The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 853 - 184: Don’t Be a Pushover

Chapter 853: Chapter 184: Don’t Be a Pushover

Before, when Grandma Li heard what Yu Qingxiu had said, Pei Qin had agreed thoroughly and even alerted Shen Songming to help them. She was also holding Old Scholar Fang’s letter, so when they reached Capital Jingcheng, Fang Liuming could take care of them. However, Shen Songming didn’t offer any help as promised, and Fang Liuming was deployed elsewhere. When the two arrived in Capital Jingcheng, they found themselves utterly alone, not to mention gaining entry to the Imperial College.

Upon receiving her son’s letter, Grandma Li was furious and immediately went with Old Man Li to confront Pei Qin.

Entering the house, she saw Madam Zhao sitting elegantly in the presiding seat, her demeanor graceful and her expression indifferent. Grandma Li thought to herself that Madam Zhao was now the mother of a Scholar, while Madam Zhao’s son was merely a soldier, yet still putting on airs, which made Grandma Li somewhat disdainful.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, she directly asked Pei Qin, "Why didn’t anyone tell us about Fang Liuming being sent away? Didn’t you write a letter to Young Master Shen? You asked him to notify the Imperial College, but when Bao Xiang went to Capital Jingcheng, he was completely isolated. Not to mention entering the Imperial College, it’s too difficult even to open a noodle shop or find a place to stay!"

Previously, the plan was to seek refuge with Fang Liuming, who couldn’t possibly charge them rent for staying. After all, it was just him alone; being a government official, he surely lived in a nice residence and couldn’t possibly occupy it all by himself. Living with him, their son would also appear more prestigious when stepping outside. And with Shen Songming backing them, they would have easily thrived in Capital Jingcheng. But now, they had nothing.

Madam Zhao had also heard about Li Baoxiang’s situation. Pei Yuan was no saint; the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along well, and she often didn’t hold back any complaints about Li Baoxiang. Hearing that Grandma Li dared to question Pei Qin, Madam Zhao immediately scoffed, "Isn’t it inappropriate for Mrs. Li to be asking Madam Yuanyang about this? The decision to send Fang Liuming away is a matter of the Imperial Court; no one can interfere. As for Young Master Shen, he was in Taiping Town just a few days ago. Why didn’t you directly approach him?"

Stung by her retort, Grandma Li felt aggrieved, "We were originally going to the Fang family’s, but since Pei Qin had promised well, I came to ask what’s going on! Bao Xiang and his wife are in Capital Jingcheng now and it’s incredibly difficult for them; we don’t even know how they are managing."

Pei Qin straightened up, set down her bowl of shaved ice, and asked her sternly, "Did Li Baoxiang ever mention that he failed the assessment at the Imperial College? When they arrived in Capital Jingcheng, Chen Gua and Cui Liang helped them find a place to live!? You didn’t provide them with enough silver, yet you expect them to open a noodle shop in Capital Jingcheng and only dream of good things!?"

Grandma Li’s face stiffened as she was scolded, "Wasn’t it said that as long as Young Master Shen made arrangements, we could enter the Imperial College?"

"Do you think the Imperial College is run by the Shen family!?" Pei Qin frowned.

At a loss for words, Grandma Li blurted out, "You never mentioned that Young Master Shen’s father is the Magistrate and his uncle is an Elder Statesman of the Current Cabinet! Such a high-ranking official of the First Rank! Just a word from Young Master Shen, and the Imperial College would surely obey!" Thinking of Shen Songming’s high status, she regretted not having catered to him properly earlier. How could such a person be managed by Pei Qin!?

Pei Qin’s gaze turned icy, "If so, why don’t you try your luck at getting through Shen’s side gate?"

Madam Zhao was also surprised, not expecting Shen Songming to belong to an aristocratic family, which wielded considerable power in Capital Jingcheng. No wonder both Fang Liuming and Fang Fu were able to send their men to the Imperial College. She looked at Pei Qin, smirked at Grandma Li, and said, "The greater the aristocratic family, the longer the line of those offering gifts, yet still failing to gain favor. Did you show any gesture when you asked for Young Master Shen’s help?"

What gesture? Grandma Li felt that Pei Qin had already received plenty of gifts from their family. Each time they approached her, she hadn’t come empty-handed, wasn’t just talking to Young Master Shen enough!?

Seeing that she remained silent, Madam Zhao asked again, "Even if the Shen family is influential, the Imperial College is not swayed by the Shen family alone. It is mostly attended by children from aristocratic families, many of whom are powerful and wealthy. Did Li Baoxiang give any gifts to the Imperial College during his assessment?"

Grandma Li’s face turned even uglier. She secretly resented that if only Pei Qin had spoken appropriately and Shen Songming had intervened, Bao Xiang wouldn’t have failed the assessment. It was because Pei Qin hadn’t spoken properly that Young Master Shen remained uninvolved. Still angry with the Fang family, she raged, "The news of Fang Liuming’s posting was kept tightly under wraps; it’s been half a year and we hadn’t caught wind of it. If it weren’t for the letter Bao Xiang sent back, we wouldn’t even know how they’ve been living in Capital Jingcheng! We thought, relying on sworn brotherhood, they were living well in Capital Jingcheng!"