Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 336 Advantages and Disadvantages_1

Chapter 336: Chapter 336 Advantages and Disadvantages_1

On the day the results were announced, Zhou Shuren was confident in himself and did not go to see the announcement at the designated place; instead, he waited at home for the government officer to bring the good news.

Having learned from previous experience, Wu Ming also chose not to go, fearing he might not be able to return, and stayed at home as well.

Zhou Shuren wanted to know the rankings of the other candidates, and instructed his eldest to copy the list of names and bring it back.

Zhulan asked Li Chun to wait at the street corner to see if a government officer would come to announce their joy.

Yang Zhumu was somewhat dazed, as to why his brother-in-law and Wu Ming were so nonchalant—it was as if they knew their ranks!

Yang Zhumu approached his sister and saw her counting the congratulatory money, twitching the corner of her mouth, "Sister, did you know the rankings in advance?"

Zhulan looked up, "No, why does Big Brother ask such a question?"

Yang Zhumu pointed at the silver coins in the basket, "If you don’t know the rankings, why have you prepared the silver coins in advance?"

Zhulan smiled with curved eyes, "Because we have a feeling about it!"

After all, there exists a scholar prodigy in the family. The scholar prodigy confirmed Zhou Shuren, and Zhou Shuren had full confidence—as long as the Emperor didn’t intentionally withhold a rank, his rank should be secured.

Li Chun rushed back, "The officer bringing good news has arrived."

Yang Zhumu, "....."

Forget it, he needn’t be troubled anymore. He followed his sister out to see who the good news was for.

Today was the day for gold-plated name inscriptions. The officers announcing good news all followed a certain standard—the officer wore red, and the first to announce would naturally be the Top scorer. The officer stopped at the Zhou family’s entrance, where Zhou Shuren and Wu Ming were standing.

Wu Ming, being younger, could not manage his expression well and stared eagerly at the official robe the officer was holding.

Zhou Shuren was certain, the Top scorer was out of the question. Despite the large number of candidates at the palace examination, he had faith in the Emperor. During the exam, the Emperor had strolled down several times and, although he could not remember all the candidate’s names and faces, he must have remembered those whom he had stopped to observe.

For instance, Wu Ming who sat at the front, and himself who was in second place. Sitting at the forefront already, when the Emperor came down to meander, he lingered quite some time by him and Wu Ming!

Moreover, he understood some things about the contemporary Emperor: even before the candidates took the palace examination, all their information was already in the Emperor’s hands.

The officer delivering the good news began with a host of official talk, and only at the end revealed the name. As expected, Wu Ming was the new Top scorer.

Wu Ming, not usually one to show his emotions, couldn’t help but smile, thanked the Emperor for his grace, and after receiving the official robe, handed the prepared congratulatory money to the officer, who received it with a smile, "Tomorrow a carriage will escort the Third-rank Scholar to the palace to thank the Emperor. We will first return to report the news."

Wu Ming bowed, "Thank you for your hard work."

The officers rushed to return the courtesy, "No trouble at all, no trouble."

This was indeed a fine assignment, for the Third-rank Scholar’s future was boundless!

The officers delivering the joy had just turned to leave when another group of officers arrived—this was truly a first, having both the Top scorer and the second-place scholar from the same household!

Zhulan, seeing the officers, realized they indeed announced the second-place scholar. She had never hoped for her husband to be Tanhua, but she did secretly hope for the position of Top scorer, even though Zhou Shuren felt, according to ancient thought, that Wu Ming’s essays were best written. Yet, she believed Zhou Shuren’s perspective was higher, his answers fresh, and that he also had a chance to compete!

It turned out the Emperor still preferred Wu Ming’s essays.

The subsequent proceedings were more or less the same; there were only three people in the first rank, and the treatment for the three was similar.

Zhulan handed the prepared silver coins to the officer, and considering Wu Ming, she did not give more than what Wu Ming had given.

Wu Ming, seeing this, felt even more grateful.

The two groups of officers left in high spirits. With the Top scorer and the second-place scholar in one family, this was indeed a glorious distinction—they would return to share the news.

Wu Ming waited for the officers to leave and then released his grip, turning around to give a deep bow, "My success today is half due to Uncle and Aunt. I have no way to repay you, and I wish to acknowledge Uncle and Aunt as my godparents, please grant me this wish,"

Zhou Shuren, "....."

No, he did not wish to. He already had enough economical sons, and even though the other man was a big shot, he did not want to agree. Moreover, he really did not want to facilitate such a thing; who did not prefer the first place?

Zhulan, "....."

Could things really work that way? Their doorway was packed with people; rejecting him did not seem proper, especially considering Wu Ming was the Top scorer!

Wu Ming was simply too excited. In the heat of the moment, he could not control his words. After speaking his mind, he came to his senses, feeling stunned. Deep down, he did not really want to acknowledge Zhou as his godfather—who casually seeks out a father for themselves? As his mind cleared, he thought that perhaps impulse wasn’t all bad.

As a Top scorer with no background in the capital, he was sure to be courted by the various powers. Although the Zhou family’s foundation was also thin, Zhou had a strong ability to maneuver. If they united, they might carve out their own path.

Nevertheless, Wu Ming, overhearing the buzz of conversation behind him, cursed himself for foolishness. He should have made his request without an audience, not at the entrance, making it seem as though he were issuing a threat. And yet, he thought, how could the news spread without many people? The pros and cons balanced each other!

Zhou Shuren inwardly cursed, trying to calm himself, but his heart was still aflame. If only he could turn back time... then again, with Zhulan around, he was certain his bottom line would never drop too low.

Zhulan felt that delaying for too long was not good. The Top scorer and the second-place scholar coming from one family was certainly headline news in the capital. Zhulan tugged at Zhou Shuren’s clothes.

Zhou Shuren pursed his lips, his intuition telling him that trouble would be incessant in the future. He would really rather have another silly son like his eldest than a keen son who could discern advantages and disadvantages in seconds.

Zhou Shuren took a deep breath. Acknowledging Wu Ming had its pros and cons. The benefit was that one Wu Ming equaled many connections, and the kinship was secure, much steadier than him working hard to network. The downside was that once he and Wu Ming became related, only one of them could rise in the future; those in power didn’t like to see too many able people from one family.

Waiting Wu Ming did not stand up, caught in a tough situation of his own making. He had never underestimated Zhou, and he was sure Zhou saw through his motives.

The crowd outside the gate had stopped their chatter and now waited for the second-place scholar to respond. If he agreed to become kin, the Top scorer and the second-place scholar would indeed become one family.

The surrounding merchants grew excited, their eyes fixed upon the Zhou family’s residence. The feng shui of this house must be extremely auspicious.