At the break of dawn the next day, Gu Ruinian arrived at the Gu Family’s doorstep.

The entire Tong Huaqiong family walked Gu Jingzhe out, only to see elder members of the old residence surrounding Gu Ruinian with reminders.

"Sister-in-law." Sister-in-law Jia greeted warmly.

The old Mrs. Gu merely snorted in response.

This was the first direct confrontation between Tong Huaqiong and the people from the old residence since their quarrel on Mr. Gu’s death anniversary.

Tong Huaqiong nodded at Mrs. Jia as a form of greeting.

"Aunt, thank you for allowing Brother Jingzhe to take me to the provincial city." Gu Ruinian said gratefully to Tong Huaqiong.

"The family has a carriage, bringing one more person is no trouble." Tong Huaqiong couldn’t stand Gu Ruinian’s false gratitude.

Whenever she thought of how Gu Ruinian might be an old single man in the future, yet here he acted all innocent, it made her stomach turn.

Su Chengmin hitched the carriage, while Nie Xiaofeng tossed Gu Jingzhe’s bundle up, saying, "Uncle, shall we set off?"

"Mom, I’m off."

Gu Jingzhe hopped onto the carriage.

"Relax during the exam, don’t stress." Tong Huaqiong advised.

There wasn’t much else she needed to remind him of.

Having confidence in this former top scholar from the past, Tong Huaqiong was assured.

Meanwhile, at the old residence, Mrs. Gu and Mrs. Jia kept on nagging Gu Ruinian, asking if he’d hidden the silver coins well, whether he had enough dry food, telling him to eat whatever he wanted in the city without pinching pennies, then advising him not to eat or drink carelessly to avoid getting sick...

This left Gu Ruinian feeling quite annoyed.

"Alright, any more talking and it’ll delay the timing." Mr. Gu rebuked Mrs. Gu and Mrs. Jia with a stern face.

Gu Ruinian broke free from his grandmother and mother’s hold and jumped onto the carriage.

"You two, don’t quarrel on the way, remember you’re representing the Gu Family. Discuss anything when you return home." Mr. Gu advised the two grandsons while leaning on the carriage.

Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian nodded in agreement.

Just then, the Clan Leader arrived with fellow clan members to see them off.

Not showing up wasn’t an option, as going to the city for an exam was a big event. No scholar had yet come out of a Qinghe Bay clan.

With the Gu Family about to produce two scholars, the clan members were extremely excited.

The Clan Leader, naturally, once again advised Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian on behalf of everyone, urging them to do well in the exams to bring glory to the clan.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, the Clan Leader only gave good words but nothing substantive, not even considering giving the kids some travel money.

This clan leader was not even as good as some village chiefs in the future, who would know to give university students travel expenses for their studies.

The Clan Leader just wanted the clan’s children to bring honor without any expense.

As soon as the Clan Leader finished advising, Su Chengmin took off with the carriage speeding away.

"As soon as Ruinian left, my heart went up to my throat, worried he wouldn’t pass as a scholar." Mrs. Gu said, rubbing her eyes.

Mrs. Jia gritted her teeth, feeling that the old lady couldn’t say anything nice.

If her Ruinian couldn’t pass as a scholar, then who could?

Her dear Ruinian wouldn’t just pass but top the exam.

This was what Ruinian had stealthily told her, instructing her not to tell anyone.

Mrs. Gu’s concern prompted Mrs. Jia to blurt out, "Mom, those words of yours, my Ruinian is bound to top the exam."

Oh well, she said it anyway.

After all, her Ruinian never lied.

Last time, after studying for just a few days, he declared he could pass as a child student, but everyone stood in his way. In the end, he succeeded.

Mr. Gu disapproved of Mrs. Jia’s boastfulness and glared at her, saying, "Don’t speak in absolutes. What kind of pressure are you putting on Ruinian by saying things like that?"

Reprimanded by her father-in-law, Mrs. Jia felt embarrassed, and in an attempt to save face, she asked Tong Huaqiong, "Sister-in-law, what rank is Jingzhe aiming for this time?"

