The wicked sister-in-law is in charge; meals include fish and shrimp.

Chapter 276 I'm Going to the Prefectural City

He failed the exam; he's going to become a laughingstock.

He answered the questions very well in the last class! Why didn't he pass the exam?

His stomach rumbled, and he rubbed his empty belly, blaming Zhang Chunhua.

Everyone in the exam hall was eating meat, but he was the only one munching on a white flour bun.

When he's in a good mood, he can eat some pickled vegetables, which makes it more palatable. But when there are no pickled vegetables, he can only make do with hot water.

He had received quite a bit for serving Guo Wencai back then, and he never imagined that the silver notes he kept under the bed would be gnawed to pieces by rats.

If his mother had been more careful, this wouldn't have happened!

If he had money, he could eat delicious food here, and he wouldn't be so confused when answering questions.

Lin Huaizhi walked dejectedly back to his inn, grabbed his bundle and the last of his silver, and hailed a carriage.

Wen Luozhi originally planned to stay in the prefectural city.

But it would take several more days for the chef from Baiweixuan to arrive, and she was afraid her family would get impatient.

Looking at Songzi and the others standing neatly in their seats, she said, "We can stay in this little courtyard for about another month, and then we'll come back."

Songzi gripped the key tightly in her hand, her eyes filled with reluctance as she looked at her.

Although they had only spent a few days together, they had roughly figured out Wen Luozhi's personality, and no one would treat them any better.

"Keep an eye on my restaurant, we're coming back," Yan Che patted his thin shoulder.

He had already decided that once he got back, he would ask to come to the prefectural city as well.

Wen Zijin is very likely to come back; he's not having a good time in Shanquan Town either.

Whether it's studying or starting a business, his parents will definitely agree.

With Wen Zijin guiding his studies and Wen Luozhi overseeing his business dealings, he can feel at ease leaving home.

Songzi nodded solemnly and put the key around her neck.

The brothers and sisters helped load the things onto the carriage. After the carriage left, Songzi locked the gate of the courtyard and led her younger siblings toward the restaurant.

"Brother, why are we going to a restaurant?"

Xiao Chun held two copper coins in one hand and the snowflake pastry that Wen Luozhi had given them in the other.

Songzi looked at the road ahead with unwavering determination. "We must keep the restaurant doors open every day, waiting for Sister Luozhi and the others to return."

Although she only instructed them to check on things once a day to make sure nothing was damaged, the restaurant definitely needed customers.

They keep it running every day, cleaning it up and promoting it.

When the business opens, people won't be completely unaware of it.

Now they have a place to live, and every day they see that each of them earns twenty copper coins at the restaurant.

He wants to live up to the kindness people have shown them.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Songzi opened the restaurant door.

The owner of the wine shop next door, seeing them, clicked his tongue in surprise and asked, "What are you doing here so late? Where are the two young bosses?"

The wine shop owner had a pretty good impression of Wen Luozhi and Yan Che, and had previously given them two talismans for peace of mind.

The next day, two young men brought a lot of pastries to the shop as a return gift.

Songzi smiled and said, "Boss Wen's brother passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. They went home and will be back in a while."

The wine shop owner was overjoyed to hear this; passing the imperial examination was no easy feat, and this young girl's brother was truly remarkable.

He gave his siblings a thumbs-up and said, "You'd better lock the door properly when the time comes! It wouldn't be good if a thief broke in!"

He kindly offered a reminder, then plunged into the shop to serve wine to the customers.

Songzi and the others washed and scrubbed again, cleaning the restaurant inside and out until the floor was so clean it shone.

Some passersby asked curious questions, and when they heard that the business would be opening soon, they nodded or shook their heads.

Inside the carriage, Yan Che looked at Wen Luozhi with some concern, "Little sister, are you sure nothing will happen?"

He was still a little uneasy. Although Songzi seemed reliable, he hadn't known her for very long and couldn't say for sure that she was absolutely trustworthy.

Wen Luozhi shook her slightly sore arm. "It's alright, I've asked the wine shop owner to keep an eye on it."

Besides the wine shop owner, she also had a brother from the shadows keep an eye on things, so there shouldn't be any problems.

It's not that I don't believe in Songzi, but he's still just a child. If something really happens to him, he'll definitely suffer in the face of absolute power.

After seven or eight days of stop-and-go travel, the carriage finally arrived at Shanquan Town. Xie He couldn't wait in the village and brought his two grandsons out to wait for them.

Finally seeing Wen Luozhi and the others, she went up to them with an anxious expression and a slightly reproachful yet caring tone, "Why did it take you so long to get here!"

"You're all such a worry for your mother! None of you three are easy to deal with!" Despite her words, she quickly invited them into the house.

Wen Zixun was overjoyed to see Wen Luozhi, dancing with excitement. "Little sister, you're finally back! Take me with you next time you go out to play!"

Seeing Wen Zijing smiling faintly behind Wen Luozhi, he stepped forward and patted Wen Zijing on the shoulder, "Fifth Brother, well done! Father and Mother are overjoyed!"

The family only received the news a couple of days ago, and the parents were so happy they almost rushed to the prefectural city to pick them up.

The news hadn't leaked out yet, and no one in the village knew they'd been secretly celebrating for the past few days.

Wen Zijin patted his shoulder, thankfully he didn't disappoint everyone.

The trainees have been sent to Baiweizhai, and the courtyard has become much more spacious.

The restaurant food had already been delivered and kept warm, and Xie He was now holding her two grandsons and watching the children eat.

"Mother, why don't you go and keep my sister company?" Wen Zixun ate a few bites of rice and went to hug Wen Jinyu, but Xie He dodged her.

"What are you hugging? Go eat!"

Xie He looked at him with a smile, a hint of heartache in her eyes.

Wen Luozhi and Wen Zijin came over and each gave one of their nephews a hug. "I'll hug my fifth brother," they said.

"Mother and Sixth Brother, sit down and let's eat together."

Wen Luozhi blew a breath at Wen Jinchen, and the little guy frowned and opened his mouth at her.

Wen Zijin and Wen Jinyu were not so harmonious. Wen Jinyu's small brows were tightly furrowed, and she seemed to be thinking about something.

Wen Zijin focused on eating her own food, occasionally glancing down at her little nephew in her arms.

After Xie He finished eating, the little one took the baby from her. The little guy pouted and started to cry, looking extremely aggrieved.

Yan Che found it amusing and poked his chubby little face, teasing him, "You definitely won't like studying in the future, otherwise why don't you like your fifth uncle?"

Wen Luozhi kicked him and said with a laugh, "Why are you criticizing other little kids when you yourself don't like reading?"

Yan Che chuckled. The carriage from the Yan residence had arrived outside. Madam Yan entered the room and was relieved to see the smiling Yan Che.

"mother!"

Yan Che ran back, grinning like a foolish son of a wealthy landowner. Madam Yan looked at the faint dark circles under his eyes and felt a pang of heartache. "You silly child, you came back without even waiting for your mother to come and get you."

She was still worried during the time she had been away. The child had grown up under her and Yanfeng's protection and was quite naive.

If it weren't for Wen Luozhi, that clever little devil, by her side, she would be a hundred times more worried.

After a brief moment of tenderness between mother and son, Yan Che suddenly said, "Mother, I want to go to the prefectural city."

Madam Yan thought he hadn't had enough fun, so she raised her hand and slapped him on the back of the head. "You brat! Why are you so playful!"

Seeing Yan Che's aggrieved look, Wen Luozhi "stepped forward" to save him.

"Godmother! He didn't just want to go out and play."

She pulled Madam Yan to sit down and recounted the things the three of them had discussed earlier.