Mr. Mu was also moved by Mu Dazhong’s words about settling down in the Capital.

Indeed, people aspire to greater heights. If the Old Mu Family could go to the Capital, the entire Er Gui Village would elevate the Old Mu Family to the skies.

However, they would need to sell their fields and land to go to the Capital, so Mr. Mu felt that this matter still needed some consideration.

"Second son, let’s put this matter aside for now! Let me first discuss it with your eldest brother and see what he has to say."

As soon as Mr. Mu finished speaking, Mu Dazhong and the others felt a wave of disappointment in their hearts.

They thought they could immediately go to the Capital, but it seems they still have to wait.

Mr. Mu quickly headed towards the eldest son’s room.

The other brothers of the Old Mu Family went home to daydream.

Although Mr. Mu didn’t make a definitive decision at that moment, at least there was now a plan to go to the Capital with the eldest brother after the New Year.

The first thing the second family did when they got back home was to tally up their family assets. Mu Dazhong directly told Mrs. Lin, "Gou Dan’s mother, you heard what we discussed today.

We have to marry Huang Bitao, and at the same time, we need to find a way to get some money. I heard that your eldest brother’s business has been doing quite well lately, why don’t you go back and ask him if he’s willing to take us along. If he’s willing, we’ll take him to the Capital to make a fortune together."

Although Mrs. Lin’s family wasn’t considered wealthy, they had a smart eldest brother who started doing business a few years ago.

Initially, he lost everything, but later things gradually improved. The first bit of wealth for the second family, which was confiscated by Old Mrs. Mu, was five hundred wen given by Mu Dazhong’s brother-in-law.

As time has passed, his brother-in-law’s life has been getting better and better, so it’s time to help out poor relatives a bit.

"Alright, I’ll go this afternoon to Lin Family Village to have a look and bring Gou Dan along. My eldest brother has no sons and has always considered Gou Dan half like his own son."

Mrs. Lin was full of excitement. Being oppressed for so long, the imminent sense of turning the tables and singing in freedom was simply amazing.

Mu Dazhong was also full of excitement.

"Gou Dan’s mother, I leave this matter to you!"

...

...

East Wing of the Old Mu Family

Mr. Mu held his old tobacco pipe in one hand, with the other hand behind his back. Every time he visited the eldest son’s room, he felt particularly proud.

This was the place Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu used to live, but later they vacated it for the eldest son’s reading and studies.

A Taoist who repaired their path early on said this land was a lotus treasure land that would bring success.

Over the years, although the eldest son hadn’t had any sons, he at least passed the scholar exam, so the Taoist wasn’t wrong.

Mr. Mu stood outside the wing room for a long time, gathering his thoughts before entering the room.

Mu Dade was still reminiscing about the time spent in the county with Ruan Xiao Jiao.

Those were the happiest days of his life.

Mu Dade now had over a hundred taels of silver, eighty of which came from Ruan Xiao Jiao selling all her jewelry and all the wealth County Magistrate Zheng had given over the years.

One could say she placed all her hopes on Mu Dade, as long as he passed as the Champion Scholar, they would be together.

Thinking about Ruan Xiao Jiao’s refined and graceful face, a kind of infatuation appeared in Mu Dade’s eyes.

Even when Mr. Mu entered, he didn’t hide this expression.

"Ahem, eldest!" Mr. Mu didn’t know what his son was thinking about, but he had things on his mind that he needed to express.

"Dad, what brings you here?" Mu Dade put down the teacup in his hand and greeted Mr. Mu, but he didn’t get up to welcome him.

Mr. Mu didn’t notice this small detail; he walked up by himself and sat down beside Mu Dade.

"Eldest, ever since your classmate came by, we haven’t really talked. What are you thinking, can you let me know?"

Mu Dade furrowed his brow slightly, seemingly unhappy with Mr. Mu’s interference.

But he soon restrained his displeasure and half-truthfully talked about his plans with Mr. Mu.

"Dad, our Old Mu Family has been farmers for generations, and so am I. But now I’ve passed the imperial exams and become a scholar, life is slowly settling.

I just want to fight for it once more. If I succeed, I can return gloriously, and the family will be respected by the village.

Even if the outcome isn’t great, I accept it. After all, having been to the Capital and seen the world, I wouldn’t be a frog in the well."

Mr. Mu nodded slightly.

If not for the large expenses of going to the Capital, it indeed would be right to let his son go.

As if he knew what Mr. Mu was thinking, Mu Dade said, "Dad, you and Mom don’t have to worry about the travel expenses. The court has given scholars some money and provisions to encourage us to take next year’s Imperial Examination.

Moreover, Dan Dan’s mother’s family has already said they would support us with some more silver taels."

Actually, Mu Dade had reached a point where he didn’t really lack silver taels.

Many people wanted to gain some benefit from him.

On the day he returned, even the village head of Er Gui Village sent ten taels of silver, and Mu Dade’s classmates each contributed a little. Mr. Mu didn’t know about all this.

Upon hearing Mu Dade’s words, Mr. Mu suddenly felt uncomfortable all over.

His own son, going for an exam, needed the help of his daughter-in-law’s family; would this son still remain close to him in the future?

"Eldest, your mother and I aren’t capable of much; we can’t produce large sums. Fifth and your younger sister aren’t married yet, and we don’t even know if Lao Liu Ziran, who’s been in the military for so many years, is alive or dead. If he is alive, he hasn’t married either.

These are the responsibilities your mother and I should bear. In short, this year’s harvest, just like previous years, will be entirely for your travel expenses after taxes and family necessities.

If that’s not enough, I’ll sell off some of our fertile land to scrounge up some silver taels for emergencies."

Mr. Mu indeed placed Mu Dade’s matters at heart.

When Mu Dazhong wanted to go to the Capital and demanded Mr. Mu sell land, Mr. Mu didn’t agree and said he’d consider it.

But now, as soon as Mu Dade mentioned travel expenses, Mr. Mu talked about selling land without hesitation.

For Mr. Mu, land was like half his life; he had placed all his hopes in Mu Dade.

A few smiles gradually appeared on Mu Dade’s face.

"Dad, I appreciate your intentions, but I don’t want to take your land and fields, which are your life. Let’s leave this matter aside for now, and if I really need it later, I’ll ask you then, alright?"

(PS: Fengfeng’s Chapters were blocked, specifically Chapters 151, 293, and 304. The editor is unavailable during weekends, so releasing the Chapters is impossible, causing some readers to see repeated Chapters.

There are two solutions: first, delete the book from the shelf and then re-add it; second, go to the review section to see yesterday’s update.)