Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qiao Xuan added, "Third Uncle, do you think the imperial examination is a joke? Even excellent masters can't make any promises, and you are asking my husband to make a promise? Anything can happen in the examination, so why do you think my husband can guarantee anything for you?"
Ms. Fang said, "Exactly, stop talking nonsense if you know nothing!'
Ms. Fang had worried that if her son and Liulang, who studied together, both failed to make it to Cultivated Talent, the couple from the third section of the family might take out their frustration on them. However, she had not planned to argue back.
But the couple's unreasonable behavior was becoming intolerable. Ms. Fang could not contain her anger any longer and sneered, "l remember someone always boasting about how Liulang was smarter and better learned than my son, and always getting praised by the teacher. That same person claimed my son's studies were a waste of money. Now, you blame my son for not teaching your son? Liulang never listened to my son before! You wouldn't even let my son teach yours. You said my son was arrogant and a bad influence on Liulang!
"You're all being ridiculous."
"Honestly, if you don't want to congratulate us, then don't. But mocking us serves no purpose."
Qiao Xuan managed to smile reassuringly at her mother-in-law. "Don't feel mocked, Mom. My husband is already the Provincial Champion, and he's definitely going to participate in the spring examination. He'll become an advanced scholar soon enough."
Ms. Fang beamed at her daughter-in-laws words. "That's great news!"
Nis. Ma, however, was seething with jealousy. "Becoming an advanced scholar isn't easy, you know. Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
Qiao Xuan shot back, "We're not counting chickens, Third Aunt-in-law. We're speaking auspicious words. Or do you not want us to succeed?"
Ms. Fang couldn't resist a dig at her husband's family. "Look, your brother won't even let his own son succeed. It's a shame, really."
Eldest Uncle, uncomfortable with the tension in the room, struggled to find the right words to say.
Ms. Fangs lips curved into a sneer as Third Uncle expressed his dissatisfaction. "Elder Sister-in-law, don't try to turn us against each other. I just want someone from the Shao Family who can be successful. Our son studied with your son at the same school, he is not bad either. Why… why didn't he make it? So I would like to ask you what is wrong with our son?!" Ms. Fang responded coolly, "Oh, then you can ask him if you want to, but don't mock him. My son is a Recommended Man and soon he will become an Advanced Scholar. By that time, he would be an officer, and you had better treat him nicely!'
Third Uncle and Ms. Ma were left speechless.
And their anger was mixed with fear.
They knew that humiliating an officer was not a joke, and Ms. Fang was not one to take things lying down.
Even Second Uncle and Ms. Niu's expressions changed, sensing the tension in the air.
Ms. Fang dismissed them with a wave of her hand. "It is getting late, you can go home if you don't have anything else to do here!"
As the two sections of the family left, they exchanged a look between themselves and parted their ways. Third Uncle and his wife seethed with anger, while Second Uncle and Ms. Niu felt distressed. It was a bad day for them, while the first section of the family had two pieces of good news at the door, making the comparison all the more irritating..