The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 672 Great Joy Approaches (4)_1

Chapter 672: Chapter 672 Great Joy Approaches (4)_1

News from the Capital Jingcheng swiftly arrived on horseback, Fang Liuming had achieved high honors! He became a Palace Graduate, ranked second class!

The entire Fang family was overjoyed.

Old Scholar Fang was so excited he could hardly contain himself, "Our Fang family has finally produced someone noteworthy!" And to officially become an official after passing the Imperial Examination no less.

Lady Yu was so happy she didn’t know what to do with herself.

Fang Li grinned from ear to ear, walking on air, and could only offer a silly smile to the congratulating villagers he met.

Grandma Fang was shouting that it was all Mo Heng’s merit. Mo Heng’s excellent teaching led to their grandson first becoming a Scholar, then a Graduate, and finally a Palace Graduate. They were preparing gifts to thank both Mo Heng and Pei Qin.

Old Scholar Fang knew that without Mo Heng’s guidance and teachings, without Pei Qin’s connections, Shen Songming would not have recommended Fang Liuming to the Imperial College. Without this, even with exceptional knowledge and lesser fortune, Fang Liuming would have found it difficult to succeed in the examinations.

Pei Qin didn’t wait for them to come over but rushed to Fang Family Village with congratulatory gifts, "There’s no need to send anything to my place. We’re preparing to send Wendong and the other two to the Songyang Academy. We won’t be home these days, and there won’t be anyone to receive the gifts."

"Songyang Academy is renowned throughout Great Chu, filled with Great Scholars and a gathering of outstanding students from all regions. If Wendong can enter Songyang Academy, it would be greatly beneficial to them!" Old Scholar Fang was very supportive, "But to enter the academy, one must pass an examination. They aren’t only tested on poetry and prose but also on traditional arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Academic knowledge shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Given their young age, Songyang Academy should not turn them away. However, when it comes to traditional arts, the three of them are not very adept."

Speaking of this, Pei Wendong had previously replied, "I can play Gomoku and checkers."

"I can too! Although I don’t win much!" Chang Yonglin immediately declared as well.

Xiao Yong chuckled, "I can play as well."

Therefore, Mo Heng has been cramming chess lessons with them these past few days. In the traditional arts, if they could pass just two areas, Songyang Academy would accept them due to their age. However, the progress was minimal. Apart from Xiao Yong, Pei Wendong and Chang Yonglin unconsciously turned Go into Gomoku, lining the pieces in a row. Just like Pei Qin, they all did the same.

Chang Yonglin even clung shamelessly to Pei Qin’s arm, "The three of us are truly related by blood!"

Mo Heng kept giving him dagger looks, beating him mercilessly in the game, leaving no piece unturned, making every move a loss. This left Chang Yonglin quite despondent.

Fang Li, looking at Pei Wendong, gestured, "If Songyang Academy is that good, then it would be ideal for Liuyang to go there with you guys!"

Grandma Fang immediately smacked him, "Have you lost your mind?! Look at you getting ahead of yourself! Wendong might not even pass the exam, and you’re already daydreaming!"

Lady Yu couldn’t be bothered with him and told Pei Qin to leave Jiujiu with them, offering to help look after her for a few days, "...We’ll send her back when you return."

"I can’t get her to leave!" Pei Qin laughed as she glanced at her beloved daughter.

"The second sister threatened to take her away, and her little face immediately turned into a bitter gourd. She wouldn’t even stay with the third sister, only clinging to her eldest sister!" Pei Wendong said with a smile as he petted Jiujiu, who was nibbling on snacks. He remembered how he also used to cling to his eldest sister when he was little, following her everywhere. His eldest sister would even push him around in a shopping cart.

Fang Fang and Fang Xin crouched nearby, trying to persuade Jiujiu to stay with them and play together.

Jiujiu puffed up her little cheeks, her big black grape-like eyes glaring, "I don’t want to!"

Fang Fang teased her, "I’m going to keep you here today and not let you leave! I’ll go find a rope to tie you up!"

Hearing this, Jiujiu pressed her snack onto Fang Fang’s face.

"You’re pressing snack all over my face—" Fang Fang howled.

Jiujiu quickly ran behind Pei Wendong on her short little legs, clutching his clothes to hide.

"You little rascal! Who did you learn this from!" Pei Qin called out to her.

The little one hid behind her uncle, only her two shiny big black eyes peeping out.

Pei Wendong laughed as he reached out to protect her, preventing Fang Fang from scaring her.

Everyone, young and old, laughed and played together.

Old Scholar Fang couldn’t help but let out hearty laughter.

Li Baoxiang, who had yet again failed the examination, was in a state of depression. Hearing that Fang Liuming had become a Palace Graduate and would soon be an official, he felt even more resentful. Yet, he did not decrease the number of his congratulatory visits, as he was considered as a godson to the Fang family and a brother to Fang Liuming.

Encountering the Fang Huifeng family, and not seeing Pei Qin or Mo Heng, Li Baoxiang couldn’t help asking, "They should have heard the news by now, right? Why haven’t they come over?" Mo Heng was reluctant to teach him more, always holding back. Pei Wendong, still hardly out of adolescence, had passed the examination, and Fang Liuming had become a Palace Graduate, while he, year after year, always failed.

The news had indeed first been passed down by Pei Qin. Lady Yu said lightly with a smile, "They’ve already come by. They’re waiting to send Wendong to Songyang Academy, so they didn’t come with you all."

"Send Pei Wendong to Songyang Academy!?" Li Baoxiang’s eyes widened in shock. He’d often heard about Songyang Academy while he was out and about, a famous academy in Great Chu known for its distinguished teachers with many notable persons originating from there. And Pei Wendong... was actually being sent to Songyang Academy!?

Meanwhile, Pei Qin and Mo Heng, along with Pei Qian, Jiujiu, Pei Wendong, Chang Yonglin, and Xiao Yong, had already arrived at Songyang Academy.

Though Young Master Mojiu was expelled from the Mo family genealogy, he remained Mo Heng!

Upon giving their names, someone went inside to make the announcement and another escorted them in.

Songyang Academy was renowned for its scholarship and not only for teaching but also for its incomparable scenery.

As Pei Qin walked along, admiring the rustic and tranquil scenery, she mused, "If we could pitch camp and live here, it would be really nice."

The corners of everyone’s mouths twitched as they listened, her comment sounding as though she intended to conquer the place.

"Let’s continue looking later! Let’s go for now!" Pei Qian urged, her brother-in-law was supposed to take them to meet that very impressive master, right!?

"All right, let’s go! Let’s go!" Pei Qin agreed and came over to carry her daughter. Little Radish was not light, and Mo Heng had been holding her for a while now.

"I’ll carry her," Mo Heng insisted she go ahead.

The group climbed halfway up the hill, gazing at the elegant courtyard before them, they couldn’t help but pause.

A strikingly beautiful woman hastily stepped out, standing on the steps, her eyes filled with tears as she softly called out, "Jiu Heng!"