Rebirth: From being expelled from the imperial court to becoming a high-ranking official

The weather was getting warmer, and taking advantage of the good weather and nothing to do, Yuru spun some thread and planned to dye it and weave some cloth.

Now that the family was much better off, she naturally didn't need to weave cloth to supplement the family income, but people who were used to being frugal didn't want to spend money on everything. Besides, the cloth she wove herself was more solid and the patterns were more pleasing.

Yuru soaked the rolls of thread in the dyeing water. Ruyi, now sensible, also helped to throw the thread into the basin.

Yuru looked at her thoughtful little daughter and felt relieved: "Ruyi is so good, now she helps her mother. Go slowly and don't trip..."

After putting all the threads in the basin, Yu Ru shook her hands and sat aside to rest and bask in the sun.

More than two months have passed and Awen hasn't come back yet. Maybe he won?

I heard that those who passed the imperial examination would have to stay in the capital and wait for a vacancy. Once they got the official position, they would be given time to visit their relatives and take up the post.

I don’t know where Awen will be appointed as an official. If it is a very far place, I may not be able to follow him immediately. Does that mean we have to be separated?

"Mother, how long do you need to soak the thread?"

Ruyi studied the dye and thread in the basin for a while, then asked her mother who was sitting nearby basking in the sun.

"It'll be fine in two days."

Yu Ru was basking in the sun and thinking about her own things, and did not notice the door being pushed open. However, Ru Yi noticed the movement of the door first.

"Fourth Uncle——"

Yu Ru was startled. When she opened her eyes, she saw Qin Si entering the yard and was suddenly a little dazed.

"Fourth brother, you're back?" But when he looked back, he didn't see Qin Yunhe.

"I'm back, but Ah Wen hasn't come back yet. He passed the exam and should have finished the palace exam by now. The court will send someone to report the results in a few days."

Yu Ru didn't react for a moment and asked, "Why did Fourth Brother come back first?"

Qin Si smiled bitterly: "I came back first because I didn't win."

Yu Ru immediately felt that she had said something wrong after hearing this. She was just thinking about why Qin Yun didn't come back and actually asked such a question.

"Brother, did you just come back?"

"Well, I just put down my luggage and came to see mom."

"Oh, Mom is out playing, she's not home right now. Fourth brother, please go in and sit down first, I'll get you some water. Mom will probably be back soon."

"Don't pour water. I'm not thirsty now. I'll be fine in a while." Qin Si knew that Yu Ru must be worried about her brother, so he took the initiative to say, "Awen did well in the exam this time. He can at least get second place in the palace examination."

Yu Ru was happy to hear that, but she started to worry about the travel expenses her mother-in-law had mentioned before and asked, "Is the money that Ah Wen brought enough to spend?"

"It's enough. I left some money for him before I came back. When he is appointed, the court will give him extra money to take up his post. Don't worry."

The two chatted for a few words in the yard, and soon the door was pushed open again, and Qin's mother came back.

Mother Qin didn't expect to see her son as soon as she pushed the door open.

"Hey, Asi! When did you come back?"

Mother Qin was overjoyed, and she hurried over and looked Qin Si up and down. After looking at her, her joy faded, but there was some bitterness in her eyes.

"Why are you thin again? Are you sick again?"

"No, mother, I have become thinner from traveling."

"Are you really okay? Let me take a closer look..."

Mother Qin looked at her son several times, and only felt relieved after Qin Si repeatedly assured her that he was fine. Then she suddenly remembered that she had a son she hadn't seen.

"Where's Ah Wen?"

Qin Si had a smile on her face, and was proud of her brother: "Mom, Awen didn't come back. Awen passed the exam! He has to take part in the palace exam in the capital. The good news should come in a few days."

Mother Qin was delighted again: "Oh! It's true! Ah Wen made the list! Come on, let's buy some firecrackers to make it more lively."

Qin Si hurriedly said, "Don't do it yet, mother. Wait until the good news comes. The joy has passed now, and it won't be lively enough by then."

Mother Qin thought the same thing when she heard it: "Okay, then don't put it away for now. Go buy it tomorrow and put it away when the good news comes."

Then he comforted Qin Si: "Don't be discouraged, we will take the exam next time. We have the knowledge, and we will pass sooner or later."

Qin Si didn't want to say anything discouraging and make his mother worry, so he agreed.

County Town, Horseshoe Lane in the west of the city

Lin Zhaotang's wife wrapped the hot Hu pancake in a piece of cloth and covered it, then put some pickles in it and put it on the small table.

