Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Xie Pinggang was confused.
Xie Qiao said again, âHis fingernails are quite clean, but didnât you see that theyâre cracked? This person... loves to bite his nails, so heâs still suspicious. Look at the back of his hands. His bones are deep and tendons protrude. He has many worries and little joy. His bones are hard and thin, and his veins are shallow and large. Heâs muddle-headed, and heâs lonely, poor, foolish, and ignorant.â
He was talented?
That was absolutely impossible.
It was possible that this suspicious and timid person was talented, unless he had enough advantages in other aspects, such as his family background, his parents, and other congenital conditions. It would still be fine.
However, this personâs loneliness and poverty were obvious. It could be seen that his congenital conditions were terrible.
In this situation, no matter what, he could not be the kind of person that her eldest brother said he was. He was not confident enough at all!
âDid you stare at him earlier because he... has terrible physiognomy?â Xie Pinggang looked at her in all seriousness.
âEldest Brother, all the good things you said are in this portrait. Donât you think itâs weird?â Xie Qiao pointed at the portrait, âIf this is a living person in the portrait, then he is really like what you said. Heâs a rich scholar.â
Xie Pinggang looked at the portrait, âIsnât this him? Thereâs no difference!â
âThereâs a difference!â Xie Qiao was very stubborn.
âItâs just that a pig like you canât tell the difference!â
Xie Qiao put the portrait away. After thinking for a moment, she asked, âWhere did this portrait come from?â
âI snatched it from the scholarâs inn,â Xie Pinggangâs tone was a little uncomfortable.
Seeing Xie Qiao staring at her, he explained, âThat day, I went to the scholarâs inn for a drink. I wanted to see if there were any suitable scholars there. With a glance, I saw that this person looked good, so I took off the portrait and chatted with him.â
âThe scholarâs inn?â Xie Qiao was surprised.
She knew that the scholarâs inn was where scholars loved to live.
The imperial examination will be held in a few days. There should be quite a number of students from other places that frequented the scholarâs inn. It was said that the scholarâs inn would even draw portraits of some talented students and hang them on the wall.
âThe scholarâs inn wouldnât simply draw portraits of students, right?â Xie Qiao suddenly asked.
âIt seems so. Those who are painted are people who have competed in the scholarâs inn and have their talent acknowledged by the people there,â Xie Pinggang nodded.
Xie Qiaoâs expression changed.
Looking at the person below, she asked her eldest brother, âDid he say that he will participate in the imperial examination in spring this year?â
âI asked and said he will, but...â Xie Pinggang thought for a moment, âThis person is quite different from the scholars I have seen. When other scholars mention the imperial examination, they will be more nervous or show some worry. He is quite calm, and... At this time, most scholars are not willing to be out and about.â
Even if a person was very confident, when faced with such a big event like the imperial examination, it was impossible for him to act as if nothing had happened.
After listening to Xie Qiaoâs analysis earlier, Xie Pinggang thought it was a little strange.
âEldest Brother, let me read your fortune,â Xie Qiao suddenly said with a serious expression.
Xie Pinggang sat up straight.
Xie Qiao took out a few copper coins on the spot. The tea cup shook with a loud thud and was placed on the table. Then, she closed her eyes and memorized the place and the coinâs side. After going back and forth a few times, her expression became serious.
Xie Pinggang was scared stiff by her weird look.
âHurry up. The one below is waiting for me,â Xie Pinggang urged.
Soon, Xie Qiao said, âEldest Brotherâs good luck is coming.â
âWhat?â Xie Pinggang was confused.
Xie Qiao looked at the person below, âThere must be litigation in front of you. Eldest Brother, youâre facing a variable. Do you dare to take it?â
Xie Pinggang was speechless. He thought this girl was out of her mind and she should be gotten rid of.
What kind of nonsense was that?