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After settling Zhu Qi and others, Hui Niang took Chen Xi and Zhu Shan home in person.

Hui Niang heard that Chen Xi was kidnapped at the Chamber of Commerce General Office. She was afraid that Shen Mingjun and his wife would be worried, so she didn't even dare to pass on the letter to the Shen family. She didn't know that Chen Xi had returned.

When he arrived at the pharmacy, Xie Yuner was still talking to Zhou. Suddenly, she saw Chen Xi coming in. Zhou rubbed her eyes and dared to be sure that she was not dazzled. She walked up to hug her son in surprise:

"You stupid guy, I agreed to come back at the end of last month, and wrote another letter to say that I would go back in the first two days of this month. But before two days had passed, your third letter said that I would take a detour. I waited for you at the door for a few days without a single person. I thought I would push you back a few days later, but you suddenly came back. Are you going to scare me to death?"

Chen Xi was looked at by the roomful of people, and felt a little embarrassed, especially Shen Mingwen and Shen Mingtang were behind him.

"Where is the youngest man?" Shen Mingwen cleared his throat and said in a bad tone.

Only then did Zhou realize that there was a man behind him, so he tidied up his clothes: "Uncle, third uncle, and husband are still working in the workshop, so I asked him to come back."

Shen Mingwen had a stern face, as if someone owed him money.

Hui Niang asked Xiu'er to send Shen Mingwen and Shen Mingtang to settle in the yard where Shen Yongzhuo went to the Mansion City to take the exam. In order to facilitate the resettlement of the guests, Hui Niang had already bought the property rights of the house.

Only when the Shen Mingwen and his brothers left did the pharmacy restore the joyful and festive atmosphere.

Hui Niang smiled and said, "Close the door. Xiaolang is back today. We won't do business anymore. I'm happy today. Don't cook by myself. Go to the restaurant to order a banquet."

Ning'er said: "Grandma, isn't our own family running a tavern?"

Hui Niang patted her forehead gently: "Look at my mind, go to the restaurant and ask the chef to cook two tables of dishes to deliver."

When everyone came to greet Chen Xi, Chen Xi's eyes fell on Xie Yuner, who was still dressed in a woman behind her.

No matter what, Xie Yun'er is his nominal wife. She hasn't seen her for more than three months. She didn't mention her in her letter. Chen Xi didn't even know whether she used the divorce letter he gave before leaving home and left the Shen family.

"Brother Chen Xi..."

The last ones came were Lu Xier and Lin Dai.

The two little girls stay at home on weekdays. No one plays with them. Now they are really kept in the boudoir and no one knows them. They have to do a few embroidery pieces every day, and they also have to learn to wash clothes and sweep the floor, burn the fire and cook. These are not difficult for Lin Dai. But for Lu Xier, it is much more challenging than reading and recognizing words.

The whole family surrounded Chen Xi for a while, and Zhou finally noticed that behind Chen Xi there was a girl he didn't know was standing there, looking at curiously.

"Xiaolang, this girl is..."

Zhou carefully observed Zhu Shan and said that the size of this girl is not comparable to that of an ordinary woman... Nowadays, a woman can grow more than 1.65 meters tall, but Zhu Shan is 1.8 meters tall, which is one head taller than others.

Hui Niang smiled and said, "I forgot to introduce to my sister. This is my daughter of a distant relative. My family is going to join the Chamber of Commerce to work. First, she will send her daughter to work here. Her father and brothers will come together."

When did my sister have a distant relative? Didn’t it mean that she had no relatives for no reason?

When Chen Xi came back, the whole family was lively and festive, and Zhou didn't have the heart to ask so much.

Chen Xi entered the back hall. As soon as he sat down, Zhou started asking questions, mainly asking Chen Xi how he was doing in the township exam. Chen Xi looked a little regretful: "After the exam, I knew some news about my second uncle. I stayed in the provincial capital for a few days and asked the Chamber of Commerce to help me inquire... However, when I left Fuzhou, the exam had not yet been completed."

Zhou said angrily: "Who asked you what you did after the results? I asked you how you think you did in the exam?"

