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With everything settled, everyone took advantage of their excitement and immediately went out to find people.
After Song Shi and the others left the courtyard together, Sanlang eagerly looked at Shen Yu’an and asked, “Sister, have you been in contact with brother Ah’Chen after he left?”
Shen Yu’an, watching Sanlang squat down in front of her, smiled and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Sanlang wore a mournful expression as he said, “Sister, Brother Ah’Chen promised that if I passed the imperial examination, he’d let me work with him. You agreed too. You both can’t go back on your word!”
Sanlang looked as if he were making a serious complaint, as if Shen Yu’an’s forgetfulness about this promise would leave him in utter despair.
Shen Yu’an did consider feigning forgetfulness for a moment. After all, Fei Yanchen was not in the best situation in the capital right now. If Sanlang were to go to the capital alone, not only would Second Aunt and the others worry, but she herself would also be concerned.
However, promises had to be kept, and Shen Yu’an thought it over before saying, “Ah’Chen’s situation in the capital isn’t great at the moment. Although I can’t let you go to the capital with him, I can arrange for you to work with Fei Xi.”
“But you have to remember, if you follow Fei Xi, you have to follow his orders diligently. Just because you have a connection with Ah’Chen doesn’t mean you can take things lightly. Any negligence in your work could be life-threatening.”
“If you can’t pass the test with Fei Xi, then don’t even think about working with Ah’Chen. After all, working alongside him is even more perilous.”
Sanlang didn’t care who he worked with first, as long as the family agreed. He quickly nodded with excitement to indicate his willingness.
Seeing his enthusiastic response, Shen Yu’an reminded him, “You haven’t discussed it with Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Grandfather, and Grandmother.”
Except for Song Shi and the others who had gone out to find help, everyone else was still sitting in the courtyard.
Upon hearing this, Sanlang immediately turned his head towards Grandma Shen, Grandpa Shen, and his own father.
He didn’t need to say anything; the three of them could see the look in his eyes: Please agree with me, please!
Grandpa Shen understood that children have their own fortunes, and he didn’t want to force Sanlang to study if he didn’t want to. Moreover, if Shen Yu’an said it was okay, then it should be fine. So, he gave his consent.
“Oh, thank you, Sister… thank you, Grandfather…”
Sanlang playfully thanked everyone and then ran behind Shen Yu’an to give her a backrub.
Surprisingly, his technique was just right, and Shen Yu’an casually gave some instructions, “A little to the left, a bit to the right, yes, that’s the spot. Have you had lunch? Put some more strength into it!”
The family atmosphere was filled with warmth and happiness as they discussed the future arrangements for Sanlang’s work with Fei Xi.
Sanlang obediently followed Shen Yu’an’s instructions without a single complaint, diligently attending to her.
With everything settled, Grandma Shen stood up with her hands behind her back and said, “Alright, let’s get back to what we were doing. Eldest, Second, Fourth, and Wendong, you mustn’t slack off in your studies. The provincial examination is next autumn.”
The four of them stood up and earnestly replied, “Grandchildren will remember Grandma’s guidance and will study diligently.”
“Good!”
Grandpa Shen was pleased and called on elder Zhang and elder Shen Xingwang to go out and socialize with people.
Shen Yun also took her soft and fragrant little daughter from Shen Yu’an’s arms and allowed Shen Yu’an, who had just returned and hadn’t freshened up yet, to go and tidy herself up.
As she was being carried away, the little girl was reluctant to let go of Shen Yu’an’s finger.
Shen Yun playfully gave her a couple of pats on the bottom while holding her in her arms and complained, “You ungrateful little girl, have you forgotten who takes care of your every need?”
The little girl thought Shen Yun was playing with her and finally shifted her attention away from Shen Yu’an, giggling in response.
Even though it was summer, they could use water freshly pumped from the well for bathing.
Sanlang voluntarily went to the kitchen to help Shen Yu’an boil water and carry buckets.
Watching Sanlang’s busyness, Shen Yu’an thought it might be a good idea to hire some servants. With hired help, they wouldn’t need to burden their family members with such trivial tasks, and they would have more time for other things.
But for now, they still needed Sanlang’s assistance.
When Shen Yu’an stood up, she realized that someone was missing in the house. She hadn’t seen Ji Xun since her return.
“Where’s Ji Xun?”
“He went to the town and hasn’t returned since. However, he sent a message saying he’s going to pick someone up.”
“Oh.”
Shen Yu’an didn’t pay too much attention to it. After all, Ji Xun was a grown man; he wouldn’t get lost.
After Sanlang brought in the hot water, Shen Yu’an lay comfortably in the bathtub, relaxing to relieve her fatigue.
As they had already decided to host the celebration the day after tomorrow, Shen Yu’an and the others went to the town on the following day to purchase supplies. The current stock at home wouldn’t be enough to feed the entire village.
They managed to gather four ox carts to take them to the town.
After passing the imperial examination, Shen Dalang and the others no longer needed to attend the town’s school. The teachers in the town school were only at the level of a xiucai (an individual who passed the provincial examination), and since they hadn’t had the time to find a more suitable school, they found themselves with some free time.
Seeing that they were going to the town to purchase supplies, the four of them decided to take over the task, hitching the ox carts and taking Shen Yu’an to the town with them.
Their main purpose for this trip was to buy vegetables and meat.
They arrived early in the town, and when they reached it, the roadside vendors were just setting up their stalls. Shen Yu’an gestured to buy any vegetables that looked good, and the vendors who had just set up their stalls or hadn’t set up yet looked at Shen Yu’an and her group with gratitude.
What good customers they had!
With Shen Yu’an’s efficient shopping, they didn’t have to spend the whole day at the stalls in town. After purchasing vegetables, Shen Yu’an took them to the butcher shop to buy pork. They hadn’t seen any fish for sale in town, so they planned to catch some in the river when they returned.
After circling the town and buying everything they needed for the next day, the once-empty ox carts were now fully loaded. They then made their way back home.
Upon their return, they unloaded the vegetables and meat in the courtyard, and without wasting any time, they headed to the river behind the village to catch fish.
Fortunately, not many people fished in this river regularly, and the fish weren’t very alert.
In just one afternoon, Shen Dalang and the others caught enough fish for the following day.
When they returned home with baskets filled with fish, there were already many women busy cleaning and preparing in the backyard of the Shen family.
These women had been hired by Song Shi and the others to help with the preparations.
Everything needed to be organized starting today, or else they wouldn’t have enough time for the celebration tomorrow.