Chapter 504 - 191: Settling Down and Registration
Chapter 504: Chapter 191: Settling Down and Registration
As mother and daughter chatted idly, a fragrant, delicious meal was served.
Looking at the familiar dishes on the table, Xu Suying’s eyes welled up with tears.
"Rushing to the Prefecture... this six-day journey nearly killed me."
Although the Lord Prefect had selected eight constables to take up posts in the Prefecture, everyone had families and households, so it was impossible for them all to leave immediately.
They needed to bid farewell to friends and family, pack their belongings, and entrust their homes to reliable people. How could any of that not take time?
Xu Suying could have waited a while before coming to the Prefecture, but she missed her son and daughter too much. She hadn’t seen them in half a year, not even for the New Year. Her son was one thing—he only ever managed to infuriate her when they met—but her daughter was her sweet, caring girl. After so long apart, she missed her desperately.
Her family didn’t have much to pack, no one special to bid farewell to, and nothing she couldn’t bear to part with. Coincidentally, news of the special imperial examination had just reached Qingshui County. Thinking of how her daughter must be stressed out of her mind, Xu Suying quickly packed their things, entrusted the house to Mrs. Ying, and set off with her son to join her husband.
Along the way, Chen Song and his party had already slowed their pace as much as possible to accommodate the mother and child.
But they still made it from Qingshui County to the Prefecture in just six days, so one can only imagine how hurried their journey was.
Xu Suying and Yaoan had gritted their teeth and endured the entire trip without a word of complaint. The mother and son were utterly exhausted; now, they didn’t want to move a muscle.
Just as she was thinking of Yaoan, he came running over, his hair still wet and disheveled.
"Is it time to eat? I’m starving! We’ve been eating nothing but dry rations this whole trip. Even my butt hurts when I go to the bathroom."
Xu Suying: "..."
Xu Suying slapped him on the head and led the little brat over to the table to eat.
It was only mid-afternoon, and Chen Wanqing wasn’t hungry.
But she picked up her chopsticks and had a few bites to keep them company.
While they ate, Chen Wanqing said, "I’ll have someone send a message to the academy later and ask De’an and Jing to come back for a visit."
Xu Suying quickly waved her hand. "There’s no need. It’s not like we’re leaving right away; we’re going to be living in the Prefecture from now on. Why trouble them by making them come all the way back? They have this rare opportunity with the special imperial examination. If they put in the effort, they might just pass, you know?"
A conflicted expression appeared on Chen Wanqing’s face.
A mother knows her daughter best. The moment she saw that look, Xu Suying knew exactly what was on her mind.
She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. "De’an only became a Scholar by a stroke of dumb luck. I have no hope that he’ll pass the next exam to become a scholar—he’s just not capable. I’m mainly talking about Jing. He has a solid chance this time, right?"
"I can’t say for sure. You can ask him yourself when he comes back."
After a bit more small talk, they turned to business. Chen Wanqing explained to her mother how demand for Moonlight Fragrance had outstripped supply ever since the special examination was announced, and then she laid out her proposed solution.
"You want me to act as steward, while you focus on developing new products?"
Chen Wanqing nodded. "You’ll be bored at home with nothing to do, Mom, so you might as well come and help me. I’ll give you a cut of the profits. And don’t look down on it—Moonlight Fragrance is moving a lot of product right now, so it’s a significant amount."
Xu Suying stroked her chin. "It’s not about the money. You’re my daughter; I’d work for you for free. It’s just... I’ve never managed so many people at once. I’m not sure if I can handle it."
"Of course you can handle it; I have complete faith in you. You’re a natural at socializing and dealing with people. For you, this will be child’s play."
Utterly charmed by her daughter’s flattery, Xu Suying’s whole being seemed to relax. She arched an eyebrow confidently. "In that case, I accept."
"Thank you, Mom. I know it’s a lot to ask. A child with a mother is a treasure, and with you to help me, I can finally stop tearing my hair out from stress."
"You little rascal, all you know is how to sweet-talk me. If you have the energy for that, you should be using it on Jing."
"He doesn’t need any coaxing."
"Wrong! Completely and utterly wrong! It doesn’t matter how old a man is, he always needs to be coaxed. When you’ve got him wrapped around your little finger and he can’t live without you—that is true happiness for a woman."
Chen Wanqing: "..."
Chen Yaoan meekly spat out a bone. "Mom, I’m still here, you know."
"Aren’t you deaf? Did you hear your mother and sister say anything?"
"Nope. Mom and Sis didn’t say a single word."
Chen Song didn’t return until after dark, and he went straight to bed. The very next day, without taking a moment’s rest, he officially started his new post.
Meanwhile, Chen Wanqing had to hire people to help her mother clean their new house in Xinghua Alley and also purchase more workers to expand her incense-making operation. She was so busy she wished she could split herself in two.
Fortunately, Xu Suying was incredibly capable. With her help, everything quickly fell into place.
After choosing an auspicious day, the Chen family moved into their new home in Xinghua Alley.