Chapter 145

With the common people taking many actions, the government naturally couldn't just stand by and watch.

Rain-praying and sacrificial ceremonies had to be held, and Wen Shi was not idle either. He immediately began to organize manpower. It might not be useful, but it was still a comfort to the people.

"If the harvest is poor this year, I wonder if the imperial court will be able to exempt us from half of the taxes, just like last year."

"Last year, the county magistrate used this money to help us repair the county's dikes. This spring, he also repaired all the bridges and roads in various places. I heard that there are still soldiers in the villages helping some orphans and widows build houses."

"Lord Wen is a good official. Thinking back to that county magistrate, he really didn't care about anything."

"He is fair in his trials and does not accept bribes. I heard this from my relative who works for the Yan family. Don't tell anyone else."

As one of the villagers spoke, he unconsciously lowered his voice.

In the teahouse, besides the storyteller, the locals were also discussing recent events in the county. As they talked, they came to Wen Shi.

The people had a positive opinion of him, simply because he neither oppressed nor ignored the people, nor accepted bribes or favored the rich.

He was a very fair official, and he always reviewed cases in accordance with the law without showing favoritism.

He went down to inspect the area and saw the dilapidated dikes, broken bridges, and uneven ground. He immediately made a mental note of them and planned to repair them. He acted quickly, considering that he had only taken office last year. He discovered the problems and almost solved them this year.

"That's definitely not the case. Lord Wen is truly a good official. I heard that he is not from an official family; he rose through the ranks step by step through the examinations. He comes from a farming family; his parents and ancestors were all farmers, and they were not from a wealthy family."

"That's even more impressive."

"yes."

"That's why adults understand how hard our lives are; they've also come this far from our own."

"Of course, we must also thank His Majesty for his wisdom in sending you here to serve as an official, so that the people may benefit."

"That's true. A wise minister meeting an enlightened ruler is the greatest fortune."

Many people are just ordinary folks who like to go out for a stroll when they have nothing to do. But now, after the dikes near their homes have been reinforced and repaired, the people in the nearby villages no longer have to worry about the dikes collapsing and destroying their villages.

This actually happened a few years ago. With the road repaired, he no longer had to worry about his elderly mother falling when she went out, and he and his child could walk more steadily.

The bridge over the river no longer sways, so they no longer worry about it suddenly falling off as they travel back and forth, making it more convenient to visit relatives and friends.

"And the magistrate's wife, do you know her? She is the magistrate's wife who has shared his hardships. I heard that Magistrate Wen has no concubines."

"Good heavens, how can this person be so good? He's already an official, but he still doesn't take a concubine. He still remembers his first wife. Er Gouzi from our village went out to do business with a relative a few years ago, made some money, and bought himself two concubines when he came back."

"Er Gouzi is shameless. He even divorced the wife his parents had arranged for him when they were still alive. He deserves to die a horrible death and will get his comeuppance sooner or later."

Inside the teahouse, everyone was chatting animatedly, saying all sorts of nice things.

County government

After the rain-seeking ceremony, the weather improved somewhat, and Wen Shi also hoped for rain. Apart from a few thousand people, most of the people in the city relied on farming for their livelihood.

With the national treasury full, even if there is a complete crop failure in the local areas, the emperor will not sit idly by. However, seeing the people working hard all year round for nothing is also unpleasant to hear. Everyone has a hard life, and they have worked hard all year but have no harvest.

Three days later, perhaps everyone's sincerity moved the heavens, because in the middle of the night, the weather suddenly changed, a clap of thunder was heard, followed by a torrential downpour.

The rain was pattering loudly, almost waking Yingxiang. Unable to sleep, Wenshi pushed open the door to check. A cool breeze blew in his face. Holding a candle, Wenshi could barely see. Listening to the rain, he unconsciously curled his lips into a smile.

The rain continued until the early morning of the next day, lasting for more than two hours.

I woke up early and the room was very cool. I looked at the foggy sky and saw dark clouds in the distance. The weather was a bit gloomy.

The rain should continue. If it rains for a while, the drought problem can be solved directly, which would be great. Even if it doesn't rain continuously, occasional showers will prevent the people from losing their entire harvest and give them something to look forward to.

