I was a stepmother in ancient times, and I led my whole family to wealth.

Chapter 33 Becoming a Teacher

Dongfang Jin nodded and looked at Fang Shiyu: "Write it down. It's the cause, the process, and the result. This is called knowing nothing when asked."

The Four Symbols refer to the four colors corresponding to the four cardinal directions: east, south, west, and north.

Ma Wencai and Fang Shiyu exchanged a glance, shocked that she actually knew.

Now he admired Dongfang Jin even more. You see, even their teacher wouldn't dare answer this question: "Jin-jie, what are the four colors?"

Dongfang Jin thought for a moment, because there were quite a few things appearing in her mind, including a Bagua diagram.

She suddenly felt a headache coming on: "This question is a bit difficult to explain. Do you know that there were four mythical beasts in ancient times?"

Let's go for something fantasy with mythology.

Fang Shiyu nodded: "I've heard of them: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Phoenix."

Dongfang Jin then picked out the simplest ones from his mind and said, "Yes, the Azure Dragon of the East, also known as the Azure Dragon, the Black Tortoise of the North, the White Tiger of the West, and the Vermilion Bird of the South, these are the Four Symbols Divine Beasts."

The Azure Dragon of the East: Corresponding to spring, it is azure in color, symbolizing vitality and life.

Southern Vermilion Bird (Suzaku): Corresponding to summer, it is red, or crimson, symbolizing passion and prosperity.

The Western White Tiger (or White Tiger): Corresponding to autumn, it is white or gold, symbolizing harvest and maturity.

The Northern Black Tortoise: Corresponding to winter, it is black, representing the long nights, and symbolizing storage and rest.

Xie Wenke found her explanation simple and easy to understand, so he took out his treasured possession: "Jin-jie, you've gone to a lot of trouble."

Dongfang Jin took the notebook, which read: "The moon rises above the willow branches, a rendezvous after dusk." She asked, "What traditional festival is this?" The answer was written: Mid-Autumn Festival. However, there was a misspelled character there.

"This is the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, also known as the Yuanxiao Festival."

Xie Wenke happily took notes.

"Jin-jie, what's the pronunciation of this character?" Guo Yuming pointed to the character in his notebook.

Dongfang Jin drank a glass of water and saw that the character was a combination of the character for "gold" and the character for "child": "This character is pronounced 'zhong'. It means 'spirited and beautiful, with a voice as loud as a bell, and a deep affection.' You should recognize this combination of 'gold' and 'heavy,' right?"

Several people nodded in agreement.

After Fang Shiyu finished recording the Four Symbols, he also took out a single character: "What about this one?"

"The reason why the character 'tuan' has the 'rice' radical added to it is probably because it describes food, such as dough, rice balls, or sesame balls."

After Ma Wencai finished taking notes, he eagerly took out a whole sheet of paper: "Jin-jie, what about this one?"

The next line after "opportunity knocks but once" is "time waits for no one," not "lost" as in "lost."

"what about this?"

……

Afterwards, Dongfang Jin answered a few more questions and explained a few more words to them, truly experiencing what it was like to be a teacher.

Just as Ma Wencai and his companions were writing furiously.

Little did they know that several people were already standing at the back door leading to the study.

These people were the county magistrate, Lu Yunqing and his guards, Master Xu and his servant, and the dean of Yunshu Academy, Yan Zhiyuan, and his servant.

Gu Chenglin, carrying a basket on his back, watched them from a distance, sighing inwardly, thinking about his wife...

Seeing them stop writing, Dongfang Jin stood up and smoothed out imaginary wrinkles on her clothes: "Alright, it's almost noon..."

Ma Wencai immediately stood up and said warmly, "Jin-jie, we're already at your doorstep. Let me invite you to dinner at my family's Ping An Restaurant."

Fang Shiyu was also very grateful and said sincerely, "Jin'er, let's go to his house to eat braised pork. His braised pork is the best in Ling'an County."

