Chapter 135: I

"Taking the exam is pointless; it's better not to pass, and if you do, his tail will stick up to the heavens."

"You don't want your son‑in‑law to become an imperial scholar, do you?"

"Before I hoped, now I don't; given his family's conduct, if he becomes an imperial scholar, my daughter's life will be even worse."

Qiao Mai's eyes blinked, "How is she now?"

"The dowry is gone; she started managing the shop, now the shop doesn't let the mother‑in‑law touch it, and the silver she earns she keeps herself—she knows how to hold onto money."

"Hmm, a bit of progress!"

"Hmph, if she doesn't suffer, she won't grow up."

"How's Ruyi's marriage matter going?"

"We're talking about it; after they finish the exam we'll see. Anyway I won't let her marry a clumsy fool; if she marries, it has to be someone literate and well‑mannered, who can read and write."

"Qiao Yatou, don't be partial; bring a bottle of wine for the old servant as well, I'm glad to have a drink," the old lady joked.

Qiao Mai doesn't care about Feng Family's stuff at all; she even finds their things taking up her space disgusting.

Shopkeeper Lu also prepared a red envelope and slipped it to the official courier, "Here, sir, thanks for your hard work."

Yuan Jiaqi got dressed early, ate, then loitered in the courtyard. When he heard firecrackers he knew the good‑news bearers were coming, and he hurriedly ran to the main gate, where Mr. Wang, the old lady, Qiao Mai, several children, and Shopkeeper Lu were already present.

Yuan Jiaqi smiled, "It's fine, he'll definitely pass."

The Qiao Family are agrarian merchants; in terms of social rank they're a bit better than ordinary merchants, but still looked down upon by the high‑born families.

"Handle your daughter's marriage yourself; I won't interfere."

Yuan Jiaqi took the good‑news report from the courier, and Qiao Mai immediately handed over a red envelope.

Just like a farmer; if someone from the family becomes a scholar, it's a 'farming‑and‑studying' household, and the reputation rises greatly, even allowing one to marry a town girl.

Qiao Mai watched from the side, saw that the Qin Family's younger son succeeded, hurried to fetch a fifty‑year‑old ginseng from the storehouse, packed it in a box and sent it over.

People kept coming in and out of the Feng residence, all there to celebrate; the previously controversial Feng Family, because Yinshi Feng passed the imperial scholar exam, became respected.

Five days later, Qiao Mai had sealed the red envelope early, still wrapped in red cloth; just by looking you could tell the silver inside wasn't light.

"Courier, thanks for your hard work."

Even Mrs. Wang sent a maid to hand over a red envelope; the courier took several red envelopes and laughed heartily.

"Dad, how is it?"

"Probably, I guess, hehe, I don't know either."

We got off topic; Yuan Jiaqi rested well for a day, and the next day followed the old gentleman to continue the lesson.

Mayor Qian, feeling self‑righteous, brought gifts to the door, and Shopkeeper Tong did as well, so at noon there were these two extra people.

Wang Jiaru's Student must work hard!

Qiao Family, Yuan Jiaqi, each candidate in the juvenile exam, please, Young Master Yuan, come out to receive the good news!!

Hehe, this time I'll find someone close for her, just a local youth from our town; this time also passed the xiucai exam.

The courier gave them a bow and rode off elsewhere.

"Let him rest well; after an exam he's exhausted. The results are posted five days later; if he passes, someone will surely come to the house with the good news, and everyone will go about their business."

Putting aside other matters, Mayor Qian wouldn't just watch Lu Sanniang be bullied; Shopkeeper Lu wants to stay friendly with Qiao Mai, and even this round the Feng Family can't be passed by Qiao Mai—doesn't that count as retribution?

"Yo, the Eastern Qin family? He's a good person; I heard the whole family has good character and a fine family tradition."

In no time, Xiuyu and Xiuhong ran back, whispering into her ear.

After the Qin Family received it, they promptly sent a return gift; the Qiao Family didn't invite outsiders, just the family celebrated at noon.

"Did his family come to propose, or did your family go to propose?"

"The carpenter's family."

Just don't know how the eldest son‑in‑law is doing; saying I'm not worried is a lie. She also hopes Xin'er will keep improving; both sons‑in‑law have prospects.

"Hmph!"

