Chapter 505: Born a Peasant
Xingxing has been very busy these days.
First, she had to help Yu Yongbai to approve the many dowries prepared for Hu Ya, and she also took some time out of her busy schedule to accompany Hu Ya to meet the scholar named Zhang Nan.
I have to say, it was very different from what Xingxing had imagined.
This scholar named Zhang Nan was not very handsome, and could only be described as having a regular appearance. But when he looked at Hu Ya, it seemed that his eyes were filled with Hu Ya, and no one else could be seen. His ordinary appearance also shone brightly because of this unique cherishment.
Xing Xing thought to herself, no wonder Yang Ruyuan became interested in Zhang Nan after only meeting him once.
Ever since she met Zhang Nan and saw how much he cared about Hu Ya, Xing Xing felt completely relieved.
Xingxing prepared a very rich makeup for Huya.
The dowry that her second brother sent to Hu Ya was her second brother's share, and the dowry she gave to Hu Ya was separate.
Two days before the results were announced, Xingxing accompanied her second aunt Bai Xiaofeng to visit the residence of the Imperial College's chief academic officer.
The wife of the chief priest was very polite and considerate to Bai Xiaofeng and Xing Xing, the lucky lady.
The wife of the chief priest had three daughters, one of whom was the eldest daughter, and the other two were concubines' daughters. They stood there in a row and saluted Bai Xiaofeng, which made Bai Xiaofeng's eyes widen and he was extremely jealous.
However, when Bai Xiaofeng heard that the eldest daughter was only three or four months older than the two concubines' daughters, her expression froze.
Next, Bai Xiaofeng still seemed very enthusiastic, but Xingxing could tell that her second aunt was just pretending to be nice, but was actually a little distant.
When they came out of the residence of the Imperial Academy's chief priest, as expected, in the carriage, Bai Xiaofeng held Xingxing's hand, and was very entangled: "...How come the eldest daughter is only a few months younger than the concubine's daughter? She is the eldest daughter, the first child of the Zhou family. Doesn't it mean that when the wife of the chief priest got pregnant, Zhou couldn't wait to have another child with his concubine?"
Bai Xiaofeng frowned, "Although it's nothing, I always feel uneasy. If your second uncle had a child with another woman when I was pregnant with your third brother, I would have aborted my head!... Although I think the girl is good, dignified and quiet, but when I think of this teacher's character and teaching, I feel that it's not a good idea. You say that one concubine's daughter is an accident, right? But what about two concubines at once?... This is too disgusting. I'm afraid that this unreliable Zhou Jijiu will have something bad happen in the future and delay your third brother's future."
Bai Xiaofeng is so entangled!
The girl is really nice, and she likes him very much, but to be blunt, you have to look at the pen before buying a pig. If nothing unexpected happens, Liu Ge'er will pursue a career in politics in the future, and having a father-in-law like Zhou Jijiu really makes people feel uneasy.
Xing Xing comforted her, "Then we'll have to wait and see, Second Auntie. At least Third Brother will like it, too."
This is true. Bai Xiaofeng nodded: "There is no rule in our Yu family to take concubines. Marrying a wife is to live a good life. I still want your third brother to marry someone he likes..."
Bai Xiaofeng couldn't help but mutter to herself again, "...It would be best if she has a clean family background, so that she can be helpful to him in the future. At the very least, she can't be a hindrance."
Xingxing suddenly exclaimed "Huh".
"What's the matter, Xing Xing?"
Xing Xing lifted the curtain with one hand, stuck her little head out of the carriage window, tried to look back, and said uncertainly: "I think I saw Fourth Brother just now?"
Just now, when the carriage passed by the restaurant, she glanced over and saw Gui Ge'er sitting in the restaurant with someone, talking about something.
But when I looked back now, I could no longer see anyone.
But when Xing Xing mentioned Gui Ge'er, Bai Xiaofeng started complaining again: "...I don't know what your fourth brother is doing outside every day. He is never home. It depends on fate to see him."
Xingxing recalled that her fourth brother Yu Yonggui had learned that she had been bullied by Yang Ruyuan, and he had come back to see her specially and told her that he would help her vent her anger.
Not long after, the prince got evidence that the second branch of the Yang family had committed illegal acts such as occupying land, and he started to make trouble for the Yang family.
You can't blame Xingxing for thinking too much, it's just such a coincidence in timing.
But there was no evidence for these, so Xingxing had to change the subject and talk to Bai Xiaofeng about Yu Yongliu's imperial examination.
"Second aunt, it seems that the results will be announced the day after tomorrow. When I was preparing wedding dowry for Sister Huya two days ago, I saw someone in the market opening a bet on the top three winners."
Bai Xiaofeng suddenly became interested: "Are there many people betting on your third brother?"
Xing Xing shook her head: "Not much."
Although Yu Yongliu only won the first place in the imperial examination, most of those who could enter the imperial examination were the best students from all over the country, and there were naturally some who won the first place in the imperial examination.
But there are only three people in the top three.
The competition is fierce.
Xingxing didn't have much silver notes at the time, but she still bet a full two thousand taels on her third brother to win the first place in the imperial examination.
The odds of winning the first prize in a single bet are not low to begin with, especially since Yu Yongliu has only been in Beijing for less than a year and is not very well-known, so the odds are even higher, at 80% to 1.
The person who opened the market at that time laughed at Xingxing, saying that the girl was so young but was playing such a big game.
Xingxing just raised her little chin to let him remember it.
Of course, there is no need to tell these details to Second Aunt. Xingxing feels that if she tells Second Aunt, Second Aunt will probably send her a banknote later.
When Bai Xiaofeng heard that there were not many people left to take care of her son, she snorted, "...they will definitely regret it when the time comes!"
Of course, having said that, Bai Xiaofeng herself was actually quite unsure.
Her son Liu Ge'er is very capable, but after all, the world is so big, and there are so many capable people in Beijing. No matter how confident she is in her son, she dare not dream of becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination.
The same was true for Mrs. Wei. Although she thought her third grandson was the god of literature, she didn't dare to think about becoming the top scholar.
She thinks it would be amazing if she could win the Contributor Award!
…
After the Yu family left, the wife of the chief priest held the teacup and asked her daughter beside her: "Are you satisfied?"
Miss Zhou lowered her head and smiled quietly without saying anything.
Mrs. Zhou then understood that her daughter was satisfied.
Yes, the daughter had secretly seen Yu Yongliu going to her father's study before. The young man was very handsome and the girl had already been attracted to him.
However, Mrs. Zhou was still somewhat dissatisfied.
"...Yu Yongliu's mother is a peasant after all," Madam Zhou frowned slightly, not quite satisfied, and sighed, "And his family, the eldest brother is a soldier, a reckless man, the second brother is even a businessman, it really tarnishes our scholarly family... But the remaining one, Fu Sui Xiangjun, is also deeply favored by the royal family."
Miss Zhou defended Yu Yongliu in a soft voice: "...But they are who they are. The Third Master Yu is the Third Master Yu. Father also said that the Third Master Yu is extremely talented and has a bright future."
Mrs. Zhou laughed and said, "My son is right. Let's wait for the results to be announced. If he passes the exam, that's good. If he fails, we can just invite him to dinner... so it's not our fault."
Miss Zhou responded softly, "Mother is right."