In contrast to the excitement of the old master and mistress, Madam Tian felt a jealousy that was indescribable; at that moment, she hated the old master even more. If only the old master hadn't insisted on setting his son up in a shop all those years ago, all this glory would be hers now! Over there, Madam Zhang noticed the envious malice in Madam Tian's eyes and chuckled, "Sister-in-law, Qingchen is getting married; surely you aren't unhappy about it!" Madam Zhang's question drew the attention of everyone else in the room—who had been joyful—toward Madam Tian.

She instantly became flustered and quickly replied, "How could that be? Qingchen will still have to call me Auntie; if he’s getting married, I am naturally happy for him." That’s what Madam Tian said, but whether those who truly knew her in the room believed it was uncertain. However, since the subject was a joyous one, everyone soon let Madam Tian’s comment pass, which allowed her a moment of relief.

Afterward, Wang Youfu and Madam Yang announced the news of Wang Qingchen’s impending marriage to the relatives in the household. This caused an immediate stir. Many people in Qingshan Town learned that Wang Qingchen of Wangjia Village had struck great fortune, set to marry a daughter from a high-ranking family in the capital.

Instantly, families flocked to the Wang residence to gather information and foster connections. Even though Wang Qingchen had not passed the Metropolitan Examination and was currently only a Juren, this did nothing to diminish their enthusiasm. Wang Youfu and Madam Yang, however, had little time for these visitors.

Their minds were consumed by thoughts of the betrothal gifts, the money needed for a house, and the funds for the wedding banquet. After tallying their family finances, the couple began making the necessary arrangements. Regarding the bride price, the Xia family was aware of the Wang family’s means and made no extravagant demands.

Still, Wang Youfu and Madam Yang conferred and decided to prepare a respectable set of gifts that represented their utmost effort. As for purchasing a residence in the county seat, the couple was not very familiar with the area; it was Wang Qingchen, who had spent more time there, who possessed greater local knowledge. Thus, the matter of buying a house would require the son’s keen eye.

Consequently, Wang Youfu took Wang Qingchen to the county seat to handle the property acquisition. Upon reaching the county seat, Wang Youfu and Wang Qingchen settled back into the lodging where Wang Qingchen had stayed previously. Liu Hao, Li Yuntai, and Madam Huang still resided there.

They had already learned from Zhao Cheng’s letter about Wang Qingchen’s upcoming marriage. Now that Wang Qingchen himself had arrived, they naturally would not let him go easily. Setting aside teasing, they pressed him to drink a considerable amount of wine.

Fortunately, Wang Qingchen had a decent tolerance; otherwise, he might truly have been drunk under the table. For the house purchase, Wang Qingchen intended to seek out the same realtor they had used when renting previously. However, plans rarely go as expected.

Somehow, Steward Xu learned about Wang Qingchen’s marriage and his intention to buy property. Upon hearing the news, Steward Xu first came to complain that Wang Qingchen had not informed him of such a significant event, and then he enthusiastically began helping them search for a residence. Wang Youfu and Wang Qingchen were initially reluctant to impose upon Steward Xu, but his insistence was so firm that they could no longer refuse.

Steward Xu had been established in the county seat for quite some time, and being a businessman, he was naturally very familiar with the area. Before long, Steward Xu found several excellent properties for Wang Youfu and Wang Qingchen to consider. With options available, the process became much smoother.

Wang Youfu and Wang Qingchen accompanied Steward Xu to view the residences, finding them all quite suitable. In the end, Wang Youfu considered that Wang Qingchen would frequent the County Academy the most, so he settled on the house closest to it. Wang Qingchen raised no objections to the house chosen by Wang Youfu; he was very satisfied as well.

This residence was significantly larger than their home in Qingshan Town, and the surrounding environment was quiet and perfectly suited for living. After finalizing the house selection, the father and son quickly completed the purchase. Moreover, because the previous owner had some prior acquaintance with Steward Xu, the price they secured was quite favorable.

