Changsheng was going to send Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei to the academy, where he would meet Xia Xiuren before leaving. However, Xia Zhi firmly refused. Changsheng had an errand to run and Wenshan Academy was actually out of his way. Bringing them here had already delayed him for some time. If he lingered any longer, he feared that things might not get done.

  "We've arrived at the academy gate, what else do you have to worry about, Brother Changsheng? With my uncle and me asking around, are we still afraid that we can't find my father?" If Changsheng were to send them to Xia Xiucan, Xia Zhi was worried that her affairs would not go smoothly.

  Changsheng couldn't help it. He also heard Old Man Xia and Old Lady Xia say that Xi Zhi was clever and capable, and the people in the academy were simple-minded, so Xi Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu'er wouldn't get into any trouble.

  "I'll come back and pick you up after I've finished what I need to do," Changsheng said.

  Xia Zhi waved his hand busily and told Chang Sheng not to come pick them up. "With my dad around, he'll definitely take care of us. Don't worry, Brother Chang Sheng, go take care of your business."

  Changsheng could only smile and watch as the two children entered the school gate before instructing Da Liu to turn the carriage around and leave.

  Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu Er brought Da Qing into the Wen Shan Academy, she quietly looked back and saw that Chang Sheng's carriage had left, only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

  "What to do now?" The little black fish had arrived at a new place, looking around and eager to try. Da Qing seemed to have sensed its master's emotions as well, swimming around its master in excitement.

  There were young people dressed as students passing by from the side road, and when they saw Da Qing, they stopped far away.

  "Old uncle, let's hold the big green rope." Xia Zhi instructed a sentence to Xiao Hei Yu. Xia Zhi had prepared a cowhide collar and lead rope for Da Qing long ago, which were not used at home, but came in handy this time when they entered the imperial city.

  The city is densely populated, they want to take the big green dog for a walk, tied with a rope on one hand to prevent the big green dog from getting lost, and on the other hand to prevent those who are afraid of dogs from being frightened.

  The people who stopped when they saw the big green one seemed to have let out a sigh of relief when they saw the rope in Xiao Hei Yu's hand, and slowly walked over.

  Wenshan Academy is very large, with courtyards nested within courtyards. It seems to be class time now, and there are hardly any people walking around in the academy.

  When that person walked near, Xia Zhi went up to him and gave a slight bow.

  "This young master is polite." Xia Zhi greeted politely. Generally, after a scholar passes the imperial examination and becomes a Xiucai, he will be respectfully called "Master". Xia Zhi entered the academy and saw that this young man was dressed as a student, so he addressed him as "Master", which also meant being very polite.

  "Returning the courtesy, returning the courtesy. What's wrong with you, little girl?" The young man bowed to Xia Zhi again and said with a smile.

  Xia Zhi lifted her head and suddenly felt that the person in front of her looked a bit familiar. With a 15 or 16-year-old appearance, red lips and white teeth, and a pair of peach blossom eyes. This person, she must have seen him somewhere before, but couldn't think of it for the time being.

  Since she couldn't think of it, Xia Zhi didn't think about it anymore. She politely asked the young man in front of her: "We have something to do with the Shan Chang of the Book Academy, may I ask if you know how to get there?"

  The young man seemed a bit surprised, but still smiled. "Little girl, don't call me husband, I'm still single. You're older than me by several years, so just call me big brother."

  "Will you take us to find Li Shanzhang if we call you Big Brother?"

  "Of course." The young man saw Xia Zhi reveal a sharp gaze, seemingly finding it very interesting. "Are you looking for Big Li Mountain, Little Li Mountain, or Old Guo Mountain, I can take you to any of them."

  There are so many mountain masters in Wenshan Academy? She had never heard Xia Xiucan mention it before. This is also reasonable, as Xia Xiucan rarely returned home and even less often talked about Wenshan Academy.

  Xia Zhi was somewhat perplexed in her heart, but her face didn't show it. "I want to find a reliable person, the one who counts most is Li Shan Chang."

  "A handful, haha, this phrase is great." The young man burst out laughing, his peach blossom eyes almost flying around. "You haven't called me brother yet."

  "Big brother, can you take us to find Li Shan?" Xia Zhi's knife-sharp eyes turned into crescent moon eyes. The twelve-year-old little girl was also adorable.

  "Alright, sweet enough. Big brother will take you there." The young man said immediately, turning around to let Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu follow him.

  "Big brother, this is my uncle. According to our generation, you should also call him uncle." Xia Zhi followed the young man, saying with a seemingly unintentional curve of his eyes.

  The young man looked like he had been taken advantage of: "What? This isn't your younger brother, it's your uncle? Little sister, are you kidding me?"

