Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the fourth lunar month—the time for another year’s prefectural examination. Fortunately, because of Zhou Shuren’s subsidy policy, quite a few scholars were taking the xiùcái examination in Lizhou City this year. Not all of them were natives of Lizhou returning from other places to sit for the exam.

A total of one hundred candidates had passed the prefectural exam, and from those one hundred, thirty would be selected as xiùcái. Compared to Jiangnan, the success rate in Lizhou City was considered quite high.

Zhulan didn’t pay much attention to the provincial examinations; she was more concerned about Li Shi’s pregnancy. Li Shi was over nine months pregnant and about to give birth.

Although Li Shi had already had three children, Zhulan was still worried.

Today, Zhou Shuren returned somewhat late. It was the day the results of the yuànshì were posted, and Zhou Shuren had met with the lǐnshēng and the others.

Zhou Shuren looked very pleased. “It wasn’t a waste for me to come up with those subsidies. Guess how many of the thirty xiùcái were scholars who had returned from other places to take the exam.”

Judging from Zhou Shuren’s smile, the proportion must have been very low. “Eight?”

Zhou Shuren shook his head. “Five. Only five of the out-of-towners passed the county-level exam. Haha, good! The students of this prefecture have not disappointed me.”

Zhulan was genuinely surprised. Those who could return to their hometowns from out of town to take the preliminary exams were either from families with officials or wealthy families. Zhulan knew that if it weren’t for the subsidies Zhou Shuren had suggested, very few students from Lizhou City would have taken the exams this year.

This could be considered Zhou Shuren’s achievement. Zhulan’s eyes sparkled. “Of these twenty-five people, how many do you think will be able to participate in next year’s provincial examination?”

Zhou Shuren squinted. “These twenty-five people are all very young, the oldest is only thirty-five, and the youngest is twenty-two. They’re all in excellent age ranges. As long as they have good teachers, they should all be able to participate in next year’s provincial examination.”

Zhulan smiled. No wonder Zhou Shuren was so happy. No one would complain about having few achievements, and Zhou Shuren was no exception.

After the provincial examination, heavy rain fell in Lizhou City. Spring rain is as precious as oil, and after the rain, the apple trees blossomed.

This year in Lizhou City, the children no longer searched for wild vegetables all over the mountains and fields, but instead ran and played in the fields. Zhou Shuren even took Zhulan for a walk in the neighborhood during his day off. Zhulan was proud of Zhou Shuren.

It was at this time that Li Shi’s parents arrived at the Zhou family home.

Zhulan had written a letter to Xue Mei, asking her to go to the Li family. Firstly, Li Shi hadn’t seen her parents for two years, and Zhulan wanted to surprise her. Secondly, Zhulan also wanted to talk to the Li family; she still trusted them more.

Zhulan greeted Li Xu Shi as she entered the house before sending Liu Ya to inform her. Li Shi was stunned when she reached the main courtyard, rubbing her eyes. “Am I dreaming?”

Li Xu Shi’s eyes were filled with tears. Looking at her daughter’s clothes, she knew she hadn’t suffered any mistreatment. Then she saw her daughter had slapped her. Li Xu Shi’s tears dried, and she still looked simple-minded. “You really hit me? Does it hurt?”

Li Shi’s eyes reddened. “It hurts, boohoo, Mother, you’re so good.”

Li Xu Shi reached out to stop her daughter, afraid she would bump her stomach. But while her hand was outstretched, she watched helplessly as her daughter rushed into her Qīnjiāmǔ’s arms.

Li Xu Shi, “…”

How could she have such a strange feeling? Her daughter had become her Qīnjiāmǔ’s daughter!

Zhulan was stunned for a moment, then quickly recovered and patted Li Shi on the back, saying to Li Xu Shi, “She’s gone crazy with joy.”

Li Xu Shi was speechless. She hadn’t felt the sting of her Qīnjiāmǔ’s silence, but now it did. Staring at her troublesome daughter, she and her husband hurried on their way. Well, this girl treated her Qīnjiāmǔ like her own mother. But inwardly, she smiled. Being a mother was good; only with her Qīnjiāmǔ protecting her silly daughter could she live a good life.

