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

Seeing that Zhou Ning hadn't heard him, Sheng Hong urged Mo Lan to follow along!

"Rise, Peng!"

Zhou Ning turned around upon hearing the sound and saw Sheng Hong and Mo Lan chasing after them. He bowed and said, "This student greets Lord Sheng and Fourth Sister."

"You've only been taking exams for three days, how come you've lost so much weight? Come with me to my house, the venison just arrived this morning," Sheng Hong said with concern.

Zhou Ning glanced at Mo Lan, bowed, and said, "Lord Sheng's hospitality is too kind of me to refuse. Please allow me to bathe and change my clothes; I will definitely pay you a visit later."

"Alright! Then I'll wait for you here at the manor. Mo'er!" Sheng Hong urged, seeing that Mo Lan remained silent.

Mo Lan bowed slowly and said softly, "Then Pengqi, you should come early. Your fourth sister has prepared a gift for you to congratulate you."

Zhou Ning returned the greeting, thanked him, and got into his carriage to leave!

"Father! Don't you love Mo'er anymore?" Mo Lan said in a coquettish voice.

"You should apologize to Pengqi properly tonight. If you can compose a poem or two, this matter might be over. Let's go home!" Sheng Hong said irritably.

Zhou Ning went home, took a shower, and went straight to sleep, not waking up until the afternoon.

"Pear Head, prepare the car! We should head to the Sheng family now, or my residence will be waiting impatiently," Zhou Ning instructed as he dressed.

excited?

inevitable!

You should know that a six-courtyard mansion in the capital, complete with a garden, is considered a top-class residence and would cost tens of thousands of strings of cash!

Today is a good day!

The Sheng family!

Linxi Pavilion!

"Pengqi, Mo'er is truly not what you perceive her to be. She was simply unwell that day and reflected on her actions upon returning. For the past three days, she has been going to Yuqing Temple every day to pray for you. Please forgive her. Here, let me offer you a toast." Sheng Hong raised his cup.

Zhou Ning was speechless. If you want to stay in the house, just say so. Go to Yuqing Temple and pray for me every day.

Do you dare say that? Do you think I would believe you?

It's more like he goes to Yuqing Temple every day to meet with men outside the temple!

Seeing that Zhou Ning did not raise his cup, Sheng Hong winked at Mo Lan.

Men can be easily coaxed by women, right? Didn't your mother teach you any of those skills?

"Little Pengqi, look at these knee pads I made for you. I wanted you to take them into the exam hall, but there were too many people around, so I was too embarrassed to give them to you. I was really too embarrassed to talk to you that day, so I also made you a dress. Would you like to try it on? Please forgive your sister this time, okay?" Mo Lan took out a pair of knee pads and handed them over, speaking sweetly.

She was quick-witted; the knee pads were a gift from Minglan to Sheng Changfeng, so she simply used them to give to Sheng Changfeng.

As for clothes, she could just take her brother's new clothes; they're pretty much the same anyway.

After all, if the size is not right, it just means you're not careful enough; the thought behind it is what matters most, isn't it?

Zhou Ning shuddered. A honey trap?

Are you testing me with this?

Tens of thousands of strings of cash!

Boss!

"Fourth sister, put it aside for now, I don't need it anymore. Actually, this isn't a big deal, of course, provided I don't fail the exam. Otherwise, you ruined my mood and my state of mind that day, it was simply despicable," Zhou Ning said coldly.

Reason prevails everywhere; scholars must have backbone, right?

Hearing this, Sheng Hong's mood was like a rollercoaster, rising as soon as it dropped, then plummeting again.

"The two families have only discussed it verbally, and you haven't even come to propose marriage yet, I..." Mo Lan said, embarrassed and annoyed.

"Shut up! Kneel down!"

Sheng Hong roared, knowing full well that the marriage was over, but the money was gone too!

Losing both money and people?

Mo Lan dared not disobey and knelt down, weeping incessantly.

Lin Qinshuang, who was keeping watch outside, rushed into the house and joined in the misery act. Honglang kept crying out, begging to take the punishment in place of Molan.

"Look at the good daughter you raised! What kind of behavior is she! She's a disgrace!" Sheng Hong was furious.

