They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 390 Shock
Liang Minglang couldn't help but find it both funny and exasperating. He raised his hand to pat him on the head, but then, remembering that he was a scholar and might accidentally make him stupid, he changed direction halfway and gently patted him on the shoulder instead. "Such a small person, yet you have so many worries!"

"elder brother!"

The child pursed his lips, protesting in dissatisfaction.

They're treating him like a child again!

Liang Minglang laughed in exasperation.

He didn't want to explain at first, but after thinking about it, he decided to explain anyway.

"I'm telling you, but don't tell anyone else, my brother and my ex-sister-in-law were actually a fake couple."

"what?"

"And what about your sister-in-law now?"

"My older brother likes her."

Liang Mingxuan paused for a moment, then he understood.

Then he said, "I like both of my sisters-in-law."

Liang Minglang chuckled helplessly, "Alright, you like it all, but don't call the previous sister-in-law 'sister-in-law' anymore, just call her 'sister'."

Liang Mingxuan nodded.

Liang Minglang patted him gently: "Don't meddle in adults' affairs. I know everything."

"Um"

The news was so shocking that Liang Mingxuan needed time to process it, but in any case, the matter was now clear and unambiguous, and he no longer needed to worry.

"Brother, don't let sister-in-law down."

Liang Minglang laughed in exasperation, "Do you even need to tell me that?"

Liang Mingxuan smiled sheepishly and said, "Oh, that's good."

It was late at night, and I thought nothing was going to happen, but to my surprise, Uncle Liang and Zhang Shi actually came.

Perhaps to bolster their courage, Liang Minghua and Mao also came.

After all, the two families had fallen out and had no further connection. They couldn't put on airs as elders anymore, and might even get a scolding from Liang Minglang, so they were somewhat intimidated.

Liang Minglang narrowed his eyes, his expression indeed very unfriendly: "What are you doing here?"

Liang Minghua forced a smile: "Look at what you're saying, at least it's a village—"

"You have something to say."

The members of the eldest son's family choked, all a little displeased, but none of them dared to lash out.

Uncle Liang: "Ahem, we're just here to check if Mingxuan will participate in this year's imperial examination."

The two brothers were both puzzled. Liang Minglang said, "Of course I'll participate."

you still need to ask?

Xu Zhichun glanced at Zhang Shi and saw her face full of resentment and anxiety, which immediately gave her a clue.

Xu Zhichun thought to himself, "Men are men after all, they're not that sensitive, so these two brothers are still confused. Hehe!"

Uncle Liang said, “The preliminary examination is very different from the preliminary examination. I’ve heard that there’s a big difference. Many people pass the preliminary examination when they are ten years old, but they still can’t pass the preliminary examination when they are over fifty. It’s not that simple. Mingxuan is too young. You are in such a hurry to let him take the exam. If he fails, won’t he be sad? Won’t he be greatly discouraged? It will be too easy to affect his future studies.”

"Besides, he's young, and he did so well in the preliminary examination. If he takes the exam this time, countless people will be watching him. If he fails, countless people will gloat and laugh at him. Can you bear to let him suffer all that at such a young age?"

"Wouldn't it be better to wait a few years, until he's older, has a more solid foundation in his studies, and has tempered his character? Wouldn't it be more reliable to take the exam then?"

"This is all for his own good!"

To be honest, Uncle Liang's words actually resonated with Liang Minglang.

He certainly knew that scientific expeditions were very, very difficult.

Xu said that Xuan was extremely talented, but he didn't know exactly how talented he was.

But it's truly remarkable that a child so young passed the preliminary examination. Is it really possible for someone so young to take the county-level examination?

If you fail the exam, no one will care whether you are old or young; you'll definitely be met with ridicule, sarcasm, and gloating.

He's still so young, can he handle it?

Even if he guessed that the eldest son's family definitely didn't have good intentions, he still had to consider this issue.

Liang Minglang hesitated before looking at Liang Mingxuan.

Liang Mingxuan pursed his lips. "Brother, I can do well on the exam. I'm sure I can pass. The teachers all say I can too."

The teachers at the county school valued him highly. He received a lot of private tutoring over the past year, and his fellow students who received private tutoring with him were very kind to him and willing to offer guidance. No one treated him like a child; they jokingly said they would watch him become "the pride of the whole county."

He was confident he could pass the exam.

"Brother, I want to participate, I can do it."

"Mingxuan."

"I will definitely pass the exam."

Zhang said, "Oh dear, you can't be so sure. What if you don't pass? You haven't even taken the test before, so you think it's easy?"

Liang Minglang glared at Zhang Shi with displeasure. What do you mean, "failed"? Such words are too unlucky. He originally wanted to say, "It doesn't matter if you don't pass the exam," but hesitated and didn't say it. What right does Zhang Shi have to say that?

Liang Minglang snorted, "My Mingxuan is exceptionally intelligent. Since he said he could pass the exam, he must have his reasons!"

Uncle Liang frowned, his elder's airs unconsciously resurfacing: "Minglang and Mingxuan are just children. Don't you know they're immature and don't know their own limitations? What will happen then—"

"What if things turn out that way?" Liang Minglang's eyes had turned cold as he said icily, "My Mingxuan is the best. He's far better than so many people who have lived their whole lives without understanding anything! If he says it's possible, then it's possible! In short, no matter what, as his older brother, I will support him and protect him. I can handle anything!"

Are you kidding me? If he doesn't protect his brother, does he mean he'll help outsiders suppress him?

Even if they need to reconsider and discuss whether to take this into account, it's a matter for their family to discuss behind closed doors.

Uncle Liang was furious. "How could you—I meant well! How could you be so inconsiderate? You'll regret this."

Xu Zhichun glanced at Liang Minglang and curled her lips. She liked men who would protect their own.

I feel safe.

He understands things very well.

well.

Xu Zhichun: "Uncle Liang, Aunt Zhang, is Mingxiang not participating in the children's examination this time?"

Mr. and Mrs. Liang were taken aback.

Zhang blurted out, "How did you know?"

Xu Zhichun smiled and subtly stabbed her in the back: "I think this is easy to guess, otherwise you wouldn't have come all this way."

The eldest son's family: "."

I'm so angry, but I feel guilty.

Liang Minglang and Liang Mingxuan, brothers: "."

I understand now, that's how it is.
The two brothers felt ashamed, as if they had let their wives (sister-in-law) down. Why hadn't they thought of such an easy reason?
Because Liang Mingxiang wasn't participating this time, even though the eldest branch of the family had fallen out with them, they had no choice but to muster up the courage to come, even if it meant holding their noses, just so Liang Mingxuan wouldn't participate.

To put it bluntly, they were unwilling to let Liang Mingxuan outshine Liang Mingxiang.

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

If Liang Mingxiang doesn't take the exam, then Mingxuan can't take it either? Should we just go along with him?

Does that mean if Liang Mingxiang fails the exam, Mingxuan absolutely cannot pass either?

Instead of making an effort themselves, they only know how to use underhanded methods to hinder others' progress.

Pooh!
I knew it!
None of them are good.