  "Generation gap, how could I tease you, big brother. Big brother, aren't you a person who understands manners?"

  The young man looked at Xia Zhi with a smile, like a small fox, and then looked at the little black fish beside him, who was tilting his chin up with a self-satisfied expression. He exaggeratedly hung his head down and said, "Ah, I've been taken advantage of, I've been taken advantage of." Then, he actually called out to the little black fish, "Old Uncle."

  The little black fish responded crisply and asked the young man, "What's your name?"

  "I'm..." The young man said these two words and then paused, a look flashing across his face that was hard to describe. Then he suddenly changed the subject, "This flower is blooming really well. The Li Shanlang you're looking for is in the courtyard over there. By the way, what do you want to find Li Shanlang for?"

  "We're looking for Li Shan... " Xiao Hei Yu Er answered halfway and stopped, looked up at the young man, "You haven't said your name yet? What's wrong, can't say it?"

  The young man blinked his eyes and thought that the kid was quite clever.

  "Is there something you can't say?" Xia Zhi saw the young man's expression and smiled in her heart, so she said it on purpose. She also advised Xiao Hei Yu'er, "Old uncle, let's not ask anymore. Look at him being shy."

  The little black fish comforted the young man, "It's nothing, names are given by adults, we can't help it. In our village, there are Dog Eggs and Dog Leftovers, we don't laugh at them."

  Xia Zhi took a glance at the young man's embarrassed face and quickly lowered her head to cover up the smile on her own face.

  The young man looked down at Xia Zhi, then at the little black fish, and let out a sigh. He wanted to not say his own name, but was afraid that the two little guys would misunderstand him as being of the same kind as Dog Egg and Dog Leftover, which was even worse than his own name.

  "My name is Tian Kuo. Not the melon of watermelon."

  "Is melon a melon's melon?!" Little Black Fish immediately said.

  The young man's face was somewhat dark.

  Xia Zhi couldn't help but smile: "Is it just empty talk on paper, that character of Zhao Kuo's?"

  "It's exactly." The young man looked at Xia Zhi with some surprise, "Little girl, you've read books, haven't you?" Tian Kuangzhen didn't expect Xia Zhi to know this allusion. Today, Xia Zhi had her hair braided into a neat braid and coiled behind her head. She wore the new clothes sewn by Old Lady Xia - a loose-fitting crimson jacket with a floral pattern, which set off Xia Zhi's features like a painting, her figure slender and delicate.

  The little girl is really good-looking, but this outfit, from head to toe, there isn't a single piece of jewelry or adornment, it's clear that she's not from a wealthy family, probably from a very ordinary household. For such a family, it's already difficult for boys to study, how would they let girls study?

  But if you haven't read a lot of books, how would you know about the allusion "paper tiger"?

  Tian Kuai was puzzled by Xia Zhi's identity.

  "I haven't read much, just occasionally heard people say it, and I remembered." Xia Zhi said casually, then told Tian Kuo, "My name is Xia Zhi, this is my uncle Xia Yunlong." Although the young man looked a bit frivolous, after chatting with him, not only was he not cunning, but also had some temperament. He was willing to bring them to find Li Shanzhang, and he was still very enthusiastic. Moreover, this person was also quite interesting.

  So Xia Zhi happily told Tian Kuo her and Xiao Hei Yu's names.

  Tian Kuai was delighted, and his heart liked Xia Zhi even more. He took Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu'er through another courtyard, asking Xia Zhi: "Xia Zhi, what do you want to find Li Shanzhang for?"

  This matter, Xia Zhi couldn't tell Tian Kuo. She also didn't want to fabricate something with Tian Kuo, so she just kept quiet.

  Tian Kuai glanced at Xia Zhi and said, "What's going on? Tell me. I guarantee that Li Shan will agree to your request."

  This sentence was quite tempting to Xia Zhi, and she glanced at Tian Kuo. Tian Kuo looked back at Xia Zhi with great anticipation, waiting for her to tell him the truth. After some thought, Xia Zhi decided not to say anything.

  "I just want to tell Li Shanlong." Family scandals should not be spread outside, although it's impossible to hide from Li Shanlong, Xia Zhi doesn't want to expand the impact for now.

  "Ah, that's a secret." Tian Gou smiled and stroked his chin. He was even more curious about what these two kids wanted with his uncle.

  "It doesn't count either. But it's still better to just tell Li Shan Chang." Xia Zhi said.

  "Now that you mention it, I'd better not ask then." Tian Kuo's peach blossom eyes fluttered again as he thought to himself that after Xia Zhi and the others finished talking with his uncle, he would go and test his uncle's tone.

  What could these two kids possibly want with their aunt's husband? It's really unthinkable.