This meal is a must. This Miss Jin is truly a woman of exceptional talent and profound learning.

Xie Wenke also looked grateful: "Yes, Sister Jin, let's go. Wencai's roast chicken is also quite good."

They all had a very fruitful day.

Knowing that she couldn't refuse such a kind offer, Dongfang Jin had no choice but to agree.

She happens to need money right now and doesn't know which company to partner with. She'll go to Ma Wencai's house and see if they're interested. If so, she can bring out a few recipes to exchange for some money, which would be perfect for buying a house or land.

"Master Xu, go to Ping An Restaurant," Lu Yunqing heard the conversation inside until the question and answer session ended.

"What do you mean, sir?" Master Xu stopped writing, looked at him, and understood.

Yan Zhiyuan stroked his mustache, peered deeply through the crack in the door, and said, "Go ahead, it'll be good for this old man to meet this girl."

That's impressive! The questions they asked were all from the exams of recent years.

Although the exam questions are updated every year, it is truly remarkable that she, at such a young age and as a woman, can answer them fluently and provide detailed explanations.

It's such a pity! It's a girl.

Gu Chenglin watched them leave, signaled to Feng that he didn't need to follow, and then carried his things towards the Four Seasons Study.

I just heard that the owner of the Four Seasons Study is Prince Dun.

It was also said that the Prince Dun's Mansion seemed to be secretly searching for something all these years, and even his uncle's people didn't know what they were looking for.

Prince Dun was the emperor's uncle, and ten years ago his family lived in his fiefdom of Suzhou.

To support the emperor's ascension to the throne, his family moved to the capital and helped him eliminate those people. They haven't returned to Suzhou in all these years...

Ten years ago? Looking for what? Could it be...?

When Dongfang Jin saw Gu Chenglin return, she walked over and said with a smile, "You're back! Wencai said he'd treat us to dinner."

Gu Chenglin saw a hint of tenderness in the smile on her face. But she always maintained a distance from him that was neither too close nor too distant.

Suppressing the growing excitement in his heart, and seeing her so happy, he spoke in a rare gentle tone: "Yes, Uncle Village Head has gone back to the village, he won't be eating with us."

Looking at the smiles on their faces, he knew that these people had gained a lot.

Gu Caiwei leaned closer, took her father's hand, and whispered, "Dad, Mom is very powerful."

“Hmm,” Gu Chenglin replied with only one word.

Gu Jingye looked at his father with a worried expression, feeling anxious for him. This young woman was not only literate, but also so knowledgeable.

He had just heard that these uncles were all going to take the imperial examination for the title of Xiucai next year.

Their knowledge surpassed that of his uncle; even his stepmother could answer questions they didn't know.

So... so are all the young ladies highly educated, but what about her father? He's never even attended a private school.

Dongfang Jin leaned close to Gu Chenglin's ear and whispered, "Did the village head ask him?"

Gu Chenglin looked down at her, his eyes filled with a certain determination, and said softly, "I asked, and I'll tell you when we get home."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Jin's smile deepened: "Okay."

When the group arrived at Ping An Restaurant, the manager was incredibly welcoming and said he had specially reserved a private room for them upstairs.

Just as they were about to go upstairs, the county magistrate and his entourage had a chance encounter with them.

When Gu Chenglin saw the county magistrate and his entourage, he understood immediately; it seemed they really were after his wife.

"Magistrate, Dean, Master Xu," Ma Wencai and the others saw them and stepped forward to pay their respects, but Lu Yunqing raised his hand to stop them.

"No need for formalities. I am dressed in plain clothes today, so there is no need for formalities."

Dongfang Jin looked at the old man, the dean of Yunshu Academy?

These words seemed to be addressed to them, but they also seemed not to be, as Master Xu had already helped Gu Chenglin, who was kneeling, to his feet.

Dongfang Jin, holding a child in each hand, stared blankly at them. She was now a commoner, right? Should she kneel or not?