Chapter 207: The Provincial Examination

After Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu left, Chen Buyu called for the restaurant waiter, spent a large amount of silver to compensate them for their trouble, and found some people to take the drunk scholars back.

The two of them had a bit of wine, but not much, just enough to ride on horseback to sober up. The wind blew, and they sobered up as it blew.

"Today Wang Shu was too blunt with his words, I’m afraid he seriously offended the Zhang Family siblings," Chen Buyu said. "Whether or not he becomes an official in the future, it’s fundamental not to make enemies lightly."

"That guy acts as if he doesn’t care about anything, but he takes his little wife and her mother very seriously. If the offense was towards him, he might not care or bother with it, but you can’t mess with his little wife and his mother-in-law. He looks cold on the outside, but he’s quite passionate inside," Zhong Chushan said. "Moreover, Brother Zhang’s sister was indeed a bit unreasonable. If Brother Zhang is sensible, he should discipline that sister of his, or else she will sooner or later cause him bigger troubles."

In the following days, Su Yaoguang had Zhou Wangshu take the hangover relief pills to various gatherings. However, those pills were never needed.

Since that day when Su Yaoguang took on seven by herself and drank them all under the table, no one dared to challenge Zhou Wangshu to drink anymore. At the same time, Su Yaoguang became famous, and everyone knew Zhou Wangshu had a beautiful wife, and this beautiful wife was particularly protective of her husband. Anyone who tried to get Zhou Wangshu drunk should be prepared to be drunk under the table themselves.

Out of curiosity, some people visited them. Su Yaoguang warmly received them. After that, the things Su Yaoguang had done in the county spread out, and the way people looked at her changed from admiration to respect. This brought Zhou Wangshu many high-minded scholars who wanted to befriend him.

As for Xiao Yanci, at first, he felt too embarrassed to show his face. Later, when he saw Zhou Wangshu befriending those people he used to know in his past life, some of whom even achieved good rankings, for the sake of future development, he could only muster up the courage to attend various gatherings to try to repair his image. Unfortunately, his reputation had already spread, and no one wanted to associate with him.

Xiao Yanci felt nervous for the first time.

So many things had happened before, yet he had never been nervous. But this time, seeing Zhou Wangshu steal his past life’s connections, he sensed some loss of control.

"Where were you?" Xiao Yanci stood at the door, watching Jiang Yihuan return from outside, carrying a basket filled with various vegetables and meats.

Jiang Yihuan patted her chest, looking like she had been frightened.

"I went to buy groceries!"

Xiao Yanci’s gaze lingered on Jiang Yihuan’s ears: "You bought new earrings?"

Jiang Yihuan touched her earlobes, her eyes glittering: "Yes, I happened to find them being sold cheaply, and I thought it was a rare opportunity, so I bought them despite the cost."

Xiao Yanci looked displeased.

"Su Yaoguang changes her jewelry every day, and everyone praises her for looking good. I thought Brother Xiao was much more gentle and considerate than that Zhou Wangshu, and would want to see me dressed beautifully too."

The displeasure in Xiao Yanci’s eyes disappeared.

He studied Jiang Yihuan, seeing her refined makeup and delicate attire today, as if she had reverted to the most charming Jiang Yihuan from his past life.

Jiang Yihuan’s looks were undoubtedly excellent; she could look elegant and lovely with just a little effort in dressing up.

"Let’s make dinner, I’m hungry."

"Okay."

When Xiao Yanci wasn’t looking, Jiang Yihuan pursed her lips, her eyes showing a hint of disdain.

Xiao Yanci sat at his desk, yet he couldn’t focus on the book in front of him. He heard sounds outside, peeked and saw Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu returning playfully.

Jiang Yihuan was right. Su Yaoguang wore fashionable jewelry, styled her hair in a trendy manner, and had exquisitely done makeup, exuding a radiant and lively aura, truly a vibrant beauty.

Jiang Yihuan had a better foundation than her, there was no reason she should be overshadowed. It’s simply because to save money, it’s been a while since he spent on dressing her up. He should invest some effort in her, after all, one’s wife is a man’s second face. If Jiang Yihuan looks poor, others would think Xiao Yanci has no power or influence, and is equally poor and incompetent.

"Huan’er, let’s go buy some clothes and jewelry later," said Xiao Yanci.

Jiang Yihuan, who was busy in the kitchen, nearly sliced her finger.

She looked up in surprise, and upon seeing Xiao Yanci’s earnest gaze, a thought arose in her mind: This despicable man actually has money.

He has money and never thought to spend it on her before, but now, upon hearing that the neighbor Su Yaoguang is adorned with jewelry and looks nice, he wants to outdo them.

No, he wants to surpass Zhou Wangshu.

He wants to prove that marrying him, Xiao Yanci, is more blessed than marrying Zhou Wangshu. He wants Su Yaoguang to regret not choosing him initially.

This despicable man has his sights set on Su Yaoguang, coveting someone else’s woman.

Jiang Yihuan’s eyes flashed with a hint of shame and anger.

But soon, she thought she might as well take advantage of this opportunity.

She had long realized men are unreliable, only gold, silver, and treasures are dependable.

To package Jiang Yihuan, Xiao Yanci used up his own savings. However, the effort paid off. Xiao Yanci took Jiang Yihuan around to meet scholars, and he did indeed befriend a few. Though these new faces were different from those of his past life, it was a good start for Xiao Yanci. As long as he took the first step, those original networks that belonged to him would return.

Amidst the busyness, the exam period arrived.

Su Yaoguang escorted Zhou Wangshu to the outside of the examination hall.

She had nothing to instruct Zhou Wangshu on, as he understood everything. After watching Zhou Wangshu enter the exam hall, she turned to leave, only to see Jiang Yihuan and Xiao Yanci.

This time, Jiang Yihuan didn’t make the same foolish mistake as last time; the food she prepared for Xiao Yanci didn’t violate any taboos, nor would it upset his stomach.

Su Yaoguang was simply curious if Jiang Yihuan would trip over the same stone again, and upon seeing those decent food items, she felt a bit disappointed.

With no good drama to watch, she decided to tend to business matters.

As she turned around, Jiang Yihuan approached, fiddling with her new earrings by her ear: "I said not to buy them, but Brother Xiao insisted on buying them for me. Such big pearls, they must have cost a lot! Brother Xiao just doesn’t know how to save."

Su Yaoguang formed two circles with her fingers, placed them around her eyes like glasses, and made a gesture of looking closely: "Where are they? Where are the pearls? Such tiny pearls, could they be baby pearls, extracted so cruelly."

"Su Yaoguang, you might have money, but everything you eat, use, wear, and these jewelry are bought with your own money, and your man still relies on you to support him! I am different, Brother Xiao buys me many nice things, this is a man who truly knows how to care for a woman. More importantly, he is a real man, and we can be a true couple."

"It’s the first time I’ve heard that someone who earns and spends their own money is looked down upon. You, like a parasite, depend on a man and you see it as a badge of honor instead of a shame. Did you forget your brain at home before coming out?" Su Yaoguang was increasingly perplexed by what was in Jiang Yihuan’s mind. What exactly was she trying to prove to her? Prove that she’s living a glamorous life, happier than she is?