“Yan Jiyue and that old man, of course!” Yan Ruyu shifted the focus: “Think about it, Father. Yan Jiyue always looked down on Su Mu, saying she was useless. It’s only been a few days since he divorced Su Mu, and now she’s passed the exam. Don’t you think they must be furious?”

“They must be regretting it so much their intestines have turned green.” Thinking of Yan Jiyue and Yan Zhujun’s expressions, Liu Cui couldn’t help but laugh, his anger towards Yan Ruyu also dissipating.

“I heard yesterday Yan Jiyue was supposed to go on a blind date, but for some reason he suddenly went to find Su Mu. In the end, Yan Zhujun had to drag him back, and now he’s still kneeling in punishment in the ancestral hall.”

“Is there such a good thing?” Liu Cui grinned from ear to ear: “Tell the coachman to hurry up, I need to get back quickly and tell this news to my good nephew.”

The father and child had just arrived home and were hurrying towards the ancestral hall. As soon as they reached the door, they saw Ling Hua guarding outside, with Yan Zhujun’s scolding voice coming from inside from time to time.

“Oh my, what’s going on here?” Liu Cui, adjusting the jade hairpin on his coiffure, sauntered in leisurely.

As soon as he entered, he saw Yan Jiyue kneeling before the ancestral tablets, his back covered in wounds. Yan Zhujun held a cane in his hand, panting heavily, apparently having just disciplined him.

“Oh my, brother-in-law, how can there be such anger between father and son? Jiyue, quickly get up, get up.”

Seeing Yan Jiyue in such a pitiful state, Liu Cui was extremely pleased inside, suppressing a laugh as he prepared to help Yan Jiyue up from the ground.

“Get lost! Mind your own business!” Yan Jiyue pushed him away forcefully.

Liu Cui lost his footing and fell to the ground.

“Father, are you alright?” Yan Ruyu quickly helped Liu Cui up, scolding Yan Jiyue: “Jiyue, you’re so inconsiderate. My father was trying to help you up. Even if you don’t appreciate it, you didn’t have to push him down.”

Yan Jiyue, who had been kneeling all night, looked haggard but still didn’t even give him a glance: “Your father just lost his balance.”

“You—”

“Alright, we’re all family, let’s not argue.” Liu Cui was also angry inside, but he understood that today wasn’t for arguing, it was for watching Yan Jiyue make a fool of himself.

He stood up and said: “Speaking of which, I heard some good news today.”

“What good news? Did Ruyu pass the exam?” Yan Zhujun sat to the side, with Ling Hua astutely serving him tea and massaging his shoulders.

Liu Cui’s face paled, grinding his teeth in hatred. Old bastard, mocking me openly and secretly. Let’s see if you can still be smug in a moment.

“That’s not it, but Jiyue’s wife-master, oh no, I mean Su Mu, she passed the exam. Not only did she pass, but she ranked first!”

“What?”

“What!”

Two voices rang out simultaneously. Yan Zhujun was shocked and regretful: “She actually passed?”

A faint smile appeared on Yan Jiyue’s haggard face as he said softly: “Her wish has been fulfilled. That’s wonderful.”

Liu Cui found it strange that Yan Jiyue’s face showed no regret, but seeing Yan Zhujun’s expression, he was satisfied and smiled.

“Indeed, now that Su Mu has passed the exam, suitors will surely be lining up at her door when she returns.” Liu Cui sighed.

Yan Zhujun lowered his head, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

Liu Cui finally vented his anger, smiling as he played with his hennaed nails: “Oh my, who could have imagined Su Mu would be so capable when they divorced? But our Jiyue is not bad either. With a little effort, he can still marry into a good family… I remember the second daughter of the silk shop owner in the west city is quite nice.”

The silk shop owner in the west city had been in business for generations, but his second daughter was not from the main wife and had a leg disability.

Liu Cui was jabbing needles into his spine. Yan Zhujun was so angry he almost fainted, coughing incessantly.

“Alright, I’ve said so much, I’m a bit tired. Ruyu, let’s go.” Liu Cui, having vented his anger, smugly left with Yan Ruyu.

Seeing these two father and son suffer, Liu Cui felt extremely satisfied, feeling he could eat two extra bowls at dinner.

“If you had listened to me back then and lived well with Su Mu, you would be the husband of a scholar now, and possibly the husband of a provincial graduate or an official in the future. Our Yan family could have risen with her… But you had to ruin it all! Fool! Fool!” Yan Zhujun was trembling with anger. If not for Ling Hua constantly helping him calm down, he might have passed out.

