Crossing the farm gate, the whole family reunites in the disaster year

"You say."

County Magistrate Wang placed the bowl of water on the table beside him and said seriously, "Now that the autumn harvest is almost over, it's time to put Jingwen's enrollment on the agenda."

The imperial examination required going through layers of selection, and the process was extremely rigorous. Those who failed once had to wait another three years. Many people wasted more than ten years because of this, and some even had to spend decades before passing the examination and becoming a juren.

Jingwen has passed the Tongsheng exam, and the next step is the Yuan exam. After passing the Yuan exam, he will obtain the qualification of a student, commonly known as a scholar, and can also enter the prefecture, county and city schools to study.

This is the most important thing. As the saying goes, the foundation of teaching lies in the teacher. The teacher in Fuzhou has higher knowledge and will be more helpful to Jingwen's academic journey.

He had been thinking about this for several days. The three-yearly college entrance examination would be held in April next year, so there was still half a year left. Jingwen could not be allowed to waste any more time.

Magistrate Wang looked at Lin solemnly and said, "You don't have to worry about this matter. I have already arranged everything. I will pay for Jingwen's tuition, food and other expenses. If you are worried about him studying alone, I can also arrange a small courtyard for you to live in, just as a tutor..."

Give it to peach and give it to Li.

Jingwen helped him achieve political achievements, and he would not let Jingwen down and would do his best to help him pass the imperial examinations.

"Uh..." Faced with County Magistrate Wang's sincere invitation, Lin was speechless.

Seeing that Lin was vague, County Magistrate Wang said kindly, "Are you having any difficulties? Feel free to tell me, and I will do my best to help."

Master Pei spoke up to smooth things over: "She must have been too excited. Cui Lin didn't know how to express herself for a moment."

"So that's how it is." County Magistrate Wang laughed heartily. "I have long regarded Jingwen as my own son or nephew. This is all as it should be."

Lin was ashamed. Regardless of whether she was excited or not, if Jingwen was here, he would definitely be furious.

"Your Excellency the County Magistrate, I would like to thank you on behalf of Jingwen for your cultivation. This is indeed a big deal. I will convey your intentions to Jingwen when he comes back." The implication is that Lin cannot make the decision either.

"Alright, give me your reply as soon as possible. Time waits for no one. The sooner you enroll, the better your chances of passing the entrance exam next year."

After seeing off County Magistrate Wang and Lawyer Pei, Lin began to prepare lunch. The cakes she had made the day before had been eaten, so she had to make some more.

"Aunt Lin, please try the meat I braised this time."

Cuicui carried the basket and stepped lightly into the house.

Lin discussed the braised meat cooperation business with Wang's sister-in-law, and Wang's sister-in-law happily agreed. It didn't matter whether they could make money or not, as long as Cuicui was happy.

What's more, after having trained under Lin, his daughter has become much more cheerful.

The braised meat is divided into 30% and 70% of the profits. Cuicui is responsible for the braising and raw materials, and gets 70%, while Lin is responsible for sales and transportation, and gets 30%.

Cui Cui tried to braise it twice in the past two days, but the taste was not so good each time. This is the third time today.

After the first two trials and with Lin's guidance, the taste has become almost the same. Now all that remains is to standardize the heat and time of braising.

"It's still not good enough. The meat is stewed until it's rotten and can't be cut into slices." Cui Cui said in frustration while cutting the meat.

The meat on the chopping board crumbled at the slightest touch, making it impossible to slice it into a complete slice. After tasting it, Lin thought for a moment, "It tastes fine. Next time, I'll tie the meat up with a thin cotton string like a zongzi before braising it. Also, pay attention to the heat. I'll simmer it for a shorter time next time..."

Cuicui wrote them down one by one.

"Give this meat to my father and the others for lunch."

Fortunately, there were enough craftsmen working, and the meat that failed to be braised the first two times was given to the craftsmen to eat with wine.

Lin and Cuicui smiled at each other, put the braised meat aside, and started preparing lunch.

Cui Jingwen and Thick Neck didn't come back until after lunch.

Lin had left some food for the two of them. Cui Jingwen had just sat down, and before he could tell them what had happened today, he was hit with a wake-up call.

"What?! Mom, you agreed?!"

"Repaying kindness with hatred! This is repaying kindness with hatred!!"

The county magistrate actually wanted to arrest him and take him to the academy.

The sky is falling. He doesn't want to go to the academy to study, and he wants to live in a boarding school. What's the difference between this and going to jail!

Lin pretended to be embarrassed: "The county magistrate came here in person, and I can't refuse him."

"Mom, don't you want me anymore?" Cui Jingwen wanted to cry, "I can study at home just as well, please don't send me to the academy."

After saying that, he grabbed Cui Zhaozhao and said, "Stop laughing. Please help me to speak for her."

Cui Zhaozhao patted Cui Jingwen's hand awkwardly: "I will take good care of mother and the family, you can go with peace of mind."

There was chaos in the east room, with ghosts crying and wolves howling.

"Why should I go? I don't want to go to the academy." Cui Jingwen stiffened his neck and would rather die than surrender.

"You even dare to refuse the county magistrate. Brother, you are really this." Thick Neck gave a thumbs up, admiring him from the bottom of his heart.

What kind of person is the county magistrate? He is the sky of Qingyang County, a level that ordinary people will never be able to reach in their lifetime.

It was already something to brag about for other families to provide a student, but now the county magistrate came to invite him in person, but Jingwen actually despised him.

So ambitious.

Lin added a bowl of mixed grain rice to Thick Neck and put it down heavily: "Eat your meal and stop talking."

Thick Neck shrank his head and buried his concentration in eating.

Lin also gave Cui Jingwen another bowl of rice and stopped teasing him: "The county magistrate did have this intention, but I didn't agree. I just said I would wait for you to come back to discuss it."

"I knew it, mom is the best!" Cui Jingwen danced with joy, slapped his thigh, and felt very happy.

Thick Neck bared his teeth and said, "Don't pat my thigh."

"The county magistrate is still waiting for your reply. If you don't go, remember to explain to the county magistrate in person."

"I know. I'll go to the county government office early tomorrow morning."

Cui Jingwen took a few bites of the food, then remembered another important thing and quickly put down his chopsticks.

"Mom, guess who I met today?"

Lin sipped the soup and gave him a look.

"If you don't want to guess, then don't guess." Cui Jingwen touched his nose, "I met Chang Yi and Master Pei."

Changyi is the youngest son of Imperial Physician Xu, whom Lin had met before. As for Young Master Pei, Lin had only heard of him but had never met him. She heard that he came from the capital specifically to seek treatment from Imperial Physician Xu.

"what happened?"

"Old Doctor Xu's birthday is in five days. Changyi heard that the popular side dishes in the county recently came from our family, so he begged me to ask if I could research a few more new side dishes to serve to the guests at the birthday banquet."

Cui Jingwen was very proud, as his mother's craftsmanship was naturally impeccable.

"Did Master Xu mention anything else, such as any requests for dishes?"

Cui Jingwen thought for a moment and said, "I think I told you to have a lighter taste, not too greasy."

Lin understood that most of the people who dealt with Old Doctor Xu were either rich or noble, and ordinary dishes had no appeal to them. Compared with big fish and meat, novel and rare side dishes were more to their liking.

"I understand. Tomorrow, when you leave the county government office, go to the Xu family and ask how many side dishes they need to prepare and how many tables they need for the banquet."

Cui Jingwen agreed.