A Records Of An Alpha’s Life In Ancient Times - Chapter 10

Once the idea came to her, Shen Qingshu acted on it at once. The next day, she set off for Suzhou Prefecture.

Although this had been a sudden impulse, after carefully thinking it through, she also felt it was feasible.

Without a teacher or classmates around, shutting herself indoors to study alone every day was indeed very dull, and her efficiency was low as well. She might as well go out and relax.

Lord Lin was also a proper official with a jinshi background. By visiting him, she might even receive his guidance and improve faster.

Of course, the most important thing was resolving the engagement between her and Miss Lin. Two birds with one stone—wasn’t that wonderful?

Suzhou Prefecture was the capital of Jiangdong Province and was also extremely prosperous. Yet this prosperity was different from that of the capital; each had its own merits.

The capital carried the grand, majestic, unstoppable air of a flourishing dynasty at its height, while Suzhou possessed the graceful beauty of a Jiangnan water town, gentle and elegant.

It was her first visit, so after Shen Qingshu found a place to stay, she asked around and learned that Lord Lin’s family was living in the official residence attached to the prefectural yamen. She immediately sent over a visiting card.

Lord Lin sent word that he would be free the afternoon after next.

That afternoon, Shen Qingshu brought gifts and went to visit. A servant led her to the main hall, where only Lord Lin was present.

“Uncle Lin, I hope you have been well.” Shen Qingshu stepped forward and bowed. Lord Lin was just as she had imagined: a dignified old master.

Facing the son of an old friend, who was also his future son-in-law, Lin Beilan’s stern face could not help softening somewhat. “We haven’t seen each other for many years, and you’ve already grown so much. What brings you to Suzhou Prefecture this time?”

Shen Qingshu answered honestly, “Uncle Lin, these past two months, I happened to be preparing for the academy exam in nearby Chuzhou Prefecture. Thinking that Uncle Lin was also in this region, I specially came to pay you a visit.”

Lin Beilan waved his hand unconcernedly. “You and I are uncle and nephew. There’s no need to be so polite. Hm, to be taking the academy exam at your age, I suppose you have been fairly diligent in your studies. How have you learned? Why don’t I test you a little?”

This was exactly what Shen Qingshu wanted. She immediately bowed. “Please instruct me, Uncle Lin.”

Lin Beilan asked several questions, and Shen Qingshu answered them all fluently, basically without mistakes or omissions. He stroked the short beard beneath his chin in appreciation. “Your studies are solid. The academy exam should not be difficult for you.”

“Uncle Lin praises me too much. This nephew still has many shortcomings.”

The two chatted for a while longer. After all, they were not very familiar, and Lord Lin was busy with official duties and could not spare too much time. Shen Qingshu then took the opportunity to say that she wanted to meet Miss Lin.

It was perfectly normal for an engaged couple to want to meet, and Lin Beilan had no objection. However, he showed a somewhat troubled expression. “This is rather unfortunate. My daughter went out with her mother to visit friends today.”

Ah?

Wasn’t this Miss Lin a homebody? Why did she suddenly stop being a homebody the moment Shen Qingshu came to visit?

Damn it!

Shen Qingshu gritted her teeth and thickened her skin. “Suzhou’s scenery is beautiful, so this nephew plans to stay here for a short while. When Uncle Lin has some free time, may I come to disturb you and ask for guidance on my lessons?”

Lin Beilan glanced at her, inwardly somewhat amused. The old drunkard’s true intention was not in the wine. But young people, well, he could understand. “It can hardly be called a disturbance. On days off, you may come over as you please.”

“Many thanks, Uncle Lin.” Shen Qingshu refused to believe she would not manage to catch this Miss Lin.

After leaving the official residence, the wind blew over her, and Shen Qingshu sobered up.

What had she done today?

Not only had she failed to meet Miss Lin, but she had also left Lord Lin with a good impression and seemed to have shown strong interest in his daughter.

“…”

Forget it. She absolutely had to meet this Miss Lin.

Behind her, a carriage slowly drove over. From inside, a gaze looked somewhat hesitantly at her departing figure.

The maid asked, “Miss, what are you looking at?”

The curtain dropped. “Nothing. Perhaps I saw wrong.”

On the day off, Shen Qingshu once again came to visit. This time, she finally met the Miss Lin she had “long yearned for.”

When the servant led her over, Miss Lin was sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard, reading.

Although she had expected it, when Lin Weizhi turned and saw her, she was still a little surprised. She murmured softly, “She actually chased all the way to Suzhou…”

Her voice was too quiet, and Shen Qingshu did not hear clearly. She only saw her lips move, so she asked, “What did you say?”

“Nothing.” Lin Weizhi smiled and gestured toward the stone stool beside her. “Young Master Shen, please sit.”

Shen Qingshu bowed, sat down on the stone stool nearby, and carefully looked her over.

She wore the currently popular hairstyle for young ladies, along with a pale blue-green dress that made her skin look even fairer. Her small face still carried a bit of childishness, but one could already tell she would grow into a beauty. Beneath a pair of willow-leaf brows, her eyes were dark and bright, like the purest black grapes. Her lashes were very long, and with the afternoon sunlight shining on them, each blink had a fluffy texture that made one want to reach out and touch them.

Of course, in Shen Qingshu’s eyes right now, this was only an extremely adorable little younger sister.

After the servants served tea, they withdrew. Shen Qingshu looked around. The maids and old women servants were standing neither too close nor too far, at about a distance where they could see their movements clearly but could not hear what they said.

Neither of them spoke first, and the atmosphere grew somewhat silent. Shen Qingshu lifted the teacup and took a sip of tea, thinking that she needed to behave very badly. But what counted as very badly?

