Chapter 33
The weeping willows sprouted tender green branches, and the old peach tree in the yard also sprouted tender leaves, soon to bloom.
The elm trees in the village were laden with elm seeds, hanging in large clusters on the branches.
Mu Jin called Zhou Si, went to the hunter Mu's house to borrow a sickle, and hooked a whole bamboo basket full.
As the weather gets warmer, bamboo shoots are sprouting from the soil, their pointed tips emerging.
In spring, many families in the town enjoy this kind of food. Mu Jin and Zhou Si took some time to go to the bamboo forest at the foot of the mountain and dug up quite a lot in the past two days.
"These damaged ones don't look good and won't fetch a good price, so we'll keep them to eat at home."
Hibiscus picked and chose among a pile of bamboo shoots, removing those that weren't of good quality.
Wen Liangzhao helped put the bamboo shoots to be sold into the basket. He was not old, and he was cooped up at home all day, so much so that he was practically growing mushrooms.
"I don't know when I'll be able to see anyone again."
These words were spoken with a rather mournful and poignant tone.
Mu Jin chuckled and said, "We'll have to wait a bit longer. A couple of days ago, when Brother Mu Sheng went to town, I subtly inquired about it. There's still a portrait of you posted in town. You're so eye-catching, it's better to wait a while longer. Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll buy it for you."
Wen Liangzhao put the last bamboo shoot into the basket, thought for a moment and said, "Candied hawthorn. When my dad and uncle left me with my uncle, they lied to me and said they would go to town to buy things and bring me candied hawthorn. I've been waiting for that for many years."
Mu Jin gently patted his head and said, "Okay, I'll buy it for you."
Zhou Si went to the Mu hunter's house to borrow a mule cart, but they happened to catch a wild goat, so Mu Lingyun went to town with them.
The unmarried young couple were still a little shy and awkward with each other, while Mu Jin sat on the cart, watching with amusement.
Mu Lingyun drove the mule cart ahead, and the mules, with their snow-white hooves, galloped along, making a whooshing sound, much faster than the oxcart.
"Big brother, I heard that Mu Zhou is also participating this year?" Mu Lingyun asked, sitting in the front.
Mu Jin nodded. "I'm going now. My dad and the others went with me a few days ago. I don't know how I did on the exam yet. I'll just treat this as a test and some experience."
"It's already quite impressive that Muzhou is so young to be able to compete."
Mu Jin smiled slightly, calculating the time; the results should be out soon.
Zhou Si smiled and said, "I wonder if my fourth brother will be able to pass the exam this time."
Mu Jin smiled and said, "Being able to take the exam is already quite an achievement."
As they spoke, the town gate came into view, and Mu Lingyun drove the mule cart directly to the market.
"Spring bamboo shoots, freshly picked spring bamboo shoots, two coins a pound!"
The market was bustling with people, and the shouts of vendors rose and fell in waves.
"Young husband, your bamboo shoots might be cheaper, I'll buy more."
Ichiro, holding a chubby baby with a tiger-like face, smiled at Mujin.
Two large baskets of bamboo shoots looked like a lot, but there weren't actually that many.
Mu Jin shook her head and smiled, "Husband, these bamboo shoots were dug up by my brother and me from dawn till dusk. If you buy ten or more, I'll give you one free for the sake of this adorable baby."
The husband's smile deepened as he was coaxed. Others praised his son more than him; Mulan had truly touched his heart.
He rummaged through the basket and said, "These bamboo shoots are quite large and of good quality. Give me ten."
Mu Jin smiled and said, "My husband has good taste. I only picked the best ones. You can choose whatever you like. I guarantee you won't find a bad one."
The husband carefully held the little boy in his arms, watching as Mu Jin and Zhou Si picked out ten spring bamboo shoots. He then turned his head and saw the wood carving that Mu Jin had brought over the past few days, which Zhou Lin had carved.
"This little tiger carving is incredibly cute. What a coincidence, my son was born in the Year of the Tiger. How much is this wood carving?"
Zhou Si weighed the item, while Mu Jin picked up the little tiger wood carving and smiled.
“My husband has a good eye; this wood carving is the one that took him the most effort to complete…”
Before Mu Jin could finish speaking, the little tiger wood carving was snatched away by the chubby little man, who opened his mouth to bite it.
The husband quickly covered his little mouth, saying, "It's dirty. Your dad will wash it for you when we get home."
Mu Jin looked on with envy, "Young Master seems to like it very much."
Looking at the saliva on the tiger's head, the husband asked somewhat embarrassedly, "How much silver do you want?"
"I won't ask for an exorbitant amount; you can have seventy coins."
The man had bought many wood carvings for his youngest son, and knowing that Mu Jin wasn't overcharging, he nodded.
"Alright, we'll calculate the price together with the bamboo shoots."
Mu Jin smiled and couldn't help but touch the little man's chubby little hand. She genuinely loved this chubby, adorable boy.
The family is short of money right now, and they dare not have a child at this time. Zhou Lin didn't even dare to put the baby inside at night.
But thinking about it, if it were his and Zhou Lin's child, the child would definitely be good-looking.
He shook his head; he was still selling things, but his mind was already wandering far away.
After the husband paid the money and left with his cloth bag, several more women and their husbands came and picked and chose, leaving only one bamboo shoot in the whole basket.
The black goat that Mu Lingyun brought was a hot commodity. It was bought whole by the steward of a wealthy family shortly after it entered the market.
While we were at it, we also bought up the rest of the bamboo shoots that Mu Jin had in the basket.
