High-class maid

"You bastard! You even want to covet your sister's secret stash of money? Haven't your mother and I given you enough?" Chen Shan roared angrily.

"Isn't it just because I'm getting married soon that you're afraid of Hua Shantao's money? Shantao used to give my mother her monthly allowance, why isn't she giving it to me now?" Shan Gen said, sticking out his neck.

"You're so foolish! You're not even half as sensible as your sister!" Chen Shan's wife stepped forward and punched the base of his nose, crying as she did so. She felt responsible for her son's lack of understanding.

Shan Gen stood there stubbornly, letting his mother beat him.

"Chen Shangen, I think you've forgotten your roots! Back then, our masters were kind enough to allow one member of our family to not have to work in the mansion. You said you wanted to take the imperial examinations so that we could change our family's status in the future."

Chen Shan stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked up to him, saying...

"Your sister started working in the household at the age of eight so that you could pass the imperial examination and become a scholar. And what about you? We provide for your food and clothing, but you don't study! How can you face our family?" Chen Shan said with a heavy heart.

Perhaps he had used some force, or perhaps he was angered by Shan Gen, but after Chen Shan finished speaking, he began to cough violently.

"Honey, calm down." Chen Shan's wife went over and patted him on the back.

"Get out of the way! It's all your fault for being so foolish! You've spoiled him so much that he doesn't know his place. Now he's good for nothing, but he's raised a fine son for someone else."

Chen Shan shoved her away and yelled at her.

"I...I...Yes, it's all my fault! I spoiled the child too much. I accept it even if you hit me or scold me, sob sob sob..." Chen Shan's wife covered her face and cried, squatting on the ground and refusing to get up.

"I can't concentrate on studying! Besides, even if I can't concentrate, I'm still out here making money, right? I haven't been idle!" Yamane said indignantly.

*Slap!* Chen Shan couldn't hold back any longer and slapped him across the face.

"You hit me?" Yamane was shocked. This was the first time his father had ever hit him since he was a child. No matter how outrageous he had been before, his father had never hit him.

Yamane stood up and tried to push his father.

"What are you doing! It's not enough that you broke my heart, you have to break my mother's heart too?" Shan Tao stepped forward and stood in front of her father, shouting.

"Who gives you the right to speak, you outsider? Don't forget, the place you're standing here will belong to me in the future!" Yamane stepped forward and shoved Yamamo, and by sheer coincidence, Yamamo's head hit the wall.

"You're eyeing my monthly allowance, but what about all the money you've earned over the years? Why do you keep relying on your parents?" Shan Tao shouted, covering her head.

"Are you going to buy it or not! If you don't buy it, then I won't get married!" Yamane didn't want to waste words with her and turned to ask Chen Shan.

"Okay." Surprisingly, Chen Shan agreed.

"Father!" Shan Tao was shocked. She looked at her father and asked...

Why should we buy it for him? Do you even have the money?

Yamane looked at Yamamoto with a defiant expression, like a victorious rooster.

“I can buy it, but… I won’t have you as my son anymore,” Chen Shan said disappointedly.

"You're threatening me?" Yamane's eyes widened. His father didn't want him anymore?

"I'm not threatening you. I'll buy you a courtyard house, and I won't concern myself with anything else. This marriage is either a success or it isn't!" Chen Shan said.

"Mother, do you think so too?" Yamane panicked and looked at his mother.

Tears streaming down Chen Shan's face, she looked at her daughter, who was covering her head, then at her coughing husband, and finally nodded resolutely, saying...

“It’s all my fault for raising you into this state. You only have your wife in your heart. You can leave now, or you can marry into our family. In short, we don’t need you anymore.”

Yamane was stunned for a moment. Weren't his parents impatient for his marriage? Weren't they eager to have a grandson? Now they were abandoning him?

"Hmph! Fine, I'll leave! You'll have to rely on your good daughter in the future!" After saying that, Yamane stormed out of the house, leaving the family of three heartbroken at home.

"Xing'er, I... I've caused you trouble. Now that I've said it, I feel much better," Shan Tao said apologetically, wiping away her tears with her handkerchief.

Shen Xing'er hugged Shan Tao tenderly and comforted her.

"It's alright. Since your aunt and uncle know you're here, you can stay at my house for a couple of days to relax."

"Mm." Yamamoto nodded.

Seeing that she was exhausted from crying, Shen Xing'er fetched a basin of hot water for her to wash up, and then the two of them fell asleep.

The next day, when Madam Wang came to wake Shen Xing'er, she was startled to see two people lying in bed. But upon recognizing Shan Tao, Madam Wang happily exclaimed...

"Good child, you left in such a hurry yesterday, Auntie thought she would never see you again. You came last night?"

Not wanting Wang Shi to worry, Shan Tao reverted to her usual mischievous self, and said with a smile...

"Yes, Auntie, I arrived late last night and didn't get to say hello to you and Uncle. I'll be troubling you again these next few days."

"Child, don't be so formal. I'm so happy you're here. Hurry up and get dressed, it's time for breakfast."

After saying that, she went to the kitchen to get rice. Fortunately, she made enough rice today, otherwise, there wouldn't be enough for one more person!

Jinling, Ouyang Academy.

Song Wenyang has been here for half a month, and now that the imperial examinations are just around the corner, he has to rush back to the capital to participate.

"This is the Book of Poetry. Take another look at it when you get back tonight. Also, take a good look at this Book of Documents. I've annotated all the useful parts. And this Spring and Autumn Annals is a collection of articles written by the top scholars of each dynasty. I've gathered them for you. Go back and study them carefully."

Mr. Ouyang sorted through the books and articles, handing them to Song Wenyang one by one.

Song Wenyang felt a mix of warmth and helplessness. Looking at the thick stack of things in his arms, he said...

"You're giving me so much, aren't you afraid the other students in the academy will talk about you? Be careful they don't accuse you of cheating."

"Are you stupid! Why did you have to take it back in front of others?" Mr. Ouyang said angrily, blowing his beard.

"Don't worry! I'll definitely come back with first place this time!" Song Wenyang coaxed the old man.

“Speaking of this year’s imperial examination, there’s someone from your hometown. Why don’t you go together the day after tomorrow? That way you can look out for each other,” Mr. Ouyang said.

This year, ten students from their academy participated in the spring imperial examination, but only two of them were registered residents of the capital.

"You mean Wu Xunzhi?" Song Wenyang thought of that scholar.

“It is him. I observe that this man is very knowledgeable, on par with you. He will surely pass this time as well,” Mr. Ouyang said, stroking his long beard.

"Okay, Wen Yang has remembered."

"If you become the top scholar in this year's imperial examination, then you will have a legitimate reason to stay in the capital."

Mr. Ouyang looked at Song Wenyang with reluctance. This child had been in Ouyang Academy since he was a child, and he had long regarded him as his last disciple.

"I can't bear to part with you."

It was rare for Song Wenyang to show his emotions to others. He looked at the old man in front of him, who had taught him everything he knew. The two were like teacher and friend, and with the added connection of his mother, they were even closer than with other people.