Stepmother in charge: Making a fortune through farming and raising her children to fight back

Three days later.

The second exam finally ended successfully as everyone expected.

Yun Zhengzheng and Ning Shan stood at the entrance of the examination room, welcoming the two children.

They were squeezed into a small cubicle for three consecutive days, and their brains had to constantly perform calculations. The faces of several people were a little pale, but their eyes were full of light.

Yun Zhenzhen didn't look at Yun Jing, but at Wang Ze: "How is it? Do you feel confident in this exam?"

Wang Ze touched his head and smiled nonchalantly: "I think it's okay. I answered the previous questions fairly well, but I solved all three arithmetic problems at the end. They were quite simple. If there are no problems, I should still have a chance..."

As he spoke, he began to feel less confident.

Yun Zhenzhen said it was okay and patted his shoulder: "Then just wait for the result with peace of mind. I don't want to think about these things now. Let's go back to the inn to wash up, and then we can have a big meal together."

Lai Fu diligently moved the luggage of several people onto the carriage. When they were about to get on the carriage, Yun Zhenzhen saw Wang Ye behind her and then stopped.

"How about you? How did you do on the exam?"

Seeing her asking him, Wang Ye rubbed his hands excitedly, then immediately ran over: "I... I performed quite normally, there shouldn't be any big problems, but I may not be as good as Brother Yun..."

After a few words, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Wang Ye rubbed his head uncomfortably. "Well... I haven't thanked you yet for what happened on the day of the exam. It's my own fault that I didn't even realize I got into trouble. Thanks to you for helping me out... I... I'll treat you to dinner today as a way to repay your kindness."

After saying that, he got on his own carriage without caring whether she agreed or not, and the group drove towards Lai Fu Inn.

As soon as they got off the carriage, they saw many scholars in Lai Fu Inn gathering towards them.

"Brother Yun, I was busy with exams a few days ago and didn't have time to get together with you. I specially ordered some good wine and food today, but you must discuss your views on this exam with me."

"Brother Yun, I heard you're very knowledgeable about arithmetic problems. I feel like a lot of them are going to be given this time. What do you think the final answers to these problems will be?"

"Brother Yun, I heard that there will be a party before everyone leaves tomorrow. When are you going to leave? We can go together."

"..."

Almost all the students in the inn came over, either to have a drink or to express their compliments.

The looks they gave Yun Jing were all flattering, because they knew deep down that unless something unexpected happened, Yun Jing would be the top scorer in this exam.

Although the first place in the academy examination is not as good as the top scholar, he can also directly enter the official academy and receive a specific food subsidy every month. He doesn't even have to pay for his tuition himself, as the court will subsidize part of it.

Yun Jing took two steps back, bowed to everyone and said, "I feel really tired after taking the exam today. My family has prepared some wine and food. I want to be with my family. I'll have a drink with you all next time when I have time."

After saying this, he walked through the crowd and went straight to the room upstairs.

Inside the room, Yun Zhenzhen had already prepared a sumptuous meal. She ordered a portion of all the restaurant's signature dishes to celebrate for the children.

Yun Jing, Wang Ze, and even Wang Ye who followed behind them, all washed up and sat down around the table.

As soon as Wang Ye sat down, he quickly picked up his wine glass and respectfully said to Yun Zhenzhen, "Madam Wang Yun, I was blind and ignorant before, and I offended Brother Yun and you. Now I have changed my ways and realized my mistakes. If you hadn't found the governor and found out the truth a few days ago, I'm afraid my life would be over. Now I want to toast you..."

During the second exam, after the governor and his men found out the truth, they came to release him. He was just a little late when entering the exam. Because he arrived the latest, he could only get the worst toilet number, but being able to take the exam was already good enough. He didn't dare to complain, as this was already the best result.

After saying that, he drank the wine in the glass.

Then he immediately filled a glass of wine for himself: "I, Wang Ye, have done many beastly things in the past, but I'm putting this on hold. From now on, Madam Yun and Brother Yun are my family. If you ever run into any trouble, just tell me directly. I promise to go through fire and water to help you..."

Yun Zhenzhen couldn't help but patted his shoulder and said, "You're still a child. Don't drink so much. It will hurt your body... I don't care about what happened in the past. I just hope that you can be a gentleman in the future and do more good things for the people and the country after you embark on your official career."

Wang Ye nodded heavily.

During the time he was imprisoned, he deeply realized the seriousness of the matter, and also understood how brutal what he had done to Brother Yun was. From now on, he will never do such a thing again.

"Okay, let's not talk about those things anymore. Let's drink to the future." Wang Ze raised his glass and gestured to the people around him: "Come, let's have a drink to celebrate the end of the exam and the bright future we will eventually have."

Yun Jing picked up the wine glass. Although he never drank, he couldn't help but drink it all. After a small sip of white wine, his throat felt burning and painful.

Yun Zhenzhen watched them toast each other and did not try to stop them. After studying hard for so many years, she finally finished an exam. It was time to relax. If she kept suppressing herself, the string in her body would break.

That night, the children spoke their hearts out to each other, unpacking their past, discussing academics, life attitudes, and the future. They even imagined how they would handle problems when they became officials.

At dawn the next day, officials came downstairs to deliver invitations. These were invitations sent by the governor to all the scholars who took the exam. This was an annual custom. After the exam was over, the governor would host a banquet and invite students from all over the county to recite poems and compose couplets, which was equivalent to holding a poetry meeting.

When it was Yun Jing's turn, he shook his head calmly: "I won't go. I've never been interested in this kind of activity. I'd rather stay in the house and read a book and take a rest."

When the Wang Ze brothers saw him like this, they wanted to raise their hands to refuse, but were stopped by Yun Zhenzhen.

"You children can't act so willfully. This is a banquet hosted by the Governor himself. As officials of Yuzhou, you must go. You have to give the Governor a piece of your mind. Besides, you all have the potential to become scholars in the future. As officials, you still have to go through the social interactions in the officialdom."

"This doesn't mean you should be a hypocritical person, but rather you should make friends. At a banquet like this, you can observe people's expressions, meet many different kinds of people, and broaden your horizons."