  "What's wrong with asking?" A low voice asked, a young man in a green shirt blocked Tian Kuang's way.

  Tian Kuo was lost in thought when he was suddenly startled by a young man. He looked up and only then did he see clearly who the young man was.

  "Phoenix, how did you suddenly jump out? Didn't you leave?"

  "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you." The young man in the green shirt said gruffly, but his words trailed off halfway through as he caught sight of the two children behind Tian Kuai.

  Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu Er both showed a look of surprise.

  "Li Xia!" The little black fish reacted first and shouted excitedly as it swam over.

  "Hey, old uncle, how did you come!" Li Xia hurriedly caught the little black fish. Because the little black fish was still holding onto Qing, Qing saw Li Xia and recognized him too. He was very excited and also rushed forward. Li Xia caught the little black fish and was almost dragged down by Qing's strong pull, barely managing to steady himself.

  "Old uncle?" Tian Kuai was stunned for a moment, "Feng Huang, these two are really your relatives!"

  Li Xia ignored Tian Kuo and walked over to speak with Xia Zhi: "Sixteen, when did you guys arrive? How did you know to come find me here?"

  The last time the three of them parted ways in Linshui Town, Li Xia left an address for the two in Fucheng, which was Ju Xian's main store in Fucheng. So he didn't expect that Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu would be able to find their way to the academy.

  "We didn't know you were here." Xia Zhi replied with a smile.

  "Oh." Li Xia suddenly understood, took another look at Tian Kuo, and then asked Xia Zhi, "Sixteen, did you and Uncle come over just to take a stroll or is there something on your mind?... Let's go inside and talk."

  As he said this, he carried Xiao Hei and walked towards the side room first.

  "So your name is Sixteen." Tian Ku said with a smile to Xia Zhi.

  "It's my nickname." Xia Zhi said.

  Li Xia turned around and stared at Tian Kuo. "Sweet melon, Shan Chang has been looking for you for a long time, hurry up and go, but be careful not to let Mrs. Shan know."

  "Dead phoenix, you didn't say, how would Auntie know?" Tian Kuang said indignantly, and immediately a tangled expression appeared on his face. He didn't hesitate for long, then stomped his foot, turned around and went upstairs, before leaving he also reminded Xia Zhi, "Sixteen, don't hurry to leave, wait for me to come back and chat with you."

  Li Xia gazed as Tian Kuai entered the upper house, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. Then she hastily invited Xia Zhi to enter the side room. Inside the side room, by the window, was placed a noble canopy bed, beside which stood a desk and chair, on top of which were neatly arranged the four treasures of the study. Apart from this, there were only tall bookshelves, fully stacked with scrolls.

  "This is Shanchang's small study." Li Xia made Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu sit down on the couch, then called a servant to bring in tea and snacks for Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu to eat.

  After the two children had some tea, Li Xia asked them again: "When did you come to Fucheng, how did you come to the academy, and what's the matter?"

  Xia Zhi briefly replied and told Li Xia that she had come to find Li Shanchang for something.

  "Are you looking for him? What's the matter, can you tell me? If it's something ordinary, I can make a decision on his behalf." Li Xia said immediately.

  Just now Tian Kuohao said similar words, Li Xia's tone was more determined and confident.

  "Li Xia, are you studying here or working?" Xia Zhi asked.

  "I'm studying here. I don't care about general things, but your affairs, I can take care of." Li Xia said.

  "I'll go find Mountain Long then." Xia Zhi thought for a moment and asked Li Xia, "The matter of Mr. Shi paying salaries here, is it handled by Director Li?"

  Li Xia didn't answer, instead she asked Xia Zhi: "Sixteen, are you here to ask for salary? The academy has never owed its teachers' salaries. Does...does your family have someone working as a teacher here?"

  "Uh-huh." Xia nodded, "Yes, but we're not discussing salary. I want to ask Principal Shan for one thing, please don't pay my dad's salary in advance..."

  "This..." Li Xia immediately sensed that there must be a story behind this. "Sixteen, what's going on? Can you tell me? Don't worry, I'll definitely keep it confidential for you. Your request, I can also go talk to the principal about and get him to agree."

  Summer solstice hesitated slightly.

  Xiao Hei Yu was very happy because he met Li Xia. "Sixteen, just tell Li Xia about it. Li Xia is not an outsider."

  Li Xia's face broke out into a big smile: "Sixteen, if even Old Uncle trusts me like this, don't you trust me?"

  Doesn't she trust Li Xia? Li Xia is much more mature than his peers, and she believes he's sincere to them.

  It's a long story, but I'll keep it brief. Li Xia listened with wide eyes. "Such things actually exist!"

  (。)