Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

Tao'er and Qingge walked into the main room, where everyone was already seated.

However, we didn't sit separately today; instead, we pushed two tables together and sat together.

Tao'er and Qingge naturally walked over and sat down next to the two little ones.

Tao'er noticed that today's meal was indeed much better than usual.

A large pot of pickled cabbage and fatty pork, with more pickled cabbage than fatty pork, but still glistening with oil.

Next to it was a pot of mushroom stewed chicken. Although the chicken was an old hen and the meat was a bit tough, there was a layer of golden oil floating on top of the soup, and it was sprinkled with bright green scallions. It smelled delicious.

Tao'er thought to herself that the fourth brother was different when he came back; not only was there meat, but he was also willing to kill a chicken.

The old couple valued their lazy and good-for-nothing fourth uncle the most.

This is not surprising, after all, scholars held a very high status in ancient times.

I made a big bowl of wild vegetable and egg soup, and a plate of tofu.

The corn porridge was cooked until it was thick and sticky, unlike the usual thin porridge.

The steamed buns with mixed grains were shiny, and a plate of stir-fried cabbage was also served.

Liu Laogen sat in the main seat, a smile on his face, and invited his family to eat.

The eldest son, Liu Tiezhu, and his wife sat to one side with their two brothers.

Liu Erniu, the second son, and his wife, Xu, lived next to each other.

Liu Laosan, the third son of the Liu family, and Zhao Shi sat to the left.

The fourth brother, Liu Tianbao, sat next to Liu Laogen, wearing an indigo robe and with his hair neatly combed, looking nothing like someone who toils in the fields for a living.

Tao'er served the two children bowls of porridge and gave each of them a piece of chicken before sitting down herself.

Qingge didn't hesitate to do it herself.

Tao'er knew in her heart that today's meal was not for nothing.

The old man is usually very stingy; how could he bear to stew chicken and cut meat?

There must be something going on behind their sudden generosity today.

Sure enough, halfway through the meal, Liu Laogen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and cleared his throat.

"Today, the fourth brother came home, and it's a rare occasion for everyone to get together, so your mother stewed all the laying hens in the house for you to eat."

"While everyone's here, I have something to say."

The chopsticks in everyone's hands slowed down a bit.

Liu Laogen looked at the fourth brother sitting next to him and said, "The fourth brother will be taking the provincial examination in two months."

This is the first time our Liu family has produced someone who wants to take the imperial examination; it's the most important event for the whole family.

Taking the imperial examination for the title of Juren (举人) is not like taking the examination for the title of Xiucai (秀才). It requires bribing officials, smoothing things over with superiors and subordinates, and spending money.

Your mother and I discussed it, and we'll need to scrape together one hundred taels of silver.

One hundred taels.

The people at the table fell completely silent.

Even the sound of chewing sauerkraut has disappeared.

Liu Laogen continued, "Your mother and I have saved some money, so we'll give you fifty-five taels."

The remaining forty-five taels, each of you from the first, second, and third branches of the family shall contribute fifteen taels.

That's what I wanted to tell you.

Tao'er lowered her head and drank her porridge without saying a word.

Tie Zhu and his brother exchanged a glance but said nothing.

The second wife, Xu, had a long face. She thought to herself that he had indeed come back to collect the money, and she was used to it.

The third wife, Zhao, looked increasingly grim.

Seeing that everyone was silent, the fourth brother, Liu Tianbao, put down his steamed bun and said with a grin, "Big brother, second brother, third brother, I had no choice but to ask you for help."

Don't worry, if I pass the imperial examination and become an official, you will definitely benefit from it.

At that time, let alone fifteen taels, even a hundred taels would be nothing.

"Help me out now, and I'll promote you and help you live a good life in the future."

Wang chimed in, "Si Lang is right, you can't write two Liu characters in one stroke."

If you brothers help him, how could he not remember it?

"In the future, if your children need to study and take the imperial examinations, won't they all rely on our Fourth Son?"

Liu Laogen nodded solemnly: "The matter of the fourth son's education is a major event for the whole family."

