The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 318 - 314 Lots of Good News

Today, Granny Lei personally cooked a table full of dishes her sons loved, celebrating Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang becoming Imperial Scholars and celebrating Ruo Shan’s victory in the competition as the first-place winner.

Of course, Xuanbao’s favorite rabbit and mutton dishes were not to be missed.

Ruo Xuan, seeing Ruo Shan beaming with happiness, asked in surprise, "Uncle Five, weren’t you competing in the palace today?"

All eyes turned to Ruo Xuan upon hearing this, not understanding why she had said that.

Ruo Shan, eager to share, asked, "Why do you ask such a question, Xuanbao?"

Ruo Xuan said, "Because Uncle Five has such a happy expression, it looks like some good fortune has occurred!"

Ruo Shan laughed, "Uncle Five secured the first place in the final imperial examination! Impressive, isn’t it?"

Ruo Xuan replied simply, "Impressive."

However, the joy that Xuanbao spoke of was due to Uncle Five’s Hongluan Star being in motion!

Another happy event was being prepared at home!

And the good news kept coming.

Today, she discovered that her aunt was pregnant!

Ruo Xuan asked further, "Uncle Five, has the Emperor allowed you not to stay at the Imperial Medical Bureau?"

Ruo Shan answered with a smile, "He has."

Upon hearing this, Granny Lei asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

She had seen her son participate in the Pharmacist Association’s competition and thought he wanted to become an Imperial Physician.

Granny Lei never interfered with what her sons wanted to do, just like her third son who was devoted to carving and opened a shop to sell his carvings; or the sixth who only liked doing business—they all went their own way.

Ruo Shan said, "I plan to open a medical clinic back in Shaxi County."

Ruo Shui found the idea appealing, "That’s good, owning your own clinic is much more satisfying than working as an Imperial Physician at the Imperial Medical Bureau."

Ruo Jiang agreed, "Exactly."

Ruo Xuan said, "Opening a clinic is great, Uncle Five. When you do, help me sell medicinal herbs. If you make silver, I’ll take half."

Ruo Shan laughed, "Sure, Uncle Five will help you sell them and won’t take your silver; it will all be yours!"

Ruo Xuan said warmly, "Uncle Five is wonderful. Then let me contribute the silver to help you open the clinic, as a present for you winning first place in the competition."

Ruo Shan laughed, "There’s no need for Xuanbao to pay; Uncle Five has his own money."

These past few months, he had been providing free medical care to the poor, but when his master took him to treat the wealthy, they paid in silver. Many wealthy families were generous, and he had already saved up several hundred taels, which was enough to open a clinic in Shaxi County. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Listening to this, Ruo Shui couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous, "Dad participated in so many exams and always came first, why have I never received any presents?"

Ruo Jiang remarked nonchalantly, "Is being second-place not worthy of a present?"

Ruo Zhou chimed in, "I also came first in the Academy’s martial arts contest."

Ruo Hang added, "I have also been first; why haven’t I received a reward? Xuanbao, you are biased!"

Ruo Bo exclaimed, "I’ve been first too, and have never seen rewards! Does Xuanbao not love her third brother anymore?"

Ruo Xian stated, "I’m always first and yet I don’t know of any rewards! I must not be a real brother; real brothers aren’t treated this way!"

Ruo Xuan immediately took out several bottles of plum-scented face soap from her Qiankun Bag, "I developed this plum blossom-scented face soap specially for men. The plum blossom stands for nobility and purity, most fitting for Dad, Second Uncle, and you brothers who are scholars!"

Ruo Shui mockingly lamented while holding the face soap, "This favoritism knows no bounds! You all better have your own daughters and stop trying to steal mine!"

The whole family laughed.

Granny Lei, hearing this, wasn’t pleased and glared at him, "What are you talking about? This isn’t favoritism; it’s the thought that counts."

All of Ruo Jiang’s brothers chorused, "That won’t do. Even if we have daughters, Xuanbao is still our daughter too. Don’t think to monopolize her!"

Ruo Xuan astonishingly announced, "Soon! Aunt is pregnant, and I’ll quickly have a little sister!"

The whole family turned to look at He Xinghua in surprise.

He Xinghua: ??

It was Granny Lei who first came around to it, "Xinghua is pregnant?"

