Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 760: The Gap_1

Chapter 760: Chapter 760: The Gap_1

Zhou Shuren was speechless; the Hou Residence truly always occupied the top spot in the capital’s gossip rankings. He said faintly, "Being a fool is better than being aware."

Playing the fool well could even save one’s life.

Zhulan took the clothing, "Indeed, it’s better to be the fool."

As Zhou Shuren changed his clothes, he thought about the Hou Residence. Since his arrival in the capital, he’d been focused on the Ministry of Revenue and hadn’t paid much attention to the Hou Residence, which was indeed a lively place.

After Zhou Shuren got dressed, he said, "All the officials will go out of the city to welcome the triumphant soldiers tomorrow, make sure my official uniform is ironed and neat."

Zhulan handed the replaced official uniform to Granny Song, "Alright."

Thinking that he would have to rise even earlier than for morning court the next day, Zhou Shuren’s back slightly bent. Attending morning court was truly exhausting; one had to rise early every day. It was just the beginning of the month, and he was already looking forward to switching shifts next month.

At dinner, Chang Lian said enviously, "Father, tomorrow the officials will welcome the triumphant soldiers. Such a grand spectacle will be hard to witness in the future. It’s just a pity that your son cannot attend."

Zhou Shuren glanced at Rongchuan. The lad’s eyes occasionally stole glances at Xue Han, and narrowing his eyes, he said, "Look at Rongchuan, he can’t go either, and he doesn’t feel regret."

Rongchuan, having been called out, withdrew his gaze. His skin was not thick enough; he had just been paying attention to Xue Han wearing the hairpin he gave her and didn’t dare to meet his uncle’s eyes. His ears were burning red, and not having heard what his uncle had said, he didn’t know how to reply.

Chang Lian was at a loss for words. That boy Rongchuan only had eyes for Xue Han when he came home, "Father, your son thinks that all Rongchuan’s thoughts are on getting married sooner; he doesn’t have the spare attention to feel regret."

Rongchuan’s face turned a deeper shade of red, "I, I don’t."

Hearing this, Xue Han’s face also flushed. She tugged at her mother’s sleeve, "Mother."

Zhulan saw the young couple’s embarrassment, glared at Chang Lian, and said, "The meals are getting cold, everyone eat."

That worked like a charm, as the whole family quietly began to eat, and no further conversation ensued.

Xue Han was the first to put down her chopsticks, having finished eating. On her way out, she gave her third brother a glare, then left with the maid and granny waiting outside.

Chang Lian touched his nose, realizing he had been occupied with teasing Rongchuan and might have offended his younger sister. This girl was not easy to appease when angry!

After dinner, Zhou Shuren took his youngest son and grandsons to the study. Today there was an examination at the Academy, and he wanted to see the results. This was the first test for them since coming to the capital, and he also took the opportunity to gauge the level of the capital’s Academy students.

In the study, Mingyun held the test papers in his hand. He had originally planned to ask his grandfather for advice when he was not busy, but unexpectedly, his grandfather took the initiative to ask about the test.

Ming Teng hid the test papers behind him, his results not up to par. Just the other night, when his grandfather checked their studies, he had boasted excessively. Today’s transcript was a slap in the face.

Ming Rui also looked disheartened. He had hoped that his grandfather would be too busy to pay attention to them, but now that hope was shattered. He had taken the exam with full confidence, but the results were less than satisfactory.

Chang Zhong held Ming Hui’s hand; the uncle and nephews looked around the room— the two young fellows putting their little heads together, seemingly conspiring about something, occasionally laughing out loud.

After taking a seat, Zhou Shuren observed his grandsons’ reactions, "Place the transcripts and test papers on the desk."

Mingyun placed his papers on the table first, followed by Ming Teng and Ming Rui, who walked to the table sluggishly and set down their answer sheets and scores with their necks shrunk in.

Zhou Shuren picked up Mingyun’s first. Mingyun had ranked third, not falling out of the top three. Being in Class A, this was a decent result. It seemed that the level of Class A in the Academy in both the capital and Jinzhou Province was more or less the same. After looking over Mingyun’s papers, which he had been guiding all along, the boy’s rigor, fostered from a young age, was evident. He seldom erred in numerical problems. The issue still lay in the essays.

Zhou Shuren tapped the papers and said, "Mingyun, everything about you is good, and as the eldest grandson, you set a fine example. But it is precisely because of this that success or failure hinges on this point. You impose too many rules on yourself, which reflects in your writing. You are unable to let go, and in some places, you always fall slightly short of the mark."

Then he picked up Ming Teng’s and Ming Rui’s papers, both of whom were in Class B. Despite being in Class B, many students in the class were capable of being in Class A; they were just held back in Class B due to being too young.

Ming Teng, back in Jinzhou Province, used to be among the top scorers. Now, he was only in the middle ranks. Zhou Shuren had reviewed his coursework the day before, and Ming Teng hadn’t been slacking off. After checking his papers, he found that they were up to Ming Teng’s standard, with no evidence of carelessness.

Finally, Ming Rui’s papers were looked at. In Jinzhou, he used to rank within the top five, but this time he barely made the top ten, which was understandably disheartening.

It was clear that the level of Class B in the capital was much higher than in Jinzhou Province, and this was just one Academy; there were still many others in the capital.

Zhou Shuren called over his eldest grandson, "Looking at your own paper, what do you think the problem is?"

Mingyun frowned, "Grandfather, I always feel that what I write isn’t good enough, but upon careful review, I can’t see the issue. I would ask Grandfather to point out where the problem lies."

He had looked over his papers countless times and had even borrowed the papers of those who ranked first and second. After reviewing them, he had some insights, but upon checking his own, he still couldn’t figure out where he fell short.

Zhou Shuren pointed at a part of the essay, "Here, you took a long time to think before writing this part, didn’t you?"

Mingyun was startled and looked down in surprise, "Grandfather, how did you know?"

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "The reason is quite simple. The section you wrote is very restrained. You thought too much, and although your answer is correct and proper, it lacks flair."

Reflecting on his thoughts at that time, Mingyun said with his head down, "Grandfather, I’ve disappointed you. I worried too much back then."

Zhou Shuren spoke with a smile, "Grandfather isn’t disappointed. In fact, it’s partly my fault. I have always had strict demands on you, and since you are a child with a particularly strong sense of responsibility, you’ve unknowingly taken all the burdens upon yourself."

Mingyun didn’t think there was anything wrong with Grandfather’s expectations of him as the eldest grandson; it was his duty to bear responsibility, "Grandfather."

Zhou Shuren raised his hand, "Listen to me. Grandfather isn’t so old yet. Your third uncle has already embarked on his official career, and your fourth uncle will, too. With the three of us above you, you have plenty of time to grow. So, Mingyun, try to lay down your burden in the future. You need to learn to relax. Grandfather is very worried when you’re always so tense."

He certainly didn’t want his eldest grandson, whom he had hardly raised, to work himself to death on the official path in the future—that would break his heart!

Mingyun understood and reflected upon himself. It seemed he truly didn’t know how to relax, always being tense, "Grandfather, I understand."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "You need to learn how to make better use of available resources. Shouldering everything yourself is foolish. Mingyun, you have much to learn."

Mingyun smiled, "Yes."

Afterward, Zhou Shuren called over Ming Teng and Ming Rui, "Your answers reflect your abilities. This test’s results show that there are always others out there who are better. You must work even harder, especially Ming Teng. It’s time for you to get serious. If your results are the same next time, Grandfather will clear out the room next to his study for you to reside in, and then I will ask Master Meng to tutor you."