CH 129

It seemed that Zhulan had brought everything that Zhou Shuren needed for the county exam. The number of examination sessions for the county exam can be determined by the county, either four or five sessions. Therefore, Zhou Shuren will need to stay at least five nights. It was essential to bring thick blankets, at least three sets of clothes, and sturdy shoes.

The exams in the North were challenging. In the second month of the lunar calendar, the weather remains bitterly cold. The county’s dedicated exam venue was not indoors. Though it lacked the pigeon cage-like conditions of the Xiànshì1, it was far from comfortable. Candidates sat facing south and north, with the northern part serving as the entrance gate. Behind them were the waiting rooms for their family members, and in the middle, there was a passageway. The examiners sat in the western room, where they call out names, while the eastern room was used for administrative purposes. The northern area consisted of simple, side-by-side seats under rudimentary exam sheds, which were the seats for the examinees.

This environment posed greater challenges for the candidates, making the exam conditions even more harsh.

It was very ventilated, and it was not easy to keep the roll surface clean and the handwriting neat. The advantage of the South side was better. Since it is not as cold as the north, the exam can be a little more comfortable.

Zhulan gained a lot of knowledge, secretly praying that there will be no wind these few days!

After breakfast, Zhulan checked her luggage again. Zhou Shuren checked the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone by herself, and finally confirmed that she had brought the purse and money. Zhou Shuren and the others arrived in the Patriarch’s ox cart arrived, and finally shook Zhulan’s hand, “Wait for my good news.”

Zhulan felt at ease when the exam was coming, “Don’t be harsh on yourself, go out to eat what you want. I packed you twenty taels, don’t be reluctant to spend it.”

Zhou Shuren said, “Well, I’m not at home, so you should go to bed early.

Seeing the wide-eyed look of the patriarch’s grandson, the sons of the Zhou family thought that it was rare and strange, and no one in the village knew how much their father cared about their mother.

Zhulan didn’t follow Zhou Shuren to the county. There was not only Zhou Shuren in the ox cart, but also two candidates from two foreign families. The ox cart seemed crowded, and when the people left, Zhulan went back to the house.

Second Zhou pulled his wife’s sleeve, Zhao Shi nodded in understanding, turned back to the house, and carried her son into the main room.

Boss Zhou could see things clearly now. The recent, tough, hands-on education from his father, had made him someone who didn’t just look at surface appearances. Although he couldn’t be aware of everything happening around him, he paid attention to important details. Unexpectedly, he felt heartache upon realizing that even his impression of his timid and crybaby dìmèi2 was wrong—she was actually quite clever. He suddenly felt a sense of sorrow; among all the members of the Zhou family, he and his wife seemed to be the least intelligent!

Seeing Zhao Shi coming with the baby in her arms, Zhulan took him. The little grandson Mingrui was more than two months old. Zhao Shi’s milk was good, the baby’s arms were as chubby as lotus roots, and he grasped Zhulan’s fingers tightly. She played with the child for a moment and then turned to Zhao Shi, who was sewing, and said, “It’s almost time for the hundred-day celebration3. But your father and I have decided not to hold it.”

Zhulan would also tell Zhang Shuren about this decision. Whether she tells Zhao Shi or not doesn’t matter, but as a woman, she understands women better, so it’s better to personally explain it to avoid any lingering doubts in Zhao Shi’s heart.

Zhao Shi’s hands trembled with the needle and thread. During the child’s full moon celebration, Zhu Shuren was not there, and only the grandparents from the maternal side were able to attend. They couldn’t celebrate during the Lunar New Year when it was the coldest, and now they were considering not having the hundredth-day celebration either. These thoughts weighed heavily on her mind. However, looking at her in-laws, it didn’t seem like they disliked their family. She knew that many other impoverished families in the village rarely held celebrations except for the full moon celebration. Still, the uneasiness remained in her heart. Their family wasn’t in dire straits, and both Mingyun and Mingteng had celebrations. With her head lowered, she reluctantly agreed, saying, “I’ll listen to you, Mother.”

Zhulan raised an eyebrow, anticipating this reaction from Zhao Shi. She looked at the evident dissatisfaction in her daughter-in-law’s tone and explained, “Not having a hundredth-day celebration does indeed feel unfair to Mingrui. However, it coincides with your father-in-law’s county exam, and it’s not suitable for a big event. We plan to have a quiet family gathering, enjoy a nice meal, and then when Mingrui turns one year old, we’ll have a grand celebration with a one-year-old birthday tradition.”

Zhao Shi became excited. Both she and her husband had confidence in her father-in-law’s county exam. When he became a successful candidate, even more people would come to celebrate, especially since he would be the first grandson to undergo the one-year-old birthday tradition after her father-in-law’s achievement. Mingrui would receive even more attention. If they managed to find some meaningful items for the ceremony, it could undoubtedly strengthen their position in her in-laws’ hearts. “Mother, Mingrui won’t feel aggrieved, and we have no objections either,” she replied with determination.

It was clear that she needed to put in more effort. Her elder brother’s two sons were older, and her in-laws have a strong liking for them. Her son had a significant age gap compared to the two older ones, which put him at a disadvantage. She didn’t consider her son as the youngest grandson since Changlian and Changzhi haven’t married yet. She only hoped that her son can receive the same love and affection from her in-laws as their granddaughter does.

Li Shi returned after wandering around outside, looking extremely excited. “Mother, Fourth Wang’s doorstep was splashed with dirty water,” she exclaimed.