The maid's road to success

In July, a hot summer day, An Wen Niang was sitting in a teahouse at the gate of the academy, embroidering purses while waiting for An Zizhong to finish school and go back to Anjia Village together. It was particularly hot today, and Wen Niang, bothered by mosquitoes, could not embroider in peace.

It was not yet time to end school when An Zizhong walked out of the academy with a gloomy face. Just as An Wenniang was about to ask him something, he pulled her arm and took her away.

"We'll talk about it when we get home."

An Wenniang sat on the ox cart, looking at An Zizhong who looked very depressed, and felt a little worried. Did something happen in the academy?

"what happened?"

An Zizhong returned home without saying a word. An Wenniang took out four copper coins to send them back to the family uncle. After thanking him, she trotted after them.

An Zizhong closed the door and looked at An Wenniang's worried eyes with a vicious look.

"My lord told me today that the emperor has passed away and the second prince has succeeded to the throne. This year's college entrance examination has been moved up so I can prepare early."

An Wen Niang stood there stiffly. It turned out that the Second Prince succeeded to the throne. The Queen and Duke Cheng En won in the end.

This was the worst news for them. The Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion had suffered a disaster, and the culprit was the Cheng'en Marquis Mansion. Their enemies had risen to power, and the remaining female members of the Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion were still suffering in the northwest. How could they not hate them?

"Then will we still take the imperial examination?"

An Wenniang looked at the hatred in An Zizhong's eyes and felt sad. God was so unfair that such a vicious person could become the emperor of the world. Huaiyuan Houfu was devoted to the country and was very kind, but he ended up with a tragic death.

"Test"

An Zizhong looked towards the east. What matter if the second prince succeeded to the throne now? As long as he was given a chance, even if he could not redress the Huaiyuan Marquis's grievances, he would get a chance to get close to Gong Qisu and take his life for revenge.

"Master, don't be impulsive. Our ancestors are still waiting for us in the northwest."

An Zizhong immediately regained his senses, covered his face with his hands and said nothing.

"Master, please don't be like this. The old ancestor said that the second prince is addicted to wine, meat and women, and he is not destined to live long. He is also cunning and cruel, mean to his brothers. Sooner or later, he will incur public wrath, and even if he ascends the throne, he will not be able to sit firmly on it."

An Zizhong knew that what she said were all the teachings of her ancestors, and he also knew that she was afraid that she would lose her mind and do something that she would regret.

He bent down and hugged An Wen Niang tightly. An Wen Niang's body stiffened and she wanted to push An Zi Zhong away, but was stopped by his begging.

"Let me hug you, please."

In the past few months, he had been struggling to stay alive day by day. He told himself every day that he must not let the people in Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion die in vain, but he was also a human being and he also had times when he was exhausted. Now he was enduring humiliation and living in a small county, while the thief had ascended to a high position and was holding the imperial power. How could he not be cruel, painful, and go crazy?

This was the first time that An Wenniang saw the Fourth Young Master like this. The once flamboyant and handsome young man, the later tough young master, the decadent An Zizhong, this was the first time she saw him look so powerless and miserable.

How heartbroken the old ancestor would be if he knew this, as this is the most carefree and unrestrained young master in the Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion.

"Mrs. Wen!"

At night, Wen Niang was worried that An Zizhong would do something stupid, so she brought a quilt to watch over An Zizhong. There was a quilt between the two of them. Wen Niang sat in the corner and looked at An Zizhong with his back to her.

It was just like when I first came to Anjia Village.

"Well, I'm here."

An Zizhong called Wen Niang softly, and Wen Niang also responded softly.

"Will you stay with me forever?"

Wen Niang did not agree. She knew that she would not stay with the Fourth Young Master forever. When the Fourth Young Master left behind an offspring, she might find someone to marry and raise the Fourth Young Master's offspring. Or, on the day when the Fourth Young Master successfully killed the thief, she might return to her ancestors and become a housekeeper. Or, she might be rewarded and marry into a good family.

