Time passed little by little, and the palace examination was over. When Changzhi walked out of the palace gate, he saw his father standing under the carriage and ran over quickly, "Dad, why are you here?"
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "Dad will take you home."
Changzhi felt his father's love, "Dad, you work hard every day, and your son can go back by himself."
Zhou Shuren was a little dazed. The child he had just come here could already take care of himself. "I didn't pick up your third brother last time. Dad can't miss you here."
Changzhi grinned. He thought that he would have to write a letter to show off to his third brother when he got home. However, he was a little nervous because his father picked him up in person. He would feel sorry for his father if he didn't do well in the exam.
Mingshan also came out at this time. Mingshan followed his parents back from outside the family. This time, he felt the goodness of the family, especially the pillar of the family. If it weren't for his uncle, he would have failed this time. "Uncle."
Zhou Shuren didn't ask how the test went. "Let's go back. We have prepared a pot at home. Let's go back and eat the mutton pot."
Changzhi was a little greedy, "Dad, let's get on the carriage."
In the evening, after the Zhou family had dinner, each family went home.
The eldest wife, Li was thinking, "Do you think the fourth son can pass the imperial examination and come back as the top scholar?"
Boss Zhou said seriously, "Don't mention this in front of the fourth child. The fourth child has been the best student since he was young, and he is very proud."
Li rolled her eyes, "Do you think I'm stupid? I didn't get first place in the exam twice, so why would I bring up such a thing? I'm just looking forward to it."
Boss Zhou said in a low voice: "I think it's risky. I've been to the teahouse quite a lot these days, and everyone is betting on Master Liu Song."
Li lowered her voice and said, "Isn't it because Master Liu was the younger brother of the Crown Prince's concubine that he won first place in the last Spring Examination?"
This really shocked Boss Zhou, and he covered his wife's mouth with his hand, "You dare to say anything with this mouth."
Li knew she was wrong, so she motioned for the head of the household to take his hand away. She then said unconvincedly, "I don't believe that no one has ever thought of this."
Boss Zhou cleared his throat. There really was one, but he didn't dare to discuss it. He was just feeling sour grapes because he couldn't eat them. "You have a lock on your mouth. Don't say anything out of turn."
"Okay, okay, I won't tell you. I'm only telling you this."
Boss Zhou snorted, "Don't you know what's going on in our family?"
Li shut up completely and changed the subject, "Hey, I miss my parents a little bit."
Boss Zhou, "Wait for Mingyun to take the exam, and then we'll go back together."
"Um."
In the second house, Zhao and Changyi were also mumbling. It was rare that Changyi did not study today. "I specifically asked Wu Ming. Wu Ming had been in contact with the young master of the Liu family. Wu Ming praised him and said that the young master of the Liu family was talented."
Zhao, "Don't tell the fourth brother."
She remembered that the fourth brother always hung the top scholar at the very edge.
Chang Yi, "Did I say that? I dare not say it. In fact, I think it's good that the fourth child didn't pass the exam to become the top scholar. It's better for people to experience more setbacks. Don't you think the fourth child is too lucky?"
The fourth child in this family is so lucky that he feels emotional. He has a good marriage, everything goes smoothly, and even his children are both a good boy and a phoenix. He is so envious.
Zhao thought, "It's true. It's too smooth."
Chang Yi, "The third child is not as smooth as the fourth child. In fact, the third child is tenacious, and the fourth child is far behind!"
My fourth younger brother is the most elegant and handsome man in the family.
In the fourth room, Chang Yi had finished his exams and was no longer worried about him. He just lay down and went to sleep, which made Su Xuan very upset. She was really suffocated these days and didn't even dare to breathe.
Su Xuan saw her husband fall asleep as soon as he touched the pillow, and chuckled, feeling glad that he could still sleep.
The next day, Mingyun and his friends had a day off. Mingyun chatted with his fourth uncle at home and asked him some questions he didn't understand.
Ming Teng made an appointment with Ran Xun to go to the teahouse and also brought Ming Rui along.
Ran Xun held the silver in his hand, and Ming Rui was dumbfounded, "You want to bet?"
You are so bold, you deserve a beating!
Ran Xun said: "There are many people betting, one more person won't make a difference."
Mingrui also knew that these young masters in the capital were never afraid of trouble and would always make a fuss every time. The bets were not much, so no one really cared and they just joined in the fun.
Then, Ran Xun suppressed Master Liu Song and urged Ming Teng to join in the fun.
Ming Teng and Ming Rui looked at each other. Ming Teng was just there to watch the fun and didn't really want to place a bet. "No, I'm afraid of getting beaten."
If he dares to take a stranger into custody, his parents will beat him together. He is an adult now and he should have some dignity left.
Ran Xun said servilely, "You don't dare to bet, you don't have confidence in your fourth uncle!"
Ming Teng, "Shut up."
Mingrui pulled his second brother and said, "Don't watch the fun. This guy is a jerk."
Yuyun and Mr. Shi were also in the teahouse. Yuyun noticed Mingteng at first sight. Ever since he started thinking about him, he liked him more and more, and he thought he would be his great-grandson.
Mr. Shi saw his friend's eyes fixed on the children downstairs, "Do you know him?"
Yu Yin exclaimed, "Those are the two grandsons of Mr. Zhou, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."
When Mr. Shi heard this, he looked over quickly, only to see several children dragging themselves out of the teahouse. Mr. Shi said enviously, "Mr. Zhou has so many legitimate grandchildren."
Yu Yun, "There is only one wife in the family, the backyard is quiet, and as long as the children are healthy and free from disasters, most of them will survive naturally."
Old Master Shi thought that he should be ordered. He had many concubines and was used to miscarriages when he was young. There were even cases of two deaths. He picked up the teacup and said, "It's good to have some peace and quiet."
As he was talking, someone stood in front of him, "I thought I was seeing things just now, Brother Shi, it's really you. I haven't seen you for many years, I thought you were dead."
Mr. Shi raised his head. He was a partner for many years and a business friend from earlier years. "Old Gu, it's you. I was sick, so I left the house to Shi Qing and have been raising me in the mansion!"
Although he is called Lao Gu, he is not very old and is a generation younger than Mr. Shi.
Mr. Shi remembered his son's words, that he couldn't associate with his old friends, "I have friends here, will we have a chance to chat in the future?"
The man glanced at it as if he didn't care, then smiled and said, "Okay."
Yu Yin and the others left, still staring at their backs. Mr. Shi looked at them and asked, "Do you know him?"
Yu Yin smiled and said, "This is my first time in Beijing, how could I possibly know your friend?"
Mr. Shi said, "You also know that my family used to be a merchant family. I have traveled all over the country and met many people. This person was my former business partner. I didn't expect to meet him in the capital."
Yu Yin asked: "Can you tell me about it?"
Mr. Shi felt strange, and Yu Yun smiled, "I'm just curious."
Mr. Shi said, "They are merchants traveling north and south. They travel north and south twice a year. Their business is quite big. They have two north-south lines of business and many cooperative partners. Our Shi family is just one of them in the north."
Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was surprised that his fourth uncle would come to the Ministry of Revenue to find him.