Upon receiving the examination papers, Wang Qingchen felt remarkably calm. He perused them briefly before lifting his brush. This first session struck him as quite straightforward, yet he maintained his caution, refusing to let the perceived ease breed complacency.

After the first session concluded and he returned to the inn, some were filled with regret, others with disappointment, and some were excessively pleased with themselves. Of course, there were also those, like Wang Qingchen, who remained steady. Li Yuntai, after finishing the first session, inquired about how Wang Qingchen had fared. Wang Qingchen simply replied that it was alright.

Hearing this, Li Yuntai knew Wang Qingchen’s answers must have been quite good, and a weight lifted from his mind. His asking wasn't due to doubt in Wang Qingchen's scholarly ability, but rather concern that Wang Qingchen might suffer from stage fright, especially since Li Yuntai had seen him momentarily stunned upon entering the examination hall. Of course, the true nature of his reaction remained known only to Wang Qingchen.

Wang Qingchen also asked Li Yuntai how the first session had gone for him, and judging by his demeanor, Li Yuntai seemed to have done very well too. The two exchanged a knowing smile.

Wang Qingchen rigorously adhered to his established routines, such as the duration he spent reading each evening. He applied his full effort to the remaining four sessions of the examination. By the time the testing concluded, Wang Qingchen felt his mind was swimming. Later, upon exiting the examination grounds, seeing that others were similarly drained—some in even worse shape than himself—his spirits were somewhat reconciled.

Given that everyone was mentally and physically exhausted after completing the five sessions, the previously agreed-upon celebratory banquet was postponed until the following day. Today, everyone needed a thorough night’s sleep to restore their vigor.

The next day, Wang Qingchen didn't wake until noon. Upon rising, he noticed most others were in a similar state, with only a few early risers still immersed in their books. This compelled Wang Qingchen to admire their sheer perseverance; they truly didn't relax for even a moment!

Li Yuntai was already seated in the inn's main hall, having risen only slightly earlier than Wang Qingchen. Noticing Wang Qingchen descend, Li Yuntai beckoned him over.

Several others shared their table, and upon seeing Wang Qingchen arrive, they also kindly inquired if he had rested well. After all, Wang Qingchen was the youngest among them, and everyone usually looked out for him.

Wang Qingchen nodded. "I've rested well enough. Have you all recovered properly?"

The others nodded in return before resuming their discussion of the test questions—some lamenting their performance, others secretly relieved. Thus, the hall alternated between bursts of joy and expressions of regret.

Naturally, the scene was replicated at other tables, causing the inn attendant to shake his head inwardly. "It was so quiet these past few days. I never imagined that once the exams ended, the hall would erupt like a flock of squawking ducks. The difference between before and after the examination is truly immense!"

Seeing that everyone seemed sufficiently rested, that evening, the entire group moved to a restaurant and set up a grand table. They set aside worries about their scores and began celebrating in advance.

Most at the table had already consumed alcohol and couldn't resist ordering the waiter to bring more wine. Although Wang Qingchen had tasted alcohol in his previous life, he hadn't done so since arriving at the Wang residence. Thus, looking at the wine, he felt a stirring of desire.

Li Yuntai sat beside Wang Qingchen. Seeing Wang Qingchen’s obvious craving for the drink, he couldn't help but smile. In Li Yuntai’s eyes, Wang Qingchen was still young, and his current expression was reminiscent of a child mimicking adult behavior.

Therefore, Li Yuntai laughed and said to Wang Qingchen, "You shouldn't drink this. You are still young; you’ll get drunk."

When Wang Qingchen heard this, he felt Li Yuntai was looking down on him. He knew that in his past life, he could hold his liquor quite well. Thus, unwilling to be slighted, Wang Qingchen stubbornly decided he absolutely had to taste the wine.

"It's fine. Everyone is happy today, I’ll just have a little, just for appearance’s sake!" Wang Qingchen pleaded, afraid others shared Li Yuntai’s opinion.

However, Wang Qingchen worried unnecessarily. At a drinking table, people generally encourage drinking; they rarely stop someone from participating. Indeed, those seated on Li Yuntai's side overheard their murmuring and slapped Li Yuntai’s shoulder. "Ah, come now, you’re being rather stingy! If Qingchen wishes to drink, we fellow scholars must surely satisfy his desire!"

At these words, Wang Qingchen immediately nodded gratefully. "Yes, yes, I'll just have a little, that’s all."

The others at the table found the situation highly amusing. This Wang Qingchen, though small in stature, had great ambition, wanting to drink at such a young age. Consequently, everyone agreed, harboring a collective mischievous desire to tease Wang Qingchen, and unanimously consented to let him drink.

Wang Qingchen, having achieved his desire, was naturally ecstatic. This excitement led him to drink everyone else at the table under the table. Li Yuntai, who had abstained from alcohol and thus remained sober, watched in astonishment. Perhaps the ability to drink was innate; no wonder he wanted the wine. But now that everyone else was drunk, leaving only him and Wang Qingchen, what were they to do?

