The final consensus reached at the old residence was that the amount of betrothal gifts would be determined by the Old Master and Old Madam, though the Old Master technically held a deciding vote, he rarely interfered in such matters, leaving the ultimate decision in the hands of the Old Madam.

Wang Qingtong was not only the Old Madam's beloved grandson, but this marriage alliance had also been personally secured by her; thus, for whatever reason, the Old Madam would certainly not be stingy with the betrothal gifts. Consequently, the gifts prepared for the Meng family daughter were only slightly less substantial than those the Tian family had prepared for the Luo family, given that the Meng daughter was marrying the third son, and the gifts couldn't surpass those of the elder two daughters-in-law.

After Wang Youliang had been severely disciplined by the Old Master, although he remained somewhat dispirited, he at least dared not touch alcohol again. After all, the Old Master had explicitly warned that if he was found drunk again, the beating would be far more brutal. The mere thought of the pain from that day made Wang Youliang recoil, ensuring he wouldn't relapse anytime soon.

So, by the day of Wang Youliang’s engagement banquet, he appeared significantly more composed. His complexion had improved, and his walk was steady. At a casual glance, one would hardly notice a difference from his usual self.

Seeing Wang Youliang like this, the Old Master finally nodded in satisfaction and beckoned everyone toward the Meng family residence.

Following behind, Yang Shi and Zhang Shi exchanged perplexed glances upon seeing Wang Youliang’s improved state. They vividly remembered him being perpetually drunk just recently, neglecting all responsibilities. How could he appear so normal now? It was worth noting that the Old Master’s thrashing of Wang Youliang had been kept strictly secret. After all, Wang Youliang was already a father whose sons had wives, and the fact that he was still being beaten by his own father was not something to be proudly advertised. Therefore, the Second and Third Branches of the Wang family remained unaware of the incident.

"Second Sister-in-law, did I see wrong? Look at his Eldest Uncle; he seems perfectly fine. Wasn't he just obsessed with drinking and ignoring everything else until recently? Why is he sober now?" Zhang Shi whispered to Yang Shi with confusion.

Yang Shi was also quite puzzled, but seeing Wang Youliang restored to normalcy brought her a measure of relief for the First Branch. After all, the household required a man to uphold its standing; if Wang Youliang continued his drunken stupor, neglecting his duties, what would become of the old residence in the future?

"His Eldest Uncle couldn't stay drunk forever, could he? Perhaps he finally understood things and decided to change! Besides, today is Qingtong’s engagement banquet; surely his Eldest Uncle wouldn't be indifferent to his own son’s celebration!" Yang Shi reasoned.

Zhang Shi nodded at the explanation. If they knew that Wang Youliang’s abstinence was solely due to his fear of the Old Master’s impending punishment, the two of them would likely be twitching their lips in disbelief! However, at this moment, neither knew the truth.

Soon, all members of the Wang family’s Third Branch arrived at the Meng residence, where the Meng family's relatives were already waiting, greeting the arriving Wangs with effusive enthusiasm.

The Wang family was quite satisfied with the Meng family's reception. Once everyone was seated, the Meng family called for Meng Xiaoping to come forward and serve tea, which also served as an opportunity for the Wang family to assess her.

As Meng Xiaoping entered with the tea tray, Wang Qingtong secretly glanced at her, then quickly lowered his blushing face. This reassured the Old Madam, who had been closely watching her grandson’s expression, and further deepened her satisfaction with the Meng family daughter.

After sipping the tea offered by Meng Xiaoping, the Old Madam presented the betrothal gifts she had brought, even personally fastening some of the jewelry onto Meng Xiaoping, leaving the young woman so shy she didn't know what to do with herself.

Seeing her daughter utterly flustered, Meng Xiaoping's mother quickly stepped in to ease the moment, exchanging a few pleasant words that caused everyone to smile kindly at Meng Xiaoping.

At the same time, Meng Xiaoping's mother noted that the betrothal gifts from the Wang family far exceeded the customary amounts for farming households, further boosting her satisfaction with the Wangs.

Meng Xiaoping, having recovered from her initial wave of shyness, then took a discreet, seemingly casual glance at Wang Qingtong. Seeing him sitting upright, she was pleased and quickly lowered her head again, a blush rising on her cheeks.

This action, which Meng Xiaoping believed to be entirely secret, did not escape the notice of most people in the room. After all, as one of the day's protagonists, her every movement drew attention. Even Wang Qingtong, who appeared rigidly composed, noticed Meng Xiaoping’s brief look. It was only because his future wife had looked up at him that he quickly adopted the appearance of having been perfectly seated all along.

