The Wang family uncle and nephew never expected that just because they passed the imperial examination, their lives would change so drastically.

Relatives with whom we haven't been in touch for ages sent lavish gifts. Well-known local gentry also came to give gifts.

Giving gifts is fine, but giving them as gifts is really shocking.

After seeing all the guests off, the uncle and nephew felt completely exhausted.

"Uncle, this is too scary. Luckily I was quick-witted and had the Zhao brothers accompany me the rest of the way, which prevented me from being harassed by so many suitors."

Wang Huaijing remarked with emotion.

Wang, the scholar, was also weak and listless.

"Where are you going? They're practically offering their daughter to me as a concubine."

If I hadn't sworn a solemn oath that I would only marry your aunt in this lifetime, I'd be struck by lightning!

I guess that little girl will have to stay home today.

The world's pursuit of profit is terrifying.

Madam Wang brought some hangover soup to the men.

"Hmph, what, are you showing off your good fortune with women or your popularity? Things are different now, Wang Guangzong?"

Wang, the scholar, immediately sounded the alarm and sat up straight.

"Honey, you're overthinking it. This isn't showing off, it's genuinely scary."

If only my wife had been there to protect me back then.

Next time we have a banquet, my wife must stay by our side at all times. That way, we can avoid some clueless people trying to take advantage of us.

Those people are all trying to take advantage of our family. How can we let outsiders take advantage of our family? Absolutely not. No way…”

Wang Huaijing's father, Wang Guangzu, couldn't help but laugh when he saw his son's half-dead state.

"When did you get engaged, kid? How come I didn't know? What's the engagement token? Which girl are you engaged to?"

Wang Huaijing glared at his father with great resentment.

"Father, I'm begging you, it's just to appease those classmates."

Besides, the father knows perfectly well which girl his son has taken a fancy to.

Tomorrow morning, I will go to my mother-in-law's house with my brothers-in-law.

Dad, why don't you just stay at home by yourself? Or, why don't you get married too?

I don't object. We can separate and live separately then. Your happiness is my happiness. Everyone will be happy. Haha…”

Wang Guangzu really wanted to take a picture of his son, but seeing his sister-in-law was also there, he blushed and told Wang Huaijing to shut up.

All the men of the Zhao family stayed in town that night.

The shop has been closed for almost a month; it's time to reopen.

After a quick cleaning and burning some mugwort in the room, I changed into clean sheets from the closet before finally settling down to sleep.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), Wang Huaijing stood at the Zhao family's door with his luggage and knocked on the door.

Little Zhao Qingbei got up to pee, and when she was halfway through, she heard a knock on the door.

After hurriedly finishing urinating, he poked his little head out and saw it was Wang Huaijing.

"Brother Huaijing, please wait a moment, I'll go and ask my older brother to open the door for you."

She ran back, calling out, "Big brother, big brother, Brother Huaijing is here!"

Well, with one shout, everyone was awakened.

The reason Zhao Qingbei didn't open the gate was because Zhao Qingyan had done a good job of safety education.

No matter who comes, unless they are family members, they cannot open the door.

Children can be easily taken away by others.

Who knows what kind of people you're familiar with are like? What if they have bad intentions?

Zhao Qingshan quickly dressed and tied his hair up before welcoming Wang Huaijing into the main room.

"Huaijing, have you had breakfast yet? Sit down for a while, I'll go cook some porridge and have Qingling go buy some steamed buns."

Wang Huaijing quickly replied.

"Brother, go ahead and get busy. I've already had breakfast. Do you need me to help start the fire?"

Zhao Qingshan thought about it for a moment. This kid would be living with his older sister in the future, so he really needed to start training him to do housework.

Without hesitation, he said, "Okay, that way I can cook the porridge faster."

As he walked, he shouted loudly, "Qingling, go buy some steamed buns."

Zhao Qingling had already gotten dressed, agreed, and then took the money to buy steamed buns.

Zhao Qingshan asked Wang Huaijing, "Can you start a fire?"

Wang Huaijing nodded, then shook his head. "I only know how to use a tinderbox, not a flint."

Zhao Qingshan smiled, handed Wang Huaijing a fire poker, told him where the tinderbox was, and then began to wash the rice.

There wasn't much rice left in the shop; when we took the cooks back to Zhao Family Village, we didn't leave much.

After rinsing the rice and putting it in the pot, Zhao Qingshan went to the small nursery in the yard, pulled out a radish, and picked a few scallion leaves.

After rinsing it clean, I took it into the kitchen.

Only then did I notice that Wang Huaijing was stirring the porridge in the pot with a spoon, and it looked quite professional.

"So you can cook porridge too? I thought you were one of those pampered young masters who never lifted a finger."

Zhao Qingshan said.

Wang Huajing smiled.

"My mother died early, and I have been living with my father since I was a child. My father had to work in the fields and do housework, which was very hard for him."

I learned to start a fire and cook porridge by myself when I was very young.

I can only cook porridge; I don't know how to make other complicated dishes.

It's also because my dad couldn't bear to waste it, and he was always worried that I would ruin his mixed grain noodles.

My best way to make porridge is to add various leafy greens, and if I have eggs, I'll crack one or two more into it.

Although the colors were rather questionable, we managed to eat everything we were supposed to.

When I was little, my dad always praised me for being a whiz at cooking. Looking back now, that was just to fool a complete idiot.

Wang Huaijing smiled as he recounted his past with his biological father, and Zhao Qingshan listened quietly, his hands never stopping.

Soon, a radish was cut into thin strips, salt was added, it was mixed well and then left to sit in the sand. The scallions were also chopped.

We're just waiting for the right time.

"Brother's knife skills are quite good! The radish shreds are cut very evenly," Wang Huaijing praised.

Zhao Qingshan laughed,

"You might not believe it, but our daughters are raised with great care, while our sons aren't treated as well."

From a young age, I was good at everything I could do; I never missed a single task.

Not to mention my brothers, all of my dad's brothers can cook.

In our area, especially after a man gets married, his wives work very hard doing housework every day and are also responsible for sewing clothes.

Before I went to school, whenever I came back from the fields and still had the energy, I would help wash the dishes, sweep the floor, and wipe the tables.

In our family, it's normal for the men to do the laundry; it would be strange if they didn't or didn't do it.

My brothers and I are experts at everything from the spicy hot pot we sell at our shop to the tofu and steamed buns we make.

Surprisingly, wasn't I the first one to learn how to make mala tang (a spicy hot pot dish)?

Zhao Qingshan spoke with such pride.

At the same time, it was also to warn Wang Huaijing: don't think that just because you're a man you can avoid doing housework and expect my sister to do all the work by yourself. You're dreaming.