Jia Xiaohua was now extremely resentful towards Lin Yaoyao. Knowing that Lin Yaoyao would definitely not end well, she said to Jiang Yan, “Big sister, I also want to thank you.”
“Good, good, I accept your thanks.”
Jiang Yan said with a smile.
When Wang Xiuzhen and the others heard about this, they all started cursing Lin Yaoyao.
They were also not allowed to see her at the government office.
Otherwise,
They would have liked to bring some things to throw at her.
…
Jizhou Prefecture Yamen.
Ji Ting received a letter from his cousin Ji Ranran. Not long after, he sent someone to the county town to inquire about it.
After getting the details,
Ji Ting had the matter communicated to his two older brothers.
They unanimously decided to have Ji Ting send someone to bring Jiang Yan and her companions to the capital.
Naturally, Jiang Yan and her group were unaware of this.
Until,
When the person sent by Ji Ting appeared before them.
Only then did they find out.
Upon returning, Jiang Yan inquired about Jiang Ling and the others. Now, without even asking them, she directly refused the person who came to fetch them.
“Housekeeper Chu, please inform your master that we will not be going to the capital.”
Housekeeper Chu patiently tried to persuade her.
“Miss Jiang Yan, the capital is much more prosperous than this town. There are many more delicious foods and fun things to do. If you open a shop in the capital, you would definitely earn more than in the town. The old lady really wants to see you. Don’t you want to see your grandmother?”
Jiang Yan opened her mouth and said, “You don’t need to persuade us anymore. If we wanted to go, we would have returned to the town back then.”
Seeing that he could not persuade her, Housekeeper Chu turned to speak with Jiang Ling and the others.
In his view, even if he couldn’t bring them all back together, bringing back one or two would be good.
As soon as he opened his mouth,
Jiang Ling cut him off: “We all listen to our sister. Don’t say anything more.”
Seeing no hope in persuasion, Housekeeper Chu had no choice but to return home.
Back in the city,
He truthfully reported back to Ji Ting.
Ji Ting slammed the book on the table with a bang: “They really don’t know what’s good for them! I told them to come back, and they refuse! Go find someone to tie them up and bring them back!”
“Sir, that would be inappropriate.”
Housekeeper Chu, having done some investigation, informed Ji Ting about Jiang Yan’s close relationship with Ouyang Siyun.
Ji Ting paused and said, “Is what you’re saying true?”
Housekeeper Chu stepped forward and said, “Sir, this is something anyone could find out. How could it be false! Jiang Yan has a business partnership with Ouyang Siyun, which is why they are so close.”
Chapter 109: Go Pick Them Up, Exam First Place
Hearing this, Ji Ting narrowed his eyes and said, “Could it be that Ouyang Siyun has taken a liking to Jiang Yan? If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be bad.”
His mother is the Princess of Anyang.
His father is Marquis Qingyun, highly favored by the Emperor.
If they were to form a marital alliance with their family,
Wouldn’t the Ji family rise even further?
Housekeeper Chu spoke up, “Sir, it’s probably not like that. I’ve heard that Jiang Yan is very close to another man, but no one knows who that man is.”
“What!”
Ji Ting’s brows furrowed instantly: “Did you not inquire?”
Housekeeper Chu answered truthfully, “I did inquire, but aside from knowing that the man’s surname is Jun, no one knows anything else.”
“Useless!”
Ji Ting cursed out loud.
After some thought, Ji Ting decided to have Jiang Dahu go and bring them back to the capital, considering he was, after all, their biological father, whose words would carry more weight.
After dismissing Housekeeper Chu,
Ji Ting wrote a letter and had his confidant deliver it back to the capital, to his eldest brother.
When Ji Ye received the letter, it was already over ten days later.
Learning of Jiang Yan’s lack of appreciation, Ji Ye went to find Jiang Dahu, who was learning to write with their father.
“Father, fourth brother.”
Jiang Dahu acknowledged and continued writing.
Old Master Ji glanced at Ji Ye and asked, “What brings you here today?”
Ji Ye smiled and said, “Father, how could I be so busy every day? How is fourth brother doing with his studies, has he made any progress?”
“He’s slightly better than yesterday.”
Old Master Ji pursed his lips and said.
Since Jiang Dahu was not as outstanding as his other three sons, he naturally wished for him to improve.
So,
Old Master Ji was now either teaching Jiang Dahu to recognize and write characters or to paint.
Ji Ye sat down to one side and said, “Father, take a rest, let me teach fourth brother for a while.”
Old Master Ji did not refuse; he stood up and said, “Alright, you teach him for a bit, I’ll go for a walk. I’ve been sitting here for quite a while.”
He hadn’t gone far when,
Ji Ye looked at Jiang Dahu’s writing, gave him some pointers on how to write certain characters, and then brought up Jiang Yan and her group: “Fourth brother, didn’t you say you have several daughters? Why don’t you go and bring them back?”
Indeed, they were different.
Ji Ye said calmly, “How would you know if they are unwilling if you don’t try? You are their father; are you just going to abandon them?”
Jiang Dahu paused in his writing.
Ji Ye then added, “Go pick them up. Mother really wants to see them. If they come back, Mother will surely dote on them. After all, in this generation of our Ji family, there are only two daughters. Now with Jiang Yan and the others, that’s five daughters.”
Unable to resist his persuasion,
Jiang Dahu finally agreed.
…
Time flew by, and it was soon the August Academy Examination.
This civil service examination was the most crucial among the three. Jiang Yan and the others accompanied Su Chenggong to take the exam.
Once listed,
One would become a Xiucai.
Having gone through the previous two exams, Su Chenggong was now able to handle it with ease, so compared to other candidates, he wasn’t nervous at all.
Plus, with the good food Jiang Yan had prepared for him,
Su Chenggong performed exceptionally well during the exam.
He came out of the exam with a smile.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Yan and the others knew he must have done well, but they never imagined that Su Chenggong would take first place.
He directly won the top honor.
When the bearer of good news arrived,
Wang Xiuzhen and the others each gave him a reward of five taels of silver, which was quite generous.
This made the messenger extremely happy, and his words of good fortune were more heartfelt. Ji Yi heard that Su Chenggong was so young yet managed to top the exam, which naturally sparked thoughts of forming a marital alliance. He immediately looked into Su Chenggong’s background, only to find out he was Jiang Yan’s cousin.
“What a coincidence, not family but as close as family!”
Jiang Yan and her family were unaware of this. After the messenger left, they celebrated Su Chenggong’s achievement before returning to town.
Their youngest son had passed the exam.
Wang Xiuzhen, of course, wanted to throw a banquet. Upon returning, they started preparing.
The day Jiang Dahai came back.
Jiang Yan and her family were neither at home nor at the shop because today was the day of Wang Xiuzhen’s celebration.
They went to their house for dinner.
Jiang Dahai was surprised to learn that Su Chenggong had topped the exam. Without any prepared gift, he gave money instead.
His brother had given him quite a bit of money this time.
He was more generous than before.
He handed over a banknote worth a hundred taels.
Everyone was taken aback by this.
