Only Ye Panjiu accompanied Ye Ming to look at the list, while his parents, who were overjoyed, were nowhere to be seen.

The two strolled slowly home.

"Ming'er, why do you want to take the imperial examination?"

Ye Ming scratched his head. "Aunt, to be honest, I didn't think too much about it. I just love studying. I only pursued officialdom as a matter of course, and I also wanted to earn an imperial title for my mother. My mother has had a hard life."

He always remembered a scene when his aunt threatened suicide to force the family to support Du Pengzhi's schooling first, and Old Lady Ye held his hand while crying.

"Ming'er, this is my only daughter. I don't want to bury my child. I beg you..."

Ye Daniu and Ye Erniu knelt before him.

Sun was so angry that she pinched her palm until it bled.

He was still young and couldn't bear to see his family, who had always been so good to him, treat him like this. Without thinking too much, he agreed to drop out of school.

His mother cried by his bedside all night.

She kept repeating, "It's all my fault for being incompetent and unable to afford your education. I swear, I will do everything in my power to ensure you can continue your studies."

He always remembered the feeling of his mother's warm tears dripping onto his arm.

He only realized what was happening after he actually dropped out of school.

Everything is gone.

The school wouldn't let him in, and the kids he played with ignored him.

He remained silent, but every time he met Sun's restrained eyes, he would immediately smile.

Ye Panjiu paused for a moment. Most of the Ye family's suffering stemmed from the original owner's stubborn love-struck mind, which was deadly.

“It was your aunt who delayed you for more than ten years. Your mother hated me before, and that was my own fault. Now that the family is better off, you don’t need to worry about money. If you only want to study, then go all the way to the Hanlin Academy and do some great things that will go down in history and have a far-reaching impact. That will earn you a title of nobility.”

Ye Ming was deep in thought.

Ye Panjiu patted his shoulder, "You're still young. Try more things, and you'll eventually find what you truly want to do."

"Okay." Ye Ming made a mental note of those words.

"Crackling and popping!"

Just as I reached the alley in front of the Ye residence, the sound of firecrackers exploded in my ears.

Ye Panjiu covered her ears with a laugh, and Ye Ming ran forward.

The firecrackers were set off by the Ye family; the ground was covered in red debris, a testament to the joyous occasion in their home.

An incense table had been set up in the courtyard, the air filled with the faint scent of sandalwood. Old Man Ye and Old Woman Ye knelt devoutly on the prayer mats.

"With the blessings of our ancestors, Ye Ming, the eighth generation of the Ye family, has passed the imperial examination and become a successful candidate in the provincial examination! From this day forward, the Ye family will be an official family..."

The elderly couple muttered to themselves as they respectfully kowtowed three times and then offered incense.

Ye Ming spontaneously knelt down as well, expressing his gratitude to his ancestors.

This is how bloodlines are passed down through generations; without ancestors, there would be no him.

Ye Panjiu did not kneel, but only offered three sticks of incense.

She also expressed her gratitude to the ancestors of the Ye family.

The original owner of this body did indeed gain her a lot.

They had just finished paying respects to their ancestors when the officials from the local government arrived.

The gongs and drums were playing, creating a lively atmosphere. The procession to announce the good news was very long, and many neighbors followed along.

Ye Ming hurried to the door to greet him.

The yamen runners carried a plaque covered with a large red floral cloth.

Another bailiff carried a set of hats and a robe, and another person carried a tray of gleaming silver.

This silver was the most uniform official silver, each piece being the same size, making it very tempting to look at.

"Sir, we've come to congratulate you on your success!"

The bailiff smiled and gave him an official salute.

Ye Ming dared not presume and quickly returned the greeting, "Thank you all, brothers. Please come in and have a seat."

The head constable waved his hand, "Sir, you are too kind. This is a plaque, clothing, and twenty taels of silver bestowed by His Majesty. The Ye family can build a memorial archway now."

Ye Ming's heart was pounding, and he bowed in return to express his gratitude.

Ye Panjiu, Madam Sun, and Ye Erniu then handed out purses to the yamen runners who had come to deliver the good news.

For such a joyous occasion, it is essential to prepare a gift of money.

No matter how much, it's just for the sake of having a good time.

The constables thanked them with smiles and left one by one.

The remaining four neighbors were still gathered around, watching Ye Ming.

This is the future high-ranking official. Quickly get to know him; he might come begging to your door in the future.

The Ye family only spent the New Year here; they didn't stay for very long.

I'm not very familiar with my neighbors.

Therefore, Ye Ming simply bowed to everyone and then turned back to the Ye residence.

The rest of the Ye family went inside, and the door closed in front of everyone.

"If I had known that someone in this family was a scholar, I would have befriended them."

"I've never seen a scholar so low-key; he didn't know anything about it at all."

"Now that you've passed the imperial examination, that's even more impressive! It's a pity I don't recognize you!"

The neighbors were pointing and gossiping.

Ye Panjiu smiled as she listened to these words.

Turning to Ye Ming, he asked, "Ming'er, when will the results of the imperial examination be announced?"

Ye Ming shook his head, "In previous years it was usually around February of the following year, but there's still no news this year."

He continued, "But my master wrote to me that if I pass the imperial examination, I should go directly to the capital and not return to Bailu Academy."

Madam Sun was taken aback. "We're already heading to the capital? Mother hasn't even gone to the capital to look at houses yet. Where will we stay?"

Ye Panjiu smiled and said, "I have a villa in the capital. It's very big, and our whole family can stay there."

Old Man Ye was smoking his pipe when Old Woman Ye and he exchanged a glance, both of them hesitant.

After he went to the capital, the fields were truly left unattended for a whole year.

Most importantly, what were the elderly couple doing in Beijing?

Being idle all day long is also mentally exhausting.

Ye Panjiu took Ye Laotai's arm and said, "Mother, you, Father, and eldest brother are at home. Eldest brother can't leave the horse farm, and you can't leave the land at home. When it's almost New Year's, I'll come home to pick you up, and we'll go to the capital together for the New Year this year."

A year has flown by. It feels like just yesterday that I spent the Spring Festival in Shuzhou, and now it's already May.

The wheat in the field is currently growing rapidly, and the heading stage is crucial.

Not to mention there are still a bunch of vegetables in the garden that need to be taken care of.

Old Man Ye breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Ye Ming.

It's good that his daughter spoke up for him.

Ye Ming hurriedly said, "Grandpa, you don't need to stay with Ming'er. Once Ming'er arrives in the capital, he will be busy studying and preparing for the exams all day long, just like at the academy. There's nothing to worry about."

He estimated that he would rarely be at home then, and he definitely did not want his family to put down what they were doing and stay in the capital with him.

But the fact that his grandparents had this intention still warmed his heart.

Old Man Ye nodded, "Just focus on your studies tomorrow, don't worry about anything else."

He patted Ye Ming on the shoulder; this second grandson made him very proud.

Grandma Ye looked at him and smiled kindly, "We talked about marriage before. If you take a fancy to any girl tomorrow, just say so. Our Ye family is made from peasant backgrounds, and we would never do such snobbish and condescending things."

Ye Ming's face flushed red. The girl who followed him around the academy all day long was still there, and he didn't know her true identity.

Liu looked at Ye Cuihua. Hao'er and Nannan were still studying at the academy, and the two of them naturally wanted to return to Qingshui Village.