Hui Niang smiled and said, "Sister, too. Xiaolang is only twelve years old this year. I hope he will pass the exam now. Then next year, will you come back with the top scorer?"

Zhou said: "Then the relationship is good. It's better not to pass the exam. I study hard and wait three years later to take the exam. Then I should be more confident. It's his uncle..."

She didn't finish her words, but it actually meant a little deeper. But Shen Mingwen would be better off. What Zhou thought was not complicated. As long as the old lady could handle the same thing in a bowl of water, it would be fine. Although it was a bit difficult, as long as Chen Xi and Shen Mingwen were scholars, the old lady would not favor each other.

Soon, Shen Mingjun came back from the workshop, and Chen Xi's mentor Feng Huaqi came with him.

When Chen Xi invited the person inside, he respectfully stepped forward and bowed respectfully. Feng Huaqi nodded with a smile. He was obviously very concerned about the situation of Chen Xi's provincial examination.

Zhou said: "My father and I don't understand what we do in academic matters, so we'll go back first."

Zhou took Shen Mingjun back to the Shen family yard first, while Feng Huaqi sat down and asked about the specific details of the Chenxi provincial examination.

Chen Xi glanced at Hui Niang, who looked anxious next to her, and then she talked about the several questions of the exam from beginning to end.

Feng Huaqi was mainly concerned with Chen Xi’s three and four books. Chen Xi recited them one by one. Feng Huaqi did not let Chen Xi write them in writing. Just from Chen Xi’s recitation, he could feel that the article was written very well.

But when he was in the last question of "Learn if you are good, learn and be good", he thought for a long time before nodding slightly: "It's good to focus on the topic. It seems that there is no chance."

Hui Niang said happily: "Mr. Feng thinks that Xiaolang has the opportunity to win the imperial examination?"

Feng Huaqi looked affirmative: "Based on articles, Chen Xi's talent is enough, but..."

Hui Niang was a little surprised: "Isn't it enough to write the article well?"

Chen Xidao: "Sir, aunt, before the start of this provincial examination, Mr. Su Tongsu, who was familiar with me, took three questions and happened to meet two questions. Later, the governor-in-chief, the right Senator of the Administration, invited the candidates to have a banquet, as if he was interested in taking bribes after the exam. In this provincial examination, there are probably frauds and bribery cases."

In one sentence, Hui Niang and Feng Huaqi's faces became extremely ugly.

In fact, Feng Huaqi has also taken the provincial examination several times and knows very well about the tricks hidden in the provincial examination, but Hui Niang never knew that there were such dark spots. It turned out that the most fair and just imperial examination in her eyes was so deep.

Hui Niang asked nervously, "What should I do?"

Chen Xi shook her head, and even Feng Huaqi sighed: "I just hope that the inner curtain officer will not be disturbed too much. Judging from the heart, the results will be determined based on the pros and cons of the article. Chen Xi has a great chance."

After hearing this, Hui Niang couldn't help but feel worried and suddenly sighed: "If I had known, it would be better to find someone to go to the governor and envoy to give more money. In this way, Xiaolang might be able to pass the imperial examination."

Chen Xi hurriedly dissuaded: "Auntie, don't do anything to bribe the examiner. I want to pass the imperial examination. I must rely on real talent and real learning."

Hui Niang nodded when she heard Chen Xi's ambition, but the worry on her face did not diminish at all.

...

...

Feng Huaqi left early. At night, the two families gathered together for dinner. Only Shen Mingjun went to the yard where Shen Mingwen and Shen Mingtang lived temporarily.

For Shen Mingjun, there are two people in his family that he is difficult to face. One is the widowed Hui Niang, and the other is Xie Yuner, who has become his daughter-in-law.

As the only adult man among the two families, Shen Mingjun is in an awkward situation and has to avoid it if he can.

Chen Xi's twin brothers and sisters, Chen Yun and Shen Yier, are already two and a half years old. The two young people have already started to say some simple words, calling their father and mother, but they are not very stable in walking.

