Chapter 267 Asking for Money

Old man Chen also had a smile on his face, shaking his head and waving his hands.

"No, no, there's no need for you and your mother to live in such a big house. Three large tiled houses are enough for us."

In order to get to the point, Chen Zhancai started to paint a big picture.

"Dad, you are wrong to say that. You should do things according to your ability.

If my son passes the imperial examination, he will be very successful.

Being an official is equivalent to having a fortune, so how can the official’s mansion be shabby?

Houses with four courtyards are small, while houses with five courtyards are more suitable.

When the time comes, your son will hire dozens of maids and servants for you to enjoy your old age.

Whatever you want to eat, just open your mouth and the servants will prepare it for you immediately.

That’s the real good life of having everything you want.”

Old Man Chen smiled brightly upon hearing this. "My dear son, I am very happy that you are so filial. But now is not the time to discuss this. As long as you can pass the imperial examination, it will be the best reward for me."

"Yes, son, you have to work harder and strive to pass the imperial examination in the autumn. Then, as your mother, I will be able to walk around Nanshan Village with my own way." Old Mrs. Chen was also very happy.

"Don't worry, I will never let you down. I'm confident I'll succeed."

Chen Zhancai felt that the time was right and went straight to the point.

"It's less than half a year away from the Autumn Examination, and my son must rush to Ningjing two months in advance. Food, drink, and toilet expenses along the way will be a considerable expense, so parents must prepare in advance. If you really can't raise enough money for the journey, you'll have to wait for three years, and the torture of that won't be pleasant!"

After hearing what he said, Mrs. Chen couldn't help but feel nervous.

I was so engrossed in my dream that I completely forgot about this matter.

If you want to pass the provincial examination, you have to go to Nanjing to take part in the provincial examination.

The journey is long, and this is an unfilial expense!

When I thought of this, a light bulb went off in my head.

"Son, you should know the current situation of our family. Apart from a few loads of grain, we don't have anything valuable.

Don’t you and Fengjiao still have some savings? Why don’t you just use them first?”

"Yes, yes, yes. Don't you and Fengjiao have 250 taels of silver in your hands? Why are you asking your parents for money?" Old man Chen also agreed.

Chen Zhancai was stunned and felt a little discouraged. He didn't have any money left. The betrothal money for Chen Ruolan had already been spent by the couple.

This matter must not be known to my parents. It must be kept secret, otherwise the old couple will be furious.

He sighed in embarrassment.

"Mother, that money is Ruolan's living expenses. As a scholar with status and position, how can I use it privately? How is that different from stealing? If this gets out, I will be ridiculed."

"Zhancai, you're worrying too much. If you don't tell me and I don't tell anyone, who would know? Besides, you can just use it for a while. When you become successful, that little money will be nothing. Why don't you just give her more?"

"Oh my dear mother, why don't you understand?" Chen Zhancai had no choice but to lie, "We gave the two hundred and fifty taels of silver to Ruolan a long time ago."

"What? You gave it all to Ruolan?"

Old Mrs. Chen stamped her feet in distress.

"You are so stupid! How could you give all your money to her? As the saying goes, a daughter once married is like water spilled. Why don't you think of a way out for yourself? Now you have no money left. This is going to kill me!"

"Yes, Zhancai, what you did was indeed wrong. The Fan family is a wealthy family in our town. How could Ruolan not have money to spend after marrying into their family? Now that you have given all the money to Ruolan, how can she go to Ningjing for the imperial examination?" Old man Chen was so angry that he kept hitting his head.

Chen Zhancai curled his lips and snorted coldly, "It's not that difficult. If you don't have money, then don't take the exam. Why are you all sighing so much?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Old Man Chen was almost suffocated by this. "If you don't take the imperial examination, all the hard work your mother and I have put in this life will be in vain."

"Yes, son, you're really provoking me with your words!" Old Mrs. Chen clapped her hands anxiously. "To support your studies, your father and I have spared no expense on food and clothing. You've studied hard for more than 20 years and finally passed the exam to become a scholar. Now you're just one step away from becoming a juren. If you don't pass, how can I enjoy the good life with you?"

Seeing them getting so anxious, Chen Zhan was secretly pleased with himself. He let you cry poor, and he didn't believe that he couldn't control you two old guys.

Just pay the money and there is no need to talk so much nonsense!

Although I felt relieved, I still pretended to be embarrassed.

"Mom, it's not that I don't want to take the exam, I just don't want to embarrass you!"

Old Mrs. Chen shook her head and waved her hands, "Son, you are my hope. I gave you all the best things so that I could live a comfortable life with you. I am not afraid of any hardship or fatigue now. It's just money. I will sell everything I have to let you take the Autumn Examination.

"Thank you, mother. I knew you wouldn't ignore me."

Chen Zhancai breathed a sigh of relief, the stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

He had heard that Ningjing was a prosperous and bustling place where all the delicacies in the world gathered.

There are countless brothels and willow alleys full of extravagance and decadence.

He heard that there were blue-eyed foreign women in that place.

Even more outrageous is that there are women as black as coal. This is really a wonder in the world.

I've long wanted to broaden my horizons and experience the customs of foreign lands...

Old man Chen had a worried look on his face and kept shaking his head.

"Old woman, it's easy for you to say that. We're so poor now, where are we going to get the money? I thought I could get more money by hosting a banquet, but in the end, I didn't make any money, so it was all in vain."

"Yes, it was a good idea at that time. If we could really collect dozens of taels of silver, we wouldn't have to worry. But who knew that those peasants were so stingy. We finally got a big profit, but in the end it was taken back by that damn girl. Isn't it infuriating?" Old Mrs. Chen was furious when she thought of this.

Chen Zhancai frowned upon hearing this and said angrily, "That heartless girl, I think she's just crazy because of poverty. She gave me a few injections and smeared some cow dung on my face and charged us two taels of silver for the consultation. She's really shameless. When I get the chance in the future, I'll make her learn some common sense."

"Son, you are right. If I don't avenge this, I won't be able to enjoy eating meat. But now is not the time to talk about this. We have to think carefully about where to get the money for you to take the exam." After saying this, Old Mrs. Chen glanced at Old Man Chen.

"Don't look at me, I have nowhere to get money." Old man Chen's expression became tense...