"Why is there another Master Mu?" Chen Qin said with a bad taste in her heart, "Just before that, there was a Master He. I don't know what good fortune the Yu family has. They have been able to get close to noble people one after another."

After hearing this, Chen Rou thought of the handsome young master who had talked to Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe at Huichun Hall, and couldn't help feeling a little jealous. Yu Jiao had made friends with many wealthy families with her medical skills. It would be great if she also knew medical skills.

What Chen Gensheng was more concerned about was that Yu Qizhe also took the provincial examination. Thinking of how Zhiqing passed the examination and was defeated by him, he said with mixed feelings, "It seems that Yu Wulang's health has really recovered. If he passes the examination again this time... the Yu family will be in a very different situation."

Chen Rou was a little stunned for a moment. She actually hoped in her heart that Yu Qizhe would not pass the imperial examination. At the same time, she couldn't help but wonder what she would do if he really passed the imperial examination.

Chen Qin packed the clothes for Chen Zhiqing into the bag and said, "Yu Wulang has been sick and taking medicine every day for the past three years. How can he focus on studying? He hasn't been admitted to school for three years. Our Zhiqing will definitely do better than him. The teacher in the academy has always praised Zhiqing for his good writing. Although the Yu family lost four brothers, the other three were bought with donations. If none of them pass, it will be a joke!"

Chen Zhiqing walked in from outside, holding a book bag in his arms, which contained pens, ink and other items that he would need for the next round. "Mom, have you packed your clothes?"

"Okay, okay." Chen Qin said repeatedly. She took the school bag handed to her by Chen Zhiqing, put it on top of the clothes, and tied the bag tightly.

Chen Gensheng took out a purse and handed it to Chen Zhiqing, admonishing him, "Here are more than twenty taels of silver, and Arou's betrothal gift is also included. If you need anything, go to Qingzhou and buy it yourself. Your grandmother is ill and needs someone to take care of her. Dad can't accompany you this time. Don't rush into anything if you encounter any problems. When you get to Qingzhou, don't go out to drink with your classmates."

"My son knows." Chen Zhiqing took the purse, looked at Chen Rou, and said with a smile, "Rou, I'll pay you back when I have money in the future."

Chen Rou chuckled and said, "Brother, what are you talking about? If you pass the imperial examination, I can also benefit from it, right?"

Chen Zhiqing smiled and touched Chen Rou's head. He loved this sister very much.

After talking for a while, Chen Zhiqing said, "My son is going to pay his respects to my grandmother."

Seeing him stuff his purse against his chest, Chen Qin said worriedly, "Separate the silver and money. Carry some small change with you and hide the rest. I heard that there are some thieves who are greedy for money and specifically rob scholars on their way to take the exam. You must be careful on the way. If... you really encounter them, you can't even give up your money..."

Chen Gensheng interrupted her and frowned, "Stop saying unlucky things!"

He looked at Chen Zhiqing with a serious face and said, "Do well in the exam. Dad hopes that you can bring honor to our Chen family."

Chen Zhiqing bowed and said in a very steady manner, "My son will definitely do well. Don't worry, parents."

Chen Gensheng patted him on the shoulder and said, "Go and say goodbye to your grandmother. Don't let your brother-in-law wait in town for too long."

Chen Zhiqing responded and walked towards Old Lady Chen's room.

Chen Gensheng had to fulfill his filial duties by his old lady's bedside and could not accompany Chen Zhiqing to the provincial examination. The scholar Li Qiu, who was engaged to Chen Rou, also had to take the examination. The Li family had a horse carriage, so Chen Zhiqing made an appointment with him and the two of them went to Qingzhou together to take the examination.

When he arrived at the old lady's room, Chen Zhiqing glanced at the dirty sputum on the floor, covered his nose, and tiptoed to the bed.

Old Mrs. Chen's illness became more and more serious. She slept for a long time every day and coughed almost constantly when she was awake. Sometimes she spit on the ground without waiting for someone to hold the spittoon. Although Chen and Qin cleaned the spittoon every day, the old lady would vomit on the ground again in a blink of an eye, and sometimes even soiled the bedding.

There is no filial son by the bedside of a patient who has been ill for a long time. Chen Qinshi and little Chen Qinshi can't help but be lazy, and the smell in the room is really unpleasant.

Chen Zhiqing called softly, "Grandma, Grandma, are you awake? Your grandson is here to say goodbye to you."

Old Mrs. Chen struggled to open her eyelids and saw that it was her eldest grandson. She coughed lightly and reached out her hand to touch her grandson.

The old lady had a strange smell of old age, and no one knew if it was because she had not lived long, but now she was skinny, and her wrinkled and spotted skin was loose like bark, wrapped around her bones, looking very scary.

Chen Zhiqing didn't want to be touched by her, but he saw his father Chen Gensheng walk into the house, so he reached out and held the old lady's hand, saying, "Grandma, my grandson is going to Qingzhou to take the exam. You take care of yourself. When he comes back after the exam, I will buy you some pea cakes."

Old Mrs. Chen smiled with her lips pursed, revealing a few sparse yellow-brown teeth. She said lovingly, "My grandson is really filial. Grandma is waiting for you, waiting for you to pass the imperial examination and come back as a master."

Chen Genzheng was quite pleased watching this scene of deep affection between the grandparents and grandchildren. Filial piety is the most important virtue. He felt that he had brought himself up well and his children all attached great importance to filial piety.

Chen Zhiqing put the old lady's hand back into the quilt, tucked the corner of the quilt for her, and said with a faint smile, "Li Qiu is still waiting in the town. Your grandson will leave first. Don't worry about me, grandma."

Old Mrs. Chen nodded and wanted to give a few more instructions, but she started coughing again and had to wave her hand at Chen Zhiqing.

Chen Zhiqing left the house, took a deep breath, took the bag handed to him by Chen Qinshi, and said, "Dad and Mom, your son is leaving."

Chen Genfu was already waiting outside the courtyard gate with a borrowed donkey cart, ready to take Chen Zhiqing to town.

Chen Gensheng and his wife sent their son to the gate of the yard and only looked away after watching the donkey cart go away.

The woman who lived next door saw this and asked, "Sister Chen, your son Qing is also going to Qingzhou to take the exam, right?"

Chen Qin responded with a smile.

The woman continued, "Why don't you go with the brothers of the Yu family? The four brothers of the Yu family are all going to Qingzhou to take the exam. There was such a big scene just now. I don't know what noble master actually drove three carriages to pick them up! If your brother Qing goes with them, he can also be taken care of by the noble master."

After hearing this, Chen Gensheng felt very uncomfortable and turned back to the yard.

Chen Qin's smile faded as she said, "Don't bother me. Qing'er has made an appointment with his classmates to go to Qingzhou together. The carriage is waiting in the town!"

The woman said those words without any malicious intent, she just said them out loud. Now she thought of the rift between the Chen family and the Yu family because of the engagement, so she smiled and said a few nice words, "I'm afraid your Qing brother will become a juren this time, and your sister-in-law Chen will become a juren's wife in the future, which will also make us villagers proud."

Chen Qin's face then improved, and she said with a smile, "It's not so easy for a juren to win. I'll borrow your blessing. If Qing'er really wins, I'll give you red eggs."