Chapter 136 We can't really worship her as a goddess...

When the family went over the accounts that evening, they could hardly believe their eyes when they saw the income from the past few days.

"After deducting the cost of groceries, we still made so much money!" Mingren calculated twice before showing the final accounts to his mother.

Mingsheng remained calm and composed. She had done some mental calculations over the past few days and knew that the family restaurant was profitable, so she wasn't surprised by the amount.

His gaze swept over everyone, and he said sternly, "You all better keep your mouths shut. You'll all get your share, but anyone who dares to leak this out can get out of this house."

Keep quiet and you'll make a fortune; nobody talks about how much money they make at home.

The men naturally dared not speak; their role was simply to ensure the wives bore daughters and continued the family line.

The women in the Ming family are all good people. After giving birth, they would let them stay and help with the work instead of driving them away.

There are heartless women who only want daughters and not men. Once a daughter is born, they will force-feed the man a potion that will prevent him from having children and kick him out of the house.

One of the laws of this dynasty states that a woman can divorce her husband at any time if she is dissatisfied.

To prevent men from being taken back by other women to have children after they leave home, they are given medication before being kicked out of the house, so as to avoid those children from becoming entangled in absurd affairs with their own blood relatives in the future.

Nobody cares who the daughter's father is; only children without a mother are ridiculed.

At this moment, Mingsheng spoke, and the men all lowered their heads and dared not speak. Once they were driven away, their own families would not accept them, and they would have no choice but to die.

The Ming family is a kind-hearted family. These people have kept them in their home to help out and have never mistreated them. If anyone were to ruin this family, Ming Sheng, the head of the family, would not show any mercy.

The man in the family repeatedly promised that he wouldn't go around saying anything.

Mingsheng distributed some money to each of his sons-in-law and said, “As long as you work hard and don’t have any crooked thoughts, I’m not the kind of person who’s demanding. If you behave yourselves, take good care of my daughter, and look after the good children in the family, I won’t treat you badly in the future.”

"Yes, Mother."

Mingsheng nodded and distributed some snacks to his grandsons. "You're a little tired now, but when our family is doing well in the future, you'll have more confidence when you marry into your wives' families. The sisters in the family are your future support. If Ming'er passes the imperial examination, your future wives won't be able to abandon you easily because of Ming'er."

“Auntie, we will work hard.”

Mingsheng nodded in satisfaction. With things getting better and better at home, she didn't want anyone to cause trouble at this time.

If this affects Ming Er, that is an unforgivable thing.

She didn't mind disciplining the troublemakers.

After some inquiries, Mingli confirmed that the academy would indeed require an entrance examination for Mingzhuo's admission.

Upon learning that Mingzhuo was Mingyang's older sister, the headmaster of the academy pondered for a moment and said that as long as Mingyang was willing to come to their academy, they could make an exception and allow Mingzhuo to enroll directly without taking the exam.

After thinking for a moment, Mingzhuo declined the dean's suggestion, wanting to take the entrance exam herself.

It would be good to enroll with Ming Er, but Ming Zhuo was also worried that if he enrolled in this way, his progress would be different from that of the other students in the academy, and he would be dragging Ming Er down.

If she can't keep up, it would be better to find another suitable academy.

The academy dean was not angry at being rejected by Mingzhuo; on the contrary, he appreciated this principled student even more.

Before the exam, Ming Er even helped Ming Zhuo highlight some key points, and she taught her older sister the same way that the Ninth Sister had taught her.

Ming Er's help was somewhat useful, and Ming Zhuo successfully entered the academy.

After Mingzhuo went to the academy, she did not mention that the six-year-old prodigy Mingyang, who had won two top honors in the imperial examinations, was her sister. Apart from the female tutors in the academy, no one else knew this.

In her heart, Ming Er is Ming Er, and she is herself. She still needs to study hard, otherwise, when others find out that she is Ming Er's older sister, they will inevitably make comparisons.

The gap is too large, so there will always be some discussion.

All Mingzhuo can do is try his best to narrow the gap between himself and Ming'er. Even if he can't surpass Ming'er, he has to be better than others so that others won't gossip.

Ming Er and Ming Zhuo are not in the same place. She is currently a student preparing for the imperial examination and will be taking the county-level examination next. She is studying in another place.

