Chapter 229: Imperial Examination
With only half a month left until the imperial examination, Wang Huanzhi and his wife finally arrived in the capital city and quickly found the renowned Peach Blossom Workshop.
Wang Huanzhi and his wife had been traveling, sightseeing, and visiting many famous scholars along the way, arriving in the capital city in time for the imperial examination.
Now, Wang Huanzhi was no longer as anxious as before; his mentality had improved a lot, and his overall spirit was very good.
Half a month later, Wang Huanzhi and Zhou Wangshu and others entered the examination hall. As before, Su Yaoguang accompanied everyone to send them into the examination hall.
The men were striving for their future prospects, and the women could not idle either. Now, Jiang Jing’s medical skill was becoming more and more outstanding, and Jia Chunni had also begun to see patients. Su Yaoguang had spread the reputation of Peach Blossom Workshop, receiving more and more noblewomen and young ladies, and making money hand over fist had become not a dream, but a fact.
“Urgh…” Zhang Yingdi crouched nearby, dry heaving.
Zhang Pandi, who was gnawing on pig trotters nearby, was stunned for a moment, put down the pig trotter in her hand, and asked worriedly, “What’s wrong?”
Zhang Zhaodi poured a cup of water and handed it to Zhang Yingdi, saying, “I’ve seen you unable to eat since yesterday. Did you eat something bad?”
“I…” Zhang Yingdi’s cheeks flushed. “I am pregnant.”
“What did you say?” Zhang Zhaodi and Zhang Pandi looked at her in shock. “When did this happen? Does your brother-in-law know?”
Zhang Yingdi shook her head: “I was afraid he would be distracted, so I didn’t dare tell him.”
“Jing’er, Jing’er…” Zhang Zhaodi shouted loudly.
Jiang Jing ran out from inside and asked, “Mom, I’m here. What’s wrong?”
“Come quickly and check on your maternal aunt.” Zhang Zhaodi said anxiously, “Hurry.”
Jiang Jing, not understanding, took Zhang Yingdi’s pulse, and her expression changed. She switched to the other wrist, confirmed the diagnosis, and said, “You are pregnant, about two months along.”
“That’s great.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”
“Let me do it. I know how to care for pregnant women.” Zhang Pandi said, “Little sister, you are still early in your pregnancy, and after so many years, you finally have this child. It will definitely be harder for you than for those young girls. Tell us if you feel any discomfort; we have a doctor at home, and someone to cook for you. Do whatever makes you comfortable.”
“I’m not that delicate.” Zhang Yingdi said, “Life now is better than I could have imagined. I’m very happy.”
“Fortunately, we arrived in the capital city. Otherwise, traveling around pregnant would be so tiring! You always think of others and never spare a thought for yourself. That man probably didn’t even notice you were unwell. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left without a single word of instruction.”
“He treats me very well.” Zhang Yingdi said, “Of course, my sisters are the best.”
“Aren’t we your nieces good enough?” Su Yaoguang said from the side, “Jing’er and Chunni and I will be heartbroken.”
“Good, you’re all good.”
Everyone looked at each other and smiled.
Zhang Yingdi was pregnant, and it was the first child after so many years of marriage, so she immediately became the focus of protection for the whole family.
There were too many customers in the front hall, so to avoid her being bumped by them, she was told to collect money at the counter and not touch anything else.
Bang! The sound of a bottle smashing came from the hall.
“What’s going on?” Zhang Zhaodi hurried over upon hearing the news.
A middle-aged woman said arrogantly, “Your things are so shoddy. I didn’t like them and wanted to leave, but she blocked me, so it fell. It has nothing to do with me.”
The female shop assistant nearby explained aggrievedly, “No, owner, she squeezed some out, half the bottle was gone, and she refused to pay.”
“How can I know if your things are good without trying them? After trying, I found they weren’t good at all, so of course I won’t buy them.”
“We have separate trial sizes; these are finished products and cannot be tried. Also, you just took several of our trial sizes. Our owner is generous and never quibbles over small matters, but taking advantage isn’t done this way.”
Zhang Zhaodi beckoned, calling over several shop assistants.
“Little Xia, Little Cui.” Zhang Zhaodi called two female shop assistants.
The two female shop assistants walked over: “Owner.”
“Hold her down and search her.” Zhang Zhaodi said calmly.
“Yes.”
