Chu Nanzhi quietly watched the two of them leave. She felt both angry and amused.
This family was getting more and more absurd. They had started to openly fight for money.
Just as she was feeling a little depressed, she heard Liu Qingbo sigh bitterly.
"County Magistrate Lin has praised the entire Luyan Harbor. Why are there so many clowns in this family?"
Chu Nanzhi looked up at him. Seeing his meaningful expression, she wondered if she was one of the clowns.
Of the three people in front of her, only the Village Chief was uneducated. The other two were famous scholars who had once been known throughout the Great He Empire. She still had some respect for them.
Seeing that they were asking Lin Jinxiao about his condition, Chu Nanzhi hurried into the guest hall to tidy up and prepare some herbal tea. Then, she came out and said to them, "Village Chief, Elders, please come in and have a seat."
Li Ce immediately helped Lin Jinxiao into the house.
At this moment, the four children crowded around Nie Huaian and called out expectantly, "Grandpa Nie, we want candy."
Nie Huaian smiled brightly. He held the children's hands and said amiably, "Of course Grandpa Nie didn't forget you. Today, Grandpa Nie brought you the most famous red bean cakes in the county."
As he spoke, he took out a large bag of pastries and handed it to Lin Ruiwen. "Take it and share it with your younger siblings."
The four children seldom got to eat such expensive pastries. They happily took the pastries and escorted Nie Huaian into the house.
After waiting for everyone to go to the guest hall, Chu Nanzhi saw Chang Yanjue standing at the entrance of the courtyard with his walking stick. He stood there sternly, refusing to move.
She realized that this old man had been looking very stern ever since he entered the courtyard. He and his student were really cast from the same mold.
She remembered that this Elder Chang had an excellent reputation. He used to be the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. Later on, for some reason, he resigned and retired to his hometown. More than ten years ago, he took on Lin Jinxiao as his last disciple and refused to accept a single cent from him.
The old man had intended to betroth his niece to Lin Jinxiao, but he had not expected Liu Yun to interfere.
Coupled with the fact that the Host had a poor reputation, Elder Chang had a bad opinion of the Host. He felt that the Host had affected Lin Jinxiao's future.
As a result, this was his first time visiting them since Lin Jinxiao's marriage.
Seeing that he was unwilling to enter the house, Chu Nanzhi looked up at the sky again. It was scorching hot. When she stood under sun, she could sense nature's malice. She was beginning to sweat.
In this day and age, it was important not to expose oneself. Women suffered even more. In the summer, no matter how airy the cloth was, they would still look like they were wrapped in a blanket.
She looked at the pergola with a stone table and said with a smile, "Older people prefer to bask in the sun, but the sun is really hot. If Elder Chang doesn't want to enter the house, please rest over there."
Unexpectedly, the old man's expression turned icy and he ignored her completely.
At this moment, Nie Huaian also walked out, puffing and blowing.
Nie Huaian glanced at Chu Nanzhi angrily and started to gesture at Chang Yanjue with his walking stick, as if measuring the distance between them.
When he was about half a meter away, the old man imitated Chang Yanjue and leaned on his walking stick. He stood there in a dignified and serious manner, like two Buddha statues that were blocking the entire courtyard door.
These two old men were really strange.
Chu Nanzhi sighed wryly and looked at the scorching sun in confusion. She had no choice but to hide in the shade first.
After a while, Lin Jinxiao saw that there was no movement outside. Worried that something had happened to the two old men, he came out with his walking stick and invited them in. "It's hot outside. Teachers, please come inside and rest."
The two elders were unmoved. One gritted his teeth, while the other pursed his lips. Beads of sweat began to appear on their foreheads.
Chu Nanzhi pursed her lips helplessly and said with a smile, "It's just too hot. Even if you prefer to admire the scenery in the courtyard, you can't just stand there with dry lips. Please wait a moment. I'll make a cup of hot tea for the two elders to warm up."
When Nie Huaian heard this, he immediately lost his reservations. He nodded and stroked his beard. "Don't trick me. I won't fall for your trick. I'm not like him."
"Did you really solve the tax case?"
Just as Elder Nie finished speaking, she heard Chang Yanjue's deep voice.
"That's what they say."
Chu Nanzhi immediately replied.
