It's lonely at the top.

Outsiders all speak of the Su family's prosperity, but only they themselves know their hardships.

Su Nanyan is already the leader of Anyitang at a young age and can act with impunity in Ji County. However, the affairs of Ji County are complicated and several important figures have approached him to ask him to do the evil deeds that Yongsheng Gang had done.

They bully the people, force the market to close, exploit the villagers, oppress the common people, and compete with them for profit.

Someone always has to do evil.

The imperial court has issued an order to increase taxes by 30% this year, and this task was originally supposed to fall on Anyitang.

Of course Su Nanyan was unwilling. If Feng Yuan hadn't been behind him, he would have collapsed long ago.

The Huarong Pavilion opened by Sunanyi was doing a booming business and making a lot of money every day, which attracted the covetousness of many people.

Before the Han family fell, they had tried to occupy the place more than once, but it was because they had the support of County Magistrate Feng Yuan behind the scenes.

It's rare for the family to get together for a meal.

Su Dahai sighed deeply. "The imperial court has issued an order to increase taxes by 30% this year. Governor Xu has already stated that if County Magistrate Feng can meet the tax collection requirements, he will be promoted to the position of Ning'an Prefecture Governor. If he fails, he will lose his position."

"County Magistrate Feng told me that he was ready to lose his job."

"Once Magistrate Feng leaves office, we'll be in trouble."

The Su family's main supporter now is County Magistrate Feng, which is accumulated by Song Chi. However, the current situation is complicated and County Magistrate Feng may not be able to continue.

The envied Su family is also in trouble.

"What are you afraid of? We still have our cousin." Su Nanyan said loudly: "My cousin is the leader of the literary society. Even the Han family was brought down by him."

"Yes, we still have Dalang."

Su Dahai said, "The college entrance examination has already ended. I wonder if Dalang passed."

"What are you talking about, father? How could my cousin fail the exam?" Su Nanyi raised her head and glared at Su Dahai with dissatisfaction.

"I even made some inquiries. If Dalang can become the first in the case, it would be a triple success."

Wang Ru paused and continued, "His scumbag father won three prizes in a row back then."

"My cousin will definitely be the first in the case." Su Nanyi said hurriedly.

Seeing this scene, Wang Ru and her husband looked at each other.

"cough."

Su Dahai cleared his throat and asked, "Nan Yi, you are of marriageable age, do you have a sweetheart?"

"No."

Su Nanyi said in a deep voice: "My cousin said that we should focus on our careers. I want to make the stockings as soon as possible."

"I always hear you talking about what these stockings are?" Wang Ru asked curiously.

"It's a kind of socks you wear on your legs. I can't explain it clearly, but you'll know once I make it."

Su Nanyi said seriously, "My cousin has passed the provincial examination and is about to go to Beijing. I will also make stockings for him when he goes to Beijing."

As the family was talking, they heard the sound of gongs and drums outside.

Su Dahai turned around and looked outside the door. "Is any of our neighbors getting married?"

"I haven't heard of it. Even if they were getting married, there shouldn't be such a big fuss."

Wang Ru stood up and said, "It sounds like it's at our doorstep."

"I'll go take a look."

Before Su Dahai stood up, loud shouts were heard outside the door.

"Congratulations to Song Chi for becoming the first in the court..."

"The first in the court case?"

The whole family was stunned, and even Su Nanyan, who was busy eating, stood up.

After a while, Su Dahai hurried out to open the door, only to see Feng Yuan standing at the door, clasping his fists and saying, "Congratulations, Old Su! Your nephew has become the first in the court."

"The first case in the court?"

"Da Lang has won the first place in the Intermediate Court exam."

"I told you that my cousin would definitely pass the exam." Su Nanyi made up her mind that the provincial examination would be held in two months, and if her cousin passed it, she would be able to go to Beijing.

I want to make the stockings within these two months.

"You are worthy of being my cousin. With you protecting me, I will be fine." Su Nanyan breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Ru thought to herself, "This kid is just like his father, he also won three prizes in a row. He really is the man who makes a big splash when he does."

"No, Dalang must have gone further than that heartless Song Shiwen."

The whole family was immersed in joy, and even the entire Ji County was in a carnival.

Feng Yuan held a banquet at the best restaurant in Ji County to entertain the families of these high school students.

After the banquet that night, he returned to his classroom in the county government office and wrote a letter to his teacher by candlelight.

Originally, the teacher planned to regard the college examination and the provincial examination as training for Song Chi.

But now Song Chi has put forward the condition that he can be provided with convenience during the provincial examination, or at least have a fair environment.

He believed the teacher would agree.

Not only did Song Chi win the first place himself, he also led 28 candidates to pass the college entrance examination.

In recent years, the imperial examinations have been controlled by the Wen Party, and all the talents have been won over by it, while the Qingliu Party has been in a period of transition. Song Chi is the leader of the Donglin Society of Nando Academy, and the 28 people he leads are members of the Qingliu Party.

If ten of these twenty-eight people eventually pass the provincial examination and five pass the metropolitan examination to become juren, it would be a great success.

Even Feng Yuan couldn't figure out how Song Chi did it, but he knew that such ability would definitely catch the teacher's attention.

Feng Yuan was ready to retire, and he would never increase taxes by 30% from the people.

But before leaving office, Song Chi must be pushed forward.

There was also a letter on his desk. It was a handwritten letter from Song Chi, asking him to pass it on to his teacher. There was only one sentence written on it: if he could not help with the provincial examination, he would join the literary party.

The teacher will never stand idly by again.

Feng Yuan wrote for a quarter of an hour before finishing. After the ink dried, he put it in an envelope and sent it away urgently.

As soon as the arrangements were made, Tang Shun walked into the classroom.

This censor had become a role model for censors, and he was famous throughout the Zhou Dynasty for his advice during court meetings by banging his head against the Panlong Pillar.

If Feng Yuan didn't know his true nature, he would have admired him, but now... he realized that there was no real clean official in the officialdom.

This upright and fearless censor was from the same school as Feng Yuan and was also Feng Yuan's junior fellow student. What he did was not out of his own will, but was done for ulterior motives.

They have been in Ji County investigating the case for more than a month.

They said they were investigating the case, but in fact they were dividing the spoils.

The Han family is bankrupt, and the huge wealth accumulated by the Han family must have a home.

Tang Shun said, "I'm leaving tomorrow."

Hearing this, Feng Yuan sarcastically said, "It seems you have reached an agreement on how to divide the spoils."

"Han Yu has hanged himself in prison, and his son Han Yuanzheng jumped out of a car and died while being escorted back to Beijing. This matter is over."

Tang Shun said, "Originally, we could have gotten a lot of benefits. You were the chief judge and also the prefect of Ning'an Prefecture... but you were evasive and evasive. Brother, have you forgotten your position?"

"I have only one side, and that is the people!"

"You are a member of the Qingliu Party, so your position is first and foremost that of the Qingliu Party!"

The two of them were at loggerheads.

Feng Yuan took a deep breath, "But you said the Qingliu Party is for the people, so what's wrong with my stance?"

Tang Shun sighed softly, "Brother, you are really too pedantic."

"I only do what I think is right, and I have a clear conscience."

Feng Yuan said in a deep voice: "If the Qingliu does not serve the people, then I am not the Qingliu."