The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

"Done and done, there’s no need to be so glum about it. I’ll talk to him for you later. As for the two classmates of yours, as long as they don’t take up more than two hours of your brother-in-law’s time, he’ll be happy to do you the favor."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingrui’s eyes lit up. That could work, they just admired his brother-in-law and weren’t like those scholars whose discussions on academic topics went on endlessly without end.

"Then I’ll bring them over tomorrow. Just like me, they are both Cultivated Talents, and they are of good character. We usually have the best relationship."

Yang Chuxia was very supportive of him making friends. Having many friends wasn’t a bad thing. After all, there’s a saying, "At home one depends on parents, outside on friends."

With Yang Chuxia’s guidance, the next day after breakfast, Yang Qingrui brought his two classmates over, and Ye Zi’an then exchanged a few words with them in the study.

However, not even two hours had passed before Ye Zi’an sent the few of them away.

"Why are you out so soon? Has everyone left?"

Yang Chuxia had just washed her hair. She was at that moment using a towel to dry it, feeling uncomfortable on her scalp with just one wash a day now that summer had arrived.

Ye Zi’an walked over, took the towel from her hands, and started to gently dry her hair from behind.

"Yes, one of them didn’t seem like a good friend to Qingrui. He’s very much like Qingtong in temperament, yet he plays with Qingrui," Ye Zi’an recalled about the two young men.

"What about the other one?"

Ye Zi’an thought for a moment before speaking, "Let Qingrui just maintain a normal relationship with him."

It was rare for Yang Chuxia to hear him judge a person, and although he didn’t evaluate this time, he directly gave a verdict, implying that he already saw through that person.

"Not a good person?"

"I don’t know about his character, but from his conversation and behavior, he seems quite opportunistic. Such a person, if Qingrui continues to outshine him, might remain his friend. But if Qingrui ever falls behind, he’ll probably maintain his distance. Rather than that, it’s better for Qingrui to keep his distance now."

Ye Zi’an remembered the two young men he had just met; the one with a personality similar to Qingtong was named Qian Jiang, while the somewhat power-hungry one was Li Ao. Although both were polite in their conversation, Qian Jiang seemed more sincere, whereas Li Ao appeared somewhat disdainful, yet his flattery was incessant. However, when the conversation casually turned to the possibility of not staying in Capital City but going to the small place of Mianyang, Li Ao’s mood visibly dropped, and the corner of his mouth twitched. When he realized he was being watched, he immediately put on a smile and uttered several phrases about how one’s talents could stand out more in a small place, which were somewhat baffling.

"Mm, we’ll talk about this with Qingrui later." She trusted Ye Zi’an’s judgment. If he said someone wasn’t very good, then they definitely weren’t.

"Why are you washing your hair in the morning?"

"It’s too hot and uncomfortable; my scalp itches."

Yang Chuxia, with her eyes half-closed, reveled in Ye Zi’an’s ministrations. Having someone else dry your hair really did feel good.

"I remember the Emperor gifted us with something among the items, a cool mat not made of bamboo but rather small pieces of rosewood, inlaid with a mat strung from turquoise. I heard it’s quite cool to sleep on. In a few days when the item arrives, I’ll take it out for you to use."

Seeing her neck glistening with a fine sweat, Ye Zi’an commented.

"Ouch, can that even be called a mat?"

Hearing that what she would be sleeping on was made of turquoise and rosewood, she was aware of how valuable rosewood could be, and turquoise, even more so.