Tong Huaqiong replied, "Not as impressive as Ruinian, as long as Jingzhe passes as a scholar, I’ll be satisfied."

Tong Huaqiong yawned, thinking of catching up on her sleep.

Jingzhe certainly wasn’t as good as Ruinian. Jingzhe started studying laboriously at five, while Ruinian studied for less than half a year and achieved the same child student title as Jingzhe.

Mrs. Jia felt slightly relieved, feeling she’d outdone her sister-in-law.

...

After Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian left for the city.

Somehow, word spread, and everyone in Qinghe Bay knew that Gu Ruinian was poised to top the exam.

Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu basked in the villagers’ compliments with smiles.

Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia, who hadn’t shown face since their business loss and debt became known, now walked with straightened backs amidst envious stares from the villagers, as if Ruinian had already topped the exam.

Meanwhile, Tong Huaqiong went about her business as if Jingzhe was on a trip rather than exam-bound. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

When asked whether Jingzhe could pass as a scholar, Tong Huaqiong conservatively replied that it was up to fate.

This led some to say that Jingzhe couldn’t compare to Ruinian, otherwise why would the usually flamboyant Tong Dajiao suddenly go quiet?

In the past, Tong Dajiao would boast about Gu Jingzhe wherever she went.

"Mom, out there everyone is saying Third Brother isn’t as good as Ruinian, will Third Brother really lose to Ruinian this time?" Chen Sufen, having taken a stroll outside and engaged in a few heated words with people praising Ruinian while belittling Jingzhe, returned home to seek reassurance from her mother-in-law.

Tong Huaqiong replied, "Jingzhe doesn’t need to compete with Ruinian, he just needs to compete with himself. Just wait and see, Ruinian is all thunder and no rain this time. He’d need to walk upside down if he tops the exam."

Chen Sufen always believed in Tong Huaqiong’s words.

With her mother-in-law’s assurance, she felt at ease.

These days she had been worried that if Gu Jingzhe failed, what gossip would arise about her mother-in-law. Especially since her mother-in-law had always been strong-willed and wouldn’t take kindly to such disparagement.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, let Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia bask in the village’s attention, then let reality smack them hard; the thought of such a scenario brought her satisfaction.

Seven days later, Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian returned from their exams.

As soon as the carriage driven by Su Chengmin and Nie Xiaofeng appeared at the village entrance, someone shouted that the scholars had returned.

Everyone chased the carriage all the way to Tong Huaqiong’s door.

Su Chengmin had already sent word for their returning from the city today, so Tong Huaqiong had long been expectant.

She was in the courtyard studying cotton planting techniques while frequently glancing outside the door.

Mrs. Hong and Chen Sufen waited with Tong Huaqiong, and even Mr. Su had arrived at Qinghe Bay early to await his beloved student’s return from the city.

Seeing the silhouette of the carriage, Tong Huaqiong and the others rushed forward eagerly.

Man Er, Xiao Long, and Yaozu surrounded the carriage.

"Third Uncle, did you pass as a scholar?" Nie Xiaofeng was the first to hop off and help Gu Jingzhe alight. Man Er asked loudly upon seeing Gu Jingzhe.

"The results come out in a few days." Nie Xiaofeng said.

"Jingzhe, how did it go?"

"When will the results be out?"

"Oh dear, looking at his expression, it doesn’t seem promising."

The gathered villagers murmured amongst themselves, and Village Chief Liu Tieshan couldn’t be chased away from his spot in the crowd.

Gu Jingzhe respectfully bowed to Tong Huaqiong and Mr. Su, among others.

In this era, examinations demanded much physical endurance.

One would sit in the enclosed examination arena, eating, drinking, and reliving oneself inside for the duration, leaving them feeling numb after a single session.

Tong Huaqiong noticed that Gu Jingzhe looked pale and gaunt from the few days’ ordeal.

"Skip the formalities, go home and rest first." Tong Huaqiong said.

"Yes, yes, rest first and we’ll talk later."

Mr. Su shared the same sentiment for his beloved student as Tong Huaqiong did; since the exam was over, and worrying about results wouldn’t change the outcome, rest took precedence.