"Then, what do you think, auntie?"
Upon hearing Yang Chuxia’s detailed explanation, Ms. Liu of the Wang Family started to believe her somewhat, as her niece always had a broader view of things. Considering her son’s words, she thought this plan was quite good, so she nodded and said, "Then let’s follow your second uncle’s idea."
Wang Yongshan hesitated for a moment and then said, "Xiaxia, but in case she gets selected, how much money will it take to get her deselected? I need you to help me find out. You know lots of people, so it’ll be easier for me to prepare."
"Mmm, I’ll keep this in mind. I’ll have someone find out where my cousin is now."
After settling the matter, Ms. Liu of the Wang Family and Wang Yongshan didn’t stay for dinner at Yang Chuxia’s house and went back home.
After sending them off, Yang Chuxia’s face darkened, scaring Ms. Wang.
"Xiaxia, what is this?"
"Mom, I didn’t want Auntie and Second Uncle to worry, so I didn’t mention it just now. Do you remember Steward Cao from a few days ago?"
With her reminder, Ms. Wang also realized the problem, "What if they run into those swindlers? What should we do?"
"Mom, let me go ask Mu Shaoling first."
As Yang Chuxia left the Yang Family’s house, she hurried home and happened to run into Mu Shaoling, "What happened to that Steward Cao?"
"He’s still in the county jail."
Yang Chuxia anxiously asked, "What about the Prefect? How many people has he ordered to do the same thing?"
"Xiaxia, what happened?" Ye Zi’an asked when he saw her worried face.
Yang Chuxia then explained in detail what had happened when Ms. Liu of the Wang Family and Wang Yongshan came over earlier.
Mu Shaoling knew immediately what she was worried about and chuckled, "You don’t have to worry about this. The Prefect only sent Steward Cao and Nurse Yun to do this job. It’s unlucky for Cao that the first village he chose was Yangshu Village. He was caught before he had a chance to wreak havoc elsewhere. As for the Prefect’s actions, I’ve already reported it to the Emperor. The new imperial edict should arrive soon."
"Is that so? I’m relieved then." She was just glad they hadn’t been scammed. As for whether or not they’d be selected, she wasn’t too concerned.
Mu Shaoling asked, "Do you need me to give them a heads up?"
"No need for a heads up, but I do need your help finding out where my second cousin is."
Mu Shaoling said, "If she was selected, she should be in the county town now. The screening in the prefecture has been confirmed to start in September."
As Mu Shaoling had said, everyone who had been selected from the various towns was now gathered in the county town. Wang Yunlian and Qian Xiaoqing were eliminated in the third round.
When Wang Yunlian and Qian Xiaoqing each returned home, Wang Yongshan came and informed Yang Chuxia, Ms. Wang, and the others.
Upon hearing that Qian Xiaoqing had also gone to the selection, Yang Chuxia didn’t know what to say. Qian Xiaoqing was about the same age as Wang Yunlian, but her birthday was in a different month. This year, she was not young either. It was said that after she was sent back to her own family from the Wang Family that year, her marriage was arranged again.
According to Wang Yongshan, Qian Xiaoqing’s original wedding date was scheduled for July. But because of her second aunt’s words, Qian Xiaoqing and her in-laws called off the marriage. Now, the outcome was worse, not only was she not selected, but she also lost her marriage.
"My second aunt is really courting death!" Yang Chuxia shared this story with Ye Zi’an that night.
"Your second aunt has been vain for more than just a day or two."
"How do you mean?" Yang Chuxia took the book out of his hand and asked, "I always thought that my second aunt was just a bit too much and liked to show off, but I never thought she was ?"