Chapter 48: Failure

The Spring Imperial Examination ended with great fanfare. Chen Jing had successfully become a Tongsheng, which was an easy title to get. Lu Cheng Yu was already a Tongsheng before the exam, but he failed again to get the title of Xiucai.

Lu Cheng Yu was crushed by this defeat, he couldn't leave the house for days.

Miserable and gloomy atmosphere reigned the entire house.

Everyone was well aware that Xiucai wasn't an easy title to get, Lu Cheng Yu had many classmates in their forties were still Tongsheng. So logically speaking, they shouldn't be this sad because Lu Cheng Yu was still young.

However, they had their hopes high thanks to Tang's gesture, she had turned down all the villagers who showed interested in betrothing with them. As a result, the villagers took the hint and betrothed with other people.

Therefore, quite a lot villagers now gloated over Lu Cheng Yu's failure. They made fun of Tang for being so proud and arrogant, now neither her son nor her daughter was engaged.

Lin Xiu'er stopped tolerating Tang's bad temper at this point, Tang didn't have what it took to put on airs anymore, so they would argue with each other all the time.

Nothing dramatic, but arguments all the time.

Lin Xiu'er would resort to insinuation and complain that Lu Cheng Yu had wasted so much money yet he was still a Tongsheng.

Lu Cheng Yu was a proud person, he was so indignant whenever he heard those innuendo.

Chen Jing was very excited that he made it to Tongsheng this time, he was on an equal footing with Lu Cheng Yu now, he didn't like the way Lu Cheng Yu pushed himself forward at school, he gloated over Lu Cheng Yu's failure the most.

All the scholars favored Lu Cheng Yu at school, but the truth was Lu Cheng Yu was still a Tongsheng!

"Tong, come on now, wash the clothes in the basin. You are going to get married one day, you need to practice doing more chores." Lin Xiu'er shouted.

Lu Tong walked to the basin reluctantly, color flared in her cheeks, she couldn't help but take a step back on seeing the pile of clothes in the basin.

Lin Xiu'er's lips twitched on seeing that, "Come on now, Tong, no village girl is like you, you will end up being an old maid if you carry on like this."

Tang had been so picky on selecting potential in-laws for Lu Tong, she had offended a lot of matchmakers, so Lu Tong's marriage got delayed due to that.

Lin Xiu'er held a grudge against Lu Tong for taking away her son's pastry the other day, so she was enjoying educating Lu Tong now.

"Fourth Aunt, you are free now, why don't you do the washing?" Lu Tong pouted.

"You lazy bone, I'm going to cook now! Tong, seriously, no village girl is like you, you should start practicing doing housework now, otherwise your future in-laws will blame us for spoiling you!" Lin Xiu'er was furious.

"Why are you being so loud?" Grandma Lu walked out of the room.

"I'm asking Tong to do some housework, she will marry sooner or later, her future in-laws will laugh at us if she is incompetent in housework," Lin Xiu'er sighed, "it's been a long time since the last matchmaker has visited us, hmm, maybe we will end up paying tax for her too!"

Lu Tong's heart gave a jolt on hearing that. She was not taking it well when Lin Xiu'er talked about her like no one wanted to marry her.

Grandma Lu nodded on hearing what Lin Xiu'er had said, she cast a glimpse at Lu Tong with disgust and looked away. Grandma Lu had also noticed less and less matchmakers showed interest in Lu Tong now, and they all pointed out that Lu Tong shouldn't be so picky because she was not young any more, she might end up being an old maid if she didn't change that arrogant attitude.

Grandma Lu used to have high hopes for Lu Tong, she thought this granddaughter of hers would marry into a wealthy family in town and lead a comfortable life, but recently it was just some poor villagers who showed interest in Lu Tong. Therefore, Grandma Lu started to feel maybe Lu Tong was not as good as she had thought, maybe she should lower her hopes.

"Grandma, the river is so far away, how can I just go out and be seen by so many people?" Lu Tong turned to Grandma Lu.

Grandma Lu raised her volume and said, "Everyone in the family is busy, Tong, you are a big girl now, you should help out!"

Lu Tong was surprised that her grandmother had sided with Lin Xiu'er, but she dared not talk back.

She carried the basin and walked to the river in a huff. She kept blaming her brother for this, she was sure she would marry well if her brother had passed the exam, she was sure Lin Xiu'er dared not talk to her like this if her brother had passed the exam...