Zhou held her son in her arms, but she was a little cold to her daughter. Chen Yi'er could only sit on Lin Dai's lap. After all, Ning'er and Lin Dai take care of her on weekdays.

"Brother, I want to eat good food!" Chen Yi'er was obviously smarter than Chen Yun. She was born on the same day, but she was more fluent and more organized.

Chen Xi asked with a smile: "What do you want to eat?"

Chen Yier replied without thinking: "I want to eat rock candy."

With a word, Lin Dai quickly pinched Chen Yier's arm. Zhou frowned: "What is rock candy?"

Chen Xi glared at Lin Dai, blaming her and Lu Xier for not keeping her own portion of rock candy and giving it to Chen Yier. Chen Xi said: "It's just something to eat. It's about the same as malt sugar."

Zhou didn't think much about it, but Lin Dai's intestines were almost regretful. She didn't expect that she was just a little whistleblower, but compared with Chen Yi'er, she still seemed too pure. She originally wanted to please Chen Yi'er, the "sister-in-law", but she almost caused trouble.

As the dishes were served, the taste alone made Zhu Shan, who was sitting on the right hand of Chen Xi, swallow his saliva desperately. For her, chicken, duck, fish and meat were only available in the story. The best thing in the mountains was the game he had to eat, but because of the sparseness, the people in the mountains were basically reluctant to eat it, so they had to take it down the mountain to exchange for necessary rice, salt, clothes, sickles, hoes and other farm tools.

She arrived at a strange place and didn't know how to speak. She sat there staring at the food on the table, not daring to move her chopsticks.

"Although this girl is tall and long, she looks pretty handsome. How old is she? Is she allowed her?" Zhou asked with a smile.

Zhu Shan’s answer is very simple: “Xu Sui’s fifteenth year..."

"Isn't that one year younger than Dai'er? Haha, I want to call you sister. It seems that you have to call me aunt in the future."

Zhu Shan sat there, not yet understood. Hui Niang smiled and greeted: "Why don't you call me aunt?"

Zhu Shan then spoke and said in a thick voice: "Auntie."

Zhou replied with a "ah" and his face was filled with joy: "It's just this body... it's not like an ordinary girl, but it's also good. After marrying someone, you can have a good life and have the strength to do your job. The husband's family will definitely like it. After the Chinese New Year, my aunt will help you arrange it and you will definitely marry a good family."

"Well?"

Zhu Shan's face was full of confusion. It was obvious that she didn't understand what it was like to get married.

Chen Xi knew that Zhu Shan’s mother passed away when she was aged, and no one taught her these things. With her wisdom, it was very difficult to understand those.

The mountains require labor. Zhu Shan has to do farm work, hunt, and move and lift since childhood. His body is getting stronger and stronger. In addition, Zhu Qi intends to raise this daughter as a boy, which makes Zhu Shan different from ordinary women of the same age.

The food was delivered in two batches. When the two tables were put together and the dishes were filled with dishes, Hui Niang and Zhou then picked up the chopsticks and greeted: "It's time to eat, it's time to eat."

In this kind of occasion where the two families have dinner together, Hui Niang and Zhou are the heads of the family. They don’t move their chopsticks, and even Xie Yuner can’t move their chopsticks.

When I picked up the rice bowl, there were the most things in the bowl on Chenxi. Hui Niang and Zhou both put them in the bowl of Chenxi.

Zhu Shan held the bowl of rice and looked at the meat in the bowl of Chenxi. He only had envy. Fortunately, she could use chopsticks so that she would not use her hands to scoop it. However, she stuffed the rice in the bowl into her mouth in a few strokes, and turned to look at the steamer next to her, meaning that she would still serve rice.

Zhou was a little puzzled: "Xiaoshan, why don't you eat vegetables? Do you don't like it?"

Zhu Shan felt a little embarrassed and said, "I...I dare not eat it."

***************

ps: The fifth update!

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[The 515 is coming soon. I hope to continue to hit the 515 red envelope list. By May 15th, the red envelope rain can give back to readers and promote works. It is also love, so it will definitely be better!] (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!