After buying the property, the two hosted a banquet at a restaurant to thank Steward Xu, who was naturally delighted, as this ensured their mutual relationship would remain cordial. Once the house was secured, the father and son hired people for a simple clean-up. The seller had left most of the existing furnishings, so all they needed was some basic tidying.

The house was ready, but many other matters required preparation. Thus, Wang Youfu and Wang Qingchen soon returned from the county seat. By the time the wedding preparations at Wang Qingchen’s home were nearing completion, the Palace Examination had already concluded.

Xia Wentao had achieved the Tanhua rank, and while Zhao Cheng did not place as high, he was still listed among the Second Rank scholars. Upon learning this news, Wang Qingchen was immensely happy for his two friends, while simultaneously pondering whether he should strive harder to also achieve the Jinshi degree. Of course, this thought was merely a fleeting notion.

The conclusion of the Palace Examination meant his wedding was approaching, leaving him no time to dwell on such matters. Over at the Xia residence, after the Palace Examination, Xia Wentao’s focus shifted entirely to his sister's marriage and his friend's wedding. This amused Madam Xia greatly.

"Your own future is not yet settled, yet you are already worrying about your sister!" Xia Wentao merely smiled at his mother's teasing and continued with what he was doing. Once preparations were complete, Madam Xia and her son took their daughter and departed for the county seat. They had arranged with the Wang family to conduct the bridal send-off there.

Madam Xia had already written to her brothers in her maiden family about the arrangements. With the Xia family now in the county seat, the Wang family was preparing to move into their new residence there as well. Even some of the Wang family relatives had arrived early, partly to offer assistance and partly to familiarize themselves with the county seat, as many had never visited before.

As the groom-to-be, Wang Qingchen was naturally swamped with tasks. With the Xia family having arrived, he needed to quickly deliver the betrothal gifts, which, according to the agreement between the two families, were to be sent to Xia Wentao’s maternal uncle in the county seat. Although Madam Xia and Master Xia had set no specific requirements for the betrothal gifts, they certainly held expectations in their hearts.

After all, the modesty of the gifts reflected not only the honor of both families but also the esteem in which the groom's family held the bride. Despite the Wang family’s background being less distinguished than the Xia family’s, the effort put into the gifts would still be evident. Upon seeing the betrothal gifts Wang Qingchen brought, Madam Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief, a smile gracing her face.

While the gifts were not indicative of immense wealth, they clearly showed effort, suggesting the Wang family held their daughter in high regard. Xia Wentao was not obtuse; he could gauge the quality of the gifts by observing his mother’s expression. Judging by Madam Xia's look, the bride price was quite satisfactory.

Consequently, Xia Wentao’s satisfaction with Wang Qingchen as his future brother-in-law grew even stronger. Seeing that the Xia family was pleased with the betrothal gifts, Wang Qingchen finally relaxed. He was fully aware of the disparity between the two families, which is why the Wang family had put so much care into preparing the gifts.

Their efforts had not been in vain; the Xia family was genuinely pleased. Not long after Wang Qingchen delivered the bride price, the dowry from the Xia family also arrived. Madam Xia had only one daughter, Xia Wanting, and moreover, she had witnessed the grievances her daughter had suffered, which she felt deeply.

Therefore, with her daughter’s wedding day here, Madam Xia wished to bestow everything best upon her. Compounding this, Master Xia also harbored some guilt toward his daughter. As a result, Xia Wanting’s dowry was truly magnificent compared to the Wang family’s bride price—so grand that Madam Tian, who had arrived early under the guise of offering help, stared with wide-eyed avarice.

As for Madam Yang, upon seeing the sheer volume of dowry accompanying her daughter-in-law, she did not overthink things. Life in a farming household was simple, and she harbored no thoughts of the daughter-in-law potentially overshadowing her authority. As for the onlookers who had gathered to watch the spectacle, upon learning which family was sending off the bride, they were intensely envious of Wang Qingchen.

