The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 423 Provincial Examination
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Gu Ruinian arrived at the Gu family's door.

When Tong Huaqiong's whole family saw Gu Jingzhe off, they saw a group of people in the old house pulling Gu Ruinian aside and giving him instructions.

"Sister-in-law," Jia, the sister-in-law, called out warmly.

Grandma Gu snorted.

This is the first time Tong Huaqiong has directly confronted the people from the old house since the incident on the anniversary of Old Man Gu's death and the falling out with them.

Tong Huaqiong nodded to Jia Shi as a greeting.

"Auntie, thank you so much for agreeing to let Brother Jingzhe take me to the prefectural city," Gu Ruinian said to Tong Huaqiong with a grateful expression.

“We have a carriage at home, so taking one more person is no problem.” Tong Huaqiong couldn’t stand Gu Ruinian’s insincere thanks.

The thought that Gu Ruinian might be an old lunatic in the future, yet here he was pretending to be innocent and speaking to her made her want to vomit her dinner from the night before.

Su Chengmin drove the carriage, and Nie Xiaofeng tossed Gu Jingzhe's package onto the carriage, saying, "Uncle, let's go."

"Mother, I'm going."

Gu Jingzhe jumped onto the carriage.

"Relax during the exam and don't feel pressured," Tong Huaqiong advised.

She didn't have any other instructions to give.

Tong Huaqiong had great confidence in this former third-place scholar.

On the other hand, at the old house, Old Madam Gu and her daughter-in-law, Madam Jia, held Gu Ruinian's hands and kept giving him instructions. One moment they asked if he had hidden the silver well, the next they asked if he had brought enough dry food, then they told him to eat whatever he wanted in the city and not to worry about the money, and then they told him not to eat or drink anything indiscriminately so as not to get a stomachache.
This made Gu Ruinian extremely impatient.

"Alright, if you keep talking, you'll waste time." Old Master Gu said sternly to Old Madam Gu and the Jia family.

Gu Ruinian broke free from his grandmother and mother's encirclement and jumped into the carriage.

"You two shouldn't argue on the way. Remember that you represent the descendants of the Gu family. If anything happens, we can talk about it when we get home," Old Master Gu instructed his two grandsons, clinging to the carriage.

Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian nodded in agreement.

At this moment, the clan chief arrived with the rest of the clan to see them off.

They had no choice but to come, since going to the prefectural city to take the exam was a big deal, and no clan in Qinghewan had ever produced a scholar before.

The fact that the Gu family is about to produce two members has greatly excited the clan.

The clan chief, on behalf of everyone, gave Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian some instructions, which were nothing more than to do well in the exam and bring glory to the clan.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, "The clan chief only says nice things, but doesn't do anything substantial, not even mentioning giving the two children some travel expenses."

The clan leader of this tribe was not as good as some village chiefs in later generations, who at least knew to provide travel expenses for college students from their village to study.

The clan chief wanted to bring glory to the clan without incurring any costs for his members.

As soon as the clan chief finished giving his instructions, Su Chengmin picked up the carriage and sped away.

"As soon as Ruinian left, my heart started to pound. I was worried he wouldn't pass the imperial examination," said Old Mrs. Gu, rubbing her eyes.

Jia gritted her teeth in anger, thinking, "Can't this old hag say something nice?"

If Ruinian from her family can't pass the imperial examination, then who can?

Her son, Ruinian, not only won the lottery, but he also won first place in the imperial examination.

This was something Ruinian told her secretly, telling her not to tell anyone.

Grandma Gu's worries made Jia Shi unable to hold back and say, "Mother, what are you saying? My Ruinian will definitely be the top scholar."

Never mind, I'll just tell you anyway.

Anyway, Ruinian from her family doesn't lie.

Last time, he only studied for a few days before claiming he could pass the imperial examination. Everyone tried to stop him and insisted he take the exam, but nobody believed him then, and he still passed.

Grandpa Gu disliked Jia's high-profile manner and glared at her, saying, "Don't be too absolute in your statements. What kind of pressure are you putting on Ruinian by saying this?"

Jia was embarrassed after being scolded by her father-in-law. In order to save face, she turned to Tong Huaqiong and asked, "Sister-in-law, what rank does Jingzhe plan to achieve this time?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "I'm not as good as Ruinian. I'd be satisfied if Jingzhe could pass the county-level imperial examination this time."

