On the first night before Ding Youtian was going to the county to take the exam, Jian Ning prepared all the clothes, shoes and socks that he would wear the next morning. She also told him to burn incense and take a bath and go to bed early to get enough rest for the exam.
Ding Youtian himself didn't care, but a Tongsheng exam was a sure thing for him. He even teased Jian Ning, asking if he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to get the top spot this year and would have to endure for another three years.
Not surprisingly, he was given a harsh look by Jane Ning.
Jane Ning was genuinely anxious. After all, he had a record of failing the exam for three consecutive years. She worried he had test phobia, but wasn't aware of it. In layman's terms, dog meat shouldn't be served at a banquet.
Perhaps because she had lived in the countryside for too long, she found that she had actually developed the mentality of an ordinary peasant woman, and also hoped that her husband would be successful and stand out.
Well, other people hope their sons will become successful, but for her, it becomes a hope for her husband to become successful.
The next day, she got up before dawn, washed up, kneaded the dough, and rolled noodles specifically for Ding Youtian, implying that she had taken everything into consideration and would give her best no matter what the test was.
After breakfast, she personally accompanied him to the county to take the exam.
When they were almost in town, the driver, Mr. Ding San, saw Ding Sheng walking in front with a schoolbag on his back. His back and walking posture were exactly like his father's, and even the way he looked at people was the same.
One day, it was drizzling, and seeing that he didn't have an umbrella, Master Ding San kindly asked him to get in the carriage. He still remembered the look in his eyes at that time, and he couldn't understand why he had such a huge hatred, as if someone had borrowed rice and returned him chaff.
His eyes were so gloomy that not a ray of light could be seen.
This kid is useless!
He didn't know how to be grateful at all. Mr. Ding San thought that he was resentful because Ding Qiang died in Jian Ning's house, so he stopped riding in her carriage.
He sighed inwardly. That day, he had heard that several assassins had been thrown into the stables with their limbs severed. Worried about startling the flames, he wanted to go over and take a look, but he saw Ding Sheng sneaking out of the stables. He subconsciously shrank back, and when he looked back, he found that the assassins were all dead.
Like Ding Qiang, he was bleeding from his mouth, ears and nose and died instantly.
Mr. Ding San didn't dare connect their deaths to Ding Sheng. He didn't dare think about a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, but the matter kept lingering in his mind. He was inexplicably afraid of Ding Sheng, and he couldn't explain why.
The carriage passed by Ding Sheng. Master Ding San glanced at him sideways, not wanting to meet his cold gaze, which made Master Ding San feel uncomfortable for a long time.
He drove the carriage around to the school, dropped off Dabao and Ma Xiaomi, and continued driving to the county town. Jian Ning originally thought that the people who came to take the exam for the position of Tongsheng were probably just young boys, but later he found that there were several who were older than Ding Youtian.
"Don't be nervous. Think clearly before you start writing. It doesn't matter if you don't pass the exam. You can just take it again next year. Don't feel overwhelmed."
Outside the examination room, Jian Ning repeatedly reminded Ding Youtian.
"Don't worry, you and Uncle San go to the county town for a stroll, or you can go to Brother Ma's escort agency to have a look. When you think it's about time, come back here and wait for me."
Ding Youtian was deeply moved, yet also a little ashamed. He should have taken the examination sooner. As he entered the examination room, he thought of Xiu Gu. When he had taken the examination, Xiu Gu had always told him that it didn't matter if he didn't pass, because she was strong and could work, and her parents wouldn't stop feeding them.
In Xiu Gu's mind, having food to eat is the top priority. If Xiu Gu was like Jian Ning, hoping that he could gain fame and fortune as soon as possible, he didn't know whether he would have taken the path of imperial examination in advance.
After he verified his identity and entered the examination room, Jian Ning and Mr. Ding San planned to go to Ma Fuquan's escort agency. She was about to get on the carriage when she saw Blind Liu and Lao Liu coming.
"Fourth sister-in-law, has my fourth brother gone in yet? Oh, he's a step too late." Old Six stamped his feet and complained to Blind Liu, "It's all because of you who dawdles. You even had to take a shit right before you came. It would have been much better if you had come earlier."
Blind Liu rolled his eyes and said, "None of this old blind man's business! You can't even control the shit and farts of others?"
Jian Ning laughed and said, "How did you two bump into each other?"
"Uncle Liu came to the county yesterday and stayed at my place. He said my fourth brother would come to take the exam today. I didn't believe it. I hadn't even heard him or his wife mention it. How come my fourth brother suddenly wanted to take the exam again?"
Before Jian Ning could speak, Blind Liu said, "I'm not here for your fourth brother. I'm just tired of staying in town, so I came to the county town to hang out and relieve my boredom."
"Yes, yes." Lao Liu put his hands in his sleeves and tilted his elbow towards him. "You have the final say. You said you are here to relieve your boredom, so you are here to relieve your boredom. Others are not the worms in your stomach. You can't say whatever you want. You are just stubborn."
"Sixth Brother!" Jian Ning said, "Don't talk to Uncle Liu like that, or your fourth brother will beat you up."
Lao Liu shook his neck, glanced at Blind Liu, and said nothing more.
"Brother Ma's escort agency will open later. I plan to go and take a look at it now. Do you want to go with me?" Jian Ning asked.
“No!”
Blind Liu and Lao Liu said in unison.
"We went there yesterday." Lao Liu elbowed Blind Liu again, "I'm going to accompany Uncle Liu to the teahouse to listen to some books. I'm taking a day off today, so I'll go back and give you some drink menus. We'll meet here again later."
"Okay, then Third Uncle and I will go to Big Brother Ma's place to take a look." Jian Ning first went to the shop to order a flag with eight large characters on it: "Longmen Escort Agency, your escort will definitely arrive."
After paying the deposit and agreeing with the store to pick up the goods the next morning, she went to the escort agency with Mr. Ding Sanye. When they arrived, Tian Erge was directing people to hang up the sign. Tian's parents and several brothers were also there. Seeing her, Tian's mother was overjoyed and hurriedly grabbed her hand, "Jian Mei'er, thanks to you, my second son..."
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