After removing his slightly heavy cloak, Lin Xiuyuan didn't even need to think before shaking his head:
"Not a single one. I specifically checked—I'm the only successful candidate from our county this time."
"Speaking of which, I owe it all to you, A'Ning. Everyone says this year's exam questions were unusually difficult. If not for my wife's help, your husband would likely have failed again."
After washing up and ensuring he was clean, Lin Xiuyuan carefully embraced his wife. Though his words carried emotion, his eyes sparkled with unconcealed joy.
"It's also because you worked so hard yourself."
An Ning smiled as she replied.
Only one successful candidate—how wonderful!
Feeling her husband's palpable excitement, An Ning couldn't help but share his happiness. Truth be told, this cheap husband of hers had his merits. Whether it was the pragmatism inherent to merchants or his forced diligence toward scholarly pursuits despite lacking genuine interest, he carried none of the typical literati's arrogance.
Little Chen, who had actually spent her time eating well and even gained weight: "......"
Had his son and daughter-in-law not stopped him, the old man might have scattered coins at the gates. Regardless, household servants received triple their usual monthly allowance.
With Lin Xiuyuan's success, An Ning's name once again resonated throughout Taohua County.
Imperial examinations left no room for coincidence. While one or two successes might involve thousand-to-one luck, what about a third? Regardless of the Xie family's so-called talents, everyone could see the Lin family—except for Old Master Lin's cousin's branch—lacked scholarly aptitude.
Polishing jade into finer jade demonstrated skill, but sculpting success from crude stone and securing a place on the examination's narrow bridge? That was talent worthy of family veneration—the kind even established scholarly clans couldn't guarantee producing every generation.
Meanwhile, the neighboring Zhang family received the news with ashen faces.
Seeing her husband's barely contained anger, Madam Zhang wore an expression both ugly and awkward. When marriage proposals were discussed, Scholar Zhang had eligible sons, but Madam Zhang's precious boy—born after two daughters, the family's eldest legitimate son and future clan leader—required a wife of proper standing.
Some clever farm girl with shallow roots? No matter how quick-witted, she'd never make a proper matriarch in Madam Zhang's eyes. Without proper upbringing, such a daughter-in-law would only embarrass them. As for teaching skills—whether main family or branch, once married in, wouldn't she serve the family regardless?
In Madam Zhang's estimation, matching a village girl with a branch family member only one remove from the main line was already generous. Thus, after pretending agreement with her husband, she'd secretly contacted another scholarly family the very next day.
"Who knew the girl would be so temperamental!"
Facing her husband's reproach, Madam Zhang grew defensive. "Cousin Da is your own nephew, merely one step removed from the main line—and the first in his generation to earn xiucai status. Wasn't he good enough for some country bumpkin?"
In her mind, An Ning had rejected them solely because they'd offered a branch family member rather than her precious son. Surely any sensible person would choose an esteemed scholarly family over some stinking-rich merchant clan!
"Then explain why your handpicked daughter-in-law failed to help our son pass?"
Scholar Zhang pointed accusingly, voice thick with suppressed rage. "You know Mingyuan must lead the entire clan someday! At his age, still not even a xiucai—how can he command respect?"
The examination topic silenced Madam Zhang. Her son had always excelled in studies—she'd assumed his previous failure was mere misfortune. This time, passing was supposed to be guaranteed. That's why she'd dismissed An Ning's value—surely some unschooled girl could at most produce a xiucai, never a juren!
Yet her son hadn't even cleared the first hurdle.
"Stupid woman! Stupid!"
Though regret gnawed at her, seeing her husband storm off without looking back reignited Madam Zhang's resentment:
"Why is everything my fault? Husband didn't insist either back then!"
She seethed inwardly. True, she'd verbally agreed, but no betrothal gifts had been exchanged! They could have easily claimed incompatible birth charts. At the time, neither her husband nor the clan elders had objected—why pin everything on her now?
While the Zhang household stewed in gloom, such was the nature of imperial exams—for every joyful family, many grieved. With Taohua County producing only one successful candidate, disappointed households multiplied.
"Impossible! Husband, how could you fail?"
At the Liu family courtyard, Second Ya—who'd rushed back expecting good news—stood stunned. How? Her husband had clearly... What went wrong?
Her question died as a vicious slap struck her face. Before Second Ya could recover, Widow Lu descended upon her with kicks and curses:
"You plague-ridden idiot! How dare you ask?"
"If you hadn't neglected him, Wencai wouldn't have fallen ill en route, forcing him to take the exam feverish until collapsing right after!"
Under such conditions, passing was impossible.
"Fever? Is husband alright?" Second Ya instinctively asked.
This only fueled Widow Lu's fury, who now struck without restraint:
"You dare ask? Had you borrowed the Lin family's carriage or properly cared for your man beforehand, would Wencai be in this state?"
"What curse brought such misfortune into my Liu family!"
As endless abuse rained down, whether through prophecy's influence or Widow Lu's poisonous words, Second Ya—who initially defended herself—gradually accepted the blame under her husband's worsening condition and mother-in-law's relentless accusations...
Watching through her system, An Ning: "......"
She couldn't decide whether this stemmed from stupidity or terminal lovesickness.