Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 380 Reaction
"I knew it!"

Upon receiving the news, Rulan immediately skipped and hopped to her mother, Madam Wang's, side, and said happily, "I knew it! Seventh Brother would definitely pass!"

"Moreover, Seventh Brother has now directly passed the imperial examination with top honors!"

"Even stronger than my second brother was back then!"

"Uh?"

Madam Wang's expression froze, and she instantly became somewhat unhappy.

Why did those words sound so...uncomfortable to her?
but!

That's it!

She glanced at her daughter, but ultimately held back.

There's nothing I can do! This is my own child.

After all, she's my own daughter, there's really nothing I can do!

Moreover, to be honest, among everyone present, there were some who were even more unhappy than her.

Of course, I'm not talking about Hai Chaoyun. After all, she knows that Rulan was just being sarcastic and didn't mean anything by it. Besides, she's a very shrewd person and wouldn't show anything unusual on her face.

"Ahem... Yes, Seventh Brother is truly amazing."

Sure enough, before Madam Wang could even follow her gaze, Mo Lan inside the room began to say something with a "smile".

"Humph!"

"really!"

Seeing the strange look on Mo Lan's face, Madam Wang thought to herself with smug satisfaction: "It's only because that bitch isn't here, otherwise, her face would look quite nice right now!"

Mo Lan looked somewhat unwilling, but not unhappy.

Ultimately, she and Sheng Changquan were still siblings connected by blood, both members of the Sheng family. Therefore, even though Mo Lan was somewhat unhappy that Sheng Changquan had done so well in the exam, she was still happy nonetheless.

I am happy for the entire Sheng family.

After all, if Sheng Changquan becomes successful, her social standing will also rise.

"Hehe, we're all family, no need to talk about how great we are."

Seeing the awkward situation, Old Madam Sheng tapped her cane and scolded Rulan, "Rulan, you little girl, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"What's wrong with Brother Bai?"

Grandma Sheng glanced at Hai Chaoyun, who stood calmly not far away, and nodded inwardly.

—This daughter-in-law was the right choice.

"Brother Bai's position as a compiler is an extremely prestigious one. Even your father would be envious. How could it be like what you, a naive girl, are saying?"

"Yeah!"

After hearing this, Madam Wang quickly nodded: "Mother is right!"

"That girl Rulan is so insensible!"

Patting her silly daughter, Madam Wang said indignantly, "If my Bai-ge'er is bad, then wouldn't those who fail the exam multiple times be even worse?"

After speaking, Madam Wang gave Mo Lan, who was faking a smile across the table, a meaningful look, and then she also forced a smile.

"you……"

Mo Lan's expression changed, and she was speechless!

Mo Lan was furious but speechless. She could only clench the handkerchief in her hand tightly in her sleeve and twist it beyond recognition.

There was nothing she could do; after all, Madam Wang was Mo Lan's elder, and with Sheng Hong not around and Old Madam Sheng present, Mo Lan, as a junior, naturally couldn't talk back.

Secondly, what Madam Wang said was indeed true.

Compared to his two brothers, Sheng Changfeng seems... perhaps... maybe a little lacking...

"All right!"

Just as Rulan, whose expression was brimming with anticipation and seemed ready to play the straight man, was about to speak, Old Madam Sheng waved her hand and interrupted her before she could even open her mouth, saying, "It's been quite a while, and this old woman is tired. You should all go back now."

"Uh……"

Rulan, who wanted to express herself but couldn't, was suddenly speechless!

He looked depressed.

"Yes, Grandmother!"

Hai Chaoyun naturally didn't want any quarrels to break out in the family. She was hoping her sister-in-law wouldn't speak, so she quickly interjected, "Mother, let's let Grandmother get some rest."

"Furthermore, should we send someone to inform the father-in-law and the official so that they can also put their minds at ease?"

"Ah? Yes, yes!"

"We still need to get the news to them!" Only then did Madam Wang realize, remembering Sheng Hong's instructions: "My lord and Brother Bai are still at the yamen, waiting for news from the manor!"

"Let's go quickly!"

……

Regardless of their expressions when they left, after everyone had left, only Madam Fang and Minglan remained in the house.

In front of Madam Fang, Minglan didn't need to pretend. She walked happily to the old lady's side, standing close to her, her expression full of joy.

"grandmother!"

Minglan called out in a simple and honest voice, a happy smile on her face.

"hehe!"

Grandma Sheng affectionately stroked her granddaughter's hair and said softly, "What? Are you happy and satisfied already?"

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Minglan opened her mouth slightly, not understanding the meaning behind Old Madam Sheng's words for a moment.

"Tomorrow, you and your brother are probably going to have some turbulent days ahead!"

Grandma Sheng narrowed her eyes and her expression turned serious: "Quan-ge'er, I think he has a long way to go!"

"grandmother……"

Minglan understood somewhat what Old Madam Sheng meant, but she was still a little confused.

Shouldn't this be a good thing?

Why does the old lady's reaction seem like... she doesn't think it's a good idea?

"Ugh!"

The old lady sighed, looked at her puzzled granddaughter, and began to explain in a low voice.

"Silly girl, what do you know!"

"Originally, I just thought it would be great if Quan-ge could pass the imperial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations)."

"Even if my ranking is a bit lower and I'm at the back, with the connections of the Sheng family, I can still get a minor official position and live a worry-free life."

"That way, I can take care of you, my older sister, from now on."

"But!"

"Who knew he would get first place!"

Grandma Sheng gave a few bitter laughs: "This old woman is not a scholar after all, and there are some things I just can't understand!"

Recalling Zhuang Xuejiu's fondness for Sheng Changquan, Old Madam Sheng admitted that she had misjudged him.

“I know that Quan-ge’er is a smart kid, but I still think that there are always people better than you, and the imperial examination is not just about having a high level of writing skills.”

But who knows?

One can only sigh once again at the unpredictability of life. Old Madam Sheng continued, "Ming'er, the Sheng family is not a noble family, so there are some things you don't understand."

"The top scholar in the provincial examination in Bianliang is highly regarded by those noble families; otherwise, your grandmother wouldn't have..."

At this point, Old Mrs. Sheng stopped talking, not wanting to elaborate.

"In short, Ming'er, you should know that Quan'er's life will likely be anything but peaceful from now on!"

"grandmother!"

After listening to what Grandma Sheng said, Minglan finally understood Grandma Sheng's worries and knew that she was thinking of her.

but.

"grandmother!"

Minglan called out again, saying, "Granddaughter knows you are thinking of me, but Xiaoqi has his own way of living. How can I, as his older sister, delay his life?"

"Besides, I will eventually get married, so the future won't involve me."

Minglan said this on purpose to comfort the old lady.

Grandma Sheng understood this, but she didn't point it out. She just affectionately patted her granddaughter.

"correct!"

Minglan didn't want to continue the topic, so she changed the subject, saying, "Where did Xiaoqi go? Changqing has already returned, why is he still out there without any news?"

"Could it be that he drank too much?"

Minglan hadn't expected that poor Sheng Changquan, though not drunk, was practically intoxicated.

(End of this chapter)