Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 2499: Chapter 2500: Return to Tianyun (66)

”However, in-law,” Madam Huo shifted her tone, ”you used to really underestimate my granddaughter. If my son hadn’t betrothed my granddaughter to your family, I would have had her find a husband at home. Even though her father is gone, I’ve always raised her as he would have. Look at how our family has declined so severely; where do you think all that silver coin went? Didn’t I sell things so I could hire masters to teach my granddaughter, hoping she would succeed and become accomplished?”

”Yes, yes, yes,” Tao Chengyin felt ashamed and wore a smile, ”mother-in-law, you’re absolutely right.”

Seeing Tao Chengyin like this, Madam Huo didn’t say anything unpleasant anymore, but instead joyfully declared, ”Xin’er got first place, quite impressive. We must celebrate properly today.”

Tao Chengyin smiled and said, ”The banquet is already prepared, just waiting for mother-in-law to arrive.”

”Good, good, good.” Madam Huo nodded happily and with satisfaction.

Su Xing and Taoming Ye were following behind, seeing Tao Chengyin and Madam Huo no longer at daggers drawn like before, they both felt it was great.

They’re all people they care about, they hope they can truly be like family. Now they finally are acting like kin, which is truly nice.

Since Su Xing scored first, everyone’s attention was on Su Xing, and the entire banquet revolved around Su Xing. Naturally, Taoming Hai felt neglected, but due to etiquette, he couldn’t leave, causing Mrs. Cao, Taoming Hai, and Wan Banyan to feel increasingly frustrated.

After the banquet ended, Wan Banyan returned to her room and saw Taoming Hai also coming back, so she scolded Taoming Hai: ”Even if she scored first, so what? Isn’t she just a Scholar! If outsiders saw, they’d think she was a Martial Champion! It’s absolutely ridiculous!”

Taoming Hai knew she was being sarcastic, so he ignored her. Actually, he would like to curse like that too.

Seeing Taoming Hai silent, Wan Banyan knew he must be upset, so she quickly put on a smile to console him: ”Husband, though your ranking wasn’t as high as hers this time, at least you passed the Martial Talent exam. Next year you could take the Martial Candidate exam, and my father would be happy to help you find a good position! If you score a Martial Champion in the year after, even without my family’s help, the Emperor will naturally utilize you!”

This year was Taoming Hai’s first time partaking in the martial exam. Before, he wanted to register, but didn’t feel confident. This year he felt slightly more assured, so he tried, but didn’t expect Su Xing to also take the exam and perform extraordinarily well.

To be honest, Taoming Hai felt quite defeated by this.

His ninety-second ranking revealed how many were more capable than him, and this was just one provincial exam. There were other exams elsewhere, and those more capable than him certainly numbered many more... Taoming Hai was quite disheartened. He aspired to be a Martial Champion, but now thinks he might at best become a Martial Candidate, and not even reach Martial Imperial Examination Graduate level.

However, with Wan Banyan, his wife, consoling him and thinking of her status, he responded perfunctorily: ”Yes.”

His father-in-law is a Marquis, with many connections. If he doesn’t become a Champion, he could help him find a good position in the future.

As for his father, let’s forget about it. Though he appears to be a Third-ranking official, he is actually a minister in the least valued Ministry of Rites among the six ministries, unable to help him secure a good position. If his father can follow protocol and let him, the legitimate heir, inherit most of the family assets, he would be immensely grateful.