"You unfilial son, you've been home for half a month already, how long are you planning to stay here?"

An angry shout of cursing rang out in the peaceful Fengjia Village. Farmers carrying hoes, who were about to go to the fields to weed, looked in the direction of the sound for a moment. When they saw a somewhat overweight young man fleeing from his house in a disheveled state, they smiled and continued with their work.

“Father, I’ve only been here a few days, why are you sending me away already? I’ve already written to the academy and spoken to the teachers, and they’ve granted me a month’s leave.”

The young man who had fled his home turned around and looked at the old man leaning on his cane at the door, explaining with a rather aggrieved expression.

"What? A month? You brat, you're planning to stay home for that long? Won't you fall behind in your studies at the academy? That won't do! Get back to the academy right now! How can you be so lazy?"

The old man looked at his son with a disappointed expression, and after saying that, he raised his cane to teach his good-for-nothing son a lesson.

"Dad, please stop hitting me. Can't I stay home and take care of you until you're fully recovered before I go back? If I go back now, my classmates and teachers will gossip and criticize me behind my back."

Seeing his father's posture, Feng Zichuan quickly ran away and explained helplessly.

Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important. When he returned from the academy, the reason he asked his teachers for leave was that his eldest son had been kidnapped, and his elderly father had fallen ill from the shock.

If he goes back after only a few days, it won't make sense. People will definitely gossip about him behind his back, and his reputation will be ruined. If he still wants to participate in the imperial examination, he will even be disqualified from taking the exam.

"I'm perfectly healthy, what do I need you to serve me?"

Upon hearing his son's words, the old man angrily threw down his cane and, limping, prepared to give him a beating.

"Get your ass up and go to the academy to study right now!"

"grandfather."

Just then, a child came out of the house and called out to the thin, white-haired old man.

"Since Father has some free time and can stay at home for a few more days, could you teach me for a few days? I'm going to the county school soon, so I can review my lessons in advance to avoid falling behind and making mistakes."

"Previewing beforehand? That's a good idea."

His thick eyebrows furrowed, softening his stern expression. The old man glanced at his son, who had already fled outside, and his tone became gentler.

"What are you still looking at? Get back here right now and teach my grandson properly. Do you want him to be as unambitious as you?"

"You go back to your room and rest first, I'll be right back."

Finally, the three generations of the family—old, middle-aged, and young—entered the house. The elderly, weakened by the exertions of the past few days, lay down on the bed, while the young man who had rushed back was tutoring his son, who was about to begin his formal education at the county school.

"well!"

Leaning over the desk, listening to the gentle words in his ear, Feng Bingwen sighed inwardly.

His biological father, Feng Zichuan, is a scholar who has achieved the title of Tongsheng (a degree in the imperial examination system) and is currently working hard to pass the Xiucai (another degree in the imperial examination system).

However, to be honest, he felt that his biological father didn't seem to be cut out for studying.

Although his family wasn't wealthy, they were considered middle-class, and with his great-grandfather having passed the imperial examinations, they had a fairly substantial fortune.

Therefore, his father had been studying ever since he learned to read. He never lifted a finger and never worked in the fields. He was always on leave from work, which is why he was so fat in an era when productivity was not high.

Even so, he only managed to pass the preliminary examination and achieve the title of Tongsheng. Even becoming a Xiucai (a lower-level scholar) was difficult for him. As for restoring his ancestors' glory and obtaining the title of Juren (a higher-level scholar), that was just wishful thinking.

Feng Bingwen guessed that the old man didn't expect that, but only hoped that his useless son could at least pass the imperial examination and become a scholar like him.

"That's not right!"

Feng Bingwen suddenly woke up. In the old man's eyes, his son's career was ruined, so wouldn't his grandson be a newly created alternate account? Wouldn't the responsibility of passing the imperial examination and restoring the glory of their ancestors fall on his shoulders?

"well!"

Even though he understood the old man's thoughts, Feng Bingwen could only sigh inwardly.

What could he do? To be honest, he didn't really like reading, and he didn't think he was cut out for it. Even with his knowledge from his past life, he wouldn't have any advantage in the imperial examinations.

If he really wants to make a name for himself in the imperial examination system, he has to start all over again. That would truly be a case of "diligence is the path to the mountain of books, and hard work is the boat to the boundless sea of ​​learning."

As for going against the old man's wishes, he wasn't that heartless.

Feng Bingwen had not forgotten that on that day, when the young man tried to forcibly take him away, the old man stood in front of him without hesitation and was knocked to the ground. Even now, he still carries injuries and walks with a limp.

Moreover, after returning home, he heard from his father that after the old man was found covered in blood at the village entrance that day, the first thing he did upon waking up was to look for him.

After realizing he had been abducted, he went completely mad, grabbing paper and pen and writing countless letters, using all his connections to try and find himself as soon as possible.

This behavior caused the health of the teacher, who was originally quite robust, to deteriorate visibly.

If Feng Bingwen hadn't returned in time, the old man might have passed away on his sickbed due to emotional distress.

With such deep care and concern, and given that Feng Bingwen's heart wasn't made of iron, how could he possibly go against the old man's lifelong wish? If possible, he himself also wanted to pass the imperial examination and obtain the title of Juren.

Putting everything else aside, with the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations), one can easily enter the government office and become a minor official with a certain rank with just a little maneuvering. Even without any other achievements, one can live a life free from worries about food and clothing.

Thus, somewhat reluctantly, Feng Bingwen, carrying a small cloth bag sewn by his mother containing several books for his early education, formally stepped into the county school and began his journey to the imperial examinations.

A few days after he entered the county school, his father, under repeated urging from the old man, took his mother, who had returned home with him, to Qianlong Academy in Longchuan Prefecture and left.

On the seventh day after Feng Bingwen entered the county school, after school, he walked home in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Suddenly, a large swath of dark clouds swept across the eastern sky, passing over Feng Bingwen's head and obscuring the setting sun in the west in the blink of an eye.

In just a few breaths, the sky darkened, and the world became shrouded in darkness, comparable to the dead of night. The ensuing lightning and thunder added to the terror.