Chapter 527: Check the Ranking

As soon as September arrived, the government sent people to urge the payment of grain taxes.

Fortunately, the grain tax in the village had been collected. The next day after Qin Yao received the order, he organized the young and strong people in the village to deliver the grain to the county granary and successfully completed the tax collection task.

In this way, the busy autumn harvest finally ended, and Qin Yao, the village chief, was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

However, during this period, the government asked for more than a dozen corvées to go to the neighboring town to build a river embankment.

This kind of corvée labor within the county is already very good, because it is heavy physical work. The government will give each person four pounds of food per day, and there is no need to bring their own food.

It is hard work for the family. Losing a strong laborer at such an important time as autumn harvest will make things much more difficult.

At times like this, the villagers of Liujia Village would be delighted to find that after a busy year in the village, they actually had enough extra money to hire temporary workers.

And all this is thanks to the stationery factory.

Watching the stationery factory rebuilt with funds raised by the whole village taking shape bit by bit, all the villagers in Liujia Village are looking forward to what great changes it will bring to the village after its completion.

However, before the new factory was completed, another important construction project in the village was completed.

The school has been built.

The children have books to read.

On the day of the school's opening ceremony, Qin Yao brought the award medal that she had asked the blacksmith from Xiahe Village to make as promised.

One coin was given to each child in the village who actively helped adults in school.

Xiao Lai Fu got one and loved it so much that he didn’t know what to do. He held it in his hand, not wanting to take it away, and just looked at it happily.

That happy expression made Dalang and his four siblings envious to death.

"Mother, can we go back to the village to go to school next year?"

After leaving the academy and on the way home, Sanlang and Si Niang asked expectantly.

The children have not yet realized that the quality of teaching varies from place to place. They think that since everyone is teaching, then the students are all learning the same thing.

Thinking of the hassle of getting up early every day to go to school in town, I naturally look forward to going to school near my home.

However, Qin Yao shook her head and said, "Da Lang and Er Lang have been in the Ding Clan's main academy, and there will be no changes for you."

"As for you two little ones, you will be two years old next year. If the Ding clan school is willing to accept other students into their own clan school, then no matter how high the tuition is, I will let you stay."

"If they don't want others to enter their tribe's school, then I will find another way."

In short, stay if you can.

Dalang and Erlang agreed very much. After all, they were several years older than their younger siblings. In addition, they had always been with the children from the Ding family headquarters, so they had more or less realized the huge difference between the headquarters and the external schools.

The external schools only provide some basic teaching, but the main one is quite different. The teacher comes with the intention of helping them pass the imperial examinations. Not only does he teach, he also gives pointers on the ways of the world and the officialdom and court situations.

Although it is far from being comparable to famous teachers like Gong Liangliao, for students living in the isolated county town, what the teachers in the Ding family's main school said is the only source of information.

It’s a pity that the two little ones can’t think that much.

When he heard his mother say that he could not go to the village school, his shoulders immediately drooped and he sighed, wandering home like a ghost, with his arms hanging and swinging.

Qin Yao found it amusing and helpless. She didn't say anything like "I'm doing this for your good". She just told them the facts.

"Only by following the teacher at the Ding family headquarters can one take the imperial examination."

Sanlang was still unhappy. He had never thought about taking the imperial examination. He just wanted to sleep one more hour every day.

Si Niang, on the other hand, was a little excited. She hurried back to A Niang and asked, "A Niang, can I also take the imperial examination?"

Qin Yao never lied to children about important matters, and answered very seriously: "Women cannot participate in the imperial examination."

"What if I become a man?" Si Niang asked immediately. However, after asking the question, her brows knitted tightly together, and she said firmly: "But I still like being a woman. Besides my mother, I like myself the most!"

Qin Yao picked up the narcissistic girl and walked away, smiling and saying, "Studying is not just for the purpose of taking the imperial examination. It can also help you understand the bigger world, more things, and more people, right?"

Si Niang tilted her head and thought, yes, reading is still very interesting.

"Mom, I will listen to you." The little girl hugged her mother's neck affectionately and spoke seriously in her ear.

Qin Yao tilted her head and kissed the rosy cheek, "You are so good, baby."

"Mother, what is a treasure?"

"Si Niang is my baby."

The three young boys who were following behind them, grunting and trying to catch up with their mother who was walking very fast without realizing it, all paused when they heard the corny words coming from the front.

Si Niang is a treasure, but what about them?

So they were all picked up?!

It's raining heavily.

However, no one was hiding under the wall outside the Yingtian Prefecture government office where the results were posted.

"Young Master, the list has been released. Are you sure you don't want to go down and take a look?"

In a low-key yet luxurious carriage on the side of the road, Gong Liangliao and Qi Xiangguan were calm and composed, except for Liu Ji, who seemed to be moving around like a jumping monkey.

Liu Ji felt that his personality was insulted by his junior brother!

"Okay, you are noble and aloof, I will go and see it myself!" He turned his head and was about to open the car door and jump out.

Qi Xianguan took a deep breath and reminded him, "It's raining heavily outside. Wouldn't it be better to wait in the car for Shitou and the others to come back?"

Leaving behind a sentence "I won't!", someone rushed into the heavy rain without hesitation.

Awang, wearing a bamboo hat and standing outside the car looking at the crowded crowd, felt nothing in his heart. Suddenly, he felt something flash past him.

He looked up quickly and saw that it was the old man who was usually crazy. It was okay then.

It was raining heavily, and as soon as Liu Ji came out, he was soaked like a drowned rat.

He felt a little regretful, but no one behind him asked him to go back!

There is no other way, you have to finish the climb of the path you choose.

Besides, is it the same thing for others to see it and for yourself to see it?

Liu Ji couldn't imagine how cheerful he would be if he could see his name on the list with his own eyes.

Of course, the prerequisite is that his name is on the list.

There should be, right?

With nine parts of expectation and one part of uneasiness, Liu Ji resolutely got into the crowd.

The bluestone floor, which had been scorched by the scorching sun for a long time, was doused by the cold rain, evaporating a stuffy and dry vapor. Combined with the various smells on the people, Liu Ji almost fainted.

He stood up suddenly, raised his head to take a deep breath, then looked down. He was still one meter away from the top of the list and there was no way he could squeeze in.

There was no other way. He regretted rushing out of the car and could only call out urgently: "Awang! Awang!"

A gust of wind blew past his head, and Liu Ji successfully came to the bottom of the list. He was held high up by the expressionless Awang, standing out from the crowd.

This familiar posture reminded Liu Ji of the good memories he had with his wife last time in the city.

Stop, stop, let’s look at the list first.