Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

Sheng Changbai straightened his sleeves, sat down, and said, "I am more than willing. I have mentioned this to my father many times, but he has always made excuses and put it off."

Zhou Ning teased, "Not only is my elder brother the eldest son, but he has also achieved the second-highest rank in the imperial examination. He is truly the future of the Sheng family. Right now, Lord Sheng is too busy doting on his elder brother to worry about such a small matter."

Sheng Changbai blushed slightly and pointed at him, saying shamefully, "You...you, you, you, are you making fun of me? I will take care of this matter myself, but you must not mention the matter of Ya Kui again. By the way, the great scholar Zhuang arrived in Bianjing some time ago to repay his father's kindness. He will start teaching us tomorrow morning. We should encourage each other then."

"Mr. Zhuang? Is that the renowned scholar who even the Duke's mansion has tried to invite to his aid several times without success?" Zhou Ning feigned surprise.

Sheng Changbai nodded and said, "It was just a coincidence. My father once saved a woman from wrongful imprisonment, and only later did he learn that her son was Zhuang Daru. When Zhuang Daru heard that our family wanted to teach our children to read, he came to repay the favor."

"Since there's such good news, we'll both be on the list for next year's imperial examinations. Congratulations in advance, brother," Zhou Ning said.

Sheng Changbai admonished him, "Hey, the Great Zhou is a vast land with a large population, and talented people are as numerous as fish crossing a river. You must not be arrogant or complacent."

"Listening to your words is like drinking fine wine. I have learned a lot and will need your continued guidance in the future," Zhou Ning said, bowing.

Sheng Changbai rose to return the greeting and said with a smile, "It is an honor to share this with you, my virtuous brother. I will certainly strive together with you."

Both felt thirsty and each took a teacup from the maid. After taking a few sips, they began to discuss their answers to the provincial examination.

Post-exam review!

After a while, both of them felt they had benefited greatly. Sheng Changbai left Zhou Ning to wait, and got up to find Sheng Hong to finalize Zhou Ning's enrollment for the next day.

Just as Changbai went out to look for someone, Zhou Ning hurriedly told Litou to rush home and bring back the generous gifts he had prepared in advance!

As for the target of the generous gift, besides the face-conscious Mr. Sheng, it was none other than the pillar of the Sheng family, Old Madam Sheng.

Speaking of this Old Madam Sheng, she is a legendary figure who has been the subject of much discussion among the women of Bianjing (Kaifeng).

She was the only daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi's family and had been favored in the palace since childhood.

Yet this noblewoman insisted on marrying the esteemed Old Master Sheng, who had achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examinations. She even brought most of the Marquis's family's savings as her dowry when she married out of Bianjing.

After this incident, the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion retreated to Nanjing and never regained its former glory.

When Sheng Hong saw Chang Bai come looking for him and brought up the old matter again, he remembered that Zhou Ning had also passed the imperial examination on the same day.

But he was not only younger, but he also outperformed Changbai in the provincial examination, which suddenly made him want to become his student. After making a show of it, he readily agreed.

After all, he was a top scholar at the age of twelve. If such a prodigy is properly nurtured, he will undoubtedly become a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)!

This is definitely a good thing for him, who is currently only a minor official of the fifth rank.

......

Inside Shou'an Hall, before the newly celebrated Madam Sheng could even rest for a moment, she heard that Madam Yu had arrived with her granddaughter, Yu Yanran.

The two were childhood friends, and with the joyous occasion, they took the opportunity to visit each other.

The two little granddaughters played by themselves, and the two old men talked without restraint.

"Sister, I heard that your son Bai has passed the high school entrance exam. Congratulations! Have you found a good tutor? Why don't you come to my family's school to study sometime? Our two families can also keep in touch."

"Is it because you feel bored being alone at home, and your eldest daughter-in-law is so unfilial and neglectful, that you want me to come to your house to keep you company? I don't believe you haven't heard about Zhuang Xuejiu's affair." Old Mrs. Sheng joked with a smile.

"Of course I've heard, otherwise I would have come to your door long ago. I also heard that the young master of the Duke of Qi's family is going to study at your house? Well, you're teasing me again." Old Mrs. Yu said indignantly, then sighed deeply.

"My second wife is truly a scoundrel. She only shows respect to my husband and me on the surface. Behind our backs, she beats and scolds Yanran without any regard for us. She's really wicked! But I'm already this old, so I can only raise Yanran with me and find her a good husband when she grows up."

Looking at Yanran, who was about the same age as Minglan, Old Madam Sheng felt a deep sense of sympathy and sighed, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Since the children don't want us to take care of them, let them live their own lives. They'll regret it later anyway, and it won't affect us. Besides, compared to me, you are already extremely beautiful."

This beauty naturally refers to married life.

Mrs. Yu was born into a family of great scholars in Shandong. Her parents were kind and gentle, and she had a happy and carefree childhood.

When she reached marriageable age, her parents arranged for her to marry the impoverished Grand Secretary Yu.

For their daughter's future, the two elders not only imparted all their knowledge but also wholeheartedly supported her career, which enabled Grand Secretary Yu to rise rapidly in rank and eventually become a prime minister before retiring with honor.

As the two elders had imagined, Grand Secretary Yu was a man of good character, grateful for kindness, and devoted himself to his wife, never taking a concubine.

Even household affairs, big and small, were handled by Grand Secretary Yu himself, which allowed Old Madam Yu, who had married out, to remain as carefree as if she were still at home.

"Did you raise her under your wing?" Grandma Yu asked, looking at the little girl playing with her granddaughter.

Grandma Sheng nodded and said, "This is my family's messy affair, let's not talk about it. This child's mother died of blood loss during childbirth, so I took her in and raised her."

"That's a good thing. It's good for us old women to raise girls. They don't cause any trouble, and it fulfills the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. They also bring more joy in our daily lives, don't they?" Grandma Yu said magnanimously.

In the corridor, two petite girls were chatting idly when suddenly Yu Yan stepped back and cried out in pain.

"You...you let go..."

......