Anzhi Hall.
That very evening Qing He, along with Nanny Chen and the others, prepared dozens of dishes. Two large tables were set up in the courtyard, Anzhi Hall, without regard to master or servant, sat together and raised their glasses in celebration.
Jin Shanyao didn't like tea, so she made herself a glass of cold water and held it up to Meng Anci, saying, "Congratulations... Meng Anci, you've passed the imperial examination..."
Everyone raised their glasses to Meng Anci and shouted, "Congratulations, young master, on passing the imperial examination... let's drink..."
Meng Anci smiled throughout. He raised his glass to everyone and said, "Have a drink..." As soon as he finished speaking, the eight glasses clinked together, and he drank them all in one gulp.
Dinner officially began, and everyone ate happily until 3:45 PM before the meal ended.
Meng Anzhi led Meng Anci to the mourning hall to offer incense to their parents.
Meng Anci knelt before the memorial tablet, holding three incense sticks, and respectfully kowtowed three times. "Mother, your son has passed the imperial examination and ranked fifth... Don't worry, I will definitely work hard to surpass Zhao Zhiyuan."
He originally wanted to say that he would definitely become the top scholar in the imperial examination, but he was afraid that if he made a boastful promise, he would not be able to keep it and would not be able to explain it to his parents, so he changed his words.
Meng Anzhi kowtowed three times and whispered, "Mother, Father, I can earn money on my own now. If you ever need money, remember to come to me in a dream, and I'll burn some for you."
Jin Shanyao, who was standing outside the door, overheard the siblings' conversation, then turned and silently left...
The next day.
Anzhi Hall had just opened the door when Xiao Huzi ran in with a satchel on his back. "Auntie... candy..." he said, grabbing a handful of candy from his satchel and scattering it on the table.
He looked up, his eyes sparkling, and said, "I passed the imperial examination, did you know that?"
Jin Shanyao the ledger aside and laughed, "I know. Shopkeeper Wang told me that you seem like Wang Household, and that you're quite clever."
Xiao Huzi chuckled, two red blushes rising to his cheeks. He forced a smile, trying to appear nonchalant, then glanced at Jin Shanyao, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Why aren't you praising me anymore???
"Doesn't Auntie know how prestigious the title of 'Tong Sheng' is?" Xiao Huzi thought for a moment, then held up one finger and said earnestly, "Auntie... I'm the only one from our private school who passed the Tong Sheng exam..."
Jin Shanyao exaggeratedly said, "My goodness... just you alone, that's amazing! No wonder they all call you Boss Hu, you know so many words."
Xiao Huzi was satisfied this time, proudly raising his chin, "That's..." Then there was silence again, Xiao Huzi was filled with confusion: Why isn't he praising me anymore???
"Never mind, business is more important." His eyes darted around. "Auntie, where's Brother Anci? Does he know I passed the preliminary examination?"
Seeing his expression, Jin Shanyao suddenly remembered that Meng Anci had the same look when he won first place as a child. It was just a pity that the child had grown up and she could no longer see it.
She smiled and said, "I'm reading in the study."
"Then I'll go find him," Xiao Huzi said, and before he could finish, he had already darted into the backyard.
" Xiao Huzi... don't bother people!" Wang Jinlian had just stepped into the door when she saw her son disappear in a flash.
Whether she genuinely didn't hear or pretended not to, she didn't answer her. Wang Jinlian put the two bolts of cloth she was carrying on her shoulder onto the table and let out a heavy breath.
"That child runs incredibly fast; there's no way to catch him."
As she spoke, patting the two bolts of cloth, she said, "I'd been wanting to come see you for a while now. But Anci was taking the provincial examination, and I was worried that Xiao Huzi would cause trouble, so I didn't come."
"This is the finest cotton fabric. Have Qing He make two thick outfits for Anci. Wear them during the imperial examination in February; it will still be cold then, and it will be difficult for him to answer the questions if he gets cold."
"What are you doing?" Jin Shanyao, puzzled as to why she was giving him a gift out of the blue.
