"She’s quite something now," Guan Tongshi glanced at Tong Gang, "She’s doing business with Quanshun Building in the town, making that Divine Sauce, and now she has partnered with our great uncle’s family to open a furniture workshop; today, the workshop is completed, and they are hosting a banquet..."
Tong Gang was privately shocked for a moment; that rustic girl was actually so capable?
Tong Liushi wasn’t just shocked; she was also worried. Yang Dani had been pestering Guan Qingshu, and wasn’t she disliked precisely because she was in a poor condition? But now, if she was truly so capable, would Guan Qingshu take an interest in her again? What about her own daughter then?
"It’s so unexpected..." Guan Tongshi had a sour tone, "That girl actually knows how to do business, not just building the workshop but also buying up the hill behind the village, along with a big expanse of muddy land, several hundred acres of it..."
Tong Gang and his wife were even more shocked. Even if that land wasn’t fertile, wouldn’t it at least cost a silver per acre? Several hundred acres, that’s several hundred silver; even with his shop running for so many years, he couldn’t just come up with several hundred silver.
"So what?" Guan Danian glared at his wife, "She’s just a village girl, a fatherless one at that, now estranged from the family. Such a woman brings misfortune..." He snorted coldly, "What does it matter if she’s earned some silver? She’s still a jinxed eldest daughter, isn’t she?"
Tong Gang and Tong Liushi exchanged glances again and felt slightly relieved. As long as Guan Danian looked down on Yang Dani, it was fine.
"I was just saying, what are you getting worked up about?" Guan Tongshi rolled her eyes at her husband. In fact, if she had known earlier that she had become so capable, she wouldn’t have called off the marriage. It would have been good for her son to have her as a concubine, and the earned silver could have been spent by her son, right? But after glancing at her elder brother, she didn’t dare speak this thought aloud, knowing that Qingshu’s educational expenses were still substantial and their family struggled to provide. They needed the support from her big brother.
"Enough, start cooking. We must celebrate at noon today," Guan Danian waved his hand, "I’ll go get a jug of wine," he said, heading out.
"Brother-in-law, no need to be polite, I’ve brought meat over today..." Tong Gang quickly spoke up.
"It’s fine, there’s a brewery in Xiaobudong Village, I’ll be back soon," Guan Danian said as he walked away with his hands behind his back.
"Brother, don’t worry about him," Guan Tongshi gestured, "You sit, I’ll cook."
"I’ll help you." Tong Liushi stood up quickly and followed her to the kitchen.
But Guan Danian didn’t go to Xiaobudong Village after leaving the house; he followed the sound of firecrackers instead. From afar, he saw the crowd bustling, nearly half the village had come, the atmosphere was lively. On the roadside, there were two large pots set up, and Wang Hehua, directing a group of women, was stewing meat, the aroma..., he swallowed instinctively, frowned slightly, then turned around and left.
Back at the Yang Family ancestral home, the arrival of the two government officers made Yang Rusong breathe a sigh of relief; he had indeed passed the exam. However, seeing Guan Qingshu, he paused for a moment, "Qingshu, you passed too, didn’t you?"
"I did," Guan Qingshu nodded.
"My results weren’t bad this time, ranked within the top fifty. What about you?" Yang Rusong said with some pride.
"Not bad either," Guan Qingshu gave a faint smile.
"Top fifty, what’s so great about that?" The following Tong Lingling said with pride, "My cousin ranked first..."