Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 115 - 113: None of My Family’s Business

Chapter 115: Chapter 113: None of My Family’s Business

The results of the Juxian Academy entrance examination were announced in the afternoon!

The names of the three brothers, Jingrui, were at the top of the list.

Upon seeing this, Shen Jingwen’s face turned even darker than ink; he continued to scan the list!

His name was not found even at the very bottom of the list!

At that moment, disappointment and fury intermingled in his heart, as he blamed everything on Shen Chengyao!

Shen Chengyao, who knew so many influential people, had managed to get the recommendation letter for his own son and another outsider but hadn’t procured one for him!

He knew full well that he had failed to pass the entrance exam for the Juxian Academy five years in a row!

Yet those three country bumpkins, who hadn’t a day of formal education, were admitted to the academy that he had dreamed of attending! If it weren’t for that letter of recommendation, who would believe it?

"It’s all Uncle Shen’s fault!" Bursting with anger, Shen Jingwen shoved aside the person behind him and stormed off!

"That third brother is not a decent person!" Shen Chengguang couldn’t help but curse as well!

Some of the students who were knocked into muttered, "What a mystery madman!"

If they couldn’t pass the exam themselves, what did it have to do with others!

Enraged, Shen Chengguang returned to the village to report the matter to his parents!

Upon returning home, Xiao’er’s family was overjoyed! Unfortunately, the happiness was short-lived as Shen Jingjie soon came to call Shen Chengyao, Jingrui, and Jinghao to the old house!

"Let’s go! Your uncle must’ve told your grandfather the good news; he must be very pleased now!" Shen Chengyao’s smile shined brighter than the noonday sun - it was splendid!

A lifetime of hope for their ancestors to be proud of their descendants, and now his son is going to be mentored by the dean of the Juxian Academy. What a great start, what a great honor!

His son would finally receive the attention and love of his parents, just like Wen’er.

"You guys go ahead! Invite them over for dinner tonight; we’ll have a good time." Mrs. Liu’s face hung with an equally bright sun.

Xiao’er wasn’t as optimistic as the couple: "Dad, I’ll come too, we bought a few boxes of snacks in the county today, I’ll take a box to grandpa and grandma!"

"What a good child." Shen Chengyao was happy that Xiao’er willingly gave her grandparents some pastries. Naturally, he’d be thrilled for his children who knew how to honor their elders.

The four of them arrived at the old house and saw two elderly people sitting on the kang bed.

"Father, Mother, all three of the Jingrui brothers passed Juxian Academy’s entrance exam, and they’ve also been given personal instruction by the academy’s dean." Shen Chengyao mentioned this with a voice full of suppressed excitement!

"Chengyao, who did you ask to write that recommendation letter for the Jingrui brothers? Why didn’t you have him write one for Jingwen?" After listening to his eldest son, Master Shen, who had been suppressing his rage, fiercely questioned Shen Chengyao!

The smile on Shen Chengyao’s face stiffened. The excitement and joy in his heart were like a roaring pile of charcoal being doused with a large bucket of icy water, trying to reignite but failing, yet unable to totally extinguish either.

"I didn’t get someone to write that letter, it was Young Master Shangguan who..." sent it along with the New Year’s gifts.

Shen Chengyao’s voice trailed off as Old Master Shen interrupted him.

"If it’s written by Young Master Shangguan, why didn’t you ask for a recommendation for your nephew who dreams of attending the Juxian Academy?"

"We didn’t know..."

"What didn’t you know? Didn’t you know that Wen’er dreams of studying at the Juxian Academy, or that he’s been taking the exam for years without success? Or that Wen’er is the hope of our Shen family’s glory and prosperity?"

"No, it’s..." Shen Chengyao tried to explain once again.

Mr. Shen cut him off again, "You are willing to help a stranger, but not your own nephew! Even letting an outsider take what should have been Wen’er’s place! How do you perform your duties as an uncle! It’s a shame considering how much your older brother cherished you when you were young!"

"Father, I didn’t, Brother Ri is not an outsider, he didn’t..." Shen Chengyao was utterly confused about this ’taking Wen’er’s place’ thing.

Mr. Shen interrupted Shen Chengyao again.