Tong Huaqiong yawned, wanting to go back to catch up on sleep. Jingzhe was definitely not as good as Ruinian. Jingzhe started his studies at the age of five and studied diligently for so many years, while her own Ruinian had only studied for less than half a year and was still able to pass the imperial examination and become a child scholar, just like Gu Jingzhe.

Jia felt slightly relieved, realizing she had outshone her sister-in-law.

After Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian went to the prefectural city.

No one knows who spread the word, but everyone in Qinghewan knows that Gu Ruinian is going to be the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu accepted the villagers' praise with smiles.

Ever since the villagers learned that their business had failed and they were in debt, Gu Youtian and Jia Shi had been too ashamed to go out. But these past few days, they've started to walk around with their heads held high, basking in the envious glances of the villagers.

It was as if Gu Ruinian had truly been the top scholar in the imperial examination.

On the other hand, Tong Huaqiong was doing whatever she was doing, as if Gu Jingzhe had gone on a trip rather than taking an exam.

When asked if she could pass the imperial examination at the Xiucai level during the Jingzhe solar term, Tong Huaqiong cautiously replied that it was all up to fate.

So some people started saying that Gu Jingzhe was not as good as Gu Ruinian, otherwise why would the usually flamboyant Tong Dajiao have fallen silent?

You know, Tong Dajiao used to praise Gu Jingzhe wherever she went.

"Mother, everyone outside is saying that Third Brother is not as good as Ruinian. Will Third Brother really lose to Ruinian this time?" Chen Sufen wandered around outside and heard someone praising Gu Ruinian for stepping on Gu Jingzhe. She argued with the outsider for a few words and then ran home to get confidence from her mother-in-law.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Jingzhe doesn't need to compare himself to Ruinian; he only needs to compare himself to himself. Just wait and see, Ruinian's efforts this time are all bark and no bite. If he manages to top the list, I'll walk on my head."

Chen Sufen has always believed Tong Huaqiong's words.

She felt relieved after her mother-in-law said that.

These past few days, she's been worried that if Gu Jingzhe fails, people outside will talk about her mother-in-law behind her back. And her mother-in-law is a strong-willed person who definitely can't stand gossip.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, "Let Gu Youtian and his wife Jia make a big splash in the village, and then slap them in the face. Just thinking about that kind of plot is so satisfying."

Seven days later, Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian returned to the village after finishing their exams.

As soon as Su Chengmin and Nie Xiaofeng's carriage appeared at the village entrance, someone shouted that the scholar had returned.

They chased after the carriage all the way to Tong Huaqiong's door.

Su Chengmin had already sent word that he was returning from the prefectural city today, so Tong Huaqiong had been looking forward to it for a long time.

She studied cotton cultivation techniques in the yard while frequently glancing outside the door.

Hong and Chen Sufen waited with Tong Huaqiong, while Master Su arrived at Qinghe Bay early in the morning to wait for his beloved disciple to return from the prefectural city.

Upon seeing the carriage, Tong Huaqiong and the others rushed forward.

Man'er, Xiaolong, and Yaozu followed and surrounded the carriage.

"Did Third Uncle pass the imperial examination?" Nie Xiaofeng jumped off the carriage first, then helped Gu Jingzhe down. Man'er saw Gu Jingzhe and asked loudly.

"The results won't be available for a few days," Nie Xiaofeng said.

"Jingzhe, how did your exam go?"

When will the results be available?

"Oh dear, judging from your complexion, the outcome doesn't seem very good."

The villagers watching were talking amongst themselves, and even the village chief, Liu Tielian, couldn't get rid of the crowd.

Gu Jingzhe respectfully bowed to Tong Huaqiong, Su Fuzi, and others.

In this era, taking exams is a physically demanding task.

Sitting alone in an enclosed exam room, eating, drinking, and relieving oneself all within its walls, one becomes completely numb after each exam.

Tong Huaqiong noticed that Gu Jingzhe looked pale and weak, and had become very frail in just a few days.

"Stop bowing, go home and get some sleep," Tong Huaqiong said.

"Yes, yes, let's rest first before talking about anything else."

Master Su shared the same thought as Tong Huaqiong: the exams were already over, and there was no point in worrying about the results now; it was better to let the student rest first.