After all, she will not always stay with the Fourth Young Master. Wen Niang knew that the Fourth Young Master was struggling alone now, and it was easy for him to become dependent on the people around him, but she could not lie to the Fourth Young Master, they were destined to be people of two different classes and two different worlds.

"I will always serve the Fourth Young Master and the Old Ancestor."

An Zizhong didn't hear the answer he wanted and closed his eyes. Ever since he was the fourth young master of the Marquis's Mansion, he knew that this girl would not follow any young master. He always liked the maids in front of the old ancestor, who knew when to advance and retreat, and were calm and docile.

A flower-like woman needs to be well cared for. In the past, he liked to give these girls small gifts, but he had never thought about the relationship between men and women. Suddenly, he encountered a disaster, and there was only such a thin girl by his side who insisted on guarding him. Obviously, she could take the money and leave him to live a carefree life, but she insisted on completing the ancestor's instructions and protecting him.

He is no longer the distinguished young master of the Marquis's Mansion. He can only live safely by relying on the name of her dead brother. But this girl is still afraid that he will suffer and feel uncomfortable.

Although, she still responded the same way, there was some pain in her heart spreading everywhere. It was summer, but it was so cold that he couldn't move.

On the second day, An Zizhong had packed his bags and was going to the provincial capital to take part in the academy examination. This time, the emperor passed away, and the new emperor would open a special examination. The academy examination and the provincial examination would be completed within a month. He had to rush to the provincial capital to prepare for the exam.

Fortunately, An Gu asked An Dashan to accompany her, so An Wen's mother could calm down and plan what to do next.

Their ancestors taught them that if they had people who were loyal to them, they should either instill in them the idea of ​​being a die-hard fan from a young age, or find those who were on the verge of collapse and urgently needed help.

She is the second type of person. The Fourth Young Master will take part in the metropolitan examination and the palace examination, and he will need capable people around him. She has enough time to find these people this month.

There are most such people in charity halls and dilapidated temples outside the city, but most of them are ruthless and cruel. If you want to transfer the useful ones, you have to observe them carefully.

An Wen Niang dressed up as a teenager and wandered around the county town every day. Finally, on the tenth day, she found a pair of siblings, A Lan and A Huang. Their biological mother had died, tortured to death by their stepmother. In order to avenge their biological mother, the two of them worked their stepmother to death with their own hands. They were beaten half to death by their biological father and thrown into the same illegal coal mine.

Fortunately, An Wenniang paid for it in advance before they were sent away.

"Alan and Ahuang thank you for saving our lives. Please give us a few days to do something. When we come back, our lives belong to you."

An Wenniang did not ask why they had this request, but she just felt that since she had chosen these two people, she should trust them.

After waiting for three days, the two men, covered in blood, took a small path to Anjia Village. Fortunately, A Lan was smart and chose to come at night to avoid the crowd.

"came back."

"Well, from now on, my sister and I are your benefactor's cattle and horses, and we will never betray you even if it means sacrificing our lives."

An Wenniang shook her head, looked at the two people kneeling on the ground, and told them.

"I am not your future master. The person you are going to serve is called An Zizhong, and he is my elder brother."

Ah Huang looked at An Wen's mother, feeling somewhat puzzled.

"Don't you ask us what we have been doing for the past three days?"

An Wenniang was watching them from outside. Although she guessed something, she was still a little curious.

"Oh? Then can you tell me what you did?"

A Lan glanced at A Huang and smiled.

"We went to kill our father and chopped him off with our own hands."

An Wen's mother was frightened by his words and expression. What did this mean? Killed his biological father?

