The Lu family.
"Dad, I want to eat cake!" Lu Songshi shouted.
Lu An rubbed Lu Songshi's head and said, "Don't rush, didn't I bring this for you? Eat up."
Lu Songshi said somewhat dejectedly, "Dad, all my friends went to play with Chen Xiaocai and won't play with me anymore. They even got to eat some delicious glutinous rice balls at Chen Xiaocai's place before."
Lu An felt a little uncomfortable listening to Lu Songshi's words. He had never paid much attention to Lu Lin. In his memory, this nephew was not very bright and had a poor and useless appearance.
Lu An never expected that his nephew's marriage into another family would actually bring him good fortune.
Lu An works in the city and knows that Chen Xiaomi and Lu Lin can freely enter and leave Hongyun Restaurant and have business dealings with the restaurant owner. The people at the restaurant are very tight-lipped, so he can't find out anything for the time being. However, Chen Xiaomi has been going to the restaurant from time to time recently, so she must be making a lot of money.
Lu Songshi was munching on a sweet cake when Lu Tong suddenly came over. "Songshi, what are you eating? Is it a 'Scholar's Cake'?"
When Lu Songshi saw Lu Tong coming over, he subconsciously put his hands behind his back.
Among all her grandchildren, the old lady valued Lu Chengyu the most, as he was destined for academic success. She also treated Lu Songshi well, but compared to her grandson Lu Chengyu, he was far less favored.
Lu Chengyu is about to take a big exam, so everything must be done with Lu Chengyu in mind.
Recently, the old lady has been trying all sorts of delicious food for Lu Chengyu, such as red date, longan and lotus seed sweet soup, sugar cakes from restaurants, and Zhuangyuan wine... The things she makes herself are fine, but the things from restaurants are not cheap!
Lu Chengyu could take whatever he wanted, while the rest of the family could only live a meager existence.
Lu Songshi hadn't had any meat for several days, and seeing Lu Chengyu eating and drinking well, he started making a fuss. Lin Xiuer was also a little unhappy, but Lu Chengyu was about to take a big exam, so she could only try to persuade her son.
Lu Songshi was also spoiled and not very obedient. One day, he smelled the aroma and secretly went to the kitchen. He saw the chicken soup in the pot and drank a bowl of it.
When Mrs. Tang discovered that there was a lot less chicken soup, she was so angry that she slapped Lu Songshi across the face.
Unlike Lu Lin, Lu Songshi made a huge scene after being beaten. Lin and Tang, who rushed over upon hearing the news, argued for a few words before being persuaded to stop by the old lady and the old man.
Although the old lady valued Lu Chengyu, she also had some affection for this son of her youngest son. She scolded Tang Shi a few times, and Tang Shi only restrained herself after being scolded.
Lu An still cared for his son, and would secretly buy him treats from time to time after receiving his wages.
Lu An's expression changed when he saw Lu Tong suddenly appear at the door.
Lu Tong barged in without knocking, and Lu An didn't even have time to put his things away.
Lu Tong glanced at the pastries on the table and said, "Fourth Uncle, these are for my brother, right? I'll take them to him."
Lu Songshi had barely eaten a few bites when Lu Tong took all the pastries away, looking like he was about to cry. In fact, after Lu Tong left, Lu Songshi really did cry.
Seeing his son crying uncontrollably, Lu An suddenly felt more resentful towards Lu Tong.
When Lin Xiuer returned and heard the whole story, her face turned somewhat grim.
Lin Xiuer said unhappily, "This Tang family's tail is now wagging in the air. They think Cheng Yu is already the top scholar, and Lu Tong isn't any better." She's just a peasant girl, but she acts like a young lady, always dreaming of becoming an official's wife. She's getting older and older, and if she doesn't get married soon, she'll probably become a money-losing burden.
Lu An sighed and said, "Let's be patient a little longer. If Lu Chengyu passes the imperial examination and becomes a high-ranking official in the future, we will be relatives of officials."
Lin Xiuer frowned. If it weren't for this, why would she have to put up with the eldest son's family all this time? The Tang family has been going too far lately.
"That would only work if Cheng Yu actually became a high-ranking official!" Lin Xiuer said sullenly.
Lu An works in town, and half of his earnings are given to his two elderly parents. Most of the money he gives to Lu Chengyu is used as tuition.
Lin Xiuer rubbed Lu Songshi's head. Before, when Lu Lin's family was still around, Lin Xiuer could find balance in dealing with them. But now that the second son's family had died out, Lin Xiuer had more work to do, and she was somewhat dissatisfied.
Lu Chengyu is about to take a big exam, and his two elders in the family are taking it very seriously, almost to the point of giving him stars if he asks for them.
Tang made an excuse that she had to take care of Lu Chengyu and pushed a lot of things onto Lin Xiuer. Recently, Lin Xiuer has been washing all the family's clothes. Lin Xiuer has to wash the whole family's clothes by herself, and she is in a terrible mood.
Lu An narrowed his eyes and said, "Let's wait until after the spring examination."
Lin Xiuer sighed and said, "That's all we can do."
Lu Chengyu paid three taels of silver in taxes last year. Lin Xiuer estimated that this year, whether he passed the exam or not, he would probably have to get married. If he passed, that would be good. If he didn't pass, Tang Shi probably wouldn't be so proud. Lin Xiuer's feelings were very complicated. She hoped that Tang Shi would suffer a setback, but she also hoped that Lu Chengyu could help the family after passing the exam.
If I really pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, I can be exempted from taxes on twenty acres of land, which will save me a lot of money. My family's life should be much better then.
Lu An took a deep breath and said, "I heard that it's not easy to pass the county-level exam. I hope he can pass it."
People in the countryside only had a vague understanding of the spring examinations. Lu An worked in the town and had more contact with various things, so he knew more about the examinations for the title of Xiucai than the villagers.
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