Everyone in the room observed the subtle exchange between the two and understood, smiling knowingly. Seeing how modest both were, no one chose to tease them.

After sitting for a while, allowing the two families to become better acquainted, the call came to begin the feast. Thus, the conversation paused, and everyone filed out of the room.

Amidst the joyous atmosphere enveloping both families, the engagement of Wang Qingtong and Meng Xiaoping was officially settled.

While Wang Qingtong finalized his marriage arrangements, Wang Qingchen and his companions concluded the third session of the provincial examination. Upon finishing this final test, Wang Qingchen felt not only physical exhaustion but also a sense of profound mental release, as if a massive burden had finally been lifted.

Exiting the Examination Hall, Wang Qingchen noticed the others had not yet emerged. He turned back toward the formidable structure, wondering anxiously about the outcome of the three grueling sessions—whether he had managed to secure the prestigious title of Juren. He waited there for the rest.

A moment later, the others trickled out, their expressions also carrying a shared sense of relief. Wang Qingchen realized they felt the same way; the arduous waiting period had finally ended.

On the walk back, the group shed the caution they had maintained during the previous two sessions and immediately began discussing the provincial examination. Liu Hao’s voice was the loudest among them. Wang Qingchen listened as they walked, and they soon arrived back at their rented quarters, where Madam Huang had already prepared a meal, hot water, and everything else needed for their return.

Upon arriving, the group followed their usual routine: filling their stomachs first, then taking baths and resting.

Perhaps because all three sessions of the provincial examination were complete, the tension Wang Qingchen had held in his nerves finally dissipated. This time, he slept straight through until noon the next day. Upon waking, instead of feeling refreshed, he still felt a lingering exhaustion. Thus, Wang Qingchen lay still with his eyes closed for a while longer, only getting up when he realized he truly couldn't sleep anymore.

When Wang Qingchen finally rose, he found he was the last to wake. However, although the others had risen earlier, their spirits were much the same as his. It seemed that everyone had suppressed their fatigue during the exams, and once the tension eased, all that accumulated weariness had surfaced simultaneously.

Despite the lingering tiredness, their moods were light. All they needed to do now was await the results of the examination.

The group enjoyed a hearty lunch, unlike the quiet meals of the previous days; this time, they talked animatedly while eating.

"These three sessions are finally over; they nearly killed me! Now is the time for proper replenishment. I propose we go to a fine restaurant tonight to celebrate!" Liu Hao declared.

"Seriously, Liu Hao, aren't you tired? And you’re already thinking of running off to a restaurant!" Wang Qingchen asked.

Qi Jintang chimed in, "Yes, Liu Hao, let’s skip it today; everyone is still worn out. Let’s do it another day!"

Seeing that his suggestion lacked support, Liu Hao rubbed his nose sheepishly. "Fine, fine, since none of you feel like it today, we'll postpone it! You don't have anything else pressing anyway, so just rest well today!"

Wang Qingchen, noticing Liu Hao’s persistent longing for a restaurant, laughed. "Why are you so set on a restaurant? I say, since we’ve made this rare trip to the provincial capital, we should take the time to properly explore it. We can’t just come here and know nothing about the city, can we?"

"Oh, you can’t blame me for that! Think about what we were forced to eat daily in those examination cells for days on end. Now that we’re finally out, shouldn't we treat ourselves well? Don't you agree?" Liu Hao genuinely put forward his justification.

Hearing this, the others burst into laughter. "Alright, if all those who finish the provincial exam were like you, the restaurants in the provincial capital would be overwhelmed!"

"Nonsense! How would that be overwhelming? If that many people showed up to eat, the proprietors would be thrilled! They wouldn't stop counting their money!" Liu Hao retorted.

Wang Qingchen and the others laughed harder. After a moment, Wang Qingchen said, "I think you should stop obsessing over restaurant food. What Auntie Huang cooks is already excellent! I’d say her skill is no worse than the master chefs in those grand establishments."

At Wang Qingchen’s words, the others nodded in agreement; Madam Huang’s cooking was indeed superb. Considering this, if they wanted to celebrate, there was no real need to go to a restaurant. If they craved wine, they could simply buy some and celebrate right there!

Liu Hao slapped his forehead upon hearing this. "Oh, what a mind I have! How could I forget about Auntie, such a wonderful chef? I deserve a punishment!"

The others joined in the teasing. "Yes, yes, Auntie, you must punish him severely!"

Madam Huang became slightly embarrassed as the topic turned to her. "Oh, I’m not nearly as skilled as you all claim. However, if you don’t mind, I would be happy to help arrange a feast."