When Xu Di returned this time, the Marquis realized that he should re-evaluate his eldest grandson.
As the eldest grandson of the Marquis's family, because his father was a son born out of wedlock, even if the Marquis liked him very much, he would always be looked down upon because of his status. However, this eldest grandson of his family used his own abilities to gradually make everyone forget about his status as a son born out of wedlock. Now he is even leading the aunts and other women in the family to make money together.
The Marquis was pleased with the current situation. As long as everyone shared the same goal, they could work together towards a common goal. If they worked together, they would not be able to be dismantled from within. The Marquis had been pondering what Xu Di had told him: "A strong fortress is destroyed from within." As long as the Marquis's mansion was united and of one mind, why would they worry about being dismantled from within?
Xu Di boiled water and made tea for the Marquis. The Marquis quickly invited him to sit down and said, "Brother Di, don't be in such a hurry. I came here to tell you some good news. You passed the provincial examination. Although your ranking was quite low, you still have the title of Juren."
Xu Di nodded and said, "Grandfather, it's all within my expectations. At my age, it's already quite good that I barely made it into the provincial examination. In a few days, once things are settled here, I'll have to go back to Hexi with my mother."
The Marquis said, "Di-ge'er, what I mean is, why don't you go and study abroad, see the world, and then go to your Aunt Ru's house and study with your uncle for a few years?"
Xu Di shook his head and said, "I don't want to participate in the palace examination in the next few years. I have a lot of things to do. Grandfather, when I want to participate in the palace examination, I will definitely study with my uncle for a year. I have already made a plan for myself."
The Marquis said, "Since that's the case, then proceed according to your own plan. Pack your things first and come back with me. You still need to attend the Deer Cry Banquet to get to know some people. These will be your connections when you're out in the world."
Xu Di agreed, and seeing that it was already noon, he invited the Marquis to stay for lunch. After a simple lunch, he followed the Marquis back to the Marquis's residence.
After returning and washing up, the first thing to do was to pay respects to the old lady. When the old lady saw Xu Di, her face lit up with joy. She took Xu Di's hand and said, "Our scholar has returned! Let me see him. Such a young scholar is rare even in the Great Liang Dynasty."
Xu Di said shyly, "Grandmother, look at what you're saying. Many young people have already passed the imperial examinations. I'm still far from that level."
The old lady said with a smile, "Why is Grandma looking at others? Grandma only likes to look at you. I think you're good, and that's enough for me."
Xu Shao's eldest son, Zhao Sixing, failed the provincial examination this time. Zhao Sixing was a year older than Xu Di. When the old lady heard this, she felt even more that her great-grandson was quite remarkable.
The old lady said, "Now that you've passed the imperial examination, your grandmother has to give you some reward."
Xu Di quickly said, "Then we shouldn't trouble Grandmother with this expense, so please don't bother."
The old lady said, "I'm not doing this for you, but for your younger brothers. You've set a good example for them, and I want them to know that as long as they study hard and do well, I will naturally reward them. I have a small house near Yuquan Temple. Don't underestimate it just because it's a small three-courtyard house; the environment there is nice. I'll give it to you. After you get married and get tired of living in the mansion, you can go there for a few days to relax."
The area around Yuquan Temple is inhabited by members of the imperial family and nobility. Although the houses are small, they are extremely valuable and hard to sell. No one would sell a house like that.
Since it was an honor to receive such a gift from an elder, Xu Di thanked the old lady. The old lady then said to her great-grandchildren, who were sitting in her room with envious expressions, "Your eldest brother did well on this exam. If you all do well in the future, I will naturally reward you as well. They are all my great-grandchildren, and I will not favor one over the other."
Xu Hua and the others quickly stood up, bowed, and said they had remembered.
Xu Di attended the Deer Cry Banquet and then went to the manor to do his own things. He felt that time was too tight. He needed to hurry up and get ahead, and then take advantage of the fact that Tianhai was not too cold to go to Hexi. It was too late, the weather was cold, and the road was difficult to travel.
While Xu Di was extremely busy, things at the manor, after a few days of calm, became somewhat unsettled again.
Xu Shao's eldest son, Zhao Sixing, participated in the provincial examination with Xu Di. Zhao Sixing failed. After Xu Shao was angry at home for a few days, she heard from someone that the Marquis of Yongning had helped Xu Di inquire about the examiner's preferences. Xu Shao was furious. Xu Di was her grandson, and Sixing was her grandson-in-law. Why didn't he tell her properly after inquiring about it?
Xu Shao didn't dare to go directly to the Marquis of Yongning to make a scene, so she went to the Marquis's wife and cried and made a scene in front of Madam Wu for a long time, until Madam Wu felt dizzy.
When the Marquis heard this in the front yard, he naturally came over. When Xu Shao saw the Marquis, she bowed to him with red eyes.
The Marquis looked at his eldest daughter, who was already over thirty years old, yet still did things her own way. Take this provincial examination, for example. Her eldest son also took the exam. After all, only a few people could pass the provincial examination each year. Her eldest son did not pass, which was because he did not do well in his studies. Yet she actually came back to her parents' home to make a scene.
The Marquis sat on the daybed with a stern face and said, "What brings you back here?"
Xu Shao said aggrievedly, "Father, Sixing also took the exam this year. You inquired about the examiner's preferences, why didn't you tell us? Our Sixing has studied hard for so many years, do you know how much of a blow it is to him that he didn't pass the provincial exam this time?"
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