Seeing all the commotion, the two younger ones pushed their way through the crowd. Shen Hu-zi sniffled and grinned, his buckteeth showing. “Second Uncle, Little Uncle!” Zhou Da was also delighted to see the Shen family arrive. “His older brother and sister-in-law are here! Quick, have some tea.”

Zhou Ning hurried over with a teapot. Shen Linchuan held out a coarse porcelain bowl, filled it with tea, and handed it over. “Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, please have some tea.”

Shen Dage and his wife quickly accepted the tea. Shen Dage wore an expression of deep satisfaction. If only his parents could know that his second younger brother had passed the Xiucai examination—how overjoyed they would be. Alas, they would never get to see it.

Zhou Da had returned, and guests from the Shen family had also arrived. The crowd of onlookers showed no sign of dispersing, and the two messengers still had to attend to them. Zhou Da broke into a cheerful laugh and said, “Thank you all for coming to celebrate. We’re hosting guests at home today, so everyone is invited to my house for lunch tomorrow. We still have half a pig left—we’ll cook it all up tomorrow. Please, everyone, do come!”

Everyone laughed. “Zhou Da, we won’t hold back tomorrow.”

Zhou Da waved his hands, “Come on over, everyone!”

It was nearly noon, and Zhou Da still had to entertain the officials from the county who had come to deliver the good news. The crowd, having had its fill of the commotion, gradually dispersed, and the courtyard finally grew quiet, leaving behind a floor littered with sunflower seed shells—a clear sign of just how lively things had been.

“Father, could you keep an eye on the two younger ones? Ning-ger and I are going to cook.”

Earlier, the courtyard had been packed with people, and Shen Linchuan and Zhou Ning had been busy greeting the well-wishers—they hadn’t had a moment to cook. Now that everyone had left, they finally had a chance to prepare the meal.

Shen Dasao hurriedly said, “Linchuan, you rest. I’ll whip up a meal for you.”

“It’s fine, Sister-in-law. With an extra pair of hands, we can get it ready sooner. It’s already this late—the two young lads must be starving. It would be rude to keep them waiting.”

Shen Dage and his family came over carrying two large roosters. Shen Dage brought one over and said, “I’ll slaughter a chicken for you. No feast is complete without chicken—how could we possibly entertain our guests without one?”

Zhou Da agreed, “We should definitely slaughter a chicken. The two of you have come all the way from the county seat—it must have been quite a journey.”

Everyone sprang into action. Zhou Da kept the guests company while keeping an eye on the two children, while Shen Linchuan and the other three went to the kitchen to get to work—some stir-frying, some slaughtering the chicken, some tending the fire, and some preparing the vegetables. In no time at all, several dishes were ready.

Wang Xiaowu and the other man who had brought the good news felt a bit embarrassed. They’d always heard that gentlemen keep their distance from the kitchen—they’d never even seen a man in the kitchen themselves.

Here was Mr. Shen—a Xiucai, no less—personally cooking for them. Even his brother and sister-in-law were pitching in to help. The two young men sat in the courtyard feeling as if they’d been pricked in the buttocks with needles.

Wang Xiaowu was the first to stand up. “I’ll go fetch some water for Mr. Shen!” The other man stood up as well. “I’ll go chop some firewood.”

Zhou Da stopped them. “We’ve got water and firewood. You’ve come all this way—there’s no way I’d make you do any work. Sit down, sit down.” Wang Xiaowu scratched his head. “But since Mr. Shen is rolling up his sleeves to cook, we really can’t just sit here.”

Shen Linchuan came out holding a bowl. “Country folk are used to this sort of thing. You two young men must be exhausted from traveling day and night.” The two men hurriedly waved their hands. “It’s our pleasure, it’s our pleasure.”

Shen Linchuan suddenly remembered something. The messenger had just arrived and was busy greeting the villagers—he’d completely forgotten about Xu Zhifan. After all, the two of them had specifically sought out a messenger.

“Young man, did my classmate Xu Zhifan pass the exam?”

The dark-skinned man hurriedly replied, “He did, he did! Mr. Xu ranked fortieth. I stopped by the Xu household first, which is why I arrived at Dayangshu Village a bit late. Upon hearing that Mr. Shen had passed the examination, Mr. Xu was overjoyed and said he’d like to invite Mr. Shen to share a drink with him.”

