Chapter 196: Discussions
Sure enough, Shang Wan said: “Your brother-in-law wants to take the imperial examination path. After next year’s Autumn Examination, if he succeeds, he will go to the Capital City for the spring exam. If he succeeds again, no matter how he performs in the palace exam, with Duke Dingguo’s Mansion’s Promise, with some proper maneuvering, he will definitely become an official.”
Officials cannot return to their native place to serve, so their whole family must stay together, which means following Lu Chengjing, whether staying in the Capital City or going to other prefectures, the reclaimed land cannot be taken along.
No matter how much land is reclaimed now, it will end up making wedding clothes for others.
Although fields can be sold, compared to the effort invested, Shang Wan felt it wasn’t worth it.
If it were before, she might have considered it, but now the number of Spiritual Fields has surged to more than thirty, and it may continue to increase in the future. The Herbs grown can fully supply an apothecary, even a high-quality apothecary.
When it comes to making money, how can farming compare to doing business?
If developed well, it might even become a chain store, blooming across the nation.
After hearing Shang Wan’s words, although she really didn’t want to be a jinx, Xiao Huan still cautiously asked: “What if brother-in-law doesn’t pass the Autumn Examination?”
It wasn’t unreasonable for her to worry; in fact, Lu Chengjing seemed to clash with the exam hall—he would fall ill as soon as he entered, unable to even finish the papers.
“That is indeed possible.” Shang Wan teasingly glanced at Lu Chengjing.
Lu Chengjing curved his lips in a helpless smile and chimed in: “If I don’t pass the Autumn Examination, I’ll have to wait another three years. My and Niangzi’s plan is to check the results after the list is posted. If I don’t pass, we’ll go straight to the Capital City and get recommended by Duke Dingguo’s Mansion to enter the Imperial Academy.”
“Where will we live in the Capital City?” Shi Tou was reluctant to leave their new house, which had just been built not long ago.
He hesitated: “I heard that things in the Capital City cost ten times more than here. If we really go to the Capital City, where will we get so much silver?”
“So we need to make money.” Shang Wan patted him. “Don’t just think about how expensive things are in the Capital City—think, if we take our medicinal herbs business to the Capital City, won’t we make even more?”
Shi Tou scratched his head; the logic was indeed sound, but was his sister too confident?
With more than thirty Spiritual Fields, Shang Wan was indeed very confident. She said: “The Autumn Examination is next year. It’s only July now, a whole year away. No matter what, we can earn enough travel money to the Capital City.”
Xiao Huan unconditionally sided with Shang Wan. “Sister, just tell us what to do. I’ll listen to you.”
“Me too. Sister, just give the orders.” Shi Tou quickly joined in. Worry was worry, but he had to be counted in.
Shang Wan raised her eyebrows slightly; these two little ones had quite some confidence in her.
She had already discussed it with Lu Chengjing earlier, and now she carefully explained it to the two.
They talked for a whole hour. By the time the family meeting ended, the heavy rain outside had stopped.
Clouds dispersed, rain cleared, and under the sunlight, a rainbow arched across the sky.
To celebrate the major decision their family had made, tonight’s dinner was quite sumptuous, with chicken, fish, and ribs. In other village households, they might not eat this well even during New Year.
Yu Da proactively went to the kitchen to help, puzzled by the ingredients that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
The fish was freshly caught from the river, but where did the other vegetables come from? Clearly, when he was decocting medicine, there wasn’t even a single vegetable leaf in the kitchen.
The ingredients were of course taken from Shang Wan’s Space; no need to waste the preservation function.
Yu Da tried to chat with Xiao Huan. “Young Lady Xiao Huan, cooking so many dishes, is there some happy event at home?”
Xiao Huan tasted the sauce for saltiness and tossed out three words: “Good mood.”
Yu Da: “…”
“Aunt Xiao Huan, I smell Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs.” Chu Xu poked his little head in from the door frame.
Below him, another little head popped up, a pink dough-like little face with a pair of bright big eyes blinking.
“Your nose is the sharpest.” Xiao Huan smiled and beckoned to the two, handing over a small plate of fried Crispy Pork strips. “There are still three dishes to make; eat these to tide you over.”
Chu Xu smiled and thanked her, first feeding one to Xiao Huan, then got shooed out by Xiao Huan on the grounds of kitchen fumes, along with the other little one.
Before leaving, Yuan Yuan turned her head to look at Yu Da, wrinkling her little nose at him and puffing her little mouth twice, as if spitting at him.
Yu Da: “…”
Where had he offended this little doll?
The sumptuous dinner received unanimous praise from everyone, especially that plate of Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, which the two little ones particularly loved.
Yuan Yuan had grown two more millet teeth, making eating easier than before.
Her two little hands grabbed the ribs and brought them to her mouth to gnaw, sauce smeared all over her face, just like a little tabby cat.
Everyone laughed uncontrollably, but Yuan Yuan wouldn’t let the adults feed her; she insisted on feeding herself.
The meal was eaten joyfully. Because the food was good, everyone rarely drank some wine and felt a bit tipsy afterward.
Shi Tou let out a satisfied burp and planted his head on the table.
Lu Chengjing reached out to support him, but suddenly felt dizzy and also collapsed on the table.
It was like a signal; one by one in the main hall, everyone collapsed unconscious, sprawled on the table.
Even Yuan Yuan fell asleep with her finger in her mouth.
“Brother, they’re down, all down!” The lowered voice couldn’t hide the excitement. Yu Er stood by the window, excitedly waving to Yu Da sitting on the kang.
Yu Da walked over and whispered: “That Shang woman has good martial arts; wait a bit more.”
Yu Er nodded, and the brothers waited another quarter hour before going out one after the other.
“Brother, I’ll go to the kitchen to get the Kitchen Knife.” Yu Er’s eyes glowed red with excitement; without waiting for Yu Da’s reply, he dashed to the kitchen.
Yu Da always felt things were going too smoothly. He entered the main hall and first checked on Shang Wan’s condition.
Today, he had used the excuse of arguing to go out and retrieve the sleeping potion he had buried in advance.
He was accustomed to leaving himself a way out; as long as they didn’t die, those buried things could come in handy.
He had gone to help in the kitchen also because he had drugged the water in advance. The drug had some taste, and he worried Xiao Huan would smell it, so he personally watched over it.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Huan hadn’t noticed at all.
The woman was sprawled on the table, face buried in her arms, breathing evenly.
Yu Da tentatively pushed Shang Wan; she had no reaction.
He was slightly relieved and went to push the others.
Each one slept like a dead pig, without the slightest reaction.
“Hey, this is weird; there’s not a single knife in the kitchen.” Yu Er stepped over the threshold, his face sullen.
His gaze fell on Chu Xu. Damn kid, this time you’ve fallen into my hands, right?
He was just about to go over and strangle Chu Xu when Yu Da reached out to stop him. “That woman’s martial arts are too high; we don’t know when she’ll wake up. Don’t create extra trouble.”
Yu Er was unwilling and looked toward the sprawled Shang Wan. “Then kill her first.”
This time, Yu Da didn’t stop him.
“This woman is really hot; prettier than the top courtesan in the building.”
Thinking of the humiliations of the past two days, and seeing Shang Wan unconscious at his mercy, Yu Er couldn’t help but have crooked thoughts.
“Hurry up.” Yu Da knew he had this bad habit and didn’t plan to interfere. “I’ll go get oil; later we’ll burn the house and people together in one fire.”
“Got it.” Yu Da agreed and reached out toward Shang Wan.
