The person who stole his hot pot restaurant business was a mere scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. Yet, this scholar easily seized his property, forcing them to flee Yangcheng. The reason? This scholar not only coveted his hot pot restaurant but also Nuonuo—he was utterly ruthless.
He dared to lay a hand on an eleven-year-old girl, doesn't he even consider her age? Damn it, he doesn't even dare to dream of making Nuonuo his concubine.
Fortunately, Ning Hong also planned to go to the capital. So, he took the initiative to register his household in a village outside the capital, which cost him a lot of money.
The reason he settled there was because he didn't want to go back to Yangcheng to take the exam.
If he doesn't settle down in this village, he will have to go back to Yangcheng to take the exam in the future.
In Yangcheng, as long as that scholar is present, he probably won't let you take the exam, especially since the prefect of Yangcheng has some connections with him. It will be really difficult to pass the exam and gain official rank.
It would be better to just transfer your household registration; then you can take the exam directly in Beijing.
This made Ning Hong both angry and upset.
Fortunately, he passed the imperial examination last year and became a scholar. This year, he wanted to try his luck in the special imperial examination.
If he were lucky enough to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, he would have the ability to protect Nuonuo. At that time, he could find a person of good character to marry Nuonuo off, and he would have completed half of his mission.
In order to pass the imperial examination, he even found the system that hadn't appeared for a long time and spent his last 100 points to buy a Wisdom Enhancement Pill. Fortunately, this pill could enhance his memory and improve his IQ, and it could be considered a permanent pill.
Sure enough, after taking the Yizhi Dan (a traditional Chinese intellectual supplement), he naturally understood these so-called "eight-legged essays" (a set of rigid, formulaic writings).
He barely managed to pass the imperial examination and become a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations).
Although it was the lowest rank, the benefits of having the title of Xiucai were obvious. First, one was exempt from bowing to officials; second, one was exempt from taxes and corvée labor.
Of course, it wasn't that he was reluctant to part with this little bit of money; although the hot pot restaurant hadn't been around for long, it had earned quite a bit.
Initially, because he had just settled in the village, he had some disagreements with the villagers, especially some gossipy people who kept asking him questions. Some hooligans even tried to lay a hand on Nuonuo.
He knocked them all out.
As a result, he offended many families in the village.
If they hadn't given the village chief a lot of money and gifts when they settled there, they probably would have been kicked out long ago.
However, everything changed after he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar.
The village chief took the initiative to befriend him, and even some people in the village who didn't like him started to befriend him as well.
Nuonuo also gained her first best friend in life.
Yang Lian.
Yang Lian is as her name suggests; she is as pure and lovely as a lotus flower.
She's a bit mercenary, but not too bad.
Of course, Yang Lian would ask Nuonuo to play with her because Nuonuo happened to meet Yang Lian, who had sprained her leg, while picking wild vegetables at the foot of the mountain, and she carried Yang Lian home on her back.
To express her gratitude, Yang Lian visited her several times, and over time, the two developed a slight friendship.
However, seeing Yang Lian's gaze constantly lingering on him, Ning Hong felt that this friendship probably wouldn't last long.
After he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, Yang Lian visited him much more often.
He was also smiling faintly, as if nothing was wrong.
Shy and timid.
Although Ning Hong did not object to Ning Nuonuo and Yang Lian being together, he was reluctant to associate with such a woman.
If he really had to get married, he might as well marry that Miss Fang.
Of course, Miss Fang isn't someone he can just marry whenever he wants.
Ning Hong gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"Yang Lian, what are you looking at?"
Is your brother planning to continue taking the exam?
"That's for sure."
Ning Nuonuo tied the knot in her hand and put it in the small basket next to her.
This little basket was given to her by her brother; it's small, cute, and brightly colored.
"Nuonuo, is your brother engaged?" Ning Hongze is eighteen years old this year, and Ning Nuonuo is fourteen.
Both of them were of marriageable age.
Why are you asking this?
Ning Nuonuo raised an eyebrow. Yang Lian had taken a liking to her brother?
"What do you think of me? Look, your brother will get married someday, right? If he marries someone who doesn't like you, then your future will be tough. But if he marries me, we'll be such good friends. I definitely won't mistreat you. Everything will be according to your wishes, okay?"
Yang Lian said cautiously.
Ever since Ning Hongze passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, many families in the village have been inquiring about him.
Because of his good looks, even the local landlords were somewhat interested in him.
The Yang family was naturally tempted as well.
However, the Yang family members who were interested did not want to marry Yang Lian to Ning Hongze, but rather wanted to marry Ning Nuonuo. After all, Ning Hongze's daily attitude towards Ning Nuonuo showed that he valued this younger sister very much. As long as his sister married into their family, Ning Hongze would help the Yang family more so that his sister could have a better life.
Yang Lian disagreed.
She also took a liking to Ning Hongze.
She can marry Ning Hongze, and then Ning Hongze will naturally help her in-laws. Isn't that a matter of course?
“My life won’t be difficult.” Ning Nuonuo shook her head.
"Why? Although your brother loves you, if he keeps whispering in your ear, there's no guarantee he won't see you as a burden later." So look at her, she's different, they're good friends.
“My brother has put all his assets in my name. So, if my brother and I have a falling out, everything will be mine.”
Ning Nuonuo smiled gently at Yang Lian, "So, don't worry, my life will definitely not be difficult. All the money is with me, so don't worry too much."
Ning Nuonuo thought to herself silently.
She wasn't exactly lying; when Ning Hong was acquiring properties, she genuinely wanted to put everything in her name, but she refused.
However, the older brother insisted, so half of the funds were placed in her name, while the rest remained in his name.
"Is everything you said true?" Ning Hong truly loved Ning Nuonuo so much.
If what Ning Nuonuo said is true, then even if she marries Ning Hongze, she will not be able to live that kind of life where she is bossed around by servants.
She couldn't afford to offend Ning Nuonuo, because if she did, she would become the wife of a poor, uneducated scholar.
What's so good about a poor, pedantic scholar? Only a wealthy scholar's wife is truly desirable.
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