"That bastard married my mother because he valued the power of the escort agency behind her. After my grandfather died, he bullied my mother in various ways and made her serve other men in exchange for power. My mother couldn't bear the humiliation and wanted to commit suicide. He compromised with that bitch and threatened my mother with my brother and sister. Finally, when my mother got a heart disease, he killed her with a knife. My brother and sister killed the bitch with our own hands. That bastard beat us to death and sent my sister and me to someone else's bed. After using us, he sold us to a black coal mine. Fortunately, our benefactor saved us and gave us the opportunity to kill him ourselves."

An Wenniang was a little afraid. Did she choose the wrong person? She chose the person according to the teachings of her ancestors and Sister Yulan. Unfortunately, she did not inquire about the many horrific things hidden behind. People who encounter these things will probably be greatly affected in their character, not to mention that they are so cruel.

"Brother, stop talking. You scared our benefactor."

Ah Huang was a girl, and she acted as if what had just happened had nothing to do with her. Apart from the hatred that occasionally flashed in her eyes, she was very indifferent to everything else.

"You, it's not convenient for you to stay here. Here are five taels of silver. Take it and go to the county town to find a place to recuperate. Then go to the prefectural city. Among the candidates for this college entrance examination, there is a man named An Zizhong. He is the person you will serve in the future."

An Wenniang took out the purse that she had prepared long ago, but she didn't dare to hand it to them directly. Instead, she threw it on the ground for them to pick up.

"The benefactor is not afraid that we will run away with the money."

An Wenniang waved her hand and told them to leave quickly.

"Since I chose you, I should trust you. If you run away, I can only blame myself for my poor eyesight."

Seeing that An Wenniang was really scared, the two of them quickly took their leave and quietly left the village.

An Wen's mother watched them walk away, quickly closed the doors and windows, and propped a stool against the door. She sat there in panic all night and went to bed in the early morning.

After two days of fear, I finally felt relieved when I didn't see them come back to do anything to me.

Now she still has more than two thousand taels of silver in her hand, but that is all saved for the Fourth Young Master to take the imperial examination. It is unknown how many years it will take for the young master to pass the exam and go to the capital, so she would not use the money if she can.

Wen Niang now sells only fifteen handkerchiefs to the county town every month. Even in a small county town, not many can be sold. Fortunately, Zhenpinju also has a shop in the provincial capital. Aunt Wang discussed with them about making some purses, which they would also buy. The provincial capital can sell another thirty or forty handkerchiefs a month.

However, An Wenniang also had to take care of An Zizhong's life. She didn't have the energy to embroider fifty handkerchiefs and ten purses a month.

After thinking it over, he agreed to re-sign the contract for twenty handkerchiefs a month, the amount of which was six purses. He could also earn three taels of silver, which was considered a high income in this small county town.

Wang was envious. Although Wen Niang was sold, she learned a good skill and earned more money than two men working together.

No wonder they dared to send someone to the academy. However, Wen Niang was generous in teaching Meihua, and her Meihua skills were much better than before.

She took Meihua's needle and thread and went out to find a matchmaker, and the family that came to introduce her was much better than before.

An Wenniang asked Wang's younger brother to inquire about An Zizhong's situation.

Three days later, Wang's younger brother came in person from the county town.

"If you ask me, the An family still has capable people. Zi Zhong went to the capital and just passed the first round of the Tongsheng exam. I heard that our Zi Zhong ranked first and is very likely to be the top scorer this year."

Wang looked at her brothers with a smile. No wonder her brothers, who were usually so busy, actually came in person to report the news. Usually they asked their nephews to run errands for them.

This is because he sees that An Zizhong will be a scholar in the future, so he comes to sell himself in advance.

"Thank you Uncle Wang for asking around. If my brother passes the exam and comes back, please remember to come to our house for dinner."

Wang Sanshun smiled and nodded.

"It should, it should."

He originally didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but his eldest sister insisted that he ask about it when purchasing goods. He asked in passing and found out that An Zizhong is now a popular candidate. He got the first place in the first exam. The prefect praised his essays and invited him to his home.

I heard that this is very likely to be this year's top candidate. The top candidate is the first among the scholars. Is that the same as ordinary scholars?