Chapter 1009 - 430: Spring Imperial Examination
The triennial spring imperial examination has begun again.
When Yueyao went to visit Mingzhu, Mingzhu spoke to her about the spring imperial examination: "My husband’s cousin is also participating; I wonder if he can pass?" Besides Niu Yanghui’s cousin, Niu Yangchao is also attending the spring imperial examination.
Yueyao wasn’t interested in Niu Yanghui’s cousin or Niu Yangchao, as she had no connection with either of them. Yueyao pinched Mingzhu’s round face and laughed, saying, "You look really prosperous." Mingzhu had been living well and had put on some weight.
Every time Mingzhu talked about her figure, her face would fall: "The last time, when I gave birth to Little Bun, it took me three months to slim down. Now, looking like this, it will take a year to lose weight. Having children really ruins your figure. No wonder they say women don’t look as good after having kids."
Yueyao chuckled: "What does it matter if it takes a year to slim down?" As long as the child is born safely, nothing else matters. Of course, she didn’t say the latter part out loud.
Mingzhu often sighed: "Easy for you to say."
Bai Yi laughed from the side, saying: "Miss Yueyao will have her time too."
Yueyao laughed and handed a peeled and seeded grape to Mingzhu. Mingzhu took it and ate it in one bite, then asked, "Yueyao, you’ve been married for half a year, why is there still no news?"
Yueyao herself was puzzled: "Such things can’t be rushed; just let nature take its course." Children are a matter of fate; they will come when they’re meant to, and you can’t force them.
Mingzhu patted Yueyao: "Letting it take its course? You should be more anxious. Honestly, I’ve never seen someone like you, not using the treasure you have, you’re just causing yourself trouble!"
Yueyao was puzzled: "What treasure am I not using?"
Mingzhu pointed to the Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children hanging in her room: "Isn’t this a treasure? If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t have had three kids in three years. I wanted to take it down, but my husband said this picture is a lucky charm and shouldn’t be removed." Mingzhu was a bit frightened by how effective the picture was — while others have two kids in three years, she’s had three!
Yueyao chuckled; she actually didn’t quite believe in such things.
Mingzhu, annoyed, patted Yueyao: "I call you stubborn, and you still don’t admit it. How is it not working? My sister-in-law, your cousin-in-law, and I all had sons after getting your Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children; how could it not be effective? You should hurry and draw one to hang above your bed. I guarantee, a month later, there will definitely be good news."
Under Mingzhu’s persistent persuasion, Yueyao finally agreed to go home and draw a Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children to hang above her bed.
After spending half a day with Mingzhu, Yueyao went back home: "Heyue is coming back soon, I should return as well."
Mingzhu waved her hand and said: "Go on, hurry back! But remember what I told you!" Leaving the treasures unused while being anxious is just silly.
After his assignment, Niu Yanghui returned home. Mingzhu was now over six months pregnant, and because she was expecting twins, her body had started to swell. Niu Yanghui felt very distressed seeing this. Apart from work, he would stay home to accompany his wife and try to cheer Mingzhu up as much as possible. He was practically a model husband!
Because of her husband’s attentiveness and care, despite her hardships, Mingzhu had no complaints at all.
Xi Yu laughed and said: "Miss, are you really going to draw a Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children?"
Yueyao shook her head: "I’ll think about it in a few days!" She was having her cycle these days, so if she were to draw the picture, it would have to be after her cycle ended.
Xiang Wei was an action-oriented person; she was determined to open a pastry shop and had been busy outside these days. Finding a satisfactory shop is never easy, and it’s even more challenging to purchase one.
Yueyao advised: "If you can’t find a suitable shop to buy, then just rent one for now."
Xiang Wei didn’t want to rent. She worried that if her business did well and the landlord decided to raise the rent, or refuse to renew the lease, it would become a hassle: "No, I have to buy a shop." Even if the location isn’t central, it’s fine.
Yueyao wanted to laugh but held back; worrying about being taken advantage of over something so uncertain was truly the mindset of a businessperson. However, she didn’t say anything and let Xiang Wei go about her plans. Yueyao understood that being able to do what you love is also a form of happiness.
Time quickly passed, and it was soon time for the exam results to be posted. Yueyao did not have any close relatives participating in the exams, so she naturally was not concerned. But being unconcerned didn’t mean she wasn’t aware of the exam results.