Participating in the military examination was also a way to enter officialdom!
Compared to the imperial examination, which he disliked, the military examination was naturally a better chance of success!
Suddenly, Yun Tiankuang felt the fog in front of him dissipate, and his target became clear in an instant.
He turned around and looked at his beautiful little cousin. Suddenly, he wanted to hug her, so he stepped forward and gave Xiao Youran a big hug. "Little cousin, you're right! You are our lucky charm!"
Xiao Youran blinked, then blinked again, before saying seriously, "Brother said that boys and girls shouldn't sit together after the age of seven. Cousin Tiankuang, you're already ten years old!"
"Hahaha—" Yun Tiankuang burst into laughter, released Xiao Youran, and went into the house with a smile.
He felt that he had never experienced such clarity before, as if the fog in front of him had suddenly dissipated, and he had a direction for his future!
Xiao Youran watched Yun Tiankuang enter the house, and confusion resurfaced in her heart.
Does Yun Tiankuang not recognize Wen Yuanbai?
What about the eldest cousin's wife?
Xiao Youran, with her hands behind her back, slowly entered the inner room and found Su Shi and her brother.
Su was watching her older brother, Jiang Youchen, read aloud.
She climbed onto her mother's lap and said in a clear voice, "Mother, you're teaching one brother anyway, why don't you teach all the other cousins together?"
Madam Su was taken aback. "Little Ranran wants her mother to teach all her cousins?"
Little Youran tapped Su's forehead with her chubby little hand, "Mother is so stupid... Mother should just go ask Great-Aunt!"
Most importantly, you need to win your mother's favor with your great-aunt!
Otherwise... how could she fulfill her wish of marrying her mother into the Yun family?
Su was clearly stunned, but her eyes gradually lit up, and she nodded, saying, "I'll go right away!"
Little You Ran clung to her mother's neck, "I'll go with you, Mom! Hehe!"
However, when she stood before Madam Yun, Madam Su once again felt powerless.
She adopted a humble attitude, "Aunt, I am not very talented, but I do know a few characters. I would like to teach Kuang, Yi, and Zhi along with Chen when I am teaching Chen. What do you think..."
Madam Yun's expression suddenly changed. "You've only had a few years of schooling, yet you dare to teach Kuang-ge'er and the others to read? You'll corrupt the children!"
Madam Su's expression also changed, and she stammered, "Aunt, I am..."
Little You Ran said innocently, "Great-aunt, Mom is so amazing!"
Madam Yun waved her hand, "No need to say more, go out. Once the family business is stable, we will definitely hire tutors for them, or send them to the Yun family school. You can also ask around."
Su was deeply troubled, but there was nothing she could do.
Madam Yun asked again, "November is coming soon, aren't you thinking about going back to Dingzhou for the New Year?"
Madam Su's face paled, and she forced a smile, saying, "Let's talk about it in a few days."
She took Xiaoyouran out the door.
The old nanny, Li, sighed, "Madam, Miss Cousin meant well, why are you doing this to yourself..."
Madam Yun also took a deep breath, "Of course I know her filial piety, but... she was raised in luxury, how can we let her be a burden because of this? Let them stay a little longer and return to Dingzhou as soon as possible! Besides... she is not... what if the Su family keeps harping on her mistakes?"
Granny Li understood what she meant, shook her head, and remained silent.
Little You Ran nestled in her mother's arms, sensing the pain in her mother's heart, and softly asked, "Mother, why won't my great-aunt let you teach my cousins to read?"
Mrs. Su sighed, "She's afraid I'll have an excuse to stay."
"Then why isn't she too happy about us living here?"
"She was worried that we would suffer in the countryside and hoped that we would return to Dingzhou as soon as possible."
Xiao Youran slowly processed the information and asked again, "Then how long does Mother want to stay?"
Madam Su kissed her daughter's head. "Of course, we'll stay as long as we can. My aunt raised me like a mother since I was little. Now that she's suffering, how can I just sit idly by?"
...
In the afternoon, Steward Zhang actually brought over a cartload of pork, saying it was a thank-you gift ordered by the young master.
Xiao Youran stopped him and pulled him to a secluded corner.
She handed another bottle of Zhubei Dingchuan Pills to Steward Zhang, saying, "Give this medicine to Doctor Gu, but I have a small request."
Looking at the little girl, Butler Zhang asked with amusement, "Little girl, what do you want?"
Xiao Youran straightened her back. "Well, we're planning to plant fruit trees on Sanyang Mountain and need some good saplings. Could you find some? They'd be ready to be planted next spring."
Actually, no. She could ask Xiaobenben for some saplings, but these saplings can't just appear out of thin air; they have to have a source, right?
This is what she's been thinking about these past few days. Her eldest cousin's aunts are all physically weak and unable to lift a finger, so they probably wouldn't be able to farm.
The only option that can be achieved gradually is planting fruit trees.
Moreover... she wanted to test whether this Wen Yuanbai could really contact the Northern Border.
If she could… then she could be certain that this Wen Yuanbai might be… related to that person in the palace.
If that's the case, then in the previous life... the Yun family was demoted to commoners and forced to this godforsaken Sanyang Village. Ostensibly, it was to return to their ancestral home, but in reality... it was that person in the palace who lent a helping hand to the Yun family so that they wouldn't have to suffer too much.
If that's the case, then the person in the palace must know about the false accusation against my maternal uncle!
Butler Zhang: ...
He asked with a smile, "What kind of sapling are you looking for, little girl?"
She counted on her fingers, "Apple trees, peach trees, grapevines, pomegranate trees, fig trees, pear trees, hazelnut trees, jujube trees, and so on..."
Butler Zhang: ...
Do you think you're picking out fruit to eat?
Little Youran asked in a soft, cute voice, "Is there one?"
Butler Zhang chuckled, "How did you know about these trees?"
Xiao Youran's gaze fell on Jiang Youchen, who had just entered the room. She pointed at him with her chubby hand and said, "Brother said it!"
Jiang Youchen looked completely bewildered. "What?"
Steward Zhang nodded to him from afar, then said, "I'll go back and ask the young master," before leading the coachman back.
Jiang Youchen slowly walked to his sister's side. "What did you say just now?"
He had a feeling that he was going to be blamed again.
But... I haven't been blamed by my sister for several days, why do I miss her a little?
Xiao Youran shook her head. "No, brother, you came out? Where's the kitten? Weren't you eating with it just now?"
Jiang Youchen was furious when she heard this. "Does it have a grudge against me? It went straight up the tree to catch birds!"
Xiao You Ran: ……
She had been watching the kitten eat when her cousin Tiankuang came to call her, so she asked Jiang Youchen to watch it eat.
Jiang Youchen now grants his sister's every request, and just stares at the kitten drinking meat soup.
However, the kitten only ate a couple of bites before kicking its legs, splattering soup all over his face, and climbing a tree to catch birds!
For a moment he wondered if it really was a kitten!
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