After enrolling, Mingzhuo realized the gap between herself and the other students by looking at them. She dared not slack off. She could not catch up with Ming Er's talent, but as the older sister of a child prodigy, she could not be worse than the others in the academy.

He studied in the school, consulted Ming Er at home, and when he came home from school, he was always reciting articles. After a while, he completely outshone the other students.

Even the female tutors at the academy looked at her differently. After reading her essay, they suggested that she take the preliminary examination for the imperial examination next year.

Hearing the female tutor's evaluation, Mingzhuo dared not slack off even more.

Her relationship with Ming Er couldn't be kept secret for long. Her classmates soon found out about it. They wanted to ask why there was such a big difference between them, since they were sisters born of the same mother. The younger sister became a student at the age of six.

Looking at Mingzhuo, who was more capable than them, they swallowed their words.

Ming Er still receives a lot of attention from the female tutors. She still spends her days at the academy and her evenings are taught by the Ninth Female Teacher.

The system will occasionally provide Ming Er with additional courses.

For example, riding a horse and shooting arrows.

Before them lay a large open space, with several horses circling in place and a few archery targets standing nearby.

Xiang Bei glanced at Ming Er, and taking advantage of her inattention, snatched the system away. "If you have this ability, why didn't you bring it out sooner?"

“Host, you didn’t ask me either.”

Xiang Bei squinted at the system, and the system, being stared at, felt a chill run down its spine.

It chuckled and said, "Well, this is a simulated scenario. I applied for it from my superiors. It's perfect for some training."

“There should be more than just these simulations, right?” Xiang Bei tapped her fingers on the table next to her.

The system shared its functions with Xiang Bei, including a wide variety of simulation scenarios and a complete set of features.

"Alright, you can go ahead and get busy."

Xiang Bei waved to the system and went to see the simulation scenario that the system had requested.

The system went back to teach Ming Er how to ride a horse. Before it could even finish speaking, Ming Er had already nimbly mounted the horse.

Before I could even settle in, I was thrown off by the horse.

Ming Er cried out in pain, then scrambled to his feet and tried to mount his horse again.

"Ming Er, this horse is not yet tamed," the system quickly said.

Before teaching Ming Er how to ride a horse, it was thinking of teaching him how to train a horse first. But before it could finish speaking, Ming Er had already mounted the horse.

Before the saddle was even on, Ming Er was thrown off several times. Each time, he immediately got up and clung tightly to the horse, trying his best not to be thrown off.

The system saw Ming Er being thrown off again and reached out to catch her. Just as it ran over, Ming Er landed in front of it.

"Ming Er, are you alright?"

Seeing the outstretched hand of the Ninth Female Master, Ming Er, who was lying on the ground, sat up and shook his head at the system. "I'm fine, Female Master. Please step back a bit so you don't get hit."

The Ninth Female Teacher wasn't even as big as her head; she couldn't catch her with her outstretched arm.

As Ming Er spoke, he mounted his horse again.

"It's alright, don't underestimate me just because I'm small, catching you won't be a problem..."

Before the system could finish speaking, Ming Er was thrown off again, this time landing directly on the system.

Ming Er immediately jumped up, looked at the system that had been crushed flat, and cried, "Ninth N ...

Xiang Bei, who had just selected a golf course, heard the noise and walked over with her golf clubs. She then used the clubhead, which had been flattened by Ming Er, to pry it out of the ground.

Looking at the flat system, he poked it twice with the cue stick. "System, are you dead?"

The system moved slightly, shook its body, and then returned to its original form.

"No, I'm not dead yet."

It's a system, just a string of numbers, how could it be crushed by humans?

Ming Er stood to the side, feeling guilty. "Teacher, I'm sorry."

The system waved its hand, "It's no big deal, do you still want to practice? If you don't want to practice, go back and rest."

"I want to practice more." Ming Er felt that she had already grasped some of the tricks, and as long as she had a little more time, she would definitely be able to tame the horse.

The system and Xiang Bei tacitly retreated to a safe place, signaling Ming Er to continue.

It's true that Ming Er will feel pain when she falls, but she won't die from the fall in this space, so Xiang Bei lets her train the horses.

