Chapter 20 Returning Home After the Exam
When they were outside the mansion, Jia Cong said to Shu Mo, "I am not dressed properly and I am disrespectful to the Second Master! I will go take a bath and change clothes first, and then I will go to thank the Second Master!"
Shu Mo agreed, and Jia Cong entered the black oil gate and walked towards his own yard.
When I got outside the yard, I heard some chattering in the house. I pushed the door open and saw Xiao Que'er and two little girls talking about something.
"The Third Master is back!" Xiao Que'er jumped up, and the other two little girls also bowed and said, "Lianhua'er, Wenxing, meet the Third Master Cong!"
Xiao Queer stepped forward and took the bookcase. "Third Master, did you pass the exam?"
Several little girls looked at Jia Cong eagerly, and Jia Cong smiled and said, "The county lord has already selected it on the spot!"
"Ah!" Xiao Que'er exclaimed, and then said happily, "Congratulations, Third Master!"
The two little girls also bowed.
"You can also go back and tell Second Sister and Miss Bao, so that they can rest assured! I still have to prepare for the provincial examination, so I will visit you in a few days. Also, don't say too much in the next two days, and wait until the results are announced in a few days."
The two girls agreed and then ran out happily.
"Hurry up and help the Third Master fetch some water!" Jia Cong said with a smile.
Xiao Que'er put the book box in the room and helped Jia Cong take a bath and change his clothes!
"You stay at home. I will go and see the first and second masters first!"
Although he didn't like Jia She, he was his father after all, so he had to be polite. So, when he went out, he went to Jia She's courtyard first.
After he got outside the door and a maid informed him, Jia Cong entered the main hall. This time Jia She was present.
"Son greets father and mother!"
"Hmm!" Jia She was stunned for a moment before he remembered that today was the day Jia Cong finished his imperial examination. "How did you do?"
"My son was lucky enough to be selected by the county lord on the spot. He can now prepare for the provincial examination!"
Jia She was stunned when he heard this, but Mrs. Xing beside him looked happy!
"Oh, that's fine. Then just continue studying hard!" Jia She responded and said no more.
Mrs. Xing on the side said, "Master, now that Cong has finally won, shouldn't we host a party to celebrate? It's a happy event in our family after all!"
Jia She waved his hands impatiently, "He's just a student. If this gets out, won't people laugh at him? Well, go now!"
Jia Cong bowed and continued walking towards Mengpo Zhai.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Jia Zheng waiting outside Mengpozhai with two people! Jia Cong hurried forward and saluted, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long..."
Before Jia Cong could finish, Jia Zheng stepped forward and grabbed Jia Cong, "Brother Cong, how is it?"
"Thanks to my uncle's guidance, my nephew has been selected by the county lord on the spot!"
"Ah!" Jia Zheng exclaimed, and was stunned for a while before he came to his senses. Then he asked in a trembling voice, "You said that the county magistrate has chosen you?"
Seeing Jia Cong nod, Jia Zheng suddenly laughed out loud, and the two guests beside him also came forward to congratulate him!
"Okay, okay! It really is my Jia family's Qilin child. Come in quickly and write down the article you wrote from memory for Second Uncle to read!"
Several people entered Mengpo Studio, and a servant took a pen to sharpen it, and Jia Cong wrote it down in a flash! Jia Zheng and others looked at it, and after reading it, Jia Zheng stroked his beard and said, "Although Cong's writing style is a little immature, it is already very hard work. It would be strange if such an article really didn't pass!"
As she spoke, she took Jia Cong's hand and looked him up and down, her eyes full of joy! Thinking of Baoyu and Jia Huan, she only hated why this was not her own son.
"Let's go and congratulate the old lady!"
Jia Cong held Jia Zheng back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Uncle, the results haven't been announced yet. If we publicize it, people will think that I am being ostentatious. It would be better to wait until the results are announced before telling the old lady. This will also prevent any mistakes from happening and make the old lady too happy."
"Um...Okay, then it's up to you!"
"You've been taking exams for several days in a row, you must be tired! Go back and rest first. When the results are announced , your uncle will celebrate for you!"
Jia Cong bowed and then returned to his own courtyard.
When I entered the yard, I saw the little girl sitting in the yard with her chin in her hands, and there was no light in the house!
"Little bird?"
The little girl was startled, and then she saw Jia Cong coming back, "Third Master, I have already brought the food, eat quickly!"
The two entered the house, lit the lights, set the table, and began to eat. However, this usually cheerful little girl was a little abnormal, and even poked her chopsticks directly into her face a few times.
Jia Cong was helpless. He put down his bowl and chopsticks and rubbed Xiao Que'er's head vigorously. "Xiao Que'er, is there anything on your mind?"
Xiao Que'er didn't say anything at first. After Jia Cong repeatedly asked, Xiao Que'er finally said in a muffled voice, " Sister Lianhua'er said that once the Third Master passes the exam, the mansion will definitely assign other sisters to take care of him. Xiao Que'er is just a third-class maid..."
Jia Cong smiled in his heart. He couldn't blame the little girl for feeling uncomfortable. The two of them had depended on each other for several years. If other girls really came, they would definitely take their place.
"Xiao Que'er was wrong. Xiao Que'er shouldn't have thought like that..."
Seeing the depressed Xiao Que'er, Jia Cong rubbed her face vigorously, "In the eyes of the Third Master, Xiao Que'er is the best maid in our room! The Third Master promised you that even if other people really come, Xiao Que'er will be the closest maid to the Third Master. What do you think? Moreover, have you forgotten that the Third Master told you at the beginning that he wanted you to be a maid of the top scholar. Could it be that Xiao Que'er doesn't trust the Third Master?"
Xiao Que'er's eyes suddenly lit up, "Is what Third Master said true?"
"A gentleman cannot stand without trust!"
Although she didn't quite understand what the Third Master meant, Xiao Que'er knew that the Third Master had agreed, and her depressed mood immediately disappeared.
At the same time, Lianhuaer and Wenxing also passed the news back!
Yingchun was naturally delighted to hear this. Her third brother had really changed a lot. Not only had he become closer to her, but he had even passed the imperial examination!
When Baochai heard this, her eyes sparkled. She looked at Aunt Xue's room and then said to herself, "Perhaps, there is still hope!"
However, unlike the joy in these places, there was a mess in Mrs. Wang's courtyard.
After Jia Cong left, Jia Zheng happily went to the backyard. Before entering the yard, he thought of Baoyu.
"Someone, go find Baoyu!"
After giving an order, Jia Zheng stepped in.
"Master is back?" Mrs. Wang, who was in the room, was also happy to see Jia Zheng. On weekdays, Jia Zheng mostly rested in Aunt Zhao or Aunt Zhou's room, but she didn't expect that he would come to her place today.
After Jia Zheng was served tea, Mrs. Wang asked, "What's the matter, sir? Why are you so happy?"
After drinking his tea, Jia Zheng said, "That Cong brother is indeed a seed of learning. He has been selected by the county magistrate on the spot today, and can start preparing for the provincial examination!"
