CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 193: SCHOLARS ARE SO FINICKY

Zhao Erya, in her panic, felt the more she explained, the more confusing it became. She feared Yu Xiaolian might think she had other intentions, and her face turned red with anxiety, looking as if she was about to cry.

Yu Xiaolian patted Zhao Erya’s shoulder, "Erya, how many times have I said it? I’ve never treated you like a servant. We are sisters, friends. Why do you think I saved Sanya back then? It was all because of you.

When the shop next door is vacant, we’ll hire a maid there; it won’t cost much.

Besides, I’ll have to go to Shuren Academy for arithmetic lessons later... Oh dear... my blackboard, I wonder if my dad brought it inside?"

If it gets soaked by the rain, all those layers of ink I applied would be wasted, and all the days of sun-drying would be for nothing.

Zhao Erya said, "Don’t worry, I saw Uncle Sun from the Sun Family bring it inside before I came over to help close the shop."

"That’s good, that’s good..."

Yu Xiaolian opened a package of sanitary pads, explaining to Zhao Erya how to use them...

Though the rain hadn’t stopped, those who took shelter as the rain seemed to lighten up a bit thanked Yu Changhe and dashed into the rain to head home.

Only one person remained; Yu Changhe felt awkward about chasing him away and kept him company.

The one who stayed was dressed like a scholar, about twenty years old, with decent looks. He offered an apologetic smile to Yu Changhe, saying the rain hadn’t stopped yet, and he needed to disturb them for a little longer.

What could Yu Changhe say? In for a penny, in for a pound. He just smiled and said, "No problem, have a seat!"

The scholar took out a book from his chest and started reading. About half an hour passed, but the rain not only didn’t stop but got heavier.

The scholar became absorbed in his book, oblivious to everything around him.

Seeing that the scholar had been sitting there all morning without a drop to drink, Yu Changhe poured a cup of tea and brought it over.

The teacup lightly tapped the table, and the scholar, hearing the sound, finally came back to his senses. Stretching his neck, he peered outside and saw the rain getting heavier. Frowning, he sighed and put the book down.

He stood up, clasped his hands to thank Yu Changhe for the tea, and said, "Looks like I’ll have to trouble the shopkeeper a while longer."

Yu Changhe nodded, "It’s alright. You can continue reading."

Just as Yu Changhe spoke, he heard Sun Fengshou calling from the backyard for lunch. Yu Changhe opened the oiled paper umbrella behind the counter and went to the backyard.

The front courtyard had only tables, chairs, stools, and some plates, nothing valuable that he feared losing. Besides, looking at the scholar, he appeared so genteel, unlikely to steal anything.

In the backyard, Yu Changhe washed his hands and grabbed a bun to eat. Mrs. Sun asked, "What? Is there still someone sheltering from the rain in the front?"

Yu Changhe nodded, "Indeed, there’s a scholar who has been here all morning."

Mrs. Sun said, "When the rain eased, why didn’t he leave? Looking at this, the rain doesn’t seem to be stopping. Let me tell you, our place can’t accommodate guests overnight. If he still doesn’t leave later, send him away. If not, give him an umbrella.

These scholars are quite delicate, not wanting a drop of rain on them. So refined...

Is he really a scholar? Hope he’s not up to no good?"

Yu Changhe agreed, "We cannot host him overnight. Don’t worry, there are plenty of inns in town, and we don’t know him. How could he be so presumptuous?

He’s so absorbed in reading, just a bookworm. Rest assured, I’ll give him a bun later. Once he finishes eating, I’ll hint for him to leave."

Mrs. Sun sighed, "The rain here is so frequent, and it never rains over in the Northern Land. Why is the heavens so unjust?"

As her daughter would say, why can’t the rain bless everyone equally?

Thinking it’s almost the Ghost Festival, who knows how her fifth uncle’s family is doing? Can they still go to her father’s grave to burn paper?

And her brother Kuang, no one is there to take care of him.

Mrs. Sun suddenly lost her appetite.

Yu Changhe didn’t notice Mrs. Sun’s discomfort, eating happily, "Lian’er and Erya, what are they doing in the courtyard? It’s mealtime, and they haven’t come to eat?"

Mrs. Sun said, "Maybe the rain is too heavy, they’re afraid of getting soaked. Let them be; I’ve left them food in the pot. When the rain eases, I’ll send it over."

Yu Changhe quickly responded, "Don’t go, the rain is so heavy. Don’t rush and risk slipping. When you have the food packed later, I’ll take it over."

Mrs. Sun nodded in agreement.

After the meal, Yu Changhe carried the food box packed by Mrs. Sun and headed to the front with his oiled paper umbrella.

The scholar was still engrossed in reading, and the teacup on the table was empty.

Yu Changhe took a bun from the food box, handed it to the scholar, and placed the teapot on the table for the scholar to pour himself tea.

The scholar thanked Yu Changhe, who merely nodded indifferently and again rushed into the rain with the umbrella.

The front door of Taotao Residence was closed, so Yu Changhe had to circle to the back door.

He knocked a few times but nobody came to open it. The wind and rain were too intense, so Yu Changhe had no choice but to return.

Yu Xiaolian and Zhao Erya didn’t hear the knocking; after eating a pack of self-heating instant hotpot each, they fell asleep on the bed.

When Yu Changhe got back to the braised meat shop, he saw a silver coin on the table but the scholar was nowhere to be found.

With his umbrella open, Yu Changhe ran to the street and saw the scholar tightly clutching his book chest, hurriedly running off.

Oh, the kid’s afraid of getting his book wet, huh? Yu Changhe sighed, why didn’t he ask for an umbrella?

Ah, and I didn’t give him an umbrella either, why was I so reluctant?

In the afternoon, Yu Changhe and Sun Fengshou held umbrellas to bring Little Tiger and Su Jingyue back from the academy.

Even with umbrellas, everyone was half-soaked when they returned.

The heavy rain only stopped in the evening for about two hours and resumed in torrents in the middle of the night.

The next morning, the rain finally stopped.

The entire city of Luocheng was busy with one task, draining the water.

The water was knee-deep, making movement impossible without draining it.

Not only did Yu Xiaolian not go to the academy today, but neither did Little Tiger nor Su Jingyue.

There was no way to go; they’d have to wade through water. In such bad weather, it’s generally understood that the academy is closed.

When Yu Xiaolian opened her eyes in the morning, her room was flooded, and the shoes she left by her bed were soaked.

She rolled up the pants of her sleep trousers and went to push the door, stepping on her drenched shoes.

In the yard, Yu Changhe was taking Little Tiger and Su Jingyue to scoop water into the drainage ditch outside.

Little Tiger and Su Jingyue weren’t wearing the outer long robes. Though they rolled their trousers high, they still couldn’t avoid getting wet. However, their faces were glowing with smiles, scooping water while laughing heartily, occasionally playfully splashing each other, thoroughly enjoying themselves.