"Shen Cheng Cai is going to take the imperial examinations?" Li Yue Shu's expression was strange. "Do you even know how many characters he knows? He hasn't even taken the county exam yet, and he wants to compete for the top scholar?"
She had always thought Madam Yang was a smart woman, but now it seemed she only possessed some petty tricks of a country housewife, and was made to appear intelligent only by comparison with Shen Mu, who was a beacon of foolishness.
Although Madam Yang's horizons were not broad, she could understand the implication in Li Yue Shu's words.
Her expression changed. "If my Cheng Cai hadn't been tricked by your sister and expelled from the academy, he would have been able to participate in next month's county exam and become the youngest scholar in our village!"
Madam Yang said this with conviction, but Li Yue Shu couldn't help but laugh.
Even Shen Wei, who was standing by as a background prop, couldn't help but show a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"Who told you that passing the exam next month makes you a scholar?" Li Yue Shu kindly explained, "The county exam is held in February each year, and the prefectural exam in April. Only those who pass both can be called scholars."
This was the world depicted by the author, different from the ancient times she knew. Therefore, before sending her children to the academy for the first time, she had deliberately learned about it.
The imperial examination system in this world was indeed very similar to the Qing Dynasty she was familiar with.
Madam Yang's expression was rather complex.
She genuinely didn't know this. She had only heard her son say that passing the scholar exam would allow him to take the imperial examinations for provincial and metropolitan levels. She had no idea that a scholar exam was divided into county and prefectural exams.
Seeing the smile on Li Yue Shu's face, she felt her own face flush with embarrassment. Enraged, she snapped, "Li Yue Shu, I came here today with a generous gift, speaking in a good temper to apologize to you. What is your attitude!"
"Generous gift?" Li Yue Shu looked at the items in her hand with sarcasm.
Because she had many children, she had visited every pastry shop in town, and even several in the neighboring town.
Never had any shop wrapped pastries, barely larger than a fist, in such a large sheet of oiled paper.
Moreover, the wrinkled packaging clearly indicated it had been opened before.
In Madam Yang's opinion, how stupid would she have to be to believe her?
The words "generous gift" were deliberately emphasized. Madam Yang nervously tucked her hands behind her back, her gaze avoiding Li Yue Shu's eyes.
But she still insisted stubbornly, "Of... of course it is. This cost me over twenty coins. I bought it myself in town."
Facing her shamelessness, Li Yue Shu simply rolled her eyes.
If she continued to talk to this kind of person, she feared her good mood for the entire day would be ruined.
"I cannot accept your generous gift. You should take it back and eat it yourself!"
With that, Li Yue Shu flicked her whip and was about to head home.
Madam Yang was startled and quickly clung to the edge of the carriage. "Wait! When will you tell your sister about Cheng Cai? Can he also go to the academy for this term's enrollment?"
Madam Yang had been doing a lot of work at the Yang family's residence lately, and her strength had increased considerably. She had actually managed to stop the carriage, which had just started to move.
Li Yue Shu frowned, displeased. "When did I agree to your request?"
"You..." Madam Yang's expression changed.
She wasn't a person with a good temper to begin with, and having been bullied at the Yang family's residence lately, she had been holding a lot of pent-up anger. At this moment, she finally couldn't contain herself. "Are you afraid that if my Cheng Cai goes to the academy, he will steal the thunder from that bastard Shen Yi Min?"
The loud shouting instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the courtyard. The tightly shut gate opened, and Mother Mo, along with Shen Yi Min and the others, rushed out.
Seeing Madam Yang blocking Li Yue Shu's carriage, everyone instinctively frowned, knowing it was bound to be something unpleasant.
The word "bastard" caused Li Yue Shu's expression to instantly darken, a hint of killing intent subtly flashing in her eyes.
Unfortunately, Madam Yang did not notice. She even thought Li Yue Shu's sudden change in expression was because she had hit the nail on the head.
"You venomous woman, my Cheng Cai was kicked out of the academy. Was it you and your sister colluding together to cause trouble? For that bastard Shen Yi Min, you actually... Ah—"
Madam Yang's words were cut short by a sudden scream.
Li Yue Shu's whip landed mercilessly on her, cracking sharply in the air.
Madam Yang jumped up in pain, and the pastries in her hands rolled several times on the ground.
She stared at Li Yue Shu with wide, disbelieving eyes. "You... you dare to hit me?!"
Li Yue Shu's gaze was so cold it seemed to solidify. "If you don't clean up your mouth, I'll dare to rip it open!"
The fierce look frightened Madam Yang into instinctively backing away, not doubting the truth of her words at all.
Shen Yi Min, looking at Li Yue Shu's cold and terrifying appearance, found her indescribably beautiful.
Being as intelligent as he was, he immediately understood why Li Yue Shu was so angry.
The corners of his mouth curved, making his originally gentle face appear even softer.
Wei Ling, standing beside him, happened to see the smile on his lips, and her bright eyes sparkled.
Yi Min Ge Ge is indeed the most handsome!
Amidst the silence, a figure suddenly rushed over from not far away.
Everyone instinctively looked over and saw Shen Cheng Cai running over, his forehead beaded with sweat.
He panted heavily, seemingly flustered. "Third Aunt, I'm sorry. My mother was just worried about me, she didn't mean any harm."
Despite appearing exhausted, his breathing was rhythmic, and his speech was fluent.
Li Yue Shu couldn't help but smile, but the curve of her lips was cold.
Although Shen Cheng Cai had gained some small tricks compared to before, his vision remained limited. Naturally, he did not notice the anomaly in Li Yue Shu's expression.
Seeing that her expression was not as cold as before, he thought his words had been effective and immediately spoke again. "Third Aunt, please don't be angry. I'll take my mother and leave now. I promise she won't trouble you again."
With that, he hurried to pull Madam Yang.
Madam Yang had initially thought he was coming to help her. However, upon hearing his words, she froze.
Seeing Shen Cheng Cai about to pull her away, she immediately protested, "I didn't say anything wrong. She's just worried you'll steal the spotlight from that bastard Shen Yi Min..."
"Mother!" Shen Cheng Cai quickly silenced her, winking at her desperately. "Please be quiet first. We can talk about this when we get back!"
Madam Yang came to her senses. The spot where she had been hit still hurt. The words at the tip of her tongue suddenly changed. "I... I haven't picked up my pastries yet!"
Shen Cheng Cai was, after all, just an eight-year-old boy. He couldn't hold her back. Seeing Madam Yang break free from his grasp, she rushed to the carriage to pick up the scattered pastries.
Li Yue Shu and the others, whose anger had not yet subsided: "..."
Watching the retreating backs of the mother and son in a panic, Li Yue Shu narrowed her eyes.
Shen Cheng Cai must have known about Madam Yang's actions today. Therefore, seeing Madam Yang fail, he quickly jumped out to feign ignorance. However, he didn't stop her beforehand. Did he think she could persuade herself to beg Li Xiang Ru for mercy?
Who would have thought that an eight-year-old child could develop so many schemes from his previous foolish and willful demeanor?
Unfortunately, he was still too young!
Li Yue Shu did not dwell on the matter and simply flicked her whip, heading home.
Shen Wei, on the other hand, turned to look at the backs of the two, his expression unreadable.
Since the Li family suspected Li Yue Shu, they would not do nothing.
And Shen Cheng Cai was clearly not someone so intelligent that he could suddenly gain enlightenment.