"Haha, keep trying, aim for a three‑peat, a four‑peat, and so on."

"Certainly, at noon I'll prepare a good bottle of wine for you to taste."

"Your family is interesting; this is the first time this courier has ever received so many red envelopes from one household, thank you!"

"Whose family?"

If Yuan Jiaqi attains Merit, things will be different; that's why the Feng Family is willing to smash pots and sell iron, sparing no scheme against the Lu family.

The courier on horseback laughed; seeing this family like that, he must have known the juvenile exam would be passed, so he shouted loudly.

Shopkeeper Lu quickly sent Xiuhong and Xiuyu to the Qin Family to take a look; she also hopes the two sons‑in‑law can pass the xiucai exam, so Ruyi's marriage can proceed through the matchmaker's procedures.

Sure enough, shortly after breakfast, the swift horse arrived at the gate of Jixiang Yuan.

The old gentleman drove everyone away, then turned and glared at Yuan Jiaqi.

Qiao Mai smiled without a hum, and three days later Yuan Jiaqi returned home, and the whole family swarmed into his courtyard.

"Great, my husband passed; that's the top rank in our county!"

But they stubbornly thought that Lu Sanniang was just a woman, and that a household without a man was easy to bully.

"My own eyes have gone blind once; shall I show you? If I can't see well, Ruyi will end up hating me."

"Yo, the eight characters haven't even got a stroke, and you're already talking to people?"

"Exactly; if it becomes a marriage, you must take better care of his family."

"You, as a master, won't help with strategy?"

"Haha, fine, fine, Qiao Niang, have the kitchen make a few more dishes at noon, let's celebrate."

Tianshui Town is bustling, the Feng Family is lively too, and believe it or not, Yinshi Feng actually got himself an imperial scholar.

Mr. Wang seemed nonchalant, but inside he was nervous; seeing everyone crowding him, he immediately started ushering people away.

Some of Feng Family's calculations were off, as if their brains were kicked by a donkey; even though the Feng have many members and Lu Sanniang is an orphaned widow, they have connections, and the Feng can't bully them at will.

I don't know whether it'll work or not, but anyway I've set my sights on their little Dizi.

Lu Shopkeeper nodded repeatedly with joy, "That's good, that's good!"

But he was the lowest‑ranked imperial scholar; while one could say the County Town's licentiates aren't in demand, this imperial scholar, though few, is highly sought after.

"That's about right; no matter how good their family is, we can't let them know we're willing. You mustn't show too much satisfaction, understand?"

Yuan Jiaqi approached the old gentleman, "Wang Jiaru's Student, this result is still acceptable, right?"

First, the Lu family has connections, linking with the Qian Family and Wang Family; second, the Lu family's business is already famous throughout the County Town; third, Lu Sanniang has silver in her hand—she has no Dizi, so the money she has will certainly go to her two daughters.

Seeing his condition like this, the old gentleman felt very satisfied.

"Of course, the men drink the clear one, we women drink fruit Wine; I'll also get you a whole case of good Wine."

As soon as the voice finished, the older women began setting off firecrackers.

"Mm hm, this time I'll listen to you."

Everyone seemed as if nothing was wrong, but inside they were all looking forward, because having a scholar in the family makes a difference between having Merit and not.

Early in the morning, the servants cleaned the doorway spotless and placed two large pots of spring‑flowers outside.

Lu Shopkeeper was no less, sending a set of premium Wenfang Four Treasures over.

The Qin Family didn't come because they also had guests to entertain, so the two families offset each other.

"Hurry up, wash up, eat, then sleep. If you don't get a good result this time, I'll kill you!"

"Yuan Jiaqi, how is it?"

"Haha, Wang Laoyezi Yuan's future is boundless, congratulations!"

"A matchmaker came to the door, wanting to arrange this marriage, thinking the children of our two families are a good match."

Their family also took this opportunity to make a big profit, but the silver for the Feng Family's banquet was provided by Lu Ruxin.

In other words, the gifts went to the Feng Family, the money was Ruxin's.

Knowing this, she had to spend that money; it's her Xianggong, so when it should be spent it must be spent, but in other respects she never contributed a single One Wen.

After the mother‑in‑law scolded her last time, she would never spend a single One Wen for the Feng Family again.

(End of Chapter)