Chapter 76: Li Su Returns Home

Lin Ze kicked out with one foot, sending his father staggering back several steps.

In his heart, Lin Ze was grateful for having listened to Su Ge’s advice: if he wanted to pursue the imperial examination path, his health couldn’t be poor, so he’d kept up his training.

“Lin Ze! I am your father! How dare you kick me, you unfilial son!” His father roared at him.

As the junior, Lin Ze would inevitably be at a disadvantage if he confronted his father directly and would be criticized by others. Lady Lin merely said lightly, “Xiao Ze was just anxious to protect his mother and accidentally bumped into you.”

Lin Father: “???” His abdomen was burning with pain—how could she call that an accident?

Without hesitation, Lin Ze crossed his name off the family register. Lin Father spat, “Lin Ze, don’t you dare regret this!”

Truthfully, Lin Father was unwilling to erase Lin Ze’s name, but Lin Ze insisted, and Lin Father, being too proud to back down, didn’t know how to save face.

Lady Lin spoke softly, “Xiao Ze, let’s go.”

Lin Ze nodded, turned, and shot a glare at his father. When Lin Father tried to step forward to block them, Lin Ze raised his fist, and Lin Father halted in his tracks.

Lin Father comforted himself: even without the Jiang family’s resources, he could still stand tall in the world. One day, Jiang Yan and Lin Ze would regret this. Besides, he still had Lin Xi and Jiaojiao. Without Jiang Yan, he could finally make Jiaojiao his principal wife.

“Someone, come here!” Lin Father shouted.

No one came for a long time. Fuming, he strode out, only to find the Lin family’s courtyard completely deserted—there wasn’t a single servant left.

Li Jiaojiao hurried over. “Renlang, what’s going on? Why did Madam take all the maids and old women who served me? Did I do something wrong?”

She looked delicate and pitiful, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

“What?” Lin Father was shocked. Suddenly, he remembered that all the servants’ contracts were in Jiang Yan’s hands.

He scowled, “Jiang Yan is really something! She actually left me with nothing but the Lin residence!” How ruthless.

“Jiaojiao, how much silver do you have left? Use it to buy some new servants,” Lin Father said, thinking he didn’t have much money left himself, and he still wanted to open a few shops.

Li Jiaojiao’s expression stiffened. “What… what happened?”

“I divorced Jiang Yan. I told her to leave with Lin Ze. From now on, it’s just you and Lin Xi. I’ll make you my principal wife.”

Li Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up with delight. “Divorced? Then all the Lin family’s property will belong to Lin Xi. All the grievances I’ve suffered will have been worth it.”

“Yes, but she took all the servants with her,” Lin Father said bitterly.

A sinking feeling welled up in Li Jiaojiao’s heart. “What about the shops?”

At this, Lin Father grew even angrier. “She only left the Lin residence—all the shops are gone. Luckily, I bought you plenty of gold and jewels before. I still have some silver left.”

Li Jiaojiao: “???” Why did Lin Ren agree to these divorce terms? How is this a divorce? How is it any different from being thrown out with nothing? Fool, he’s a total fool!

Li Jiaojiao’s heart twisted with frustration. So all these years she’d humbled herself for nothing?

She forced a smile. For a moment, she even considered leaving with her gold and jewels.

Lin Ren, oblivious to her thoughts, urged her to take out her jewelry.

Li Jiaojiao managed to placate him, thinking to discuss matters with Lin Xi when he returned.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan took Lin Ze to the old Jiang family residence, a faint smile on her lips. “Father, Mother, I’m home…” It was just a pity both her parents had passed, and she herself had misplaced her trust in the wrong person.

…

When Ren Shuhua returned home, his grandfather made a great show of lighting firecrackers as soon as he caught sight of him, startling Ren Shuhua half out of his wits.

He suspected his grandfather must have been waiting at the door, otherwise, how could he have timed the firecrackers so perfectly?

“Shuhua, good boy! The moment you tried, you became a licentiate. Looks like your talent for study was being wasted all this time!” Grandfather Ren was full of regret—he should have pushed his grandson harder.

Ever since learning Ren Shuhua had passed the licentiate exam, Grandfather Ren had been puffed up with pride, bragging that if he hadn’t forced Shuhua to study every day, the boy would never have succeeded.

When the family grew tired of his endless boasting, he went out to flaunt it to his friends.

Ren Shuhua: “???” He had a bad feeling—maybe it wasn’t his natural talent, but just that he’d met a benefactor.

Ren Shuhua hurried to explain to his grandfather.

Grandfather Ren’s eyes widened. “He’s really that impressive?” Secretly, he felt a hint of jealousy—why hadn’t he met such a friend in his youth?

No wonder he never passed the provincial exam—his own friends just weren’t helpful enough!

The Ren family began preparing a banquet to celebrate Shuhua’s success, inviting all their relatives and friends to join them.

…

This time, Li Su returned home in the Sheng family’s carriage. He didn’t bring much with him, but since his master insisted on sending him, he hadn’t refused.

As they approached the village entrance, he heard someone say, “Is that Su coming back?” In this village, only Su ever returned by carriage—no other family could afford such a thing.

At these words, the villagers chatting at the entrance all perked up. “That Su boy is really something. He’s only fifteen or sixteen, and he’s already passed the licentiate exam—and won a triple crown, no less.”

“Yes, the Da Ping family’s fortunes have turned around. Just the silver given as congratulatory gifts that day was substantial, though no one knows exactly how much.”

Li Su smiled to himself. So his success had caused quite a stir—the whole village knew about it.

Sheng Wu was also sincerely happy for Li Su. “Young master, I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you yet.”

“Thank you,” Li Su replied out of habit.

Sheng Wu was flattered; he hadn’t expected Li Su to thank him.

When the carriage arrived at his door, Li Su felt a surge of emotion. The moment it stopped, he jumped down and said to Sheng Wu, “You go on back.”

Sheng Wu nodded, understanding perfectly.

Li Su went straight inside. In the yard, the Li family was counting the borrowed pots and bowls. “Father, Mother, I’m home!”

Li Su paused for a moment, surprised by the scene in the courtyard, while his family members beamed at him.

“Fourth, you’re finally back! You must be exhausted—come, sit down and rest. Eldest, pour Fourth a cup of water—with some sugar,” Feng Cuicui said, pulling him to sit while directing Li Zhengyi.

Li Zhengyi answered, “Alright.”

“Father, Mother, I passed the licentiate exam,” Li Su announced, though he knew his family was already aware—he still wanted to say it himself.

Feng Cuicui and Li Daping grinned from ear to ear. “We know, my boy. Our Fourth is incredible.”

“The day the congratulatory message arrived, it was so lively—even the county magistrate came.”

“Fourth, you’ve really made your parents proud!”

“Even the business at our city shop has improved. When people hear it belongs to the family of the county’s triple crown scholar, they buy even more.”

“Lots of scholars come just to buy our spicy chicken, saying it’s what helped you win the triple crown.”

Li Su: “…” That’s absurd. He’d passed the exam through his own hard work, thank you very much.

Lately, the Li family had been holding their heads high; everyone greeted them warmly, and they enjoyed both honor and respect wherever they went. Their pride was simply overflowing.

“Mother, what are you up to?” Li Su glanced at the piles of pots and bowls. Where had they gotten so many? It looked like a wholesale business…