Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 11903

Yang Huaming gritted his teeth and warned Liu in a low voice.

Liu's eyes darted around.

Sun Shi, Bao Suyun, and Da Sun Shi, who were standing nearby, were also startled by Liu Shi's sudden remark and turned pale. They all became nervous and looked around, afraid that the people around the officials would overhear.

"Fourth Aunt, you really need to be careful what you say! Times have changed! There are high-ranking officials everywhere!" Madam Sun also warned Madam Liu sternly.

Even Sun, who never spoke harshly to others, couldn't help but frown slightly: "Fourth sister-in-law, take it easy. If you don't say something well, it could harm my Qing'er and Da'an and Dazhi! Then, none of us will have a good time!"

Bao Suyun also looked displeased. "Fourth Sister-in-law, you'd better not stay here. Go back to the old house!"

Everyone has a house full of children and grandchildren, and everyone hopes that their children and grandchildren will be successful. Even if they don't achieve great success, they hope that they will at least grow up safely and peacefully.

No one will indulge Liu's gossipy mouth unconditionally like before!
Seeing that both Sun and Bao Suyun had opinions about her, Liu felt somewhat embarrassed.

Yang Huaming, in particular, almost suffocated her.

“They’re from the palace, they’re close to the emperor. If you say anything like that again, they won’t care if you’re just a country bumpkin or not, they’ll slit your throat!” Yang Huaming said fiercely again.

Seeing that Liu seemed frightened, Yang Huaming slowly released his grip.

Liu gasped for breath, nearly suffocating.

As Yang Huaming walked toward the stove, he didn't forget to say to Sun Shi and Bao Suyun, "Third sister-in-law, fifth sister-in-law, keep an eye on her and don't let her gossip anymore!"

Madam Sun nodded, "We'll find somewhere else to stay in a bit, Fourth Brother, you go ahead and get busy!"

Yang Huaming then turned to leave, but he suddenly smelled a foul odor.

Thinking of something, he suddenly raised his hand and sniffed it. Instantly, his facial features contorted, and he put on a mask of pain.

That stinky woman, her saliva smells awful!

Yang Huaming rubbed his hands on his pants several times, then sniffed them; there was still a faint lingering scent.

Using such smelly hands to carry a hot water jug ​​would be disastrous if the guests found out. So, Yang Huaming went around to the well in the backyard, scooped up a ladle of water, and thoroughly washed his hands before giving up!

Around noon, deafening firecrackers and buckets of fireworks rang out from the entrance of the Luo family compound.

Even though it was broad daylight, the colors of the fireworks were much dimmer when they burst into the sky, but that's all that matters. They're just for fun, to liven up the midday banquet!
The restaurant was packed with guests, and a variety of delicacies from all over the country were served in a dazzling display. Local specialties from the Mianniu Mountain area were also showcased to the guests.

Yang Ruoqing, Luo the blacksmith, and Da'an moved between the tables, greeting the guests.

An hour later, the banquet gradually came to an end.

Yang Ruoqing gave a very generous "tea money" to the messengers from the capital who had come to deliver good news, and then solemnly saw them off.

Some guests left a little later, but as the sun began to set, almost all the guests had left the house.

Ronggu and Xingwang were busy arranging for people to clean up the courtyard and tidy up the mess left after the banquet.

Luo the blacksmith and Yang Huazhong went to another place to drink tea and chat.

Da'an also left with the group, which made Sun Shi somewhat regretful. She kept muttering, "We've already come to our doorstep, why didn't you stay for the night before leaving?"

Besides, even if she were to leave, she should at least take some of the red beans, sesame seeds, peanuts, and other things she had prepared beforehand. She grew them herself and wanted to take them to Changhuaizhou for Xiaohua and the children...

Da'an returned penniless, and left empty-handed...

Although Sun, one mother, felt empty inside, another mother was filled with joy at the reunion of her family.

That person was Yang Ruoqing.

In the backyard, in Dazhi and Xiaoqiao's house.

Dazhi sat on the soft couch, holding Nini in his lap. Nini was playing with the toys that Dazhi had brought back for her from the capital.

After the banquet ended, Dazhi couldn't wait to go to the backyard to get closer to his daughter, but Nini didn't recognize him and was so frightened that she kept burrowing into Xiao Qiao's arms.

