Transmigrated into a Prosperous Farm Wife, Pampered, Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Prime Minister

It was dark, but the lights in the Meng family's house were still on.

"Father, why are you so late today?"

Meng Yingying came to the study to invite her father to dinner, just as she ran into Magistrate Meng who had just returned from outside.

"Something came up at the government office, is that why your mother is looking for me?"

Today, the county examination ended, and Magistrate Meng went to interrogate the yamen runner who had poisoned the girl. What he found out put him in a dilemma.

On the surface, it appears to be a case of resentment and scheming between classmates, but behind the scenes, it turns out that the Guo family is making things difficult for a mere scholar, repeatedly trying to kill him. This matter is even related to his daughter.

If she tells Dean Bai the truth, it will affect her daughter's reputation. But if she doesn't tell the truth, it will involve the students of the academy. Dean Bai is not an ordinary person.

Meng Yingying nodded, "Yes, Mother said she has something to say and asked me to invite you over."

The father and daughter went to the backyard, where Madam Meng had prepared a meal and was waiting.

"Master, you're back. You must be tired." Madam Meng was in her early thirties.

Meng Yingying looks a lot like her.

However, Madam Meng's face bore the marks of time, and she looked even more shrewd and calculating.

"Madam, you've worked hard too. Please tell me what's on your mind first," Magistrate Meng said as a maid helped him wash his hands.

Madam Meng dismissed the maidservant and served her personally. "I heard that a noble young man from the capital has come to study at the academy. Master, you see, our Yingying is not young anymore. Why don't you go and ask Dean Bai about her?"

Meng Yingying lowered her head immediately.

I shouldn't have said these things in front of my daughter.

But Madam Meng thought differently; a young lady could learn more by listening to different opinions.

Magistrate Meng interrupted her, "We don't even know which family they came from. Don't even think about them being from the capital."

Last time I said I was going to meet a distinguished guest, but I didn't even know where the person was.

Besides, even if you go to Dean Bai, he might not tell you that he's just a minor county magistrate, while Dean Bai is said to have quite a background.

"Since ancient times, daughters have often married into higher social classes. Why can't we consider what might happen..."

Seeing that Magistrate Meng's expression was not good, Madam Meng stopped talking in time.

“Since the master thinks there’s no chance, then forget it. I think Guo Zhong is also a good option. He cares a lot about Yingying and sends her things every now and then.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Yingying became very agitated. "Mother! My father is a county magistrate, how can I marry into a merchant family? Guo Chong is dark-skinned and fat, how can he be worthy of my daughter!"

Although the imperial court now allows merchants to participate in the imperial examinations, prejudice against merchants has not been eliminated.

Moreover, Guo Zhong is not only ugly, but also a womanizer.

Madam Meng held her daughter's hand and whispered, "A coarse willow basket and a fine willow measure, who in the world dislikes an ugly man? Listen to me, once you marry into the family, as long as you have Guo Zhong under your control, the Guo family will be yours to call the shots."

The Guo family are indeed merchants, but they still hold considerable influence in Wuyun County, not to mention they have connections with the prefectural city.

The main problem is that the Guo family only has one son, Guo Zhong. Now that Master Guo is impotent, it's impossible for him to have a son born out of wedlock.

Given Guo Zhong's deep affection for his daughter, controlling him would be a piece of cake.

"Mother, please stop talking. I won't marry him, I'd rather die than marry Guo Zhong!"

Meng Yingying felt disgusted just looking at Guo Zhong; she'd rather be dead than marry someone like that.

Magistrate Meng had already sat down. "Alright, if my daughter really doesn't want to, let's wait a little longer. If there are any outstanding scholars after this year's provincial examination, we can select them."

"If those poor scholars marry into the family, won't Yingying have to worry about making a living?" Madam Meng clearly didn't think highly of those scholars.

Even if you pass the county-level exam and become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations), there are still Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations) and Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest level of the imperial examinations). It will take forever to pass the county-level exam and become a Jinshi. Even if you are lucky enough to become a minor official, it will take forever to be promoted.

