On the morning of New Year's Eve, Tian Mingwu took his whole family to pay tribute to An Wan.
After leading everyone to kowtow and burn incense, he stood in front of An Wan's tomb, first chattering incessantly about their past, and then talking about what had happened in the past period of time.
"Wan'er! Our daughter is really promising. She even went to the palace to treat the Empress a few days ago." Then, she glared at Zhao Yiming with some reluctance, "Our daughter is so outstanding. This boy is really lucky."
Without waiting for anyone to speak, he turned back to An Wan's tombstone and continued muttering, "This kid is going to take the imperial examination in the spring. Wan'er, if you are still alive, please bless him."
Zhao Yiming was a little moved when he heard what Tian Mingwu said, but he was glared at the next second.
Tian Mingwu glared at him unhappily and said, "You better do your best in the exam. If you fail, don't blame me for not marrying my daughter to you." His words were obviously caring, but they sounded full of threats.
Tian An felt happy and sad after hearing this. Tian Mingwu did all this for her!
She was afraid that Zhao Yiming would be a failure and make his daughter suffer, and she was also afraid that if Zhao Yiming became successful, he would let his daughter down. So she resented Zhao Yiming on the one hand, but on the other hand, she was always fierce and hostile to him.
Zhao Yiming looked at Tian An helplessly, and immediately assured Tian Mingwu that he would do well in the exam.
Seeing that he had made such a serious promise, Tian Mingwu finally gave up. He talked to An Wan for a while before saying goodbye: "Wan'er! I'll take the children back first and come back to see you later."
On the way down the mountain, Tian An deliberately pulled Zhao Yiming to walk behind him and asked, "Have you visited your parents this year?"
Zhao Yiming nodded. "I went there early on the 28th. What happened?"
Tian An shook his head. "Nothing. I thought you didn't go, and I was thinking of finding a chance to let you go later!"
She originally thought that they still had to go to Hope College to visit the students. If Zhao Yiming had not gone to pay homage to his parents yet, she would help cover for him and let Zhao Yiming go during this period. If he returned home later, he would not have time.
Zhao Yiming knew what Tian An was thinking when he heard it. He raised his lips and said jokingly, "Not bad! You're already caring about your parents-in-law before you even walk in."
Tian An was stunned for a moment, then reacted and his face turned red.
She turned around, glared at him fiercely, and ran to the front.
They came to Hope College to visit the students, bringing a whole carriage full of cakes, candies and some small things.
When they arrived, Mr. Han, An Rong and his wife, as well as the teachers in the college had not left yet. Knowing that Tian An and the others were coming, they had arrived at the college gate in advance to wait.
Tian An felt happy when he saw the children who were skinny, with dark and sallow skin, poorly dressed and gloomy faces before, but now they have become plump and full of energy because they have been eating well and wearing warm clothes during this period.
After getting off the carriage, he first thanked the teachers in the academy, "Thank you for your hard work, teachers, for making these children what they are today."
Several teachers were too busy to accept the responsibility. "You are too polite, sir. They are where they are today because of your kindness. We are just doing our best to help them."
As he spoke, a teacher turned around and reminded the students who were still staring at Tian An and the others with excitement, "Why are you all standing there like idiots? I taught you the same thing every day. Why don't you thank the gentleman quickly?"
The students came to their senses and hurriedly lined up to bow and thank Tian An according to the etiquette taught by the teacher. After that, they said a long list of New Year greetings in unison. Tian Mingwu was in a good mood and smiled after hearing it.
He nodded repeatedly, "Not bad, not bad."
"It's cold, everyone, please come in!" After a brief greeting, Mr. Han invited everyone into the college.
Xiaokang and Xiaoqi couldn't sit still, so as soon as they entered the college, they started playing with the boys. After a while, they ran over and pulled Tian Mingwu away.
They boasted to their children that their father was a great general, so the children asked to learn kung fu from Tian Mingwu.
Tian Mingwu liked children very much and soon became friends with the boys.
When he was teaching everyone martial arts, a few girls were secretly standing aside and watching with great interest, and he generously invited them to join in.
Several girls looked hesitantly towards the teacher's door inside the house. "But the teachers said that girls should act like girls."
Tian Mingwu didn't care what the teachers said and shouted, "Who said girls can't learn martial arts?"
He pointed at Deng Xue who was following behind Tian An and said, "That girl named Deng Xue over there is a very good student."
Xiaokang and Xiaoqi also came over and said, "My sister is learning too."
The children admired Tian An the most. When the girls heard that she also learned martial arts, they immediately threw the teachers' words to the wind.
She followed Tian Mingwu's detailed instructions and learned more seriously than the other boys.
The teachers had no time to care about them at this time. They all surrounded Zhao Yiming with Mr. Han.
In fact, the college had already been on vacation a long time ago, and the reason they were still staying in the college was to wait for him.
Everyone knew that he was going to take part in the imperial examination soon. If he passed, his future would be bright. It would be a good idea to make more friends and get to know more people now.
If he passes the exam in the future, his status will rise significantly, and by then it will be difficult for people like them to even meet him.
Moreover, they had inquired about Zhao Yiming's previous provincial examination results. If nothing unexpected happened, he would definitely be on the list of this imperial examination.
Thinking of this, the teachers became even more enthusiastic towards him. When they heard Mr. Han asking about Zhao Yiming's academic problems, they started discussing it one after another, and each of them was eager to share what they had learned in their entire lives.
While the discussion here was heated, Tian An was not idle either.
She was taken around the college by An Rong and was finally blocked by a group of female students.
A girl of about eleven or twelve timidly approached her, holding a handkerchief. "Miss, this is the red plum blossom I embroidered. Do you think it's okay?"
Tian An took the handkerchief and corrected her with a smile, "Call me sister from now on."
The girl remembered that she had heard the children in the village call Tian An "Sister An An" before, so she followed suit and called her "Sister An An" a little embarrassedly.
Tian An nodded and began to look at the handkerchief in his hand carefully. "Not bad. The stitches, techniques, composition, and color matching are all very good. It can be seen that you studied very hard."
Just as he was about to return the handkerchief to the female student, he heard her sigh of relief. Then, she looked at Tian An a little embarrassedly and said, "Can I give this handkerchief to Sister An An?"
Tian An was stunned and said subconsciously: "Give it to me? Why?" She thought he just wanted her to comment on it.
The little girl blushed, her hands nervously clutching the corners of her clothes, and she was a little afraid to look at Tian An. "I heard from my aunts that we have to give New Year's gifts during the Spring Festival. Sister An An brought us so many delicious and fun things, but I can only give her this handkerchief I embroidered."
She was afraid that Tian An would dislike it, but this handkerchief was really the best one she had ever embroidered.
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