Chapter 674: 674: Yang Ye Replies to the Letter

Upon hearing this, Tong Sanlang laughed, “As long as you keep your distance, it’ll be fine.”

Qiao Xiaomai nodded vigorously, waving the whip in his hand. The oxcart began to sway towards the Academy.

Parking the oxcart at the entrance, Qiao Xiaomai gave the gatekeeper uncle a package of two jin of Dried Sweet Potatoes. He often made trips to and from the Bailu Academy, always having this uncle mind his oxcart. He felt compelled to express his gratitude.

The uncle was fairly surprised by this, but he didn’t refuse, and gratefully accepted with a wide smile.

Goods from Qiao Xiaomai were treated as precious commodities by people of his social class.

After thanking the gatekeeper, Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang stepped into the Academy. Each of them carried a shoulder basket, each filled with twenty-five jin of sweet potatoes.

Upon seeing Dean Gu, his eyes lit up in delight, “Your sweet potato strips are certainly timely.”

Last time, Qiao Xiaomai gifted him twenty-five jin. He symbolically shared a bit with the scholars of the Bailu Academy. After tasting them for themselves, they were so impressed they actively reached for more, dividing what remained of his own ten-plus jin amongst themselves.

He had barely had a taste for himself when it was all gone.

Having held back for a few days, he’d been considering if he should send someone out to purchase more from Qiao Xiaomai’s household when out of the blue, Qiao Xiaomai took the initiative and brought more.

“This must cost a fair bit, come on, let me give you some silver.” Dean Gu ordered a servant to fetch silver.

Three hundred wen per jin. Qiao Xiaomai had just given twenty-five jin, and he didn’t feel right accepting it for nothing.

“Please, don’t insist on paying me any silver, Dean. In the future, if Sanlang has any academic problems he doesn’t understand, if you could just provide them some guidance, we’d be grateful. As for these… they’re just a modest gift.” Qiao Xiaomai gestured, refusing.

Hearing this, Dean Gu burst into laughter, “The gift you’ve presented is quite valuable, the average person only presents ten taels of silver every year.”

Just the sweet potato strips in one shoulder basket alone are worth seven taels and five qian.

“As a gift for a scholar, how could we use something as vulgar as silver as a measure of its value? Besides, it’s thanks to you that the people of Bailu Town can live in peace. Any gratitude, expressed in foodstuffs produced by our own household, is modest by comparison. I worry the gift isn’t grand enough.”

This comment resonated with Dean Gu. He laughed heartily at Qiao Xiaomai’s words, his laughter robust and vibrant, “Alright, if Sanlang has any academic issues he doesn’t understand, he’s free to come ask me anytime.”

“Great!” Qiao Xiaomai cheerily complied.

Upon leaving Dean Gu’s Courtyard, the pair went to find Xiaoyang the guard.

Xiaoyang was not around, so the pair left the Dried Sweet Potatoes behind.

Last time, Xiaoyang mentioned how good they tasted. If Yang Ye didn’t like them, they could just leave them for Xiaoyang to enjoy.

However, as they reached the Academy’s entrance and were about to board the oxcart to leave, Xiaoyang arrived on horseback. Seeing this, Qiao Xiaomai jumped off the cart to greet him.

“What a coincidence, Miss Qiao. I was just about to head to Anping Village to find you.” Seeing Qiao Xiaomai, Xiaoyang beamed. Pulling out an envelope from his bosom, he handed it over, “This is a reply from the prince.”

“A reply?” Qiao Xiaomai was taken aback.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Yes, the prince greatly enjoyed the Dried Sweet Potatoes you gave before. He’d like you to send some more.” Xiaoyang nodded.

Yang Ye had sent a reply; he had just come from the postal station.

Qiao Xiaomai let out an “Oh”, although her face still looked puzzled. She accepted the envelope and handed it to Tong Sanlang next to her, “You read it for me.”

In front of others, she was illiterate.

Tong Sanlang took the envelope and opened it. Upon discerning its contents, his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Qiao Xiaomai leaned over to look, “What did the prince say?”

“The prince said…” Tong Sanlang read from the message.