My husband was just lucky to become a county magistrate. Wuyun Town isn't too poor, so our family is doing alright.

In some poorer areas, even the county magistrates couldn't afford to eat meat more than a few times a year.

“There are also those from well-off families. How could they all be poor scholars? Those who are too poor can’t afford to study.” Magistrate Meng picked up his chopsticks and was immediately drawn to a plate of braised food on the table.

I picked it up and tasted it, then immediately ate several more bites.

"This braised food tastes really good, where did you buy it?"

Madam Meng was unaware of this and summoned her maid.

The maid said, "Reporting to Master, it was Concubine Fan who brought in the dishes. She said that Master has worked hard and she can't help much, so she just wanted to make sure Master eats more and enjoys his food."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Meng praised Aunt Fan a few times, then quickly finished his meal and said to Madam Meng, "You should rest early after you finish eating. I'm going to check on Aunt Fan."

Madam Meng had only one daughter, Meng Yingying, and then remained childless for many years. Magistrate Meng then took a concubine who gave birth to a son, who is now ten years old.

Madam Meng's face turned extremely ugly. She called the maid in and berated her, asking if she had received any favors from Aunt Fan.

The maid had naturally received a bribe from Aunt Fan, and even though she was scolded, she didn't dare to tell the truth. She simply said that Aunt Fan had begged her to add the braised meat to the dish.

After scolding them, Madam Meng chased them out and then said to Meng Yingying.

"Did you see that? That Fan woman, though illiterate, is adept at using tricks to win your father's favor. If you don't marry into a wealthy family, where will my daughter and I have a place in this family in the future?"

“Listen to your mother, you must marry into a better family.”

Meng Yingying lowered her head and said, "Mother, I understand."

After finishing her meal and returning to her room, Meng Yingying asked her maid, Xiao He, to inquire about Jiang Changtian's recent situation.

Xiaohe couldn't hold back any longer. "Miss, you haven't given up yet? That Jiang guy is already married and has made it clear he doesn't like you. Why would a county magistrate's daughter suffer like this..."

Xiao He's words struck a nerve with Meng Yingying, whose face instantly darkened. "Shut up! I told you to go and find out, so go and find out! And that country bumpkin of his, find out everything about her!"

Xiaohe was startled and hurriedly went outside.

Meng Yingying bit her lip as she looked at the sewing basket on the table.

She could accept that Jiang Changtian married someone else, but she couldn't accept that Jiang Changtian said he had never liked her.

……

……

"Catch them!"

Lin Shuyun hadn't even grown up enough to know anything before she was bumped into by a woman.

Seeing that there were sticks and ropes behind him, he grabbed the fragrant and soft woman and jumped off the third floor of Chunfeng Tower, then ran away as fast as he could.

Behind him was a long line of thugs from Chunfeng Tower!

"Quick, don't let them get away!"

Oh my god, this is trouble. I should have known better than to hug her. She was just being nosy.

The woman in his arms kept pointing east and west, saying, "Silly girl, why are you running that way? That's a dead end. Run this way!"

"East! East!"

"Right! Right!"

Lin Shuyun slammed on the brakes and changed direction again.

The thugs from Chunfeng Tower chased the two men around most of the county, until they were both lying on the ground foaming at the mouth.

Seeing that she had finally shaken off the person, Lin Shuyun found a place, put the person in her arms on the ground, and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Alright, young lady, you're safe now. No need to thank me. Let's part ways here."

After Lin Shuyun finished speaking, she looked up and exclaimed, "Good heavens!"

I was so busy running away just now, isn't this the foul-mouthed Lady Qin?

What is she doing at Chunfeng Tower?

Lin Shuyun suddenly remembered the feet that had been peeking out of the sedan chair during the day. Looking down, she saw that Qin Niangzi was indeed wearing a pair of plain white embroidered shoes.

Qin Niangzi's eyelids twitched from being startled by the address "little lady".