After Jingzhe passed the provincial examination, he had to start preparing tirelessly for the metropolitan and palace exams.
While Jingzhe was proud and elated, his other son, Dashi, had gone silent.
Tong Huaqiong felt both joyful and worried.
The saying goes that riches come with risk; after Dashi and He Chao opened the market for cotton fabrics and general merchandise at the border, they expanded their business into Mo Bei amidst the roaring fires of war.
That was a business that offered huge returns.
Of course, the risk was high too; a single careless mistake might leave you with nothing but your soul.
The war between Dasheng and Mo Bei had lasted almost a year without resolution.
Dashi sent two letters back in the summer, reassuring them of his safety, and carried news of Nie Xiaofeng and Su Chengmin's heroic exploits in battle.
As autumn set in, Dashi's letters stopped, and during the Mid-Autumn Festival reunion dinner, Liu Yueer couldn't help but cry.
