CHAPTER 752: CHAPTER 752: HAPPY EVENTS ONE AFTER ANOTHER

Gu Dexing’s handwriting is not great, if he encounters an examiner who appreciates beautiful handwriting, he will be at a disadvantage, however, his essays are better than He Jinseng’s.

As for Gu Jin’an, as long as there are no mistakes, he is sure to pass.

When Gu Dexing and He Jinseng heard this, they were overjoyed, as both had been worried about failing the exam, now they can finally give their family a satisfactory explanation.

Scholar Shang admired Master Ouyang even more after seeing this. This indeed is a true Great Scholar, knowing that people on stage would be very nervous, some even faint from nervousness right in the examination hall.

Master Ouyang was very caring about the students’ emotions, a kind word from him relieved Gu Dexing and He Jinseng of all their nervousness.

Scholar Shang did not stay long, appropriately he stood up and said to everyone: "Let’s go, we’ll come back tomorrow."

Brother Qing also packed up his things, taking the servants with him as they left.

Gu Dewang, curious, asked him, "Master County Magistrate, is this how the old man teaches you every day? He lets you go home before noon; isn’t the tuition fee wasted?"

Zheng Qing said, "Master’s teaching hours are not fixed every day, once the lessons are over, the class is dismissed. Sometimes, instead of lecturing, he takes us out for fun."

Gu Dewang’s eyes widened: "Can class be conducted this way? It sounds very fun."

Suddenly, he began to like the old chubby man.

"See you tomorrow, Brother Qing," Brother Cheng greeted Brother Qing and then rode the mule cart home.

They hadn’t left the town yet, just passing Gu’s Restaurant when they were stopped by Mrs. Chen.

She jogged over to ask Gu Dexing and others, "How was it? Did the chubby old man agree to teach you guys?"

Gu Dewang said, "Mother, don’t worry, Master Ouyang likes us very much. He has agreed to teach us and let us go to school with Brother Cheng, but it costs ten taels of silver per person per year. He also had Brother Dexing, Brother Jin’an, and Brother Jin Sheng each write an essay, and he praised Brother Dexing’s foundation."

Hearing about the tuition fee of ten taels of silver per person per year, Mrs. Chen felt it was quite painful, but hearing that Master Ouyang praised Gu Dexing’s essays, she was elated: "Oh my, being praised by Master Ouyang, that’s great! I said Dexing would definitely pass this year, look, didn’t I predict it right?"

Mrs. Chen was so happy, it seemed like her eyebrows were about to fly.

Gu Dexing corrected her: "Aunt, Master Ouyang only said that our foundation was good, he did not say that we would definitely pass."

Mrs. Chen glared and said: "What nonsense are you talking about? Such a renowned master praised you, how could you not pass? You’re definitely going to pass. Go home and study hard, once you pass the Scholar exam, I’ll go arrange your marriage so that those shrews in the village can’t say you remain a bachelor. They don’t know anything; with an official position, you can marry a daughter from a rich family, right Jin Sheng?"

He Jinseng blushed, his grandfather indeed wanted him to pass the Scholar exam and then discuss a marriage with a wealthy family.

Mrs. Chen seeing He Jinseng blushing, teased him and then left in the mule cart.

He Jinseng and Gu Dexing both sighed in relief, finally finished talking, and wondered why Aunt Da Gui could talk so much?

...

After Scholar Shang returned home, he relayed what Gu Jin’an said at the Ouyang Family to Mrs. Jiang.

Mrs. Jiang, listening, cried tears of joy, "Good Brother An truly has a conscience, Old Master, you didn’t teach him in vain."

She added, "With this connection, whenever Yuanyuan faces any trouble in the future, he can support us."

It’s not that the people from Shang Family Village are not good, it’s just that they are not as devoted to Yuanyuan as Good Brother An is. Good Brother An treats Yuanyuan as if she were his own sister and would always show up when she needs support, no matter what.

