Mrs. Bai didn't care whether Madam Su allowed her to check the accounts or not. Since Master Su had asked her to take charge of these matters, she had to check. She had to find a way to pull Madam Su down. Madam Su seemed to do a good job on the surface, but because she was the one in charge here, it wasn't that easy.
"How can the prices in the capital be the same as those in small places?" Mrs. Su said this. She just didn't want Bai to check.
Mrs. Su didn't go overboard with her accounting, but if someone were to investigate, they'd likely find some issues. She even wrote that she'd bought some extra porcelain, but in reality, the porcelain didn't exist. If anyone questioned her, she'd just say it was broken.
"It's different," Bai said. "That's why we need to take a closer look to know. Sister, don't you agree?"
Mrs. Su didn't want to hear Bai call her sister. She felt disgusted, but she still had to keep smiling.
Mrs. Su didn't keep an eye on Mrs. Bai. Even if she noticed that the other party had charged an extra penny or two for an egg, so what? She made fewer bills for these small things. At most, she would get a few words from Mr. Su, and she could still say that she had someone buy the good ones.
Mrs. Su used other accounts for the large sums of money. Some things could be said to be broken, and some to be damaged, but it was impossible for everything to be broken.
Madam Su was wondering what Mr. Su would do if he was caught by the Bai family.
Bai sent someone to tell Su Qiuya that Master Su asked her to manage the household together with Madam Su, and if Su Qiuya needed anything, she could go back.
When Su Qiuya heard what the maid said, she knew that Bai was planning to fight with Madam Su.
This Bai Shi was originally used by Master Su as his wife. Su Qiuya thought that it was unlikely that Bai Shi would be willing to let Madam Su's son inherit those things. Bai Shi had done a lot of things in the past and helped Master Su a lot.
Originally, the Bai family could have stayed in the outskirts, but they came to the capital. This shows that the Bai family wanted to fight for it. If they hadn't fought, they could have stayed in their original place and not come to the capital.
"Thank her very much." Su Qiuya said.
Su Qiuya wanted to defeat Madam Su, but because she was married, she could not intervene in those matters. But the Bai family was different, as the Bai family was in the Su family.
At the Su family, Mrs. Su called her younger brother and told him to stop competing with Su Qiuya by selling low-priced dishes, and that it would be better to open the restaurant somewhere else.
"She has learned her lesson now and actually asked me directly for money to compensate for her losses." Madam Su gritted her teeth. Su Qiuya was obviously about to receive the money, but she still said that in front of Mr. Su, so Mr. Su let Bai Shi help her to manage the household.
Mrs. Su was used to managing the household alone and liked to manage the household alone. She didn't like Bai to help her manage the household.
"You, don't open that restaurant. If you continue, she will come to me for money." Mrs. Su said.
"Then let someone else drive it." An Hongkang said.
"As long as she finds out about you, it won't be any use." Madam Su said, "She is no longer the Su Qiuya she used to be. She is not so particular anymore and has become even more shameless."
Mrs. Su felt heartbroken whenever she thought of the money she gave to Su Qiuya.
"Then all our efforts were in vain, weren't they?" An Hongkang frowned. "If we don't open the restaurant, I'll be the one who suffers."
"Why, do you want me to compensate you too?" Madam Su looked at her brother. "Are you thinking that if your brother-in-law doesn't want me anymore, you'll be fine?"
Mrs. Su was very unhappy. She wanted to tell Mr. Su to let Su Qiuya compete in a legitimate business. But Su Qiuya said a low-priced home. Even if Mrs. Su did not do business outside, she could feel some problems.
This is also the reason why Mrs. Su did not say much in front of Mr. Su. She was afraid that the more she explained, the worse it would become.
"Your brother-in-law has been doing business outside for a long time, and he knows all these tricks. You can't hide them from him." Madam Su said, "I have been with him for so many years, and he still doesn't think it is impossible for me to be good to Su Qiuya."
Mr. Su has always been wary of Mrs. Su, which can be seen from the amount of money Mr. Su gives to the public every year.
Mrs. Su thought that Mr. Su was still in good health, so they still had to pay more attention.
"That little bitch from the Bai family used to do business with your brother-in-law," Madam Su said. "She's the housekeeper now, so she's bound to cause a lot of trouble. You'd better be quiet."
"Quiet, okay, quiet." An Hongkang said, "Then I'm at a loss?"