She began to rejoice inwardly. It seemed that her words were effectively. This old man could not hold out any longer.
Otherwise, if these two scholars persisted, they might fall sick and she would not be able to bear the consequences.
Chang Yanjue could not help but smile bitterly when he heard her answer.
He had been studying this case ever since the taxes went missing, but could not find a single clue. In the end, he could only agree with the laymen view that it was achieved through the sorcery of the Dongsang people. He watched helplessly as his beloved disciple was sentenced to death.
He did not expect a woman to solve the case so easily. His lifetime of experience was worthless.
As for mercury and cinnabar, he had often seen them in the palace, but he had never thought that they would react with gold. However, after repeated experiments at home yesterday, he had no choice but to accept this fact.
He leisurely walked to the stone table in the pergola and sat down slowly. He held his walking stick with both hands and thought for a while before he shifted his gaze to Chu Nanzhi.
"Madam Chu, you have hidden talents. I did not know that you were so well versed in this area."
"Elder Chang is too kind."
Chu Nanzhi pretended to be stupid as she replied, "Even a broken clock is right twice a day. It was just a coincidence."
Such humble words made Chang Yanjue feel much better. His gloomy face gradually relaxed.
He looked at Lin Jinxiao, who was leaning on a cane in front of the house, and said with a smile, "I'm relieved that you're fine now. Take good care of your health."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stood up and cupped his hands at Nie Huaian. "Elder Nie, take care. I'll take my leave first."
However, Nie Huaian grabbed him. "We haven't seen each other for a long time. I knew you were coming, so I specially brought some good wine. It's wonderful that Jinxiao survived this calamity. You should stay and celebrate with us."
As he spoke, he instructed Li Ce to get the wine from the inner room.
However, he suddenly frowned as he looked at the two bottles of wine. "I came in a hurry and didn't prepare any good dishes. But it's not a big deal. Li Ce, take my carriage to buy a few nice dishes."
Then, he took out two taels of silver and handed them to Li Ce. Just as Li Ce was about to leave, he saw Lin Ruijia, running over excitedly. She tugged at Nie Huaian and pointed at Chu Nanzhi, shaking her head as she said,
"Grandpa Nie, why do you have to trouble Uncle Li like this? Her cooking is delicious. Just let her cook for you and Grandpa Chang."
After eating the dishes made by the bad woman yesterday, Lin Ruijia was still hungry for more. She had just secretly discovered that there was meat in the house. She did not dare to blatantly ask the bad woman like Lin Ruiwen, so she used the two elders as an excuse to satisfy her wish.
Nie Huaian glanced at Chu Nanzhi in disbelief. "She knows how to cook?"
"That's right. I wouldn't lie to Grandpa Nie. If you don't believe me, you can ask my father. Yesterday, Granny and my aunt praised her cooking too."
Little Ruiwen was afraid that Nie Huaian wouldn't believe her, so she explained earnestly.
At this moment, the other three children also surrounded him and said in unison, "Grandpa Nie, Ruiwen is telling the truth."
Nie Huaian looked at Lin Jinxiao awkwardly.
Caifeng Township was very close to An Lin Village, so he had occasionally visited Lin Jinxiao and the children over the past few years, but he had never dreamt of having a meal at this house.
If not for the fact that he had something to discuss today, he would not have dared to force Elder Chang to remain.
This time, Lin Jinxiao did not argue with the children. The way he looked at Chu Nanzhi was not as disdainful as before. He said respectfully to the two scholars, "Her stir-fried dish does indeed have a novel taste. Why not stay and try it?"
"Stir-fried?"
The two elders looked surprised. "This is the first time I've heard of this term."
However, they all knew that this evil woman was a lazy person. How could her dishes be any good? They gazed at her doubtfully.
Chu Nanzhi was already used to the ridicule she had received these few days. It was time to change the opinion that these two old fellows had of her.
She said humbly to the two elders,
"The two elders are great scholars have seen the world. I'm just a village woman. I can't compare to those great cooks and imperial chefs. I can only cook a few simple dishes to fill our stomachs. If the two elders don't mind, then please stay for lunch."
Regardless of whether her cooking was any good, this interaction had significantly changed the two elders' impression of her. It was difficult to refuse her sincere invitation. The two of them exchanged looks and had no choice but to agree to stay for a meal.