But a biological child is a biological child. Nini has Dazhi's blood flowing in her veins. Although she resists Dazhi's closeness, Nini can't help but hide in Xiao Qiao's arms and secretly observe Dazhi.

It wasn't until Dazhi took out the toys that the distance between father and daughter was immediately shortened. Now, Nini no longer resists Dazhi's hugs, and even likes to be lifted up high.

At this moment, the father and daughter were sitting on the soft couch, with their two younger brothers-in-law, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, lying on either side of Dazhi's legs.

The two brothers were overjoyed today because their older brother, Dazhi, brought them a bunch of toys from Beijing.

Among them were Western gadgets such as kaleidoscopes and telescopes.

At this moment, Tuantuan was completely captivated by the kaleidoscope, while Yuanyuan climbed onto the soft couch with a telescope, peering out the window and occasionally exclaiming excitedly: "So much fun!"
Yang Ruoqing, Xiao Qiao, and Wang Cuilian, the two pairs of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, all 'sensibly' sat on stools at the round table to the side, the three of them sitting neatly in a square, each with a bowl of tea in hand.

Their eyes met in unison, and they smiled as they looked towards the soft couch. The view from there was truly breathtaking…

"Zhi'er, did you often go hungry in the capital?" Wang Cuilian asked suddenly, scrutinizing Dazhi.

Yang Ruoqing glanced at Wang Cuilian discreetly.

In the old woman's eyes, and even in the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, Yang Ruoqing saw nothing but the grandmother's love for her grandson.

Yang Ruoqing couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This was only because it was Wang Cuilian. If it were the real mother-in-law, Tuoba Xian, she probably wouldn't care about Dazhi so much.

The grandchildren that Tuoba Xian truly cared about and loved were Luo Xingchen and Luo Wuyou.

She had never even seen Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, though she never forgot to send gifts from the distant Liao Dynasty every year...

Tuoba Xian was different from Wang Cuilian. Tuoba Xian was a member of the royal family and a former ruler, a true female politician.

A woman like Tuoba Xian was destined to be more than just a grandmother; she was the eldest princess of the Liao Dynasty, the one in charge…

At the same time, when Chen'er was found, Zhi'er was about 7 years old, and the little boy didn't understand.

He just instinctively thought that the new little brother Chen'er would take away the love of his parents and family, and would steal away his little sister who was with him day and night... So Dazhi played a little prank on Chen'er, and that was all.

Yang Ruoqing discovered these things and patiently taught Dazhi and did psychological work with him because she felt that these behaviors were normal from the perspective of a 7-year-old child.

However, Tuoba Xian did not see it that way.

Perhaps it was because the royal family placed the utmost importance on the purity of bloodlines that Tuoba Xian maintained a faint distance from Dazhi from beginning to end.

After the prank incident, Tuoba Xian became even more noticeably cold and distant towards Dazhi...

Tuoba Xian had her own considerations, and Yang Ruoqing didn't pursue them.

Let's talk about Wang Cuilian now. This old lady really helped Yang Ruoqing raise Dazhi.

Wang Cuilian didn't think too much about it. She just loved her grandchildren, especially during the years when Chen'er was missing. The atmosphere at home was very bad, and it was thanks to Dazhi, who looked quite similar to Chen'er, that everyone felt a void in their hearts...

When Dazhi came to the Luo family, he was only one year old. He didn't remember anything and couldn't speak. Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian took good care of him and raised him until he was about 7 years old before his biological mother from Yangzhou took him away...

Raising a child from such a tiny size to 7 years old—7 years old would be in second grade in today's world!
Is it easy?
After more than two thousand days and nights of caring for each other and living together, the feelings between them must have been quite... well, you know...

So at this moment, Wang Cuilian carefully examined Dazhi and then pointed out that Dazhi had lost a lot of weight.

Dazhi was slightly taken aback, raised his hand to touch his chin, smiled and said, "Grandma, no way, I eat very, very full every day!"

"I don't believe you. Your chin is all pointy now. Ask your mother and Xiao Qiao."

"Really?" Dazhi then turned his gaze to Yang Ruoqing and Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao nodded gently, "When I first saw him, I also thought he had lost a lot of weight."

Yang Ruoqing didn't deny it either, "If you eat very, very well every day, you wouldn't be this thin. I suspect you either exercise a lot every day, or you read a lot..."