"You are still denying it, as soon as I say something, you immediately argue for him! You need to understand who is your blood relative! Who is the future hope of the Shen family’s glory and prosperity. When Wen’er becomes an official later on, even your business will have a backing!"

"Third son, did you open a large furniture shop in the county with Mrs. Liu’s older brother?" Mrs. Shen spoke up at this moment.

"Yes, and about this matter, you should have known the hardship your older brother goes through to put Wen’er through school. Before, the whole family scrimped and saved their earnings for them, barely making ends meet. Now that the family has separated, and we depend on him, his life is tighter than ever! You should have first considered going into business with him, how could you favor an outsider! You and your brother, though separated by birth, are still connected by blood!" In the end, Mr. Shen’s words grew heavier, his tone both solemn and filled with heartache.

Shen Chengyao listened quietly, his eyes slightly downcast, his face expressionless. It was unclear what he was thinking.

The more Xiao’er listened, the angrier she got. Damn it, this was getting unbearable!

"Father, aren’t my elder brother and Hao’er also surnamed Shen? Don’t they count as the glory and prosperity of our family? Oh, I almost forgot!" Xiao’er slapped her forehead in realization.

"I just remembered! My two uncles’ families severed ties with us last year, fearing to be associated with us. But since they’ve cut ties, whether Shen Jingwen gets the admission letter, dreams of getting into the Juxian Academy, or becomes the glory of our family, it’s none of my family’s damned business!" Xiao’er couldn’t hold back her cursing!

Damn it, when they were afraid of being implicated, they quickly cut ties and prioritized their self-interest. But when they want to take advantage, they claim blood is thicker than water. What a perfect world they live in!

Shen Chengyao frowned disapprovingly at Xiao’er, "Speak properly, how could you be so vulgar!"

"Father, I apologize, I couldn’t help but swear just now! It won’t happen again!" Xiao’er quickly apologized with apparent sincerity, winking at Shen Chengyao, then continued to say: "As the saying goes, you should repay a drop of kindness with a fountain of gratitude, and saving a life is worth far more than that! Brother Ri is Yun’er’s savior, if not for him, we would not have been able to bring Yun’er back that day! It’s only right to be a little nicer to him, right?" After letting out her anger, Xiao’er felt much better, her mood had calmed down. But only she knew that, and she continued to speak righteously:

"Furthermore, which family has brotherhood that remains unbroken even when their bones are broken, but cuts ties at the drop of a hat and uses their niece to atone for their sins! It’s unheard of, I’ve never seen such a thing!"

"You wicked girl! Get out! This is no place for a troublemaker like you to talk! Get out...now!" Mr. Shen was fuming. The notion of being reprimanded by a junior was utterly infuriating. He pointed to the door, his face fearsome, his voice filled with fury. He even spat when he spoke, with saliva trickling down his chin. He immediately bit his lower lip, attempting to suck the saliva back into his mouth.

Seeing Mr. Shen so agitated made Shen Chengyao both worried and pained. Worried about his father’s health, pained because his daughter was being driven out. "Father, the admission letter was sent by Young Master Shangguan as a New Year’s gift. We didn’t know beforehand that there would be a recommendation. Xiao’er is still a child, she doesn’t understand things yet. Father, please forgive her."

"Alright, I won’t hold it against you! In that case, you can try asking Young Master Shangguan for another recommendation." Mr. Shen knew that Shen Chengyao was different from the others, he had a soft spot for his daughter! So even though his objective wasn’t achieved, he let it go.

"Third son, drive that Liu away and convene with your older brother for the wood supply shop." Mrs. Shen directly commanded.

"Father, I really can’t contact Young Master Shangguan. He’s always the one who contacts us. Besides, we are not capable of telling Young Master Shangguan what to do!"

"You give him so many toy designs to sell, but don’t even ask for a recommendation letter. Might as well let your older brother sell the toys. Also, hurry up and drive away that Liu, and partner with your older brother!" Upon hearing that the furniture and toys sell for hundreds and thousands of taels of silver, Mrs. Zhuang feels like she could go and seize it back right now, all of it should be hers!

The things her son made, she hadn’t received even a single coin, it’s simply outrageous!