"This money isn't for nothing; it's a loan. He'll definitely pay it back once he passes the imperial examination."

These bastards probably won't act until they see results, so that's all he could say for now.

After all, the family's money has been mostly used to support the fourth son over the years, so the sons must have some resentment.

The third son's wife, Zhao, couldn't hold back any longer. She put her chopsticks down on the table and said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "Father, it's not that we don't want to take any, it's just that we can't afford that many."

We're short on cash; we'd be lucky to scrape together five taels.

Fifteen taels? Even if you turned everything upside down under our kang mat, you couldn't find that much.

Besides, our chubby baby is going to private school soon, which will cost money!

Liu Laogen's face darkened, and his voice rose: "Five taels?"

Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?

Don't try to hide anything from me. Haven't you three families saved anything all these years?

If you don't pay this money, don't even think about getting any benefit from the fourth brother's success in the future!

As for Pang Bao's studies, it won't be delayed.

The third son, Liu Laosan, quickly grabbed his wife's sleeve and tugged at it secretly, smiling apologetically, "Dad, don't worry, she's just a woman and doesn't know any better."

Fifteen taels is a bit too much. Let's think of a way to scrape together as much as we can.

Zhao wanted to say something, but the third son stomped on her hard under the table, forcing her to swallow her words.

He himself has no ability, and his wife has no family background. In the future, his youngest son will have to rely on his fourth son to help him out.

When Xu saw that the third branch of the family had given in, she knew she couldn't escape it. Her eyes reddened and her voice was trembling with tears: "Father, we really don't have any money."

Erniu didn't earn much money this year, and he gave all the money he earned to his mother.

Besides, we still owe the eldest son's family one tael of silver, as you know.

Liu Laogen waved his hand: "Let's leave the debts as they are and make up for the ones in front of us first."

The third son has already agreed, so your second wife's family cannot be an exception.

"If you don't have one, then find a way to get one, otherwise the fourth brother won't be able to take care of you in the future, and don't blame me for not reminding you."

Wang was even more shrewd, adding directly, "Second son's wife, if you don't have any money, go back to your parents' home to borrow some. Don't you have an older brother who runs a business in town?"

Upon hearing this, Xu's eyes immediately reddened, and her voice became shrill: "My brother doesn't do any big business, he's just a peddler carrying loads through the streets and alleys, he doesn't earn many copper coins."

Besides, my two nephews haven't even gotten married yet, so where would they get the money to lend me?

My father was sick last month, and the money for his medicine was borrowed from my sister-in-law's family. How could I possibly ask them for money?

Liu Laogen sighed, looking earnest: "This is a loan, not a demand."

Once the fourth son passes the imperial examination, the money will definitely be returned to you.

If you help him out, how could he possibly treat you badly?

Madam Wang persisted: "If you really can't come up with the money, just marry Xiuxiu off and get some betrothal gifts in return. Wouldn't that give you some money?"

Xu's face turned pale instantly.

Xiuxiu is her eldest daughter, only fifteen this year, and she hasn't been married yet.

She opened her mouth to refute, but Erniu stopped her.

Liu Erniu pondered for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "Dad, let me think of a way."

Wang then snorted and turned her face away.

The table fell silent for a moment, and then everyone's eyes slowly shifted to the main room.

So far, only the eldest son's family has not made a statement.

Looking at the large family sitting at the table in the main room, Liu Laogen asked, "Tiezhu, your parents didn't come."

You're the eldest son, so you should make the decision!

Tell me, what's your family's perspective?

Tie Zhu remained silent.

His younger brother, Tieshuan, didn't say a word either.

Both of them had their heads down, one shoveling the porridge and the other breaking apart a steamed bun.

Actually, everyone knows the situation of the eldest son's family.

The brothers Tiezhu and Tieshuan worked from dawn till dusk, and every penny they earned went to the public treasury. Where was there any silver left?

But they all have to contribute money, and the eldest son's family definitely has to contribute as well, otherwise they will feel resentful.

Liu Tiezhu was about to speak when his sister stopped him with a look.