"No, no," Dazhi waved his hand, a hint of shame in his expression. "Since arriving in the capital, I've been visiting teachers and attending various gatherings with fellow students from my hometown every day. I've neglected my studies during this time, and I feel guilty..."

After arriving in the capital, he realized that in the end, studying was no longer about burying oneself in books.

Make friends.

Expand your network.

Forming cliques and factions.

Even if you don't know how to do those things, once you enter that circle, someone will naturally come to guide you and lead you in.

So, during my recent trip to Beijing, I experienced firsthand what it meant to have a life of friendship and social interaction among literati.

He attended no fewer than 50 gatherings under the pretext of appreciating flowers, composing poems, celebrating birthdays, welcoming guests, washing away the dust of the past, or bidding farewell to guests!
Almost every day when he returned to his residence (his uncle's house in Beijing), he was drunk. He couldn't read anymore; after drinking too much, his hand was so unsteady that he couldn't even hold a calligraphy brush properly.

"He's busy with social engagements every day, probably his stomach is full of alcohol, he doesn't eat much meat, and he's working so hard, it's no wonder he's thin," Yang Ruoqing said after looking Dazhi up and down.

Dazhi nodded, "Mother is right, it's really true. Fortunately, I'm finally home now, and I can finally settle down and review my lessons!"

"There's no rush to read, there's plenty of time, take your time," Yang Ruoqing said with a smile.

In the years before, I studied very hard and finally passed the imperial examination. Although everyone needs to learn and improve throughout their lives, there are priorities.

"Zhi'er, what are your plans for your career in politics?"

When Nini got tired and sleepy, Xiao Qiao took her to the next room to sleep with her wet nurse.

Wang Cuilian took Tuantuan and Yuanyuan to play in the front yard. When only Yang Ruoqing and her son Dazhi were left in the house, Yang Ruoqing asked Dazhi directly.

“Mother, my eldest uncle asked me about this on the way back.” Dazhi got up, poured Yang Ruoqing a bowl of hot tea, and then sat down properly on the stool opposite her.

To be honest, people who study in this era, influenced by the thoughts of Confucius and Mencius, have the temperament of scholars in their daily words and deeds, even in the act of holding a teacup or a simple sitting posture.

Head held high, chest out, eyes looking straight ahead, refined and courteous...

These words are not flattery; they truly reflect their character, making you exclaim upon seeing them: "This person is a scholar!"
Yang Ruoqing was very satisfied with Dazhi's refined and gentle temperament, plus his handsome appearance... No wonder he was the son she raised!
"Since your uncle has talked to you about it, what do you think?" Yang Ruoqing asked again, her tone very gentle and patient.

It's just like when a son is about to graduate from university, and after dinner, the mother asks him whether he's planning to look for a job or pursue further studies and take the postgraduate entrance exam.

If I'm looking for a job, which city do I plan to go to? What kind of help do I need from my family?
At this moment, facing Yang Ruoqing's question, Dazhi thought about it seriously and then said, "My uncle told me that I am a second-class Jinshi, ranked 48th. According to my background and performance, I can enter the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi, or go to the Six Ministries as a Guanzhengshi. These are all seventh-rank official positions."

"If there are vacancies in the six ministries and nine ministers of the central government, the Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, and other government offices, they can be filled."

Yang Ruoqing nodded gently.

This was the treatment of scholars in ancient times once they passed the imperial examinations. They could directly enter the government and eat the government's food. If you did well in the examinations and became the top scholar, the second-ranked scholar, or the third-ranked scholar, you would become a disciple of the emperor, and your choices would be much wider.

Like Da'an back then, he directly passed the imperial examination with top honors and then entered the Hanlin Academy as a compiler, directly rising to the sixth rank.

Zuo Jinling was the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations and should have been appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-rank official.

Although their ranks, from sixth to seventh grade, are not very high, they represent an important starting point for their official careers, with unlimited potential.

The emperor assigned them to specific departments for internships.

Just like the departments that Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) could choose from, once you entered, you wouldn't immediately be given great power; you would first have to learn.

One can only be officially appointed after the formal term has expired. However, the process can be long or short, depending on the individual.

"Since your uncle has analyzed it so clearly for you, what about you? What do you think?" Yang Ruoqing asked again.

Anyway, I'm definitely going to Beijing after the New Year.

Dazhi thought for a moment, then raised his head and said, "I haven't made up my mind yet. I want to hear what Mother thinks first."

"Wherever my mother tells me to go, I will go."