Chapter 439: So Embarrassing

"You, you took the wrong medicine today. You can't even speak properly. I owe you my whole life!"

Old Man Chen was furious. He really wanted to give Old Lady Chen a few slaps. This damn woman had spoiled her to the point where she was becoming more and more unruly. No matter what the occasion, she would always complain. When he built a big house in the future, he would never sleep in the same bed with her. He could not afford to provoke her, but he could avoid her. He would not tolerate the humiliation of being henpecked.

Thinking of this, he no longer paid attention to Old Lady Chen and looked at Chen Zhancai who was standing beside him. "Son, you are the pride of our Chen family and the role model of Nanshan Village. Dad will be counting on you in the future."

"Dad, stop talking, I..."

"Why not? Dad has something to say in front of the villagers."

Before Chen Zhancai could finish his words, Old Man Chen interrupted him.

"Over the years, your parents have sold crops and land for you, and our family's life has been getting worse year by year. The villagers don't say anything to our faces, but they talk about us behind our backs, just waiting to see us make a fool of ourselves.

Fortunately, you have done a good job and finally brought honor to our family.

Your mother has been discussing with me these days that once you pass the imperial examination, you must deal with those gossipers.

But I don’t think it’s appropriate. If that were the case, we would become petty-minded people.

There’s a saying that goes, ‘If an official doesn’t serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.’ I hope my son can be a good official who is respected by everyone…”

"Okay, Dad, stop talking." Chen Zhancai's face became uglier and uglier, as if he had eaten shit. He lowered his head in shame, wishing he could find a piece of tofu to hit himself to death.

Old man Chen was in high spirits, and it was hard to tell what he was doing. He waved his hand disapprovingly, "Dad is so happy today, don't stop me from talking!"

Seeing his smug and complacent look, Old Lady Chen was so angry that her lungs were about to explode.

Her lips trembled as she pointed at Old Man Chen and yelled, "Shut up! When did I say that? Are you hysterical? Why are you talking nonsense all day long?

I'm embarrassed enough, and you're getting involved too. Are you going to stop? "

Old man Chen's mind suddenly became clear after hearing this scolding. He looked around in a daze and found that everyone was looking at him as if he were a fool.

He realized that he seemed to have done something wrong and shouldn't have said those irrelevant words.

"Son, son, did you pass the imperial examination?" Old man Chen was speechless.

Chen Zhancai shook his head and said, "No."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier that you didn't win? Why am I left here talking nonsense?"

Chen Zhancai frowned, "Did you ask me? You've been nagging me non-stop since you came here. Now it's all my fault. You guys are really good!"

"Oh my God, what's going on!" Old man Chen recalled what he had just said. He was so embarrassed that he wanted to piss and drown himself. He walked in naked, which was really embarrassing.

Chen Zhancai was so embarrassed that he wanted to find a rat hole to hide in. He blamed the old man Chen and his wife in his heart, but he couldn't get angry in front of the villagers.

He had no choice but to say patiently, "Dad, Mom, let's go home first. We can talk about it when we get home."

"Yes, yes, let's go home. My son must be exhausted from the journey. Come home with me." Old Mrs. Chen said, and gave Old Man Chen a look of disdain. "Why are you still standing there like an idiot? Stop embarrassing yourself here and go home quickly."

Old man Chen lost his cheerfulness. He pushed through the crowd, picked up the bamboo basket on the ground, and followed behind Old Lady Chen with his head lowered.

Chen Zhancai followed closely.

When everyone saw them leave, they looked at each other in bewilderment, and after a moment they began to discuss the matter with a gloating air.

"Today I have seen what it means to be arrogant and what it means to be humiliated."

"As the saying goes, the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. They overestimated their son."

"That's right. They didn't even consider whether their son was smart enough or ask clearly. Instead, they just started boasting. These old couple are really embarrassing."

"It's like saying people from the same family are alike. They're just blowing the whistle for no reason. But it's bullshit."

"Hush~~Keep your voice down, the scholar's wife is back."

"Oh, it's true. We have something fun to watch again." After saying this, the sixth wife waved to Ruhua who was walking towards her from a distance, "Scholar's wife, please hurry up."

Ruhua, who had just returned from the mountains after digging wild vegetables, saw the sixth wife waving at her from afar and hurried over. "Sixth sister-in-law, what do you want to talk to me about?"

"I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you that your man is back."

"Really? You said Zhancai is back?" Ruhua was so excited when she heard the news. She had been looking forward to it for so long. Finally, her man came back. From now on, she no longer had to worry about food, no longer had to go into the mountains to dig wild vegetables before dawn, and no longer had to go hungry...

The sixth wife covered her mouth and laughed secretly, "Scholar's wife, don't just stand there like an idiot. The one in front is your man, go chase him!"

Ruhua recovered and didn't bother to say anything more. She took two steps at a time and trotted after him.

"Husband, you are finally back. I have been waiting for you at home for so long!" Ruhua shouted as she ran.

Chen Zhancai was walking forward with his head down when he suddenly heard someone calling him "husband" from behind. He subconsciously turned around and looked.

Then he saw a dark, thin, disheveled woman chasing after him. He was so frightened that his hair stood on end. He screamed "Oh my God!" and turned around and ran away, not forgetting to shout at Old Man Chen,

"Dad, there's a crazy woman chasing us, run quickly."

"You heartless man, why are you running? Can't you see that's your young wife?" Old man Chen couldn't help but curse.

Chen Zhancai stopped, a little incredulous, "You said she was Ruhua, but how did she become like this?"

Without waiting for Old Man Chen to respond, Old Lady Chen sighed, "Zhancai, Ruhua saves money and leaves all the delicious food for your father and me. It's all thanks to her for the past few months, otherwise you wouldn't have seen me and your father. You must take good care of Ruhua in the future and don't let her suffer any injustice."

"Mom, I know."

Chen Zhancai agreed and took a few steps forward. He looked at Ruhua, who had become so thin that she looked unrecognizable. His heart ached like a knife. "Ruhua, is this really you?"

"Husband, it's me, I'm Ruhua!"

"It's only been a few months since we last met, how come you've become so thin?"

"I don't want it to be like this, but our family has really reached the point where we can't even afford to eat." At this moment, Ruhua could no longer suppress her inner excitement and tears welled up in her eyes.

"These are nothing. If you come back, our family won't have to live a hard life anymore."

When Chen Zhancai heard this, his face turned pale. He didn't know how to start. After hesitating for a long time, he uttered, "Ruhua, let's go home and talk."

"Okay, let's go." Ruhua smiled and nodded...