Sister-in-law Lin and her husband each slapped the back of their heads: "Aren't you my own son and daughter? Who gets all that meat and pastry? It's just a little bit of pancakes that I didn't give you any, look at how stingy you are! Feng Yao and Feng He are taking an exam today, why don't you be a little more ambitious and take the exam too? I'll bake a mountain of pancakes for you to eat."
Lin Erxi and Lin Dongzi shook their heads repeatedly, indicating that they should give up. They couldn't even do well on the tests at the school under Master Peng, let alone take the tests here. Wouldn't that kill them? They wouldn't be able to enjoy this mountain of pie.
Song Anxin and the others finally got a chance to join the conversation. She tied red ribbons to Feng He and Feng Yao's hands respectively and said to them:
"Fenghe and Fengyao, do your best on the exam. Don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Just do your best. I believe in you!"
Lin Fengnian said, "Yes, Fenghe, your older brothers believe in you. Fengyao, you can do it too!"
Lin Fengyao was indignant upon hearing this: "Big brother, second brother, do you not believe me? I've been working very hard with my uncle and third brother lately, okay?"
He himself seemed a little unsure as he spoke: "Of course, I'm not as serious as my uncle and third brother, but the teacher said I can give it a try."
"Oh well, anyway, you all have to say you trust me, not just trust Third Brother. That's making me lose confidence."
Song Anxin and his group were amused by his words. Lin Fengyao hadn't really planned to participate this time. It was only because Fengyao's teacher and Anbang suggested that he could come and try his skills that he came at the last minute.
Song Mei quickly said, "How could that be? Fourth brother, your eldest and second brothers didn't mean it that way. We believe in you, you can definitely do it."
Lin Fengnian also said, "Yes, yes, our whole family believes in you. You must bring back a student for our family to pass the imperial examination."
Lin Fengyao scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Hehe, there's no need to believe that much."
"You stinky Fengyao, you'd better try your best. Don't cry in secret if you fail. Don't worry, but I'll still acknowledge you as the second smartest person in Linjia Village."
Lin Erxi said heartlessly.
Lin Fengyao jumped up and down: "I'm clearly the smartest person in Linjia Village, and I'm not Dongzi, so I won't secretly cry because I didn't do well on the test."
Lin Dongzi immediately said anxiously, "Brother Fengyao, Second Sister, why are you bringing this up? I... I only cried secretly once and you found out. Please just forget about it."
"Hehe, we won't forget, we'll remember it for a lifetime..."
The group resumed their elementary school-style bickering.
Everyone burst into laughter again, and Song Anxin laughed along with them. She then handed the two small bundles to Lin Fenghe and Feng Yao.
"Alright, stop joking around. Fengyao, Fenghe, here's some food and tea. Some was prepared by Granny Zheng, and some was prepared by your mother and your sister-in-law. These are all things you usually like to eat."
Lin Fengyao was very happy to receive the small bundle, while Lin Fenghe said somewhat helplessly:
"Mom, we're going in to take an exam, not for a picnic. There's enough food for us to eat for three days straight."
"Oh dear, if you can't finish it, just bring it out again. More is better than less. You can't go hungry inside. Besides, there are still several more shows to go, so we can save some to eat," said Sister-in-law Lin.
The county examination consisted of four sessions, one lasting one day and one every three days. Song Anxin actually felt she had prepared too much, but she couldn't control her deep maternal instincts, always thinking about bringing extra food that her children liked.
At this moment, Song Anbang said, "It's time to start entering the venue. Fenghe and Fengyao, go and line up. Remember, there's no need to be nervous. Just perform normally as usual."
Lin Fenghe and Feng Yao nodded, said goodbye to their families, and then went to line up with the other examinees to wait for their body searches. The words "Dragon Gate" were still hanging high on the main path leading into the examination hall.
Song Anxin saw that among the long line of candidates were children as young as seven or eight, as well as white-haired scholars in their fifties or sixties. Regardless of age, they all looked up at the words "Dragon Gate" with eager anticipation in their eyes, as if they had spent their whole lives pursuing this goal.
Lin Fengyao and Feng He had finished their inspection. They turned around, waved to their mother and uncle's family, and then entered the "Dragon Gate".
Song Anxin waved her hand, feeling quite touched. She remembered that her grandparents had also sent her to the exam in the same way. Life really is a cycle.
Seeing his sister's reaction, Song Anbang comforted her, saying, "Sister, don't worry, they won't come out until 5 pm. Let's go home and sit for a while."
Song Anxin nodded. After the first exam, a mother should pick them up, right? Besides, she also had things to do in the county today.
Brother Lin and his wife said they wouldn't bother the old lady. Their whole family would just stroll around the county for a while, buy some things, and then go home. Lin Fengnian and Fengshou were also going home, as they each had their own things to do.
Lin Fengshou naturally went to the winery, while Lin Fengnian had to look after the mushroom house and also lead Anfu and the others to work in the fields. Song Mei said she would go back with him.
The group parted ways, and Song Anxin did not go home with the old lady first, but instead took Granny Wei to the tavern she co-owned with Liu Yuanwai.
The location chosen by Master Liu was excellent, right on the main street, a bustling and lively spot with the highest rent, but that wasn't a consideration for her. The tavern was almost finished with renovations, and its general shape was already visible; it was estimated to be completed in three days.
Master Liu took this matter very seriously, personally overseeing the renovation of the tavern to prevent any mistakes.
"Hang that lantern lower, we need to create a certain atmosphere at night, you understand?"
Master Liu was directing, and the term "atmosphere" was something he had learned from Lady Hui.
“Master Liu, you’ve worked very hard. The renovation is excellent, exactly as I designed. You’ve put a lot of effort into it.”
Master Liu turned around and saw that it was Song Anxin. He hurriedly went up to greet her and said, "Madam Hui, you've arrived. I heard that your two sons are taking the county examination today. I wish them both success in passing the exam and making it onto the list of successful candidates."
Song Anxin smiled and said, "Then I'll be grateful for your kind words, Master Liu. Have you prepared everything I asked for?"
"Everything has been prepared in the backyard, and the workers are waiting for you to train them there," said Master Liu.
He learned this word from Lady Hui, and to be honest, some of Lady Hui's new words were quite useful.
Just then, a voice came from outside the door: "Esteemed guest, our shop is not open yet, so you cannot come in. You are welcome to visit us when it opens."
"No, I'm not a customer, I'm a worker. Sister-in-law Lin sent me here." It was Lin the Drunkard's voice.
The old woman, being the person who served her closely, naturally knew what the young lady was doing. Hearing the familiar voice, she turned and went to the door.
"Let him in, this is the lady's servant."
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