Before we knew it, it was mid-July.

Wen Chuanzong and Wen Xiaowu had arrived in the prefectural city and were staying at an inn. Wen Chuanzong almost never went out and kept his head down reading.

He's really not young anymore. Year after year, he's almost forty. If he keeps wasting his time like this...

It's hard to say. Even if he becomes an official in the future, he won't achieve anything. He doesn't have much time left to do anything. Although there are quite a few white-haired officials in the court, they are basically all high-ranking officials who entered officialdom early.

Even if he passes the exam this year, he will be many years behind others. Unlike Wen Shi, who is just over thirty and already a sixth-rank official in the local government, and might be transferred back in a few years and promoted, he is far behind Wen Shi. The gap between him and Wen Shi was already huge, and now he can't catch up at all.

He wasn't entirely confident about passing this exam; he knew his own limitations. He could only pray that God would be kind to him and give him a chance.

Wen Xiaowu wrote back home last year, asking his former close classmate to help him register. With Wen Shi's connection, and the fact that he was a proper scholar before, he had his classmate register on his behalf. The government didn't hold back at all and processed it directly, saving him the trouble of going back home.

Inadvertently, it also saved him a lot of time.

Upon arriving in the prefectural city, Wen Xiaowu ran into his classmate near the examination hall. Without hesitation, he invited him to a restaurant for a meal and ordered a very lavish spread of food and wine.

"Brother Wen, you're too kind. It was just a small favor for me."

Looking at the food and wine on the table, the classmate smiled and spoke.

Wen Li smiled and insisted on offering a toast first.

He has been studying in the capital for several years now, and his knowledge is quite solid. He is still quite confident in himself.

However, since the exam hasn't started yet, he can't reveal it. What if he fails in the end? That would be so embarrassing. After all, things are done in secret.

"Done."

After a glass of wine, the two reminisced about their school days and couldn't help but feel sentimental. Their conversation went on and on, and by the time Wen Xiaowu returned later that evening, it was already dark.

Wen Chuanzong frowned when he saw that Wen Xiaowu reeked of alcohol, but then he thought that it was fine if Wen Xiaowu was always hanging out with others. It would be so embarrassing if Wen Xiaowu passed the exam but he didn't.

It's better that neither of them were selected.

Facing his eldest brother, Wen Xiaowu was not intimidated. He lay on the bed, muttering, "If I pass the exam, I will go back to the county to worship our ancestors, just like my third brother did before."

He smacked his lips and said quite a bit, which made Wen Chuanzong feel uneasy.

If he passes the exam, it will be the same process. Although his parents are not in Daliu Village, that is still their root.

In the past, Old Man Wen had considered selling the house and courtyard, but he wanted to buy a bigger and better house in town to live in. However, after Wen Shi said a few words, he gave up the idea. There was still a place for the family to live.

Passing the exam and returning home to hold a grand celebration is truly a prestigious and respectable event.

This year, his two sons and several grandsons all went back to take the exams. Old Man Wen was also very active in the capital. Before the exams, he took Liu and the whole family to eat vegetarian food. Not only that, but he also went to the temple to offer incense to the Bodhisattva and donated some money for incense.

After the exam began, everyone, both in the capital and in the provinces, was talking about this exam that was held once every three years.

Privately, Liu had thought a lot about it. Although her hair had turned quite white, she was still in good spirits, ate well, dressed warmly, and was in a good mood. She also had several daughters-in-law to take care of her. She couldn't go to work in the fields for a while, but then it rained, so she didn't go.

"Old man, wouldn't it be wonderful if Xiao Wu and Chuan Zong both passed the exam and became officials?"

Old Man Wen turned over and, upon hearing this, glanced at Liu.

If he wins both, that would be a great thing. He is confident in himself. Even if these two are not as good as Wen Shi, they won't be too far off, since they are both his sons.

"I want to live in the city."

Upon hearing Liu's words, Old Man Wen rolled his eyes.

“Not just anyone can go to the Hanlin Academy. Xiao Wu will be back after the exam next year, and we’ll have to start preparing for his marriage. It’ll cost a lot of money.”

