Lu Lin was waiting for Chen Xiaolai to come and help, but Chen Xiaolai's business was probably too big and she couldn't come for a while. However, the results of the autumn examination came out, and Ji Yun'an became the third-ranked scholar.

"Ji Yun'an is quite capable!" Lu Lin said with admiration.

Chen Xiaomi smiled and said, "Ji Yun'an is already very capable! You've been worrying unnecessarily, fearing he'll fail."

Lu Lin curled his lip and said, "Maybe this guy just got lucky... Luck isn't something you can just have anytime." Chen Xiaomi said.

It seems that Lu Chengyu failed the imperial examination again. It seems that the success of the imperial examination depends on the performance on the day, and the results are not necessarily better or worse each time.

"Ji Yun'an has become the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination. He should be able to enter the Hanlin Academy. His future is bright!" Chen Xiaomi said.

Lu Lin frowned in frustration. He had been in officialdom for so many years and was still just a county magistrate, while Ji Yun'an had entered the Hanlin Academy as an editor and was already a sixth-rank official.

People in the Hanlin Academy are the easiest to get promoted. After all, the Hanlin Academy is in the capital. Even if you are a minor official, you are still a close minister of the emperor. If you make a little achievement, you can report it to your superiors and you will be promoted. People like him are sent here and there. They are far away. Even if they govern a place very well, their superiors will not know.

Although promotion is not easy, Lu Lin is already very satisfied with the current situation. In Yucang County, where the emperor is far away, he is the boss.

Lu Lin rested his chin on his hand and said, "The waters in Kyoto run deep."

Lu Lin disliked social engagements and the intricacies of officialdom. Being a county magistrate in this place and researching various delicacies was all he desired.

Chen Xiaomi nodded and said, "Yes!" Although the capital is a dangerous place, Ji Yun'an should be able to handle it. The Ji family is a family of military generals, and many of them have been in officialdom for a long time and will surely give him some pointers.

Dashi Village.

Lu Chengyu failed the imperial examination and locked himself up again.

"I failed the exam again!"

"It's still too difficult."

"That's true! It's not easy to become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examinations). This Xiucai is already very good, as he is exempt from taxes and corvée labor."

"Yes! It would be great if Cheng Yu could set up a school in the village!"

"Yes! But with Cheng Yu's personality, it'll be difficult!"

"Cheng Yu is just too focused on his studies. His two daughters are so skinny, they look so pitiful."

Two years ago, Li Fangyue finally gave birth to a son. Tang Shi finally started to look at Li Fangyue more favorably. With a son, Li Fangyue paid less attention to her two daughters. Lu Chengyu didn't even pay much attention to his son, let alone his two daughters.

"I heard that Chen Xiaomai's son passed the imperial examination and became a third-place scholar."

"Third place in the imperial examination? That's incredible!"

"Are you kidding me? The third-ranked scholar?"

"How could there be a mistake? Chen Xiaomai's husband passed the exam a few years ago, but he insisted on giving up his ranking. Many people were watching this exam closely, waiting for him to fail so they could laugh at him. But in the end, he came out as the third-ranked scholar. This news has spread all over the capital now."

"Yes! The third-ranked scholar is practically a reincarnation of the God of Literature! Who would have thought that this silly little Shuang'er would find such a clever husband!"

"Why would someone so intelligent like wheat?"

"Who knows! Maybe the smart ones just like the fools."

"The minds of these intelligent people are really strange!"

"I've heard that the smarter a person is, the more quirks they have. Some smart people don't like being officials; they prefer traveling and sightseeing. Others find being an official troublesome and would rather be a beggar..."

Lu Family

Li Fangyue looked at Madam Tang and said, "Mother, my husband has locked himself in his room again."

Mrs. Tang nodded and said, "I understand."

Two days ago, Madam Tang went to see Lu Chengyu. When Lu Chengyu saw Madam Tang, he told her to get out fiercely. Madam Tang was a little scared of her son and slunk away.

In recent years, Lu Chengyu's temperament has become increasingly eccentric. However, his family members are counting on him to make him proud, and none of them dare to advise him. As a result, Lu Chengyu's temperament has become even more eccentric.

