Chapter 142: Heartbroken



Chapter 142: Heartbroken

The provincial examination ended quickly. Zhou Shuren was very calm, but Ming Qing and Shu Mo seemed impatient. They went to see the results without even eating breakfast.

Zhou Shuren had breakfast before walking over slowly.

Mrs. Wu Li was thinking about her grandson. Seeing that Zhulan was not in a hurry, she asked, "Madam, aren't you worried about your grades?"

Zhu Lan couldn't say that she had confidence in Zhou Shuren, so she could only say, "It's useless to worry about it. The results will be what they are. We'll know when the news comes. It's better to wait patiently."

Mrs. Wu Li moved her lips. She couldn't reach this level.

Zhou Shuren and his companions came back soon. Zhulan knew what was going on when she saw the sharp contrast between Shumo's gloomy face and Mingqing's happy expression.

Shumo returned to his room without saying hello. Mingqing said awkwardly, "Don't mind, auntie. Shumo feels bad."

Zhulan liked Mingqing's politeness and propriety, but Shumo was much worse. "Don't worry, I've left some food for you. Come and eat!"

Ming Qing felt even more embarrassed, "Thank you, Auntie."

After Ming Qing left, Zhu Lan and Zhou Shu Ren returned to the main room and asked, "How did you do on the exam?"

Zhou Shuren was very upset, thinking that the first place that was sure to win was gone, "Second place."

Zhulan knew that Zhou Shuren was very confident. It was rare to see Zhou Shuren so depressed, so she couldn't help but pinch his face. "Second place is not easy. Think about it. You are a modern person, and you have received modern education. Even if you can memorize and understand well, your thoughts are still somewhat out of sync with those of the ancients. I think you are already very good."

Zhou Shuren felt relieved after hearing this, but he didn't show it on his face. "Give me some loving encouragement, give me a kiss?"

As soon as Zhulan heard it, she knew that Zhou Shuren was fine. She even suspected that Zhou Shuren had said those words deliberately for her to hear.

Zhou Shuren looked at it eagerly. He really didn't mean it. He was indeed very upset. It seemed that he still hadn't fully integrated into the ancient times!

Zhulan's heart softened. Zhou Shuren worked hard for her and for their family. She couldn't help at all. She lowered her head and kissed the corner of Zhou Shuren's mouth under his gaze. She was a little embarrassed at first, but the shrewd Zhou Shuren was stunned and felt a sense of accomplishment.

Taking advantage of Zhou Shuren's distraction, he turned around and walked out quickly.

Zhou Shuren didn't really expect to kiss him, but he actually did. He couldn't help but touch the corner of his mouth, feeling happy but also wanting to slap himself. Damn it, he should have kissed him back cleanly just now. He missed the chance, Zhulan should not admit it!

At dinner, Mrs. Wu Li came happily. Zhu Lan also knew who was ranked first, and said with a smile: "This is a happy event, so make more dishes today. You see how close the head of the family is to Wu Ming, who ranked second. Let's have a meal together and celebrate."

It's a potential stock. If you don't grab it now, you will suffer a great loss.

Mrs. Wu Li knew that her wife was sincerely inviting her, so she hesitated for a moment, and then thought that her grandson had no help, but the Zhou family was a good family, and they would be able to help her in future interactions. She quickly washed her hands, "Thank you, missus. I'm here." Just go back and call your grandson over."

Zhulan continued, "It's getting late, and you don't have to cook at home. Call everyone over. I have no one to chat with in Pingzhou. You are the only one I can chat with. The children at home don't have any friends either. Call everyone over to have a meal together and have some fun."

Wu Li worked as a helper to make a living, and had seen all kinds of people. Her specialty was to figure out what the family meant. She understood that the family wanted to make friends because of their grandson, so she was naturally happy, "I'll listen to the madam, and call them all."

Zhulan smiled and nodded, looking at Wu Li's back. Things were different after all. Li's grandson got the first place in the exam, and the scholar was confident that he would succeed. He spoke differently, but it was normal, it was human nature!

Zhulan bought three pounds of spare ribs, three pounds of pork belly, two grass carps, a wild rabbit, two pieces of tofu, and luckily she also bought some leeks today. The only thing about the rare green color is that it is a bit expensive. A handful of half a pound of leeks costs twenty cents. Zhulan was thinking about the leek and egg dumplings, so she bought five handfuls in one go. The old farmer didn't have to go to the wine shop to sell them. Finally, she bought some dried mushrooms.

Zhulan weighed the dishes: braised spare ribs, pickled fish, braised rabbit, stir-fried pork with green onions, tofu and cabbage soup, and fried eggs with leeks, six dishes in total.

As for whether Shumo would feel uncomfortable, Zhulan didn't care. But they can't not celebrate just because you feel uncomfortable!

Mrs. Wu Li returned quickly with the children. There were four children in the Wu family, three boys and one girl. The youngest girl was the same age as Xue Han. Wu Ming, 15 years old, was the eldest, followed by Wu Yong, 12 years old, Wu Ting, 10 years old, and Wu Ning, 8 years old.

The names of the Wu family's children and grandchildren all have the character "kou" on the radical.

Zhulan met a few children. The three boys had regular looks, not particularly outstanding, and had ordinary looks. The little girl was pretty, and smiled shyly. Although she was thin, her smile was very pretty. She was a sweet girl. Wu Ning stayed in the backyard, and the three boys went to the front yard.

The youngest is ten years old and can be considered a little adult.

As for the boy's meeting gift, Zhulan discussed it with Zhou Shuren before the Wu family's child arrived. Writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone were most suitable. She bought more of them when she came to Pingzhou specifically for the purpose of giving as gifts. The best set cost ten taels of silver, and she bought two sets of five taels of silver and five sets of two taels of silver, spending a total of thirty taels of silver.

The gifts given to the Wu family children all weighed two taels, which was already very valuable.

Zhulan gave Wu Ning a purse with 20 wen in it. "It's our first meeting and I don't know what you like. Take this purse and play with it."

Wu Ning didn't dare to take it, and looked at her grandmother. Mrs. Wu Li knew that there would be a gift for bringing a child, so she nodded. Wu Ning took it with both hands, "Thank you, Grandma Zhou."

Zhulan, ".......Well, my little girl is the same age as you, you can play together. You are one month older than Xuehan. Xuehan takes her sister to the guest room to play."

Xue Han followed her mother's words and stepped forward to hold Wu Ning's hand, "I heard that you can read, too. Let's go trace the red characters."

Yu Shuang and Ming Teng also quickly followed him out.


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