Chapter 348 - [Bonus ]
It wasn't that late in the morning by the time Su Wan and the others reached the town, it could still be counted as early morning. Su Wan cradled the basket in which she brought some handmade gifts for headmaster Yuan, the old man had been nothing but kind as he not only helped Lin Rui in receiving his response as soon as he could but he also introduced numerous patrons to them whom they could sell their vegetables to, these small gifts were nothing big but it was still the thought that's count right?
Shen Junxi was someone who worked in town and with his numerous butcheries and connections, he knew about the town a lot more than the Lin brothers. With him as the guide they reached the Xuan academy earlier than they thought, they didn't ever lose their way even once.
The Academy had a spectacular wooden door and on top of the gate was an inscription board with delicate yet forceful handwriting that read ' Xuan Academy'. The schoolyard was divided into the front and back building, the front building had a main hall that was held the central position, in the main hall, the headmaster taught the classes himself while running parallel to its both sides were where other classes took place. Behind the main building, was a lustrous garden that separated the main and the dormitories, on the east wing were the prayer hall and ancestral hall and on the west wing were the mess hall and library.
There was also a pond, a wooden bridge built like an arc on the pond with private pavilions... As Su Wan and Lin Rui walked past the classes and the pavilions they could hear the non-stop cadence of the students as they repeated what they have learned. The entire surroundings dripped with culture and knowledge. The surrounding was so serene and filled with a reverence that even Shen Junxi who was brash and bold started to walk with light steps.
With Shen Junxi's help, they found the headmaster's room, Su Wan tightened the hold on her basket and unconsciously cleaned her appearance in her past life, she only learned a bit of school knowledge and because she had no money and her father wasn't willing to spend a dime on her, she couldn't go to college and later on her husband stopped her from entering the college saying that he alone was enough and there was no need for her to embarrass him by going to the college at such late age. So, she had never been to such a high scholarly place like this and couldn't help but get a bit nervous.
When they stopped in front of Headmaster Xuan's pavilion they were stopped by a student who was dressed in a faint grey robe " hello, this is the private pavilion of the headmaster, if there is anything that you want to discuss with please follow me to the teacher's lounge"
Shen Junxi respectfully gave him a greeting as well before explaining " respected scholar can you please relay to the headmaster that the bra- boy, whom he accepted at the vegetable stall is here to report ?"
The headmaster accepted this boy? The interest of the student was piqued and he peeped at Lin Rui who alone was dressed in a scholarly manner. Behind him stood Lin Jing and Su Wan though they didn't look shabby, compared to Lin Rui they couldn't quite match up. The student blinked and nodded " Please give me a moment "
Inside the pavilion, Headmaster Yuan was reading a book but when he heard what the student just reported, he immediately put down his book as his eyes glittered with excitement" ohho! Ohho! They are finally here, tell me did that boy come with a young girl around sixteen or did he come alone ?"
Though Headmaster Yuan accepted Lin Rui he still wanted to see for himself how Lin Rui would react after finding out that he was the top scorer. Would he still be willing to tie himself in a marriage with such unequal standards?
The student was surprised at Headmaster Yuan's question but still answered without missing a beat " he did come with a young girl"
The student didn't know why Headmaster Yuan asked such a question, wasn't the student being admitted to the academy was the young man? Then why was Headmaster Yuan asking about the young girl? He had many questions but none of them was answered as Headmaster Yuan stood up with a swoosh and guffawed " finally! I have found the right guy I was looking for! This is the type of disciple that I was looking for! Quickly, quickly go outside and bring them in"
The student was even more surprised, he couldn't understand just what kind of talent did that young man had, that the headmaster was willing to take him as his disciple.
How could that student know that Headmaster Yuan was looking for someone like Lin Rui? Who despite having the wits and knowledge to lead the capital to another prosperous era was still grounded, with Lin Rui's intelligence that boy can get a princess bestowed on himself yet he was still willing to be with that one woman.
When Shen Junxi saw that the headmaster of the Xuan academy personally asked Lin Rui to come and see him, he couldn't help but be surprised but at the same time, he still felt it incredible upon basking in Lin Rui's glory. He bowed deeply to the headmaster as they entered the pavilion.
Headmaster Yuan was all smiles as he greeted Lin Rui, Lin Jing and Su Wan. He of course noticed Shen Junxi and his eyes widened in surprise " oh, Junxi, what are you doing here?"
Headmaster Yuan wasn't familiar with Shen Junxi but of course, he has heard about him. Shen Junxi and his brothers were a force to reckon in this small town, they couldn't be called hooligans, they were too honest for that - they were more like upcoming business tycoons.
Shen Junxi had of course seen Headmaster Yuan a few times but it was only a meeting of hello and hi, now that he was being addressed by the scholar who taught the emperor himself, Shen Junxi was really flattered " I - I am Wan Wan's uncle, we just recognised each other so I -"
Without Madam Zhu, the anchor who kept him stable, Shen Junxi was a bumbling buffoon. But even then Headmaster Yuan understood what he was trying to say, after he realised the relationship dynamics between Shen Junxi and The Lin brothers he couldn't help but cast a sympathetic glance at Lin Rui and Lin Jing.. Still staying with Su Wan this girl despite having Shen Junxi this big bear man as an elder, if this wasn't love.