Chapter 256: Double Happiness Arrives
In August, the golden osmanthus flowers were fragrant, and the scholars went to the Prefectural City amid their families’ expectations to take the provincial examination held once every three years.
In the blink of an eye, it was nearly October, the transition from late autumn to early winter, and pedestrians on the road were all wearing lined jackets.
Today was the day the provincial examination results were posted. The Prefectural City and the counties posted them simultaneously, so the scholars in the County Town didn’t need to specially go to the Prefectural City to check the list.
“Sis, there won’t be any spots left soon. Let’s hurry.” Xiao Huan ran from the front courtyard all the way to the backyard and bumped into a man and a woman coming out side by side in the garden.
“Divine Doctor Duanmu, when did you arrive?” Xiao Huan linked arms with Shang Wan, smiling as she greeted Duanmu Kui.
Duanmu Kui: “Just arrived.”
“Perfect, let’s go to the County Yamen together to see the results.”
Xiao Huan turned to Shang Wan and said, “Brother-in-law took Yuan Yuan to grab a spot first. Let’s hurry too.”
The County Yamen doorway was packed with people, crowded with scholars and their families waiting to check the list, as well as those just there for the excitement.
Lu Chengjing and Shi Tou stood in a less crowded spot on the outskirts. Shi Tou stared eagerly at the County Yamen gate, his clenched palms full of sweat, more nervous than when he himself took the child scholar exam.
In contrast, Lu Chengjing, the person involved, stood by casually as if nothing was happening, occasionally turning to look toward the street corner.
Yuan Yuan was held by Lu Chengjing, a head taller than others. She spotted their family’s carriage at once and quickly patted Daddy’s shoulder. “Daddy, there.”
Lu Chengjing was about to carry his daughter over when the secretary and two constables came out of the door to post the list.
The crowd immediately grew noisy, all pushing forward forcefully to be the first to see the results.
Shi Tou was squeezed hard, but for the sake of getting closer to the red scroll, he chose to give up resisting.
The crowd excitedly pushed back and forth. Lu Chengjing couldn’t go find Shang Wan, so he protected the baby in his arms while heading toward the edge of the crowd.
Anyway, Shi Tou had already gotten in; it didn’t matter if he didn’t.
“Ouch!”
Lu Chengjing had just steadied himself when a young man was squeezed out of the crowd, lost his footing, and fell flat on his butt.
“A Le, where’s your young master?”
A Le was rubbing his butt. Hearing the voice, he looked up. “Young Master Lu, what are you doing here?”
As soon as he asked, he realized it was a stupid question. He was here to check the list for his own young master, so naturally Young Master Lu was too.
“My young master thinks it’s too crowded, so he’s waiting in the carriage.” A Le stood up and said cheerfully, “Master and Madam are there too.”
Ever since the second branch split off to live separately, Master and Madam stopped quarreling and became even more loving than before. Miss had married, and his young master’s days were now more comfortable than ever.
A Le turned to look around and asked puzzledly, “How come it’s just you?”
Without waiting for Lu Chengjing to speak, he continued on his own, “Is Shopkeeper Shang too busy at the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion to come? Don’t squeeze in with the child. Find a place to rest. I’ll check for you.”
After saying that, he spotted a gap in the pushing crowd and darted in precisely like a bolt.
His small frame was like an eel, swallowed by the crowd in the blink of an eye.
Lu Chengjing, who hadn’t gotten a word in: “…”
“Daddy.” Yuan Yuan grabbed Lu Chengjing’s lapel and shook it. Hurry and find Mommy.
In the distance, the carriage had stopped. Xiao Huan stood on it waving to Lu Chengjing. “Brother-in-law! Here!”
Lu Chengjing hurried over, and Yuan Yuan directly pounced into her mom’s arms.
Without Shang Wan asking, Lu Chengjing volunteered, “Shi Tou squeezed in to check the list. I was worried about bumping Yuan Yuan, so I backed out.”
“Then we’ll wait.” Shang Wan looked toward the distant red scroll.
It was too far away; even with Shang Wan’s abnormal eyesight, she couldn’t make out what was written on the paper.