Wang Xiaowu listened with envy. The man had just delivered good news to two families at once—he was sure to make a few taels of silver. Although he had only one family to visit, Zhou Youcheng’s household had given him two hundred and fifty wen. If it weren’t for the extra tael of congratulatory money from Zhou Fulang, he would have come out well short.

Upon hearing that Xu Zhifan had also passed the Xiucai examination, Shen Linchuan was completely put at ease. It was just as he had surmised: Xu Zhifan’s ranking should have hovered right around the cutoff line. Even if he hadn’t passed, he wouldn’t have been far off; and if he had passed, he wouldn’t have ranked much higher. And indeed, that was exactly the case.

The four of them worked together quickly and soon had several dishes ready—cold and hot dishes, braised chicken, and stir-fried pork—filling the square table to the brim. Zhou Da also brought out his sorghum wine and poured a bowl for each of them.

Wang Xiaowu asked for just a small pour. “We shouldn’t spoil Old Zhou’s good mood, so I’ll have just a little. We’ve got to head back to the county seat right after dinner.”

Zhou Da slapped his forehead. “Oh, I completely forgot about that. Well, then, help yourselves to the vegetables.”

Since the two messengers still had to ride back, they didn’t join in the drinking. Zhou Da, Shen Linchuan, and the others began to drink. Zhou Da took a sip of wine and let out a long sigh. “I never would have thought it—Linchuan passed the Xiucai exam this year. It’s all thanks to you, his older brother and sister-in-law.”

Shen Dage, who was a bit reserved and not one for polite small talk, held up his cup and said, “Uncle Zhou and Ning-ger have worked hard too.”

Shen Dasao knew Uncle Zhou was trying to spare her family’s feelings. They’d worked so hard to support him for over a decade—who would’ve thought that the moment he married into the Zhou family, he’d pass the Xiucai exam the very next year? Over a decade of effort—who knows how much silver they’d poured into it.

If she were the petty sort, she’d surely harbor a grudge—this honor that should have belonged to the Shen family had instead fallen to the Zhou family.

Shen Dasao was a broad-minded woman. She served Zhou Ning a piece of meat with her chopsticks. “Zhou Da, I was just telling his older brother earlier that ever since Linchuan married into the Zhou family, both households have prospered. I said back then that Linchuan was meant to be part of the Zhou family—it’s as if he was born in the wrong place. Just look—he passed the Xiucai exam this year.”

Shen Dasao’s words made everyone laugh. Shen Linchuan raised his cup in a toast. “I owe so much to my elder brother and sister-in-law for looking after me all these years. I was so immature back then, and I caused them so much trouble. Now that I’m married, I’ve come to see things more clearly—and who would’ve thought I’d actually pass the exam?”

Shen Dage nodded in agreement, “That’s right, that’s right.”

Shen Hu-zi, his mouth full of grease, chimed in, “Mom and Dad, what are you two talking about? Second Uncle is still my Second Uncle, isn’t he?”

Shen Linchuan ruffled Shen Hu-zi’s hair. “Father, Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, why aren’t you as open-minded as Hu-zi? We’re all family—there’s no need for formalities. I was able to pass the Xiucai examination only because of the help from Father, Ning-ger, Elder Brother, and Sister-in-law, which allowed me to study with peace of mind.”

Seeing that Shen Linchuan’s older brother and sister-in-law weren’t upset, Zhou Da felt relieved. People always say that scholars are ungrateful, but his son-in-law had passed the Xiucai exam.

If the two families hadn’t been related by marriage, what kind of family could Shen Linchuan have found?

Zhou Da lifted his bowl. “Come, come, let’s drink! Your older brother and sister-in-law will be staying here tonight. Tomorrow we’re hosting a feast for the villagers, and we’ll definitely need your help.”

The whole table ate in a lively atmosphere. Once the two messengers had their fill of food and drink, they prepared to leave. The family saw them off, and Zhou Ning handed over two prepared bundles. “My husband and I packed some food for you to eat on the road.”

The two thanked them and left. Wang Xiaowu rode his horse slowly to the village entrance. “The Zhou family is really generous—they even prepared some provisions for us.” 

“You’re right. They gave a generous wedding gift, and the meal was excellent. Even though their son passed the Xiucai exam, they didn’t look down on anyone.”

Wang Xiaowu snorted. “Well, you haven’t seen the other Zhou family I visited—they only gave me two hundred and fifty for the wedding!”

