Zhang Zhaodi was still peeking at the entrance, showing no intention of leaving.
Zhou Wangshu asked, "Mom, what are you still looking for?"
"I’m waiting for the other godsons!" Zhang Zhaodi said, "Since they’ve all entered the exam hall, we should celebrate together. Here they come, quickly call them over."
Su Yaoguang shrugged, looking helpless.
The other scholars, upon hearing Zhang Zhaodi’s words, first consulted their families. After getting their agreement, they decided to join Zhang Zhaodi for a drink. When Zhang Zhaodi saw the families of those scholars, she took them along without further ado. Originally, only two banquet tables were needed, but now four tables were arranged, and they had a lively feast.
Zhang Zhaodi’s generous and heroic demeanor was like the female heroes written in tales. Who would have thought that just over a year ago, she was quarreling with others in the village over a few scallions?
While it was bustling on Zhou Wangshu’s side, it was a mess over at Fenghua Pavilion.
When Jiang Yihuan brought Xiao Yanci back, Zhong Lanhua was still boasting to some ladies about how impressive her son-in-law was, saying a mere scholar exam was nothing to him.
As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yihuan had two strong men carry Xiao Yanci in. Before they could get close, the women caught a whiff of the disgusting smell.
"What are you doing, what are you carrying? It stinks to high heaven! Where did this smelly beggar come from?" Zhong Lanhua initially didn’t recognize Xiao Yanci, since he was being carried in a way that obscured his face.
"Mom..." Jiang Yihuan came over with a darkened face. "Don’t stop them; let them carry him inside first."
"Who...oh dear, Yanci, what happened to you?" Zhong Lanhua’s face twisted when she recognized Xiao Yanci.
Xiao Yanci had been making a fool of himself lately, causing them to lose face. She had hoped he would impress everyone and redeem himself, but now here he was in such a state again.
"Stop talking, let him go inside first," Jiang Yihuan said, leading the two strong men who carried Xiao Yanci inside.
The watching women exchanged glances and smirked, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Oh dear, Manager’s wife, your son-in-law’s health seems quite poor, even a mere scholar exam made him so weak, you should really nourish him well."
"I think he’s over-nourished. They just got married, right? Probably being overly enthusiastic every day, exhausting himself with that kind of activity!"
"Manager’s wife, you should advise your daughter and son-in-law to take it easy. He’s a scholar, frail of health, he can’t handle such a fuss."
"Get lost, get lost, I don’t need you gossiping here." Zhong Lanhua was embarrassed and didn’t show a friendly face to the ladies. "I think you’re just jealous because I have a scholar son-in-law."
"Yes, we are jealous, jealous that you have a son-in-law who soils himself during exams. Did you smell that earlier? It was awful!"
"Of course we smelled it. With such a peculiar smell, my nose isn’t broken, how could I not notice?"
Zhong Lanhua chased those women out and closed the shop door.
Business hadn’t been good lately, and since there were no customers today, rather than letting others mock them, it was better to just close the doors.
Jiang Yihuan knocked on Yang Quan’s room door.
Yang Quan opened the door and looked at Jiang Yihuan: "Boss."
"My husband is feeling a bit unwell and needs someone to help him with a bath and change of clothes. I’m really too exhausted, could I trouble you to help?"
"Just give the order, Boss, I’m at your service."
"Thank you." Jiang Yihuan looked at him gratefully, "You truly are kind-hearted."
Yang Quan felt a warmth in his heart, looking at Jiang Yihuan with deep affection.
After Su Yaoguang’s banquet ended, everyone went back home to rest.
Zhou Wangshu looked at the newly replaced quilt, feeling the texture, and found it still warm, probably freshly sunned.
Su Yaoguang entered with newly made clothes: "These are handmade by Auntie, try them on and see if they fit. Auntie said if they don’t fit, she’ll adjust them."
Zhou Wangshu took them, ran his hand over the new clothes, and said, "Auntie’s eyes are like measuring tape, they’ll definitely fit."
"I said the same thing," Su Yaoguang replied, "The hot water is ready, take a bath, change into these clothes, and have a good rest."
Zhou Wangshu looked at Su Yaoguang: "Aren’t you going to ask how I did on the exam?"
"Look at you, asking won’t change the results, right? Didn’t we agree from the start, it doesn’t matter if you can’t do the questions, as long as you eat well and sleep well, that’s all that matters."
Zhou Wangshu grinned widely: "Then I must be the best-fed and best-rested person in the exam hall."
"That’s the spirit!" Su Yaoguang patted his shoulder, "Then it’s worth the trip."
"Xiao Yanci started having the runs from the second day," Zhou Wangshu mentioned, "I just didn’t expect him to endure such agony just to avoid going to the public latrines. If he ever rises to prominence, he’ll probably be a formidable character."
"Jiang Yihuan sent him soup with so much oil, in this weather it easily spoils, once it spoils, you get diarrhea, right? His state was also partially thanks to Jiang Yihuan, the model wife," Su Yaoguang said, "I knew he wasn’t someone to mess with, but even I didn’t foresee this."
She had thought she understood him well enough, but after this, she realized she only knew the surface. He was probably more fearsome than she imagined.
"Don’t dwell on it, go take a bath and rest well," Su Yaoguang encouraged, "Let me know what you feel like eating tonight after you’ve rested."
Across the way, Fenghua Pavilion had been closed to visitors for days. It was said their business was already slow, and now more people were gloating, with fewer actually bringing business. Zhong Lanhua periodically quarreled with others, causing constant laughter. Jiang Yihuan decided to close the shop, telling others they needed time to prepare new products, planning to reopen once they were ready.
A few days later, the county government posted the exam results.
Zhang Zhaodi went to line up early, hoping to get a good spot.
Worried about reading the list wrong, she brought along Jiang Jing and Zhang Yingdi, the most literate people she knew.
"Don’t push, don’t push." Zhang Zhaodi bumped into someone, and upon looking back, realized it was none other than her nemesis, Zhong Lanhua.
Zhong Lanhua wasn’t very literate, but Jiang Yihuan had learned some characters from Xiao Yanci.
She didn’t do this to have common topics with Xiao Yanci, purely to understand the account books and ensure no one was embezzling her hard-earned silver.
Zhong Lanhua pulled Jiang Yihuan to queue here, waiting eagerly to see Xiao Yanci’s name on the list, hoping for a return to their former glory.
After Jiang Yihuan married Xiao Yanci, those who used to admire her revoked their praise, and now there were few left in her "pond."
Unable to handle the emotional setback, she wanted Xiao Yanci to earn respect, allowing her to be admired as she once was, with people praising her choice in marrying a good man.
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