"What's wrong with that? You're just showing concern for your niece, understand?" Madam Su said, "Don't open that restaurant, open one somewhere else. If your brother-in-law finds out, he'll definitely think he's a good person."
Mrs. Su thought that she could not be suppressed by the Bai family. The most important thing for her now was to face the Bai family, not Su Qiuya.
Mrs. Bai must be thinking of joining forces with Su Qiuya, but Mrs. Su doesn't want these two to unite. If these two people unite, then I'm afraid it won't be so easy for me.
Time flies, He Xiyuan is going to take part in the scientific examination.
In October, the weather was already quite cold. Liu Yulian specially made two sets of clothes for He Xiyuan: a down jacket and a cotton coat, hoping that He Xiyuan would not be frozen during the scientific expedition.
"It's okay, we'll be out soon." He Xiyuan said. They had to stay in there for a few days during the scientific expedition, eating, drinking, defecating and urinating in there.
"I won't go to see you off tomorrow," Liu Yulian said. She was worried that if she went, He Xiyuan would be distracted. It would be better not to go. She would just come over to see you today. "Then I'll wait for you to come out."
"Okay, then wait for me to come out." He Xiyuan said.
Liu Yulian also made some dried meat and other things for He Xiyuan, which were more durable. He Xiyuan could eat them in the examination room. As for those with strong smells, they were difficult to prepare. Those people in there didn't have any hot food, and basically ate dry food.
Liu Yulian wanted to prepare some food that could be heated directly for He Xiyuan, just a small tool. But if those things gave off a smell and affected other people's scientific research, that would obviously not be a good idea.
The examination center also has regulations that these people are not allowed to bring anything with a strong smell, and this kind of heated food is obviously not allowed.
Liu Yulian did not prepare so many things for He Xiyuan, mainly some dry food and some bread.
"Pay more attention." Liu Yulian said.
"It's okay. I've had harder training before." He Xiyuan said with a smile, "It will be fine after this scientific expedition."
"This time?" Will he be able to pass the exam? Liu Yulian couldn't help but think so, but it was better for her not to think about these things. She had to believe in He Xiyuan. He Xiyuan was capable. He Xiyuan also passed the Imperial College by himself.
Liu Yulian stayed with He Xiyuan for a while before going to see Madam He. Since she was here, of course she had to see the old lady as well.
"You must have prepared a lot of things for him." Old Madam He said with a smile.
"Just some simple things," Liu Yulian replied, "not anything expensive."
"Your kindness is the most precious thing," said Madam He. "When he passes the exam, next year, you'll be of age, and you should get married soon."
Old Madam He wanted He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian to get married sooner, so He Xiyuan had to work harder. If He Xiyuan passed the exam, then they could go to the Jingning Marquis's Mansion to set a wedding date. If He Xiyuan failed, the Jingning Marquis's Mansion could still say they could wait and wait for He Xiyuan to take the exam again.
After all, many of the powerful people in the capital kept their daughters until they were seventeen or eighteen years old before marrying them off. They would first arrange marriages for their daughters and then wait.
Mrs. He thought that Liu Yulian was so capable and had good character, so they should let He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian get married as soon as possible. Only in this way, she would not have to worry about other little goblins seducing Liu Yulian.
"This..." Liu Yulian felt a little embarrassed. She didn't know what to do when the time came, whether to get married or not.
Seeing Liu Yulian like this, Mrs. He didn't say much. It was normal for a little girl to be shy. This showed that Liu Yulian still liked He Xiyuan very much. In this way, Mrs. He felt more at ease.
When Liu Yulian was about to return to Jingning Marquis' Mansion, He Xiyuan said he would send Liu Yulian back.
"Why are you here?" Liu Yulian asked.
"I'll see you off," He Xiyuan said. "I'm going to take part in the scientific examination in the next few days, so I may not be able to see you."
He Xiyuan thought that he wouldn't be able to see her in the next few days, so he decided to see her more often now.
"Don't stop me." He Xiyuan said, "Giving it a ride will help you relax a little."
"Okay then." Liu Yulian did not stop He Xiyuan.
He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian didn't say goodbye until they reached the gate of Jingning Marquis' Mansion. He Xiyuan watched Liu Yulian walk into Jingning Marquis' Mansion before he left.
When Liu Yulian came back, her mother smiled and asked, "Have you delivered the things?"
"Yes, I gave it to you." Liu Yulian said.
