When he heard such a compliment from the priest, the old gentleman smiled with pride, but his mouth was modest, “It’s just a little girl, the priest is complimenting me.”
“That’s not a compliment from me ……”
He was able to hold the position of the State Scholar’s Conservatory’s priest, so he naturally had some smoothness, and he patted the old gentleman on the back without a trace, “I am telling the truth, if you look at the capital, there is no one who can match your great-granddaughter.”
The old gentleman smiled and nudged him with his finger, then ordered Xu Liang to serve tea. The priest was determined to play chess with Song Wan Yue and said, “There is no hurry to drink the tea, let’s play chess first.”
The old gentleman asked Xu Liang to set up a chessboard, and Song Wan Yue took the white pieces, the priest took the black pieces, and he sat to the side to watch.
“Then you are welcome.”
The priest wine dropped a piece first and raised his eyes to look at Song Wangyue. He had played chess with the old gentleman and had lost seven and won three. Song Wangyue and the old gentleman had won half and half, so in terms of strength he should be weaker than Song Wangyue, so he played with twelve points of vigour.
Song Wangyue also dropped a piece, looking very casual.
The priest didn’t dare to be careless and played another piece, followed by Song Wangyue. After ten pieces, the priest slowed down and kept his eyes on the board, not looking at Song Wangyue.
Song Wan Yue then looked at the old gentleman, who nodded slightly, and Song Wan Yue understood.
The priest was shocked, so he collected his mind even more and concentrated on the game.
Half an hour later, the piece the priest said he wanted was late in falling, and on the board, the black piece had been cornered, and even if he racked his brains he could not think of a way out. He conceded defeat, unable to conceal his shock that Song Wangyue’s chess skills had reached the pinnacle of the game, a level that even the old man could not match.
“So?”
The old gentleman asked, smiling as he lifted his tea.
The priest felt unfulfilled, like the old gentleman, he took a steady path, but even so, he was still pushed to the brink by Song Wangyue.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun.”
The priest wine picked up his tea and, with a calculating thought in his mind, asked, as if unintentionally, “Miss Song is staying in the capital for some time this time, right?”
Song Wan Yue thought he wanted to come over to discuss the game of chess with herself, and smiled as she replied, “Seven or eight days, I think.”
Seven or eight days, that was enough.
The priest drank his tea slowly.
Seeing that he didn’t say anything about playing another game, Song Wan Yue got up, “I’ll go and talk to my grandmother.”
“Go ahead and remember to give her a talk about the preparations you’ve made.”
The old man instructed.
Song Wangyue answered.
When she walked out of the courtyard, the priest immediately put down his tea, “Old sir, I have to beg you for one thing.”
Beg?
The old gentleman raised his eyebrows, the priest wine was also of a high and proud nature, if he could use the word beg, the matter must not be simple, “Tell me.”
“I want this great-granddaughter of yours to make a trip to the State Scholarship.”
Those who could enter the State Scholar’s Academy, apart from some of the children of the family, were those who had talent, and each one of them thought they were remarkable, and he wanted Song Wan Yue to go and press them.
The old gentleman was also a perceptive person and immediately guessed what he was thinking.
Hearing that he didn’t refuse immediately, the priest felt that there was a way out, “What’s inappropriate, I’m the priest, I’m in charge. Don’t worry, I won’t ask your great-granddaughter to do anything else, just let her play a few games of chess so that the scholars can gain some insight.”
The old gentleman did not immediately agree, and pondered for a while before saying, “I need to discuss this with Yue’er, and when it’s done, I’ll ask Cotoneaster to bring you a letter.”
……
Song Wan Yue went to Meng’s side.
She had only come over to say a few words last night and then went back to bed, Meng had been looking forward to her coming over.
When she saw her enter the house, she smiled and beckoned the person to her, “Yesterday, Boss Jin gave me a letter saying that he wanted his grandson to go to Jiangnan to see it instead of him.
Song Wangyue answered.
Meng grabbed her hand, “Master Jin has been with us for so many years and has never gone back, if he was in the capital, he would have followed him back himself.”
“No.”
Sister Wu brought over tea for Song Wan Yue and smiled, “It’s been so many years, we’ve been dreaming of going back for a visit.”
They were born and raised in Jiangnan, and their dreams were all about that place, especially now that they were older, they wanted to go back even more, and ever since Song Wangyue said she wanted to go to Jiangnan, she had been looking forward to it.
“Yes, I’ve always dreamed of going back.”
Meng whispered.
To go back to the place where her soul was haunted, the place where she was born and raised, the place where she had her parents and siblings.
“We’ll leave on the second day of March, by water, and we’ll be there in less than a month.”
I have already sent a letter to your uncle’s grandfather, he will meet us at the pier.”
“Uncle grandfather must be overjoyed.”
“That’s natural, Grandma can already imagine how happy he’ll be.”
……
After accompanying Meng for two quarters of an hour, Xu came in from outside, and she and Song Lin went to the Ding Guo Mansion after having dinner.
The two families were far away and no one came over during the New Year. When she arrived from home, Grandma Song instructed her to go there as soon as they arrived.
“Si’er’s daughter-in-law has also gone back, and the in-laws are overjoyed to know that she has a baby.”
Xu said with a smile.
Meng was also happy, “It’s a happy event, naturally I’m happy, later on you go back, give more instructions, tell Si’er’s daughter-in-law to pay more attention, it’s not yet stable, and it’s her first child, everything should be careful, forget it, you’d better go back to live, watch more.”
“I think so too, that child likes to eat Yue’er’s cooking, take advantage of these few days to make more for her to eat, when we return from Jiangnan, we don’t know how many months yet.”
“Then let Yue’er give the cooks the way to make the dishes so they can learn how to make them.”
“That’s a good way to do it.”
Song Wan Yue agreed and was about to say something when the voice of a small maid rang out at the door, “Miss Sun, old sir wants you to come over.”
“Go on.”
Meng said with a smile. She hadn’t known before that her eunuch was so clingy and hated to have Yue’er by her side at all times.
Song Wangyue went to the old man’s side.
The priest had already left, and the old gentleman told her about the priest’s invitation to the State Scholar’s Academy, “It’s a matter of making a name for yourself, and grandfather Grandpa didn’t refuse, but you can’t say yes easily, let it hang out for two or three days.”
“All at your service.”
“No need to be merciful when the time comes.”
Song Wangyue narrowed her eyes with a smile, “What if I blow those kids out of shape?”
She was still a child herself, she even called those children in the State Prison who were older than her, the old man laughed out loud as he listened, “If you hit them badly, so be it, it was the priest himself who came to the door and begged you to go, let him bear the burden if anything happens.”