When Zhao Qingyan came out of the yamen, she was startled by someone who suddenly jumped out from the side.
Upon closer inspection, it looks somewhat familiar.
"Young master, you've finally come out. I was the one who reported you to the authorities before."
You said you'd give me 20 coins as a reward for helping me report this to the authorities, right? I wonder if that still stands?
The boy scratched his head a little embarrassedly.
Zhao Qingyan then realized why he looked familiar. "Of course it counts."
He then counted out several dozen coins from his purse. The boy was quite surprised to see that the amount of copper coins was significantly more than 20.
"I just remembered that I came to the government office. I'm sorry to have made you wait for so long. Consider this a reward for your trouble."
The boy left after expressing his gratitude profusely, and Zhao Qingyan really lost the desire to wander around anymore.
I hurried back to the inn. I just hope everything goes well tomorrow.
The single student from the Zhao family, who lives far away in the county school, has become a hot commodity in the marriage market.
Those who used to look down on the five members of the Zhao family who had no official rank have almost gotten their faces slapped recently.
Look, he's passed the imperial examination and become a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). He might even become a Xiucai next year.
Especially for the two young men, Zhao Qingfeng and Zhao Qingluan, it was the perfect time for them to get married.
With the addition of the Zhao family's full moon celebration, the students who visited the Zhao family gained a new understanding of the family.
This family is not only talented but also wealthy. Even if we disregard their talent, their wealth alone makes them a worthy candidate for marriage partners.
By becoming related by marriage, not only will the sisters in the family enjoy a better future, but they may also be able to help themselves.
"Brother Wang, thank you for valuing my son Qingfeng. However, the marriage of my son is entirely up to the matriarch of the family."
She said that marriage should be postponed until one has achieved official success. A man must establish himself in the profession before starting a family.
The speaker was Zhao Qingshan.
The student who came was about the same age as him, and the other party wanted to marry his younger sister to Qingfeng.
Not to mention that the Zhao family has no plans to marry a wife yet, it's hard to imagine what his sister would look like, given Wang Xiucai's appearance.
If he looks like Wang Xiucai, then things will be a bit complicated.
Although the Zhao family doesn't judge people by their appearance,
But when it comes to choosing a wife, if she's even slightly pretty, people can tolerate her even if they don't get along. But if she's both unattractive and has a bad temper, then the tolerance level is naturally zero.
Besides, we're classmates. Once you've said it, even if you didn't agree, it'll still sound bad.
Therefore, Zhao Qingshan helped his younger brother refuse the marriage proposal, and he refused it with great gusto.
After seeing Wang Xiucai off, Zhao Qingshan returned to the house, sat down, drank a glass of water, and then looked at Zhao Qingfeng.
"Third brother, do you resent that your elder brother has once again helped you reject a marriage proposal?"
Zhao Qingfeng quickly and obsequiously poured Zhao Qingshan another glass of water.
"How could that be? Wouldn't that make me an ungrateful wretch?"
I'm still young and don't have any plans to get married yet. Besides, these days, not many women who can be married can even read a few words.
There will be plenty of things to deal with when the couple starts living together.
Our sisters-in-law and sisters are all quite the troublemakers.
The businesses are open one after another. If I were to marry a wife who doesn't know anything but washing clothes and cooking, she would be very unhappy over time.
If she suddenly starts crying at me for no reason, I'll really get annoyed.
Zhao Qingfeng's words made Zhao Qingshan burst into laughter.
"You little rascal, what kind of comic books have you been reading lately? Where did you get all this nonsense from?"
Zhao Qingfeng paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Oh, whatever you guys are looking at, I'll just look at it too."
I've probably seen a little more than you guys. I got these sketchbooks from my third sister.
I must say, there's some truth to what's said above; upon closer examination, it makes a lot of sense.
Zhao Qingshan shook his head.
"I don't care what kind of frivolous books you read, you have to pass the county-level imperial examination next year."
Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.
"I've already boasted to you, the men of the Zhao family establish their careers before their families. If you don't pass the imperial examinations and achieve some official rank, you won't be able to get married."
After Zhao Qingshan finished speaking, he laughed heartily and walked out the door.
Zhao Qingfeng curled his lips.
"I'll take the exam, and I'm not only going to pass, I'm going to do well. Humph, who are you trying to scare?"
As he spoke, Zhao Qingfeng quickly picked up the book and began to study it.
Zhao Qingluan felt very fortunate that she had an unmarried older brother to protect her; otherwise, she might have been the one being proposed to.
Putting everything else aside, it's such a waste of time.
Zhao Qingyang, who has always loved drawing, was gesturing with the architecture books he had borrowed from Zhao Qingyan after finishing his homework for the day.
How is this proportion possible? How can such a large house be presented on a single piece of paper?
After this round of marriage proposals, everyone in the county school knew how deeply the Zhao family was devoted to their studies.
One cannot establish a family without achieving official rank and fame.
Does this mean that if a family's sons never pass the imperial examinations and become a scholar, they will not be allowed to get married?
This is absolutely inhumane.
Yes, in the end, the Zhao family became the target of their classmates' private attacks, and also their competitors.
Thanks to the personal guidance of Yunyou, Xu Dongsheng's scholarship has recently undergone a qualitative change.
He has never given up painting, and now that he's engaged and his fiancée is away, he needs to save up some money.
I want to give my wife a little surprise when she comes back.
Riding on horseback with a blade of grass in his mouth and a small straw hat on his head, Zhao Qingyan looked exactly like a mischievous boy.
"Uncle, do you know where I can buy some fine silk?"
I'm thinking that when I go home someday, I'll bring some back for the women in my family.
Women, regardless of age, all like to dress up.
Every time they went out and came back with gifts, they would say it was too much money, but secretly they were overjoyed.
Cheng Yidao laughed.
"You little rascal, you've hit the nail on the head."
That's right. If you forget to bring something, you can hang the oil bottle on your mouth.
If you're looking to buy silk, you can find it in Hangzhou. The patterns and textures are all top-notch..."
Zhao Qingyan listened as Cheng Yidao rambled on about where to buy local specialties, thus saving her from wanting to go out and explore every place she visited.
Then you might not be able to buy the item, and you might even get into a lot of trouble.
I don't know if this constitution is cursed or what, but I always seem to run into one thing or another, and not every time is pleasant.
Sure enough, in the town she had just left, Zhao Qingyan encountered a scene of a wife being beaten.
The man owned a paper-craft shop in town and was known as Qiao Da. He was usually a good-tempered man, but he just shouldn't drink.
He would beat his wife once he had been drinking.
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