Jiang Yao's face turned pale instantly.
She knew, of course, that Pei Yanzhi had a title to inherit; she was simply unwilling to let Old Madam Pei live.
As long as Madam Pei is alive, the old Marquis doesn't need to go home to observe mourning, and the Marquis's mansion remains the powerful and influential mansion it once was.
So, would Pei Yanzhi cheat in the imperial examinations again, just like in his previous life, and implicate the old lady's family, the Grand Secretary Yun, in retiring to his hometown?
Thinking about these things, she felt a little uneasy, but quickly relaxed.
First of all, the imperial examinations are for next year, and things are ever-changing; who knows what changes might occur next year?
Besides, as long as her son Yulang becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination and enters officialdom through literature, what difference does it make if Pei Yanzhi inherits the title?
Peace reigns throughout the land, and tranquility reigns on the borders.
In times of peace and prosperity, the prospects of military officers are never as good as those of civil officials.
In the face of powerful ministers who wield real power, titles are utterly worthless.
With Pei Yanzhi losing his power, Jiang Shuwan naturally had to submit to him, the wife of the top scholar.
"What my elder sister says is true. I also said the same thing to Yulang, but he just wouldn't listen. He insisted that I also experience what it's like to be the wife of a top scholar. What should we do? My brother-in-law also wants to take the exam to become the top scholar. Isn't this like family fighting with family?"
"Second sister is joking. The capable should win. Why think so much? Besides, the spring examination is next year, and the autumn examination is just around the corner. Why don't we bet 50,000 taels of silver and see who ranks higher?"
"..."
Jiang Yao's smile vanished instantly.
In her memory, Pei Yanzhi had won first place in the autumn examination in her previous life. She didn't know if he had cheated, but she knew that Pei Lingyu had not taken the exam in her previous life.
Pei Lingyu has been studying diligently behind closed doors recently, and she naturally believes in his talent and ability.
However, he has only been studying for a short time, and it is still uncertain whether he can pass Pei Yanzhi's exam in the autumn.
She's not stupid; why would she bet with Jiang Shuwan on something she wasn't sure about?
Besides, the Earl's mansion is currently not well-off.
Jiang Shuwan can afford to lose, but she can't.
"Hehe, big sister is taking this too seriously. I was just saying. The imperial examination is a major event for scholars in our dynasty. How can it be used to set up a gambling game? Big sister, you must not say any more. If word gets out, we may be punished for a great disrespect."
Jiang Yao laughed it off, and Jiang Shuwan didn't dwell on the topic.
"Second sister, don't be nervous. I was just joking. I'm very poor right now, where would I get 50,000 taels?"
She's been using all the money she's earned lately to repair the perfume production line and buy land in the North to grow flowers, in preparation for making various perfumes next year.
She had enough money to cover her daily expenses, but if she were to take out 50,000 taels to gamble, it would be a bit tight.
"..."
Smash it!
You're saying you have no money? I thought you were really going to bet with me.
"Where is big sister going?"
Seeing Jiang Shuwan walk outside, Jiang Yao quickly followed.
"Just now, the head of the village sent someone to say that the villagers around the mountain village heard that we came to visit and brought us a lot of mountain products. I picked some to make soup for the old lady, and gave some to my mother and father. Mushrooms and mountain delicacies are most suitable for nourishing the body in autumn and winter."
"..."
What? You even thought of my mother?
Jiang Yao was so exasperated by Jiang Shuwan's thoughtfulness that she almost fell over. She grabbed Jiang Shuwan's arm and left, saying, "It's just some mountain delicacies. Just send a maid to choose them. Big sister is busy with household affairs all day long. It's not easy for her to come out for a while. She should relax a bit."
"..."
Going shopping and spending money is also a form of entertainment, isn't it?
Besides, I'm not used to you being so nice to me all of a sudden...
Jiang Shuwan was completely bewildered as Jiang Yao pulled her away. When the two of them arrived hand in hand at the lotus pond outside the manor, they saw Pei Yanzhi and Liu Yunyan admiring the flowers there.
The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green. The lotus pond in Lotus Village is the largest in this area, seemingly endless and extending all the way to the horizon.
Late September is the time to enjoy lotus flowers and lotus pods together.
Such a beautiful view is breathtaking even at first glance, let alone being there in person.
However, it's too embarrassing to go there now.
Jiang Yao, you really know how to enjoy a good show and never miss an opportunity to stir things up.
"Big sister, look..."
"I can't see, my eyesight is bad."
Jiang Shuwan refused twice, not caring who Pei Yanzhi was dating and admiring flowers here.
She wants to spend money.
She wants to shop, shop, shop!
A woman's happiness comes from shopping.
Turning around, Jiang Shuwan went to the back door, where many villagers and mountain dwellers were already waiting.
Living off the land, they have quite a few good products in their possession.
Mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and various wild game such as pheasants and ducks, all tied up with ropes and jumping around, looked very fresh. Jiang Shuwan bought them all.
Some of it will be added to the dishes tonight, and some will be air-dried to make cured meat.
"Thank you, young mistress."
The villagers hadn't met such a generous person in a long time. They stood and talked with Jiang Shuwan for a long time. When they heard that they were harvesting rice, Jiang Shuwan immediately thought of the delicious rice paddy fish.
Delicious and natural.
Most importantly, they sell it cheaply.
So Jiang Shuwan quickly sent people to go fishing with the villagers. Since she had nothing else to do, she also took Qingxing to watch the fun.
Rice that matures in late September or early October is a late-season rice variety. Due to seed and technical reasons, the harvest of late-season rice is generally poor, with only a few ears of rice on each seedling, and they are not very plump.
The villagers treated the grains as precious treasures while working in the fields, and some little children, no taller than their legs, followed behind the adults to pick up the fallen ears of grain.
No matter how much, even if it's just a small handful, I cherish it all.
"Miss, they look so strange!"
Qingxing shrank back in fear when she saw these children.
Jiang Shuwan shook her head and beckoned the children over.
The child immediately hid behind the adults in fear.
As soon as Jiang Shuwan arrived, the children saw them. Hearing that she was the young mistress of the Marquis's mansion, the adults were all trembling with fear, let alone the children, who all stared at Jiang Shuwan with wide eyes.
For a moment, Jiang Shuwan felt a stinging sensation; none of these dozen or so children had decent clothes.
His clothes were tattered, he was emaciated, his whole body was as thin as a bamboo pole, but his belly was bulging high.
This is ascites caused by long-term malnutrition.
"Come here, don't be afraid, I'll buy you some fish."
"I'll buy as many as you can catch."
As soon as Jiang Shuwan took out the copper coins, the children were no longer afraid. They stopped picking up the rice ears and rushed into the field to catch fish.
After exchanging the money with Jiang Shuwan, the adults and children smiled like sunflowers.
After buying the fish, Jiang Shuwan didn't rush to leave. She stayed a little longer and saw a woman with her hair tied up coming over to deliver food. Curious, she asked the village head next to her, "Are they eating dinner in the fields too?"
"That's right. Not just dinner, but lunch too. Although the late rice harvest is not good, it is still food. Now is the time when it is ripe. If we don't harvest it early, we will have nothing if it rains."
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