Chapter 166: Here Comes Long-awaited Xiao Cai

Lu Lin craned his neck and stood on tiptoe in pleasurable expectation, waiting for Chen Xiao Cai's arrival, but the great news of Ji Yun An arrived earlier than Chen Xiao Cai. Ji Yun An did great in the exam, he ranked the third in the national civil examinations!

"Ji Yun An, how impressive! This is a national exam and he ranks the third!" Lu Lin sighed with emotion.

Chen Xiao Mi smiled and said, "Ji Yun An has been very capable all along, it's you who has been worrying for nothing."

Lu Lin pouted, "Maybe this guy is just lucky."

"Luck is not something that can be found casually, you have to have talent to be this lucky," Chen Xiao Mi said.

Lu Cheng Yu seemed to have failed again.

"Ji Yun An, with his report card, he should be able to enter National Academy. He definitely has splendid prospects!" Chen Xiao Mi said.

All sorts of feelings well up in Lu Lin's mind, he was happy for Yun An and Xiao Mai, and on the other hand, he was a bit jealous, Ji Yun An would become an official of sixth-ranking in no time. He had been working hard for so many years and he was still just a county magistrate.

Ji Yun An who was going to work in National Academy had the opportunity to be appreciated by His Majesty himself. But it was hard for Lu Lin to take credit and seek rewards for himself considering the great distance between his county and the capital city.

Although it was not easy to get promoted, Lu Lin was already very satisfied with the current situation. The Fish Cabin county was far away from the capital city, so he and his family could live their lives to the fullest.

Lu Lin held his chin and said, "I'm a bit worried for Yun An and Xiao Mai, the capital city is the political center, they need to tread carefully."

Lu Lin didn't like social gatherings, so deep down he was glad that he got to live his life the way he wanted, spending time with his family and exploring the area.

Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said: "Yeah! Although the capital city is the political center, Ji Yun An should be able to handle it. Ji family is an aristocratic family, they have been holding high official positions for generations, and they will always look after him."

......

In Big Stone Village.

Lu Cheng Yu didn't pass the exam and he locked himself in his room.

"He failed yet again?"

"It's just too difficult."

"That's true! It's already an achievement that he is a Xiucai, he enjoys some tax exemption and corvee exemption already."

"Yeah! How great it's going to be if Cheng Yu sets up a school for the village kids?"

"Yeah! However, given Cheng Yu's personality, it's not going to happen!"

"Cheng Yu is too focused on his studies. Look at his two daughters, they look so thin and pale."

Li Fang Yue had finally given birth to a son two years ago. Tang had finally taken a liking to Li Fang Yue due to that. With a son, Li Fang Yue paid less attention to the two daughters. Lu Cheng Yu didn't even pay attention to his son, let alone his two daughters.

"I heard that not only has Chen Xiao Mai's husband passed the exam, but he ranks the third nationally!"

"The third? Nationally? That's amazing!"

"You're not mistaken? Are you sure?"

"How can I make a mistake? This Ji Yun An, Chen Xiao Mai's husband, passed the exam last time, he gave up on his result because he wanted a better ranking. Many people make fun of him and they called him stupid, but look how the story ends, Ji Yun An ranks the third nationally this year! Joke is on them!"

"But who would think such a talented young genius would marry Chen Xiao Mai!"

"Exactly! We've all met Mai, he's a bit special, isn't he?"

"Beats me! Maybe he has seen something in Mai that no one else has seen, I don't know."

"This is indeed strange!"

"I heard that the smarter the people are, the more eccentric they are. Some smart people don't like to become government officials, they would rather live an impoverished life than live restricted lives... so it's not that strange for Ji Yun An to marry Chen Xiao Mai."

......

In Lu family.

Li Fang Yue looked at Tang and said, "Mother, my husband has locked himself in the room again."

Tang nodded and said, "Okay."

