The Host is Clearly A Scumbag (Quick Travel)

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiao'e's home was also bustling with excitement.

Both Mingting and Wang Zhi had passed the academy examination and successfully became Xiucai. Mingting with the highest honors and Wang Zhi ranking third, which is an outstanding achievement in its own right.

With the double happiness, the Jiang Family's celebratory banquet kept He Gu and Jiang Xiao'e busy all day.

Fortunately, after Sun Wei learned the news, he sent his family's servants to help. He also sent generous gifts of meat, vegetables, rice, and fish, and even hired a chef for the occasion.

The banquet of the Jiang Family lasted well into the night before finally quieting down.

"My youngest is truly remarkable!" He Gu was so happy that she looked several years younger. "Mingting is truly our family's lucky star!"

Jiang Xiao'e glanced at her husband and then at her younger brother, her heart brimming with happiness.

Since Mingting came, their family's fortunes had steadily improved. Though he always called her his benefactor, Jiang Xiao'e felt that Mingting was the one who had truly blessed their family.

Wang Zhi, who is slightly drunk, leaned against Mingting and poured out his feelings, even shedding a few tears.

Over the years, he had repeatedly failed the academy examinations, and their family's situation became worse and worse. To be honest, seeing his wife and children suffer, as a man, Wang Zhi was under a lot of pressure.

Now that he had finally passed, Wang Zhi felt a tremendous burden lift from his shoulders. He hadn't failed his father-in-law's expectations or Su Hengzhong's teachings.

"Brother-in-law, this is just the beginning!"

Mingting was still too young, so He Gu did not allow him to drink.

He happily munched on a pear and smiled at Wang Zhi, who had finally relaxed after years of stress.

"Teacher said we'll take the provincial exams together the year after next."

Wang Zhi, who had been emotionally overwhelmed, was frightened by his brother-in-law's words and instantly sobered up.

The mere thought of Su Hengzhong's unique teaching methods made his scalp tingle.

'The provincial exams next year… didn't seem that far away...'

"Brother-in-law, Xiaosong has started his studies, you need to set a good example for him. Besides, poor scholars, rich provincial graduates. If you remain a poor scholar forever, what will happen to Daya and Xiaosong?"

Mingting kept putting pressure on Wang Zhi.

"Scholars are as common as ox hair. So, no more drinking or sentimentality. Let's prepare for the provincial exams together!"

This time, Wang Zhi was completely sober.

He suddenly realized that his smiling, amiable brother-in-law was actually even more terrifying than the stern-faced Su Hengzhong!

When Mingting and He Gu returned from Xiaohe Village again, Su Hengzhong informed him that the Emperor had recalled him from the mourning leave and appointed him as Minister of Works, requiring him to return to the capital.

"Teacher is leaving? So soon?"

Mingting remembered that in the original timeline, Su Hengzhong had served his full three-year mourning period before being reinstated.

This time, things had moved much faster.

"Not just me, you're coming with me."

The Emperor's decree explicitly instructed Su Hengzhong to bring Mingting back to the capital.

Emperor Li was deeply intrigued by this young man who had inherited Su Hengzhong's legacy and invented the He Gu Water-Powered Spinning Wheel. He hoped that such person could create more inventions to benefit the nation and its people.

Su Hengzhong was overjoyed.

There were so many ministers in the court and so many scholars in the country, but Mingting had caught the Emperor's attention… this was an extraordinary opportunity.

Mingting had no objections to going to the capital. He even persuaded He Gu and Jiang Xiao'e to move north with him.

Since their home in town was rented and they didn't own much, packing was quick and easy.

On the day of departure, Sun Wei personally came to see Mingting off.

He had watched with his own eyes how this young man walked out of the countryside step by step.

Now, an even broader world awaited him, and Sun Wei looked forward to witnessing it.

On the journey, the women traveled together in carriages, while Mingting rode alongside Su Hengzhong.

Wang Zhi, who is riding a horse for the first time, chafed his thighs raw and suffered for days. On the contrary, Mingting was very good at horsemanship, which surprised Su Hengzhong.

Inside the carriage, Mrs. Su chatted warmly with He Gu and Jiang Xiao'e while occasionally glancing at the handsome young man riding outside.

She was approachable and articulate. At first, He Gu was reserved, but she relaxed soon after.

Throughout the trip, Mrs. Su subtly observed the family.

He Gu was a good person and wouldn't be a difficult mother-in-law. Jiang Xiao'e was honest and not a troublemaker sister-in-law.

Both of them had good temperaments and were sincere. Which made Mrs. Su even more satisfied.

As an experienced woman, He Gu had also guessed Mrs. Su's intentions when she repeatedly inquired about Mingting.

He Gu also had a favorable impression of Su Lingyi. The little girl was lively, cheerful, and well-mannered, without a trace of the arrogance often seen in officials' daughters.

If such a girl could become her daughter-in-law, He Gu felt that she would wake up with a smile in her dreams. Because of that, she became even more enthusiastic in her conversations with Mrs. Su.

The two mothers reached a silent understanding, while the two people in question, Mingting and Su Lingyi, remained completely oblivious.

The journey back to the capital was long, and Su Lingyi was bored sitting in the carriage. Mingting often bought some small trinkets on the roadside to entertain her and Daya.

There were grass-woven butterflies and grasshoppers, wooden general chess pieces, ocarina that played tunes, whistles that mimicked birdsong, and so on.

"Uncle, why can't I make it sound?!"

Xiaosong struggled with the ocarina before finally turning to Mingting for help.

"Brother is dumb!" Although Daya didn't know how to play, it didn't stop her from teasing her brother.

Mingting took the ocarina, pressed it to his lips, and began to play a soft, melodious tune.

As the sun set, the handsome young man in green robes rode a maroon horse, bathed in the fiery glow of twilight...

The mellow notes of the ocarina filled the air, and the sight of the radiant young man made Su Lingyi's heart skip a beat.

She suddenly realized that this senior brother, whom she met often, was actually quite good-looking.

For several days afterwards, Su Lingyi avoided looking directly at Mingting. When their eyes accidentally met, she would blush.

Daya and Xiaosong were young, so they noticed nothing. Mrs. Su was the first to realize that her daughter was beginning to develop feelings.

Thus, after more than twenty days of travel, they finally arrived in the capital.

Thanks to Sun Wei's earlier gift of 10,000 taels of silver, and the gold and silver rewarded by the Emperor, Mrs. Su helped them purchase a two-courtyard house.

Although the house is not large, the location is relatively good.

Mrs. Su had arranged for it to be cleaned in advance, and He Gu was delighted upon arrival.

The deed was under Mingting's name, as He Gu was very insistent on this. She knew very well that without Ming Ting, their family would never be able to afford a property in the capital.

They couldn't take advantage of Mingting just because he was capable.

Besides, Mingting would eventually marry… Without a place to live, how could he marry a wife in the future?

Hearing He Gu talking about getting married, Mingting was a little embarrassed. He was still young and it was too early to get married!