Although An Ning acted quickly to stop them, so of the Xie family mbers following behind still managed to catch a few words.
Now the entire family looked at An Ning with even greater awe.
Good heavens! We're all human, how can soone be this clever!
Xie Youcheng, Chubby Boy's father, practically wanted to enshrine An Ning right then and there. Knowing this niece of his particularly liked pastries—especially those from Phoenix Soar Bakery in the county town—he had forgotten in the earlier excitent of rushing back. Now rembering, he imdiately urged Chubby Boy's mother to make another trip to buy plenty while they were still fresh.
He also wanted to bring peanuts and lon seeds for everyone to share in the celebratory mood.
But An Ning stopped them again: "Uncle Youcheng, please don't spend unnecessarily. We can wait until Stone and the others finish the prefectural exams."
Children of this age often lacked stability and were easily distracted. Making too big a fuss now might make them overconfident by exam ti, which would be disastrous.
Having spent so many years in the county town, Xie Youcheng imdiately understood when reminded. He nodded repeatedly:
"Niece is absolutely right! Look at your uncle, so happy he's lost his head!"
An Ning smiled understandingly.
Truthfully, Xie Youcheng wasn't the only one overjoyed. Even the usually stern-faced village chief was smiling so widely his wrinkles showed.
Not to ntion Xie the Third, who remained dazed, just grinning foolishly, even more useless than Little Chen beside him.
Finally, Old Man Xie regained his senses and ushered the whole group—including the village chief's family—inside. He even instructed Old Chen:
"Sanwa's grandma, go fetch all the wine we brewed earlier! Today we'll drink properly with Yougen and his family!"
Brewing wine required precious grain in these tis, showing how valuable it was. Normally, even during holidays, that small half-barrel remained unopened. Today they were willing to be extravagant.
Clearly Old Man Xie was genuinely delighted.
The two families celebrated rrily all night.
By noon the next day, Chubby Boy's mother, Little Li, arrived with a large bundle of gifts.
There were newly released pastries from Phoenix Soar Bakery, hair ribbons and jewelry girls typically liked, various other items, and most notably—a bolt of clearly expensive light blue fabric.
Understanding her intentions, An Ning accepted the gifts without refusal, though she felt compelled to say sothing.
With a smile, An Ning said:
"Auntie, last ti was just luck. Who knows how the prefectural exams will go? We can't expect such good fortune every ti."
"Oh niece, don't say that! Of course I know!" Chubby Boy's mother waved her hands hurriedly, telling An Ning not to overthink it. "Just for Stone passing the county exam, these gifts are already deserved."
After all, among Scholar Xu's several students, only their Stone had passed this ti.
Who should get the credit for that? It went without saying.
Holding the girl's hands, Little Li smiled until her eyes nearly disappeared:
"My, our Ning girl is so pretty, she should have more nice clothes! When I saw this fabric at the shop yesterday, I imdiately thought how perfectly it would suit you..."
The village chief's daughter-in-law hadn't co discreetly, and with all the earlier commotion between the two families, news about Chubby Boy and Sanwa passing the county exams soon spread.
People's shock upon hearing was imnse. While the village chief's Chubby Boy passing was sowhat expected, Sanwa—who'd never attended a single proper class—actually passed?
Not just villagers, even the Xie family mbers who'd held so hopes were stunned.
"Can Siya really be this capable?"
In the east wing, Aunt Xie looked utterly disbelieving.
Teaching Sanwa enough to pass exams without any formal schooling?
At this mont, Zhang genuinely regretted not sending her own children over despite the grandfather's possible displeasure.
Even if Da Wa was a bit older, wasn't there still Second Ya?
Xie the Eldest silently puffed his pipe nearby.
Sanwa was his nephew after all—by both affection and principle, he should be happy about the exam success. But seeing Third Brother's elated face next door, Xie the Eldest couldn't help feeling sowhat sour.
Moreover, even Xie the Eldest could tell—the truly remarkable one in the family wasn't Sanwa, but niece Siya.
Xie the Eldest only regretted not having his children build better relations with their cousin earlier.
The second uncle's family next door thought similarly. Though they still hadn't managed to have a son after all these years, it didn't stop them fantasizing about their children soday becoming literate like Third Brother's Sanwa.
Passing exams like Sanwa would be even better.
With this hope, they found themselves sowhat resentful of Second Ya away in the county town.
"Wife, rember to tell Third Ya tomorrow—don't just stand around blankly all day. Learn from Eldest Brother's First Ya, show so initiative," Xie the Second said impatiently.
Beside him, Xia Zhaodi quickly responded:
"Husband, don't bla Third Ya. Ever since that incident with Second Brother, Third Brother's family hasn't been willing to let Third Ya co over."
In the darkness, Xie the Second exhaled heavily, muttering what sounded like "wretched creature."
Xia Zhaodi's lips moved silently a few tis, but she ultimately said nothing more.
Regardless of others' thoughts, An Ning's life grew increasingly comfortable. In the following days, the village chief's family spared no expense for Chubby Boy's future—pastries and fabric one day, fruits and eggs the next. Even when slaughtering an old hen, they sent over most of it to An Ning.
Even when the boys departed for the prefectural exams later, these gifts never stopped coming.
After being well-fed with so many delicacies, even An Ning noticed her complexion had improved.
What she didn't know was that Xie Youcheng had specifically instructed this earlier:
"The imperial exams aren't just this one event. Having lived in town, I made inquiries when the county results ca out—aside from our Stone and neighbor Sanwa, only a handful from other villages passed, mostly students from town academies."
"Since Stone has this rare opportunity, our family absolutely mustn't hold him back."
With their son speaking like this, for their grandson's future, how could the village chief's wife refuse?
While An Ning lounged leisurely in her new dress nibbling rice cakes, in Shun'an Prefecture, Chubby Boy and the others were struggling through their exams.
Unlike county exams, prefectural exams required traveling to the prefectural capital. Including waiting for results, no matter how anxious the families were, Sanwa's group didn't return until late May.
Seeing the barely contained excitent on their faces, both families' eyes lit up simultaneously. Little Chen couldn't wait to rush forward...
When Second Ya returned happily from the county town, she was t with strangely enthusiastic villagers:
"Second Ya, hurry ho! Sothing wonderful has happened to your family!"
"Second Ya, did you know? Your brother Sanwa passed the child scholar exams!"
"Sanwa? Impossible!"
Second Ya blurted out instinctively.
Hearing this, the faces of those about to offer congratulations instantly darkened.
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