“If one of them gets in, then you can come to the city with them. I have no objection. I will still live here. I need to keep an eye on the second and fourth sons. Sometimes when they can’t manage, I can help them out.”

Compared to Liu, Old Man Wen was not as fond of pleasure.

“There will definitely be one who will live up to expectations. When that happens, I’ll let Xiao Wu rent a bigger courtyard so I can enjoy a few years of happiness in the city.”

Liu knew in her heart that it was more likely to be Xiao Wu.

"When that time comes, you can go if you want. I just miss Lao San. I don't know when he'll be back."

After Old Man Wen finished speaking, he thought of his third son. In the past, the third son was sandwiched in the middle. He was not very old, but he was not young either. This child was the easiest to be overlooked.

He lived up to expectations, bringing great prestige to his family and even enabling them to live in the heart of the capital.

“If neither the eldest nor the youngest son were admitted to the Hanlin Academy, but were instead sent to serve as officials in other places, what would you do with that?”

"I don't go to other places."

Upon hearing this, Liu immediately sat up.

“It’s never easy for a child to start out, and Xiao Wu is getting married and will definitely have a child soon. It’s not your duty to help take care of him; he’s your grandson after all.”

Old Man Wen thought that Wen Shi was the most promising in his family, but Xiao Wu could not be underestimated. He had to be prepared. Even if Xiao Wu was not that outstanding, he had a feeling that he would be able to become an official.

In the beginning, he held a low official position and had little family wealth, so he definitely needed someone to help him out.

"I'm not just asking you to come along to help take care of the children. The main reason is for his reputation. An official can't be unfilial to his parents. Maybe I'll have to go with him too. Aren't the third and fifth children all your children?"

“If we all go with the third child, what if someone brings it up later and says that the fifth child is unfilial? Wouldn’t that ruin the child’s future for nothing? So we should go with him. Ideally, each of us should have one, but we’re getting older, and it’s not really that good to separate.”

Having lived together for so many years, it's impossible for Old Man Wen and Mrs. Liu not to have feelings for each other.

"So, according to you, there's also the matter of carrying on the family line."

“He’s so old, he’s definitely not as successful as the third and fifth kids. Our abilities are limited, we can only help those two.”

Having spent more time away from home, Old Man Wen has broadened his horizons.

Both are his children, and he still wants to be fair. These past few years he has been with his third son, but if his fifth son gets an official position, he certainly can't ignore him.

"The second and fourth sons are very hardworking. If we let go and give them some freedom, they will gradually be able to become independent."

Upon hearing this, Liu's face immediately turned ugly, but she couldn't think of any rebuttal; indeed, they were all her sons.

“If we want our family to continue to have descendants after we die, then we should listen to me.”

"sleep."

After lying down, Liu quickly closed her eyes. At that moment, she prayed to the gods and Buddhas to bless her and to ensure that her wishes would come true.

Not to mention Old Man Wen, even Wen Xiaowu himself thinks so.

If he were to be appointed to an official post and sent to a remote area, he would have to take his parents with him, otherwise he might be accused of being unfilial in the future.

Before the exam, he started thinking about this matter and even mentioned it to Old Man Wen in private, all in order to prepare in advance.

When asked about this, Old Man Wen didn't mince words and immediately said that it wasn't a problem. He said that it was fine for the couple to live in both places, and that he wouldn't be biased.

Even if I follow Xiao Wu, I won't suffer in the future. I'll be well taken care of and fed. What's wrong with that?

Old Man Wen already had a plan in mind. Wen Shi was a good person, but in truth, he wasn't very close to Wen Shi, and he wasn't that obedient.

Xiao Wu is different. He is fully supported by his family. He can't really stand up for himself in front of Wen Shi, but it's different with Xiao Wu. He and his older brother rely entirely on their family.

Old Man Wen had already made up his mind, and he wouldn't let Liu Shi make a fuss, it wouldn't do any good anyway.

When the exam started, the weather was nice and not too bad. After several exams, Wen Xiaowu was very confident and felt that he was almost certain to pass.

