Madam Yan's Matchmaking Pavilion for Men

66 Elation, Ruining His Happiness

Zhang Shi Lan returned home in a carriage of the Yu family, still beaming with happiness. Now that he knew what the letter was about, he rushed to inform his father. Needless to say, Mister Zhang was just as elated. He had always known that his son didn't want to have a position at court but he had felt that just staying at home would be a waste of Zhang Shi Lan's talent. He couldn't really see a chance of him getting into the Academy though. It wasn't easy to be invited and there was no way to use connections. Otherwise, he would have long tried to make this possible for him.

Now, that wasn't important anymore though. His son had managed to be invited all on his own. Ah, he should go and tell everyone! Now, he finally understood why other men were constantly bragging about it when their son's achieved something. When the news was this good, the information just had to be shared. It was impossible to contain the happiness just inside yourself.

"You should go and tell your mother."

"Mn." Zhang Shi Lan nodded and then went over to where Madam Zhang was currently drinking tea and complaining to her maid about what a disappointment those marriage candidates for her son were.

Zhang Shi Lan smiled and then put the letter down in front of her. "Have a look at this, mother. Maybe it'll make you feel happier."

"Oh? What is it?" Madam Zhang picked up the letter, her expression lighting up further the more she read. "Ah! I can't believe it! Isn't that what you always wanted?"

Zhang Shi Lan nodded, leaning down when his mother leaped to her feet to hug him.

"Ah, my dear son, I always knew you'd be able to get this position! You were always so studious, always willing to learn. Nobody deserves this more than my son."

Zhang Shi Lan laughed. "Alright, alright, don't praise me too much. I might grow conceited."

"Aiya, you! I'd like to see the day when you get conceited! You should be a little more arrogant. Haven't you had achievements as well?"

"It's nothing much. I always just tried to make you and father proud and otherwise followed my heart."

"Yes, yes, yes. You never made trouble for us. It's good you have such a heart." She patted his chest and then looked at the letter again, beaming. "I have to go and tell everyone."

Zhang Shi Lan laughed again. "Don't do that. What will people think?"

"They'll think that my son is excellent. Ah, I have to pay a visit to that horrible Madam Ming. She was always bragging to me about how her son was so great, getting a position at court. Wasn't it just because her cousin works in the Ministry of Rites? He had connections and used them. Her son is too dumb to have managed that on his own."

"You shouldn't say that. Maybe he had hidden talents."

"Hmph. A hidden stash of gold maybe. It's bribery, I tell you! My son though ..." She looked at the letter again, her happiness not waning in the least. "Mn, I should take this over right now."

"You should better put it away and make sure we can keep it as a memento. When I start working there next week, everybody will find out anyway. Why should you go and demean yourself by loudly proclaiming it?"

Madam Zhang sighed. "It's still my son who knows best. Here you go. You keep the letter. It's your own achievement."

"Thank you, mother." Zhang Shi Lan took the letter and left.

His mother indeed didn't go and gossip and his father calmed down after a while as well, feeling that it wouldn't be appropriate to brag about his son. The family couldn't help but want to celebrate a little though so they organized a small feast just for the people of their house, letting the servants join in.