Spring flowers.

Chapter 29 Competition
“Your mother didn’t say that; it’s just my guess…”

Wei Yishang knew Zhang's character; she didn't like to gossip.

"Please speak freely, Granny An..."

She looked calmly at Granny An, wondering why Madam Zhang had sent her to the First Madam's room to take care of her that day.

"Firstly, the master had promised not to take another concubine, but Lin, as an outsider, still entered the family."

"two is……"

Wei Yishang said calmly, "Could it be related to the Zhang family's dowry?"

Granny An was taken aback, not expecting that her young lady would know something about such matters.

"Yes...yes...the Zhang family's large dowry, which was supposed to be given to your mother to manage, was actually used entirely for household expenses."

Wei Yishang sighed inwardly: Zhang, with your bodhisattva-like personality, you'll only be bullied, manipulated, and disregarded. Praying to Buddha is like applying medicine to the face; it only treats the symptoms.

The Vice Minister's residence was indeed rotten.

"And the third one..."

After speaking, Granny An looked at Wei Yishang.

"No, no, no, that's all..." Although she mentioned the third point, Granny An seemed to suddenly think of something shocking and stopped talking.

"related to me?"

Thinking of Zhang's indifference towards her, Wei Yishang couldn't help but feel that perhaps this mother had completely given up on the Wei family.

She didn't ask any further questions, but instead took Granny An's hand.
"Granny, please rest well. I will send someone to invite you to come to the capital again."

Ye Mingzhen arranged for a carriage to be delivered.

"This third-ranked scholar is quite thoughtful."

The person who came said nothing, handed the package to the driver, and left.

"Fourth Miss is so lucky to have found such a husband," the coachman said, looking at the fine horse and the spacious interior of the carriage.

Wei Yishang didn't reply, thinking to herself:

As for partners, they are indeed reliable. As for marriage, the partnership will end when it expires, and perhaps I can return to my own time.

The third destination was the guild hall that Zhang Juren frequented.

The guild hall is located in a remote area near the outskirts of Beijing, with a field behind it, and is a standalone building.

A toad is carved on the lintel, and a small bridge and flowing water can be seen in the courtyard. Clearly, the owner of the guild hall is very refined.

Wei Yishang knocked on the door, and a disciple opened it.

She gave the name of Zhang, a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, and said that she was looking for her uncle.

In the past, Scholar Zhang was either at the school or here, so he probably wouldn't have made a mistake.

But this was Wei Yishang's first time here.

Combining the poetic beauty of mountains and rivers with the earthy charm of fields and ridges, those who come here must be extraordinary.

A short while later, Zhang, the scholar, came out and took Wei Yishang inside.

"Uncle, you didn't even ask me why I came here?"

Wei Yishang asked, watching Zhang Juren's retreating figure.

"Family matters can be discussed at the school. Since you've come here, it must be for external matters. You must have your eye on the resources of this guild and want me to mediate and provide you with assistance."

To be honest, Wei Yishang found this uncle to be quite amazing, as he could predict everything.

"Then, Uncle, would you be willing to help me?" Wei Yishang walked up to Zhang Juren and said with a smile.

"It's not up to me. It's up to those people, whether they're willing to help."

Zhang, the scholar, pointed to the people inside the room, most of whom were his friends or students, and all of them seemed to be of extraordinary status.

"I see."

Wei Yishang knew that Zhang Juren said this to prepare her mentally.

What lies ahead is a tough battle.

She didn't know if she would succeed, but she knew she couldn't be anxious.

If you don't even have confidence in your own project, how can you convince others?

Upon entering the main hall, Scholar Zhang gave a brief introduction to everyone.

“This is my niece, the fourth daughter of the Vice Minister’s mansion.” Wei Yishang bowed to everyone and then said, “Dear uncles and elders, I am Wei Yishang. May you all be blessed.”

Few people around were interested in the stranger who suddenly appeared, but they all smiled out of respect for Zhang, the scholar.

"I have a great project and I'd like to find investors."

At this point, the group looked up at Wei Yishang.

How could a woman from such a cabinet dare to propose a project? What kind of knowledge could she possibly have?
Moreover, I've never heard of this person before, not even the legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister's family, let alone a concubine's daughter.
If they were truly reliable and capable, they would have been famous long ago.

"As for women who have passed the imperial examinations, they should stay at home and learn needlework and traditional female virtues. In the future, only a few of them will be in charge of their husbands' families."

"That's what a local gentryman said. He didn't even look at Wei Yishang."

“My niece isn’t like that,” Zhang said with a smile, then stepped back to see how Wei Yishang would respond.

"Would the local gentry be willing to have a contest with Yishang?" Wei Yishang stepped forward and asked.

"Compared to what?"

The local gentry was getting impatient, feeling that Wei Yishang was causing trouble.

"Since everyone is eating honeydew melon, I'll have a contest with the local gentry to see who can make the honeydew melon stand up."

"This……"

The local gentry looked troubled.

Honeydew melons are oval-shaped, making it difficult for them to stand upright.

“According to what this girl said, you…let’s have a competition…” said an elderly man with white hair who had been silent all along.

The local gentry bowed to the elder and then agreed. He felt that such a competition was nothing more than a matter of luck and was completely meaningless.

He dared not offend the elder.

The attendant quickly brought out two honeydew melons, irregularly shaped green fruits that shone golden in the light.

“Then, sir, you may go first,” Wei Yishang said.

The elder standing to the side nodded, and all eyes turned to the local gentry.

He tried to adjust the honeycomb by moving it around, trying to make it stand upright, but he failed.

It stood up after being placed there for a long time.

“Old Zou, I really…” The local gentry lowered his head.

“But that girl can’t do it either.” The squire looked at Wei Yishang and continued, “The shape of the honeydew melon horn is such that it’s an impossible task.”

Others were also discussing it.

The elder looked at Wei Yishang; "Girl, do you have a solution?"

"You're not kidding us, are you?"

"Exactly, how could that be possible?"

"What can a young lady from a secluded family do? The ideas she comes up with are probably not feasible. They're all just fantasies, and they'd be embarrassing."

Those around her did not think highly of Wei Yishang.

"I have it, and it only takes a second."

Wei Yishang's words stunned everyone.

The elder continued, "Girl, we are all respectable people. If you deceive everyone..."

"Don't even mention you, your uncle, Zhang, a scholar, can't make it in the capital either..."

The elder glanced at Zhang, the scholar, and noticed that he seemed indifferent.

"I understand, watch me."

Wei Yishang's eyes were bright, and she already had a plan in mind.

"Then, go..."

The elder instructed his attendant to hand the honeydew horn to Wei Yishang, waiting to see what would happen in a second.

There were unpleasant noises all around, but none of them could disturb Wei Yishang.

She understood that success or failure hinged on this moment.

What she is about to open is not only her own career, but also the prison and nightmare of so many women in ancient times.

(End of this chapter)