Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

We're having dinner in the courtyard today because there are too many people and the kitchen can't accommodate everyone.

Perhaps it had been a long time since so many children had gathered together, Tian Guang couldn't stop smiling.

Once everyone was seated, Xia Lanyue got up to pour wine for everyone. The wine glasses used were pooled together from two different families, and they were of different sizes and styles. She poured more for the larger glasses and less for the smaller ones, and no one objected.

"The wine that A-Yue poured must taste even better," Lin Xiu's words drifted over.

Upon hearing this, Wang Cui and Tian Yu revealed disdainful expressions.

Xia Lanyue smiled shyly and poured herself a glass.

"Come on, let's have a toast," Tian Kuan said, raising his glass. "We should get together more often in the future."

Amidst cheers and agreement, the group raised their glasses, clinked them together, and then drank.

After downing his glass of wine in one gulp, Tian Kuan said, "Dai You, which wine did you buy? This wine is really good, mellow and fragrant without being harsh on the throat."

I bought it at a tavern in town.

"Oh, this wine is really good. Their wine is expensive, and I've never been willing to buy it before. I'm sorry to have troubled you to spend so much."

"Brother Tian, ​​you're too kind."

"I'm going to drink more today," Tian Kuan said, filling his glass to the brim.

After hearing his words, Lin Xiu slapped him on the back and said, "Drink less, or you'll crave alcohol again."

Tian Kuan clicked his tongue, annoyed by her nagging.

Ma Ruisheng remained silent, only taking a small sip of his drink. After finishing, he frowned slightly, indicating that he did not enjoy drinking.

Tian Yu glanced at Ma Ruisheng, then at Xia Lanyue, "My husband doesn't usually drink, so he can't tell the quality of this wine. It's a waste to give it to him."

Upon hearing this, Ma Ruisheng smiled at Xia Lanyue.

Seeing that he hadn't said a word for a long time, Tian Yu nudged him with her elbow and said, "Ruisheng is going to the capital to take the imperial examination in July this year. If you are also going back at that time, you can hire a bigger car and go back together."

Upon hearing this, Wang Cui turned her gaze to Xia Lanyue and Dai You, waiting for their reply.

Seeing that they did not reply immediately, Tian Yu explained, "I think you can look after each other on the road, which will be convenient. It will take half a month for the carriage to travel this far."

Xia Lanyue thought for a moment, "Our plan is to go to my aunt's house first, so we may continue south."

Upon hearing this, Tian Yu's smile froze on her face. Wang Cui glanced at Tian Yu sideways and asked, "When is A Yue going back to the capital?"

"Well... I'm not sure." Xia Lanyue had no intention of returning to the capital.

Wang Cui seemed somewhat unhappy upon hearing this answer. After a brief hesitation, she spoke directly, "Look at my son-in-law, he's an introverted person. Last year, when he went to the capital to take the imperial examination, he almost missed it because of the inn situation. Although he settled down later, it still affected his performance on the exam. A-Yue, you're from the capital, could you help arrange accommodation? That would make things much more convenient for them there." She then looked at Xia Lanyue, waiting for her response.

So that's what they meant by all that. Xia Lanyue was a little troubled. She had originally planned to stay here longer and get to know Xia Yao better, but who would have thought that after just one day, she would see Xia Yao in a completely different light. Now she had to replan her future, and she didn't know where she would go next.

Tian Guang noticed that Xia Lanyue was somewhat embarrassed. "Miss Yue already said that she was going to her aunt's house. Why don't you have her go back there specifically?"

Wang Cui was displeased upon hearing this and looked at Tian Guang with a reproach, "What are you saying? A Yue isn't in the capital. She could send a message back home to explain the situation and ask for some help. I didn't say that the young lady had to personally receive her."

“They can find a place to stay, so don’t worry about it. If they can’t even handle this, how will they manage if they pass the civil service exam?” Tian Guang said.

“Hey, that’s not how it works. What does this have to do with whether or not you become an official? Every year there are so many candidates taking the imperial examinations. There are only so many inns in the capital. It’s not that you can’t book one. There are vacancies in the expensive inns, but do you have the money to stay there? Huh? Do you pay? Who paid? Look at your poor relatives. Which one of them can help you? It’s good enough if they don’t drag you down. Only our Ruisheng is somewhat promising. How can I not take care of them?” Wang Cui became more and more agitated as she spoke, and her temper grew stronger and stronger.

When Tian Guang saw Wang Cui bring up those irrelevant people again, he impatiently waved his hand, signaling Wang Cui to stop talking.

Wang Cui had already said all that, so there was no reason for her to stop. "If Ruisheng passes the exam, won't that bring glory to our family? Won't we all benefit from it too? If Ruisheng becomes an official, would he ever mistreat us?"

"That's just to bask in the glory of the Ma family. What does it have to do with you? What are you trying to gain by associating with them?" Uncle Tian retorted.

"What are you saying? You're not treating your son-in-law like family!" Wang Cui was even angrier.