Wang Qingchen hadn't anticipated things escalating this far. He had only intended to sip one cup, savoring the taste. Seeing Wang Qingchen handle one cup without issue, the others at the table immediately concluded he had some tolerance for alcohol, and how could they let a man with tolerance go unpushed? Thus, they began pouring cup after cup for him, and Wang Qingchen, having gone so long without a proper drink, accepted every offer, resolving to drink to his heart’s content this one time.

The consequence of drinking his fill was facing the current tricky situation: how to deal with these inebriated men? In the end, having no other choice, Wang Qingchen had to stay behind while Li Yuntai rushed back to the inn to fetch people to help carry all the drunkards back.

After a restless night, Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai offered their thanks to those who had helped before finally retiring. The next day, although outwardly nothing had changed, from that point onward, none of those men dared to challenge Wang Qingchen to a drinking contest again.

Meanwhile, at Wang Youfu’s home, Madam Yang went to Aunt Gui’s house, intending to acquire a couple of piglets from her maternal side.

Aunt Gui laughed upon hearing this. "What a coincidence! I was just about to ask you about this. My brother's sow just farrowed another litter of piglets, and my brother said this batch looks promising. I was planning on fetching a couple myself. I was just thinking of asking if you wanted to come along, and here you are."

Madam Yang smiled too. "That’s wonderful news. I was precisely thinking of getting a couple of piglets. Last year's two were very good, which is why I was hoping your mother’s side might have some left."

"Well, that's truly fortuitous. Why don't we go fetch them together this time? I can piggyback on your ox cart, too," Aunt Gui chirped happily. This meant she could help her brother sell two piglets.

After settling the matter of the piglets, they moved on to other topics.

"Speaking of which, your Qingchen has been gone for quite a few days now, hasn't he?" Aunt Gui inquired.

"He has. I constantly worry about how he’s faring in the county town. We've all been beside ourselves with worry back here, but the boy insisted on going alone, refusing company. It’s so unsettling. To think, he’s never truly left the courtyard gate until now," Madam Yang fretted, her anxiety returning.

"Oh, don't fret so much. Everything will be fine. Besides, perhaps Qingchen will pass the examination on his first try this time!" Aunt Gui suggested cheerfully.

"Whether he passes or not isn't the most crucial thing; as long as the child is well, that is what matters," Madam Yang responded.

"Ah, stop worrying. I envy you, having two sons who are both so promising. When I think of my own son, he pales in comparison," Aunt Gui sighed, shaking her head when mentioning her boy.

Madam Yang considered Aunt Gui’s son. "Now, don't talk like that. Your Tiger is learning a trade right now. Once he masters it, he won't have to worry about his future!"

Aunt Gui sighed again. "Who knows what the future holds? But with my son often away from home, I miss him terribly. I’m always worried if he’s eating enough or dressed warmly enough."

Madam Yang instantly found a kindred spirit. "Tell me about it! When sons travel afar, we mothers worry ourselves sick, don't we!"

After delving deeply into this shared topic, the two women felt an even stronger bond of shared fate, and their friendship grew closer.

Upon returning home, Madam Yang found Luo Qing instructing Caiyun in embroidery. She walked over and cautioned her, "Qing'er, you're pregnant now; you shouldn't be working on needlework for so long, lest you strain your eyes."

Luo Qing looked up to see Madam Yang had returned and stood up, smiling. "Mother, I’m not as fragile as you make me out to be. I’m fine; I’m used to this work."

"Sit down, sit down quickly," Madam Yang urged, helping Luo Qing back into her seat. "I’m telling you, many people don’t pay attention at the start, and then when their eyes are hurt, it’s too late for regret. Be good, do less embroidery from now on, and if you can avoid it entirely, just don't do it for a while, understood?"

Luo Qing smiled. "Yes, Mother, I understand."

Luo Qing sat down and pondered for a moment, then suddenly recalled something. "Mother, Gou Sheng’s first birthday will be next month, won't it? What gifts should we prepare?"

Madam Yang blinked; it was true, Gou Sheng was nearly one year old. Time truly flew! Madam Yang considered it for a moment. "You don't need to worry about this matter. I will handle it when the time comes."

Luo Qing nodded. It had merely been a sudden thought prompting her question. Thinking of how she too would soon have a child, no longer needing to envy her cousin, Luo Qing looked down at her own stomach with increasing tenderness. Though her belly wasn't yet protruding, the child was undeniably present, and she believed that soon it would grow and enter the world.

Madam Yang watched Luo Qing absently stroking her abdomen, which brought back memories of her own pregnancies—wondering then if the child would be a boy or a girl, and what they would look like. Thinking of this, Madam Yang’s gaze upon Luo Qing softened even further.