This was Jiang Xiaodie's first time visiting her third aunt's house, and she was immediately overwhelmed by the sights.
"Clatter, clatter~"
The goose, which seemed to understand human nature, stretched its neck back into its feathers and remained motionless after being tapped on the head a few times by its aunt. It looked extremely pitiful.
"Woof woof woof~"
The white dog kept sniffing around her, and just when she was a little afraid of being bitten, it unexpectedly left and squatted down at her aunt's feet, being extremely well-behaved.
"Aunt and cousin-in-law are here! Please come in and have a seat!"
Her gentle and kind cousin and sister-in-law came out of the house and invited her and her mother-in-law to come in and sit down.
"Hey, you're pregnant, walk slowly and don't stumble or bump into anything."
Da Zhou handed the basket she was carrying to her third sister-in-law, then lovingly helped Da Xue up, carefully examining her niece-in-law's belly.
Perhaps because of the heavy snow, she has lost some weight, and her belly is not showing much yet.
"Auntie, you're just like my mother! She keeps a close eye on me at home and won't let me do anything..."
Da Xue was both amused and exasperated; she was being given special treatment by her elders again!
Of course, while I say that, I truly remember my mother-in-law's kindness.
“Your mother-in-law cares about you. You should listen to her; it’s never wrong.”
Da Zhou helped her niece-in-law into the house and sat her down, then invited her own daughter-in-law to sit next to her.
We're all family, no need for so many formalities. It's not like we're dealing with strangers, so there's no need for such rules and regulations!
"Sister-in-law, when is the family going to hold a spring outing festival? If so, I'll ask Qingshan, Qingsong, Yaoyao, and the other two siblings to make time to properly pay their respects to Sanlang."
When Jiang Yue saw the white candle, she immediately realized what was going on.
The Tomb-Sweeping Day is coming soon, similar to the modern Qingming Festival, when people pay respects to their ancestors and relatives.
When she first transmigrated last year, both the old house and her own home were dirt poor, so she didn't put in much effort.
This year, our family has finally turned our fortunes around; it would be fitting to properly commemorate this occasion.
"My parents are planning to go to pay their respects in a couple of days. I heard them mention Qingyun, so I guess they want to wait for him to come back."
Da Zhou guessed that regardless of whether Qingyun passed the exam or not, it was time for him to go home.
The whole family will be together then, offering incense to our ancestors and third brother...
“I’ve been counting down the days. Qingyun has been gone for half a month now, and there’s still no news. I’m getting anxious.”
Jiang Yue poured water for her sister-in-law and niece-in-law Xiao Die, then pulled up a stool and sat down.
Judging by the pace of Young Master Liu's carriage, Qingyun and Changjun should be back by now.
After accepting the teacup, Jiang Xiaodie thanked them. Seeing that her mother-in-law and third aunt were talking about other things, she found a topic to start a conversation with her cousin and sister-in-law.
"Knock knock knock~"
Suddenly, the sound of gongs and drums came from outside the courtyard.
The sound grew closer, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers, and then someone knocked on the door—
"Knock knock knock~"
"Great news!"
"Qingyun's mother, are you inside? Come out quickly!"
"Clatter, clatter~"
"Woof woof woof~"
The noise startled Big White and Little White.
In no time, geese flew and dogs barked in the front yard, making quite a scene!
"I'll go open the door. Daxue, you and Xiaodie just sit inside."
Jiang Yue shuddered, startled.
After getting up, he gave some instructions and gestured to his sister-in-law to help look after Da Xue before getting up to open the door...
"Squeak~"
"Bang bang bang~"
"Knock knock knock~"
As soon as the door opened, the deafening sound of gongs and drums filled the air.
Jiang Yue covered her ears and saw two bailiffs, looking like they were announcing good news, standing in front of the door with beaming smiles.
Looking at the beaming village chief and the villagers watching the spectacle, this...
For some reason, she felt a sense of relief.
It seems the third son passed the imperial examination and became a scholar!
"Officer, this is Madam Wu, Wu Qingyun's biological mother."
The village chief introduced the situation with a smile, while constantly winking at Jiang, signaling her to say a few polite words.
"So this is the mother of Wu, the top scholar in the county examination! You've raised a fine son!"
The bailiff who said this subtly sized up the very young woman in front of him. You should know that her son was not only the top scorer in the county examination, the prefectural examination, but also the top scorer in the provincial examination!
Xiao Sanyuan, it has been sixty years since Tianyao Kingdom has had a person with such talent!
"My brother and I are here to deliver the good news as usual. The one who ranked first in the county examination has no major problems and does not need to take the provincial examination. He can continue his studies as usual and obtain the title of Xiucai."
Another constable, seeing that the woman seemed overjoyed and somewhat bewildered, waved the victory report written on red paper in his hand and patiently explained.
After passing the imperial examination at the county level, one could stand and speak with the county magistrate, be exempt from corvée labor, and be spared from torture.
However, an exam must be taken every year, and those who fail may be reprimanded, warned, or expelled!
Jiang Yue got the gist of it and, seeing the eager looks in the eyes of the two constables, immediately understood.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out two coins. As he received the good news, he secretly slipped them to the two constables.
He said politely:
"Thank you so much, gentlemen, for making the trip. This is just a small token of our appreciation."
The two constables weighed the loose silver in their hands, exchanged a glance, and sighed inwardly. They were impressed by the two taels of silver they had just given away. They were so generous. No wonder they were able to raise a scholar who had achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations!
"Aunt Jiang, you're too kind. Now that our mission is complete, it's time to move on to the next house. I wonder if this village chief could take us to Wu Changjun's house to share the good news?"
The constables clasped their hands in greeting, and then, not forgetting the other piece of good news from their trip, came from another family.
"Changjun passed too? That's wonderful! I'll take you both to Changjun's house!"
The old village chief's beard trembled with excitement, and he forgot all about his cane, saying he would lead the way.
"Uncle, please slow down!"
Seeing this, Jiang Yue reminded her, and fortunately, as soon as she finished speaking, a villager very perceptive helped the elderly woman up...
After the commotion subsided, a pile of red paper at the door and the firecrackers that had been set off told her that everything that had just happened was not a dream.
The third child is quite promising; he passed the preliminary three-pass exam with top marks!
Although it will take several more years to pass the exams, and the Grand Three Passes are the stepping stone to becoming an official, even the Minor Three Passes are enough to cause a sensation in the surrounding villages!
Such a commotion naturally couldn't be kept secret from the three people inside the house.
Madam Zhou couldn't sit still any longer. She told her daughter-in-law to stay here and keep Daxue company so she could keep her company. She would go home first to tell her parents-in-law the good news that Qingyun had passed the imperial examination and become a scholar!
Seeing this, Jiang Yue thought it was good news for her in-laws in the old house, so she also handed the good news to her sister-in-law...
Inside the house, the heavy snow made it hard to sit still. Her third brother had passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, and it seemed that her brother had also passed!
My goodness, her grandparents and mother must be ecstatic to receive such good news at this moment!
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