“How dare you! Do you know who I am?” The middle-aged woman cursed, “I’m from the general’s mansion.”
Zhang Zhaodi sneered: “People from the general’s mansion can steal things? Then I need to go to the yamen and ask if the law only applies to commoners and not to officials.”
The two female shop assistants restrained the woman. She struggled, but the shop assistants were strong, and she couldn’t break free no matter how she tried.
More than a dozen small bottles were found in the woman’s bosom; those bottles and jars were exquisitely made and were clearly the trial sizes from the shop.
“Our shop has signs clearly stating you can only take one trial size. Even if you can’t read, we have people explaining nearby. Where did this little thief come from, trying to clean out our shop? Now you have two choices: one, compensate for the face cream on the ground; two, I’ll send you directly to the officials.”
“You dare, I am from the ge…”
“Someone, go right now to the general’s mansion and ask if their people can act so arrogantly outside?” Zhang Zhaodi shouted.
The surrounding customers were amazed at Zhang Zhaodi’s boldness.
“Is the owner of this Peach Blossom Workshop not afraid of death? She actually dares to provoke someone from the general’s mansion. Could their shop have an even bigger backer?”
“I think so. Otherwise, would she be so tough?”
Hearing the people around say this, and seeing Zhang Zhaodi’s tough attitude, the woman began to wonder if Peach Blossom Workshop really had a backer.
“How much?” The woman asked unwillingly, having to admit it.
The capital city was full of powerful people everywhere, and Peach Blossom Workshop’s business was so big; no one would believe it had no backer.
“Ten taels of silver.” Zhang Zhaodi said calmly.
“Why don’t you go rob someone?” The woman got angry upon hearing this. “Isn’t this bottle of face cream five taels of silver?”
“It would normally be just five taels of silver, but you broke our things and made a mess on the ground—doesn’t that need cleaning? You caused such a commotion and scared away so many customers—don’t we deserve some compensation? Don’t worry, I’m not petty. Pay the ten taels of silver, and you can take these trial sizes.”
“You… I don’t have…”
“Considering ten taels of silver is indeed a bit much, and judging by your clothes and appearance, you’re probably not the madam of the general’s mansion, just an old maidservant or something similar. We don’t have to take cash; your hairpin, bracelet, and earrings add up to about five taels of silver! Plus five taels in silver cash. If you don’t even have five taels in cash, then this outfit of yours…”
“Don’t pull my clothes! I have five taels of silver; I’ll give it to you now.” The woman’s face flushed red with anger as she angrily removed all her jewelry.
“Customer, this way please.” Zhang Zhaodi flashed a brilliant smile and led the woman to the counter to settle the bill.
The woman angrily handed over the silver, picked up the broken bottle from the ground and the half bottle of face cream left inside, wrapped it in a handkerchief, glared resentfully at Zhang Zhaodi, and left.
“Take care, customer. Come again next time.” Zhang Zhaodi said, waving a handkerchief.
“Owner, that was someone from the general’s mansion. Aren’t you really afraid of offending them!” A woman nearby said.
“There are so many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital city, and who knows how many generals there are. If every servant from this general or that lord’s mansion can come to my shop to freeload, then I might as well close the shop and give it to them.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “Not to mention generals—even imperial relatives must obey the law, right?”
“This general is different.”
“How is he different?”
“This general achieved great merit, recapturing the five cities that had been ceded. The emperor was overjoyed and enfeoffed him as the Great General Who Protects the Nation. He is the first Great General Who Protects the Nation since the founding of the country.”
“So he can let his house slaves bully ordinary people?” Zhang Zhaodi curled her lip. “I’m not buying it.”
“Everyone, sorry for disturbing you earlier.” Su Yaoguang came out, carrying a basket with various sachets inside. “These are the new sachets from our shop. Different scents have different effects: this one aids sleep, this calms the mind, this refreshes and clears the brain… As compensation, five copper coins each.”
Jia Chunni said, “These are prescriptions formulated by Doctor Jiang. Our Doctor Jiang even cured an epidemic, saving the people of two cities. She’s amazing.”
Jiang Jing, in the treatment room inside, heard the voices outside and was too embarrassed to come out.
A man rode past Peach Blossom Workshop, followed by more than a dozen personal guards. He stopped at the doorway of Peach Blossom Workshop, his eyes full of confusion.
“General, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t know why, but this place feels very familiar.”
“The emperor is looking for you. We’re short on time; we need to hurry into the palace.”