Before leaving, the steward said to Mu Jin, "I am Steward Zhao of the Zhao family. The master loves to eat bamboo shoots and wild vegetables. If you can dig up more, young master, we will send them directly to the Zhao family. We will take as many as you can."
Mu Jin's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Steward Zhao. I will definitely send the freshest and tenderest ones to your residence tomorrow."
Steward Zhao was slightly plump and had a very kind smile. He led several servants, carrying the sheep and bamboo shoots, back to the mansion.
The remaining pheasants and rabbits that Mu Lingyun brought were quickly reduced to just one pheasant.
He kept it and didn't sell it; it's easy to guess who it was for.
Looking at the sold-out bamboo shoots, Mu Jin smiled and said, "Meat still sells better. We're only doing this because of Brother Ling Yun."
Mu Lingyun waved his hand, "We're all family, let's not talk like that."
The wood carvings brought by Mu Jin didn't sell very well. Apart from the little tiger, a woman bought a little bird for her grandson and made fifty coins, but no one came to buy from her after that.
Mu Jin looked up at the sun; it was getting late, so she didn't linger any longer.
Zhou Si quickly sold the handkerchief to the embroidery shop, and Mu Jin bought the seeds needed for the fields, spending 220 coins to buy half an acre of sorghum seeds.
Then, from the vendor selling candied hawthorns, he picked out the biggest and plumpest one and brought it back for Wen Liangzhao.
The money from selling bamboo shoots went in with one hand and out with the other, and some of the money from selling wood carvings was used up, leaving only a little over seventy coins.
Just as I was about to go back, I heard someone shout, "The results of the county examination are out!"
Mu Jin felt a little nervous. "Si'er, let's go take a look too."
Zhou Si nodded, leaving Mu Lingyun to watch the mule, and the two followed the crowd to the place where the results were posted.
After finally squeezing in, Mu Jin looked up from the bottom and saw Zhou Qiang's name in the last position.
Looking further up, I unexpectedly saw Muzhou's name in the second-to-last position.
Hibiscus: "…………"
The rankings are quite close.
“Let’s go, let’s go, my younger brother and fourth brother from my maternal family have both made the list.”
Hibiscus smiled, her heart filled with joy. Regardless of her ranking, just being on the list was already an achievement.
As soon as the two came out, they saw Mu Laoqi and Zhou Ling standing outside the crowd.
Upon seeing Mu Jin, the two, forgetting their surprise at his presence, quickly pulled him aside.
"Well? Did you see your second brother's name?!"
Mu Jin smiled and nodded, "My second brother is on the list."
Zhou Ling clapped her hands, bursting into tears of joy, "Thank God, all those days of hard study by your second brother weren't in vain."
Mu Jin looked around. "Where's my second brother? Why can't I see him?"
"He squeezed in to take a look, but hasn't come out yet," Mu Laoqi replied, a rare hint of a smile in his eyes.
“You’re in a good mood today. When you get back, call your husband over and come home for dinner. Your father and I will go and buy about ten pounds of meat later.”
Zhou Ling was so happy she didn't know what to do. After pacing around, she ended up inviting Mu Jin and Zhou Lin to her home for dinner.
Mu Jin smiled and said, "Okay, A Lin and I will definitely come."
When the wooden boat came out, the twelve-year-old boy's face was flushed with excitement. "Dad, Uncle, I made the list!"
Mu Laoqi laughed and said, "I know, your eldest brother told us!"
Mu Jin smiled and said, "Second brother, congratulations! After you pass the prefectural examination in April, you will be a student of the first level of the imperial examination."
"Thank you, big brother." Mu Zhou's eyes were bright; he was still a child of about ten years old.
Mu Jin smiled and patted his head. After the group parted, they went to a pastry shop and bought a bag of peach shortbread, which was Mu Zhou's favorite.
After thinking about it, Zhou Qiang was just lazy at home and neither good nor bad to Zhou Lin. He had spoken up for him before, so in any case, the fact that they were able to separate the family was thanks to him.
He bought an extra pack of peach shortbread, just to avoid Zhou Lin having any complaints about him.
Looking at the thirty coins that had been spent, Mu Jin sighed. Money really doesn't last long.
Around noon, the group drove their mule cart back to the village. Near the village entrance, they found many villagers gathered there, chattering about something.
"Oh my, Jin-ge'er is back! It's great that your younger brother from your maternal side and your younger brother from your husband's side have both passed the exam. You have two scholars in your family, what a blessing!"
"Your father bought a lot of meat; you're going to have a good meal."
"Such a joyous occasion, I would buy it too."
Mu Jin remained seated on the mule cart, smiling at the women and husbands who had spoken up. "Uncles and aunts, my brothers have only passed the county exam, not the prefectural exam yet. They still need to focus on their studies; things will get tough from here on out."
"Hey, it's impressive that you passed. How old is your brother? Speaking of which, Zhou isn't engaged yet, is he? My niece..."
Mu Lingyun cracked his whip, and the mule started to walk away. Mu Jin smiled and said, "Uncle and Aunt, please take your time chatting."
Zhou Si patted her chest. "I'm most afraid of those uncles and aunts who sit at the village entrance gossiping. They're terrifying. They can call flowers cow dung, and cow dung can become flowers that smell like dung in their mouths. When I broke off my engagement, I don't know how much gossip they were spreading behind my back."
Mu Jin chuckled, "It is quite frightening."
Mu Lingyun took them home, helped unload the seeds from the car and put them in the kitchen, and naturally brought the pheasant they had left behind with them.
Wen Liangzhao hid as soon as the little owl hooted out, and only dared to come out of the house after Mu Lingyun left.
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