Without saying a word, Chen Ke dragged his little sister out of the house and took her to the street to admire the flowers.

  The streets are illuminated by all sorts of lanterns, making it as bright as daytime. The sound of silk and bamboo instruments echoes in the night sky, and the lanterns seem like a swarm of fireflies, leading people to stroll among the flowers, admiring the colors, fragrance, and beauty of various blossoms. Under the light, the colorful flowers display an even more enchanting appearance, with their fragrance becoming even more captivating than during the day. Even the most fastidious crowd cannot help but carefully appreciate them.

  Piece by piece, the empty land was filled with young people, who lit up fireworks and sparklers, then cheered and gazed up at the night sky, admiring the fleeting splendor.

  Such a beautiful scene, naturally, there are many young men and women who are infatuated with love, they hold hands, look at the flowers, admire the lanterns, marvel at the fireworks, but their main thoughts are still focused on being affectionate with each other.

  Chen Ke and his little sister were like this, they naturally held hands, watching the children who brushed past them, giggling and making a racket, watching the loving couples, telling each other about their parting.

  Apart from the major events mentioned in the letter, Chen Ke and his three companions have traveled extensively throughout China over the years, visiting famous mountains and rivers, calling on scholars and poets, and encountering many strange and interesting people and things: "If I were to tell you about them, it would take three days and three nights."

  "Then just keep talking..." Little sister used her two small hands to tightly grasp his large hand.

  "What's wrong?" Chen Ke discovered her abnormality and asked.

  "It's too dreamy tonight", the little sister leaned her head on his shoulder and said: "I'm afraid it's really just a dream... so I have to hold you tight."

  "How is it?"

  "Even if you suddenly disappear, I can still follow and leave with you." Little sister said seriously.

  "Hahaha......" Chen Ke burst out laughing: "Silly girl, I won't disappear."

  "I don't believe it," said the little sister with a smile: "Who knows if he's just talking in his sleep..."

  "I have a way, whether it's in a dream or not." Chen Ke suddenly wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her into his embrace without letting go. His hands slightly lifted, and the little sister's feet were off the ground, her body naturally pressed against his. She raised her face and found that she was less than an inch away from his face, even able to clearly feel the hot air he breathed out through his nose, thick and scorching.

  The little sister felt her own body, like a burning hot charcoal, but closed her eyes and didn't move, with an enticing appearance that seemed to invite others to take advantage of her.

  Chen Ke naturally wouldn't be polite, and pressed his lips against her bright red cherry lips, kissing her heavily.

  Just as the two pairs of lips were about to touch, a familiar "cough... cough..." sound was heard. The little sister suddenly opened her eyes and found her father standing several feet away, instantly becoming flustered: "Dad... uh..."

  The words behind were sealed by Chen Qiao's domineering lips before they could be spoken, jokingly saying that if it weren't for seeing the old servant nearby, I wouldn't have been in a hurry to kiss...

  Su Xun's eyes widened as he watched his daughter being tightly hugged and then fiercely kissed. At that moment, it was as if someone had stabbed him with a knife, and the thought of beating this stinky brat to death arose...

  "Cough, cough..." A heavier coughing sound came from nearby, making Xiaomei wake up from her daze. She struggled out of Chen Ke's arms with great effort, hung her head low and said in a mosquito-like voice: "Dad..." Her face felt so hot that it could fry an egg.

  Chen Ke suddenly turned his head and exclaimed in surprise: "Su Laobo..."

  Su Wen is a good person, didn't expect him to see himself early, otherwise the big earlobe would have been pulled up. But like this, it also made his beard stand on end: "Go home and talk about it later."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "What a mess, what a mess, it's too extravagant......" When he returned to the mansion, Su Xun saw that his home had become an ocean of flowers. Even in the main hall, there were vases filled with lilies everywhere, making him unable to find any sense of scolding.

  Finally, he found that as long as he stared at Chen Ke's hateful face, he could accumulate his anger and continue: "You came up with such a trick, not to mention the waste of manpower and resources, what was it for?!"

  Chen Qianxin said, what else can he do? With his personality, he can't be the male lead in a Qiong Yao drama. Because this guy is born lacking patience and likes to be simple and direct. For example, with Xiaomei's marriage, apart from their own intentions, it also involves Chen Xiliang, involves the Liu family, involves Su Laoquan, involves the Lei family... To handle it properly, you have to straighten out all the relationships and make everyone accept it.

  But how much effort does it take? Until the monkey year and horse month? So Chen Ke decided to reverse the operation, first set the result, and then sort out the relationship, which is much simpler - so-called setting the result, in fact, it's "cooking raw rice into cooked rice", besides sleeping together, putting names together is also a way.

  This is indeed a dictionary with a preface written by an official and a postscript by Ouyang Xiu, officially published, with an initial print run of 100,000 copies to be distributed to all prefectures and counties.

