The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 1217 - 281: Great Joy to Celebrate_4

Whether Pei Wendong passed the examination or not, there would be a controversy. If he did well, he would be accused of relying on his elder sister and brother-in-law. If he failed, people would still say he lacked genuine talent and learning.

"Were Chang Yonglin and Fang Fu successful?" Prince An Ping asked.

"Chang Yonglin was designated Mr. Tanhua, but Fang Fu’s exact ranking remains unknown," the guard reported back, holding the reward silver.

"Go and find out," Prince An Ping ordered.

Fang Fu attained the rank of a Palace Graduate.

"Uncle..." Fang Liuming felt that with his own talent, he should not just be a Palace Graduate.

However, Fang Fu didn’t seem too concerned and said with a smile, "No one is handling the business affairs at home, and Grandfather is getting old. Someone needs to manage them! My scholarship has always been modest; to have reached this point and earned a title is to facilitate future actions!"

Fang Liuming had previously informed him of the examiners’ preferences, advising which essay topics would likely be selected, but Fang Fu still went his own way and wrote according to his own inclinations.

Fang Fu changed his clothes and came to congratulate Pei Wendong and Chang Yonglin, "The top scholar and Mr. Tanhua are both from our family, which is a truly joyous occasion to celebrate!"

Yet Pei Wendong wasn’t all that pleased. Although he had won the title of top scholar, it was unattainable without his elder sister’s teaching and his brother-in-law’s cultivation.

Meanwhile, Landlord Chang and Old Lady Chang also rushed to Capital Jingcheng; their grandson had excelled in the provincial examination and after the palace examination, he would become an official! Finally, someone from the Chang’s house would be in office! The elderly couple was overjoyed, bringing several carts full of gifts, they hurried to Capital Jingcheng with a merchant convoy.

"Grandfather! Grandmother!? How did you arrive so quickly?" Chang Yonglin exclaimed with joy.

"It was your wife who wrote to us; we hurried over, so we could also prepare for your engagement!" Landlord Chang said, holding his grandson’s hand, his face flushed with excitement.

Old Lady Chang was overwhelmed with tears. Her hard-raised son was rarely home and belonged to someone else’s family; daughter-in-law and grandson had all been taken away, leaving only the eldest grandson. Now, he had finally brought pride to the family and illuminated their ancestral name!

Upon meeting Pei Qin and Mo Heng, the elderly couple immediately knelt, dragging Chang Yonglin down with them.

"Get up! Please, get up!" Pei Qin quickly said.

Zhang Gengshan, Huang Qiu, Xue Dong, and a few others hurried over to help the couple to their feet.

Landlord Chang insisted on not getting up, "Yonglin being able to achieve success and become an accomplished person is all thanks to your upbringing! We are sincerely grateful!" Along with Old Lady Chang, they insisted on bowing their heads in respect.

Chang Yonglin, with a smile, helped his grandparents stand and everyone went together to Tiance Mansion.

At Pei Residence, the preparations for Pei Wendong’s marriage were underway. Pei Yuan and Pei Qian bought a nearby house conveniently divided into east and west wings, which they planned to move into once they left.

Chang Yonglin also found a house, waiting for the current tenant’s lease to expire before moving in after some renovation. The family temporarily stayed in Tiance Mansion.

Guests came in waves to offer their congratulations and presents.

Butler Qin thanked each guest, but returned the gifts. Pei Wendong would soon be marrying Princess Xi Yun, and they would celebrate the marriage then.

The family set up a few tables and celebrated merrily.

After the celebration, Pei Qin personally wrote a letter to Dan Zhaoxiong and his wife, seeking to arrange Chang Yonglin’s marriage to Dan Mingzhu, and sent someone with gifts and the proposal letter to their residence. He stated that after Pei Wendong’s wedding was completed, a formal proposal would be made in person.

Old Lady Chang kept inquiring about Dan Mingzhu, wanting to learn more about the Gang Leader’s daughter; she worried that such a woman, hailing from a group like the Transport Gang, would be ferocious in nature. Marrying her into the family, the concern was she might not be content with a household life, caring for her husband and educating children like other families’ daughters.

Landlord Chang, observing his grandson’s demeanor, could tell he was genuinely fond of her and that they had already arranged their marriage vows; marrying someone his grandson liked would make for a sweet life together.

Pei Qin smiled, "You will see, once you meet Mingzhu, how wonderful she is!"

"Madam says she’s great, then I’m sure there’s no mistake!" Landlord Chang nodded.

At home, they began to busily prepare for Pei Wendong’s wedding.

Princess Xi Yun was a princess of the royal family; the rites and protocols were complex, requiring assistance from the Ministry of Rites. It was a lot of work, which Pei Yuan and Pei Qian had been preparing for months.

Lady Mo kept looking for an opportunity to directly confront Pei Qin, aiming to deliver a blow. But she never got the chance, thinking that during Pei Wendong’s wedding, she would be able to go unobstructed and would naturally have the opportunity to speak with Pei Qin!

Yet just as Pei Wendong was about to be married and the banquet was ready, Lady Mo, dressed up, was unable to leave the house.

An urgent message came from Liaodong; the smelting furnace had exploded, and Marquis Yongchang, Luo Zhen, had been hit in both legs by molten iron and was on the brink of death.

Lady Mo’s vision darkened, her ears ringing, "Impossible! Impossible!" Hit in the legs by molten iron, could he even survive at all!?