Xiao Cao wasn’t planning on buying anything. Her mother had already prepared plenty of clothing and daily necessities for her, more than enough. Xiao Cao wasn’t driven by material desires. So no matter how beautiful or attractive things might be to other girls, she just glanced at them and moved on, showing even less interest than Wenren Yang. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate fine goods, nor was she trying to save her mother money. The others looked at her with curiosity, as if questioning, “Are you really even a girl?”

What could Xiao Cao do? She just wasn’t interested.

Shopping was exhausting. Xiao Cao could climb mountains and gather herbs without a problem, but now she felt completely drained.

And with Xiao Si, a shut-in among shut-ins, there was really no need to say more. The two of them were completely wiped out.

Wenren Xi and You Shi looked puzzled. Was their younger fourth sister that low on stamina?

Wenren Xu knocked Wenren Yang on the head. “Pathetic.” Look at him, after spending another two hours accompanying his wife and sister, he was still fine. “With your attitude, won’t your future wife find you a disappointment?” Wenren Xu teased with a mischievous grin.

Wenren Yang was completely clueless as to what his brother was hinting at. Regarding his future prospects, the family had no high hopes for him to begin with. Otherwise, with his knowledge, wouldn’t he have taken the civil service exam a long time ago? Yet, here he was, still a commoner.

Wenren Yang had never intended to enter the bureaucracy, and his family never tried to push him either. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle the complexities of officialdom. If he truly dedicated himself to the pursuit of it, he’d likely outperform many others given his focus. However, such dedication might drastically change his easy-going nature, and he likely wouldn’t be happy with such a lifestyle. Since it wasn’t his goal, why force it? The world of fame and fortune didn’t need another player, and Wenren’s family didn’t rely on him to uphold their status either.

Seeing Wenren Yang’s complete lack of reaction, Wenren Xu sighed helplessly. He gave up his jesting, figuring there’s no fun when the person you’re teasing doesn’t respond. That’s just how his fourth brother was—no amusement to be had from messing with him.

Because of these two physically exhausted “weaklings,” the group decided to rest at a nearby teahouse.

The teahouse was elegantly decorated, filled with the atmosphere of scholars and poets. From the couplets hanging at the entrance, the “menu” displayed on the walls, the items arranged on the counters, to the tables and chairs, and especially the walls—they exuded class. The exhibited calligraphy and paintings were top-tier, and there were various carvings and sculptures all around. Toward the back of the main hall, there was a tall sculpture of a landscape: an ancient pine tree, with two old men playing chess beneath it. The detailed craftsmanship demonstrated the sculptor’s extraordinary skill.

Xiao Cao, upon seeing it, lit up with joy and walked over to admire it.

If there was one thing Xiao Cao could call a hobby, it was carving. Initially, she had learned to sculpt to practice using a scalpel with more dexterity, but it turned out she had a natural talent for it. Now, she could be considered a master craftsman, especially when it came to carving human figures. Few could surpass her skill. This was probably because she had an in-depth knowledge of every muscle and bone of the human body. She understood exactly how people of different builds would look: from skinny to fat, from youth to old age, she could capture the nuances with lifelike detail.

After admiring the sculptures for a moment, Xiao Cao turned around, only to suddenly notice the atmosphere was off. When they first entered, there had been lively discussions. Now, the place was eerily quiet.

Looking around, she saw that almost everyone was a scholar. Aside from their group, there wasn’t a single woman to be seen. In Qichao, their nation, the rules concerning women varied. In some areas, the restrictions were harsh, and in others, more lenient. It wasn’t forbidden for women to go out in public or mandatory for them to wear veils everywhere. Still, she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable under the obvious stares of others. However, it wasn’t enough to affect her deeply.

Xiao Cao walked back to her family and casually asked, “What, are women not allowed in here?”

“No, that’s not it,” Wenren Xu answered. However, he had forgotten that yesterday, the palace examination had been held, and there would be no announcement of the results until the fourth of that month. Scholarly venues like this teahouse were bustling with examinees, as well as other scholars, during this period. Under normal circumstances, people wouldn’t expect anyone outside the scholarly circle to come in, much less a woman. Their group now felt like they had barged into the wrong place, drawing disapproving glances and making the situation awkward.

Wenren Ying quietly explained the situation to Xiao Cao.

“So, there’s no explicit rule that forbids women from entering?” Xiao Cao asked. “Alright, let’s head upstairs.”

The group exchanged wary glances, excluding the perpetually aloof Wenren Yang. Their sister’s nerves were truly made of steel. While they had been contemplating leaving, she was completely unbothered. Left with no choice, they braced themselves and followed her.

Most of the servants stayed outside, with just two or three accompanying them inside.

As they crossed the main hall to go upstairs, under everyone’s scrutinizing eyes, a voice burst out, clearly malicious: “She doesn’t seem unaware of proper etiquette, but still, her face is certainly thick enough. Isn’t she worried that no one will want to marry her?”

His words sparked a wave of laughter among some people, though most frowned in disapproval. While there was no formal rule preventing women from entering this teahouse, insulting one so openly, especially from a scholar, lacked basic decency. If the man was doing this just to make a scene, he was nothing more than a fool seeking attention.

Some individuals, however, looked on with strange expressions.

“Did you notice? Isn’t that Wenren Yang standing next to her?” someone whispered quietly.

“Indeed it is.”

“The so-called bookworm rarely leaves his house. It’s surprising to see him outside, especially in a teahouse.”

Every scholar present who recognized Wenren Yang found the situation peculiar.

“Is the sun rising from the west today?” someone muttered.

At that moment, Xiao Cao stopped, turned, and easily singled out the man who had spoken. The man, with an arrogant expression and lecherous eyes, stared at Xiao Cao with contempt.

Over the past few years, Xiao Cao had encountered such people before. She knew survival wasn’t easy, but usually, before she had a chance to react, someone else would step in to help her handle things. Those were just ordinary people. But this guy, judging by his extravagant clothing and conceited air, was clearly someone of higher status.

Xiao Cao didn’t like to cause trouble, but she wasn’t afraid of it either. Even if his family background was influential, having power didn’t mean they’d always be unreasonable fools.

Just as Xiao Cao was about to speak, her brother, Wenren Yang, suddenly stepped forward. Gone was his usual dazed look, replaced by an inexplicable dominant aura. He cupped his hands in a polite gesture and asked, “Might I ask if this gentleman is a participant in this year’s palace examination?”

“Third place,” the man responded, looking all the more conceited.

Third in the imperial exam! Such a rank was indeed worthy of a certain level of arrogance, especially since it gave him a shot at one of the top honors in the final test.

Wenren Yang nodded calmly, showing no surprise. “Then your academic prowess must be exemplary. I am Wenren Yang, and I would like to request a scholarly exchange. Please do not hold back in your advice.”

As soon as Wenren Yang, introduced himself, even those who had initially chuckled fell silent and gasped in surprise. Wenren Yang might not be famous for his political ambitions, but in the capital’s scholarly circles, his intellectual reputation was well known. Almost every student in Kaiping’s capital knew of his name, even if they hadn’t met him in person.