"Yun'er, I've heated up the pancakes and wrapped them in cloth. If I'm not back at noon, you can take them out and eat them yourself."

Lin Yun nodded sensibly: "I understand, go ahead, Mom, I'll wait for you at home."

"Don't run around after you've eaten."

Although Lin Yun has always been obedient and doesn't like to run around, his wife couldn't help but remind her son again every time.

"Okay, I won't run around. Mom, please walk slowly on the road."

Lin's wife skillfully tied the oil barrel to the cart, put the oil funnel in place, and finally checked to make sure there were no problems before leaving.

In the first few days after Lin Zhaotang left, his wife was worried that something might happen to the child at home alone, so she took the child to sell oil a few times.

It was still cold at that time, and she had to go to many places, so she met all kinds of people.

Every time, not only did Lin Yun's little face turn red from the cold, but he was also tired from walking such a long distance with her, and he had to trip over and over among the adults.

After just two times, Lin's wife felt that something was not right.

When she finally had to go out to sell oil again, she decided to let her son try it himself at home.

At the beginning, what she feared most was that the children could not sit still at home and ran out to play, or played with the fire and made a fire. She was very worried every time she went out.

Unexpectedly, after trying twice, I found that my son was very sensible and waiting obediently at home. I was pleased with his understanding and gradually felt relieved.

Today is not the day to deliver oil to regular customers.

After all, she had few regular customers, so she would occasionally go from street to street to sell her wares.

Oil sales haven’t been very good recently. I don’t know if it’s because of the bad harvest and people don’t have money to buy oil.

Today she planned to go a little further, to the east of the city where she seldom went.

She pushed the cart all the way to the east of the city. Every few steps, she would stop and knock on the clapperboard. If no one bought, she would move on.

Until we arrived at the door of a restaurant.

This restaurant was not her regular customer, so she was thinking of asking if it needed oil. It would be great if the restaurant used it well and they could establish a long-term business.

"Hey, have you heard that Mr. Zhang failed the exam again? He just came back two days ago."

"Well, if you ask me, Mr. Zhang is so old and his life is not bad, why bother? You said he wanted to be an official, but I heard that a few years ago there was a vacancy for a county magistrate, but he was not willing to go."

Lin's wife originally wanted to find the shopkeeper to ask if she needed oil, but she didn't expect to hear two people talking about this in the lobby as soon as she entered the door.

"Have the candidates who took the exam returned by now?"

The two men were a little suspicious when they saw that it was a woman they didn't know, but they still said, "Yes, she came back because she didn't pass the exam."

"Then those who haven't come back yet, does that mean they passed the exam?"

The two men looked at each other, and one of them said, "Maybe he was delayed on the road. But it's only been more than ten days since he came back from the capital, so normally he should be back by now."

Lin’s wife was immediately excited: Could it be that my husband will succeed in his first try this time?

"When will the successful candidate come back?"

In fact, the two of them didn't really understand, but they still asked, "About ten days later?"

When Lin's wife heard the news, her heart was suddenly filled with hope. She didn't even ask the shopkeeper if he wanted oil. She didn't even say thank you to the two men and turned around and walked out.

"I got it. Could it be true?"

Lin's wife couldn't suppress her joy, she pushed the cart and walked back quickly.

Mrs. Lin walked faster and faster, becoming more and more excited, as if the car seemed to have become much lighter.

Just as she was about to reach home, an idea suddenly popped into her mind that calmed her down instantly.

Sir, you won't just go to your new post and never come back, right?

How could that be? No way!

Lin's wife shook her head to deny her own wild thoughts, but her mood suddenly cooled down. She was no longer excited, but filled with anxiety.

At the county government office, the doorman handed a visiting card to the new county magistrate.

Wei Chengji did not expect to receive a visiting card from a local gentry just two days after taking office.

When he first arrived, he wanted to establish good relations with the local gentry, but he didn't expect someone to be so approachable.

"Who is this Jin Biao?"

That guy naturally knew what the county magistrate wanted to ask.

"My Lord, Jin Biao is one of the most respectable people in our county. He is a very open-minded person. When the previous master collected donations for the construction of the ferry, the Jin family donated a large sum of money."

Wei Chengji knew that his predecessor had wasted many years as a county magistrate without being promoted, and that the reason he was able to be promoted this time was largely due to his achievement of building the ferry.

Wei Chengji understood what was going on and nodded: "Go and tell them. I'll be free in a few days when I'm on holiday."

"Yes."