Du Tieshan thought to herself, if Jinhe didn't consider you his mother, why would he travel thousands of miles to come home for the New Year?
She realized that her elder sister-in-law's mind was sometimes as stubborn as a mule, never willing to budge...
"Guihua, stop howling. Don't you see the guests are looking at you?" Yun Daman cradled Xiao Zhuzi and glared at Zhao Guihua.
That noon, while they were eating in the kitchen, Er Longzi suddenly ran over with a message. The letter was from Bocai Academy...
Zhao Guihua was so overjoyed that she danced with excitement, thinking it was a letter from her son wishing her well. To her surprise, upon opening it, she found it was written by both Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu.
The letter stated that the academy had held a major examination, and the top three students would have the opportunity to study at the Imperial Academy alongside Minister Feng of the Ministry of Rites...
As the highest institution of learning in the entire Daliang Kingdom, the Imperial Academy was the goal that almost all students strived for.
Yao Jinsheng also spoke highly of Yun Jinhe in the letter, praising his excellent academic performance and consistent top rankings in exams, assuring that he would surely be among the top three...
The latter part of the letter was written by Sun Tianxiu. He introduced the prestige and background of the Imperial Academy and listed the various expenses for studying there, which amounted to over 160 taels of silver per year.
"Jinhe is also like this. When something like this happens, he should tell the adults at home. Why didn't he tell us?" Yun Erman sighed.
Du Tieshan listened and nudged him, "Jinhe is sensible. He doesn't want his family to worry about him..."
"That's true. If it were our Jinshan, he would probably be showing off by now!" Yun Erman complained.
Yun Jinshan, who was studying at Jinxiang Academy, suddenly sneezed. He felt as if someone was speaking ill of him.
Currently, Erman and his wife had taken over the snack shop, and there were still many people coming to buy dairy products...
However, because Xiao Xitian had left in such a hurry, she hadn't had the chance to teach Du Tieshan hands-on. She only left her a recipe, so everything had to be figured out by herself.
Zhao Guihua wiped her tears, stood up, and said, "No, I have to go to Bocai Academy to see my son!"
Yun Daman: "..."
"What are you doing here? Jinhe is doing fine at the academy. What are you messing around for by going there?" Yun Daman reprimanded.
Zhao Guihua looked worried, "I'm going to send tuition fees to my son, and also see if Miss Murong has returned. If those two get together again, I won't be able to sleep peacefully!"
Everyone: "..."
Du Tieshan knocked hard on the table and looked at Zhao Guihua, "Sister-in-law, it seems that Jin Sheng and Tian Xiu's letter was written in vain, and showing it to you was also in vain. If you are still worried, write a letter back to Jinhe and send the tuition fees for the Imperial Academy. That way, Jinhe can study with peace of mind!"
Yun Erman grunted and also persuaded, "Yes, sister-in-law, don't always blame Miss Murong for everything. How long have she and Fang'er been gone, and you're still badmouthing them?"
"She's just got too much time on her hands..." Yun Daman glared at Zhao Guihua and snorted, "Our lives are getting better and better, the restaurant has opened, and our income is stable. Can't you just live a peaceful life?"
Zhao Guihua didn't retort, but mumbled softly, "One hundred and sixty taels of silver. The restaurant's accounts can't afford that much right now..."
"Can a living person be choked to death by urine?" Yun Daman said indignantly, stood up, and walked out, "I'm going to borrow money!"
Seeing this, Zhao Guihua quickly chased after him, "Daman, who are you going to borrow money from?"
Alas, if only Mom and Dad were home. Not to mention 160 taels of silver, even 260 taels could be scraped together...
"You don't need to worry about that. Go back and look after the restaurant. Tell the head chef to work diligently and not be lazy!" Yun Daman said, tightening his sheepskin coat, and headed towards Magistrate Chen's house.
In this county town, the only one who could help them was Magistrate Chen...
Meanwhile, at Bocai Academy, far away, the entrance was crowded with students looking at the posted results.
Due to the severe cold, Minister Feng of the Ministry of Rites was frail. Since the examination, he had been recuperating and lacked the energy to grade the papers. Therefore, the announcement of the results was delayed until today...
Most students looked up at the top of the list. Upon seeing their names were not there, they left disheartened.
Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu also came to join the excitement. They desperately squeezed their way in. Since they were not tall, all they could see were the backs of people's heads. Yao Jinsheng became somewhat annoyed...
"It's all my father's fault. He's so short, which makes me short too. It's so annoying!" Yao Jinsheng said resentfully.
Sun Tianxiu found it both funny and exasperating, "You still have time to complain about this? Quickly see if Jinhe passed!"
Alas, Yun Jinhe was also a stubborn fellow. This morning, when Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu dragged him to see the results, Jinhe adamantly refused to leave his room. Helplessly, the two classmates had to check for him...
"I'm so short, how can I see?" Yao Jinsheng rolled his eyes, then suddenly had an idea. He grabbed Sun Tianxiu's arm, "Tianxiu, squat down!"
"W-what for?" Sun Tianxiu's mouth twitched.
This guy wouldn't try to ride him, would he...
Yao Jinsheng grinned, "If I ride on your shoulders, I can see! You're so stupid!"
Sun Tianxiu: "..."
Good boy, why don't you let me ride you?
In the end, the two played rock-paper-scissors. Yao Jinsheng won overwhelmingly and successfully sat on Sun Tianxiu's shoulders.
"How is it, how is it? Can you see clearly?" Sun Tianxiu swayed unsteadily.
Yao Jinsheng squinted his eyes, grabbed Sun Tianxiu's ears with both hands, "Hey, don't sway so much, I'm getting dizzy..."
"You're as heavy as a cow. My small body is about to break. Look quickly!" Sun Tianxiu was almost dizzy.
Other students cast strange glances at the two who were making noise and shouting.
Why were the second to last and third to last students from the academy joining the fun?
Did they also want to study at the Imperial Academy?
What a joke, it was utterly absurd...
Little did they know, on a certain day not long after, two delinquent students indeed appeared at the Imperial Academy in the capital.
"I, I think I see it, haha, Tianxiu, I see it!" Yao Jinsheng waved his hands excitedly, looking even happier than if he had passed himself.
Sun Tianxiu could barely stand steady and shouted, "See what? Did Jinhe pass or not?"
Before Yao Jinsheng could answer, the two of them, like toppling building blocks, swayed violently and fell to the ground with a thud...