Chapter 87

On the afternoon when the results were announced, the congratulations came one after another. All the newly listed candidates, whose names were on the list, came to pay their respects to the current top scholar. Although Ye Yu might have been well-known among merchants, he was little known among the many scholars.

However, this did not affect their enthusiasm for finding out where Ye Yu lived. The scholars who had previously avoided him due to his association with the stench of copper now all came to visit with smiles on their faces.

Of course, how many of these well-wishers were genuinely sincere, only heaven knew. However, to everyone's disappointment, Ye Yu was not at home but was practicing his painting skills in a mountain cottage.

Qiu Lan and Su Yueyun, who had returned earlier, were greatly surprised by the grand scene as soon as they arrived at the gate of the large house. At that moment, many people had already gathered outside the gate, most of whom were dressed as scholars.

Qiu Lan did not understand what these people were doing and greeted them as she walked. However, Su Yueyun was much more knowledgeable than Qiu Lan and could see that these people had come to pay their respects to Ye Yu.

Therefore, she pulled Qiu Lan into the house and then instructed Uncle Sun to go out and explain that the top scholar Ye Yu was not at home and that they should come another day if they wanted to pay their respects. After a group of candidates were sent away, none of those who came to congratulate left.

Although Su Yueyun was not the mistress of the Ye household, she now had the air of a household manager. She gave clear instructions to the servants around her to quickly prepare and open the gate, and to have Uncle Sun set off the firecrackers in front of the house so that everyone nearby could hear.

Although there were not many people reporting the good news, they were particularly good at creating a momentum, so the sounds of gongs and trumpets were especially loud. Such a lively scene naturally attracted many neighbors to come and watch.

Everyone wanted to see the top scholar, hoping to share in the good luck, but unfortunately, the top scholar was not at home, which disappointed many people. At this moment, Su Quanzhong led a group of apprentices, carrying several boxes of firecrackers, to the front gate.

When Su Yueyun saw that her father had brought so many fireworks, she grumbled, "Father, did you move all of Mr. Wang's stock from the east of the city?"

"These fireworks were sent by Mr. Wang. I only wanted to buy one box, but Mr. Wang was so generous that he even gave me the stock for the New Year's Eve for free..." Su Quanzhong said with a happy smile, as if it was the happiest day of his life.

Qiu Lan, standing beside her, opened her small mouth wide and exaggeratedly said, "These will last until next year..."

Although Ye Yu, the top scholar, was not at home, the congratulatory letters sent by the people reporting the good news still needed to be received. Su Quanzhong, being the most qualified to receive them, happily took the letters and distributed the prepared money to the people reporting the good news.

"Oh, how can I let Lord Su spend so much money, it's not right, it's not right..."

Uncle Sun had intended to personally distribute the money to the people reporting the good news, but was beaten to it by Su Quanzhong. How could he let someone else pay for his young master's success? Therefore, he insisted on distributing the money himself.

Su Quanzhong, however, waved his hand and pushed Uncle Sun back, saying with a smile, "Old Sun, don't refuse! Today is a day of great joy. Who distributes the money, it's all the same. Ye Yu is not at home, so I, as his uncle, should do it!"

"But..."

"Cough! Old Sun, if you keep trying to stop me, I'll be unhappy!" Su Quanzhong pretended to be displeased, interrupting Uncle Sun, and then said with a meaningful smile, "We are one family, who distributes the money, it's all the same, right, Old Sun..."

"Um... Right! We are one family! Hahaha!" Uncle Sun tasted the meaning in these words, looked at Su Yueyun, and smiled contentedly.

The deafening sound of firecrackers began.

Then, more than ten craftsmen, holding axes and hammers, started to knock on the gate. This frightened Su Yueyun and Qiu Lan, who both turned pale, not knowing what these people were doing.

Su Quanzhong and Uncle Sun came forward, ordered the servants to step back, and willingly let these people knock. Su Yueyun and Qiu Lan were very puzzled and asked the two elders for an explanation.

After the two elders explained, they finally understood. According to tradition, breaking the doors and windows was to quickly replace them, symbolizing a change in the household!

The commotion continued until dusk.

When Ye Yu returned home, swinging his sore right arm, everything had returned to its original quietness. However, Ye Yu noticed that the doors and windows of the house had been replaced, which puzzled him. After asking, he learned the reason.

Although Ye Yu was not very excited about becoming the top scholar, it was still a cause for celebration, so he drank a lot of wine that night. Unfortunately, in Lai'an Prefecture, he had no friends to drink with, which made him feel somewhat lonely.

At the third watch of the night, Ye Yu woke up from his drunkenness. His head hurt a little, and he couldn't help but let out a soft groan. The sound from his throat was a bit hoarse.

"Master, you're awake..."

The curtain was pulled aside, and Qiu Lan poked her head in, her eyes like water, but somewhat shy, and asked with concern, "Master, are you feeling unwell? Do you have a headache?"

