Chapter 154: The Money Tree is Real!

Compared to others who emerged from the examination hall looking drained, disheartened, or even somewhat faint, Song Jingyun appeared lively and vibrant, as if he had never set foot in an exam room.

He seemed as if he had been on a leisurely vacation.

“My dear wife.” Among the crowd outside the examination hall, Song Jingyun quickly spotted Jiang Mixia and dashed over. “Do you have any food with you? I’m starving.”

The food provided at the examination hall was barely enough to fill one’s stomach, far from being described as delicious.

This was something Song Jingyun found intolerable.

“I brought some.” Jiang Mixia promptly took out the savory meat pie she had prepared in advance.

A meat pie with preserved vegetables, wrapped in oil paper and placed in a food container, still warm and fragrant.

Song Jingyun couldn’t wait and eagerly took a few bites, devouring it voraciously.

“Take your time eating, and here, have some water,” Jiang Mixia handed the water pouch to Song Jingyun, urging him to take a few sips to prevent choking.

“Okay.” Song Jingyun drank a bit of water, then resumed devouring the meat pie until he had finished the entire piece, finally catching his breath.

He felt rejuvenated!

“It seems like you’ve been doing fairly well these past few days?” On the way back to the inn, Jiang Mixia observed Song Jingyun’s steady and strong strides, unlike others who seemed weary and fatigued, which surprised her.

“Not good,” Song Jingyun shook his head. “The bed is hard, the blanket is thin, the weather isn’t warm enough, and there are even mosquitoes. The food is also unappetizing.”

And most importantly, he couldn’t sleep with his wife not beside him.

“Plus, they don’t let me sleep much. I had finished the exam early and wanted to rest a bit, but they insisted I stay awake since it was daytime and I should be answering questions. It’s quite frustrating…”

Jiang Mixia, “… “

While others might approach exams with nervousness, loss of appetite, and sleepless nights, her young husband, on the other hand, seemed relaxed and even considered catching up on sleep during the day?

Seems like a vacation!

With her husband so at ease, the exam questions for the provincial examination must not have posed much of a challenge for him.

Feeling upbeat, Jiang Mixia exclaimed, “Let’s go, we’re going out to eat.”

During the days Song Jingyun was away for the exam, Jiang Mixia had learned of a riverside restaurant nearby. Although it might not have the grandeur of the Drunken Immortal Tower, the food was exquisite and delicious.

“Let’s go, for dinner.” Song Jingyun eagerly followed Jiang Mixia’s lead.

They enjoyed dishes like stir-fried shredded pork, West Lake vinegar fish, a stir-fry with fresh vegetables, along with a bowl of wheat porridge and an extra order of meatball soup.

Song Jingyun must have been famished from the exam, as he devoured the food eagerly. Describing his eating style as a whirlwind sweeping up the last remaining clouds wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

After a satisfying meal, they returned to the inn to rest.

Due to being able to sleep snugly with Song Jingyun at night, Jiang Mixia enjoyed a particularly restful sleep.

For Song Jingyun, being able to cuddle with Jiang Mixia at night brought a sense of comfort to his otherwise empty heart.

Both of them slept soundly, and this night’s sleep extended well into the next day, nearing noon.

Feeling refreshed and invigorated from the good sleep, Jiang Mixia got ready after freshening up and joined Song Jingyun for a late lunch.

As usual, they ventured out to search for delicious street food.

As they stepped out of the inn, Jiang Mixia hesitated, contemplating whether to take Song Jingyun to eat the red oil wontons.

Should they go and eat them? Seeing Yunniang and her daughter always left a pang in her heart.

If they didn’t go, they would miss out on the truly delicious red oil wontons at that place. It would be a shame not to let Song Jingyun taste them.

As Jiang Mixia hesitated while passing through the alleyway, she noticed that the red oil wonton stall was no longer there.

After contemplating for a moment, she decided to inquire at a nearby stall selling noodles.

Upon asking about Yunniang’s stall, the vendor truthfully responded, “Yunniang hasn’t been here for two days. Heard she had a big fight with that man Xue Dake, talking about separation or something.”

“Oh dear, I must say, Yunniang is no longer a young woman. Once married with a child, she should go along with her husband. What’s the point of causing a scene and talking about divorce? It’s truly disgraceful.”

“That Xue Dake doesn’t seem decent, always out drinking and gambling. But then again, men like him tend to have their flaws. At least Xue Da hasn’t completely abandoned Yunniang or openly talked about divorcing her, which is quite fortunate…”

“Thank you,” Jiang Mixia interjected, stopping the woman’s chatter.

“No need to be so polite,” the vendor smiled warmly. “If you’re still craving Yunniang’s red oil wontons, you probably won’t be able to have them these days. Why not try our noodles instead? They’re quite delicious too.”

“Do you want plain noodles, beef noodles, or chicken noodles? What flavor would you like?” the vendor asked.

“No, thank you,” Jiang Mixia replied, pulling Song Jingyun out of the alleyway.

Glancing around, Jiang Mixia tugged at Song Jingyun’s sleeve and led him forward. “There’s a place up ahead that sells braised meats, they’re quite tasty. Let’s go check it out.”

“Alright,” Song Jingyun agreed, following her lead.

“Wife, you’re walking a bit too fast for me. I can’t keep up,” Song Jingyun remarked.

“In that case, I’ll slow down,” Jiang Mixia responded.

“Wife, it seems like you’re even happier than before. Did something good happen?” Song Jingyun inquired.

“Did it?” Jiang Mixia asked.

“Yes, your smile is reaching your ears,” Song Jingyun remarked.

Did something good happen?

Jiang Mixia’s smile widened.

—

They stayed in the capital city for about ten days.

During this time, Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun spent their days wandering and indulging in food, enjoying a routine of exploring and dining.

Of course, they had some official business to attend to as well.

For instance, Jiang Mixia found some beautifully designed porcelain in the city and collected patterns to take back as samples for the pottery workshop.

On the other hand, Song Jingyun often visited teahouses and bookstores with Lu Yuming and other students from the Hongle Academy.

Each time he went out, Song Jingyun returned with something valuable—be it money or insights from the bookstore. He never came back empty-handed.

As Jiang Mixia looked at her small money box, she couldn’t help but be amazed.

The money box was even fuller than before, filled with silver coins stacked high inside, almost overflowing that the lid could hardly close.

To make it easier to carry, Jiang Mixia had to exchange some of the silver coins for silver notes at the bank.

While others had to prepare money for expenses when taking exams, young Song Jingyun not only spent very little but also managed to earn a significant sum in return.

The Money Tree is Real!

—

Soon, the day of the exam results arrived.

Many people crowded around the signboard at the prefectural yamen, eager to check if their names appeared on the list.

Those who found their names rejoiced, while those who didn’t were disheartened, leading to even arguments due to the success or failure of others affecting their own emotions.

The diverse range of reactions showcased the full spectrum of human emotions in that moment.

“Aren’t you going to check?” Jiang Mixia asked, surprised by Song Jingyun’s lack of interest in checking the list.