The Ace Bigshot Becomes A Farmgirl

Shu Yu nodded, ”They all know that regarding our choices, my father, mother, and grandmother will not interfere. Uncle Yao knows that our family does not harbor grand ambitions for fame and fortune. For them, having the family safe and healthy is enough. I am already a county magistrate, which in our place, is sufficient to protect them.”

Yao Tianqin originally wanted to ask, but as soon as Shu Yu spoke, he instantly closed his mouth.

He understands the temperament of the Lu family. Lu Erbai, like him, is passionate about construction work. Madam Ruan is not assertive and mostly listens to her mother-in-law and children. The oldest elder is the old lady, who simply wishes for family reunions and definitely would not interfere with others.

In the vast Lu family, the one who can truly make decisions is this young girl in front of him.

She has no objections, so the other Lu family members would certainly not say much.

Yao Tianqin sighed, ”I just think it’s a pity.”

Qi Chan nodded, ”Shu Yu, I’ve come over because I still hope you can persuade him. Meng Yunzheng is well-read and exceptionally intelligent. You can see that from how he toppled Gong Qiu three years ago. If he serves the imperial court, he would definitely achieve great things. Such talent, going back to teach, would be truly a waste; it’s exceedingly unfortunate. The emperor even mentioned in court today that if he agrees to stay, he can be promoted two ranks, an unprecedented offer in our dynasty. Within a few years, he might become the foremost figure in court.”

Shu Yu was quite surprised; the emperor actually offered such generous terms?

Moreover, Qi Chan holds Yun in such high regard.

Seeing the anxious expressions of the two elders, Shu Yu pressed her lips and stood up. She walked slowly to the two paintings and asked them, ”Do you know who painted these two paintings?”

Yao Tianqin, only interested in construction work, sees familiarity in tools’ diagrams but cannot appreciate such landscape paintings.

Yet Qi Chan recognized them. He raised his head to look at the two paintings, secretly praised them in his heart, and nodded, ”I heard my wife say there are two paintings on Lu’s second floor painted by Mr. Shanju.”

”Yes, these are painted by Mr. Shanju,” Shu Yu said, ”Then, does Mister Qi know where these two paintings depict?”

”It’s your family’s sunflower field.”

Shu Yu nodded, then pointed at one of them, ”This is my family’s sunflower field; this other one is not.”

Qi Chan had already stood up at this point, looking at the other painting she pointed to; after appreciating it for a moment, he nodded, ”This painting, though the scenery is beautiful and seems like another distant perspective of the sunflower field, the house on the hill is the key.”

Shu Yu chuckled, ”Then, Mister Qi, take a guess, whose house is this, and what is it used for?”

”This seems like someone’s manor, and...” Qi Chan was guessing halfway when he suddenly paused.

Immediately, he heard Shu Yu say, ”This is the academy, the academy Yun plans to open. Although the academy in the painting doesn’t show the interior scenery, the exterior is very clear. The flower beds at the entrance, the path, the bamboo forest, the stone table, and the trees planted in the courtyard, all have been carefully arranged and renovated.”

Shu Yu turned her head and faced Qi Chan’s hesitant expression, smiled, ”Sir, this academy was bought years ago, and the renovation is completely finished. Inside, all the flowers, plants, and trees were selected by our family and Yun together. Last year, Yun invited many scholars to tour this academy.”