Chapter 55

Seeing this, Wen Laosi smiled slightly: "From now on, we'll be counting on Third Brother. He passed the imperial examination on his first try and was even taken in as a student by a high-ranking official. His future is bright. Eldest Brother, don't you think so?"

The once lively room suddenly fell silent. Old Man Wen glanced at Wen Chuanzong, and his expression changed.

"You should go out and find a job as soon as possible; we don't support idlers in this family."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Wen Chuanzong lowered his head and remained silent. He dared not say anything in front of his own father, but in private, he cursed Wen Laosi in his heart.

"It's getting late, everyone pack up and go get some rest."

“Father, I asked my third son to give my son a new name. He is now called Jinyu. My third son said it means good health and a bright future. My son has been in poor health since he was a child. I want to buy him some milk to drink in the future. My third son also said that drinking milk is good for his health.”

"Then let's change it. It's all surnamed Wen anyway. If your son needs milk, you two can pay for it. I don't care."

Liu didn't say anything. When Old Man Wen got up and went upstairs, she followed him. Yuqin's mood immediately brightened.

She didn't mind spending money on milk for her son; he was their only child, and they were counting on him for the future. She also thought the name "Xiaosheng" was just so-so.

She was overjoyed that her son had a better name.

Only Wen Chuanzong glanced at his second brother with some anger.

“Yuqin, we’ll buy milk for our son in the future. The third son also told me that he should go to school as soon as possible. We can’t delay the child’s development. We’ll send him there in two years.”

“It’s definitely good to study for a few more years. Now that the third brother has seen the world, he’s right. Let’s listen to him.”

Yuqin smiled as she held her child, feeling a deep sense of joy.

"I wonder when your older brother and the others will leave?"

Wen Lao Er didn't say anything; he couldn't control the matter.

In the village, after dinner, Yingxiang took her son to bed on the kang (a heated brick bed), and soon after, Wenshi arrived.

Looking at her son sleeping soundly inside, Wen Shi got into bed and couldn't help but sigh: "Many of the relatives who came to our house today are people I've never met before."

It was pitch black outside, and only half a candle was lit inside. The candlelight was so weak that it was barely enough to see anything. Yingxiang covered the child with a blanket and sat on the warm kang (a heated brick bed).

"There might be more in the future."

A slight smile appeared on Wen Shi's angular face, but upon closer inspection, the smile did not reach his eyes.

"Husband, how confident are you about your exam results next year?"

Yingxiang had heard of the saying, "Poor scholar, rich official." Whether one becomes an official or not is uncertain, but one will likely be granted more land in the future, making the family wealthier and life easier.

Some people are naturally gifted but become lazy later in life, while others are always diligent and hardworking but always lack a bit of luck. Recalling Fan Jin's success in the imperial examination in the previous textbook, Yingxiang sat up straight and her beautiful eyes turned.

Wen Shi looked serious. After thinking for a long time, he said, "At most, it's 30%."

His foundation was not very solid to begin with; in the previous county-wide examination, he ranked near the bottom.

He didn't want to give up this opportunity to participate in the provincial examination. All things considered, he had studied at the county school for a year and the prefectural school for a year, and there was still more than half a year left.

Wen Shi's studies have improved, but the provincial examination is an exam that most scholars in the entire prefecture will take. There are many talented people, so the competition is fierce.

“Husband, even if you don’t aspire to be a high-ranking official in the future, you should at least strive to enter officialdom and earn a government salary, which would be the best.”

It's impossible to rise to the top in one step. Aristocratic families have deep roots, but they have been developing for over a hundred years. This is not something that can be accumulated overnight. Wen Shi understood this in his heart as well. It requires the accumulation of several generations.

Yingxiang also knows that it's better to rely on yourself than on others, but right now, due to the realities of life, she has to focus most of her energy on her child. The only person the family of three can rely on is Wenshi.

"My wife, I will try my best."

Yingxiang smiled and nodded. The couple embraced, and Wenshi blew out the candle. He held his wife as they fell asleep. Lying in his warm and broad embrace, Yingxiang slept soundly.

The next morning, as dawn was breaking, Wen Shi opened his eyes, and half an hour later, the couple got up together.

Today we are going to Yingxiang's parents' home.

Yingxiang learned that her stepmother and stepfather, Wen Shi, were successful outside, and that they could indirectly benefit from it as well.

Ever since hearing that the two had returned, Yingxiang's father had been eagerly awaiting their arrival. Their family's life had already improved, so he went to the butcher's house that very day and bought two catties of pork to store, waiting for his daughter and son-in-law to come. Fortunately, the two didn't keep him waiting too long.

Yingxiang's stepmother and Yingxiang had some disagreements in the past, but that was all in the past and there was no major hatred between them. Now that Wen Shi was doing well, she was looking forward to seeing the two of them and had already killed a chicken.

"Come, let me see my grandson."

The two carried large and small bags, which naturally attracted the attention of many villagers along the way. They greeted familiar people as they walked, and it was almost noon when they finally arrived at Xiaoliu Village.

Nowadays, everyone in the nearby villages knows about Wen Shi, and Yingxiang's father in Xiaoliu Village has also benefited a lot from this.

Now, whenever he goes to someone's house for a banquet, he is treated as an honored guest, something that was impossible before.

Upon arriving at Yingxiang's parents' home, Yingxiang's father immediately got up and went to Yingxiang. Looking at the baby in the swaddling blanket, he couldn't stop smiling.

Xiao Leqian glanced at him a few times, then turned her head away.

