Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 209 - 208: A Man Is Always Slightly Drunk

Liu Ji also wanted to take part, so the two families, initially planning to go separately, ended up heading to the county government one after another.

Qin Yao and Liu Gong exchanged an awkward glance.

After collecting the documentation for child student status and the qualification to participate in the formal imperial examination at the county government, the two families finally went their separate ways.

Liu Ji requested a three-day leave from the academy’s head, who understood his need to go back to deliver the good news and readily granted it.

Moreover, the head specifically congratulated Liu Ji, stroking his beard, escorting him all the way to the academy’s gate with an appreciative look.

After all, he never had high hopes for this young Liu Ji, and it was surprising and delightful to see him pass the initial exam, having been at the academy less than a year.

Taking another look at Liu Ji’s impressive appearance, the head secretly thought, perhaps he’s a late-blooming genius.

The eager look from the head made Liu Ji feel a bit guilty.

Fortunately, only he and Qin Yao knew how he passed the initial exam, so he could still put on a show in front of the villagers of Liu Family Village who didn’t understand all the technicalities.

With the leave approved, Qin Yao bought some fresh pork, planning to go home and celebrate with everyone at the old house, and the couple set off slightly behind Liu Li and his brother as they headed back to the village.

After being away for four days, they returned with an entirely different status.

Afraid that Liu Ji might become overly proud, Qin Yao reminded him throughout the journey to keep a low profile, speak less whenever possible to avoid slipping up.

Liu Ji agreed, but still couldn’t help but look forward to seeing the villagers’ shocked faces.

Who would have thought that the person they called a rogue could pass the initial exam and gain the qualification to take the imperial exam?

Imagining the scene, Liu Ji couldn’t control the crazy upward curl of his lips.

Qin Yao was also delighted, feeling a step closer to her next small goal. After being here for a year and a half, today she finally saw a glimmer of hope.

"Liu Ji, our days are going to get better and better," Qin Yao said confidently.

"Ours?" Liu Ji was pleasantly surprised. Was he really considered a part of this family?

If you want the horse to keep running, you have to give it some sweet treats, obviously.

Qin Yao earnestly patted his shoulder and reaffirmed, "Yes, ours."

"Cheer up, there’s still a main exam waiting for us."

Liu Ji nodded heavily, "Yes, yes!"

Now he was full of energy. If he didn’t know his own level, he’d want to digest all the books immediately and win the Scholar title in the May exam, just to show her!

Qin Yao smiled contentedly, "But don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Passing this initial exam was already a stroke of luck. Just treat the next one as an experience, get a feel for the formal imperial exam’s atmosphere, and come back to study with a focused approach."

Liu Ji had already tasted the sweetness of Qin Yao’s study plans, promptly agreeing, and said emotionally, "Whatever you say, my lady, I’ll just listen to you."

This guy, whenever he said something insincere, he’d give himself away. Qin Yao couldn’t bear to look, but she managed a forced smile. After all, encouragement should be given to keep up his morale.

At dusk, the carriage quietly drove into Liu Family Village.

But what the couple didn’t expect was that as soon as they passed the village well, a loud crack of fireworks erupted.

Old Huang was so startled he jumped three feet high, nearly throwing Qin Yao and Liu Ji off the carriage.

With much effort, Qin Yao steadied the carriage, finding it already surrounded by villagers from Liu Family Village.

Old Liu, eyes brimming with tears, took the lead. Upon seeing Liu Ji, he pulled him off the carriage, giving him a hearty pat on the back, thanking the ancestors and praying for their blessing in producing a child student from the Liu Family.

The village chief and the Clan Leader also came forward to congratulate. Villagers brought vegetables, eggs, and even rice and oil to congratulate Liu Ji on passing the initial exam, and asked him to help more in the future.

From the scene, one might mistakenly think Liu Ji had already become the Champion Scholar.

Even Liu Dafu brought congratulatory gifts. He approached Qin Yao, subtly mentioning his wish for Liu Li and Liu Ji to travel to the Prefecture together, asking Qin Yao to take care of them.

The scene was too chaotic for Qin Yao to respond, and she was whisked away by He and Mrs. Qiu, along with a group of women, to accept congratulations in the center.

Sneaking a glance, Qin Yao saw the four children from her family standing pitifully at the edge, trying to get close but continuously pushed away by the elders.

Da Lang gave a bitter smile, having to pull his younger siblings away further.

Today, Qin Yao truly felt the villagers’ enthusiasm.

Liu Dafu led everyone to have a meal at his house, conveniently allowing the two future Scholars to connect more.

This was similar to what Liu Ji had imagined, yet not entirely. He only wanted the villagers to respect him, not to be regarded as a spectacle.

Before he could even cry out for help, he was dragged to Liu Dafu’s house, where he found himself in a staring contest with the already ’tortured’ Liu Li.

Seeing that the main attention was already on Liu Ji, Qin Yao quickly drove the carriage, gathering the four pitiful little kiddos at the edge, cracked the whip, and fled home like an escape.

But they couldn’t resist the villagers’ enthusiasm, and believe it or not, He and others even followed them home, helping her settle the carriage, lock the door, and then escorting her and the four children to Liu Dafu’s house.

The village hadn’t seen such a joyful event in a long time, and the smiles on everyone’s faces were genuine, their eyes shined as they gazed at you; how could Qin Yao refuse?

Liu Dafu opened a jar of good wine, and after Liu Ji swallowed two glasses, he was on a high, his maverick social side was unleashed as he hugged each of the village elders one by one.

Even Liu Li, watching from a distance, was scared and stayed away. Yet his father, Liu Dafu, only wanted to push him next to Liu Ji for more interaction so they could support each other in the future.

Qin Yao was afraid Liu Ji would drink too much and slip up, so she took over all the drinks, swallowing glass after glass without her face even flushing a bit.

The entire village couldn’t knock her down; they were impressed.

As this noisy event wound down, the six family members returned home. Seeing each other’s faces painted bright red by the villagers with red paint, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

After laughing enough, Qin Yao kicked Liu Ji in the butt, "Get up and boil water!"

Liu Ji rolled over on the ground, mumbling something noncommittal, making no move.

Qin Yao frowned, "Don’t force me to slap you awake."

Had she given him a little color, and now he wanted to open a dyeing workshop?!

Feeling the chill in the air, Liu Ji immediately opened his eyes, scrambled up, and dashed into the kitchen, skillfully starting a fire to boil water, showing no signs of being drunk anymore.

Sanlang and Si Niang blinked, wide-eyed, "So Dad wasn’t drunk after all?"

Qin Yao pinched their chubby cheeks, "You’re still too young."

A man being three parts drunk, performing so well, you’d be moved to tears.

"Alright, wash your face, change clothes, and report to me about your studies these past few days."

She addressed this to the four siblings.

Yet the siblings weren’t nervous; they had been paying attention to their teacher’s lessons.

During these four days of adults being away, they even supervised each other’s evening coursework previews.

Seeing the calm demeanor of the four siblings and then at someone bustling in the kitchen, Qin Yao felt quite relieved.