"Are you going tomorrow?" asked Liu's mother.
"No." Liu Yulian said, "I won't send him into the examination room. I'll go when he comes out."
"I thought you were going tomorrow too." Mother Liu didn't expect her little daughter to say she wouldn't go tomorrow.
"I originally wanted to go, but after thinking about it, I decided not to." Liu Yulian said, "I'm afraid it will affect him, so I told him to go when he gets out."
"Okay." said Liu's mother.
The next day, Liu Yulian got up early. She did not go to He Xiyuan, but just sat in the carriage and watched from a distance. In order to prevent He Xiyuan from seeing that the carriage she was sitting in was from the Jingning Marquis Mansion, Liu Yulian even asked someone to find another carriage.
The carriage did not stay for long. When Liu Yulian saw He Xiyuan, she asked the coachman to drive away.
Liu Yulian couldn't let the carriage stay here all the time. He Xiyuan was so smart, she was afraid that He Xiyuan would find her. When Liu Yulian covered the curtain of the carriage, He Xiyuan turned around, but he didn't see Liu Yulian. He thought he had to study hard for the exam so that he could see Sister Lian after the exam.
The imperial examination in the Daliang Dynasty took about three days from entry to exit.
When Liu Yulian returned home, she thought that He Xiyuan must do well in the exam. As long as He Xiyuan was not nervous, did not faint in the room, and did not encounter any other accidents, then it would be fine.
As for whether He Xiyuan can actually pass the exam, that is not that important.
Princess Zhaoyang knew that Liu Yulian was a little nervous, so she came over to talk to her.
"Don't worry, he will pass the exam." Princess Zhaoyang said.
"I'm not worried about whether he can pass the exam." Liu Yulian said, "If he doesn't pass, he can still take the exam later."
"But he wants to pass the exam so he can discuss your wedding date with his family next year," Princess Zhaoyang teased. "He wants to give you a better marriage."
"Sister-in-law." Liu Yulian was a little shy.
"Okay, don't be nervous," Princess Zhaoyang said. "He was admitted to the Imperial College on his own. Even though he went to the northwest, he didn't stop studying. He was prepared. Don't worry. If he doesn't pass, it definitely won't be because of you."
"Yeah." Liu Yulian nodded. She certainly understood this.
Another day, Liu's mother came to accompany Liu Yulian and said, "Don't be nervous, it will be fine soon."
On the last day, Liu Jia came again, "Auntie, let me talk to you."
"..." This made Liu Yulian helpless. She was really not that nervous. There was no need for more of these people to come.
"Aunt, are you going to make some delicious pastries in the next couple of days?" Liu Jia asked.
"Why in two days?" Liu Yulian reached out and gently pinched Liu Jia's face.
"If it's not in two days, then in a few days," Liu Jia said, "Is my future uncle going to pass the imperial examination? If he does, it will be a great joyous event. Wouldn't we have to prepare these things?"
Liu Yulian's mouth curled up slightly. Liu Jia is really good at talking.
"Then we'll talk about it in a few days." Liu Yulian said, "Do you want to go out with your aunt to see if your aunt...see if Brother Yuan has come out."
Liu Yulian almost said "your uncle" and was almost taken away by Liu Jia.
"No, I won't go." Liu Jia refused. "Mother and the others said that Auntie should go alone."
"..." Liu Yulian's mouth curled up slightly, and she decided to go by herself.
Outside the examination room, Liu Yulian was waiting. Fortunately, He Xiyuan came out before she had to wait for long.
Liu Yulian didn't know what to say when she saw He Xiyuan. Should she ask him how he did on the test? She thought to herself that she had never liked people asking her about her test scores.
"Let's go back first." Liu Yulian stepped forward.
"You should have done well in the exam." He Xiyuan said.
"That's good." Liu Yulian said.
"I want to marry you." He Xiyuan added, "I studied hard."
Liu Yulian's cheeks flushed slightly, "There are still people here."
"What's the big deal? There are two great joys in life: getting a place on the list of successful candidates and having a wedding night." He Xiyuan said.
"Let's go." Liu Yulian was shy. She didn't want to say this at this time.
However, Liu Yulian only went to the gate of the Chengguo Mansion and did not go in. He Xiyuan had just come out of the examination room and he still needed to tidy up. Liu Yulian just came to see He Xiyuan.
There were still palace examinations and other things to do later, so Liu Yulian didn't interfere much.
