Nian Jiaojiao emerged as the sky had already darkened.
As she reached the doorway, she saw a throng of people.
"Xiao Fang, you must be tired. Come home with Father quickly. I've stewed chicken soup for you."
A candidate, upon exiting, was pulled by his father, who showed him concern.
"Yanzi, how was the exam? Everything okay this time?"
"Wife, here. The night dew is heavy, put on this cloak."
"So annoying! The questions were so difficult, I'll have to try again next year, boohoo!"
Nian Jiaojiao walked forward, observing the myriad of human conditions.
She felt like a duckweed, adrift in this world.
Suddenly, she felt her arm being grasped, and she looked up to see Yu Chuan's smiling face.
"Wife, if I hadn't looked carefully for you, I would have missed you."
As he spoke, Yu Chuan shook the cloak in his hand and draped it over Nian Jiaojiao's shoulders.
"Why are you here?" Nian Jiaojiao asked.
"Wife participating in the child scholar examination is a major event for our family. Yu Chuan naturally has to keep it in mind."
Hearing Yu Chuan's answer, Nian Jiaojiao felt a complex mix of emotions.
*Our* family?
Did the other party truly consider them as one family?
Then why, why did you betray the original body?
The words reached her lips but couldn't be spoken.
How could she explain?
That she wasn't from this place?
That you are just paper people, just characters in a book?
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head and smiled self-deprecatingly.
When did she become so sentimental?
Perhaps they were paper people before, but she was now in this world, and everything felt so real...
Yu Chuan, observing Nian Jiaojiao's expression, spoke in a nervous tone to comfort her:
"Wife, we were only here to familiarize ourselves with the examination venue this time. Wife, don't feel any psychological burden. Moreover, I heard just now that the questions this time were particularly difficult."
Nian Jiaojiao was taken aback by Yu Chuan's words. Knowing that the other party misunderstood her mood as being low due to a poor performance, she could only try to explain:
"Actually, I think I performed up to my usual standard in this exam."
Yu Chuan nodded in agreement:
"That's good. This shows that Wife is not afraid of the examination hall, and will surely perform steadily next time."
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head helplessly.
The other party was already thinking about her retaking the exam next year...
But she didn't explain further, merely changing the subject and asking:
"Huh? Where is the carriage?"
Yu Chuan's expression stiffened and he said:
"Fifth Brother is using the carriage and it hasn't returned yet."
Fifth Brother?
That would be the effeminate man named Xu Ruoliu.
Nian Jiaojiao pondered thoughtfully.
Seeing Yu Chuan's expression, it was likely that the other party was doing this intentionally.
Nian Jiaojiao's guess was not wrong.
When Xu Ruoliu wanted to use the carriage, the driver was somewhat hesitant.
Yu Chuan, seeing the other party insist on using the carriage when he needed it, knew he was being targeted.
He tried to persuade him kindly.
To his surprise, the other party directly got into the carriage and scoffed:
"If your wife passes the exam this time, I will kowtow and apologize! I'll explain to Father!"
With that, the carriage was driven away from the Xu residence.
Yu Chuan did not believe for a moment that this incident happened without the instigation of the eldest son of the Xu family.
Nian Jiaojiao didn't dwell on it too much.
It was a favor if others helped her, and their lack of help was their prerogative. She had no grounds to complain.
"It doesn't look too far. Let's walk back."
Yu Chuan nodded helplessly.
He had walked here, and in this cold weather, it would take more than half an hour.
As the two were walking towards the Xu residence, several clear female voices called out from behind:
"Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao!"
Nian Jiaojiao stopped and looked back. She saw Tong Fu's head emerging from the carriage window, waving and calling out to her loudly.
The other party's carriage quickly pulled over.
"Jiaojiao, which examination hall were you in? I didn't see you."
"The second examination hall," Nian Jiaojiao replied.
"No wonder I didn't see you; I was in the first examination hall."
Tong Fu looked regretful.
Nian Jiaojiao found it hard to follow the other party's train of thought. What was there to regret?
But Tong Fu's eyes darted around, and she asked Nian Jiaojiao:
"Jiaojiao, where are you headed now?"
"The Xu residence."
"The Xu residence? Is that the home of Scholar Xu?"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
"I didn't expect Jiaojiao, you're even related to the Xu family. The Xu residence is quite a distance from here. How about I give you a ride?"
As soon as Tong Fu finished speaking, several male coughs could be heard from inside the carriage.
Nian Jiaojiao understood the situation and politely refused:
"No need, we can walk back ourselves."
Unexpectedly, Tong Fu didn't follow the usual script and called out loudly:
"Jiaojiao, we are friends, why are you being so polite with me? Besides, the weather is so cold, it would be bad if you caught a cold! Don't you agree, Third Brother?"
She said this and then turned to ask the man inside the carriage.
This put the other party in an awkward position. Just as Nian Jiaojiao was about to refuse again, the man spoke:
"My younger sister speaks the truth. Please don't be polite, both of you, get in."
Seeing the situation, Nian Jiaojiao could only clasp her hands in thanks:
"Then thank you both."
With that, she and Yu Chuan got into the carriage.
As soon as she entered the carriage, Nian Jiaojiao smelled a faint scent of tea, seemingly emanating from the man in black opposite them.
Perhaps due to the presence of an outsider, the man was already wearing a veil.
This clearly indicated a refined household.
"Nian Jiaojiao, these are pastries from Feng Ji, they're delicious. You and your husband try them."
Nian Jiaojiao looked at the pastries served on a glass tray by Tong Fu and smiled thankfully:
"Then we won't be polite."
After speaking, she first offered a pastry to Yu Chuan, then took one for herself and began to eat.
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao's actions, the man opposite her eyes flashed, and he began to observe her movements.
"Oh! Right, look at my memory!"
Tong Fu suddenly patted her forehead and said:
"I forgot to introduce him! This is my Third Brother, Tong Ziyao."
Then she pointed to Nian Jiaojiao and said:
"This is Nian Jiaojiao, Third Brother, you know her. And this is..."
Seeing the other party looking at Yu Chuan, Nian Jiaojiao continued:
"This is my eldest husband, Xu Yuchuan."
The two parties nodded at each other, acknowledging the introduction.
The carriage moved forward smoothly, and Tong Fu's chatter was incessant.
"Jiaojiao, what do you think of the questions this time?"
Nian Jiaojiao could only reply: "Compared to previous years, they were more difficult."
Tong Fu's spirits rose upon hearing this:
"See, I told you it was the questions' fault!"
As she spoke, she looked at Tong Ziyao with a wronged expression:
"Third Brother, you still said it was because I didn't study hard enough..."
Tong Ziyao was not swayed by her act and said:
"Everyone took the same exam. If the questions are difficult, it tests everyone. Later, when we get back, think about how you'll explain yourself to Mother."
Upon hearing this, Tong Fu slumped onto Nian Jiaojiao, sighing:
"Alas... I'm so unfortunate. I always said I wasn't cut out for studying, but Mother insisted I pursue academics."
"If you ask me, our family is in business. Isn't it better for me to follow Mother in business?"
Tong Ziyao opened his mouth, intending to say:
"All professions are inferior, only scholarship is noble. Commerce is lowly, how can it compare to studying."
But he thought of Nian Jiaojiao and Yu Chuan's presence, and ultimately did not voice his thoughts.