Chapter 1061 - 1063: Bringing Good News_1
"What’s all the fuss about?" asked Ms. Liu offhandedly, clearly uninterested.
She didn’t have the time to join in the fuss; with Qingbao attending school in the county town, their expenses had gone up. She would rather spend her free time making more pairs of shoe soles to sell, which would allow her to buy more rice paper for Qingbao.
"Oh, it’s a good thing, a really good thing, our Yang Family is making a name for itself again," Ms. Luo said, holding a child in one arm and tugging at Ms. Liu with the other, "I tell you, I just saw the bailiffs carrying something to the third branch of the family—it looked like a scroll of congratulations. I’m guessing that Qingtong has passed the Cultivated Talent exam—come on, let’s go join the fun."
Ms. Luo was delighted; both sons of the third branch had secured official titles, which meant her own daughters could bask in their glory. After all, the fourth branch currently had no sons, and when it came time for her own daughters to marry, they would likely need the support of these cousins.
So she was genuinely happy.
When she heard that a child from the third branch may have passed the Cultivated Talent exam again, Ms. Liu also felt happy, but then a touch of sadness followed because her Qingbao hadn’t even managed to pass the elementary-level examination this year.
"Then wait a moment; I’ll put these things away at home and go with you," she said.
By the time Ms. Liu came out, Ms. Hong was also at the doorway. Seeing her big belly, Ms. Liu commented, "You shouldn’t go, it’s a bit of a trek to the third branch, and you shouldn’t overexert yourself in your condition."
Ms. Hong hadn’t planned on going anyway—she had just made two sets of clothes at home, intended for Lele and Yangyang. Now, seeing them heading to the third branch, she simply wanted them to take the gifts.
Ms. Liu took the clothes from her and examined them, marveling at Ms. Hong’s fine needlework.
"You’re so thoughtful, we’ll take them to Xiaxia for you," she offered.
"I’m just idling away the time."
She couldn’t do any work being pregnant, and now it was Yang Xiaochuan who was busy taking care of everything inside and outside their home, with occasional help from Ms. Luo.
Ms. Luo just pursed her lips and said, "Worrying for nothing, your own child still needs clothes."
Alright, it wasn’t that she was upset about making clothes for the two "buns;" she simply felt slightly irked watching Ms. Hong be so affectionate.
Hearing this, Ms. Liu could only smirk to herself, thinking you must be silly to expect her to make clothes for your child, right?
"Are you sure they were headed to the third branch?"
On their way, Ms. Liu asked again. She seemed to remember that in the past, messengers bringing good news were accompanied by gong beating–something the whole village would hear. Why was there no such fanfare this time?
"Yes."
Ms. Liu felt a vague sense of unease, but when they arrived at the third branch, indeed, it was Yang Qingtong who had passed the exam to become a Cultivated Talent.
As they arrived, Yang Dachuan was smiling heartily while seeing the two bailiffs out, and Ms. Liu noticed him slipping red envelopes to the men with a keen eye.
"Big brother, what are the people from the yamen here for?"
Yang Dachuan, in the midst of his joy, replied, "Qingtong has become a Cultivated Talent. They’ve come to deliver the good news."
"I knew it," Ms. Luo said, glancing at Ms. Liu, "But why so quietly this time? If they hadn’t passed by my house, I wouldn’t even have known."
Speaking of the unusual silence, Yang Dachuan felt almost helpless, finding the situation both amusing and frustrating.
Can you believe it? These two grown men actually managed to lose the bronze gong–yes, lost it!
And no one knows where it got lost.
"Who knows," sighed Yang Dachuan, shaking his head and then inviting them in.
Once inside, Ms. Wang was in the middle of speaking to her younger son. He had returned home about ten days ago and had been dumbfounded when he heard of Old Yang’s passing.
He had gone to kneel at Old Yang’s grave the same day.