Chapter 448: Chapter 437: The Farmer Top Scorer
One by one, the participants walked out of the examination hall, some even fainting upon seeing their families, and the Wang Family grew increasingly anxious, with Xiuya staring intently at the exit, gripping her handkerchief tightly.
"Here he comes, he’s coming," Xiuya, with sharp eyes, immediately whispered.
Seeing him in person, everyone felt relieved. Indeed, Zhaoxing looked much better than other candidates who had just come out of the exam hall; though he looked tired and his eyes were red, his steps were steady, clearly showing no serious issues.
But just to be safe, once back in the carriage, they still had a doctor check his pulse. This carriage had been bought by Ye Qiu when he first came to Dingshui State. He himself driving a donkey cart was nothing usual, but in such a major prefecture, having his three sisters ride in a donkey cart could be seen as demeaning, so despite the high prices of carriages in Dingshui State, he still bought one.
"How is he?" asked Wang Xiangshi anxiously, while Wang Po was much more composed, having already calmed down the moment she saw her grandson.
The doctor withdrew his hand from checking the pulse and said with a smile, "The young master is fine. He has just eaten too many cold foods and lacked some sleep these past days, making him look very tired. He’ll recover after resting for a couple of days."
"That’s good, that’s good," Wang Xiangshi expressed her gratitude towards Amitabha Buddha.
Xiuya took the opportunity to give the doctor a piece of Silver, then sent him out of the carriage: "Thank you for your trouble, teacher."
Seeing this, Wang Xiangshi silently criticized her own lack of foresight, looking at Xiuya with even greater approval.
After the exams, neither the Wang family nor the Ye Family mentioned how Zhaoxing had performed. Ye Qiu drove the carriage back to the newly bought residence. Once Zhaoxing had cleaned up and drank a bowl of hot soup and gone to bed, everyone then went to have their meal.
"That really scared me. Just the other day, I saw someone being carried out before finishing their exam. Thankfully, Brother Zhaoxing is fine," Xiuying patted her chest and then earnestly said to Ye Qiu, "Big brother, you must take care of your health, otherwise it would be really embarrassing to be carried out before finishing the exam."
"Got it, little girl," Ye Qiu said with a smile as he ruffled her hair.
After resting for two days, it was time to consider the marriage between Zhaoxing and Xiuya. Ye Qiu thought that since Xiuya was only fourteen, there was no rush for marriage, and they could just get engaged first.
Fortuitously, the Wang Family thought the same. They didn’t have much silver, and buying a residence in Dingshui State would definitely involve using the money of their eldest son and his wife, which they feared might cause dissatisfaction. Getting engaged first would alleviate many concerns. During this period, they could save some more, and by the time the results of the younger son came out, their daughter-in-law would be more willing to contribute financially.
A friendly agreement was reached by both parties, although Zhaoxing seemed to have some reservations.
However, Ye Qiu insisted on keeping Xiuya for two more years. Although in this era, it was not uncommon for girls to marry and have children at thirteen or fourteen, it was still very young, and early childbearing could pose greater risks to a woman.
He decided to have a proper talk with Zhaoxing, even if they got married two years later, they shouldn’t rush to have children.
The engagement would be discussed after they returned to Ye Village. Before that, the Wang Family decided to stay in Dingshui State awaiting the results of Zhaoxing’s re-examination, while Ye Qiu and his family would head back first, as the results of his Provincial Examination should have been released by then.
Indeed, a day before, a messenger had arrived at Ye Village to announce the good news – Ye Qiu was the top scorer of this year’s Provincial Examination. Fortunately, a clever old woman at home had kept the messenger for some celebratory tea, and rewarded him with some Silver.
When Ye Qiu returned to Ye Village, he received a warm welcome, especially from families who had daughters of marriageable age, who were exceptionally eager.
But Ye Qiu did not talk about marriage at all; he just hospitably entertained the guests, and avoided those who tried to matchmake. After several attempts, these people got the message and gradually stopped discussing marriage matters.
Their hearts sighed, initially looking down on the four siblings without parents, only to see them prosper unimaginably—first with creating a new variety of roses that sold like hotcakes, and now with Ye Qiu having passed the Scholar examination!
Returning to Ye Village peacefully, Ye Qiuxin also temporarily put his mind at ease, not only because he had become a Scholar and was no longer restricted by the village, but also because the time when he was killed by mountain bandits in his past life had already passed.
He didn’t understand why what happened in his past life hadn’t happened again in this life, but having no danger was always better than having danger.
However, he didn’t know that during his trip to Dingshui State, a Young Marquis had come to Yi’an County, nor did he know what issue the Young Marquis had with these mountain bandits, but he eradicated all the bandits as soon as he arrived.
"Marquis, all the people have been captured and locked up in the county government prison," his subordinate reported to him.
"Display them at the gate after three days," the Young Marquis said coldly.
"Yes!"
After the servant left, Xiao He gazed at the bright moon in the sky and fell into deep thought, thankful that in this life, he returned two years before his grandmother and mother were killed, his relatives had not yet fallen victim to these people.
A few days later, Wang Zhaoxing and his family also returned, and he truly lived up to everyone’s expectations, successfully becoming a scholar, and from then on, according to the laws of the Dalun Dynasty, he was exempt from paying taxes.
Therefore, the moment he returned to Ye Village, there were more people going in and out of the Wang family than there had been at the Ye Family two days before, and some landlords even offered a large amount of land.
This was a customary transaction; offering a field to Mr. Scholar meant the remaining lands were also exempt from taxes, benefiting both parties.
But Wang Zhaoxing did not accept it, as a man of integrity, he could not exploit the court.
However, Ye Wangshi watched with great envy. If Wang Zhaoxing and her daughter had ended up together, as Wang Zhaoxing’s mother-in-law, she definitely could have persuaded him to accept it. That’s just how all scholars do, what was he being so stubborn for?
Originally, she thought that if Wang Zhaoxing passed the examination and became a scholar, her daughter would become an official’s wife. But now that Wang Zhaoxing really did become a scholar, the Ye family couldn’t match up to him. What value would a village chief have in the eyes of Mr. Scholar?
"Useless thing!" Ye Ming scornfully glared at Ye Wangshi. If it weren’t for her failed plan, he would now be the father-in-law of a giant.
But now? They could only watch covetously.
"Can you blame me? If it weren’t for that despicable Mrs. Huang, Meimei would already have married Wang Zhaoxing." Ye Wangshi argued, the more glorious the Wang family became, the more she hated Mrs. Huang, hating that her Meimei now carried a bad reputation and not even a hunter would want her.
"Enough, why argue." Ye Baomin knocked on his smoking pipe, his expression flickering through the swirling smoke.
"It’s not without opportunity," he said meaningfully.
"What do you mean, Dad?" Ye Ming asked quietly.
"Now that Meimei’s reputation is already ruined and she can’t find anyone better, having lost one opportunity, just create another one," he said.
"So, what should we do?"
"Just wait, Wang Zhaoxing passed the examination and became a scholar, they will definitely have a celebration party, just wait for that day they hold the party."
"That’s why you are wise, Dad," Ye Ming said, flattering him, his tone somewhat excited.