Marrying such a wealthy and influential wife meant he would never have to worry about the rest of his life! On the wedding day itself, guests arrived at the Wang residence ceaselessly. Some were relatives of the Wang family, others were friendly acquaintances from Qingshan Town, and still others were families from the county seat who rushed over to forge connections upon learning Wang Qingchen was marrying a Xia daughter.

The Wang family received them all with warmth. The old master and mistress were beside themselves with joy seeing so many guests, especially those of reputable standing; Qingchen had truly brought immense honor to the Wang family. The Xia side had been busy since the early morning, as the bride needed to be dressed well before the procession.

Madam Xia watched her now-adorned daughter with a rush of emotion. In the blink of an eye, her daughter was grown and about to be married. Xia Wanting noticed her mother’s sentimental air and said, "Mother, I won't get married; I’ll stay home and keep you company." Madam Xia laughed softly and patted her daughter's head.

"You silly child, Mother only wishes for you to marry a good husband. As long as you are happy later on, Mother will be happier than anything." Xia Wanting thought about getting married soon, and how far away her new home was, not knowing when she might see her parents again. Sadness welled up, and she leaned toward Madam Xia, intending to nestle in her embrace, but Madam Xia reacted quickly, steadying her daughter to prevent the freshly arranged hair ornaments from being dislodged.

"You, about to be married, still cling to me like when you were little!" Madam Xia teased fondly. "Mother!" Xia Wanting felt a flush of embarrassment. Madam Xia certainly understood her daughter’s temperament and proceeded to impart some final advice, mostly concerning showing filial piety to her in-laws and keeping her husband secured, and so on, stopping only when the announcement came that Wang Qingchen had arrived to claim his bride.

Hearing the commotion outside announcing the groom’s arrival, Madam Xia quickly tidied up her daughter, covered her with the red veil, offered a few more earnest reminders, and finally felt at ease. Outside, Wang Qingchen was not going to be allowed to retrieve his bride so easily. Although Xia Wentao usually busied himself playing matchmaker for his sister and friend, when it came to the actual wedding, he became obstructive.

This was his beloved sister, after all; he couldn't let her go off with just anyone so simply! Thus, Wang Qingchen’s journey to claim the bride was predictably fraught with challenges. After enduring many trials, Wang Qingchen finally saw the bride beneath the red cloth.

Afterward, he listened patiently as his mother-in-law offered a barrage of instructions. Wang Qingchen understood Madam Xia’s current feelings and obediently listened, nodding occasionally. This attitude greatly pleased Madam Xia, who, after a few more words, concluded her counsel.

Then, Xia Wentao carried his sister onto the bridal sedan chair, finally allowing the party to take the bride home. After bringing the bride back, Wang Qingchen found no chance to rest. Many of his scholarly friends and acquaintances had arrived, and now that he was married, they couldn't sit still, clamoring for toasts.

Even with Wang Qingchen's good tolerance, he couldn't withstand such an onslaught! Fortunately, Wang Qingchen had several brothers at home—Wang Qinghua, Wang Qingshan, Wang Qingyun, and Wang Qingtong—who took turns drinking on his behalf. They all possessed decent drinking capacities, which managed to prevent Wang Qingchen from becoming drunk on his wedding day.

Once the guests had finally settled down, the slightly tipsy Wang Qingchen was at last able to enter the bridal chamber. The next day, when the new bride came to pay her respects to the elders and the Wang family members, everyone stared wide-eyed at Xia Wanting. They were aware of her family background and were eager to see how a young lady raised in such a prestigious house differed from them.

Xia Wanting, naturally, would not disgrace the Xia family. She had been tutored by a governess since childhood, and Madam Xia had always instructed her personally. She was certainly not comparable to those from ordinary small households.