The two set off together for the county seat. Meanwhile, Shen Linchuan and Zhou Ning were busy washing the bowls and chopsticks, while Zhou Da swept the courtyard with a broom. Shen Linchuan’s older brother and sister-in-law were helping feed the chickens and water the vegetables—after all, they were planning to host a feast for the villagers tomorrow, so the vegetables had to be in top shape.

The Shen household was bustling, too. Shen Linchuan and his wife were busy at home when the good news arrived from Dayangshu Village—they were startled. Who would’ve thought he’d actually pass first place!

They left the young apprentice to mind the house, hitched up the oxcart, and hurried over.

It was certain that villagers would come to offer their congratulations the next day. Shen Dasao was a natural at managing household affairs and had everything arranged perfectly.

After dinner, the house was still bustling with visitors. Relatives from the Zhou clan came to offer their congratulations, some bringing vegetables and fruit, others bringing rice and eggs—all produce from their own fields. Shen Linchuan didn’t refuse and gratefully accepted everything.

Zhou Ning was busy pouring tea, but thankfully, Shen Dasao was there to help entertain the guests. Only then did Zhou Ning breathe a sigh of relief; he wasn’t good at socializing, whereas his sister-in-law handled it with ease.

Wave after wave of guests arrived at the house, and the kitchen was soon piled high with the gifts they brought. Not only did members of the Zhou clan come, but even neighbors stopped by carrying gifts to offer their congratulations. Shen Linchuan refused to accept the gifts from others—they were all rural folk, and though the items they brought weren’t valuable, they had saved up to afford them.

Aside from the Zhou family relatives, everyone else who came would have some tea and a handful of sunflower seeds. When it was time to leave, they’d be asked to take a basket with them, and inevitably, there would be another round of polite refusals.

Shen Linchuan politely invited them to come over for a meal the next day, and everyone accepted with a smile.

The eldest in the Zhou family was Uncle Zhou, who had come over to mediate on behalf of Zhou Er’s family. Though he was old, he was no fool. “Zhou Da, how do you plan to arrange things for Ming’er?”

Zhou Da replied cheerfully, “We’ll definitely need to set up a few tables.”

Uncle Zhou nodded. “If we were to host the whole village, no family would have enough money for that. Let’s just invite some close relatives, then cook up a few pots of food—load them with plenty of meat so everyone can have a taste of the good stuff.”

Shen Linchuan poured some hot water into the porcelain teapot on the table. “Uncle Zhou is quite right.”

Uncle Zhou stroked his beard. “If a few men and Fulang from the clan come over to help, the feast will be much easier to manage.”

Shen Dasao thought this was the best arrangement. If they were to host a banquet for everyone, the whole village would have to eat—it would bankrupt a single household. Setting up three or five tables to entertain close relatives, and serving stewed dishes with plenty of meat to the rest, would do just fine.

The Zhou clan always prepared two sets of gifts: one for the Zhou Da family and one for the Zhou Er family. Both were Xiucai; though their rankings differed, they were all part of the same clan. Giving one family more than the other would inevitably cause friction, so they were given equal portions.

After spending some time at the Zhou Da house, they went over to the Zhou Er house. Zhou Youcheng had been beaten by Doctor Zhang, and it wasn’t until lunchtime that he finally turned his attention to the doctor.

It cost another tael of silver. Though it wasn’t a serious illness, Zhou Youcheng was so furious that he took to his bed.

When relatives from the Zhou clan came to offer their congratulations, it was Zhou Er and his wife who handled the reception. No one said much; everyone knew what had happened. No family was foolish enough to bring it up in front of them, so they all tacitly avoided mentioning Zhou Youcheng. They simply set down their gifts, exchanged a few words, and left.

Zhou Youcheng couldn’t be bothered to deal with them either. Lying in bed seething with anger, he vowed that one day he would make Shen Linchuan and Zhang Xiaoyi pay!

As dusk approached, the town’s local gentry heard the news and came to offer their congratulations, bringing mostly silver and cloth. Shen Linchuan, however, refused to accept them.

They were offering such valuable items precisely because they valued his reputation as the top scholar—investing in him while he still held that title. If he accepted their gifts now, he’d inevitably be obligated to support them later. He wouldn’t be the one to make that kind of deal.