The candlelight made Qiu Lan's face look like a peach blossom. Ye Yu, still groggy from the hangover, stared at Qiu Lan for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice, "I'm just a bit thirsty..."

"Master, please wait a moment!" Qiu Lan lightly left the room and returned after about half a cup of tea, holding a small lacquer tray. On the tray was a blue porcelain bowl, and the bowl was filled with a hot, fragrant drink.

Qiu Lan sat on the edge of the bed with great concern, holding the blue porcelain bowl in both hands and presenting it to Ye Yu, "Master, this is the tea I made to help you sober up. It can quench your thirst and help you sober up. Please drink it while it's hot!"

"How, have you been making this tea all along?" Ye Yu looked at the steaming tea, his eyes showing a hint of emotion.

"Yes, I didn't know when you would wake up, but I knew you would be very thirsty when you did, so I made a pot of tea every half an hour to ensure you could drink it as soon as you woke up, so you wouldn't be thirsty..."

Qiu Lan blew on the steaming tea, speaking earnestly, but she didn't notice that Ye Yu's eyes were already moist. Ye Yu first drank the tea in the bowl, then threw the porcelain bowl aside, and without Qiu Lan's guard, he deeply embraced her.

"Master..." Qiu Lan, held in Ye Yu's arms, felt like a rabbit, not knowing what to do, and her previously pale face instantly turned red.

"Qiu Lan, thank you!"

Ye Yu tightly hugged Qiu Lan, seemingly unwilling to let go for a moment. He slowly lowered his head, and at that moment, their noses almost touched. Their breathing became suddenly rapid, and Qiu Lan's chest pressed against his broad chest, rising and falling continuously.

"Master, you..." Qiu Lan's heart was pounding, her chest heaving, and although she was a bit afraid, she also felt a hint of anticipation, a long-awaited anticipation.

Qiu Lan's breath was like a fragrant breeze, and feeling the fresh scent of a maiden from her, Ye Yu couldn't help but kiss her eyelashes, nose, and finally, her tender, rosy lips, saying softly, "Qiu Lan, you are so beautiful!"

Ye Yu's chest pressed against her even more, and his hands became increasingly restless, feeling the curves and tremors of her body. Face to face, lips touching, a wave of long-awaited heat was sweeping through his entire body.

Qiu Lan, trembling and panting, raised her face slightly, closed her eyes, and breathed, "Master, you said you would wait until I'm eighteen... um..."

Perhaps due to the alcohol, Ye Yu couldn't control himself at that moment. He opened his mouth and captured Qiu Lan's tender lips, the lips melting together, and his tongue gently probed and entered.

Qiu Lan made "um" sounds, her tongue being caught like a fish by Ye Yu, and unable to speak, she was also ignited with desire, so she opened her lips and met him, her two arms slowly wrapping around Ye Yu's neck.

Ye Yu's tongue explored wildly, feeling the passionate response of Qiu Lan's tongue, like a fish playing with him. The warmth and fragrance made his desire grow even stronger, and he quietly loosened Qiu Lan's sash.

His hand touched Qiu Lan's thighs, immediately feeling the smooth, plump, and silky skin, which made his heart even more wild. He quickly pursued, finally reaching the tenderest spot.

Qiu Lan, having lost her defenses, was completely soft, struggling weakly, and said in embarrassment, "Master, you... so bad... take it out... quickly!"

Ye Yu, already deeply involved, had no intention of stopping. He continued to explore, causing Qiu Lan to pant and sweat. Qiu Lan felt waves of strange tingling sensations spreading from her lower body throughout her body.

Like ripples spreading, the sensations were both shocking and wonderful, spreading to every corner of her body, making her collapse onto Ye Yu's body like melting.

Ye Yu then lifted Qiu Lan's waist and hips, pulling down her skirt and undergarments to her ankles, and then spread her legs and thrust forward, making Qiu Lan's body tremble. At this moment, Ye Yu seemed to realize something, cursing himself for being too hasty, as he had forgotten that Qiu Lan was still a maiden.

He then slowed down, advancing step by step, slowly breaking through that barrier. At that moment, he clearly felt the trembling of the beauty beneath him, and due to the pain, Qiu Lan's fingers left red marks on his back.

But seeing the tears in Qiu Lan's beautiful eyes, like a healing balm, Ye Yu forgot the pain on his back and felt a surge of tenderness.

"Master, it hurts..." Qiu Lan bit her lower lip, her wet eyes showing pain.

Ye Yu gently stroked Qiu Lan's disheveled hair, comforting her in a low voice, "Relax, I'll go slower..."

As Ye Yu continued to caress her, Qiu Lan, who had initially bitten her lip in silence, gradually entered a state of pleasure and began to moan.

Her body leaned back, her disheveled hair scattered over her white skin, her breasts trembling, and the scene was full of passion...

The lamp flickered, a few stars and the moon in the sky, until the storm of passion subsided, and the two lay together, intertwined, under the same blanket!