Chapter 844: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 844: Spring Outing and Jealousy (1)
After nine consecutive days of exams, even though Mo Qingze had been able to rest a little during the nights at the examination hall, he was feeling physically drained. After returning home and freshening up, he skipped dinner and headed straight to his room to rest. It wasn’t just physical fatigue; the mental exhaustion was far more overwhelming.
As for how he had performed in the imperial exams, no one asked. Deep down, Mo Qingze hoped to pass with flying colors and fulfill his wish. However, if he didn’t succeed, it wasn’t a big deal. There was always the chance to try again in three years.
In the past, Mo Qingze might have thought this way too. But after a series of unfortunate events last year, along with Mo Yan's engagement to Xiao Ruiyuan, he found himself burning with determination. He wanted to ace this exam, perform well in the palace examination, and hopefully place in the top rank. Only by doing so could he ensure that he would receive special attention when starting his official career, laying a solid foundation for his future.
He didn’t want a day to come when his daughter suffered in her husband’s family and he, as a father, would have to lower his head when demanding justice.
Even though the Wei Yuan Marquis’ mansion was an unattainable behemoth for him, and he might never stand on equal footing with them in the second half of his life, at least he didn’t want to be utterly powerless, trampled underfoot without the ability to fight back.
With such thoughts in mind, Mo Qingze tried to sleep but had a restless night. When he woke up the next morning, his eyes were bloodshot and his face still carried the fatigue from the previous day.
Mo Yan didn’t guess the true cause but assumed that her father was simply worried about the exam results, which was why he looked this way. She had been cooking nourishing soups and broths for him every day, adding medicinal herbs that were good for his health, essentially preparing tonic meals.
Her culinary skills were top-notch, and since all the ingredients came from her space, the soups didn’t have the usual bitter taste of medicinal herbs. Instead, they were fragrant with a unique flavor. The others couldn’t resist the tempting scent and would each ask for a large bowl, even praising Mo Yan. They said if she ever opened a herbal soup shop, she would surely make a fortune.
Perhaps the soups had worked, or maybe Mo Qingze had simply let go of his worries, but he regained his vitality and looked much better. His complexion was smooth and glowing, and he no longer seemed like someone in his thirties. Compared to before, when they had fled from danger, he seemed like a completely different person.
Standing next to Han Zhiyun, who was four or five years younger, Mo Qingze didn’t appear older. On the contrary, he exuded a calmness and maturity that was rare for someone his age, like a jade carved by the years, radiating a soft and brilliant luster.
With his handsome appearance and scholarly aura, Mo Yan often found herself staring at her father, occasionally losing herself in admiration. However, seeing her father, in the prime of his life, yet still alone, she felt a pang of sympathy. Despite the presence of his children, some loneliness lingered, and it was something they couldn’t fully soothe. Sometimes, the thought of finding him a compatible partner crossed her mind.
As time went on, this thought occurred to her more frequently. Filled with concerns, Mo Yan kept these thoughts to herself. She hoped that one day her father would meet a woman he liked and bring her home, but she also worried about how her younger siblings, especially after the unfortunate experiences of Tang Xin and Yun Zhao, might react negatively to their father remarrying, which could affect the bond between father and children.
Another concern was whether a woman would treat her younger siblings well. If she had her own children in the future, could she treat them all equally? Mo Yan feared that if these things weren’t balanced, the peaceful and warm home they had could slowly slip away, which was the last thing she wanted to see.
…
One day, Mo Qingze, who had been persistently pestered by Zhen’er, reluctantly sent invitations to the Liu family, the Han family, and Shen Ji, inviting them to join a spring outing.
Mo Yan stood by her father, grinding ink, her eyes fixed on his elegant and handsome profile. Her thoughts drifted again. In the modern world, it wasn’t uncommon for men at the age of thirty-five to remain unmarried and childless. Men like her father—talented, handsome, with a good personality and a stable family—were the types who naturally drew women’s attention.
(End of Chapter)
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