flstandardbreds Chapter 126 Vanity Bursts
Chapter 126 Vanity Bursts
"You wicked bastard, you're trying to steal my money, aren't you afraid of going to hell after you die?"
Li Xiaoxiao slowly collected the copper coins one by one. Old Mrs. Li stared at her hands, wishing she could stare a hole in them.
"Fourth Aunt, Grandma, goodbye. You're welcome to visit us next time." Li Xiaoxiao raised the corners of her mouth, feeling happy. She didn't take Old Lady Li's curse seriously at all. She could curse as she pleased, it didn't hurt anyway.
The more you pay attention to people like her, the more angry she will become. When she gets tired of scolding and finds it boring, she will stop. Sure enough, after scolding for a while, Old Lady Li stopped.
Bah, he comes again. This old woman has money but nowhere to spend it. She is eighty cents short for no reason. Old Mrs. Li is so heartbroken. She originally wanted to come to the county town to show off, but instead of showing off, she suffered such a big loss. Who can she complain to?
Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, Old Mrs. Li stroked her chest and comforted herself that her son would be a high-ranking official in the future and these money would not be considered money.
Compared with the tense situation here, the backyard of the county government is full of joy.
The reason was simple. Zhang Wenbin came back and actually also passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. Because the results were announced one day later than Li Dajiang, he came back one day later than Li Dajiang.
The county magistrate Zhang Yaozu was overjoyed and arranged a sumptuous meal to welcome him. Zhang Yaozu brought his three concubines, Zhang Wenbin's four concubines, and the concubines' sons and daughters, and filled two large tables. The happiest one among them was Li Jiaojiao.
This could be said to be the happiest day of her life. Her younger brother had just told her in the morning that his father had passed the imperial examination and became a juren, and now his husband had passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. It could truly be said to be a double happiness.
Her face was full of smiles. The fortune teller she met when she was a child was really accurate in his predictions. He said that she would be rich and prosperous and would bring good luck to her husband in the future. Not long after she got married, Zhang Wenbin passed the exam. Before that, Zhang Wenbin had taken the exam for several years, but failed every year.
Zhang Wenbin naturally also knew that Li Dajiang had passed the imperial examination. Since he came back, he has been holding Li Jiaojiao's hand and constantly picking up food for her. To others, they look like a loving couple.
Li Jiaojiao smiled faintly, like the mistress of the house. She ordered the cook to serve the dishes and asked everyone to sit down and eat.
Zhang Wenbin's mother had been dead for several years. It was said that she was angered to death by Zhang Yaozu. Zhang Yaozu was a poor man when he was young. It was all thanks to Zhang Wenbin's mother who worked day and night and gave all the money she earned to Zhang Yaozu's studies that he was able to pass the imperial examination and later became a county magistrate.
When he first became the county magistrate, Zhang Yaozu treated her very well and was grateful for her efforts over the years. But later on, things gradually changed. At first, he only went to brothels, but later he brought women in from all rooms.
Zhang Wenbin's mother has a strong personality. All her efforts over the years were met with Zhang Yaozu's disdain. The girls brought in were all girls who were a dozen years younger than her. Zhang Wenbin's mother was of average appearance to begin with, and coupled with her age, she could not compare with them in appearance.
In addition, he was doted on by Zhang Yaozu, who would show off in front of her whenever he had time. As time went on, he became depressed and fell ill, and passed away within two years.
Her death did not mean much to Zhang Yaozu and Zhang Wenbin. They even felt that there was no one to restrain them and they could be even more unscrupulous.
As a result, Zhang Wenbin had not married at the age of 25, and Zhang Yaozu did not care about it.
After her death, Zhang Yaozu, in order to show people that he was not an ungrateful person, never made any of his concubines his principal wife for so many years, no matter how fierce the chaos in the backyard was.
This just happened to give Li Jiaojiao this opportunity. Since she married Zhang Wenbin, Li Jiaojiao has always presented herself as virtuous and kind. In addition, she now has a father who is a juren, so Zhang Yaozu acquiesced to her attitude as a hostess.
"Congratulations, my husband, congratulations, my husband, on passing the exam. You have worked hard and have been exhausted from the journey. I will offer you a cup of tea instead of wine." Li Jiaojiao was wearing an intricately embroidered long skirt today. The hem of her skirt swayed gently, and her figure was graceful and charming. She had light makeup on, her pretty face was slightly red, and she had a pure gold tassel hairpin on her head. She looked very beautiful.
"It's not hard." Zhang Wenbin took the opportunity to hold Li Jiaojiao's hand: "Thanks to you at home, I can go out for the scientific expedition with peace of mind." In front of so many people, Li Jiaojiao's face turned red with shame.
"Look at what my husband said, these are what I should do. By the way, my husband, there is one more thing you know, my father passed the imperial examination."
"I have heard that my father-in-law is very talented and knowledgeable, so it is natural for him to pass the imperial examination."
After a pause, he continued, "Tomorrow I will go back to Qinghe Village with you to celebrate with my father-in-law."
"Thank you, husband." Li Jiaojiao's eyes sparkled with a smile.
Seeing how loving the two of them were, Zhang Wenbin's other concubines were so jealous that they could hardly hold back their jealousy. They were all twiddling their handkerchiefs. Li Jiaojiao came into the family later than them and was quite favored by Zhang Wenbin. Now that his father had passed the imperial examination, they were afraid that they would be controlled by Li Jiaojiao.
The next day, Zhang Wenbin and Li Jiaojiao returned to Qinghe Village together. The county magistrate specifically instructed them to pick out many gifts from the warehouse.
The finest silk fabrics, exquisite vases, and the four treasures of the study filled two large boxes.
When they went there, they even hired someone to carry them. Li Jiaojiao and Zhang Wenbin sat in the front of the carriage. They were very affectionate and talked and laughed all the way.
When Li Jiaojiao arrived at the entrance of Qinghe Village, she lifted the curtain as usual.
"My husband, I haven't been back for many days. I miss the mountains and rivers in the village very much. I want to open the curtain and take a look along the way." Li Jiaojiao said with a sweet smile.
"Of course, as long as you like it, Jiaojiao." Zhang Wenbin opened all the curtains lovingly, and the coachman wisely moved to the side.
Li Jiaojiao's vision could be wider, which could actually allow the villagers to see more clearly who is in the carriage?
Li Jiaojiao is now the proud daughter of the village. Her father is a juren, and her husband is the son of a county magistrate, who also holds the title of scholar. Naturally, her status has risen, and she has suddenly become more pampered than the rich girls in the city.
Li Jiaojiao's vanity reached its peak in an instant.
The Li family had received the news long ago and knew that Zhang Wenbin would come today, so the whole family waited at the village entrance early.
Li Jiaojiao and Zhang Wenbin were seen coming in a carriage from afar. Li Jiaojiao looked very proud and enjoyed the envious looks of the villagers and her family.
"Oh, Jiaojiao, you're here. Grandma has been waiting for you." Old Mrs. Li tiptoed and hurried to greet her.
"Grandma, I'm sorry to have worried you. I have something going on at home and I'm busy. I've been missing you these days." Li Jiaojiao said politely, but she had no intention of getting off the carriage.