Chapter 757: Expectations Chapter 757: Expectations Editor: Atlas Studios Mu Bowen had grown up in a relatively simple environment.

Although he had experienced poverty and war, he had always been protected by his father and sister.

Although there did exist disputes and selfish bad people around him, he was mostly surrounded by loving people who helped out each other.

The elders took care of the younger generation lovingly, and the younger generation was also filial to the elders.

Although there were ignorant and timid people, most of them were hardworking and brave people.

Furthermore, he had always been dealing with the nursery.

Although he had seen many tragedies in the human world and there was a mix of good and bad children in the nursery, most people treated him well and had good intentions towards the Mu family.

Hence, Bowen had a simple temperament, was resilient, and had his pride.

Even in front of the children of the aristocratic families, he could deal with them with ease, never once feeling that he was inferior to others.

He wasn’t even mad when he learned that those families spurned him as a marriage partner.

He had an elder sister and a younger sister, so he naturally could empathize with their concerns about marrying their daughter to the wrong man.

However, he was also a little glad.

Under the influence of his parents, elder sister, and brother-in-law, his views on marriage were that a married couple should help out each other in good times and bad.

Also, that it was best to find a partner who suited him the most.

He hoped that his future wife and in-laws would value him as a person more than his family background and connections to the Prince’s estate.

Meanwhile, when viewing him as a potential marriage partner, those in the capital valued his family background the most, then his older sister, and only lastly him as a person.

This also made Mu Bowen unwilling to marry them, so he was actually very glad that they rejected him.

Otherwise, he would have to spend time persuading his father and mother.

However, Shu Wanniang felt a little guilty.

She hesitated and said, “Why don’t you prepare for the village examination when you get back?” Stunned, Mu Bowen said with a smile, “Mother, didn’t you ask me to wait for another three years?” Everyone was envious of young talents, but Shu Wanniang understood that those who stood out the most tended to attract jealousy and were more prone to being attacked.

Moreover, knowing that Bowen had gone through a lot of hardships and had a firm temperament, Shu Wanniang knew that he had what it took to be a young government official.

However, he was innocent and lacked life experiences.

If he was pushed onto the political stage at such a young age, even if he had his parents and elder sister to back him up, he could not fulfill his greatest potential in the bureaucracy.

Succeeding in the bureacracy did not depend merely on talent, good temperament, and tenacity.

Although Shu Wanniang was obtuse, she had grown up in an aristocratic family and had heard and seen a lot.

She understood how things worked in the real world.

In this world, there were plenty of people whose temperament changed drastically after suddenly suffering a blow, having had a smooth sailing life in the first decades of their lives.

Perhaps she was not strong enough or confident in most things, but Shu Wanniang’s heart had always been the same towards her children.

She did not want her son to go through such suffering, so she’d stopped him from participating in the village examination before he turned 20.

But now, Shu Wanniang was worried that her son would not be able to get a good wife if he did not become a juren.

Between career and family, career was certainly important.

However, if he lived a miserable life at home, he would definitely not be happy either.

Seeing her mother’s hesitation, Mu Yangling understood what she was thinking.

She pulled her back and said, “Mother, with Brother’s good looks and academic talent, would you need to fear that he won’t be able to get a good wife?

Most of the young ladies in the capital fancy Bowen because of his family background.

That’s not ideal either.

In that case, why don’t we go back to the north to find a wife for him?

At least we’ll know the girl’s roots.

Furthermore, the key is that Bowen has to fancy the girl, and vice versa.” Frowning, Shu Wanniang said, “Although that’s the case, I haven’t been able to find anyone suitable in the north.

Seeing as there are many outstanding young ladies in the capital, I thought I could find…” “Mother, Brother is still young.

Just take your time to find him a wife.

Is there a need to worry that no one will want to marry Brother?” Shu Wanniang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Your brother is already 18 years old.

When you were at that age, you already had Little Bear.

He’s not considered young anymore.

If it weren’t for your letter saying that you didn’t want your brother to marry early, I would have arranged a marriage for him two years ago.” When Mu Shi heard his daughter’s words, he thought of all his subordinates’ daughters.