Her demeanor and bearing left no room for criticism and were unexpectedly pleasing. Those in the Wang family who had initially been hoping to see her stumble immediately turned to admiration. They had expected someone from a grand family to look down on the Wang family’s status, or at least display some arrogance in her attitude, even if she suppressed it.

They found the reality to be completely different. The old mistress was thoroughly satisfied with her new granddaughter-in-law. See how different someone raised in a great house was—respectful of elders, truly bringing her credit.

The rest of the Wang family was equally pleased. The new bride was well-mannered and did not act haughty despite her family's high standing; she seemed easy to get along with. It seemed Qingchen had truly hit the jackpot this time.

Of course, not every aspect of the new bride was entirely satisfactory. For example, Xia Wanting brought several servants with her dowry to attend to her, which was something the traditionally farming-based Wang family was still unaccustomed to. Before paying respects to the elders, Xia Wanting had consulted Wang Qingchen about the servants.

However, Wang Qingchen saw no issue with it. After all, Xia Wanting had been delicately raised, and the Xia family cherished their daughter, hence providing accompanying servants. He was not unreasonable and certainly would not refuse them.

Furthermore, he considered that after marrying, he would likely spend most of his time in the county seat. With such a large residence, it would be improper to expect Xia Wanting to manage it all herself; servants were necessary. Having accompanying staff now meant they wouldn't need to hire a matchmaker later.

Receiving Wang Qingchen's approval, Xia Wanting naturally shed any further reservations. Indeed, when Madam Yang and Wang Youfu learned about the servants, they felt only a brief sense of unease before resuming their normal composure. Their reasoning differed from Wang Qingchen’s; they felt that since their son was a Juren, having servants attend them was certainly not unreasonable.

The matter of the new bride paying respects passed without incident. Following this, Wang Youfu and Madam Yang agreed that Wang Qingchen and Xia Wanting would reside permanently in the county seat. This arrangement allowed Wang Qingchen to concentrate on preparing for the Metropolitan Examination three years later.

The location was near the County Academy, and Liu Hao, Li Yuntai, and the others were also there, making it convenient for joint scholarly pursuits. Wang Qingchen did not object. He and his wife, Xia Wanting, moved into the county residence, returning to Wangjia Village only for major holidays or when necessary.

Time flew quickly, and three years were nearly up. Many things had changed since before. In these nearly three years, Xia Wentao and Zhao Cheng had both embarked on official careers.

Liu Hao, Li Yuntai, and Qi Jintang were preparing for the next Provincial Examination. As for Wang Qingchen, in these three years, he and Xia Wanting had welcomed a daughter, making him a father. Professionally, he frequently sought guidance from the Headmaster or discussed matters with him, making significant progress.

The Headmaster had also recommended him for a teaching position at the County Academy. After careful consideration, Wang Qingchen did not refuse, occasionally lecturing, thus achieving personal advancement while aiding others in theirs. Xia Wentao and Zhao Cheng were aware of this development.

Initially, they said nothing, but as the next Imperial Examination approached, they began sending letters in turns, urging Wang Qingchen to participate in the Metropolitan Examination and insisting he must succeed. Wang Qingchen found these letters both amusing and exasperating. He had already intended to sit for the exam, but Xia Wentao and Zhao Cheng were clearly worried.

They feared he might, on a whim, decide to settle down as a tutor at the County Academy, which is why they kept sending letters, insisting he prepare for the Metropolitan Examination. Wang Qingchen discussed the matter with Xia Wanting, and then consulted with his family. They all supported his decision to take the Metropolitan Examination.

Thus, Wang Qingchen, carrying the wishes of himself and his family, prepared to participate in the Metropolitan Examination. As for whether he would pass this time, he felt much more confident; he believed he would certainly succeed. Of course, even if he didn't pass, he wouldn't despair, for he now possessed so much: the warmth of a family he could never attain in his previous life, loving parents, a gentle wife, and a lively, adorable daughter—these were the sources of his happiness...