"It's all the villagers' fault for talking nonsense," Mrs. Tang said sullenly.

In recent years, as Lu Lin has become increasingly successful outside, the villagers have taken the Lu family less and less seriously.

Hearing that the person Chen Xiaomai found had become the third-ranked scholar, Tang felt very sad. Back then, Ji Yun'an passed the exam but gave up his ranking. Tang thought that Ji Yun'an was too proud and would cry when he failed the exam. Tang never expected that there really were geniuses in this world.

Compared to this, her own son was much inferior.

After a moment's thought, Mrs. Tang realized that the problem wasn't with her son. She reasoned that great teachers produce great students, and that her teacher was simply incompetent, merely a scholar.

Mrs. Tang sighed, feeling somewhat resigned to her fate.

After the two elders in the family passed away, the family divided their property. After the division, they had less contact with the fourth son's family.

Lu Chengyu is exempt from taxes. Although the land has been divided, the land belonging to the fourth son's family is still registered under their name.

Tang originally wanted to use the tax exemption issue to pressure the fourth son's family, hoping they would come and help out during the busy farming season.

However, the fourth son, Lu An, was not one to be trifled with. He threatened the Tang family, saying that if they did not exempt their land from taxes, they would go to the yamen to accuse Lu Chengyu of being unfilial and starving the old lady to death, and demand that the county magistrate strip Lu Chengyu of his official title.

This dynasty governs the country with filial piety in mind. Even if the fourth prince has no evidence, suing him like this will still ruin Lu Chengyu's reputation.

Mrs. Tang was worried about damaging her son's reputation, so she endured it.

The Tang family was small, and the two young girls couldn't help much. During the busy farming season, Tang had to work in the fields by herself, and in just a few years, she aged more than ten years.

After Lu Chengyu passed the exams over the past few years, Madam Tang felt somewhat discouraged, thinking that her son might only ever be a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), but she dared not tell her son this.

Shaxian County.

Chen Chi sat down next to Chen Xiaocai and said, "Everything's been taken care of!"

Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "Yes!" The shops under his control were gradually cleared out. With so many shops and houses sold, he earned more than 10,000 taels of silver.

After much deliberation, Chen Xiaocai still couldn't bear to sell the hot spring resort, so she entrusted it to Liu Yun for management.

Chen Xiaocai originally intended to hand it over to General Ji, but considering that General Ji was a very busy man, he decided against it.

Chen Xiaocai thought to himself: He handed the hot spring resort over to Liu Yun for management, and the patrol battalion was very happy. The patrol battalion even told Chen Xiaolai to rest assured that their patrol battalion members would take turns guarding the hot spring resort and would absolutely not allow anyone to damage the facilities.

Whether these people went to work as guards or to have fun is unknown.

Chen Xiaocai has already made a lot of money in Shaxian County, and he no longer has any expectations for the hot spring resort's profits. He will entrust the hot spring resort to someone else because he doesn't want it to fall into disrepair.

"We can prepare to set off now," Chen Chi said.

Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "My brother wrote that there are many delicious things in Yucang County."

Chen Chi nodded and said, "It seems that you are doing well in Yucang County."

Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "It seems like a good idea."

After finishing her work, Chen Xiaocai prepared to set off.

Chen Xiaocai was carrying a large sum of money and, fearing something might happen on the way, hired many people to accompany and protect him, making it a grand and imposing procession.

After arriving in Yucang County, Chen Xiaocai first went to the county government office. Chen Xiaocai's group was quite large. Chen Xiaocai had moved out of the county government office a few years ago and had many workers and servants at home.

Chen Xiaocai had just arrived in Yucang County and hadn't found a place to live yet, so he could only stay at the county government office.

Fortunately, Lu Lin had no concubines, so the population was still small. Chen Xiaocai and the others didn't feel crowded at all when they moved in.

These days, wealthy families usually have two or three concubines, and county magistrates like Lu Lin often have secondary wives.

The previous magistrate of Yucang County, when he was nearly fifty, married a delicate young girl. Lu Lin privately thought that the man was an old lecher, but that was the general trend in the area, and the young girl was there willingly, so Lu Lin couldn't say anything.

