Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

Sheng Chuliang chatted with Chen Lang for a while, mainly to help him analyze Nie Ziru's writing style.

Through Sheng Chuliang's explanation, Chen Lang basically understood Nie Ziru's preferences. In the next period of time, he just needed to continue working hard in this direction.

Before they knew it, almost an hour had passed and the housekeeper came to tell them that it was time to eat.

When he arrived at the dining room, Chen Lang found that Guoguo was still nestled in Mrs. Sheng's arms.

Guoguo has never felt the love from her grandmother's generation since she was a child. Mrs. Sheng lost her son in middle age, so she has never enjoyed the happiness of family.

So Guoguo and Madam Sheng can be said to be running towards each other.

After Chen Lang sat down, Madam Sheng said, "Xiao Lang, I want to adopt Guo Guo as my godson. What do you think?"

Chen Lang stood up hurriedly and bowed: "Master's wife, it is a blessing for Guoguo to recognize you as her godmother. I have no objection."

Madam Sheng nodded with relief: "That's good."

Then she tapped Guoguo's nose and said, "Guo'er, call me grandma from now on."

Guoguo called out "Grandma" in a sweet voice, which made Mrs. Sheng laugh out loud.

After laughing, Madam Sheng looked at Li Xiuzhi again and said, "Xiuzhi, you can call me godmother from now on."

Li Xiuzhi's eyes were filled with tears, and she choked up and shouted, "Godmother."

Guoguo has never felt the love of her grandmother, and she hasn't felt the love of her mother for a long time.

After spending a short period of time together, Mrs. Sheng gave her the feeling of a mother.

Madam Sheng looked at Chen Lang and said, "You... should just keep calling me Master's Wife."

Chen Lang smiled and said, "Student obeys your command."

Because Sheng Chuliang believed in not talking while eating, after the food was served, the whole family stopped talking and finished their meal in silence.

When the maid came to collect the dishes, Madam Sheng spoke again, saying, "Xiao Chen, before the palace examination, why don't you and your family just stay at the mansion?"

"This house is so quiet, and your teacher is such a taciturn person. I'm so bored that I'm almost going crazy."

Chen Lang thought for a moment and said, "Master's Wife, I still have some things to deal with at home. Once I'm done, I'll bring Xiuzhi and Guoguo to live here. Do you think that's okay?"

Sheng Chuliang asked: "Business matters?"

Chen Lang nodded.

"Then let's deal with it as soon as possible." Sheng Chuliang said: "Every day of delay means an increase in risk."

"If you want to do business, wait until you have power and influence. It's not too late to do it then."

After hearing this, Chen Lang felt a sudden increase in psychological pressure.

Because his original intention was to pass the imperial examination and be exempted from corvee labor, but Sheng Chuliang's words made it clear that he wanted him to continue on the path of the imperial examination and even hoped that he would eventually be listed on the imperial list.

Chen Lang didn't dare to imagine how angry Sheng Chuliang would be if he announced his retirement from writing after passing the imperial examination.

Forget it, let's take a step by step.

After leaving Sheng Mansion, Chen Lang went to Tianshangju and exchanged a handful of copper coins with them.

Then I went to the grocery store and bought a lot of red envelopes.

Guoguo blinked and asked, "Daddy, is the New Year coming soon?"

Chen Lang smiled and said, "No, it's still early for the New Year."

"Then why buy so many red envelopes?" Guoguo was puzzled.

Chen Lang said, "Dad got good grades in the exam, and he has to give away his wealth when he returns to the village. That's the rule."

Guoguo nodded, not quite understanding what he meant.

On the way back to the village, Li Xiuzhi started stuffing copper coins into the red envelopes, six copper coins in one red envelope, hoping for good luck.

After entering the village, I met a group of village women headed by Aunt Qi.

"Our village's scholar is back." Aunt Qi said with a smile: "Erlang, congratulations on making it to the top of the list!"

The other village women also congratulated them.

Li Xiuzhi immediately started giving out red envelopes one by one.

After receiving the red envelopes, the smiles on the village women's faces became even brighter.

The last time Chen Lang took the exam, he didn’t give a single penny when he came back.

Because of this, the villagers talked about it for a long time, saying that the Chen family did not know etiquette.

After taking the red envelope, Aunt Qi said, "Erlang, you won't blame the aunts, right?"

Chen Lang said, "What did Aunt Qi say? How could I blame the elders?"

Aunt Qi was a little embarrassed: "We didn't sell you any fresh river food..."

Chen Lang said, "Life is not easy for the villagers these days. If you want to earn more, Erlang understands."

"Besides, I wanted to stop the river seafood business earlier, but I couldn't find a suitable reason. The uncles and aunts not selling to me actually solved my dilemma."

Aunt Qi turned to the other women and said, "Well, I told you Erlang isn't the type to hold grudges. He's educated and sensible, and he won't argue with us."

"Erlang, are you considered a scholar now?"

Chen Lang shook his head: "Not yet, I still have to take the test twice more."

Aunt Seven said, "Tsk tsk, if passing the exam to become a scholar is so difficult, then passing the exam to become the top scholar must be even more daunting."

"Erlang, if you become the top scholar in the future, don't forget these uncles and aunts in the village."

Chen Lang laughed and said, "Aunt Qi, you're joking. With the little knowledge I have, I can only pass the examination to become a scholar. I don't even dare to think about becoming a juren, let alone the top scholar."

Aunt Qi said, "You are the smartest person in our village. Aunt Qi believes that you will have a great future."

Next, Chen Lang met several groups of villagers and distributed all the red envelopes he had prepared. In the end, it was still not enough, so he had to give them loose change directly.

After dealing with the villagers, Chen Lang returned home and let out a long sigh.

This feels more tiring than taking an exam.

"Brother-in-law, congratulations!"

Li Xiaohu came forward on crutches and patted Chen Lang's shoulder vigorously: "I heard from the villagers that you got first place in the exam."

Chen Lang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "Just listen to the villagers' nonsense. It's the first place, not the first place."

Li Xiaohu was stunned: "What's the difference?"

"There are ten people on the list, and I'm ranked last. What difference are you talking about?" Chen Lang said.

Li Xiaohu scratched his head: "Does that mean he passed the exam or not?"

Chen Lang said: "The more accurate way of saying it is that I passed the exam, but it's still too early to pass."

Li Xiaohu shuddered and said, "Mom, taking the college entrance exam is so troublesome. Farming is easier."

Chen Lang said, "Xiuzhi, please go and get Brother Sun and Chen Tao. I have something to tell you."

Li Xiuzhi turned and left. After a while, Sun Yuwei and his daughter, as well as Chen Tao, entered Chen Lang's yard.

Li Xiaohu said, "Brother-in-law, everyone is here, just say whatever you want to say."

Chen Lang said, "This is what happened. In less than a month, I will be going to Guangling Prefecture to take the prefectural examination. In order to better prepare for the examination, I have decided to stay at my teacher's house during this period."

"Xiaohu, you will be in charge of the tofu business."

"The problem now is that this house is a haunted house, and I can't move into my new home until I return from Guangling Mansion."

"So I'm thinking, why don't you and your family follow me to the county town and rent a house to make tofu?"