Divorce with three kids? I'll build a house and eat meat, driving my in-laws crazy.

Chapter 90 Men are to be admired from afar, not to be trifled with.
Chu Xiu paused in his act of adding firewood, then shook his head. "What good is passing the preliminary examination? With my abilities, the best I can achieve is passing the preliminary examination."

A student who has completed the preliminary examination may seem impressive to outsiders, but in his father's eyes, he is nothing special.

Being a student in the preliminary examinations was merely the starting point of the imperial examination system. The social status of such students was not much different from that of ordinary people. Becoming a student in the preliminary examinations simply meant that one was qualified to continue participating in the imperial examinations.

Equivalent to a modern primary school student.

"I want to bring honor to my father, but I can only do so by passing the imperial examination," Chu Xiu said with a wry smile.

The title of Jinshi was the highest honor in the imperial examinations, signifying a high social status and the possibility of directly entering the imperial court as an official.

Li Ruru disagreed with his point of view, saying, "You are also trying to bring honor to yourself, don't just think about your father."

Chu Xiu looked up at her, hesitated, and then continued, "Auntie, you don't know, but I have a cousin who is very good at studying. He will also be taking the exam this year. I don't want to compete with him, and I can't beat him anyway."

Li Ruru said with a smile, "There are always people better than you, and mountains beyond mountains. He is him and you are you. Just be yourself."

Chu Xiu tilted his head thoughtfully; he had never thought about being himself.

He used to think that he was just a runner-up in the exam, and that his father would always belittle him and praise his cousin. He didn't want to make a fool of himself.

If he doesn't take the exam, there will be no comparison, and he won't be scolded by his father.

Seeing that he was wavering, Li Ruru continued, "You've met my former nephew, Chen Jinbang, right?"

Chu Xiu nodded, and Li Ruru gritted her teeth, "Let me tell you frankly, I can't stand to see him doing well. He hasn't even passed the preliminary examination yet, and he's already so arrogant."

If he actually gets in, who knows how arrogant and boastful he'll be in front of me.

Now, in terms of food and lodging, she believes she has already crushed the Chen family and given the original owner a good venting of her anger.

They argued constantly while eating coarse food and wild vegetables, while she ate fine rice, white flour, fish, and meat every day, and her life with her three maids got better and better.

It didn't matter that Li Ruru's family had no male members, but not having male members also meant they were not qualified to participate in the imperial examinations.

If Chen Jinbang passes the preliminary examination this year, he might even pass the county-level examination later.

The Chen family's status will only rise, and who knows how they will bully Li Ruru and her three daughters then.

This feeling is like watching a scoundrel become mayor – it's frustrating and upsetting.

Chu Xiu's eyes lit up, and he suddenly stood up. He smiled and said, "Auntie, do you mean you want me to pass the exam and surpass Chen Jinbang so you can get revenge? It's not about the money, it's about pride. We can't let that petty guy get away with it?"

Li Ruru smiled with her eyes narrowed, "Am I being too petty?"

Chu Xiu shook his head firmly and said, "No, then I'll give it a try and take the imperial examination for fun."

He wasn't doing it for himself or his father; it was purely for Li Ruru, to prevent Chen Jinbang from showing off.

"Haha, okay, okay." Li Ruru smiled and put the dumplings into the pot.

This brat has quite the nerve. Although the Tongsheng exam is the lowest level of exam, it's not easy. A village can only produce two or three successful candidates a year.

This kid actually said he'd take the test for fun; he's really fearless.

The dumplings in the pot, red and green, floated to the surface. After adding cold water twice and bringing it to a boil, they were scooped out.

Several children happily helped to serve the dumplings. Chaochao carefully sorted the dumplings by color and placed them on three large bamboo trays.

Li Ruru poured hot oil into minced garlic to release its aroma, then added chili oil, vinegar, and soy sauce, and finally sprinkled it with cilantro, chopped green onions, and some crushed peanuts.

The dumpling sauce is now ready, and each person is given a small bowl of sauce.

A row of white plates decorated with small pink flowers were laid out on the table.

