How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Summer was gone, autumn was here, and the Autumn Examination was about to begin. However, Zhang Zhou had become more relaxed than before, no longer staying cooped up in his study. Instead, he went out more often.

With her children preparing for exams, Dong Xiaohuan became visibly anxious. She restrained Wang Qiuyu from making any noise, and even nagging Xiao An when she cried. She returned home early every afternoon to prepare dinner with Xia Chu. She even considered going to the pharmacy to find some herbal recipes, but Xia Chu stopped her.

"It's best not to eat anything you haven't eaten before the exam. If you eat it and feel unwell, it will affect your exam, which is not worth it." Xia Chu knew her mood and comforted her in a gentle voice, "Just eat as usual. We usually eat well."

"Oh, you are really thoughtful." Dong Xiaohuan was glad that Xia Chu was there to remind her. It would be terrible if she got an upset stomach and missed the exam.

"Mom, don't be too nervous." Xia Chu advised, "Second brother is so smart, there's nothing to worry about. If you do this, he will feel a lot of pressure. Let's just carry on as usual."

"You have a point," Dong Xiaohuan came to her senses and smiled again, "I was obsessed."

"You can't say that. A mother can't help but worry about her children. This shows that she is very good to us." In order to ease Xia Chu's emotions, Guyi said, "Mom hasn't cared about me recently. I'm jealous." After saying that, she couldn't help laughing.

"Oh," Dong Xiaohuan looked at her pouting and acting like a spoiled brat, and recalled her soft and chubby appearance as a child. She didn't like to act like a spoiled brat then, but after she grew up, she always pretended to act like this to make her happy. Seeing this, people felt soft in their hearts, and wanted to obey her in everything. "Mom loves you the most. I'll make you whatever you want to eat later."

"I'm craving fried fish! I'll make it tomorrow if I can find some." Xia Chu was already craving it. Dong Xiaohuan was a master at it, always frying it to perfection. Even the large bones were fried until crispy, so you can eat the whole thing without irritating your throat.

"Okay, I'll go to the market early tomorrow morning." Dong Xiaohuan touched her hair and smiled more kindly.

The ninth day of the eighth lunar month arrived quickly. Dong Xiaohuan had barely slept, getting up in the middle of the night to light a lamp and cook. Afraid of disturbing Zhang Zhou, she moved quietly, stealthily like a thief. She thought she'd let Zhang Zhou sleep a little longer and wake him up later. But Zhang Zhou was already up when the time was almost up. He had packed everything he needed to take to the exam the day before, and after washing up, he checked everything again to make sure nothing was missing.

After he started eating breakfast, Dong Xiaohuan and Xia Chu took turns checking things again.

Dong Xiaohuan couldn't help muttering, "It's been a bit cold these past two days. I don't know if this single layer of clothing is enough. What if I catch a cold... Ugh, Ugh, Ugh, the bad ones don't work, but the good ones do."

Xia Chu cut the steamed buns into small pieces to prevent the examiners from breaking them up during the inspection. She didn't know if her hands were clean. She also added some pork jerky, which was more filling than steamed buns. She also added some ginger slices to help with energy and eliminate odor. If she was unlucky enough to be assigned to a toilet, she'd pinch some and rub it under her nose to make her feel better.

Wang Yong was full and looked at the sky. "Let's go."

The academy was on holiday these days, so Guan Xu had nothing to do at home. He got up early this morning as well, and went with his father to see his brother off. The three of them went out, lanterns in hand. There were many other people on the street carrying lanterns like them. Most of the candidates were out at this time, and by the time they reached the examination hall, it was barely light.

Dong Xiaohuan and Xia Chu didn't go. Zhang Zhou knew his mother probably hadn't slept yet, so he asked her to stay home and catch up on some sleep. Dong Xiaohuan couldn't sleep, and she couldn't sit still. She paced around the room, clapping her hands for a while, "No, I have to go watch outside the exam room."

"Mom," Xia Chu held her back, "One performance lasts three days. Are you going to stand outside for three days?"

"It won't work if no one is watching. What if...what if..." What if something happens and I come out halfway and there's no one outside? Dong Xiaohuan clapped her hands, not daring to say anything.

"I'll borrow two servants and wait outside the examination room." Xia Chu pulled her back to the room. "You haven't slept all night, you can't stay up any longer. Go get some sleep. Second brother is fine. Dad has been taking him to practice boxing recently, and he's in good health."

"Oh, I just can't let it go." Dong Xiaohuan covered her chest, always worried that something bad would happen.

Xia Chu didn't let her do what she wanted and forced her onto the bed. She picked up the pipa and played a simple and repetitive tune. Dong Xiaohuan kept tossing and turning with her eyes open at first, but after a while she slowly fell asleep.

She quietly exited and closed the door. Guan Xu hadn't returned yet, so Wang Yong would go straight to the government office. Wang Qiuyu hadn't gotten up yet. He was young and sleepy, so it wasn't easy to wake him. Xia Chu peeked out the window for a while, sleeping like a pig.

She had said she would borrow a servant, but it was still too early. But she didn't dare to go to bed, for fear of oversleeping. She collected the dishes and washed them, and cleaned the kitchen. When the sky brightened, Wang Qiuyu rubbed her eyes and found the kitchen. "Sister, I'm hungry.

"I've got the porridge warming up for you." She'd cooked porridge that morning and made a few egg and vegetable pancakes. The pancakes were gone, but there was still some batter left. Xia Chu used up the batter and made three more.

Wang Qiuyu ate his bread and porridge with pickles and burped. He scratched his stomach and asked, "Hey, has my second brother already left?"

"Yes, Mom has gone to bed. I'm going out for a while. You can read a book at home and don't wake Mom up, okay?" Xia Chu washed his bowl.

"Okay." Wang Qiuyu nodded. Although he had a lively personality, he was obedient and sensible most of the time.

Xia Chu was about to leave for Jia Qingwu when Jia Qingwu came over anyway. "Mom, why are you here?"

"Didn't Zhang Zhou say he was going to take part in the provincial examination? It was too early so I didn't come. I just sent two servants to guard the door. Are you going out?" Jia Qingwu said with a smile.

Did they think of the same thing? Xia Chu smiled and said, "My mother has gone to bed, and I was just thinking of asking you to borrow two servants to wait outside the examination hall."

"We thought of the same thing." Jia Qingwu didn't even go in. She had to go to the shop soon. "I've already sent someone over. I have something to do and need to go to the shop."

"Okay, goodbye, Mom." Xia Chu waved.

Jia Qingwu smiled and shook her head, then turned around and got back into the carriage.

Dong Xiaohuan slept until noon, and Guan Xu also returned from the examination room. He stayed there the whole time, worried that something might happen to his second brother.

"I didn't sleep very well," Dong Xiaohuan rubbed her forehead. After all, she was not young anymore. Staying up all night was not very comfortable, and catching up on sleep only made it a little better.

"Do you want to go to the clinic?" Xia Chu asked with concern.

"Forget it, I'll be fine tomorrow." Dong Xiaohuan had a headache and a poor appetite. After eating, she sat for a while, and Xia Chu persuaded her to lie down for a while.

After being helped by her daughter to take off her coat and tuck in the quilt, Dong Xiaohuan smiled and sighed, "I'm old and my body is no longer useful."

"I don't like to hear that. Mom is still young." Xia Chu held her hand. "Mom is not even forty yet, how can she be old? When Mom and I go out together, people still say you are my sister."

Who doesn't like to hear others praise their youth? Dong Xiaohuan smiled and patted her daughter's hand, feeling warm and sweet in her heart.