He merely invited them politely into the house for tea, refusing all the gifts they brought. Most of those who came to present gifts were stewards and servants; regardless of their masters’ intentions, Shen Linchuan treated his guests with utmost courtesy and would never look down on anyone simply because they were servants.

After a polite reception, they saw the visitors out. As soon as night fell, they quickly shut the courtyard gate. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief, exchanged glances, and burst into laughter.

Shen Dasao wiped the sweat from his brow. “I never expected even the town’s local gentry would come bearing gifts. Is passing the Xiucai exam really that valuable? Everyone always says ‘poor Xiucai, poor Xiucai,’ but I’ve heard that passing the Juren exam is even more remarkable—some people even send servants to the courtyard. It’s practically a shot to the top.”

“Sister-in-law, these gifts aren’t easy to accept. We’ll have to repay them someday. They’re just after the prestige of being the top scorer and are coming early to make connections.”

“I thought so. The wealthy have far more schemes than we do. It’s best not to accept them. It’s getting late—I’ll go prepare some noodles. Let’s eat and rest up; we have guests to entertain tomorrow.”

Shen Dasao was about to go inside to cook when Zhou Ning stopped her. “Sister-in-law, I’ll cook. You’ve been working all day—you should rest.” Shen Xiaoyu scampered over, tilting his little face up. “Uncle, I’ll go stoke the fire for you.”

After saying that, he let out a hearty burp, making Shen Linchuan laugh. He ruffled Shen Xiaoyu’s hair. “I’ll tend the fire. You and your brother go play with Dahuang.”

In the afternoon, quite a few people came by to bring congratulatory gifts—pastries, tea, and sweets—and the two little ones ate their fill; Shen Hu-zi even still had sesame seeds stuck to the corner of his mouth.

Since they were all family, there was no need to be formal. After spending the entire afternoon busy welcoming and seeing off guests, they had a light dinner, tidied up, and went to their respective rooms to sleep.

It was the first time Shen Linchuan’s brother and sister-in-law had stayed over. The eastern room, normally used for storing grain, had been cleared out by Zhou Ning, and the quilts they were given were the very ones made for their wedding.

That night, Zhou Ning had intended to whisper sweet nothings to Shen Linchuan, but with his brother and sister-in-law sleeping right across the way, he could only sneakily hook his fingers around Shen Linchuan’s. Shen Linchuan chuckled softly and clasped his Fulang’s hand—after all, his Fulang had worked tirelessly to help him pass the Xiucai examination.

Shen Linchuan pulled him close and kissed him. “Time to sleep.”

Zhou Ning murmured softly in Shen Linchuan’s ear, “Shen Linchuan, I’m really happy.” 

“I’m really happy too.”

The two of them huddled together and laughed softly. They could still hear Shen Hu-zi talking in the next room—he hadn’t gone to sleep yet. After being scolded a couple of times by Shen Dasao, his voice gradually faded away.

Early the next morning, as soon as it got light, everyone got up. There wasn’t much preparation needed—the clan members had come over yesterday to offer their congratulations and brought plenty of vegetables and other supplies. Not long after they’d finished breakfast, several women and Fulang came over with smiles on their faces to help out.

Some sorted vegetables, some tended the fire, and others chopped meat…

Everyone sat together, working and chatting as they went. “My, I never would have thought it. Who knows, maybe one day our Dayangshu Village will produce an official of its own.”

“You’re right. I came over to soak up some of this good fortune—maybe my boy has what it takes to be a scholar too.”

Shen Dasao and Zhou Ning were washing vegetables together on the side. The villagers now looked at Zhou Ning as if he were a golden treasure; seeing him working, they reached out and handed him a basin. “Ning-ger, with so many people here, there’s no need for you to do this. Just help pour some tea.”

“Exactly. With so many aunts and fulangs here, we don’t need you at all. And you, Sister-in-law, don’t work so hard either. You’re a guest—go take a rest.”

The two were gently shooed aside with laughter. Shen Dasao thanked them, then picked up the teapot to serve tea, fruit, and other refreshments to the women and Fulang who had been helping.

Zhou Ning had originally intended to pitch in with the chores, but since his sister-in-law had taken the teapot and led him away, he looked around and couldn’t find any tasks that needed his help.

Shen Linchuan was busy entertaining the guests. Seeing his Fulang’s slightly socially anxious demeanor, he couldn’t help but smile. “Xiaoyu, Xiaoyu, go play with your uncle.”

