Chapter 358: There is involution even among brothers
Zhao Houjing almost choked to death after taking a sip of tea. "Cough cough" and then the whole room was filled with Zhao Houjing's uncontrollable coughing.
Zhao Houming, who was about to leave, was startled and immediately turned back to pat his brother on the back, "Is it really that exaggerated?"
Zhao Houjing finally stopped coughing and asked impatiently, "What? You're going to be out next year?"
Zhao Houming could only sit back down helplessly and patiently explain, "I am ten years old this year. I will take the exam for Tongsheng at eleven next year, the Xiucai at twelve, the Juren at thirteen, and then I want to try for the Jinshi exam that year at fourteen. If I fail, I will study hard for three years and try again at seventeen. If I fail at seventeen, I will try again at twenty.
If I leave it too late, and something unexpected happens, I'll be in a very passive position. I said I wanted to get the top scorer in the imperial examination, but I don't want her to wait too long."
Zhao Houjingjing listened to his brother's plan and thought it was a good idea. "Forget it, I'll take the exam with you next year! But I have very little time to study this year, so I hope I can still make it in time!"
Zhao Houjing hadn't read much that year, and he'd become quite restless. When he left, he was short of money, so he was either copying books to earn money or copying books to earn money. He'd gone to that man's place, and they'd fight with each other every day. On his way back, he'd been running for his life again.
"Brother, you should have more confidence in yourself. You have put a lot of effort into your studies over the years. You have a solid foundation! There is definitely time."
Zhao Houming reached out and patted Zhao Houjing on the shoulder, then turned around and walked away, leaving only his back to Zhao Houjing who was sitting in the room.
Although Zhao Houjing felt a little better after hearing his brother's affirmation, he still sat there for a while. He was struggling with whether to take the exam or not, but finally decided to take it!
He didn't want his second brother to go out and become an official while he was still studying hard in the mansion. Thinking of that scene, he felt uncomfortable all over. He could only stand up and go to the study room.
The next day, Zhao Houyang was surprised to find that his two brothers really never put down their books. Although they were still in the mansion, their hearts were in the books. As long as their mother was not chatting with them, they would never put down their books.
The only time he wasn't reading was when the four of them were tending their own vegetable plots. The rest of the time, he would even read while eating.
Zhao Lingmeng also discovered this, but since her two older sons didn't say anything, she didn't intervene. After all, in this era, a child in their teens is considered half the breadwinner of the family.
So Zhao Lingmeng learned to respect their decisions, and simply asked the people below to make the food better. He also reminded the people around them to send their masters to bed on time, and then let them go.
Zhao Houyang, on the other hand, was also driven to a state of urgency by his two brothers. For example, he would lie down beside them, enjoying the breeze and sunshine, and sleep, while his two brothers would read books beside him. Who else could sleep like that? In the end, he had no choice but to join them and start reading.
After that, the four of them often read books together in the same space. However, Zhao Lingmeng read the storybooks that Qiu Fang had sent to the mansion, while the three brothers Zhao Houjing were different. They read serious books.
But they all like this atmosphere of staying together while doing their own things. This is the feeling of home!
Zhao Lingmeng only took a day off during the journey to return to the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion with her three children to pay her respects to her parents. After that, she did not leave the house until the army returned to the capital.
This day was the day the army returned to the capital, and Zhao Lingmeng had specially booked a large private room at a street-side teahouse. He had brought Zhao Houjing and the other two to the room early to wait, to witness his second brother, Zhao Anwei, on this glorious day.
His father, Lord Zhao, and his mother, Madam Wei, were also there, but they weren't in the same box with Zhao Lingmeng and the others. The two elders were in the next box with their eldest and second brothers' children, as well as their eldest and second sisters-in-law.
Zhao Lingmeng didn't want to see Jin, nor did she want to hear her sarcastic remarks that would ruin her good mood. So she didn't go with her parents, but booked a private room for herself.
At this time, Wen Yuanhou and Zhao Anwei had not arrived yet, so Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houming took out the book again.
Zhao Houyang was sitting next to Zhao Lingmeng at this moment, looking at his two brothers with a look of despair, "Mom, please take care of these two. Do you think they can let us live?"
Zhao Lingmeng turned to look at her youngest son, who looked devastated, and patted his head comfortingly. "Your two brothers are probably ready to leave. You're still young, what are you competing with them for?"
"Ready to go?" Zhao Houyang was stunned. Wasn't his second brother only one year older than him? If he was going to go, what about himself?
Zhao Houyang resolutely did not want to believe this, "Big Brother, Second Brother"
Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houming didn't hear what their mother and brother said just now. When they heard their brother calling them, they both looked up at Zhao Houyang who was sitting opposite them in confusion.
Zhao Houming looked at Zhao Houyang's accusing face and was very puzzled. "Third brother, what did you just say?"
"Mom just said that you two should prepare to leave?" Zhao Houyang stared at Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houming without blinking after he said that.
Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houming nodded in the face of their younger brother's desperate gaze.
"Let's prepare to give it a try next year." Zhao Houjing nodded and added.
"Mom, look at my two brothers, they don't give us any chance to survive!" After Zhao Houyang wailed this, he lay on the table like a desperate puppy, with no desire to live.
Zhao Houming glanced at his mother across from him, then at his brother lying on the table. Puzzled, he closed the book in his hand and looked at Zhao Houyang seriously, "Doesn't this have anything to do with you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Houyang immediately raised his head and looked at his eldest and second brothers opposite him with a sad look, "No, second brother, although you are my second brother, you are only one year older than me! If you are going to end up like this, will my good days still last?"
After Zhao Houyang finished speaking, he lay down on the table again. When Zhao Lingmeng looked at her little son at this time, it was like looking at a child who hated studying in later generations. It was quite funny.
Zhao Lingmeng couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Originally, Zhao Houyang was just pretending to be pitiful, but when Zhao Lingmeng smiled, he was really a little embarrassed and angry, "Mom"
Zhao Houming patted Zhao Houyang's head with amusement, "You have two older brothers! Why are you panicking? Don't panic at all! You can take your time and finish for two years before taking the exam again."
"I won't." Zhao Houyang looked at the two brothers opposite him stubbornly. At this moment, a bold idea came into his mind. He wanted to pass the exam before his two brothers, and from then on, their title would be Zhao Houyang's brother.
But this thought only lasted for a moment. When Zhao Houming picked up the book at hand again, Zhao Houyang gave up completely. He kept comforting himself in his heart that he would not compete with these two monsters. He should just take it slow!
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