They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 100 The Bai Family is in a hurry
Upon hearing her husband say that he was going to kill a chicken again, Zhang's heart skipped a beat. Oh no—

On second thought, I couldn't let my beloved son suffer! They ate so well today, and if my beloved son didn't get to eat so well, he would really feel guilty.

Kill the chicken!
Although we killed a chicken just two days ago, we still have to kill this chicken today.

"Xu! Quickly boil water and kill a chicken!"

Madam Xu thought she had misheard and hurriedly ran out of the house: "What? Mother, what did you say?"

"Are you deaf? Boil water and kill the chicken!"

"That was just a couple of days ago—"

"Just go when I tell you to, stop with all the nonsense."

"Hey, hey."

Mrs. Xu muttered to herself, then quickly turned and left.

Let them kill it, as long as she gets some to eat. It's not like it's just her chicken; if her mother-in-law doesn't care, why should she?
"Sister-in-law, I'm here!"

Bai suddenly arrived, her face beaming with smiles.

Uncle Liang glanced at her and then walked away.

"Sister-in-law," Bai said, pulling Zhang aside to talk. They first chatted about the meal they had at Xu Zhichun's place that day.

With just a few subtle and skillful words, Zhang's face was filled with hostility, and her resentment towards Xu Zhichun and Liang Mingxuan surged.

Zhang scoffed, "What's so great about that!"

“She’s really something,” Bai said with a smile and a sigh. “Sister-in-law, you’ve seen it for yourself. Great-grandmother and great-grandfather, all the other clan elders and village elders, not to mention the village head and his wife, who isn’t completely under her thumb? And the village head’s youngest daughter-in-law and that Lin Zhu’er, I don’t know what kind of spell she cast on them, how much money she made them, they’re all so obedient to her. What’s even funnier is that silly girl from Liang Dong’s family, she just smiles like an idiot whenever she sees someone, she’s always following her around, and she helps her carry water, chop firewood, gather pig feed, and dig konjac every day, all in exchange for having lunch at her house—and not a single person in Liang Dong’s family has a bad word to say about it.”

"The Xu family is truly blessed!"

Zhang was even angrier, gritting her teeth: "Hmph!"

Good? Good my ass! No matter how good she is, she's just Liang Mingxuan's sister-in-law, not his mother.

Unlike me, I am the one who is lucky, being the mother of a child prodigy!

"Let her be smug. When Mingxuan grows up and gets married, he won't even remember her as his sister-in-law anymore, hmph!"

Bai cursed the idiot in his heart.

Wait for Mingxuan to grow up? When will that be?
Mingxuan is only ten years old!
Madam Bai smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, have you forgotten? Didn't we say we were going to let Madam Xu remarry? Once Mingxuan grows up, what chance will she have? Sister-in-law, have you kept a close eye on her?"

Bai added fuel to the fire: "Mingxuan is such a good student, he should be raised by our own family. He will have to acknowledge this kindness when he grows up, whether he wants to or not. It is our Liang family who should enjoy this blessing. Why should Xu Shi benefit from it? If you don't hurry up, in another year or two, I'm afraid Xu Shi will be reluctant to let go of Mingxuan's future filial piety and will be reluctant to marry him."

"Don't you find it an eyesore to see her every day?"

Zhang's face looked very unpleasant, and a strong sense of disgust arose within her.

How could she not find Xu Zhichun an eyesore? She must find him utterly repulsive!
It's all because of her foul mouth, her jinxed mouth.

If she hadn't kept saying those unlucky things that were bad omens, Mingxiang would clearly have done even better in the exam.

"My family has already made some progress, don't worry, we'll definitely find her a good family." Madam Bai was satisfied, but not entirely satisfied. She added, "She's remarried, so there's nothing to complain about. As long as the person is good, that's fine. Being older, a stepmother, or from an ordinary family—I don't think those are problems. She's so capable; she'll naturally make a good life for herself after she marries into the family. A family can't function without a woman, or only a man and no woman. Once they're a good match, life will gradually get better."

Ms. Zhang thought it made sense and nodded, "You're right."

Madam Bai smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, please keep a close eye on things. I'm waiting for your good news."

"to make."

Uncle Liang originally planned to host two or three tables for Liang Lizheng and the village elders tomorrow, but after having a meal at Xu Zhichun's house today, he knew that his own meal tomorrow would definitely not be as good as theirs.

The contrast between the front and back feet would be absolutely horrific, something he absolutely could not accept.

Then we can only postpone it for a few days.

But for such celebrations, the sooner the better, as the earlier the better; the later the celebration, the more auspicious it is. The longer it is delayed, the more the joy dissipates.

Uncle Liang became depressed again, wishing he had done it first.

That Xu family member didn't know how to be humble.

Unexpectedly, two days later, Magistrate Lu hosted a banquet at the county government office to entertain all the successful candidates, as well as many local gentry, celebrities, and outstanding scholars.

The yamen runners personally went to the countryside to deliver invitations to the students.

Uncle Liang and his family were overjoyed. Although they couldn't read, they took turns looking at the bright red and gold invitation as if it were a treasure.

Liang Mingxiang was also pleased, but as he looked at the invitation, he remembered that Liang Mingxuan also had one. And at the banquet, Liang Mingxuan's third place would definitely attract more attention than his own, whose ranking was unknown; perhaps even the county magistrate would personally greet him.
Liang Mingxiang's mood instantly soured again.

"We'll rent an oxcart ourselves tomorrow; I don't want to go with them."

Zhang was taken aback: "Huh? This—"

"Alright, alright, we'll go ourselves and not get involved with them!"

Uncle Liang glared at Zhang Shi and quickly agreed to his youngest son's request, sending everyone else away. He comforted him, saying, "Mingxiang, you are the best one in your parents' eyes. I think Liang Mingxuan is just lucky. When it comes to studying hard and having solid knowledge, how can he compare to you?"

"What's this? It's still early. You'll definitely do better than him in the future."

Liang Mingxiang felt a little better and hummed in agreement.

Xu Zhichun and Liang Mingxuan were equally delighted. Xu Zhichun quickly gave the two constables two small red envelopes containing a little over one qian of silver as a reward for their hard work.

The two were overjoyed. They took the red envelopes and pressed them lightly with their thumbs, knowing that they contained silver rather than copper coins. Their smiles deepened, and they showered each other with congratulatory words.

This wasn't the first time they'd offered congratulations. When they talked about it with their colleagues in the government office, they found that everyone's situation was pretty much the same. In the countryside, it was considered good if a family was willing to give a reward of three or five copper coins; receiving ten or eight was a pleasant surprise.

A family that can spend a tael of silver so readily must belong to a small landowner.

This young master Liang is so young, yet he has achieved such excellent results in the imperial examinations. He is also very refined and handsome. He is sure to have a bright future!
His family is well-off.

Ah, I'm so envious.

But with such a generous family, it's no wonder they're successful and have a bright future.
Chapter 100! Just checking in.
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(End of this chapter)