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

Xia Chu wanted to give it a try and see if anyone was willing to trade for wine. Not only did the girls in the garden introduce her, she also wrote a piece of paper with the introduction and had it posted at the door.

The first sentence is: "I have wine, do you have a story?"

However, no one was interested at the beginning, and Xia Chu didn't care.

Zhang Zhou wrote again, saying that the imperial examination was over. He was confident he would pass, but he was unsure of his ranking.

Dong Xiaohuan wiped away tears of joy and asked Guan Xu to write back to Zhang Zhou. "It's okay if you don't pass the exam. Jinshi is not just one in a million, and countless people fail. Zhang Zhou is still young, so you can take the exam again in three years. Our family's business is booming, so don't be stingy with money. You must take care of yourself, nothing else matters. Also, give your second brother two hundred taels of silver notes. He's very sensible and won't ask for money even if he really runs out."

"Okay." Guan Xu agreed one by one. After writing the letter, he read it again to Dong Xiaohuan and put it in the envelope after confirming that it was correct.

When Dong Xiaohuan took the money, she added another hundred taels. "Let's take three hundred taels, just in case it's not enough. I heard that everything in Beijing is expensive, more than two or three times more expensive than in Lin'an."

One day in May, two messengers came to the door.

No one was at home, and the neighbor's doorman didn't want to get involved, but when he saw that they were two officials and heard that the second son of the Wang family next door had passed the imperial examination, he immediately sent someone to inform the master of the house.

Even if they didn't usually interact, they lived so close to each other. If a Jinshi scholar appeared next door, it would be a great honor. When the neighbor's wife heard this, she quickly asked someone to invite the official in and sent someone to the braised food shop to tell Dong Xiaohuan the news.

Dong Xiaohuan was counting the accounts in the shop and almost tore up the account book when she heard this. She hurried back home and asked someone to call Wang Yong back.

This is a great event, and the family should set up an incense table to inform the ancestors.

All of the Wang family members who were outside were called back in. Dong Xiaohuan generously gave the two officials who announced the good news five taels of silver to each of them, and also invited them to tea and dinner.

However, the two officials only stood there and drank two sips of tea, refused the meal, and happily said auspicious words while holding the silver in their chests before leaving.

After the joint examination, there was the palace examination. Zhang Zhou ranked low, but becoming an official was a foregone conclusion.

Wang Yong was so happy that he didn't know what to do. He waved his hand and took his whole family to a restaurant for a meal.

"My second brother is going to be an official?" Wang Qiuyu asked ignorantly.

"Yes, I knew that my second brother could do it." Guan Xu said with a smile.

"Will second brother come back?" Xia Chu asked.

"After the palace examination is over and the rankings are determined, there should be a break, so I can come back." Guan Xu had only heard from the teacher that after passing the exam, there would be a three-month leave to return home. This allowed students to return home to announce the good news and pay respects to their ancestors before returning to Beijing. It depended on where they were assigned, but generally, they would be assigned to the Hanlin Academy.

The Wang family's residence was bustling again, but Dong Xiaohuan and Wang Yong were both busy, so no one was home during the day. So everyone came early in the morning, offering congratulations and gifts, and seeking connections. The threshold of the Wang family's house was lowered several inches.

Xia Chu packed up her things and went to Jia Qingwu's place. She couldn't stand it anymore. She never slept well in the morning again. At dawn, the knock on the door came.

Especially after hearing that Zhang Zhou hadn't yet decided on a marriage, matchmakers came to the shop every day, each one with several wives. They praised the girls to the skies, but Dong Xiaohuan, respecting her child's wishes, refused to agree to any of them. These matchmakers had found the shop again, and she was extremely annoyed, but her business remained unaffected.

When everyone heard that the son of this family had passed the imperial examination, they flocked to him, wanting to share in her family's joy and talent.

"I heard that this is the braised meat that the second son of the Wang family has been eating since he was a child. I must buy some home for my son to try. Maybe he will win too."

"Is this the shop where the son passed the imperial examination?"

"Sister-in-law, how do you raise your son? What does he like to eat? What books does he like to read?"

"I don't even dare to think about becoming a Jinshi, let alone a Xiucai."

After buying the meat, these people would surround Dong Xiaohuan and ask her all sorts of questions, from what kind of books she liked to read to what kind of clothes she liked to wear. Dong Xiaohuan was overwhelmed. Although her business was booming, she was almost unable to handle it. Every day, there were people who wanted to show off their talents, and there were also people who wanted to make connections with her even though they had never met her before.

"My family's last name is Wang too, maybe we're distant relatives?"

"When will your Jinshi return? Would you be so kind as to have dinner with me then?"

"Your master's name is Wang Yong, right? There was also a Wang Yong in my great aunt's village. He later moved to the city. Maybe we are relatives?"

"Boss, all the braised meat is sold out."

“The barbecue is gone too.”

"Close the shop! Go home!" Dong Xiaohuan yelled, forcing a smile. "Everything in the shop is sold out. If you still want to eat, come early tomorrow. We're closing, so please make way."

Dong Xiaohuan was followed and questioned even after leaving the shop. When she returned home, the other party even shamelessly tried to follow her in. Fortunately, Da'an and Xiao'an came out to greet her and scared the man away.

Guan Xu and Wang Qiuyu came back and found that Dong Xiaohuan had not started cooking yet. She was sitting in the living room with her hand on her forehead, looking tired.

"Mom, are you sick?" Wang Qiuyu approached nervously. He'd been in the spotlight lately. Everyone knew his brother had passed the imperial examination, and classmates who'd previously been hostile to him had become more polite. Those who'd been close to him, now receiving instructions from his family, were even more friendly.

"Do you want me to call a doctor? What's wrong with mom?" Guan Xu asked with concern.

"It's okay, it's okay, I'm just tired." Dong Xiaohuan waved her hand, and Cui Ya poured hot tea and placed it next to her.

Wang Yong had been harassed for the past few days, and even the county magistrate personally summoned him for questioning. When he returned home, he found his wife looking tired, and he squeezed her shoulder with empathy.

"Brother Yong, I want to close the shop for a few days." Dong Xiaohuan said, "The people who come here now are not serious about eating braised meat. The regular customers can't even squeeze in."

"Close it. Wait a few days until everyone's enthusiasm has died down and then go back." Wang Yong naturally did not disagree.

But when it came to closing the shop, Dong Xiaohuan hesitated again. The shop had been doing a booming business the past two days. Although they had other motives, they had made real money. She rubbed her forehead and said, "I'll think about it."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard someone knocking on the door. The voice sounded very familiar; it was the matchmaker who had come three times that day. Dong Xiaohuan was so scared that she stood up and ran back into the house. "Qiu Yu, go! Tell them that the adults are not home."

Wang Qiuyu was playing with Xiao An. He sighed when he heard this, rubbed Xiao An's neck and said, "It's time for us brothers to make our debut again. Let's go, Xiao An."

Just as the matchmaker was sent away, Xia Chu came back.

Yin Geyuan also did not escape the halo of "Jinshi Brother". Some people were too proud to squeeze in with the others at the braised meat shop, so they came to her.