Ye Caiping took another small fish home.

Grandma Ye and Madam Du looked at each other in bewilderment.

Du laughed loudly: "Hahaha, one last time, and another this time. Little sister, tell me the truth, did some cat bring it to you?"

Ye Caiping retorted angrily, "Nonsense, how could a cat bring me fish?"

"Of course it is. I've heard some people say that someone saved a bird, and the bird brought it insects for them every day. Someone else saved a wolf, and the bird brought it rabbits for them every day. You... you must have accidentally saved a kitten, so it brings you fish every day."

Ye Caiping: "..."

"Otherwise, where did this fish come from?"

Ye Caiping thought for a moment: "It was given to me by Manman's family."

"Is this Miss Shen? Why did I give you a small fish?"

"Um... I don't know either, anyway, he gave it to me. Anyway, I stewed it for lunch." After saying that, Ye Caiping went into the kitchen and put the fish in the water to keep it alive.

noon.

Ye Daquan drove a carriage to pick up Ye Xuan and the other three.

The county examination was the first step in the imperial examinations and the simplest exam, so it was completed in half a day.

As soon as Ye Xuan and Ye Peng got out of the car, Madam Du, Madam Wei, and Old Madam Ye crowded around them, asking, "How did the exam go?"

Ye Xuan smiled and nodded: "It's not difficult at all."

Ye Lu, standing behind, scoffed, "What are you pretending for! It's obviously very difficult!"

Mrs. Du and Old Mrs. Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

Madam Wei asked anxiously, "Where is Peng'er?"

"Me? Hahaha... I don't think it's difficult at all. It's all the same to me." Ye Peng scratched his head. "Anyway, I don't understand it. Whether it's difficult or easy... I can't tell! Can I not go to the prefectural exam the day after tomorrow?"

Sitting in the exam room answering questions felt like hell to him!

Wei grabbed his ear and said, "No, you have to go. You might just pass the exam!"

"Let them come inside and eat first!" After saying that, Old Lady Ye looked at Zhao Jinshan and Ye Lu: "Jinshan, are you eating here?"

The two quickly refused.

...

Li Zhiyuan and Zhang Shuiniang also came to pick up Li Ziming.

Instead of going home, the three of them chose a restaurant, ordered three dishes and a soup, and had lunch together.

"Zimo, how did you do on the exam?" Zhang Shuiniang asked eagerly.

“I think it’s pretty good, very simple.” Li Ziming picked up his teacup.

Li Zhiyuan looked proud. Truly, he was the student he taught! This talent is just like his!

"Hey, it's Brother Zhiyuan! Haha, long time no see." A hearty laugh rang out.

Li Zhiyuan looked up and saw a constable walking over.

Li Zhiyuan's face darkened. This man was from the neighboring riverside village. Because he was a government official, no one dared to mess with him. He usually liked to call up friends and go drinking.

But he never paid for the drinks; whenever he went to someone's house, he would ask for wine and meat and have someone entertain him.

"Hehe, it's Brother Chen, what a coincidence." Li Zhiyuan forced a smile. Even though he was a scholar, he dared not offend the yamen runners.

“We haven’t had a drink in a long time. Since we’ve run into each other today, let’s have a drink!” Chen Yacha sat down next to him.

Li Zhiyuan said, "I'm sorry, I would like to have a drink with Brother Chen, but my wife is here today, so it's really not appropriate to drink too much. Let's make an appointment again tomorrow when we're free."

Chen, the constable, laughed heartily: "Alright, let's make another appointment then! How about tonight? I'll come to your house tonight. I've been craving some Shaoxing wine lately, and I'll cut up some good meat for us brothers to have a drink."

After saying that, he left without waiting for Li Zhiyuan to refuse.

Li Zhiyuan was furious; he had to spend money to treat people to drinks for no reason!

It wouldn't have been so bad before, but now he has to support a whole family!

Because of Chen the constable's disturbance, the meal was very unpleasant.

On his way home, Li Zhiyuan reluctantly bought two jars of Nu'er Hong wine, along with a pound of peanuts and a roast chicken.

That evening, the constable Chen indeed arrived.

Li Zhiyuan and Li Ziming hosted him.

After drinking a few more cups, the constable Chen started rambling on and on, spouting all sorts of nonsense.

Li Zhiyuan suddenly remembered his encounter with Magistrate Lu that day, and said, "I think I saw the magistrate come to our vicinity some time ago."

"Yeah...cheers!" After downing a cup of yellow soup, he proudly displayed a piece of roast chicken; the taste was simply divine.

Li Zhiyuan wanted to ask but dared not, fearing that if he heard anything related to Ye Caiping, he would be furious.

Li Ziming asked, "Where are you going, Magistrate? What brings you here...?"

"I can't talk about this."

"Why can't we talk about it? Come on, Uncle Chen, have another drink." Li Ziming poured him a drink. "Is it related to the Ye family in Qinghe Village?"

How did you know?

Li Zhiyuan and his son felt a pang of unease. Was it really related to her?

How did that slut manage to get involved with the county magistrate?

The constable Chen slurred, his tongue thick with drink: "My advisor Luo told Brother Bai and Brother Liu... that they'd found non-toxic cassava... hiccup, and the magistrate was overjoyed, saying he'd report it!"

Li Zhiyuan's face darkened: "That bitch, how come she always gets all the good things!"

Li Ziming was also unhappy. The more capable Ye Caiping was, the less valuable his mother seemed.

Before long, the two jars of wine were empty, and Chen, the constable, staggered away.

Li Zhiyuan was just about to wash up and go to bed when Gu Han suddenly walked in: "Uncle Li, has the Ye family grown non-toxic cassava?"

"So what? Why bring her up!" Li Zhiyuan retorted angrily. "How did you know?"

"I was chopping wood in the yard and I heard everything. No, the key question is, how did I know?" Gu Han said anxiously, "The fact that the Ye family has grown non-toxic cassava is a big deal."

Li Zhiyuan's face darkened. He couldn't stand hearing Ye Caiping say anything good: "What's the big deal? It's just a few more coins. If you say another word about her, get out of my house!"

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