Yingxiang's stepmother smiled brightly, and in the cold winter, she kept greeting the two of them.

"It's cold outside, let's come inside quickly. I've prepared the food, it'll be ready soon, don't let the child get cold."

Yingxiang nodded. As she passed by the kitchen, she glanced at it and saw that several large bowls on the stove seemed to be filled with meat and steamed buns.

Yingxiang's younger brothers tried to get close to her, but Yingxiang would just give them a perfunctory greeting. It was clear that they wanted to flatter their brother-in-law, Wen Shi.

"Come on, son-in-law, drink some more chicken soup to nourish your body."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yingxiang's stepmother went to the kitchen to start a fire. Other dishes could be prepared in advance, but freshly stewed chicken was the best. She quickly started a fire and began stewing the chicken.

In less than an hour, the food was served one after another. Old Man Wen got up to serve Wen Shi soup and gave him two big chicken legs. Wen Shi quickly stood up and took them.

"Thank you, Father."

"We're all family, please sit down. Studying is hard, so make sure you eat well."

Not to mention the large and small bags the two were carrying, even the few plump old hens in the basket on Wen Shi's back when he arrived made Yingxiang's stepmother grin from ear to ear.

This meal was much more worthwhile than she had expected.

"Now that you have a child, your mother and I have no worries."

"Honey, look how good this child is. He'll definitely amount to something in the future."

Yingxiang's stepmother echoed her sentiments.

I think so too.

Yingxiang smiled but didn't say anything. The atmosphere was generally lively, and the big fish and meat dishes were really tempting. The stepmother's cooking skills were limited, and the taste wasn't great, but it was edible once it was cooked.

After the meal, everyone was full. Wen Shi gave his son a hot white steamed bun, which the little guy ate slowly, but he didn't resist.

Yingxiang watched and decided to add some other foods for him in the future. As he grew older, drinking milk alone would definitely not be enough.

After the child is three years old, they can eat with their parents. Before that, they can't eat just anything; their food must be soft, easy to digest.

After eating and drinking their fill, Yingxiang comforted the child, while her stepmother went to the kitchen to clean up. Yingxiang's father held Wenshi's hand and asked about life in the prefectural city.

He answered each question in turn, and occasionally responded to questions from Yingxiang's younger brothers. Overall, the atmosphere was very harmonious.

As darkness fell, it was time for the two of them to head back.

Yingxiang's father and stepmother's whole family saw the two off to the oxcart at the village entrance.

“Take good care of the child and son-in-law. The son-in-law’s hands are for holding a pen, not for doing housework.”

Yingxiang nodded, and the oxcart started moving. Only when she could no longer see her family did she turn her head away, remembering Old Man Wen's words, and sighed helplessly in her heart.

Demanding gender equality right now is nothing short of wishful thinking. Fortunately, everyone has to live their own life, and Wen Shi is a reasonable person.

After the two arrived home, it was completely dark. With the last thing done, they could finally relax and continue studying calligraphy.

She usually cooks while taking care of her children.

Before the Lunar New Year, the family of three lived a pretty good life in the village overall.

Early that morning, there was a noise outside. With the New Year approaching, Wen Shi guessed that his family was about to return. Sure enough, as soon as he stepped into the yard, he saw Old Man Wen and his entourage outside.

He immediately went to open the door.

"Father, Mother, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law."

Upon hearing this, he remained calm, opened the door, and called for help.

"Business at the shop is alright, but since our whole family is here this year, I'm planning to come back for the Chinese New Year, so I'm closing the shop half a month early. Have you prepared all the New Year's goods?"

"Except for couplets, which I can write myself, I have everything else."

When Liu entered the yard, she was a little stunned. Looking at the old hen in the chicken coop, she subconsciously went to the kitchen, which was stuffed full of food.

After the group entered the house, Wen Shi told them about the visits of his relatives and friends.

Old Man Wen wasn't too surprised. He was quite proud and couldn't help but puff out his chest. When Xiuyu looked at Wen Shi, she thought of Wen Chuanzong, that heartless man. She wondered how much money he would get when he came back for the New Year.

“Now everyone in the family is back, except for your eldest brother and Xiao Wu. He’s working as an accountant at a shop, which is good. He should be back before the New Year. Xiao Wu won’t be able to get a holiday for a couple of days.”

After finishing speaking, Old Man Wen rubbed his hands together, his good mood was clearly visible.

Wen Shi wasn't that concerned about Wen Chuanzong. He wasn't surprised that Wen Chuanzong could find work; he was a scholar who could read and do math.

There wasn't much goat milk left in the kitchen, so Wen Shi decided to go to his aunt's house at the village entrance to buy some. He saw his little nephew, the second son's son, again and noticed that his complexion was much rosier than before.

"Thank you, Third Brother. Your Second Brother and I are giving him milk every morning and evening now, and the child is much better."

Yuqin looked at Wen Shi and thanked him sincerely.

"That's good."

After speaking, Wen Shi took out another large jar. The villagers sold him goat milk at normal prices; there was no situation where they deliberately asked for a high price. They always gave him more than he should have.

For the sake of the child's health, we can't stop breastfeeding. It's a pity that Yingxiang won't drink it. I wanted to get her to drink cow's milk, but she refused no matter what. On the way home after buying the milk, we ran into the village head.

"Third brother, the sacrificial ceremony will begin in a few days. Come to my house later. Has your family all returned?"

Wen Shi nodded.

"Bring your dad too."

Watching the village head leave, Wen Shi counted the days, and it was indeed almost time. Since he had promised, he wouldn't go back on his word.