Chapter 60

“I am an adoptive child and it is common for me to be looked down and picked on. So the work of transcribing the article and interpretation was always pushed to me.”

Nan Baoyi blushed slightly

In the beginning, she was also one of the people who bullied Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi took a sip of hot tea and ridiculed:

“During that long winter, I transcribed a total of 550,000 words of annotations, I even read dozens of original works that were related. Although I suffered from frostbite, my essay skills have improved tremendously and I have a thorough knowledge of the scriptures and history. My homework could easily be the best in the academy.”

He stretched his hand to touch Nan Baoyi’s head, “So Nan Jiaojiao, there’s always something to gain in everything.”

Nan Baoyi understood.

It turned out that the powerful minister was looking at accounts to cultivate his own capabilities?

“Don’t touch my head…” she muttered, avoiding Xiao Yi’s hand, “But what’s the use of seeing so many accounts, you’re not going to be an accountant in the future!”

“House expenses need to look at the accounts, armies going into war need to look at the accounts, even in the political court you need to look at the accounts. So do you think learning this skill is important or not?”

Nan Baoyi pursed her lips.

Her Second Aunt was very good at accounts and she kept the residence in order.

Being able to study accounts was really an amazing skill!

She went to the side of the young man, “Second Brother, then can you teach me how to study the accounts?”

The little girl was soft and sweet.

She sat next to Xiao Yi and his whole body felt uncomfortable.

A picture of his colleagues embracing beautiful women inexplicably popped up in his mind.

He also wanted to embrace Nan Jiaojiao in his arms.

But Nan Jiaojiao was still his sister.

How could an elder brother have thoughts like this towards his sister?

He closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes, those narrow eyes were still clear and calm, containing strands of chilliness.

He calmly closed his account book, “Get out.”

Nan Baoyi:”…???”

Her phoenix-like eyes were widened and looked at Xiao Yi incredulously.

She did not offend him, did she?!

The powerful minister was too temperamental!

She angrily got up in a sullen face and pointed rudely at Xiao Yi’s nose: “I’m telling you now, you don’t be too excessive! Even rabbits will bite when they are provoked. If you provoke me, I will, I will…”

She held back for a long time but could not find a suitable threatening word.

She was only a girl in a boudoir, what could she threaten him with?

She also noticed Xiao Yi glaring at her outstretched index finger and her eyes turned gloomy.

She remembered him biting her fingertips before. She hastily retracted her hand, stared at Xiao Yi viciously, and walked towards the entrance of the tent.

After walking a few steps, someone flipped the tent curtain open.

It was a young man of twenty-five or six. He looked strong and honest and judging by his robes, he should be an officer of the fifth rank.

Nan Baoyi retreated two steps and unhappily curtseyed to him.

The young man, however, was glued to the spot looking stunned.

He grew up in the army camp and had never met such a beautiful girl!

He stammered, “You, you are Xiao Yi’s sister?”

He gradually blushed after saying these few words.

Nan Baoyi was very satisfied.

She already knew that she dressed up particularly well today, this officer’s reaction was considered normal.

Unlike Xiao Yi, stubborn as a log!

She restrained her spoilt self and said gently, “In response to Officer, little girl’s name is Baoyi.”

“Baoyi…you have a really nice name!” The young man’s eyes glowed, “My surname is Yan. Because I was born in a wheat field, my mother named me Yan Mai. I am twenty-five years old this year and still unmarried. I have thirty acres of fertile land and two buffaloes. I have been in the army for fifteen years and I have saved up some money. I bought a small three-door house in Qingyi alley in Jinguan City a few days ago.”

Nan Baoyi raised her eyebrows.

This young man was honest, his eyes were passionate and shy.

Maybe the guys in the barracks were very honest, he talked and talked and leaked out his entire personal situation.

If she was not mistaken, this Officer Yan liked her.

Nan Baoyi looked closely at him.

An officer of the fifth rank with some wealth, but definitely not enough to support her.

Compared to the official families of dignitaries, the starting point was too inferior and the highest potential was too low.

Nan Baoyi only had two wishes for her rebirth.

The Nan family would be safe and wealthy for a lifetime and marrying a powerful man in Shengjing City.

So in short, Officer Yan was not a good match for her.

She smiled politely while maintaining a distance, “It’s amazing how Officer Yan can be an officer at such a young age, I’m filled with admiration. From today onwards, I hope Officer Yan will take good care of my brother.”

She curtseyed and walked away without looking back.

Officer Yan was still reluctant to look away even when her shadow was gone.

He turned to Xiao Yi reluctantly and said, “Your sister is really knowledgeable, gentle, and virtuous. Has she been proposed to?”

Xiao Yi smirked.

The stubborn and spoilt Nan Jiaojiao was actually being praised knowledgeable, gentle, and virtuous.

Were people blind?

Moreover, that little girl was very picky. It was obvious she did not like Yan Mai but he still wanted to ask whether or not she has a marriage arrangement.

He said lightly, “Marriage arrangement or not, what does it have to do with you?”

“I… I also want to, do that!” Yan Mai scratched his head embarrassedly, “After all, I am not young anymore, my brothers of the same village were already having babies.”

Xiao Yi curled his lips up, “My sister has lived a life of luxury since young. She has seventy-two sets of new clothes every year made for her, and nine sets of new jewelry every season. Her embroidered shoes have to be made of Shu brocades weaved with gold. Her breakfast must have twelve different dishes and the kitchen must always stew bird’s nest. She will not drink tea not cooked in snow water or dew, meals that are not equipped with livestock from the sea, land, and air will not be eaten, makeup that is not newly made within seven days will not be used. Can you afford that?”

Nan Baoyi’s nickname was Jiaojiao.

Nobody outside knew where did the words “Jiaojiao” came from.

[Translation note: Jiao means spoilt]

Yan Mai was stunned after listening to him.

Is this marrying a wife or offerings to Buddha?!

As far as his family was concerned, if he were to support this girl, it would not last for more than half a month!

His thoughts of love disappeared in shock. He sighed and said, “What kind of family would be able to afford her?!”

Xiao Yi calmly flipped the accounts book.

Very few families could afford to support Nan Jiaojiao in Shu County.

But there was no doubt that the Cheng family could not afford to support Nan Jiaojiao.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Yan Mai suddenly hit his head, “General Situ asked me to pass on a message. He asked you to go to Mount Qingcheng and monitor and check the grain accounts.”

…

When Nan Baoyi returned to the Nan residence, it was almost sunset.

She sat on the swings, lost in thought.

She could not understand why did she go to the barracks.

She did not get anything good in return and was even scolded fiercely by Xiao Yi telling her to get out.

“I’ll just go, do you think I will suck up to you forever?”

“I’m also using you only, look at you being so smug!”

The young girl was incensed, plucking a peony flower, and smushed it in her palms.

“What was so great about knowing how to read the accounts. Isn’t it just counting, give me an abacus and I can also count! Who needs you to teach?”

While thinking about all these, He Ye suddenly ran over in a panic, “Miss, something happened in the residence!”