When the results were announced, Liu Yulian didn't go to see them, and someone came to her house and said that He Xiyuan had won the third place.
"Tanhua?" Liu Yulian was very happy to hear this.
At Duke Chengguo's Mansion, Old Lady He felt relieved when she learned that He Xiyuan had passed the imperial examination and won the third place.
"It's a good thing." Old Madam He said with a smile, "It's better than I thought. I originally thought that as long as he passed the imperial examination, I, an old woman, could go to the Marquis of Jingning's mansion to set a date for their wedding."
Just as He Xiyuan was about to enter the house, he heard what Madam He said. He couldn't help but think that it was a good thing that he had passed the exam. If he hadn't passed, Madam He would have said a lot about him.
He Xiyuan's third place was chosen by the emperor himself, not out of respect for him, but because his writing was indeed very good. However, the first place could not be given to He Xiyuan because he was too young.
In addition, He Xiyuan's fiancée was Princess Rongning, the director of the Academy, so the emperor did not consider giving He Xiyuan the position of the top scholar. Even if He Xiyuan and Princess Rongning were not engaged, the emperor would not have allowed He Xiyuan to become the top scholar.
He Xiyuan is the prince's cousin. It would not be a good thing to praise He Xiyuan too much.
Therefore, just take the third place.
Besides, in previous years, the emperor would specially appoint young sons from powerful families as the third place winner. So when many people think of the third place winner, they think of young and handsome sons.
The emperor also personally met with the top-ranking officials, but only exchanged a few words. Those people were even paraded through the streets, but He Xiyuan didn't join the parade. He went to find Liu Yulian instead.
Then, He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian sat together in the restaurant and watched the top two candidates parade through the streets.
"Why not go?" Liu Yulian asked.
"Look," He Xiyuan said, "Do you want those people to throw flowers, handkerchiefs, and purses at me?"
“…” Liu Yulian looked towards the street and saw that someone was indeed throwing things.
"Whether they're married or engaged, they all like to throw it like this," He Xiyuan said. "It's like a custom."
"Is that so?" Liu Yulian thought that those women were attracted to those men.
"I'm just joining in the fun." He Xiyuan said, "But I don't want to join in the fun."
He Xiyuan wanted to spend more time with Liu Yulian, and he looked at her with burning eyes.
"I want to sit here, in front of you." He Xiyuan said.
"Okay, I got it." Liu Yulian said.
When Liu Yuqin learned that He Xiyuan had passed the imperial examination and ranked third, she felt that Liu Yulian was really lucky. She originally thought that since He Xiyuan could not become the prince of the Duke's Mansion, then Liu Yulian could not become the prince's wife, but Liu Yulian still became the director of the academy, and He Xiyuan also passed the imperial examination and ranked third.
Why is God so unfair? Why does God give all the good things to Liu Yulian?
"Second brother, you should also take the imperial examination." When Liu Yuqin saw Liu Yanbo coming to her side, she said to him, "Don't give up taking the exam just because you failed before. You still have to keep taking it."
Liu Yanbo came here mainly to help Liu Yuqin sort out some things, as she was about to get married. Since the Jingning Marquisate didn't provide much support for Liu Yuqin, and Liu Yanbo didn't think it was necessary for them to help her, he came here more often.
If he didn't come over, Aunt Qing would run over and scold him.
"You are a scholar now, and you will become a juren and then a jinshi in the future." Liu Yuqin said, "Liu Yulian's fiancé was able to pass the imperial examination and become a tanhua (three-place scholar). You can definitely do it too."
"..." Liu Yanbo didn't know what to say. He was not that smart at all. Could these people please stop saying such stupid things?
Don’t think that if others can pass the exam easily, then he can too. He simply can’t do it.
Liu Yanbo clearly understood his own strength, and he was too lazy to pay attention to Liu Yuqin's words.
"I'm talking to you, why aren't you saying anything?" Liu Yuqin said.
"Let's leave it at that for today. I'll go back first." Liu Yanbo said.
Liu Yanbo didn't want to stay and listen to Liu Yuqin's words. He didn't take the imperial examination, so what? It was his own choice. Even if he was a scholar, he had other things to do. He didn't have to pass the imperial examination to be a Jinshi.
There are so many people in this world who fail to get into college.
When Su Qiuya saw Liu Yanbo's face coming back not looking good, she wondered, "Did my second sister give you a hard time?"
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