Zhou Ning rose and bowed, saying, "Lord Sheng, please calm down. Fourth Sister is a noble lady from a high family, and I am not worthy of her. I am deeply grateful for Lord Sheng's kindness in marrying his beloved daughter to me. However, Fourth Sister's temperament is such that she is not a suitable match for me."

Sheng Hong knew that although Zhou Ning's words sounded nice, if she continued, it would be tantamount to announcing the annulment of the engagement.

I've really lost face this time!

"Very well, Brother Changbai and you, sir, have both been kind to me. For your and Changbai's sake, I should be tolerant of Fourth Sister. The marriage between the two families can continue, but you should compensate me with a mansion as soon as possible." Zhou Ning changed the subject, saving face for Sheng Hong.

To make you feel comfortable giving away your money, let's be in-laws a little longer.

Sheng Hong hadn't expected Zhou Ning to say that, and smiled wryly, "Pengqi is indeed sensible. However, this residence... absolutely cannot be purchased or transferred in my name; it would be detrimental to my official reputation. You'll understand when you enter officialdom; there are many things you can't get involved in!"

He could only smile wryly; he couldn't renege on the compensation for the house.

My annual salary is 150 guan, and my family still relies on dividends from the farmland and shops in my hometown to make a living. But even if I put all my savings into it, it might not be enough!

The old lady is rich, but she made it clear beforehand that she wouldn't clean up this mess.

When Zhou Ning saw him breathing heavily as he spoke, she felt equally uneasy.

After all, the Sheng family has Sheng Changbai, so if they insist on renegeting, I really can't afford to break off relations.

People who don't know how to be grateful won't go far in officialdom.

He breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and said, "I have taken your advice to heart, Lord Sheng. When may I come to collect the silver, and when should I go to propose marriage?"

Mo Lan and Lin Qinshuang were both furious and disgusted with each other.

You take the money without hesitation, then break off the engagement. Everyone's happy!

You're eating and taking things... How annoying!

Sheng Hong took a sip of wine and said, "It's no small sum, so please allow me to raise it. As for the marriage proposal, you haven't had your coming-of-age ceremony yet; it won't be too late after you pass the imperial examination."

He plans to go to his hometown of Xinyouyang as soon as possible; the feeling of being in debt is unpleasant!

"I will do whatever you say, sir. I'll toast you!" Zhou Ning readily agreed and even pleaded for Mo Lan. The 'family' then enjoyed a proper meal together.

After seeing Zhou Ning off, Sheng Hong lost his temper again and didn't come to Linxi Pavilion for a full half month.

At Wei Rui Xuan, Wang Ruofu saw Sheng Hong staying overnight every night and felt that heaven had opened its eyes. She only hoped that the enchantress of Linxi Pavilion would continue her mischievous ways and be completely despised by her lord!

The days of waiting for the admission notice are always agonizing. On the fifteenth, Liu Litou came to Zhouning to look after the house, while I went around looking at the house and bringing gifts to thank my teacher!

We visited the Yu residence today!

"Grand Tutor, you still retain your former elegance; congratulations!" Zhou Ning greeted him.

Grand Tutor Yu, a man of experience, chuckled and said, "What's wrong? Can't sit still at home anymore?"

"My family is small, so I have no choice but to come to your residence to beg for alms. I hope you won't be offended, Grand Tutor," Zhou Ning said with a smile.

Grand Tutor Yu gave a haughty snort and said, "My family doesn't offer you any favors. Since you're here, let's hear the exam questions. Everyone except Yanran, go and serve them!"

He dismissed the maid, leaving only his granddaughter to serve him...

Zhou Ning, naturally, could not disappoint Yu Yanran, so he kept a close eye on her and repeated all the questions and answers.

Yu Yanran felt shy under his gaze, but she also generously showed off her increasingly stunning figure and kept refilling his tea.

Grand Tutor Yu interrupted him from time to time with questions, but finally lavished praise on him: "If even your writing doesn't qualify you for the palace examination, then I should make a trip to the palace myself!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Grand Tutor. Sister Yanran, please sit down and rest, don't tire yourself out," Zhou Ning said with concern.

Yu Yanran shook her head, but her heart was filled with joy.

"You look even more beautiful when you're sitting down," Zhou Ning said earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yanran sat down beside her, maintaining a proper posture.

Grand Tutor Yu sighed deeply upon seeing this and went out to call for someone to prepare a meal immediately!

Get ready to kick people out!

......