Wang Jinlian explained, " Xiao Huzi was able to pass the preliminary examination entirely thanks to Anci's meticulous tutoring. With his mischievous, monkey-like behavior of always shouting and running around the streets, he wouldn't have been able to even get past the examination hall, let alone pass the preliminary examination."
She plopped down in the chair, her face flushed from the journey, and pulled up her sleeve to fan herself.
Jin Shanyao her a cup of tea. "I'll go call Anci out."
"No, no, no..." Wang Jinlian waved her hands repeatedly, picked up her teacup and took a big gulp, "Let him study hard, we can't hold him back at this crucial juncture."
Before he could finish speaking, a burst of laughter came from the backyard; it was Meng Anci.
Then came Xiao Huzi's voice, chattering incoherently. Wang Jinlian was speechless, yet couldn't help but laugh.
"Why is this child so restless?"
She got up to go to the backyard to arrest them, but Jin Shanyao stopped her, "Let them chat for a while. Anci has been holed up in his study lately. I'm afraid he'll get sick from being cooped up for so long before the imperial examination even starts."
Upon hearing this, Wang Jinlian quickly spat twice, "What nonsense are you spouting..."
Jin Shanyao and said, "Alright, alright, I won't talk nonsense..."
Wang Jinlian only allowed Xiao Huzi to stay for a quarter of an hour before grabbing him by the belt and carrying him away. No sooner had she left than another person arrived at the door.
"This must be the Juren Meng... My name is Tian Fengshuo, everyone calls me Landlord Tian... I heard that our Qingzhou Prefecture has produced its youngest Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examinations), so I came here specifically to pay my respects. I hope you can inform them of my arrival."
"Please wait a moment..." Jin Shanyao gestured for Zhou Xiaosi to go and call someone. After a short while, Meng Anci came out. Not recognizing the newcomer, he politely asked, "May I ask who you are?"
Landlord Tian hurriedly stepped forward, "Greetings, Juren Meng... I am Tian Fengshuo, and I have come here specifically to congratulate you," he said, taking out two hundred taels of silver from his pocket and handing it to him.
I heard you're going to the capital to prepare for the exam ahead of schedule. This is just a small token of my appreciation; I hope it will be of some help to you.
Meng Anci instantly, his heart pounding like a drum... He had only passed the imperial examination a day ago, and people were already coming to his door to give him money. If he were to become the top scholar, wouldn't even more people be sending him money?
No wonder everyone is so desperate to become an official; power and money are inextricably linked... It really feels different to be fawned over.
Just as he was envisioning a bright future, the Landlord Tian was Jin Shanyao, dragged to the door, and thrown onto the street.
He shouted sternly, "You're bribing... don't you know that? Bribery is punishable by death. It's fine if it's yours, but if it gets to Meng Anci and he gets beheaded, I'll make sure your soul is scattered to the winds."
That's terrifying... She had finally raised the two cubs to adulthood, and was almost able to repay her debt of gratitude, only to have it all ruined by this good-for-nothing...
Damn it! Luckily, Old General Fu said that any price exceeding two baskets of walnuts constitutes bribery.
Bribery and accepting bribes are both illegal and punishable by death... The person she was repaying a debt of gratitude to has died, so what's the point of repaying that debt?
The Landlord Tian was thrown to the ground and lay sprawled on his back. It took him a long time to get up, his large belly protruding. He wanted to get angry but didn't dare... Standing on the street, watching people point and whisper about him, his face turned bright red.
Meng Anci strode to the door, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Landlord Tian, and said sincerely, "I appreciate Squire Tian kindness, Master Tian. However, I absolutely dare not accept this silver."
He glanced furtively at Jin Shanyao, a slight smile playing on his lips, and declared passionately, "I am fortunate to have passed the imperial examination; it is a blessing from my ancestors. If I am fortuitous opportunity enough to become an official in the future, I will earn my living through my own abilities and my salary. I will never accept any bribes."
The Landlord Tian hadn't expected to be thrown out and humiliated in public. He cursed the landlord inwardly for being ungrateful, but on the outside he smiled and praised him for his ambition before turning around and leaving in a hurry.