Across both lifetimes, she had always been an openhearted and kind person. She really did not know how to bully someone. She could not just go up and throw Miss Lin over her shoulder, could she?

She needed a persona. What sort of boy would girls hate?

She put herself into the situation and imagined it.

What sort of boy would I hate?

Shen Qingshu had an idea. She turned her head and stared at Lin Weizhi with a burning gaze, continuing until Lin Weizhi became somewhat uncomfortable. Only then did she praise her lecherously, “Miss Lin, you truly are beautiful. Compared with the top courtesan of a brothel, you would not lose out at all.”

She had originally wanted to call her “wife,” but she truly could not get the word out.

Lin Weizhi paused. She seemed not to notice that being compared to a courtesan was an insult, and actually smiled faintly. “Thank you for the compliment, Young Master Shen.”

How did that count as a compliment?

The corner of Shen Qingshu’s mouth twitched. She deliberately put on a frivolous manner. “Before this, I thought you might be very ugly. Hehe, fortunately, you’re a beauty. Otherwise, I wouldn’t want to marry you. My lifelong wish is to marry several beautiful women.”

Lin Weizhi pressed down the corners of her lips that were about to curl upward and was not angry at all. “Young Master Shen truly has good taste. I also like beautiful women.”

“…”

Was something not quite right here?

Shen Qingshu scratched her head. She was Miss Lin’s fiancé, wasn’t she? Why was Miss Lin not jealous at all?

But perhaps ancient women had been brainwashed by the three obediences and four virtues.

Lecherous and lustful: failed.

Shen Qingshu then pulled a fan from her waist and began fanning herself. Pretending to be careless, she dropped it to the ground, then immediately picked it up in a panic. While dusting it off, she lamented with a heartbroken expression, “Oh no, this fan cost me three thousand wen! It was custom-made by a famous master fan-maker, and it even bears my priceless calligraphy. Yet I actually dirtied it by accident!”

As Shen Qingshu spoke, she peeked at Lin Weizhi’s reaction. Lin Weizhi had her elbow propped on the stone table and her chin resting in her hand. Her eyes were bright and sparkling as she watched Shen Qingshu with an interested smile.

What was going on?

Shen Qingshu hesitantly handed the fan over, looking as if she was deeply reluctant. She lifted her chin with a proud and reserved air. “Would Miss Lin like to admire my priceless calligraphy?”

“All right.” Lin Weizhi happily took it. After opening it, she carefully admired it for a while, then raised a brow. “Young Master Shen’s writing is truly excellent. It is indeed priceless.”

“…”

Are you serious? Or are you mocking me?

Shen Qingshu grumbled inwardly and awkwardly took the fan back.

Petty and arrogant: failed.

Suddenly, she noticed the book Lin Weizhi had placed on the table. She took it without the slightest politeness, casually flipped through it, and asked carelessly, “Miss Lin, what do you usually like to do?”

Lin Weizhi smiled and answered truthfully, “Usually, I read and practice calligraphy. Occasionally, I also paint, play the qin, and so on.”

“Oh, I see. In my opinion, there’s no need for women to study these things. It’s a waste of time. It’s enough for us men to study.” Shen Qingshu’s face immediately darkened, and she shook her head very disdainfully. “You women should stay in the inner residence. After you marry me, don’t play around with these things anymore. You should focus on assisting your husband and teaching the children.”

Even saying these words made Shen Qingshu herself feel disgusted. She forcibly endured the discomfort and asked Lin Weizhi, “Miss Lin, can you do that?”

Beneath the table, Lin Weizhi’s fingers unconsciously curled. She narrowed her eyes slightly, then suddenly smiled. “Of course I can. It’s just that I haven’t married Young Master Shen yet. I only study these things now to please Young Master Shen.”

Good heavens. Shen Qingshu was dumbstruck hearing this, and her fists even hardened.

She could endure this too?

All Shen Qingshu could say was that feudal society truly harmed people.

Male chauvinist: failed.

Shen Qingshu turned to examine the courtyard. She did not know whether Miss Lin had arranged it herself, but the flowers, plants, and trees were all very elegant.

Pointing at an orchid, Shen Qingshu began spouting nonsense. “Miss Lin, I find this plant very unpleasant to the eye. According to the Book of Changes I studied, the layout of your courtyard is completely unreasonable. It doesn’t follow the Five Elements or Eight Trigrams at all. You should place a golden pixiu over there…”

Lin Weizhi listened while nodding repeatedly, even looking at her with admiration. “Young Master Shen, you really know so much.”

“…”

Is there something wrong with your brain? You can’t even tell such obvious nonsense?

Shen Qingshu began doubting life. She coughed and stopped nitpicking the courtyard. Instead, she started nitpicking Lin Weizhi. “Miss Lin, forgive me for speaking bluntly, but this dress doesn’t suit you at all. Girls should wear bright reds and greens to look good. And your hair ornaments too—they’re too plain. They must be gold ornaments to show bearing.”

Lin Weizhi struggled to hold back her laughter and wore a wronged expression. “Young Master Shen’s lesson is correct. After I marry into the Shen residence, I will certainly do as you say.”

Seeing her expression, Shen Qingshu’s heart stirred.

There was hope.

She intensified her efforts. “What do you mean after you marry into the Shen residence? You should dress like that right now. Otherwise, I find you displeasing to look at.”

Lin Weizhi hesitated, then compromised in the end. “All right then. I’ll do as you say.”

Shen Qingshu hated iron for not becoming steel. Why was this Miss Lin like a soft bun, without the slightest temper?

She truly wanted to grab her shoulders and roar, “You’re the daughter of a full fourth-rank official! It’s not as if no one wants you. Can you please stop being so submissive, humble, and resigned?!”

Loves bossing people around: failed.