Fearing that it would be crushed by Ming Er again, the system simply followed Xiang Bei to the golf course.

Xiang Bei, leaning on her golf club, laughed and said, "Master, I heard that getting a hole-in-one in golf costs a lot of money. Will this simulation scenario also cost money?"

"Of course it's free. The simulated scene is equivalent to the host's private space."

Xiang Bei was relieved; she could figure out the correct posture for playing golf with just a thought.

After setting up the golf balls, Xiang Bei held the clubs and said confidently, "Tong, watch me show you a hole-in-one."

Raise your hand and swing.

Xiang Bei watched as the ball she hit drew a beautiful arc in the air.

The only regret is not being able to enter the cave.

"Master, I'm sure I'll sink this shot." Xiang Bei was about to place the new golf balls when she noticed that there was already one there.

She thought the system had arranged it for her and was about to say a few words of praise when she discovered that the system had disappeared.

Turning her head, she saw that Ming Er was still struggling with her horse and didn't see the system.

Just then, a figure streaked with light rushed over from the court. The system glared angrily at Xiang Bei, "Host, did you do that on purpose? Why did you knock me away? Shouldn't you be playing ball?"

Xiang Bei was silent for a moment before she realized what she meant. "You mean, the person who flew out just now was you?"

"Otherwise what? Your ball is still here. Didn't you notice I'm missing?" the system roared.

Xiang Bei chuckled apologetically at the system, "Sorry, sorry, I'm a newbie, it was just a mistake."

"Hmph, I will never forgive you, I'm breaking off all ties with you."

The system angrily headed towards Ming Er, ignoring Xiang Bei's calls.

Ming Er looked at the system, feeling quite embarrassed.

"Don't get distracted, or the horse will attack you," the system shouted from the side.

Ming Er quickly snapped out of her daze. After she tamed the horse, she was so tired that she lay down on it, not wanting to move at all.

"Alright, that's enough for today," the system said, checking the time.

It was originally intended to teach him slowly, but Ming Er finished it in one night.

Looking at the bruises on her arm, you can tell she had fallen badly.

Ming Er washed the dishes in the space, and Xiang Bei applied the ointment to her.

"Alright, go back and get some rest. You have to go to the academy tomorrow." Xiang Bei gave Ming Er a nudge, and he went back to his room.

Looking at the dark room, lying on his soft bed, Ming Er yawned and fell asleep.

When Ming Er woke up in the morning, the bruises from the fall had faded. He rubbed his arms as he washed up and folded the blankets neatly.

Xiang Bei looked at Ming Er's behavior, then at the system, "You even taught me how to fold a blanket into a tofu block?"

The system snorted and turned its head away, clearly still remembering how Xiang Bei had hit it like a golf ball the night before.

"You can't blame me, can you? Who told you to stand next to the ball? You believed me when I said I was good at the game?"

The system turned its head back, let out a loud groan, and then turned back again.

Helpless, Xiang Bei had no choice but to check on Ming Er's condition first.

Mingsheng thought that his granddaughter was old enough to be sent to school for early education, and he had asked Mingli to inquire about it beforehand.

I'm saving up some money now so I can send my child to school.

As for the grandson, while he did housework, Mingsheng also had them learn to read in their spare time.

Given Ming'er's momentum, if he were to pass the imperial examinations and become the top scholar, his grandsons, with sisters like her, would be able to marry into a prestigious family. Even if the woman gave birth to a daughter, they wouldn't dare to easily kick them out of the house.

The Ming family is different now than before. Ming Er is going to be an official in the future, and having a brother who has been divorced is not good for her reputation in official circles.

Looking at his grandsons, Ming Sheng said earnestly, "I don't expect you to be as well-educated and reasonable as the men of wealthy families, and our family doesn't have those resources. You should learn a few words from Ming Er in your daily lives, so that you can marry into good families in the future. If all the sisters in the family pass the exams, you can also stand on your own feet in your wives' families."

“Azu, we understand.”

Looking at his well-behaved grandsons, Mingsheng nodded in satisfaction.

Besides helping out at the restaurant, Mingsheng occasionally went out for walks. He heard that the rent at their old place had increased significantly because Ming'er had won two gold medals in a row.