Tang tried to approach Lu Cheng Yu two days ago. When Lu Cheng Yu saw Tang entering his room, he viciously told her to get out of his room.

In the past few years, Lu Cheng Yu had become more and more ruthless. And no one in the family had tried to teach him how to behave, as a result, Lu Cheng Yu had become more and more extreme.

"It's all the villagers' fault," Tang said sullenly.

In the past few years, Lu Lin had become more and more established, and the villagers all treated the Lu family less seriously.

When Tang heard that Chen Xiao Mai's husband ranked the third in the exam that her own son didn't pass, Tang felt very depressed. Back then, Ji Yun An gave up on his result for a better ranking, Tang made fun of Ji Yun An for his ambition. But now Tang had to accept the fact that Xiao Mai married a genius.

In comparison, her own son was much inferior.

But Tang refused to think less of her son, she started to blame Lu Cheng Yu's teachers at school.

Tang sighed and accepted her fate.

The two elders of the family had passed away, Tang and Lu Cheng Yu's uncles divided up family property and lived apart since that.

Lu Cheng Yu, being a Xiucai, enjoyed tax exemption on farmland. Although the family farmland was divided, Lu Cheng Yu's fourth uncle, Lu An, had put his farmland under Lu Cheng Yu's name to save some tax money.

Tang originally wanted to turn Lu An down, but Lu An was not someone to be trifled with, he threatened to notify the local government about Grandma Lu's death. He said he knew the truth of Grandma Lu's death, Grandma Lu was abused to death by Tang and Lu Cheng Yu.

Tang immediately panicked, she didn't want her son's name to be tarnished.

Tang only had one son and one daughter, her daughter was married off a long time ago and Lu Cheng Yu had never helped with farm work. Tang had to do everything in busy farming season, she didn't age well at all.

Lu Cheng Yu failed so many times, Tang couldn't help but feel discouraged. She thought that her son might not be able to pass the exam for good, but she dared not mention a word to Lu Cheng Yu.

......

In Sha County.

Shen Chi sat next to Chen Xiao Cai and asked him, "It looks like everything is done!"

Chen Xiao Cai nodded and said, "Yeah, finally!"

The stores and properties under their names were all sold out, Xiao Cai got 10,000 taels of silver in hand now.

Chen Xiao Cai weighed and balanced about the hot springs resort again and again, he still couldn't bear to sell it to anyone. As a result, Chen Xiao Cai entrusted the Hot Springs Resort to Liu Yun.

Originally, Chen Xiao Cai wanted to hand over the resort to General Ji but considering that General Ji was always swamped with military affairs, he had to change his plan.

Chen Xiao Cai thought to himself, "This works out well, the soldiers in the patrolling camp are very happy about this. They promised me that they will take great care of all the facilities and not let anyone destroy the resort.'

Chen Xiao Cai had already made a lot of money in Sha County, so he didn't have much expectations for the profits from the Hot Springs Resort. He just didn't want to sell the resort to someone he didn't know considering the time and efforts he had put in the resort.

"We can get ready and leave for Fish Cabin County now," Shen Chi said.

Chen Xiao Cai nodded and said, "Finally! Big Brother mentioned that Lin Ge has been expecting us, they have invented so many new dishes for us to try."

Shen Chi nodded and said, "I'm not surprise, Lin Ge always knows how to live life to the fullest. It seems that Big Brother and Lin Ge are doing great in the Fish Cabin County."

Chen Xiao Cai nodded and said, "Indeed."

Chen Xiao Cai organized a group of guards after everything was settled. He carried a huge sum of money, he figured he better be safe than sorry by hiring a large group of guards, along with the servants and employees who were willing to follow him to Fish Cabin County, the procession went forward with great strength and vigour.

......

After Chen Xiao Cai arrived at the Fish Cabin county, he first went to the county yamen.

There were a lot of people in Chen Xiao Cai's group. They hadn't found a place to live yet, so they had to live in the county yamen temporarily.

