Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 554: Passed the Exam

All credit to original author: Yi Yi Lan Xi

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When Lian Hai entered his own yard, his mother called out: “Son!”

Coming up to him in tears, Madam Shi pulled on his arm, crying for him to make decisions for her and swearing words like ‘fox spirit’ and ‘little bitch’ over and over.

Lian Hai felt a wave of disgust.
Before she could finish complaining, he interrupted her and made a few perfunctory excuses before escaping.

His mother’s cries behind him became even louder.

After he had left Lian Fang Zhou’s house, the others had returned to the main room.
Lian Che immediately ran to Lian Fang Zhou and grabbed her hand, crying aggrievedly: “Sister, I am not as bad as my cousin said! I will definitely pass the exam! First place! I will take first place!” He began to cry as he spoke.

Lian Ze and Lian Fang Zhou looked dumbfounded and Lian Fang Qing rubbed her eyes with disbelief.

Laughing angrily, Lian Ze said: “I already told you, why do you have to worry about the first place? As long as you pass the exam, it will be great! If you don’t pass the exam, just take it next time! Sister, don’t you think so?”

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“No!” Lian Che shouted, interrupting Lian Ze angrily.
“There is no next time! I will pass this time!” He seemed a little overexcited as he turned and ran out.

The two brothers had always been close.
This was the first time Lian Che had ever lost his temper with him!

Lian Ze rubbed his head in confusion.
Smiling cautiously at Lian Fang Zhou, he asked: “Sister, did I say the wrong thing?”

“I think Second Brother is right, he was comforting Third Brother.” Lian Fang Qing agreed.
“What happened to Third Brother?”

Lian Fang Zhou grit her teeth and stomped her foot in resentment.
“You are right and Che’er is right.
It’s our cousin! I will go talk to Che’er.” And then she ran out as well.

Although Che’er had performed well and had great confidence, it was inevitable to worry about gains and losses before the grades were published.
How could he bear to hear Lian Hai’s words at this time?

He was not someone who usually took his grades so seriously.
His concern this time was not for his grades but to win respect for his family and save their face.

“Brother Ah Jian, what does my sister mean?” Lian Ze asked, baffled.

Ah Jian gave him a indifferent look and smiled: “It’s nothing important, just that your cousin’s family really can’t mix with your family.” As soon as he came, he was already causing trouble.

Lian Ze was still confused.

But Lian Fang Qing cut in crisply and said: “Brother Ah Jian, you said it wrong.
It’s not ‘your’ family, it’s ‘our’ family!”

Ah Jian and Lian Ze stared at her in surprise and couldn’t help laughing.

“Yes, yes, your Brother Ah Jian was wrong! It’s our family!” Ah Jian laughed.

It took a while for Lian Fang Zhou to coax Lian Che back out.

After dinner, Lian Che told everyone that he would continue to go to school tomorrow.

Because he was preparing for the exam, Lian Che hadn’t been to school since New Year’s Day and had been studying at home.
He would visit the school once every five days to ask his teacher for advice.

Since the exam was over, naturally he would continue to go to school.

“So fast!” Third Aunt said in amazement.
“Why not go after the rankings are announced? You have worked hard for so many months, shouldn’t you take a good rest? I was just thinking about what to make for you!” She had said this phrase so often that the others couldn’t help but laugh.

Lian Che smiled.
“There is no need to wait.
The exam has been taken and the results are decided, so I don’t need to sit at home.
I want to go to school and it’s not very far.”

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Lian Fang Zhou was very proud.
This child’s mind was very stable! So stable that she actually felt a little ashamed.

“Then go.” Lian Fang Zhou smiled.
“It’s really gratifying for you to think about your sister like this! But don’t work too hard, it’s time to take it easy.
Third Aunt is right, you worked very hard these last few months.
You are still young and your body is growing, so you can’t overdo it.”

“I understand, sister!” Lian Che nodded.

Third Aunt agreed, thinking that even though he would go to school, she could still make delicious food for him.

Then she turned to Lian Fang Zhou and said: “Since this is the case, you and Ah Jian should focus on your wedding.
See if there is anything left to prepare.
Do you have any ideas? Is everything prepared to your liking?”

Lian Fang Zho’s face became hot but Ah Jian only glanced at her, smiling generously.

–

Usually the rankings would be announced ten days after the exam and in the blink of an eye, it was time for the list to be released.

Early in the morning, Third Aunt took Lian Che to offer incense to the ancestors.
Seeing this, Lian Fang Zhou was a little speechless.
Why hadn’t they done this before the exam? Why wait until after the list was announced? What was the use of praying now?

Fortunately, Lian Che listened to Third Aunt seriously and went to pay his respects.

Lian Fang Zhou and Ah Jian had planned to accompany him to wait for the list and even Lian Fang Qing wanted to go, but Lian Che insisted on going alone.

They couldn’t hold him back, so Lian Fang Zhou agreed.

But her condition was that Ah Jian would take him to the city and wait for him at the carriage.

“There will be a lot of people there today, you have to help me keep an eye on him.
Follow him quietly! With your skills, you shouldn’t be discovered by him, right?” Lian Fang Zhou secretly asked Ah Jian.

“Don’t worry!” Ah Jian smiled.
“I already planned this, how could I let him mess around?”

Lian Fang Zhou smiled and stopped talking.

The whole family sent Lian Che and Ah Jian off and then waited restlessly.

Aunt Zhang was convinced that Lian Che would pass the exam and also came over to wait, chatting with Lian Fang Zhou and Third Aunt about local news.

After a while, Madam Niu and a few other village women also arrived, one after another.

Madam Niu had not originally planned to visit but she, like most people in the village, had been very disapproving of Lian Che participating in the exam.
They praised him as ‘ambitious’ but didn’t believe that he could actually pass the exam.

However, since her husband had urged her to go to the Lian house, Madam Niu had no choice but to come.

When she arrived and saw Aunt Zhang and the others, Madam Niu secretly rejoiced that her husband was really wise!

Aunt Zhang could be called a weathervane.
Since she was here, then maybe, perhaps, she might be right!

Everyone had lunch at Lian Fang Zhou’s house and by noon, they were all a little anxious.
Third Aunt kept looking at the door, unable to sit still.

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Just as she was about to get up again, Chun Xing finally ran in from the outside and shouted happily: “Miss! Miss! Third Aunt! He passed! He passed the exam! Third Young Master passed!”

“Good!” Third Aunt cried, clapping her hands and bursting into laughter.

“Congratulations!”

“Che’er is really capable!”

“Yes! Yes! So amazing! Your family is really prosperous!”

One after another, Aunt Zhang and the other women all laughed and congratulated them over and over.
The servants all came in and congratulated them too, and the room was very lively.