Chapter 1
Blaine had passed the Official Selection Test and was this year's third-place scholar.
Dennis and Sharon cried tears of joy, burning incense and offering fervent prayers to their ancestors. They didn't forget to pull me aside, promising that once they reached Sester, they would ensure Blaine married me.
For the past three years, I had worked day and night selling embroidery to save up a hundred taels of silver, which allowed him to travel to Sester and take the Official Selection Test. During the year he was away, I tended to his parents tirelessly. Without me, Dennis would have passed away from his illness six months ago.
If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have lived to see this moment of honor. Blaine had achieved third place and is duty-bound to honor his promise to marry me.
However, Evan told me yesterday that Blaine had become a son-in-law of the Governor's family half a month ago and was engaged to marry Joshua's daughter. This news had already spread throughout Sester.
Evan, who also took the Official Selection Test in the capital, had placed second, while Blaine was third. After the results were announced, Evan returned home. But Blaine didn't come back. Instead, he sent a letter summoning Dennis and Sharon to the capital, without mentioning me at all.
Evan would never lie to me.