Shen Xiaoyu was petting Dahuang in the courtyard. Hearing his second uncle call his name, he ran over. “Uncle, Uncle, look—Dahuang’s belly is all warm!”

Seeing Shen Xiaoyu come over, Zhou Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief. There were simply too many people here today—relatives, neighbors, and even people from the same village he’d barely exchanged greetings with had all turned up. Not only were they swarming around Shen Linchuan, but they were showering him with compliments left and right as well. Their enthusiasm was so overwhelming that he could barely keep up.

Shen Linchuan also emerged from the crowd. Not to mention that his Fulang wasn’t one for socializing, but even his smile looked a bit stiff. It hadn’t been this lively even when he and Ning-ger got married.

Shen Linchuan took a quick break to grab a handful of candied fruit from the house, then came out and handed it to Zhou Ning. “Just stay here and play with Hu-zi and Xiaoyu. We’ve got plenty of people helping out. If you get tired, just go rest inside.”

Zhou Ning let out a sigh. “There’s no way to hide. They’d find me even if I were inside.”

Shen Linchuan chuckled. “We won’t get any peace these next few days. Why don’t we go back with Big Brother and Big Sister this afternoon?” 

As soon as Zhou Ning heard this, his eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. “Sure, sure.”

Upon hearing that his second uncle and younger uncle were coming to their house, Shen Xiaoyu was overjoyed. “Uncle, let’s go fishing!” Shen Hu-zi also started shouting, “Second Uncle, I want pot-roasted pork!”

“Alright, it’s about time I made that for you.”

Before they’d even exchanged a few more words, some of the village elders came over to offer their congratulations. “Young man from the Zhou family, congratulations, congratulations.”

Shen Linchuan had no choice but to bid them farewell. As soon as he turned to leave, a crowd quickly gathered around Zhou Ning as well. “Oh my, Ning-ger, you’re the Xiucai’s Fulang of our village now.”

“That’s right, what a blessing! Your father really had an eye for choosing a son-in-law back then.”

“I hear that now that he’s a Xiucai, he can even work as an accountant in town—he’d make a fine teacher, too.” 

“That’s right. When you two have children in the future, they’ll be sharp as tacks.”

The aunts and older women gathered around chimed in one after another, leaving Zhou Ning a bit dazed. They even praised his height—something people used to say made him look too sturdy for a young ger.

Zhang Xiaoyi came in carrying a basket, calling out, “Oh my, aunts and uncles, if you keep talking like this, you’ll make our Ning-ger feel too embarrassed.”

Zhang Xiaoyi had come with Zhou Xiaonan; their baskets were filled with pastries and eggs. As soon as the women and men saw the two unmarried young men approach, they grew even more excited. “Xiaoyi, my nephew from my hometown, works as an accountant in town. Why don’t you two get to know each other?”

“Nan-ger, what about you? Let me help you out a bit. I’ll go ask around about all the capable, good-looking young men in the surrounding villages.”

The two young gers were sweating buckets from all the questions and hurriedly pulled Zhou Ning out. Old Lady Shi let out a couple of “Aahs.” 

“Don’t go yet! I haven’t finished talking yet.” 

“Oh my, I think Yi-ger is a fine lad, and Nan-ger isn’t half bad either. They’re both at the right age for matchmaking.”

“But I heard that Doctor Zhang gave Zhou Youcheng quite a beating yesterday. He’s still in bed and can’t get up.”

“He had it coming. Even if he passed the Xiucai exam, he shouldn’t look down on others. Is Zhou Er’s family some kind of royalty? We country folk haven’t seen anyone around here take a concubine.”

“Keep your voice down. If Hu Caiyun hears about this, she’ll be furious—she’s the most touchy person around.”

The group exchanged a few more words before falling silent. After all, he was a Xiucai now—someone with an official title—and that made him fundamentally different from them, mere peasants.

Zhou Ning and the other two stepped outside and hid in a corner, all letting out a collective sigh of relief. Zhang Xiaoyi exhaled deeply. “I was just about to go get you out of there—you had me so flustered I almost couldn’t get out myself.”

Zhou Xiaonan smiled too. Now that he had money in his pocket and his father, Old Zhou, was bedridden and unable to cause trouble, he was living quite comfortably. Why would he be in such a rush to get married like before? Besides, he’d heard someone had news about his mother. He’d have someone look into it when the time came, and his future was looking brighter by the day.

