A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

"Brother Zhang, Cong'er's enrollment in school is a great thing. If he studies hard in the future, he will surely have a bright future," Old Wang said with a smile, raising his glass.

"Thank you for your kind words, Brother Wang!" Manager Zhang said with a beaming face. "This child is quite clever, and with Aunt Wanxing's guidance, he managed to pass the teacher's test by sheer luck."

"Oh?" Old Wang's eyes lit up, and he asked casually, "The eldest daughter of the Chen family can tutor her nephew?"

"That's right," Manager Zhang said with interest. "Wanxing is a girl who is literate and knowledgeable. Before Cong'er started school, she often taught him to recognize characters and recite texts, which laid a solid foundation for him."

In my opinion, Cong'er's smooth enrollment in school owes a great deal to her aunt.

The others at the table echoed her sentiments, praising Chen Wanxing's competence. Old Wang beamed, nodding repeatedly, "Indeed, indeed, Miss Chen clearly has knowledge and experience."

His smug look only made Uncle Chen feel worse.

As the banquet drew to a close, Manager Zhang stood up and said a few polite words, thanking all the relatives and friends for coming. He then specially asked Youcong to come out and bow to everyone.

The little guy, dressed in his new clothes, bowed in a very proper manner, drawing a chorus of praise.

Looking at Youcong, Wang Laocai's eyes revealed genuine affection. When he finished eating and left the table, he even took out a small red envelope from his pocket and gave it to the child.

"Study hard, Cong-ge'er, you'll have a bright future."

The red envelope was bulging, clearly quite heavy. Manager Zhang quickly declined, but Old Man Wang insisted, saying, "This is for the child, for good luck."

Finally, at Manager Zhang's prompting, Youcong accepted the money and said in a clear voice, "Thank you, Grandpa Wang."

Old Wang grinned from ear to ear, patted the child's head, and then went out.

Uncle Chen saw all of this, and for the first time, his idea that "the Wang family has their eye on Qiuju" began to waver.

If the Wang family is so generous to the eldest son's children, why would they be so cold to Qiuju's future father-in-law if they really intend to marry her? They wouldn't even say a word to him alone.

When the banquet ended, it was already late afternoon. The guests took their leave one after another, and the Chen family also prepared to return home.

The Zhang family, the shopkeeper and his wife, saw the guests off at the door. When the Chen family came out, they were exceptionally warm and welcoming, saying, "Take care on your way home, and come visit us in town often!"

Hui Niang's mother also said gently, "If you come to town, you must come and visit us."

On the way back to the village, the atmosphere was completely different from when they came. On the oxcart, Uncle Chen Er was silent with a sullen face, and Aunt Chen Er also looked depressed.

Qiuju kept her head down, but her tense shoulders relaxed slightly. It seemed that Aunt Taohua must have been mistaken about the previous news.

This made the heavy pressure in her heart inexplicably lighten a bit.

The cool breeze of a spring evening blew into the carriage. Chen Wanxing pulled her coat tighter and looked out the window at the setting sun, her mind filled with mixed thoughts.

Today's banquet revealed too many unexpected things, and some answers can only be revealed when that person returns.

Thinking of Wang Yanning's words in his letter, "I will return soon." Counting the days, he should arrive in the next day or two.

When he returns, she will still ask him about the situation in person. At least she needs to make things clear to Wang Yanning about the attitude of Wang Laocai and his wife towards her when they came to see her today.

The oxcart swayed back and forth on the road to Xiahe Village, while on another official road, Wang Yanning's horse-drawn carriage was also heading towards Ruyang County.

Four young people were sitting in the carriage.

Wang Yanning sat on the left side by the window, directly opposite Zhou Wenbo. The magistrate's son was wearing a peach-pink silk robe today, which made his already fair skin appear even more rosy, giving him a rather flamboyant look.

His face beamed with undisguised joy. Fourth place in the academy examination—a result that would allow him to hold his head high in front of his father.

Zhou Wenbo was talking to Qian Wenbai, who was diagonally opposite him, in a warm tone.

But Qian Wenbo looked rather dejected at the moment, forcing a smile as he responded to Zhou Wenbo's words.

He failed the imperial examination again this time, almost the second time.

"Wenbo, don't be discouraged," Lin Lang, sitting next to Zhou Wenbo, advised.

"You were just unlucky this time. After we left the exam hall, didn't we show the paper you wrote from memory to my grandfather? He said that your writing foundation is not bad. The reason you didn't make the list this time is probably just because the questions didn't appeal to the examiner."

"If you study diligently again when you come back this time, you'll definitely be at the top of the list next time."

Qian Wenbai smiled wryly: "Brother Lin, there's no need to comfort me. I know my own level is far inferior to yours, so it's normal that I didn't pass the exam."

He looked at Wang Yanning with genuine admiration in his eyes, "Brother Yanning, although your ranking is in the middle this time, I heard that the academic commissioner gave a very high evaluation to your essay 'On Water Conservancy,' saying that it was 'profoundly insightful and not just empty talk from an ordinary scholar.'"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yanning turned his gaze away from the window and shook his head slightly: "It was just a fluke. Brother Wenbai, there's no need to belittle yourself. The key to studying is perseverance."

After a moment of silence in the carriage, Lin Lang suddenly spoke up: "Speaking of perseverance, Yan Ning, Wen Bai, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

He sat up straight, his expression serious. "My maternal grandfather had a classmate at the Kaifeng Prefectural School who is now a lecturer there."

My maternal grandfather told me that several retired scholars had come to the Kaifeng Prefectural School this year, and that they would be lecturing there, specializing in classical texts and policy essays, in preparation for next year's provincial examinations.

He looked at Wang Yanning and Zhou Wenbo, "My maternal grandfather wants me and Brother Wenbo to stop studying in Runing Prefecture this year. We'll go home to rest for a while and then head straight to Kaifeng."

If you are interested, he can write you both a letter of recommendation, suggesting you try your luck at the Kaifeng Prefectural School.

"Kaifeng Prefectural School?" Qian Wenbai's eyes lit up, then dimmed again. "I didn't even pass the county-level exam, I'm afraid..."

"Brother Wenbo, you can come along too," Zhou Wenbo said, patting his shoulder reassuringly. "The Kaifeng Prefectural School doesn't only accept students; it also has lectures for those who have completed their studies. Besides..."

He paused, then looked at Lin Lang, "I also think that Brother Wenbai needs better guidance from his mentors."

Lin Lang nodded: "Indeed, the county school in Ruyang County only has one licentiate, who is a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations. The other two teachers are both scholars who have passed the county-level examinations, so they can only teach a limited amount of material."

The lowest-ranking lecturer at Kaifeng Prefectural School was a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level). The academic atmosphere and perspective there were different from those in Runing Prefecture, let alone the county school in Ruyang County, which you attended.

By the way, speaking of this, I truly admire Yan Ning. He only studied under an old scholar in town, yet he achieved such results, which is enough to demonstrate his talent.

Zhou Wenbo looked at Wang Yanning with eager eyes: "Yanning, with your talent, if you were to be guided by a renowned teacher from the Kaifeng Prefectural School, you would definitely have a better chance of passing next year's provincial examination."

Brother Lin and I have both decided to give it a try. Would you like to come with us?