Today is the day when the provincial examination results are announced.
The entire town is engulfed in a wave of agitation, not only among the students but also among the common folks. There are all sorts of rumors about who’s rich young master passed the exam, and which poor scholar turned his fate around. Ever since the results were announced, the talk of the town hasn’t ceased.
Yang Luo Bay also had its share of excitement as everyone was eager to find out if their only scholar, Gao Zhiru, had passed.
"Hey, did he pass? Did he pass?" an old granny eagerly asked.
Jin Bao shook his head and said, "Not yet. My father went to the town today to see the results. He read from top to bottom and didn’t find Gao Zhiru’s name. It seems he fell short."
"Huh! I told you he’s a good-for-nothing. How could someone like him pass the scholar exam?" The granny spat, "But now, he’s completely disappeared, I don’t know where he is hiding. When he gets back, we should let Li Zheng dip him in the pig-dipping cage!"
Originally, Li Zheng had ordered to hide this scandal because he was the village’s only scholar and his passing the examination would bring honor to the village. But now, since he’s failed, there’s nothing to worry about. He has lost his protection, and it’s natural to deal with him according to village rules!
"Exactly! Everyone treated him like he was something special. Passing the scholar examination isn’t a piece of cake. It was only Wang Er Ya and Ji Xiulan who treated him like a treasure. I never cared for such people. Just wait and see, if he dares to return, we of Yang Luo Bay won’t let him off for tarnishing our village’s reputation and causing such a disgraceful incident. Does he still have the face to live?"
"Psh, Wang Er Ya at least knows shame, she’s been hiding at home since the incident and hasn’t dared to step out even half a step. But that Ji Xiulan, she’s probably still dreaming of becoming an official’s wife." A woman sneered.
"I wonder if she has found out about Gao Zhiru’s exam result. That girl always looks down upon us. I really want to see her face now."
——
At this moment, gloomy was the atmosphere in the main room of the Ji family.
Ji Xiulan was crying her heart out, "Now everything’s over. I had some faint hopes, but now there’s not even a glimmer of hope left. He’s just a poor scholar, a failure! What am I to do with my life?"
Lady Ding was also furious. Just a few days ago, she received a shock from Ji Xinhe, and today she heard this devastating news. All her hopes were pinned on Gao Zhiru!
Ji Dashan sighed and said, "Forget it, Xiulan isn’t young anymore. We should arrange for her to marry into a decent family as soon as possible. This delay isn’t good."
After the New Year, Ji Xiulan would be seventeen. In the countryside, there weren’t many girls who would still be unmarried at this age!
But Ji Xiulan sobbed, "I don’t want to marry some country bumpkin! I want to be a noble wife!"
Lady Ding scolded, "Is my daughter so low that she has to marry a manual labourer? I want to live the latter half of my life comfortably after she marries into a good family. But look at you, always hoping that your daughter won’t have a good life."
"What are you talking about...It’s just that Xiulan can’t afford to delay anymore!" Ji Dashan was very anxious.
Upon hearing this, Lady Ding felt desolate. Ji Xiulan was not young anymore and she really couldn’t delay any longer. Especially with her relationship with Gao Zhiru known to all. If she can’t marry Gao Zhiru, her reputation will be ruined.
Lady Ding sat despondently on the bed with a grey face, "What a disaster!"
If she had known this would happen, she should not have pinned all her hopes on Gao Zhiru! Is a worthless man like him even worthy?
Just as the atmosphere in the room was turning gloomy, a sharp voice came from the courtyard. "Cuiyun, Cuiyun! Your mother is here to see you!"
Lady Ding was stunned for a moment. As she opened the door, she saw her mother Jin Shi and her sister-in-law Peng Shi standing at the door.
"Why are you all here?" Lady Ding was a little confused. Two months ago, her parents had broken off relations with her.
In order to jointly ruin Ji Dong at the iron mine, their plan fell through and they had to compensate ten taels of silver. This caused a dispute between Lady Ding and her parents over who should pay the compensation, resulting in a complete breakdown in relations.
She remembered her mother Jin Shi declaring at that time, ’in this lifetime there’s no daughter of mine’.
So why had they shown up today?
Jin Shi smiled affectionately and took Lady Ding’s hand, "Are you still angry with your mother? After all, you are my own daughter. How could I truly abandon you? See, I have come especially to see you today!"
Lady Ding looked at Jin Shi suspiciously but didn’t refuse her. Especially because her current situation was difficult and the Ji family had run out of money. If she could borrow some money from her maternal home, it would be excellent.
With this thought in mind, Lady Ding quickly welcomed them warmly. "Mother, why would I be angry with you? Please have a seat!"
Ji Dashan quickly served them hot water. Jin Shi paid normally little attention to the good-for-nothing Ji Dashan. But today, she unusually showed concern for him and asked about his well-being. "You look like you’ve lost weight, Dashan. You should eat well and take care of yourself. Times have changed now, you should enjoy the blessings of your descendants."
These words sounded strange, leaving Lady Ding and Ji Xiulan exchanging baffled glances.
Ji Dashan, even more confused, awkwardly laughed, "I’ve been working hard in town these days, so it has been a bit tough."
Jin Shi seemed surprised, "Working hard in town? Is your family short of money? Don’t try and deceive me. Your family has opened a shop in town. I heard the pickle business is going very well, and you’ve started selling alcohol too. You’re even planning to build a new house!"
At that point, Lady Ding understood Jin Shi’s intentions. She thought their family had become rich.
Ji Dashan turned red with embarrassment and guilt, "That... that is the money earned by the children, not me..."
Jin Shi raised her voice, "Isn’t the money earned by the children your money! After all, you are their father. If they’re earning, how can they not give you any money!?"
When Lady Ding heard this, she ground her teeth, "Mother, please stop talking about it. Those ungrateful brats aren’t giving us a single penny. They’re really wicked. We’ve tried every method, soft and hard, but nothing works. Especially that Ji Xinhe, she’s really frightening when she gets angry. This useless Dashan is even afraid of his own daughter!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Dashan was even more ashamed, and he wished he could bury his head into the ground.
After a moment of silence, Jin Shi finally understood that the money Ji Xinhe was making had nothing to do with their old Ji family!?
At this, Jin Shi couldn’t help but scold Lady Ding, "Who asked you to mistreat them so much before? Now that they’re rich, they aren’t giving you a single penny. What a fool you are for giving birth to!"
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