She didn't make a sound to disturb them, simply setting down the tea set before quietly slipping out.
Stepping outside, she saw her mother returning, beaming with joy and her heart thumping like a captured rabbit's.
"It's confirmed! It's our two boys! Jing took first place, and De'an is fifteenth."
Chen Wanqing smiled. "Didn't you say you were going to wait until evening when no one was around to go look?"
"I was bursting with joy, how could I possibly wait until then? Oh, those two boys have really made us proud. Qing'er, tell me, should I make them a special meal to celebrate?"
Chen Wanqing gave her honest opinion. "Mother, it's still too early to celebrate. You should wait until they've passed the entire county exam. It won't be too late to celebrate then. At that point, you can order a full banquet for them from a restaurant to reward them properly."
'Let's skip it for now. What if they get an upset stomach?'
