Quick Transmigration: The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character's Revenge

Chapter 381 Swapping a Sister for a Child 24

“Brother Jiyang probably doesn’t know her,” Meng Shaoqing replied.

"How do you know I don't know him if you don't tell me?"

"Even if you don't recognize them after you tell them, there's no point in telling them."

Seeing Meng Shaoqing's unwillingness to talk, Meng Jiyang secretly guessed that Meng Shaoqing had probably become the son-in-law of some local gentry or wealthy man.

Back then, after Meng Jiyang and Meng Shaoqing passed the imperial examination and became scholars, both of them were approached by local gentry and officials who wanted them to become sons-in-law, but they both refused.

Meng Jiyang's reason for refusing was simple: he simply looked down on those gentry and wealthy families. He knew their motives very well; they were simply hoping that he would pass the imperial examinations, become an official, and then bring them along to achieve great success.

Compared to becoming the son-in-law of a wealthy landowner or gentry, it's better to marry an ordinary girl without a family background, like Qi Ning.

Qi Ning was not only honest, hardworking and dutiful, but she could also take care of his mother, enduring beatings and scoldings. She could also weave cloth to sell and supplement the family income. Most importantly, she was easy to get rid of when he didn't need her.

In Meng Jiyang's view, it was entirely understandable for him to refuse to become the son-in-law of those local gentry and wealthy men, but for Meng Shaoqing, a man who was destitute and burdened with huge debts, to also refuse was to be hypocritical.

Judging from Meng Shaoqing's reaction now, it seems as if the identity of his wife cannot be revealed to the public.

Meng Jiyang was certain that Meng Shaoqing had probably given in and become a live-in son-in-law, which was why someone had paid off his debts and he could dress so luxuriously.

Although Meng Jiyang was about to become the son-in-law of the Ministry of Personnel, he felt that he was a grade higher than Meng Shaoqing.

Although the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was not high, his job in the Ministry of Personnel was to manage the allocation of officials. By selling official titles and positions for others, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel secretly amassed a considerable fortune.

Not only that, he arranged official positions for all his relatives in the Wu family. Needless to say, his connections are extensive. In the future, arranging an official position for his prospective son-in-law, Meng Jiyang, would be a piece of cake.

Both are forms of son-in-law, but the son-in-law of a local gentry or wealthy man can never compare to the son-in-law of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel.

Meng Jiyang's mood brightened considerably because of this guess, and he almost forgot about his mother's death in the blink of an eye.

He patted Meng Shaoqing on the shoulder: "Alright, since it's inconvenient to talk about it, then forget it. We're from the same hometown and now we're both in the capital, so we'll inevitably have to keep in touch in the future, and we might have a chance to meet again."

Meng Shaoqing replied vaguely, "Perhaps."

Meng Jiyang stopped asking about the matter; he had other things on his mind.

"Brother Shaoqing, since we are from the same hometown, it is fate that we met today. I have a favor to ask of you."

"What's the matter?"

"It's about something in my family, please don't tell anyone."

Meng Jiyang's words were rather general. Family matters naturally included Chen Hehua's affairs as well as Qi Ning's affairs.

He looked worried: "After all, as you know, a son must observe three years of mourning after his mother's death and cannot participate in the imperial examination. I took the metropolitan examination without knowing that my mother had died. If people find out that my mother just passed away last year, then my efforts in this metropolitan examination will be in vain."

"I missed one imperial examination three years ago, and I can't afford to miss it again this time. I'm begging you, brother, please keep this a secret."

What he said was indeed true, but not wanting Chen Hehua's death to affect the imperial examination was only one aspect.

On the other hand, Meng Jiyang was also afraid that Meng Shaoqing would reveal the truth about his family, including the fact that he was already married, which absolutely could not be known to his future father-in-law and Wu Lanxiang.

In either case, it would render all of Meng Jiyang's efforts over the past three years futile.

That's when he had no choice but to ask Meng Shaoqing to keep it a secret.

Meng Jiyang had a fairly good understanding of Meng Shaoqing's personality, and he felt that since he had pleaded so humbly, Meng Shaoqing would surely agree.

But Meng Jiyang guessed wrong this time.

If Meng Shaoqing hadn't been with Qi Ning, and hadn't known about Meng Jiyang's shady dealings, he might have actually kept Meng Jiyang's secret out of consideration for their shared hometown.

But things are different now; Meng Shaoqing has already married Qi Ning.

Upon hearing Meng Jiyang's words, he thought to himself that regardless of whether he knew beforehand, he could not participate in the imperial examinations during the mourning period, otherwise he would face punishment.

Meng Jiyang said he participated in the imperial examination without knowing the details, but is that not wrong? He still broke the law.

Meng Shaoqing remained silent, while Meng Jiyang continued, "I am deeply grateful for your help this time. I will treat you to a drink later."

Hearing these words, Meng Shaoqing's mind was filled with thoughts of Meng Jiyang's survival. He was amazed that Meng Jiyang was still alive. What would happen if Qi Ning found out about this?

Would she leave Meng Jiyang for him?

A dark thought gradually arose in Meng Shaoqing's mind: if he were to reveal the news that Meng Jiyang's mother had just passed away last year, he would surely be punished, and perhaps then he would no longer appear before Qi Ning.

After all, Meng Jiyang did break the law, so it was only right for him to expose him.

Meng Shaoqing didn't really hear what Meng Jiyang said after that, and in the end he only gave a vague reply: "I understand."

Meng Jiyang thought that Meng Shaoqing had agreed, so he was very satisfied and relieved. He said a few words of thanks insincerely, then made an excuse that he had urgent business and left in a hurry.

Meng Shaoqing was somewhat dazed and didn't know how he got home. It wasn't until he entered the house and Qi Ning got up from the small couch and asked him why he was so late that he came to his senses.

Qi Ning stood in front of him, her face showing a hint of displeasure: "Speak up! Didn't I tell you to come back earlier? Why are you so late?"

In fact, Qi Ning had already heard from the system that Meng Shaoqing had met Meng Jiyang tonight.

Qi Ning was not surprised by this. Meng Jiyang was the kind of person who always liked to mingle in such places and socialize with people. Especially after he got in touch with the official in charge of personnel, he would use this to boast and get others to flatter him.

Tonight's banquet was organized by students from the Yuanzhou City area, so it's perfectly normal for Meng Jiyang to be there.

Since Meng Shaoqing and he have run into each other, it's a good thing.

Qi Ning now wanted to get Meng Shaoqing to reveal this matter.

But as soon as she finished asking, Meng Shaoqing suddenly leaned down and hugged her tightly.

"Aning."

He whispered her name in her ear, his breath carrying a hint of alcohol.

Qi Ning was slightly taken aback: "What's wrong?"

"Miss."

Meng Shaoqing didn't answer, but simply called her by a different name.

Qi Ning patted him on the back: "What's wrong? Did something happen at the banquet?"

------