  With today's efforts, from now on, there won't be a second person in this world who can marry Su Xiaomei!

  It can't be said that way, otherwise Su Lao would not know what to do with his temper. So Chen Qie respectfully said: "In response to Aunt Su's words, this is for Little Sister's birthday."

  "Updated quickly, no ads, Ba Yi Chinese."

  "What extravagance!"

  "This will not set a precedent." Chen Ke gladly accepted criticism.

  "Set that aside for now," Su Xun said with a stern face: "Since you dared to come today, then speak, what's the situation with the marriage between you and the Liu family?"

  "It's almost time..."

  "Is it still not ready?"

  "Alas, Aunt Su, listen to me," Chen Ke said with a bitter smile: "That family is of high social status and feels that being jilted is very humiliating. They say I can return the betrothal gifts, but I must personally go to their door to apologize."

  "Then go!" Su Xun heard "high gate and big house" and suddenly came with a common enemy, angrily saying: "These big houses are the most shameless!"

  "My father said that if I went, I would fall into a trap." Chen Ke said: "The big households in the capital are very fierce. Since they can catch their sons-in-law by listing them, they can also lock the door and catch their sons-in-law."

  "So you plan on dragging this out?"

  "How could that be?" Chen Ke said: "Su's uncle must also know, Ouyang Gong has already resigned and returned to the capital as a Hanlin scholar... I have entrusted this matter to him, and I believe there will be good news soon." The Song people valued contracts, as long as they were not forced or illegally established, even the emperor could not revoke them. Marriage contracts were naturally the most important contracts, unless both parties agreed, one party could not cancel them.

  But I believe that with Ouyang Xiu's stature, his family would still have to give him some face.

  "Hmm..." Su Xun's expression slightly cleared, and he stroked his beard, saying: "This is more like it." Then he turned to say: "Next year will be the imperial examination, both Zi Zhan and Zi You have made preparations for the test. Are you prepared?" His tone had changed, directly demanding him as a son-in-law.

  "This...". Shen fell silent and became embarrassed. As the saying goes, "what is gained must be lost", running around all day, traveling and having fun, where is there still time to study?

  "I knew it would be like this..." Su Xun hummed and said: "Today, I saw that your 'Dictionary' has been published, with endorsements from officials, Ouyang Gong, and the government. I suppose within a year, you will become famous overnight. But when the time comes, even if you can't pass the imperial examination, won't you be laughed at?"

  "It is..." Chen Ke could only humbly accept the lesson.

  "So this year you're not allowed to go anywhere, just stay home and warm up your books." Su Xun hummed and said: "Also, take good care of your family's Liu Lang, he's a complete little spoiled brat!"

  It is...

  "Zi Zhan has made great progress in his studies over the past two years," Su Xun said, "and as for Zi You's daily homework, he is usually the one who teaches him. If you have any difficulties, you can also ask him..."

  It is...

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Chen Ke also knew that he should indeed calm down and not go out, unaware of the fact that there were too many scholars in the Song Dynasty. Moreover, they were all hidden dragons and crouching tigers, each with astonishing abilities, and these people basically all wanted to participate in next year's imperial examination. His studies had been neglected for years, and if he didn't diligently make up for it, he was afraid that he wouldn't even be able to pass the provincial exam.

  He had actually considered whether he shouldn't just forget about this deadly game, after all he had plenty of money and was already a minor official. But his conversation with Di Qing that day deeply moved him... This society is so cruel, scholars and non-scholars are two different worlds.

  Even if it's just for a carefree life in the future, I must pass the imperial examination and become a scholar!

  Besides, in the previous imperial examination, both Dà Láng and èr Láng passed with high honors and are now serving as minor officials elsewhere. I must not lose face either, so I still need to work hard!

  After returning home and resting for a few days, he went with Song Duanping and Wu Lang to the Zhongyan Academy.

  Seeing them return, Wang Fang was naturally very happy, but seeing Xuan Yu still being bald, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed: "I'm old, can I not hold my grandson?" It seems that the old man is really anxious.

  "Alas..." Xuan Yu sighed and said: "Who says monks can't have children?"

  "Ah...!" Wang Fang spat in his face at that time. How did this kid become so unscrupulous?

  "Master doesn't know yet." Song Duanping chuckled and said, "The monk is now sitting in the heart of the Buddha, with wine and meat passing through his intestines, and his Zen mind is firmly established."

  "It's still a bit too common." Wang Fang sighed and said: "If not, having a little monk would feel strange anyway."

  "Then I'll go and tell Master." Xuan Yu exclaimed a Buddhist phrase: "Amitabha!"

  Everyone is sweating...

  After waiting for Dai Xuan Yu to leave, everyone explained their intention, and the old man happily agreed, allowing them to restore their student status.

  Every day I work hard in the academy, time flies quickly, and before I know it, the seasons have changed, and it's already the year of the big exam.

  （）