From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

"Why did you come back instead of properly serving in the Marquis's mansion?!"

Inside the main room, Madam Chen sat on an old locust wood chair, looking at Chen Shi with a stern expression.

"Upon receiving a letter from my mother informing me that my elder brother had passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, I was overjoyed."

Chen Shi stood there and continued.

"Reflecting on the fact that I haven't seen my mother and brother for two years, I specially asked the steward for leave to come back and congratulate my brother."

"No need for congratulations or anything like that. What we really need to do is pay the bill. The banquet is already booked for tomorrow, and we're just waiting to settle the bill with them."

Madam Chen glanced at Chen Shi, paused briefly, and then asked.

"I've brought the five taels of silver."

"I brought it."

Chen Shi nodded, took out an old handkerchief wrapped in his pocket, and opened it to find some loose silver coins inside, exactly five taels.

"This is what I've saved up over the past two years. I was worried that it would be inconvenient for Mother to use, so I specially exchanged the copper coins for silver."

"well."

Madam Chen picked up the silver coins, bit them one by one, and then a smile appeared on her face. She then scolded them again.

"You've always been so irresponsible, child. I'm not trying to criticize you, but imagine how much money you'll have spent on the journey back and forth. And since you've taken leave, do you think the Marquis's mansion won't deduct from your monthly salary?"

"Mother is absolutely right."

"I'm doing this for your own good. If you don't save some money now, what will you do later?"

With a smile on her face, Chen Wangshi put the silver away and then looked at Cui Nong behind Chen Shi.

"Who is this young lady?"

"Oh, I was just about to report to my mother."

Chen Shi pulled Cui Nong over and said with a happy expression.

"This is Cui Nong, my son's future wife."

"……daughter in law!"

Chen Wangshi stared wide-eyed, her face full of surprise.

Then he looked Cui Nong up and down several times, his brows furrowing again.

"Cui Nong greets Madam."

"Oh, oh, you're welcome."

It wasn't until Cui Nong bowed that Chen Wangshi came to her senses and looked at Chen Shi with a face full of doubt.

"Where did you pick up such a beautiful girl?"

"How can you call it abduction? This is a marriage arranged by the master."

Chen Shi smiled and recited the lie he had prepared beforehand.

"In that case, your master in the Marquis's mansion will also act as matchmaker."

Chen Wangshi nodded, muttering something in confusion.

"But your brother hasn't..."

Clang!

As they were talking, they suddenly heard the courtyard gate being kicked open.

Immediately afterward, a series of staggering footsteps were heard, and a dark-skinned, short, stout man walked in.

"We had a wonderful time drinking today! Mother, make sure the food and wine for tomorrow are prepared well. I've already asked someone to invite the Instructor; you mustn't let me down..."

As he was speaking, Chen Yu suddenly saw Chen Shi standing there. He rubbed his eyes and was taken aback.

"what?"

"Greetings, elder brother!"

Chen Shi had already come over and greeted him.

elder brother?

Cui Nong opened her eyes wide, her face full of surprise. This short, ugly, dark-skinned man was Chen Shi's older brother? The two brothers really didn't look alike at all.

"Hmm, wait, who is this young lady...?"

Chen Yu nodded casually to Chen Shi, then suddenly saw Cui Nong beside him. His eyes widened instantly, and he straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed.

"My name is Chen Yu, a newly appointed scholar from this county. May I ask who you are, young lady?"

"A newly appointed scholar? Ha."

Cui Nong chuckled softly. She had only ever heard of newly appointed top scholars, and this was the first time she had ever heard of newly appointed scholars.

"She was Chen Shi's betrothed."

Chen Wangshi sat there, frowning as she spoke.

"What?"

Chen Yu stared wide-eyed at Chen Shi with a look of utter astonishment.

Chen Shi stood there with a smile and nodded. Cui Nong moved closer to Chen Shi and gently took his arm. The intimate way the two of them looked at Chen Yu left him speechless for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Wangshi explained the situation to Chen Yu.

"I see."

After listening, Chen Yu nodded and then said with enthusiasm.

"Sister-in-law, you've come at the perfect time. Join me for my flower-adorning banquet tomorrow."

"Thank you, brother."

"I see it's getting late. My room is cleaner, so you and your wife can sleep there tonight. As for Chen Shi and me, we'll just set up two stools in the main room and make do for the night."

"Thank you, brother, but no need. We've already booked rooms at the inn."

Cui Nong snorted softly; why would she use another stinky man's bedding?

"You're back home, how can you stay at an inn!"

"How much does it cost to stay in a guesthouse for one night?"

Chen Yu tried to persuade her further, but Chen Wangshi glared at Chen Shi and spoke sternly.

"You've been in the Marquis's mansion for two years, and all you've learned is how to waste money!"

"Madam, I paid for it myself; it has nothing to do with Chen Shi."

Before Chen Shi could speak, Cui Nong gave a soft snort.

Chen Wangshi opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment, and angrily turned her head away.

Chen Yu smiled, as if trying to smooth things over.

Having already paid respects to her mother and brother, and having taken out the money, Cui Nong, seeing no intention of preparing a meal, simply pulled Chen Shi away.

It was getting late, so we found an inn in the county town to stay in.

"Have you seen it clearly now?"

After soaking Chen Shi's feet, Cui Nong wiped them while asking him a question.

"I saw it clearly."

Chen Shi nodded and sighed softly.

He was no longer the naive young boy he once was. Now, he could tell at a glance that neither his mother nor his brother had any affection for him.

Surprisingly, Chen Shi wasn't very sad.

Perhaps it was because he had already guessed beforehand that his return this time was only to give up hope.

Knock knock~!

Just as they were talking, a knock sounded at the door; it was the waiter.

"Mr. Chen, your mother has arrived."

"Um?"

Chen Shi and Cui Nong exchanged a glance, then got up and came out.

They were only engaged in name, how could they live in the same room? Upon entering the next room, they saw Chen Wangshi already sitting there.

"What kind of behavior is it for a man and a woman to be alone together in a room!"

"Cui Nong and I are already engaged, and besides, we were just talking and did not do anything inappropriate."

Chen Shi remained calm in the face of Chen Wangshi's accusations.

"That won't do! A woman should stay far away from other men!"

"Ha, Mother, you're wrong. How can I be considered another man?"

"How can you not count it! What did you not count!"

Chen Wangshi was anxious for a moment, then took a deep breath to calm herself down before speaking.

"I came to see you specifically tonight because of this."

"Did your mother come for your child's marriage?"

"What kind of marriage is this! The eldest son doesn't even have a grain of rice left in the pot, how can the second son get to eat first!"

Madam Chen's face darkened, then she coughed lightly and said in a serious tone.

"There's an order of seniority, so your elder brother should get married first. This woman named Cui Nong may be of lowly status, but since your brother has taken a liking to her, why not let her be his wife?"

"Mother!"

Chen Shi gave a cold shout, his gaze suddenly turning icy.

"Hmph, that Cui Nong is nothing but a maidservant, how could she be worthy of your brother, a scholar? However, her appearance is passable, so we'll reluctantly let her marry up."

Chen Wangshi ignored Chen Shi and continued to mutter to herself smugly.

Chen Shi took a deep breath, his face already ashen. His mother and brother were so shameless!