Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 457 - 415: Reassignment

Su Jingchen looked at Su Jinghua, who timidly called out "brother," then lowered her head and hid behind Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian gently scratched Su Jinghua’s palm in secret to comfort her.

"I had Cao Gen drive the carriage here. Let’s get on and go home. Once we’re back, you should freshen up and get some sleep. When you’re well-rested and recovered, we’ll discuss the Spring Examination’s questions." In truth, Yu Xiaolian was quite curious about which math questions Fu Yi had chosen.

Su Jingchen nodded, first helping Yu Xiaolian onto the carriage, then scooping up Su Jinghua and placing her inside, before finally climbing in himself.

As soon as Su Jinghua entered the cramped carriage, she immediately sat next to Yu Xiaolian. The long narrow bench only had room for two, so Su Jinghua sat beside Yu Xiaolian, leaving Su Jingchen to sit opposite Yu Xiaolian.

Su Jinghua noticed her brother giving her a chilly look, which made her shiver. She slipped down from the bench and asked Su Jingchen, "Brother, do you want to switch seats?"

"Hmm?" Su Jingchen was surprised.

Su Jinghua summoned her courage and repeated, "Do you want to sit next to sister-in-law?"

Su Jingchen chuckled, "The carriage is about to move. Sit still."

Yu Xiaolian pulled Su Jinghua back up and hugged her little shoulders. "Your brother was cooped up in the exam hall; he smells, and I don’t want to sit next to him. Our Jinghua smells lovely instead."

Su Jinghua beamed at the compliment from Yu Xiaolian, a bit confused. "Sister-in-law, does that mean tonight you’ll still sleep in my bed?"

Yu Xiaolian was taken aback, unsure of how to respond, and her face flushed bright red as she stammered, "Once your brother washes up, he won’t smell." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The implication was clear: she still intended to sleep with her husband.

Su Jinghua felt a bit forlorn; she had been so happy sleeping with her sister-in-law every night. This blissful feeling was about to end, and she would have to revert to her usual routine.

"But even if he doesn’t smell, he won’t be as fragrant as Jinghua. So I’m deciding to sleep with Jinghua tonight!" In truth, Yu Xiaolian wanted Su Jingchen to have a proper rest. If they shared a bed, it would be strange if Su Jingchen had a good rest!

However, Su Jingchen didn’t quite understand Yu Xiaolian’s "kindness" and eagerly sought to secure his privileges.

"Jinghua, you’re already six years old; you should sleep on your own. Don’t cling to your sister-in-law!"

Su Jinghua’s smile froze instantly.

"Alright, brother!" Su Jinghua reluctantly complied, feeling it’s unfair her brother could sleep with her sister-in-law.

Although Su Jinghua thought it unfair, she dared not question her brother, as even their father feared him.

"Tonight, I’ll sleep with her. You can get a good night’s rest!" Yu Xiaolian suggested.

Su Jingchen looked directly into Yu Xiaolian’s eyes, "Without you, I can’t rest well!"

"You... the child is still here; watch what you say!" Yu Xiaolian teased.

Su Jingchen looked at Su Jinghua, "She’s still young and doesn’t understand anything!"

Su Jinghua cooperatively said, "I’m young, so I don’t understand!" But I’m not dumb, kept the latter part to herself.

In short, her brother is really fortunate to be able to sleep with her sister-in-law every night. When will she ever get this kind of happiness?

Sigh, I wonder when my brother will go out again next time?

Unexpectedly, Su Jinghua didn’t foresee her brother setting out soon, and this time, taking the whole family along.

Indeed, as Yu Xiaolian anticipated, Su Jingchen was assigned to a position elsewhere.

In the metropolitan examination, Su Jingchen won the top laurels. In April, he attended the palace examination and was personally selected by the Emperor as the top candidate, winning all three titles in one go, which was initially a cause for celebration.

Unexpectedly, on Fu Yi’s advice, Su Jingchen was directly relocated to Northern Yang City.

According to Fu Yi, Su Zhaogong’s talents were best suited to manage post-disaster reconstruction and restore Yangcheng’s former glory.

Yu Xiaolian could only curse inwardly. She and her family had finally escaped Northern Yang City, only to return there again.

Moreover, as Zheng Yuanfeng mentioned, Yangcheng suffered from population loss due to a major drought. Even if the court sought labor to rebuild, it’s hard to find anyone since many who left had died or settled elsewhere, and only a few were willing to return.

Becoming Yangcheng’s County Magistrate was much harder than being a Residence Attendant in the Imperial Study Room. Finally, Yu Xiaolian understood what Fu Yi meant by offering the couple a chance to contribute to their hometown.

It seemed Fu Yi had long planned to send Su Jingchen away, but why? Neither Yu Xiaolian nor Su Jingchen could fathom.

Since they couldn’t figure it out, they didn’t dwell on it.

In early May, Su Jingchen set out with his official seal, appointment document, family, and Li Wenyuan.

Indeed, Su Jingchen requested Li Wenyuan from Fu Yi.

It was Liu Sheng who had caused trouble for Li Wenyuan, as Fu Yi realized. Liu Sheng was the wayward younger brother of Liu Feng, known for bullying poorer students and common folks in the Capital.

Fu Yi stated that in three years, Li Wenyuan could retake the metropolitan examination. For now, he could accompany Su Jingchen and serve as a Secretary, an eighth-rank position.

This would allow him to accumulate administrative experience for future independence.

They traveled along a route passing Luocheng because Yu Xiaolian had to visit home. The journey to Yangcheng was extremely far compared to quick trips home from the Capital.

When Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen arrived in Luocheng, it was mid-May, during the spring plowing season when every household was busy in the fields.

Yu Xiaolian went directly to Taohua Village, while Su Jingchen headed to Bridge Alley. Their family wouldn’t likely return from Yangcheng for three or four years, so Su Jingchen decided to bring all his staff along, leaving just one to watch over the house.

Yu Xiaolian jumped from the carriage to see the front door wide open, and the yard was empty.

As Yu Xiaolian puzzled over this, she saw Yu Ziqian skipping out of the back yard, waving a foxtail grass.

"Hey, brother Qian, where are Dad and Mom? Why’s the house empty?" Seeing Yu Ziqian so relaxed, Yu Xiaolian felt at ease, indicating nothing serious had happened at home.

"Big sis???" Yu Ziqian was thrilled, rushing over to hug Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian patted Yu Ziqian’s head and asked again, "Why aren’t any of the guards home? Isn’t anyone watching the door?"