"Big brother, this mansion is quite nice!" Chen Xiaocai said to Chen Xiaomi.

Chen Xiaomi smiled and said, "Yes! It must be thanks to the previous magistrate."

In comparison, Lu Lin's residence in Shaxian was rather shabby.

Lu Lin had previously thought that the Shaxian mansion, which he had put a lot of effort into repairing, would benefit later officials, but after arriving in Yucang County, he no longer felt that way.

A clean county magistrate for three years can amass 100,000 taels of silver. It's really easy for officials to make money if they really want to!

Chen Xiaocai looked at Chen Xiaomi with some anticipation and said, "I heard that after Brother Lu came, he developed a lot of delicious food."

Chen Xiaomi nodded and said, "There are plenty. I've prepared a welcome feast for you tonight, so you can eat your fill."

Hearing Chen Xiaomi say this, Chen Xiaocai couldn't help but feel a little more expectant.

Unfortunately, the wheat isn't here.

Chen Xiaomi thought to herself: Ji Yun'an has become the third-ranked scholar this time, so he must have a lot of social engagements in the capital. Xiaomai probably won't be able to come over anytime soon. Fortunately, this place isn't too far from the capital.

Lu Lin did indeed prepare a lot of dishes to welcome Chen Xiaocai.

Lu Lin has been researching various delicacies lately, and now that Chen Xiaolai has finally arrived, Lu Lin decided to let his brother-in-law broaden his horizons.

Chen Xiaolai and Shen Chi were indeed stunned by the huge table of delicious food.

Chen Xiaocai has made a lot of money this year and has eaten a lot of local delicacies. He has even been to Kyoto, where he has seen many snacks. However, even the well-traveled Chen Xiaocai was still amazed by the huge table of food. "Brother, it's so delicious!" Chen Xiaocai said excitedly as he ate the food.

Lu Lin smiled slyly and said, "Eat, eat, hurry up and eat. After you finish this meal, I'll kick you out and you can cook for yourselves."

Chen Xiaocai: "..." Brother Lin is so cunning!

Chen Xiaomi smiled and said, "Don't listen to your brother Lin's nonsense. You can stay here as long as you want. The yamen is quite spacious, and it would be empty if no one lived here." Chen Xiaomai was far away in the capital, and Chen Xiaocai had always been in Shaxian. The three brothers were scattered all over the place, and Chen Xiaomi missed his two younger brothers very much.

Chen Xiaocai blinked and said with a sly smile, "Then I'll have to bother you for a while longer, brother."

Chen Xiaocai thought to herself: It seems the kitchen has come up with a lot of new dishes. If we move them out, it won't be easy to eat them.

Chen Xiaomi smiled and said, "What do you mean by disturbing me!"

Lu Lin snorted lightly, looking arrogant.

Chen Xiaocai glanced at Lu Lin and asked ingratiatingly, "Brother Lin, did you research all these vegetables? They're local specialties from Yucang County!"

Lu Lin said with some pride, "Most of them were researched and developed by me with painstaking effort."

Chen Xiaomi glanced at Lu Lin, thinking to herself: Painstaking effort?

After Lu Lin arrived in Yucang County, he spent his days buying and eating, and I didn't see any signs of him putting in any effort.

Chen Xiaolai rolled his eyes and said, "If there weren't any in Shaxian, opening a restaurant there would definitely be packed."

Lu Lin nodded and said, "That's what I was thinking too. We're currently repairing the restaurant."

"Brother Lin, I heard you're planning to build a fleet?" Chen Chi asked.

Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yes, that's right. We recently built a large ship, and it should be ready to be launched soon."

Chen Chi said with great interest, "Is that so? Then we can take a boat out to sea and see the scenery."

Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yes!" There's not much entertainment in this place, so taking a trip on the sea seems like a good way to relax. Lu Lin was also planning to take a trip on the sea sometime; he could even try fishing from the boat.

Fishing is quite a fun activity; many bosses in my past life enjoyed it. These bosses naturally had no shortage of fish to eat; they just fished for enjoyment.