Rebirth Married The Control group Fulang Chapter 127 Part 2

    Luo Yan’s expression shifted. "By my reckoning, news should have arrived by now."  

    He turned to Yu Mingda. "After I resigned and returned to Siyang, I took on a student. He was diligent in his studies and went to the capital for the exams this year."  

    "Any student taught by Brother Luo is bound to excel. Though I wonder who was fortunate enough to receive such an honor. When Brother Luo resigned, countless noble families in the capital wished to place their sons under your tutelage, yet none succeeded."  

    Luo Yan waved a hand. "Just an ordinary boy from the neighborhood, slightly older than Xing ge'er. When I began teaching Xing ge'er, the child happened to need a tutor as well. It was simply fate."  

    Yu Mingda’s eyes gleamed with interest. Though Luo Yan spoke modestly, his tone betrayed deep fondness and pride. Luo Yuxing was only fifteen, so this student couldn’t be much older, sixteen or seventeen at most. For someone so young to already attempt the metropolitan exams was no small feat. No wonder Luo Yan held him in such high regard.  

    "Brother Luo, why didn’t you mention your disciple’s exam earlier? Though I’ve come to Siyang, I could have sent word back to the capital to ensure the boy was well looked after. It would have spared him some aimless struggling."  

    Luo Yan smiled. "No need for such fuss. The boy is steady but still young. A little tempering will do him good. If everything is handed to him too easily now, what will he do in the future when he has to navigate things on his own?"  

    "Brother Luo is too modest." Yu Mingda then said, "But enough of our chatter. Let’s invite the boy’s parents in, we shouldn’t leave them waiting outside."  

    Luo Yuxing quickly said, "I’ll go."  

    Watching the young ge'er walk out with composed yet hurried steps, Yu Mingda suddenly understood. He glanced back at Luo Yan with a knowing smile. "So Brother Luo already has plans in mind."  

    Luo Yan merely smiled without a word.  

    Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He waited outside for a while before Luo Yuxing emerged. Zhang Fangyuan asked, "Do you have guests?"  

    Luo Yuxing nodded. "We were delayed for a bit. Uncle Zhang, Uncle Xu, please come in."  

    "It’s nothing urgent. Ruijin sent a letter, so we came to inform Teacher Luo. There’s no rush."  

    Luo Yuxing’s eyes brightened. "Grandfather was just mentioning him, I had a feeling it might be news from Brother Ruijin."  

    He refrained from asking about the results, preferring to hear them alongside his grandfather. But judging by Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He’s cheerful expressions, it was surely good news, only the exact ranking remained to be revealed.  

    "He passed?"  

    "Excellent! Ruijin has truly lived up to expectations and vindicated all these years of my teaching!" Luo Yan, usually composed, couldn’t help but beam with pride, stroking his beard repeatedly. "Second Class is splendid, truly splendid."  

    Luo Yuxing, seeing his guess confirmed, clasped his hands together in delight.  

    "Congratulations, Brother Luo. This is indeed joyous news."  

    Yu Mingda, witnessing this, felt a growing curiosity about Luo Yan’s prized student. But there was no need to rush. After the metropolitan exams came the palace exam, and barring any grave missteps such as offending the emperor or failing to answer questions, candidates were rarely dismissed.  

    Such incidents had been more common in earlier years when official titles could still be purchased. Now, only the most exceptional scholars made it to the emperor’s presence, all capable of answering imperial queries with ease.  

    The lowest-ranked scholars might struggle to secure official posts without connections, some ending up in minor regional positions or waiting indefinitely in the capital for vacancies.  

    But Zhang Ruijin was Luo Yan’s disciple. With Luo Yan’s network, even scraping onto the second class would guarantee him a position in the capital, sparing him the need to serve in the provinces. And with Ruijin’s outstanding performance -  ranking so high, Luo Yan wouldn’t even need to pull strings.  

    Once Yu Mingda returned to the capital, there would be plenty of opportunities to meet the young man, likely as a fellow official.  

    In the span of a smile and a congratulatory remark, Yu Mingda had already mapped out the future political landscape. His demeanor toward Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He grew noticeably warmer.  

    "Now you can set your mind at ease."  

    That evening, Luo Yan hosted a small banquet for Zhang Fangyuan, Xu He, and Yu Mingda to celebrate Ruijin’s success and wish him further triumph in the palace exam.  

    In high spirits, Luo Yan indulged in a few extra bites and cups of wine. Age had weakened his digestion, and the extra food and drink left him feeling uncomfortably full. Under the bright moonlight, he took a stroll in the garden to aid his digestion.  

    Just as he was lamenting the inevitability of aging, he spotted his grandson sitting in the pavilion by the lake, idly fanning himself as he gazed at the moon.  

    Luo Yuxing noticed his grandfather approaching and stood to help him sit. "Grandfather seems in especially good spirits today."  

    "Naturally, I reunited with an old friend," Luo Yan said, patting his grandson’s hand. "And my student has achieved such success, a double blessing."  

    "Grandfather has spent half his life teaching. Brother Ruijin is brilliant, I always knew he’d go far. But now that he has, you’re still overjoyed."  

    Luo Yuxing smiled faintly, then glanced at the moonlit lake, a trace of melancholy in his eyes. "Grandfather, the capital is wealthy and bustling, full of talented people. If some young lady or master takes a liking to him... will he not come back?"  

    "He wouldn’t dare!"  

    Luo Yuxing looked at his grandfather, lips pressed together. "Grandfather dotes on me the most."  

    "But forcing someone through authority isn’t the same as winning their heart."  

    Luo Yan stroked his grandson’s hair tenderly. "I know you’re uneasy, but I’ve never misjudged a person."  

    Luo Yuxing nodded. "Mm."  

    "Still, that boy...it’s been so long, and he hasn’t even sent you a single letter. No wonder you’re worried."  

    Luo Yuxing didn’t respond, but inwardly, he felt a twinge of resentment toward Ruijin for not sending him a letter.  

    Yu Mingda, pleasantly full from the banquet, returned to his lodgings. The lively conversation had led him to drink more than usual, and the swaying sedan chair lulled him into a doze. By the time his servants woke him up, they had already arrived.  

    Stepping out, he saw County Magistrate Huang Guan still waiting at the gate. His eyes cleared slightly. "Magistrate, you’re still awake?"  

    "Your Excellency was out for so long, how could this humble official rest easy?"  

    "I was catching up with an old friend. Apologies for the concern."  

    "I hadn’t realized Your Excellency had acquaintances in Siyang. I should host a banquet to welcome them." The magistrate guided Yu Mingda inside while subtly probing for information.  

    "No need. He dislikes social gatherings."  

    The brief nap in the sedan chair had left Yu Mingda wide awake now that he was back. Noticing Huang Guan seemed to have something to say, he settled into a chair and waited.  

    Sensing his opportunity, Huang Guan spoke carefully. "Your Excellency has come to oversee the salt administration. This humble official only regrets being of so little use."  

    Yu Mingda glanced at him. "Salt affairs are a matter of national importance. A magistrate’s diligence is only natural. I’m not yet familiar with Siyang’s merchants, I’ll rely on your assistance."  

    Huang Guan had been waiting for precisely this.  

    "This humble official will spare no effort."  

    "Your dedication is commendable. No need for excessive trouble, just gather the salt merchants who meet the criteria for my review."  

    "Understood."