In the past few years, the Xu family has slowly gotten better. Probably after Wang Zhixia passed the exam, Xu Lin passed the exam and entered the school to become a student member. Even the county school teacher praised Xu Lin highly.
Slowly, more and more people come to visit. Not only the villages in Shiliba, but also some merchants in the city often bring gifts to send greetings. There are even matchmakers who come to visit every now and then, fearing that they will be affected. Those merchants' money wanted Xu Lin to take concubines.
According to the laws of Jingguo, no one is allowed to take concubines unless they are famous, or are over forty and have no children. However, in such a small place, such laws are generally not implemented, even for local ritual officials. Even if you see it, you will turn a blind eye.
But Xu Lin disagreed. Not to mention Xu Lin, even Xu Laosan got angry several times and drove the matchmaker out!
"My son will take the imperial examination in the future, how can he be so stigmatized?" Xu Laosan shouted at the top of his lungs.
This makes sense.
If he were one of those wealthy country gentry businessmen, it would be fine if he was not promoted to an official position without being investigated. But in Xu Laosan's view, his own children would have to take the examination in the future. What if they become officials in the future and are criticized?
As Xu Lin's father, Xu Laosan believes that he is very far-sighted, and this kind of thing must be avoided.
Moreover.
He was very satisfied with Wang Zhixia. Moreover, since Wang Zhixia entered the Xu family's home, the Xu family's life has become better and better. They have built two new houses. People in the village say that Wang Zhixia is a prosperous husband.
What's more, Wang Zhixia can be regarded as someone Xu Laosan has watched grow up. In his heart, he is almost half a daughter. How can Wang Zhixia be wronged?
As for Xu Lin, he has no such idea.
When he and Wang Zhixia were together, they could be regarded as a harmonious couple. Every day, Xu Lin would read at home, and Wang Zhixia would be beside him as a female hostess. At night, he would add fragrance to his red sleeves, grind ink for him, and use a little candlelight to create a silhouette of a human figure. Shaking, the days passed peacefully and beautifully.
Xu Lin expressed that he was very satisfied with his current life. When he had nothing to do, he would also write letters and copy books for others, which could supplement some household income in a month.
In addition, he would follow Xu Laosan to the mountains to hunt and collect herbs, which was the main source of income. Xu Laosan refused at first, thinking that Xu Lin would take the imperial examination in the future, so he could just study in peace.
But Xu Lin convinced him with his words.
"Since we are going to take the Juren Examination, we will have to go to Beijing to take the exam in the future. The road will be exposed to wind and sun, and we are not in good health. What if we don't have the ability? If we encounter bad people on the road, wouldn't we be killed on the spot?"
Xu Laosan thought about it carefully and felt that what Xu Lin said was right, so he agreed. Sometimes Xu Lin would not feel tired after walking in the mountains for a day.
But the strange thing is that Xu Lin and Wang Zhixia have been married for more than a year, but Wang Zhixia has never been pregnant. This gives Xu Laosan a headache, and even Wang Zhixia's parents are worried.
Fortunately, Xu Lin is now considered a well-established person in the village, and there are fewer gossips.
It was also at this time that Xu Laosan sighed in his heart, it would be great if his wife was still here. He would certainly not be able to talk about such things, but as a mother, she could also ask her daughter-in-law to ask questions.
…
In the dead of night.
Xu Lin was looking at Sage Yan again.
"Brother Lin, today...my mother came to see me again." Wang Zhixia suddenly whispered.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Xu Lin put down the book in his hand and asked doubtfully.
Although Wang Zhixia has already married into the Xu family, the Wang family and the Xu family are neighbors, just two steps away, and the two families sit together for meals.
It is normal for his mother-in-law to come over.
But through the candlelight, Xu Lin saw Wang Zhixia's face glowing with red clouds.
"It's just...my mother asked me why I'm not pregnant yet, and I just put it off."
Xu Lin smiled and nodded: "Isn't it always like this?"
Hearing this, Wang Zhixia rolled his eyes and lost his temper.
"Hmph, Xu Lin! We have been married for a long time, but we have never had sex. My parents are wondering if I can't give birth! Although my father didn't say it, he was afraid that he would start to murmur in his heart..."
"Ahem..." Xu Lin almost choked on the tea in his mouth. He quickly put down the tea cup and wiped his clothes. He couldn't laugh or cry, "Why did you say this all of a sudden?"
"Humph, can you not tell me? You don't care, but I don't dare to go out right now!" Wang Zhixia picked her fingers and said, "Look, Wang Xiao'e, who grew up with me, got married just last year, and now she is older If your stomach is full, how about you look at me again?"
Xu Lin smiled and said, "There's no rush."
Wang Zhixia hugged Xu Lin's arm and rubbed her body gently twice.
"Then you...then you have to give me a reason, right?"
Xu Lin scratched his head.
"Actually, I don't know why, but there is a voice in my heart that keeps telling me, you are still young, you are still a child, I cannot be worse than a beast..."
"What are you talking about? It's nonsense. You and I are husband and wife, so this is a matter of course. Besides... besides, why am I young? You are quite picky..." "Huh?"
"Forget it, forget it, ignore you, go to sleep!"
"You go to sleep, why did you turn on the light..."
"You sleep too!"
At night, lying in bed.
Xu Lin felt at ease as he smelled the refreshing fragrance of Wang Zhixia.
His hand was grabbed by Wang Zhixia, just like it was in the ice and snow that year.
"Madam, you are still young. At least... you have to wait until you are eighteen." He said.
"Not small, not small...look at other people's homes."
"Hey...my mind is in a mess, and for some reason, that voice keeps saying, keep saying, otherwise, it's better to wait until the 18th. It just so happens that I also want to participate in this year's Qiuwei."
"Then you have to fight for it and come back with a Jieyuan! Then, Chunwei will win the Huiyuan again, and then the No. 1 prize! That's winning three yuan in a row..."
"You have to..."
…
Sometimes, Xu Lin himself began to wonder if there was really any metaphysics.
At first, Wang Zhixia just said it casually, but he actually won the provincial examination Jieyuan with the first place in Qiu Wei.
Immediately afterwards, he came to the capital with several fellow students in the same year, and won the first place among many students, winning the Huiyuan in one fell swoop!
During his days in the capital, other people of the same year and fellow villagers went to visit the capital officials. Xu Lin won two yuan in a row and became the favorite to win the first prize.
In both the government and the public, many people are already expecting Xu Lin to win three games in a row, which can be considered a good story.
Even the chief minister of the current cabinet sent invitations.
Xu Lin is not a person who does not understand etiquette. On the contrary, he is far more mature than ordinary people. After receiving the invitation, he did not rush to go. Instead, he bought some gifts first, being polite and considerate, and took the initiative to participate. Go and pay a visit.
Although the first assistant has sent the invitation, the invitation and the greeting are completely different things.
If you send in the invitation first, then you will take the initiative to ask for a meeting. In this way, the chief minister's face will be brightened.
It was only when he entered the front door of the first assistant's house that Xu Lin realized that the food at the first assistant's house was not that delicious...
