Song Anxin felt quite embarrassed by the village head's actions and quickly said:
"Uncle, please don't say that. I gave this job to Lin the Drunkard because he has something I need. I'm actually quite grateful to Lin the Drunkard so that I can have an easier time."
Lin Lizheng said, "Good, good, as long as Lai Zi can really help you with your work." After he finished speaking, he was quite emotional, "I never thought that Lai Zi could find a job by drinking. Lai Zi's parents died early, and I practically raised him. After growing up, I don't know why he developed a liking for alcohol. He hasn't done any serious work. I thought he would live his life in a daze like this."
"Fengnian's mother, I don't know what a wine taster is, but I know that since your factory has this job, it must be a legitimate one. If Lai Zi can do a proper job, I can die and give an account to my brother and sister-in-law."
Lin Lizheng's face was full of relief; his nephew was finally going to live a decent life.
Song Anxin couldn't help but feel a little emotional. The village head really treated this nephew like his own son. Fortunately, Lin Jiugui also knew that his uncle was good to him.
Lin Lizheng continued, "Fengnian's mother, I told Lai Zi that he must work properly for you. If he acts recklessly and ruins your business, just tell me, and I'll definitely cripple his legs!"
Song Anxin chuckled and thanked the village head for his kindness. She knew the village head would definitely help her keep Lin the Drunkard in check, which put her at ease in recruiting him. However, she also had other considerations in mind when she recruited Lin the Drunkard.
First, Lin Jiugui does indeed possess this ability. Second, Lin Jiugui has another redeeming quality: he'll fiercely defend those who offend him, but he'll unconditionally turn against those who help him, showing a certain loyalty. Furthermore, she genuinely saw in Lin Jiugui a desire to accomplish something meaningful.
————
On the same day that Quanqing Wine was sold in the county.
"Hey, have you heard? There's a new sake in the county called Quanqing Sake. I heard it comes from the same source as the Shoten Sake from Kyoto. I wonder if it's true."
"I think it's genuine. I've already tried it. The wine is crystal clear, with a pure and spicy aroma. It's so refreshing to drink it in one sip. It truly lives up to its reputation as a wine from the same source as the royal premium Tianqing wine. It's just expensive, though. One ounce costs several hundred coins."
"Hey, you little rascal, you secretly went to drink without telling me. This price is really expensive! Even if it's expensive, I'm still going to try it."
"Let me tell you, I heard this wine comes from the Hui Ruren Winery, which was recently personally appointed by the current Emperor..."
"........"
Soon, Quanqing Wine attracted people from all over the county, creating another craze.
On the second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon Raises Its Head, Song Anxin's whole family got up very early. Even Lin Fengshou, who usually spends all his time busy in the distillery, didn't go to the distillery today.
"Oh dear, sister-in-law, is your house ready yet? Our whole family has been waiting at the door for ages," said Sister-in-law Lin as she entered the yard with a worried expression.
Lin Erxi followed closely behind: "Mom, you're exaggerating. Our whole family just finished and waited outside for a moment."
Song Anxin straightened her hair and came out, saying, "Alright, alright, let's go."
Today is the day of the county examinations for Fenghe and Fengyao, which are also the preliminary examinations for candidates for the imperial examinations. This is the first step on the long journey of the imperial examination system. Don't think that passing the county examination means you can become a candidate for the imperial examinations. After passing the county examination, there is still the prefectural examination. Only after passing both the county examination and the prefectural examination can you be called a candidate for the imperial examinations. Being a candidate for the imperial examinations means you have obtained the qualification to take the formal imperial examinations.
This morning, Xile said she would style her hair in a "carp leaping over the dragon gate" style, hoping that the two young masters would pass the county examination smoothly. Song Anxin thought it was a great idea; after all, it's a trip to the examination hall, so of course, you have to wish for good luck. It's just that the hairstyle was a bit complicated, which is why she was a little late. Actually, she didn't think it was too late; it was just that her sister-in-law's family was too enthusiastic.
In truth, Song Anxin was both nervous and excited. Having lived two lifetimes, this was the first time she had ever sent her own son to the examination hall. Anfu and Anshou drove the carriage quickly and steadily. Since it was a bit crowded for their two large families to ride in one carriage, they borrowed Uncle Bai's carriage to go together.
They soon arrived at the county seat, which was full of people heading towards the county government office. The carriage seemed a bit slow in the crowd, so they all got off the carriage and prepared to walk.
A temporary examination hall had been set up next to the county government office. Since it was still early for entry, everyone was waiting outside. There were students going to take the exam, family members and friends accompanying them, ordinary people watching the excitement, and vendors hawking their wares. The area was bustling with activity.
As soon as Song Anxin and her group arrived, they craned their necks and searched through the bustling crowd for Old Madam Song, Anbang, Fenghe, and Fengyao.
"There, my uncles and grandma are over there!"
Big Grass, riding on Brother Lin's neck, was the first to spot Old Madam Song and her group, excitedly pointing and shouting.
The little grass riding on Lin Fengnian's neck also saw it and exclaimed:
"Uncle! Grandma! Great-uncle!"
Big Grass and Little Grass were quite eye-catching riding on Brother Lin and Lin Fengnian's necks, and they were calling out so excitedly that Old Madam Song and Fenghe and the others naturally noticed them as well.
“Big and small grass! Mother, Uncle, Aunt...we’re here.”
Lin Fengyao quickly waved and shouted, and the two groups finally squeezed through the crowd to meet.
"Oh dear, Fenghe and Fengyao, hurry, hurry, tie this red ribbon on, it must bless you to pass the exam smoothly."
Sister-in-law Lin and Brother Lin each tied a red ribbon around the wrist of Fenghe and Fengyao, a local custom symbolizing good fortune and a bright future, embodying people's hopes. Fenghe and Fengyao already had red ribbons on their wrists, clearly tied by their mother, Old Mrs. Song.
After helping Lin Fenghe tie up, Brother Lin said, "Fenghe, Fengyao, do well on your exams. Your father will be watching over you from heaven."
Lin Fenghe and Feng Yao nodded solemnly.
"Feng Yao and Feng He, did you bring all your writing materials? You need to check carefully. What about your dry rations and water? Did you bring enough? If not, it's okay. Don't you love your aunt's flatbreads the most? Your aunt made a lot for you this morning, with meat and eggs in them. Oh dear, no, no, I'm still worried. Give me your things, and your aunt will check them for you..."
Sister-in-law Lin kept chattering away beside Lin Fenghe and Feng Yao, almost more attentive than Song Anxin, their mother.
Song Anxin: "......."
It's not that she doesn't care about her two sons, it's just that her sister-in-law talks too much and she can't get a word in edgewise!
Not to mention her, even during a bountiful harvest, she couldn't get a word in edgewise with her younger brother.
Grandma Song chuckled and said, "Alright, alright, Dongzi's mother, you're too kind. I checked everything for them several times before they left, and they brought enough dry food and water, so don't worry."
The county examination academy closed three days early, but Song Anxin didn't let Feng He and Feng Yao return. Instead, they stayed at her mother's house. Since the exam was in the county, staying there was more convenient, saving them the trouble of traveling back and forth. Of course, her mother had already moved out of Yong'an Lane, but Song Anxin found her a nice courtyard on the corner of the main street—convenient and quiet.
Lin Dongzi looked on with a hint of jealousy and said, "Mom, why haven't I seen you treat me this well before? And when did you make these pancakes?"
"That's right, that's right, Mom, where are you taking your side? Dongzi and I didn't get a single bite of those pancakes. Do you even know who your real daughter and son are?"
Lin Erxi echoed this sentiment.
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