Since they’re attending school in the county, they usually come home only once a month at the end.
"There’s the Double Ninth Festival tomorrow, the teachers in the academy will attend a poetry gathering in the prefecture, so they gave us a three-day break," Yang Xiaochuan explained.
"I see, I was wondering why you didn’t come home for the August Moon Festival but made it back this time." Yang Chuxia gestured for her brothers to come inside, "Here, try these chrysanthemum cakes we made at home, let’s celebrate Double Ninth Festival together."
"Hehe, sis, my big brother and I followed the smell of the chrysanthemum cakes." Yang Qingtong laughed, "Xiu’er sent them, Grandpa said they were delicious, so the two of us came over."
"You ungrateful brat, I thought you came back especially to see me, but it turns out you just came to eat." Yang Chuxia playfully tried to pinch Yang Qingtong’s ear as she spoke.
Dodging like a monkey, the child said, "Sis, I’m an adult now, you can’t just hit me willy-nilly, give me some face."
Yang Chuxia rolled her eyes, "Give me a break, trying to act all grown-up in front of me. Even when you’re eighty, I’ll still pinch you if I want to."
Yang Qingtong shook his head, "Tyrant, you really are a female tyrant. Uncle was right to call you that. You’re our family’s female tyrant."
Upon hearing this, Yang Chuxia was taken aback, "Uncle? He said that? How did you hear about that?"
"He must’ve said it in front of Auntie, who then told people. That’s how I heard about it." Yang Qingtong added, "Hehe, Uncle is really scared of you."
Yang Chuxia shrugged and pouted, not feeling that Yang Xiaochuan was particularly scared of her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be constantly causing trouble.
"Is my brother-in-law in the prefecture?" Yang Qingrui, who was more serious compared to his lively sibling, asked when he noticed that Ye Zi’an was not at home.
"Yeah, he’s been gone for over ten days." Seeing the thoughtful look on his brother’s face, Yang Chuxia asked, "You’re thirteen now, are you prepared for the exams next year?"
Mentioning this, a proud look passed over Yang Qingrui’s face, similar to the expression Yang Chuxia often wore. "I’ve already passed the elementary-level exams, naturally, I’ll have to participate in the next one."
"What about you?" Seeing Yang Qingtong still playing with the chrysanthemum cake, she casually asked.
To be honest, she was just asking casually and never expected Yang Qingtong to take the exam at his age. After all, geniuses like Ye Zi’an were rare.
However, Yang Qingtong’s answer surprised her.
"If my big brother is taking the exam, should I not take it as well? Whether I pass or not, I still want to go. I’m still young and want to gain some experience."
"Sis, don’t worry, Xiaochuan’s studies are excellent. He can pass the elementary-level exam if he takes it with me."
"Elementary-level and Cultivated Talent exams are not the same. But it’s important that you can treat passing the exam as a normal thing. Both of you are still young, so whether it’s Qingtong or Qingrui, you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourselves. Studying diligently, treating the exams as normal, and understanding your shortcomings after the results come out – that’s what’s important."
Yang Chuxia thought about how her two younger brothers were still so young, and she didn’t want them to put too much pressure on themselves. Over time, it could weigh them down and even lead to a dislike of studying.
"Mm-hmm, sis, we know, you’ve told us several times." Yang Qingtong said, "You really became more nagging since you got married."
"You little brat, are you itchy for a beating? How dare you complain about me nagging!"