Seeing that Wang Cui had misunderstood him, Tian Guang quickly glanced at Ma Ruisheng. Seeing that he didn't react, he felt a little relieved. "Is that what I meant? I meant to tell you to stop troubling the children and not to try to take advantage of them. The children have their own lives to live."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiu smiled and lowered her head, but that smile carried a hint of mockery.

"You're being heartless. When did I ever trouble the children? I was just trying to help them. I thought it was something Yue could easily do, so I asked. You saved Yue's life, so what's wrong with her helping to find a place to stay? Is this even a big deal? I didn't ask for a mountain of gold or silver." Wang Cui looked like she was about to cry.

Xia Lanyue could tell that Wang Cui's words, though addressed to Tian Guang, were also directed at her. It seemed that she had no choice but to agree to this.

Tian Guang knew that Wang Cui's temper would only get stronger the more she talked, so he simply stopped arguing with her, turned his head to the side, and said, "The children are all here."

Wang Cui also realized she had lost her composure, so she forced a smile and said to Ma Ruisheng, "Ruisheng, your father doesn't think things through, don't take it to heart. I believe in you, I think you can do it, you will definitely pass the exam."

Ma Ruisheng smiled and lowered his head.

Xia Lanyue's gaze swept across the family members' faces, each lost in their own thoughts. She suddenly realized this meal was prepared for her. However, thinking about it, Wang Cui's request wasn't unreasonable; this family had taken care of them for so long, and she had long wanted to repay them. Her dilemma lay in her own situation at home. Who could she send a letter home to? She didn't even know who her family could rely on, let alone expect anyone to act according to her instructions! Even if there were servants like the housekeeper who could do as she said, she couldn't write and didn't recognize Dai Xiyue's handwriting. One stroke of the pen would reveal everything. She could even imagine the bewildered look on that person's face as they wrote the letter. In the end, not only would the matter not be accomplished, but it might also cause further delays.

Wang Cui secretly observed Xia Lanyue and Dai You's expressions; their silence made her very unhappy.

Dai You listened silently for a long time, pondering something, before slowly speaking, "Aunt Wang, I will send a letter home to ask them to arrange for Brother Ma's accommodation and travel in the capital. However, we are just an ordinary family with limited resources, so I hope you won't mind."

Hearing this, Wang Cui's eyes crinkled with laughter. "Oh, no way! With you saying that, Auntie is relieved."

Xia Lanyue smiled awkwardly and didn't say anything.

The atmosphere finally eased a bit, and everyone greeted them warmly again.

"Ah Yue, are the steamed buns I made delicious?" Lin Xiu asked Xia Lanyue with a smile.

"Ah? Ah, delicious," Xia Lanyue smiled, remembering the steamed buns A Xiang had brought her yesterday.

"If you ever want to eat steamed buns again, come to my house," Lin Xiu said with a smile.

"She made the buns especially for you, but she didn't even think about her in-laws?" Wang Cui said sarcastically.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiu quickly coaxed Wang Cui, "We're out of flour at home, aren't we? After the wheat harvest and flour milling in the next few days, I'll definitely make some steamed buns and bring them to Mom and Dad. What kind of filling would you like, Mom?"

Wang Cui gave a cold laugh, then suddenly remembered something and instructed Dai You, "Ah You, I forgot to mention earlier, your Uncle Tian's nephew, Xia Yao, is also going to take the exam this time. Just arrange for them to stay in the same room. You don't need to make any special arrangements. Is that alright?"

Upon hearing this name, Xia Lanyue's heartstrings tightened slightly.

"Ah," Dai You asked, puzzled, "Is it that Mr. Xia?"

“Yes, it’s him,” Wang Cui explained.

“If you say ‘climb higher,’ he’ll know,” Tian Guang added.

“Yes, Mr. Xia, Xia Pangao, and Xia Yao are all the same person,” Wang Cui explained. “He used the name Xia Yao when he took the imperial examination, Pangao is what our family calls him, and Mr. Xia is what the students call him.”

“Okay, I understand. I’ll make the arrangements.” Dai You agreed.

"Hurry up and eat. You haven't eaten much. Try this meat, it's delicious. Tian Yu knew you were coming, so she brought it specially," Wang Cui said, putting some food into Dai You's bowl.

Xia Lanyue was too far from Wang Cui to reach her. Wang Cui gave Tian Yu a look, and Tian Yu understood and put a few slices of meat on Xia Lanyue's plate.

After the meal, Tian Yuxin was thinking about the children and didn't want to stay any longer, so she wanted to go back. The whole family saw them off as they left the village.

As they parted, Lin Xiu grabbed Tian Yu's arm and said, "Sister-in-law, if I said anything today that upset you, please don't take it to heart. I'm not good with words."

Tian Yu said she was fine, but her face showed that she didn't want to talk to her.

Lin Xiu didn't care about anything else, and after saying that, she turned around and took Tian Kuan's arm.

After saying their goodbyes, Ma Ruisheng drove away in his mule cart.