“Get away!” Yan Zhujun pushed Ling Hua away, picked up the cane and started beating Yan Jiyue, venting all his anger on him.

Yan Jiyue silently endured, not making a sound.

It wasn’t until both servants Ling Hua and Ling Jing helped to calm him down that Yan Zhujun finally threw away his cane and said hatefully: “Go and bring Su Mu back to me now, by any means necessary.”

“Madam, is the young master not going to see the youngest daughter of the Zhou family’s mistress?” After leaving the ancestral hall, Ling Hua asked.

“He made a big scene at Su Mu’s door last night, and the news has already reached the Zhou family’s ears. Once they hear that Jiyue still has Su Mu in his heart, they’ll naturally reject him. However, if Jiyue can win back Su Mu’s heart, with her current status, she would be far more noble than the Zhou family.”

Ling Hua nodded, understanding that Yan Zhujun, who used to look down on Su Mu, now wanted to climb up socially since Su Mu had passed the scholar’s exam.

“The current county magistrate is getting old and will retire soon. If Su Mu can pass the provincial examination, that position is very likely to be hers. That’s a county magistrate, you know! Even if she doesn’t pass, in a few years she could still enter the county office as an education official… That little beast, if only he hadn’t signed those divorce papers back then.” Yan Zhujun became more and more excited as he spoke.

In Juancheng, far from the imperial capital, the county magistrate was an all-powerful figure.

In the eyes of common people, studying was meant to lead to an official position. Once one became an official, power, wealth, and beautiful men would all be within reach. Su Mu passing the scholar’s exam meant she had already put one foot near the center of power in Juancheng.

Look, she had just happily received the 100 taels of silver from Yan Ruyu, and on her way back, shop owners who had never greeted her before, as well as students who had always considered themselves superior, were all eagerly greeting her.

For a moment, it reminded Su Mu of the days when she became the wealthiest person after succeeding in business.

Indeed, she had taken the right path.

“Oh, Su girl is back!” Uncle Wang, who was going out to dump water, saw Su Mu returning and immediately brought out his own children: “Quick, greet your Elder Sister Su.”

“Hello, Elder Sister Su.” Uncle Wang’s two children – the elder son was 16 and just engaged, while the younger daughter was 12 and still in school.

Uncle Wang had always looked down on Su Mu’s background as a married-in husband, and during neighborhood gossip sessions, he had often spoken ill of her. Last time when they beat Xie Yi, he was one of the most vicious.

Unexpectedly, today he suddenly changed his attitude and became pleasant towards her.

…Studying really was incredibly useful.

“Su girl, when we neighbors heard you passed the scholar’s exam, we couldn’t be happier. These are peaches I just bought, they’re very sweet. Take them back for Xie Yi to taste… I’m really sorry about last time. I was misled by others’ slander. Look at how things turned out… We’re all neighbors, don’t take it to heart, okay?” Uncle Wang forcefully handed a basket of peaches to Su Mu.

“My Chun’er just started school this year and doesn’t recognize many characters. If you’re not too busy, do you think you could give her some guidance?”

After beating around the bush, it turned out this was Uncle Wang’s real intention.

Su Mu thanked Uncle Wang but didn’t accept the basket of peaches: “Thank you for your kindness, but I’m planning to move away soon.”

“Move away?” Uncle Wang’s voice cracked in surprise.

“Yes.” Su Mu was quite familiar with Juancheng’s property prices. With 100 taels of silver, buying a shop in the busy area might be difficult, but it was more than enough to buy a house with a courtyard and a well in the west city. The remaining money would be plenty to furnish it and buy kitchenware and other necessities.

Moreover, now that she had become a scholar, the government would give her a ‘salary’ of 6 dou of rice and 500 wen of money every month. She was now in a state where she didn’t have to worry about food and drink.

However, the main reason Su Mu decided to move was because of the neighbors in Luoyan Lane. Almost every one of them had spoken harshly to Xie Yi before. She didn’t want Xie Yi to live in such an environment, suppressing himself.

Having to face people you dislike every day, maintaining a facade of peaceful neighborly relations.

Over time, it would affect his mental state.

After all, she had already promised Xie Yi she would keep him. Shouldn’t she create good living conditions for him?

Remembering Xie Yi’s fragile and cold kiss on her neck last night, and the way he looked at her when she was riding him during the day… Su Mu felt as if a soft, warm force was touching her heart.