Li Shi straightened up. She had truly been excited. Her parents must have been invited by her mother-in-law to come; otherwise, given their personalities, they certainly wouldn’t have come to see her after giving birth. It wasn’t just that they were reluctant to spend money, but also because they didn’t want to be poor relatives of the Zhou family. Her parents were afraid that the Zhou family would change and look down on the Li family.

Li Shi held her mother’s hand, “Mother, you and Father must be tired from your journey.”

Li Xu Shi’s rough hands touched her daughter’s soft hands, “Traveling is nothing, it’s much easier than farming at home. Come to think of it, I’m only able to leave because of your good fortune.”

With her daughter’s fifty taels of silver and the jewelry her daughter had sent back, she felt confident. Even if she wasn’t home, her daughter-in-law would take good care of the house in order to get good things from her. Besides, with the ox, her sons would have a much easier time, so she had nothing to worry about.

Zhulan said, “Don’t stand there talking, Qīnjiāmǔ, please sit down.”

Boss Zhou quickly helped his father-in-law sit down, and after his parents-in-law sat down, he helped Li Shi sit down before finally sitting down himself.

Li Xu Shi’s smile deepened. “Qīnjiāmǔ, I almost didn’t recognize you just now. It’s been two years since I last saw you, and you look younger and younger.”

Zhulan coughed. Lately, she had been looking in the mirror more often. As she grew a year older, she was afraid of getting more wrinkles. “I’m forty now,I’m getting old.”

Li Xu Shi was telling the truth. Compared to her Qīnjiāmǔ, she looked much older. Her Qīnjiāmǔ hadn’t changed much in the past two years. “Qīnjiāmǔ, you’re still very young. I’m the one who’s getting old. I’m fifty now. I’m so grateful to you for coming to Lizhou City today, otherwise I would have stayed at home my whole life.”

Zhulan smiled. “I invited you here for two reasons. First, Li Shi is about to give birth. She’s suffered a lot this pregnancy. Don’t let her carefree attitude fool you; she’s always thinking about her family. Second, I want to talk to you about something.”

Li Xu Shi didn’t expect the head of the household to be a wife anymore. In the Li family, it was always the women who were in charge of external affairs, since the men were all honest and simple. “Xue Mei already told us. Just let us know if you need anything.”

Zhulan held Li Xu’s hand. “Our two families are related by marriage.”

Zhulan didn’t say the rest.

Li Xu Shi understood what her Qīnjiāmǔ meant: the Li family wasn’t servants of the Zhou family; this was a cooperative relationship.

Li Xu Shi was completely relieved. The Zhou family’s status had changed, but their attitude towards their in-laws remained the same. She once again marveled at her Qīnjiāmǔ’s good judgment.

Li Xu Shi clapped her hands, “Look at my memory! I brought a lot of pine nuts and other mountain produce. I remember my Qīnjiāmǔ loves them. We don’t have much good stuff at home, so please don’t mind.”

“Not at all! You can’t even buy these in Lizhou City. These are good things.”

Second Zhou had collected quite a lot when he came, and Chen Daren had taken a lot after enjoying them. Each family took a little, and their own supplies would run out by April. When Second Zhou went to Pingzhou, Zhulan specifically instructed them to bring back more!

Zhao Shi blushed even more. Her mother hadn’t brought anything when she came, and hadn’t sent anything over, even after moving out for so long. She knew her mother had a lot of money. Compared to her Eldest Sao’s family, she felt ashamed.

Seeing the weariness on Li Xu Shi’s face, Zhulan said, “In-law, Qīnjiāmǔ, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest first. We can talk tonight.”

Li Xu Shi was indeed exhausted. She was over fifty and had been rushing to keep up with her daughter’s health, worried about her pregnancy. “Qīnjiāmǔ, I’ll go rest now.”

“Alright, just ask your eldest son for anything. You can enjoy your son-in-law’s blessings.”

Li Xu Shi smiled. “Okay.”

(End of Chapter)

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