Mingsheng simply smiled and let it go.

If Ming Er wins the top three prizes in a row, their restaurants will become famous.

Before the Ming Er Yuan examination, Ming Da first took the Tong Sheng examination.

Mingsheng personally delivered it as before, and before going, he even took Mingda to pay homage to the statue of the deity.

Before entering the examination room, he repeatedly reminded me, "Don't forget to write your full name. Your name is Mingzhuo, you know?"

“I know, Azu.”

Mingzhuo naturally knew that her family had made a fool of themselves because of her younger sister Ming Er's name.

He didn't think much of his grandfather's advice.

After the exam, Mingzhuo was well-fed and cared for at home.

Although he didn't achieve the top score like Ming Er, he still came in third place.

He also came in third place in the subsequent prefectural examination.

The Ming family immediately became very anxious.

It seems that the two sisters, Mingda and Ming'er, will be able to participate in the subsequent academy examinations together.

The Ming family naturally took even better care of the two of them.

Mingzhuo is now in the same class as Ming'er. Although she is not as talented as Ming'er, her grades in the academy far surpass those of many others.

Even the female tutor praised her highly.

Mingda and Ming'er often discussed articles together.

Both sisters became celebrities at the academy.

On the day of the provincial examination, when he escorted two people into the examination hall, Mingsheng returned to the inn and carefully took out the statue of the deity.

This is Ming Er's description of a wooden statue that Ming Sheng specially commissioned to be remade.

The craftsman's skills this time are excellent; his face is almost identical to Xiang Bei's.

Xiang Bei: "..."

You won't find it strange once you get used to it.

But we can't really worship her as a deity.

She could even take an apple or pear from Mingsheng's altar and eat it whenever she felt like it. After all, it was her who was being worshipped, so it wasn't unreasonable for her to eat her own offerings.

Turning around, Mingsheng saw that Li was nowhere to be found, and he knew that it was truly a divine intervention.

When I came out of the University of Minnesota after the exam, I was pale and swaying, and I almost couldn't hold on.

Ming Er reached out and helped her up.

"Sister, are you alright?"

"fine."

Mingzhuo didn't even have the strength to speak, so he could only wave his hand to indicate that he was fine.

After returning home, Mingda was listless and it took him several days to recover. Minger, on the other hand, ate and drank to his heart's content, then slept soundly and looked energetic.

Mingda looked at his younger sister with envy. During the preliminary examination, she gritted her teeth and persevered until the very end before fainting. She had to be carried back by Azu and the others.

"Sister, you can't go on like this. You should learn some basic skills with me. The exam room is already in poor condition, and it's even colder in winter."

Mingzhuo thought it made sense, so he followed Ming'er to learn martial arts and mastered the horse stance. Only after the horse stance was solid could he learn boxing techniques.

She knew that Ming Er could run from one end of the street to the other without even being out of breath.

I don't expect her to be as powerful as Ming Er, I just want her to be physically strong.

Now they are just waiting for the results to be released.

There's no need to rush the upcoming provincial examinations. This year's provincial examinations just ended, and they won't be held again for another three years, so they have plenty of time.

After practicing for a few days, Mingzhuo felt that it was still useful, but she couldn't do anything like Ming'er, who could lift a rock several times larger than herself to train and then leap across walls.

When Ming Er had a rare free time, he would run out to play. Before long, he became the king of the neighborhood kids again.

This area is cheap, but it's also a mixed bag; all sorts of people can be found here.

In just a few days, Ming Er had even won over the local beggars. Those beggars had their territory taken over by larger beggars from other areas, and it was Ming Er who helped them drive those people away.

Therefore, the little beggars greatly admired Ming Er.

They kept calling him "boss".

The little beggars knew a lot of things, and they told Ming Er, their leader.

When they were bullied, Ming Er would give them advice, teach them how to fight back, and teach them some simple tricks.

However, Ming Er also set a rule that they could not use these tricks to bully ordinary people, otherwise Ming Er would not be polite to them.

The little beggars naturally listened to Ming Er. They thought Ming Er was incredibly capable, as if there was nothing she couldn't do. They willingly acknowledged her as their leader and helped her gather intelligence.

Ming Er didn't let them work for free; he would give them food.