Do you know: I, a commoner prime minister

Chapter 3 The Self-Cultivation of a Good Father-in-Law

"Miss Hao, is your face beaming with joy because your eldest son passed the exam?"

As soon as Hao left the alley, she encountered a woman she knew.

The results of the county examination were not released for about half a month after it was over, but the news that Zhou An had participated in the county examination had already spread throughout Youyang.

"Yes, you passed the exam."

Upon hearing this, Hao's smile became even brighter.

"Wow, from now on we'll have to call him Scholar Zhou!" the woman said with a hint of envy.

"I'm not a Xiucai yet. My eldest son said that we have to wait for the imperial court's approval before I can be granted the title of Xiucai."

Madam Hao smiled and said, "Besides, you all watched Dalang grow up, so just call him whatever you want."

After the local county examinations were completed, the answer sheets of the successful candidates, along with their names, needed to be sealed and sent to Bianjing (Kaifeng) to be handed over to the Ministry of Rites.

Only after the Ministry of Rites approves can one be considered a true scholar.

Zhou An had told Hao Shi before, and she had remembered it all.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Mrs. Hao excused herself and left.

As for finding a matchmaker to propose marriage, she didn't mention it at all.

Along the way, they encountered many acquaintances. By the time Hao arrived at Liu the matchmaker's house, the news that Zhou An had passed the imperial examination and become a scholar had already spread throughout Youyang Town.

.........

Sheng Family Main Hall

After listening to Sheng Wei's account of his experiences at the banquet in Qinghe County, the old lady asked, "Wei'er, what's the matter with Shulan's marriage? Is it settled that Scholar Sun?"

"Reporting to Mother, I went to the county town to attend a banquet and met Scholar Zhou from Youyang."

Sheng Wei said, "Zhou Xiucai is clever and quick-witted. My son has heard of him for a long time. Now that he has passed the imperial examination, my son wants to marry Shulan to him."

"Okay, okay!"

Upon hearing this, the old lady slapped her thigh and said, "Even I, an old woman living in the inner quarters, have heard of this Scholar Zhou's reputation. He is much better than that Scholar Sun."

That scholar Sun is too pretentious; I've never really thought much of him!

"Why didn't you say so before?" Sheng Wei asked in surprise.

He had discussed this matter with his mother before, and she didn't say anything at the time, only telling him to ask around more.

The old lady glanced at him and said, "I don't usually go out much, and I've heard that Scholar Sun is a boastful person. How could you not know that?"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Wei lowered his head in shame.

When Sun Xiucai returned at the end of last year, he was invited to any celebrations in Youyang and the surrounding towns.

After a few drinks, Sun Xiucai started boasting and acting all high and mighty.

Although no one said anything on the surface, they all disliked it privately.

Sheng Wei also attended many of those banquets, so he naturally got a sense of Sun Xiucai's character.

"Ugh."

The old lady sighed, "I know you were holding a grudge, so even though you knew that Scholar Sun might not be a good match, you didn't say anything."

But I was also worried that Shulan would suffer if she married into the family and was mistreated in the future, which would make me feel terrible.

Now that I have a better option, I feel relieved!

"Mother, it is your unfilial son who has caused you worry!" Sheng Wei said with a look of shame.

"Wei'er, I know that Hong'er's wife looks down on the eldest son's family, and you're holding a grudge."

The old lady said, "But our entire family owes your second aunt a debt of gratitude. Don't stoop to her level!"

"Mother, rest assured, your son feels only gratitude towards Second Aunt and Brother Hong, and has no complaints whatsoever."

Sheng Wei said, "If it weren't for Hongdi's help all these years, the family business wouldn't be so stable."

"It's good that you understand."

The old lady nodded and asked, "Can Shulan's marriage be arranged?"

"My son has already mentioned it to Zhou Xiucai, and judging from his expression, he seems willing. However, it still depends on what his parents think," Sheng Wei said.

"Um."

The old lady nodded and said, "Our family isn't badly off; his parents shouldn't refuse!"

A small figure behind the screen heard this and quietly walked out.

I went out the door and jogged into a courtyard.

"Big sister!"

Shulan, who was doing needlework, was so frightened that she pricked her hand with the needle.

She put down her needlework, pressed her bleeding finger to the ground, and scolded, "Pinlan, you're always so impulsive, you don't act like a proper young lady at all! Mother will scold you again if she sees this!"

"When does my mother not criticize me?"

Pinlan said nonchalantly, "I wouldn't be used to it if she didn't say anything to me one day."

Shulan sighed helplessly, "You just can't give your mother a break!"

"Big sister."

Pinlan muttered, "I came to deliver a message to you, and instead of thanking me, you're nagging me!"

"What message are you sending?"

Shulan asked curiously, "I heard Father is back, but what interesting things did you hear from him?"

"There weren't any interesting stories, but I heard about my eldest sister's wedding!"

Pinlan asked playfully, "I wonder if eldest sister would like to hear it?"

Shulan blushed instantly upon hearing this, wanting to hear but too embarrassed to speak.

"Since eldest sister doesn't want to hear it, then forget it," Pinlan said, feigning regret.

Shulan, feeling embarrassed and annoyed by her teasing gaze, grabbed her and tickled her.

"Hehe...haha...big sister, I was wrong, please forgive me!" Pinlan begged for forgiveness in no time.

Shulan released her, looked at her calmly, and said nothing.

Pinlan dared not tease her any longer and said, "From what I heard from Grandmother and Father, it seems they want to marry eldest sister to Scholar Sun."

"Scholar Sun?"

Shulan didn't feel much after hearing this. She had heard of some of the more famous and talented men in Youyang and even Qinghe County.

She had heard of Sun Xiucai, but knew very little about him.

Because Sun Xiucai passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve, he went to Tongzhou to participate in the provincial examination the following year.

Although he did not pass the exam, he stayed in Tongzhou to study at the state school and did not return to Qinghe County.

During this period, there was very little news about Sun Xiucai. It wasn't until the end of last year when Sun Xiucai returned to Youyang that some news came out.

"However, it seems that Grandmother doesn't think much of that Scholar Sun, and Father has also changed his mind, saying that he wants to marry my sister to Scholar Zhou from Youyang, who has just passed the imperial examination."

Pinlan asked in confusion, "How come I've never heard of Zhou Xiucai?"

When Shulan heard that her father had changed his mind and was going to marry her off to Zhou Xiucai, her heart beat a little faster.

Young girls are in love. Although they know that marriage is a major life event that should be decided by their parents, they will definitely fantasize about who their future husband will be after they reach the age of marriage.

She knew some of the talented people in Qinghe County. Although Zhou An wasn't very famous, he was the only person from Youyang Town to pass the county school exam in recent years, so she had naturally heard of him.

Although the customs of the Great Zhou Dynasty were not very closed off, women were not yet at the point where they could not leave their homes.

However, her usual social circle consists mostly of women of similar age, making it difficult for her to meet men outside the family.

Therefore, their understanding of men was limited to what they had heard about.

She learned that the person she was going to marry was someone she had heard of and who had a good reputation.

The feeling was similar to how men in later generations would see a beautiful woman in a photo of a blind date.

…………

At lunchtime, Zhou An handed over the silver notes and land deeds that Sheng Wei had given him to his parents.

At first, he thought that Shengwei was just giving a simple congratulatory gift, but upon closer reflection, it seemed more like he was worried that his family didn't have much money and that the betrothal gifts would be rather meager.

It wasn't about saving face for the Sheng family, but rather about making the Zhou family look better.

It must be said that Sheng Wei is very good at interpersonal relationships.