“Got it.”
At night, Su Yaoguang came out of the workshop and saw Zhang Zhaodi drinking alone in the courtyard, so she sat down beside her.
“Mom, why are you sneaking drinks alone here? Why not call me to drink with you?”
“Can’t I have a moment of peace? You’ve gotten married and have a husband now, yet you’re still clinging to Mom?” Zhang Zhaodi said.
“My husband is taking the exam!” Su Yaoguang said, “He’s not here, so can’t I come to you?”
Zhang Zhaodi said grumpily, “Once Wangshu finishes the imperial examination, whether he passes or not, you two must live a good life and have a child soon.”
“Mom is still young. Haven’t you thought about finding a dad for me?” Su Yaoguang laughed.
“I’m almost forty; still young?” Zhang Zhaodi said grumpily, “At my age, men are just accessories; only silver is the real good thing. Why would I find a man to cause me trouble?”
Su Yaoguang hugged Zhang Zhaodi’s arm: “Did you hear those people talking about that great general today and think of Dad?”
“What’s there to think about? How can your dad compare to a great general? Your dad was just a farmer with brute strength but no other skills. Even on the battlefield, he’d just be cannon fodder. I just feel he had no good fortune, no chance to see what a great daughter Yaoguang has become, or such a great son-in-law like Wangshu.”
“Mom, don’t be sad.” Su Yaoguang leaned on her shoulder. “We have money now; you can live whatever life you want. If you want a companion, we can find one. Look how beautiful you are now; people would believe you if you said you were only twenty. Why can’t you find a second spring?”
“Second spring… haha… I don’t know where you picked up such strange words.” Zhang Zhaodi laughed nonstop.
Su Yaoguang thought of Zhang Zhaodi from her previous life, who toiled day and night and looked like a fifty- or sixty-year-old hag at thirty. Now, Zhang Zhaodi ate well, lived well, dressed well, and groomed well, with Jiang Jing conditioning her body and using their self-made skincare cream every day. It was no exaggeration to say she looked like a woman in her twenties.
If not for reliving her life and choosing another path, she wouldn’t have known they mother and daughter could become so beautiful.
“Mom, I’m serious. If you meet someone you like, consider it properly.”
“Alright, I’ll try!” Zhang Zhaodi laughed.
Su Yaoguang knew Zhang Zhaodi wasn’t taking it seriously. But if she didn’t, she herself couldn’t ignore it. She would observe carefully to see if there was anyone suitable.
Male gender, age doesn’t need to be so strict—as long as her mom liked him, anywhere from eighteen to under fifty was fine.
Zhang Zhaodi had been a bit sad at first, but with her daughter there, that sadness vanished.
“Don’t drink anymore. Once Wangshu finishes the exam, you two need to give me a grandchild. Drinking isn’t good for pregnancy.”
Su Yaoguang: “…”
The next day, an old wet nurse came to Peach Blossom Workshop and ordered door-to-door service.
Su Yaoguang arranged for one of her beauticians to go.
At noon, the person sent out returned, her face beaten red and swollen.
“Who did this?” Zhang Zhaodi was furious.
“Forget it, owner. I’m fine.” Cui Hongxiu said crying, “They are from the Great General Who Protects the Nation’s Mansion; we can’t afford to offend them.”
“Great General Who Protects the Nation’s Mansion?” Zhang Zhaodi repeated the name, recalling the middle-aged woman from yesterday, and said angrily, “So they deliberately came today to cause trouble.”
“Hongxiu, tell us who you saw today, what happened, and why you were beaten afterward.” Su Yaoguang said.
Cui Hongxiu described: “I went to the door as instructed, was taken inside, and met a beautiful woman. She had me do a full set of skincare. After all the care was done, she said I caused injuries on her body and pulled her scalp painfully, so she had the old wet nurse beside her hit me twenty times. That old wet nurse was the one who came to our shop yesterday to cause trouble.”
“Did she pay?” Su Yaoguang asked.
“She did.” Cui Hongxiu said.
“They ordered door-to-door service, caused trouble, and in the end paid. In short, they just wanted to vent. Since they paid the silver, we have no grounds to sue them. If we cause trouble for them over Hongxiu being beaten and take it to the yamen, they could turn the tables just like she said.”
“Truly shameless.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “What do we do now? We can’t let Hongxiu suffer this loss for nothing!”