He stroked his chin.

Would he have to set up his son on blind dates with those girls when he returned?

However, considering his son was weak and defenseless, it was unknown who would be the bullying party in the case of an argument.

“Alright, since we can’t find a suitable girl in the capital, we’ll go back to the north to continue looking.

Just as Ah Ling said, would our son need to fret about not being able to get a wife?” Mu Shi looked at his elegant and beautiful wife and said with a smile proudly, “Back then, I managed to get a good wife even without any assets to my name, let alone him.” Shu Wanniang’s originally worried face instantly turned red.

She glared at him reproachfully.

What was he saying in front of the children?

Mu Yangling and Mu Bowen pursed their lips and smiled as they watched happily.

Bosi and Kejia had yet to mature, but when they saw that their older siblings were so happy, they also grinned along.

Shu Wanniang glared at them before reaching out to push Mu Shi.

“Hurry up and get on your horse and leave the city.

You still have to stay at the relay station tonight.” Mu Shi agreed with a smile and reached out to squeeze Shu Wanniang’s hand, before turning around and getting on the horse.

After that, he lowered his head and instructed Bowen before saying to Ah Ling, “You should take your mother back.” Qi Haoran hurriedly got on his horse and personally sent his father-in-law out of the city.

Perhaps it was because he had been a soldier under Qi Haoran before, but although Mu Shi usually put on the airs of a father-in-law, he still had a faint sense of reverence for Qi Haoran.

It was only because Qi Haoran had served him so diligently this time that Mu Shi felt much closer to him.

At this moment, the two of them were about to leave the city side by side.

In a more affable tone, he said to Qi Haoran, “Ah Ling is a little impatient sometimes, but she has a good heart.

Please be more understanding of her in the future.

Speaking of which, it’s our fault as parents.

She’s had to support her family since she was young and because she got married early, her mother didn’t have time to teach her many things.

So, it’s inevitable that she’ll be negligent in some matters.

In the future, if she does something wrong, you should scold her and reprimand her.

If she doesn’t listen, just write to me.

I’ll ask her mother to teach her a lesson.” Qi Haoran hurriedly spoke up for Mu Yangling, saying that she was wonderful in every aspect, but his palms were sweating.

Geez, lodging a complaint to his father-in-law about his wife?

Qi Haoran sure did not have the guts to do so.

However, Mu Shi said this sincerely.

He thought that it would be strange if the two of them didn’t quarrel considering the quick tempers of his daughter and son-in-law.

If their son-in-law told him about it, at least he could mediate.

If he didn’t, with his daughter’s personality of reporting good news but not bad news, they would probably not even know if their daughter was suffering in the north.

When husband and wife quarreled, there had to be someone to persuade them to reconcile.

Although they were far apart, it would only take ten days to communicate back and forth with a messenger pigeon.

Mu Shi reckoned he could reprimand both before persuading them to reconcile, hopefully helping to ease up things between the couple.

However, Qi Haoran did not understand his father-in-law’s painstaking efforts.

The more Mu Shi pointed out Mu Yangling’s flaws, the more he felt that Mu Yangling was wonderful and kept praising her.

By the time they reached the Ten Mile Pavilion, Qi Haoran was just short of swearing that Mu Yangling was the most perfect woman in the world and that no one could compare to her.

It was only after sending Mu Shi off that Qi Haoran realized that his mouth was dry.

When he rode his horse back to the city, he passed by their restaurant on the way.

Without much thought, he got off his horse and went in to drink tea.

As soon as he entered, the shopkeeper jogged out to welcome him and said, “Your Highness, you’re here.

The Duke is in private room number two.

I’ll bring you there now.

What do you want to eat for lunch today?

I’ll ask the kitchen to start preparing.” Qi Haoran said in surprise, “Zijin is here too?

What a coincidence.” The shopkeeper said with a smile, “I thought you had an appointment with the Duke.

I didn’t expect it to be a coincidence.

The Duke came early in the morning and is sitting by the window looking at the scenery outside.”

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