In recent years, he has devoted himself to his studies and dared not relax, all for the sake of entering officialdom as soon as possible.

Compared to Wen Shi, his academic journey was much smoother, he suffered almost nothing, and he didn't have to worry about money. Whenever he thought of this, he felt very grateful to Wen Shi.

My third brother faced many difficulties while studying. Although he was young at the time, he was not unable to understand things.

The parents favored the eldest brother and offered no help to Wen Shi. Instead, they blamed him for not considering the family's interests. Ironically, in the end, the whole family had to rely on the third brother.

Wen Xiaowu saw his parents' change of attitude very quickly.

Over the years, through his studies, he has come to understand the hardships of life and how difficult it has been for him to get to where he is today.

If he could get a minor official position this time, that would be best. He could then be taken directly by his parents, saving Wen Shi a lot of trouble, and the family could remain together while his parents were still alive.

To outsiders, the whole family has relied on Wen Shi for the past few years; his parents and the whole family have been brought out by him, and he won't ruin their reputation.

After the exam, Wen Xiaowu sent a letter to Wen Shi, which was delivered directly from the prefectural city.

He and Wen Chuanzong began to wait for the day the results would be released. Compared to Wen Chuanzong's nervousness and anxiety, he was more calm. He ate and drank as usual, and since he had worked hard, he had nothing to worry about at the moment.

Wen Shi was ranked in the top 30 of the second class before, which was quite high, so he also needs to work hard.

He's an adult now, and he can handle many things on his own.

Ping County

Wen Shi was also waiting for news; he still cared about his younger brother.

Fortunately, the list came out soon after.

When Wen Xiaowu saw the name Wen Li on the list, he was overjoyed. Looking further, his household registration and identity were perfectly clear; it was him.

He was very excited after seeing the list, and from then on he became a scholar who passed the imperial examination.

Even if one's progress stalls, at least one can secure a minor official position.

After looking at the last list, Wen Chuanzong was visibly disappointed, and Wen Xiaowu didn't seem happy either. He couldn't help but sigh and said nothing.

"Brother, I'll set off for the capital tomorrow. You should go straight back to the capital."

Wen Chuanzong nodded, looking quite sullen and unhappy. Wen Xiaowu didn't pay much attention to him, as he had his own things to do next.

Considering the time, going back now is the best course of action.

He only needed to do what Wen Shi had done before. In the past few years, he had been studying, but he lived alone and didn't have many expenses. He had saved some money in private. The main reason was that he didn't have a wife or children, and he didn't have expenses such as rent.

He immediately prepared to return to the county. As expected, he would have to attend some social events, and he began buying gifts to thank his former teacher.

As for the capital, it's not too late to go there next year and take the imperial examination. He can still meet with his current teachers and colleagues. He should take care of things at home first so that he can focus on the rest without any distractions.

The news wouldn't reach Ping County for a while, even though he immediately sent another letter to Wen Shi.

Ping County

Looking at his wife's growing belly, Wen Shi couldn't help but feel worried. He would have a doctor come and check his pulse almost every two weeks.

Every single result was good, and Yingxiang was very reassured about her health.

This was so much more comfortable than the first time.

To put it simply, if it weren't for her protruding belly, she wouldn't look any different from before. This is only visually noticeable, and she doesn't have the back pain or leg numbness she used to have.

After dinner, she took a walk in the backyard and felt no discomfort or heaviness, just like usual.

The room for the baby has already been prepared, the cradle is ready, everything is complete, and the midwife and nurse have been found.

Yingxiang's due date is in October. It's hard to say whether she will give birth prematurely or not, but the midwife has already moved into the house, so Yingxiang has no worries.

With autumn approaching, she was really looking forward to it.

Yingxiang looked well and was in good health. Seeing his wife like this, he felt much more at ease, knowing that childbirth is never easy for a woman.

Yingxiang is even more looking forward to the fact that the system might be upgraded again after the child is born, but she doesn't know what the upgrade will be like this time.

Thinking back to her first childbirth, she suffered terribly, and the system even gave her that option.

She didn't choose to go back then, and she certainly won't now. She has worked hard in Daqi for so many years, and her life is getting better and better.