Fortunately, Lu Lin didn't have any concubine, he still had several vacant rooms for Xiao Cai and his family.

In this time and space, most wealthy men had two or three concubines.

The previous magistrate of the Fish Cabin county married a young concubine when he was fifty years old, Lu Lin was disgusted. However, it was what it was, people were accustomed to it. And the young girl married the magistrate of her own free will.

"Big Brother, this residence is so much better than Sha County's!" Chen Xiao Cai said to Chen Xiao Mi.

Chen Xiao Mi smiled, "Yeah! Thanks to the previous magistrate, he spent a lot of time and effort decorating this residence."

In comparison, the county yamen in Sha County was a little shabby.

Chen Xiao Cai looked at Chen Xiao Mi expectantly, "I heard that Lin Ge has developed a lot of delicacies."

Chen Xiao Mi nodded and said, "Yes, you will be surprised. We have prepared a reception dinner for you and Chi tonight."

Hearing Chen Xiao Mi's words, Chen Xiao Cai couldn't help but feel more excited.

"Unfortunately, Mai isn't here, can you imagine how happy he is going to be?"

Chen Xiao Mi replied, "I feel the same way, but Ji Yun An must be busy with social engagements since his great result in the exam, I think it will be a while before they can come to Fish Cabin County. The good thing is this county is much closer to the capital city than Sha County."

Lu Lin had prepared a feast for Cai and Chi.

Lu Lin had been studying all kinds of delicacies for a while, he was excited to surprise his brother-in-law with a groaning board.

Chen Xiao Cai and Shen Chi were dazzled by the endless array of dishes.

Chen Xiao Cai had made much money in the past few years, he had eaten a lot of delicacies in various places. He had even been to the capital city and enjoyed the food at the most famous restaurant throughout the country. Chen Xiao Cai was still shocked by the number of delicacies.

"Big Brother, it's so delicious," Chen Xiao Cai said excitedly as he ate the food.

Lu Lin smiled cunningly and said, "Eat, eat, eat quickly. Because soon I will find a residence for you and Chi, then you have to live by yourselves and hire your own chefs."

Chen Xiao Cai smiled, "Don't do this to us, Lin Ge."

Chen Xiao Mi smiled and said, "Don't listen to your Lin Ge's nonsense, he is joking. You and Chi are welcome to stay for as long as you want, no rush to look for a residence. Mai is in the capital city now, I miss you guys all the time, I want you and Chi stay at our place for a long time actually."

Chen Xiao Cai blinked and said slyly, "Thank you, I miss you too, Big Brother. We are not in a rush to move out, I need to try every single dish that Lin Ge has to offer."

Chen Xiao Mi smiled, "There you go, let him cook for us every single day."

Lu Lin made a face, "My pleasure, dear madam.

Chen Xiao Cai glanced at Lu Lin and asked, "Lin Ge, are you the one who has invented these dishes?"

Lu Lin said proudly, "Most of them are invented with my painstaking efforts."

Chen Xiao Mi glanced at Lu Lin and thought to himself, 'Painstaking efforts? Yeah, if you call shopping and foretasting efforts.'

Chen Xiao Cai rolled his eyes and said, "I know you've already opened a restaurant featuring Roasted Whole Lamb, have you considered opening a restaurant featuring seafood?"

Lu Lin nodded and said, "Indeed I have, I've been waiting for you and Chi because I want you to manage the restaurant."

"Don't worry, I won't disappoint you."

"Lin Ge, I heard that you're preparing to build a fleet?" asked Shen Chi.

Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yes. I've recently made a big pilot ship, soon we will have a trial trip with that pilot ship."

Shen Chi asked with interest, "Is that so? Can we go on the ship and enjoy some sea view?"

Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yeah, of course! There is not much entertainment in this place. It seems to be a good way to travel around the sea. Even Mi and I plan to go to the sea and do some fishing even."

Fishing was fun. Lu Lin planned to develop fishing as a hobby.