The Zhou household was especially lively today. Word had spread that there would be meat, so the children had come running over early in the morning. They drooled at the sight of the bowls of sliced meat on the table, and the women and Fulang were generous with their portions. Uncle Zhou had said to use plenty of ingredients.

Sliced meat, tofu, glass noodles, and vegetables donated by neighbors filled the pot to the brim. The aroma was so enticing that a crowd of children gathered around the stove, refusing to leave.

In the countryside, a family that can afford meat once or twice a month is considered well-off. The children spend the whole year looking forward to the New Year or weddings and funerals as the only times they might get to eat something special. Since Zhou Da’s family raises pigs, meat is a given—and the sight of it has the children drooling with anticipation.

Around noon, the villagers came to get their share. Each person took a bowl, and the bowls were heaped high with meat. The children gathered around the adults’ legs, standing on tiptoes to peer into the pot. “So much meat!” they exclaimed. “There’s more here than we get at our own New Year’s feast!”

One family member from each of the Zhou clan’s branches arrived, and with several tables set up in the courtyard, they began to eat in a lively atmosphere. Zhou Da, in high spirits, drank several extra bowls of wine, his dark face flushing a deep crimson. He took a couple of sips from anyone who came to toast him—luckily, he had a high tolerance for alcohol, or he would have been knocked out long ago.

Shen Linchuan wasn’t spared either. Those bold enough to come and toast him were turned away by Zhou Da: “Hey, he’s a scholar; he can’t drink. I’ll drink with you—surely you can’t outdrink me?”

Everyone burst into laughter. Shen Linchuan was now the top-ranked Xiucai in the county; though they teased him a bit, no one dared to actually force him to drink. Shen Linchuan lifted his bowl, took a symbolic sip or two, and the crowd let it go.

While things were bustling at Zhou Da’s place, it was much quieter at Zhou Er’s house. Quite a few people had come by yesterday to offer their congratulations, and they’d received quite a few gifts, but everyone just stopped by for a short while before leaving—not a single one of them mentioned Zhou Youcheng.

Leaning against the doorframe, Hu Caiyun could faintly hear the commotion from Zhou Da’s house. Her face twisted with anger. “Zhou Er, when it’s our Youcheng’s turn, we’ll definitely outdo Shen Linchuan!”

Zhou Er snorted. “That’s easy for you to say. The eldest son’s family is in the butcher business—they’re never short on pork. Are you willing to spend a few taels of silver on a pig just to treat the whole village to a meal? Have you lost your mind?”

“That’s exactly why we need to set up more tables for the banquet! My son, Youcheng, finally passed the Xiucai exam. If Shen Linchuan hadn’t stolen our thunder, would our celebration be this quiet?”

Zhou Er was furious, too. If Shen Linchuan hadn’t passed the exam, his family would be basking in glory right now. But instead, they’d been outshone. Not only had his son passed the Xiucai exam in the last place, but he’d also been beaten up by the Zhang family. Even though the well-wishing clansmen kept their mouths shut, his family had lost all face, both publicly and privately.

Zhou Er waved his hand dismissively. “Let’s do it! We’ve got to outdo the eldest son’s family. If they’re hosting five banquet tables, we’ll host ten! Invite my mother-in-law’s family too—invite everyone!”

Zhou Fang rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Father, you’re the one calling Mother foolish. I think you’re just as foolish. All that food isn’t coming from our own pockets—you’d be better off giving me that silver.”

Zhou Er glared at his daughter. “What do you know? Your brother passing the Xiucai exam is a major event for our whole family.”

“Yeah, yeah, a big deal. But I saw those wealthy merchants giving silver to Shen Linchuan yesterday. There must’ve been at least ten taels on that tray. My brother is a Xiucai—why isn’t anyone giving silver to us?”

Not only silver, but also those gleaming bolts of cloth—such beautiful fabric. How lovely it would look on her if made into a dress! Just thinking about it made Zhou Fang’s face light up with envy. Both were Xiucai, but while others were the head of the flock, her brother was just the tail. Sigh.

Zhou Youcheng’s cough echoed from inside the room. Hu Caiyun hurried over, and as she passed by, she gave Zhou Fang a quick poke on the head. “Shut up!”