Three large bamboo steamers of dumplings; you can pick out whatever you like.

"Let's eat." Li Ruru didn't say much. She picked up a green dumpling with white edges, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in her mouth.

My mouth was immediately filled with the aroma of meat and vegetables blending together.

After quickly eating one, she suddenly remembered something and said to everyone, "Eat slowly, there are copper coins in it, be careful not to choke."

Watching Xiao Wu eat without any regard for his image, Chao Chao whispered, "Brother Xiao Wu, be careful not to break your teeth."

Not only can you choke on a coin, but you're also more likely to chip your teeth.

Xiao Wu said dismissively, "Don't worry, I'm not that lucky." So many dumplings, and only three copper coins, whoever gets them, he won't get them.

"However, my young master is lucky; he might get to eat it."

Xiao Wu's mouth seemed to be blessed; as soon as he finished speaking, Chu Xiu cried out in pain.

He covered his mouth with his hand and carefully took out a copper coin.

"Hahaha, I actually got to eat it!" Chu Xiu looked at Li Ruru triumphantly. "Auntie, you keep your word, right?"

Before Li Ruru could answer, the second and third coins were eaten.

Chaochao and Xiao Yishan stared at the copper coins in their hands in disbelief.

Chaochao is usually quiet and reserved, but now that everyone is paying attention to her, she blushes and says, "Mom, I ate one."

Xiao Yishan beamed with joy, "I got to eat too!"

Li Ruru took a sip of noodle soup, put down her chopsticks, and said seriously, "Tell me your wishes, and I will do my best to fulfill them."

She has always been a person of her word, both in business and with her children.

She never said those things adults say to deceive children.

The children are not little anymore; they deserve respect and understanding.

Keeping your promises to your children is the best way to show respect.

Chaochao lowered his head, trying hard to think about his wish.

While living in the Chen family, she had many aspirations.

She hoped to eat an extra bowl of wild vegetable porridge every day, hoped not to go hungry, hoped her father wouldn't beat her mother, and hoped her grandmother wouldn't call her a good-for-nothing.

I hope my family will be harmonious and peaceful, and my days will be filled with happiness and contentment.

Now, she has left the Chen family with her mother and is living her own life.

She had plenty to eat and wear every day, and could eat as much fish, meat, candy, pastries, and snacks as she wanted—things she had never even dared to dream of before.

“Mother, I don’t have any wishes. Everything is fine now.” She pursed her lips. “I hope you are happy. If possible, I wouldn’t mind if you found someone to spend your life with.”

Li Ruru choked and tried to swallow the dumpling in her mouth.

He frowned and said, "I'm fine on my own, don't worry about me."

My daughter actually wants me to find a man; I've never heard of such a thing before.

After thinking for a moment, she said solemnly, "Don't bring this up again. I'm fine on my own. Men, you know..."

She wanted to say that no man is any good, but there were three young men around her, so what she said turned out to be: "Men are only to be admired from afar and not to be trifled with."

Chu Xiu laughed so hard he almost fell over. "Auntie is really knowledgeable. Well said."

Li Ruru continued to say to Chaochao, "Your birthday is in a few days. I'll throw you a grand birthday party."

Chaochao used to envy her three older cousins ​​the most. When they celebrated their birthdays, her grandmother would make longevity noodles for them, with two poached eggs in them.

"Mom, can I eat longevity noodles and a poached egg?"

She felt that this was the highest level of birthday celebration.

Li Ruru said irritably, "Look at your pathetic self."

Xiao Yishan held the copper coin and said softly, "I don't have any wishes, I just hope that Auntie can do less work and rest more, and let us men do the heavy and tiring work."

Seeing that Li Ruru did everything herself, making so much konjac tofu and a big meal every day, he was afraid that she would exhaust herself one day.

Li Ruru patted his head with satisfaction and said, "It's kind of you to think of me. I know. I'll give you a set of the best hunting tools another day."

Turning to Chu Xiu, she asked, "What is your wish?"

Chu Xiu just smiled foolishly but didn't say anything. He couldn't reveal his wish; if he did, he would be kicked out.

(End of this chapter)