He Xinghua was still confused, as she was herself only suspecting it; how did Xuanbao already know?

Her period was only a few days late, and she couldn’t believe she was pregnant herself—how did Xuanbao know?

And she so confidently predicted it was a little sister.

"I don’t know, I haven’t seen a doctor yet."

This meant that if her period was indeed late, Granny Lei might not necessarily believe the doctor, but she absolutely trusted Ruo Xuan.

"It must be so!"

Madam Liu said with a smile, "Why not let the fifth brother take a look at the eldest sister-in-law to know for sure?"

Madam Jiang also said happily, "That’s right, our family now has a ready-made doctor."

Yichu said with a smile, "Fifth brother, please take the eldest sister-in-law’s pulse quickly."

Ruo Shan said, "Eldest sister-in-law, may I examine you?"

He Xinghua nodded, "Please do, fifth brother."

Ruo Shan stepped forward and took He Xinghua’s pulse, confirming she was indeed pregnant.

As for whether it was a boy or a girl, he was not as skilled as Ruo Xuan; she could even discern that.

Granny Lei looked at Ruo Xuan, "Xuanbao just said it’s a little sister? Is that true?"

Ruo Xuan nodded her small head, "Mhm, a little sister!"

Granny Lei laughed, "Haha, finally, another granddaughter!"

Ruo Xian said, "Finally, one less person to compete with me for a little sister!"

Ruo Zhou’s eyes were expectant as they fell on He Xinghua’s belly. Was he going to have another sister as cute as Xuanbao?

Ruo Hang and Ruo Bo turned to look at Madam Jiang, "Mother, you should also have a little sister!"

Ruo Shan said, "Too bad elder brother has returned to the military camp. If he were here, he would be so happy!"

Granny Lei said with a smile, "Xinghua, remember to write a letter to the eldest son, and tell him the good news."

He Xinghua only began to learn to read and write after she got married; her writing was poor, unsuitable for writing to her own husband, and she didn’t know what to say. She laughed and said, "Brother Zhou should write, I haven’t learned how to write yet!"

Ruo Zhou said with a smile, "Alright, then I will write on mother’s behalf."

That night, the family’s laughter never ceased.

Deep into the night, as everyone returned to their own courtyards, Yichu touched her belly, feeling a tad worried, "Eldest sister-in-law is expecting, why haven’t I conceived yet?"

Ruo He scooped her up horizontally and walked towards the bed, "My lady, it seems your husband hasn’t been working hard enough."

With him joking like this, all of Yichu’s worries vanished.

Forget it, previously when the fourth brother examined the family for a peace pulse, she was told her body, weakened from her youth, needed nurturing for a while, and although she had stopped taking medicine, not much time had passed.

~

Not long after the regional examinations, the palace examinations took place.

This time, for the palace examination, everyone thought it would be the same as the regional exams, with Ruo Shui as the Top Scholar and Ruo Jiang as the Runner-up Scholar. However, this time The Emperor selected dual Top Scholars!

Unprecedented, the brothers were both named Top Scholars!

The Runner-up Scholar was a student from a humble background, and the Third-place Scholar was young, handsome, and from a noble family.

During the Top Scholars’ parade, the Empress Dowager too went out to join in the fun with Xuanyuan Que, along with Countess Zhaohua, and they also invited Xuanbao to come out.

Where there was excitement, how could the Empress Dowager forget about Xuanbao? Besides, if Xuanbao did not meet with her grandson soon, she was afraid he might become reclusive again!

And with Xuanbao’s father and second uncle parading through the streets, how could they not bring her along?

Bringing Xuanbao meant naturally bringing the whole Ruo Family since, after all, Granny Lei was the Empress Dowager’s close friend from among the common folk.

The group sat in the largest and finest private room of the Capital City’s biggest restaurant, looking out at the surging crowd below.

At the end of the main street, a group of horse riders approached from afar, amidst the constant cheering of the surrounding people.

Xuanbao said excitedly in Ruo Chuan’s arms, "I see my dad and second uncle! They are wearing big red flowers!"

"You can see so clearly from such a distance, Xuanbao has great eyesight," praised the Empress Dowager.

Everyone craned their necks, trying desperately to look out, but only Zhaohua’s gaze kept returning involuntarily to the periphery, where a particular man stood.