There's really no need to go back like this. What she wants right now is a happy ending, to die peacefully here and watch her children grow up.

Beijing

After the exams, some disputes arose in the Wen family. Old Man Wen wanted to divide the harvested grain equally between his two sons this year.

In the past, they would keep enough food for the family to eat, and then divide it equally among the three of them. They would sell the food for money, and although the price wasn't high, it was still a considerable amount. They were hardworking and didn't have to pay taxes.

"Dad, how can you bully us like this? Xiao Wu hasn't seemed to lack money these past few years. Even if he wants to get married, he should pay for it himself. How can you make me and Second Brother pay for it? No way, I won't agree to it."

Wen Lao Si's face darkened. He saw that his son was getting older and would have to go to school soon, and the days of spending money were just beginning.

Old Man Wen, however, wanted half of this year's harvest to go to him, since it was all thanks to the hard work of the two brothers. He wouldn't agree to that.

“They’re all brothers, Fourth Brother, how can you be so heartless? If Fifth Brother does well in the future, will he forget you, his fourth brother? Don’t worry, once he becomes an official and receives his salary, I’ll have him pay for two more acres of land for you brothers, one acre each for free, how about that?”

"No, I don't believe you."

After the fourth brother finished speaking, Old Man Wen was so angry that he immediately came over and hit him hard.

"Second brother, will you agree?"

Wen Lao Er stood silently to the side, but judging from his expression, he clearly shared the same thoughts as Lao Si.

“Dad, when our son went back home this year, Xiuyu gave him a lot of money. He will be back to study next year, which will cost money. We don’t have that much money.”

He didn't speak loudly, but Old Man Wen immediately came over and hit his arm hard again.

"I'm not dead yet, and you two are already so disobedient, aren't you?"

“Let me tell you, without me, you wouldn’t be able to afford this much land. So, I have to take half this year, sell it so I can use the proceeds to help Xiao Wu get married next year, and you can divide the rest among yourselves.”

Old Man Wen's face turned pale with anger.

These two really don't understand right from wrong. He already said that he would give each of them an acre of land in the future, which is such a great deal. These two are so stubborn, they really have no ambition.

"Dad, this was all agreed upon back then. If Xiao Wu doesn't pass the exam, he can marry someone from Ping'an Village. It won't cost much."

When Old Man Wen heard this, he got angry again. He walked up to the fourth son and started cursing without saying a word, spitting all over his face.

"What do you mean you didn't pass? Xiao Wu will definitely pass! You're talking nonsense! If you keep talking nonsense, believe me, I'll beat you up! You're the older brother, what's wrong with helping your younger brother?"

"And you, Xiao Wu is good to you, isn't he? He helps your son with his homework and teaches him to read as soon as he comes home. He's so good to your son. Have you no conscience?"

Thinking of this, Wen Lao Er's lips moved.

"Old man, forget it, forget it. If they're not willing, send a message to the third son. Didn't he say he could borrow it?"

Thinking of this, Old Man Wen put down his hoe and snorted.

"You write it?"

Liu was taken aback.

"I can't read or write."

None of the family members who were supposed to be studying and learning to read were present. They looked at each other, and finally lowered their heads in unison.

"Dad, here's what we'll do: my second brother and I will lend you some money first. You can give it to Xiao Wu to use, but he can pay us back later."

After some thought, Wen Lao Si finally relented. There was nothing he could do about it. It wasn't that the two brothers didn't trust Wen Xiao Wu, but mainly it was because of their father, who was afraid that Wen Xiao Wu would secretly give the money to the eldest brother's family again.

The second son had no objection to this; he was willing to lend money, but the grain couldn't be distributed like this, as it was too unfair to them.

"good."

Old Man Wen's voice was very loud.

“If you don’t pay us back, we won’t give you the grain we harvest next year. We’ll sell it all and split it between my second brother and me.”

Wen Lao Si said something else, and Wen Lao Die nodded.

In the end, the matter passed. In the backyard, several women heard it, but they didn't say anything. If they rashly approached, they would definitely be scolded by Old Man Wen and Madam Liu.