Moreover, Good Brother An is promising. Even though he has not yet gained an official position, he has already established connections with many sons from noble families, as well as with the Zheng Family and the Shangguan Family, which will allow him to support Yuanyuan even more in the future.

"Have you set a date for the apprenticeship ceremony yet?" Ms. Jiang asked Scholar Shang.

Scholar Shang shook his head: "Not yet. It’s too rushed now. We have to wait until after the New Year at the earliest."

The more Ms. Jiang thought about it, the more excited she became, unable to contain herself: "No, this is too important. We should go to the county today to inform my parents and ask them how to handle the apprenticeship ceremony. There must be a banquet."

Scholar Shang has always doted on Ms. Jiang. Seeing her so happy, he smiled and said: "Alright, let’s go to the county, and we can celebrate the Little New Year there before returning."

"Ah." Ms. Jiang was extremely happy and immediately ordered Taozi and Ah Jiu to prepare the carriage to go to the county.

The whole family hurried to the Jiang Mansion in the county.

As soon as Ms. Jiang saw Mrs. Jiang, she burst into tears and told her about Gu Jin’an wanting to apprentice under Scholar Shang.

Mrs. Jiang’s eyes also reddened: "Alright, alright, you can finally put your mind at ease about one thing."

Scholar Shang saw Ms. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang both crying and said guiltily: "It’s my fault. I always thought of having Good Brother An apprentice under a famous master to help his career without obstacles, but I neglected his own desires."

In fact, accepting Good Brother An as a disciple would be all beneficial and no harm to his family. He has always been afraid of not being able to help Good Brother An enough and feared that after accepting him, his own family issues and Yuanyuan’s issues would become a burden to him.

Jiang Dahu piped up: "Hmph, you’ve finally come around. Although you did it for Good Brother An’s good, he sees you as a father figure. Always pushing Good Brother An away will hurt the child’s heart. Also, Dashan and Dashan’s wife hope that Good Brother An could apprentice under you. The whole family is happy, it’s only you who’s being stubborn – why do you make life harder for yourself?"

Looking at the momentum of the Gu family, who knows how wealthy and prestigious they will become in five or ten years. Good Brother An is smart and gets along well with the young members of the Zheng and Shangguan families. If he takes this disciple, he could surely help Yuanyuan out in times of difficulty, and even the Jiang family could get help from the Gu family if needed.

Scholar Shang quickly apologized: "Father-in-law, you are right to admonish me. I have been too stubborn, which has delayed things for years."

Ms. Jiang immediately defended Scholar Shang: "Dad, my husband also cherishes Good Brother An."

Jiang Dahu looked resigned: "Daughters always side outwards. I haven’t even spoken yet, and you’re already defending him."

Yuanyuan also joined in to mediate: "Grandpa, don’t be angry with dad. Sister Xiao Yu sent our family some ham. Yuanyuan brought it for you to eat."

"Oh, Little Xiao Yu sent you ham? That’s quite a luxury item; we can’t just eat it casually. But since we’re happy today, let’s slice it up and try some." Jiang Dahu also loves eating ham, which pairs well with alcohol. Yet it is so expensive that he can’t afford to buy it for himself without the Gu family’s gift.

That night, Scholar Shang and his father-in-law, Jiang Qi, and others drank themselves into a stupor, very pleased to have accepted Gu Jin’an as a disciple.

The Jiang family was also very happy for him. It is false to say that Wenyuan wasn’t regretful that Ms. Jiang couldn’t bear a son, but for her sake, he firmly chose not to take a concubine.

Now having Good Brother An filled the gap of not having a son, completing everything perfectly.

...

Dashan and his wife were also very happy that Scholar Shang finally agreed to accept Gu Jin’an as a disciple.

Dashan said: "Wenyuan has been good to our Good Brother An, having him as a master, we can be more at ease."

Due to the matter of the apprenticeship, both families were very happy. Apart from this joyous event, the next day brought another happy occasion – Chang Errui came to the Qi Family to ask for a marriage again.