffed the brocade box into Shanshan's arms and said hastily: "This is the purple hair pen that your Majesty gave me." , I will give it to you today as a gift for you to go to school. I hope you will be knowledgeable and determined, and will never tire of learning."
Shan Shan was stunned.
She looked at the new brush blankly, wondering why there was another one.
She pushed the four treasures of the study over: "Sir, then this..."
He Lanzhou's tone was complicated, "Although you can't use it now, it is a gift you received after all. You don't have to give it to me. Keep it well."
He touched Shanshan's head: "It's getting late, let's go home."
Shan Shan nodded obediently.
After a delay, the remaining students in the school had almost left.
The orange afterglow fell, and everywhere in the school was deserted. Shanshan was afraid that his cousin and the others would be impatient, so he hurriedly ran out, pulling the stone. They ran out of the school gate and stopped involuntarily.
On weekdays, the open space in front of the school would be filled with carriages and sedans from various prefectures coming to pick up people. After a while, it was already empty, and not even a wheel was seen.
Shan Shan turned his head blankly and looked at each other with Shi Shi.
Where is their carriage?