“He passed! My young master passed!”
“It’s me! That’s me! Hahaha, I passed!”
“Wahhh, nameless again. I’m going to jump in the river!”
“Let me see who the top name is.”
“His third aunt, found Dashun’s name yet?”
Shi Tou, finally squeezed to a steady spot, completely blocked out the noise around his ears and stared wide-eyed at the list.
Shi Tou had faith in his brother-in-law and started from the top name.
“Lu, Cheng, Jing.”
Shi Tou blinked open and shut, open and shut, staring at those three characters four or five times. Once sure he wasn’t seeing wrong, his mouth grinned wider and wider. Suddenly, he bellowed with full force, “My brother-in-law is the Top Scholar! Top Scholar!!”
That shout made everyone clap their hands over their ears.
Fine, fine, we get it. Your brother-in-law is the Top Scholar. It’s just the Top Scholar. Is there any need to get this excited…
Wait, Top Scholar??
This kid’s brother-in-law is the Top Scholar!!
Who is this kid?
Several gazes landed on Shi Tou at once. He grinned toothily, eyes squinted shut, looking just like a fool.
At that moment, A Le finally squeezed to the front of the red scroll and saw his young master’s name in the middle. He shouted happily, “My young master passed!”
“Make way, everyone make way! I’m going to report the good news to the young master!”
“Sis, Xiao Huan!” Shi Tou pushed through the crowded people and dashed to their family carriage, cheeks flushed with excitement. “Brother-in-law got first place!”
“Really?” Xiao Huan’s face lit up with surprise.
“Would I lie?” Shi Tou pointed to his eyes. “I checked it ten times. Definitely brother-in-law.”
“Congratulations.” Duanmu Kui smiled and offered Lu Chengjing his congratulations.
“Daddy, awesome!” Yuan Yuan pounced into her own dad’s arms and planted two smacks on his face.
Lu Chengjing looked at Shang Wan. She leaned close and whispered something in his ear.
After hearing it, Lu Chengjing’s smiling eyes instantly went blank, frozen in place.
“Why’s brother-in-law acting dumb?” Xiao Huan waved her hand in front of Lu Chengjing’s eyes. “He isn’t even blinking. Sis, what did you say to him?”
Shang Wan’s almond eyes curved happily. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Chengjing suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Yuan Yuan, squeezed in the middle by Dad and Mom: “??”
The cub was about to be squished into a meat pie!!
Lu Chengjing buried his head in Shang Wan’s hair and took two deep breaths before slowly releasing her.
Shang Wan gave him a sidelong glance. “Can you speak now?”
Speak what?
Xiao Huan and Shi Tou both looked at Shang Wan, full of question marks.
“I’m pregnant.” Shang Wan smiled sweetly. “A little over a month.”
The two: “!!!”
After two seconds of stupor, they both jumped up at the same time, thrilled and excited, no different from monkeys.
Lu Chengjing instantly felt his earlier reaction was particularly good. At least he hadn’t turned into a monkey, right?
“What’s up with you all?” Qiao Yu’an came to congratulate Lu Chengjing but was startled by Xiao Huan and Shi Tou’s flailing and dancing.
Passing the Top Scholar wasn’t passing the top palace exam. No need to be this happy, right?
Why did these two look crazy to him?
Xiao Huan muttered about preparing nutritious meals for her sis, completely ignoring him.
Shi Tou started guessing if he’d have another little niece or little nephew, with no time to bother with him either.
Qiao Yu’an: “…”
Was he really this unwelcome by these two?
Lu Chengjing hadn’t wanted to spread it around, but he couldn’t help sharing the joy with his good friend.
Qiao Yu’an blanked for a second upon hearing Shang Wan was pregnant. He wasn’t even married yet, and Chengjing already had two kids?
Did he have to be this far ahead?
He looked at his friend, who for once wasn’t keeping a straight face but wore a joyful expression. Countless thoughts flashed through, and he suddenly smiled.
Fine to fall behind. With double happiness at the door now, Chengjing had finally turned hardship into sweetness.
