"Teacher, I would like to thank you here. My son was able to pass the examination and become a student thanks to your good teaching." He's father spoke sincerely to the teacher who came to the banquet and kept thanking him.

How could the Master dare to take the credit for this? If it was really due to his good teaching, then he would certainly deserve it, but this was clearly the credit of his student An Jingzhi.

The master repeatedly declined, "I feel ashamed to accept this. I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. Master He, if you want to thank someone, you should thank Jingzhi."

An Jingzhi's father naturally wanted to thank him, and he did so generously. However, with the exam imminent, he wasn't planning on hosting another banquet to waste An Jingzhi's time. He had already prepared a thank-you gift. Since today was a banquet to thank the teacher, the main focus was naturally on the teacher. After all, the teacher had made an indelible contribution to his son's success. Without the foundation laid by the teacher, it would have been impossible for him to achieve such excellent results in such a short time.

At the banquet, several people toasted each other. After the meal, An Jingzhi and his friend were invited by He's father to sit in the living room.

"Master, Jingzhi, I invited you here this time not only to express my gratitude, but also to tell you something. Changxing should have already told you that he ranked third in the Tongsheng exam. This good result was entirely due to the help of Master and Jingzhi."

"Changxing wants to take this opportunity to try again for the Scholar title. If he passes, that would be the best. If not, it's just a chance to gain experience."

He Changxing took over He's father's words, "Master, Brother Jingzhi, I thought that after this exam, there are still two years before the next scholar exam. I am in good condition for this exam, so I want to give it a try."

Each exam cost several taels of silver, including food, lodging, and travel expenses. While most families couldn't afford the exam, the He family had fewer concerns. The teacher knew He Changxing's abilities, and since his ranking as a student was good, he might actually be able to take the exam.

"I think it's okay."

An Jingzhi also agreed. Just like what they said, it would be best if they could pass the exam, but if they failed, they could still concentrate on preparing well.

"Then you should prepare well. I have some policy papers I've written. Come with me to the academy and take them back to read. I won't arrange your daily routine, so you can figure it out on your own."

He Changxing and his father exchanged a glance, overjoyed. To receive the approval of An Jingzhi and the others meant he still had a chance. While he was taking the exam with the goal of gaining experience, how could He Changxing not hope to pass?

After chatting for a while at the He family's house, He's father took the opportunity to call An Jingzhi to his study. An Jingzhi saw that it was spotless, obviously cleaned regularly by servants, but all the books looked like they had just been bought, with no signs of being read. It was obvious that the study was just for decoration.

He's father took an envelope from the desk and gave it to An Jingzhi.

"Jingzhi, since you call me uncle, I am your elder. Please keep this banknote. I know your family is in financial difficulty and the cost of taking the imperial examination is huge, which may increase your family's burden. But with your qualifications, you will definitely rise to the top. Consider this little money as a favor from your uncle to your nephew."

He's father thought about it but couldn't find any gift to give An Jingzhi to repay his kindness. In the end, he decided to give him silver. Considering An Jingzhi's family situation, this gift was the most practical and useful. One exam would cost three or four taels of silver. The exam for the scholar was not too bad, as the distance to Yazhou Prefecture was not far, so three or four taels of silver would be enough. But if it was the exam for the juren, the travel expenses would be more than three or four taels of silver. It was okay if he passed once, as some people failed after taking the exam three or four times.

If he had given it directly, it would have been insulting, so he used the excuse of their uncle-nephew relationship to give it to him. In fact, it was also a thank-you gift, but it was more decent this way. Fearing that An Jingzhi would be embarrassed, he specially called the person out and away from everyone.

He's father knew that An Jingzhi was so smart that he would definitely understand what he meant.

When An Jingzhi saw the silver note of two hundred taels in the envelope, he understood what was going on. He did not refuse. He thought that He's father was so careful to take care of his self-esteem, which was really thoughtful. Of course, he would not lose face.

He Changxing really put in a lot of effort to get into the examination and become a Tongsheng. It can even be said that without his efforts, He Changxing would have never achieved fame in his life.

Originally, he had intended to repay the original owner's debt of five taels of silver and settle the matter afterwards, but as they got along, his bond with the He family grew deeper and deeper, and the He family was indeed worth making friends with. So, let's continue our relationship. By accepting the money, he was essentially acknowledging He's father as his uncle. It might seem like An Jingzhi had taken advantage of the other party by taking two hundred taels of silver, but in reality, both of them knew that it was the He family that was taking advantage.

Seeing that An Jingzhi accepted the money, which proved that he recognized him as his uncle, He's father laughed happily, and the relationship between the two of them obviously became closer.

The four of them chatted in the front hall for a while, and finally the teacher and An Jingzhi returned to the school together.

On the way, the teacher looked at An Jingzhi many times, as if he had something to say but found it difficult to speak, so in the end he didn't say it.

An Jingzhi looked at the teacher who seemed to be hesitant to speak, and roughly knew what he wanted to say.

After returning, he spent a few days compiling a set of information and took it directly to the teacher's study.

"Jingzhi, what is this?"

"Master, didn't you look at me for a long time on the road that day? This is what you want."

Hearing this, the teacher quickly flipped through the pages. It recorded in detail the different methods to use for different students, as well as An Jingzhi's own compilation, Tongsheng's experience in setting questions, and how to get points even if you don't know the answer.

If an ordinary old scholar saw this information, he would probably be so angry that he would scold An Jingzhi loudly. This is disrespectful to the knowledge of the sage. How could he turn such a solemn and dignified examination as the imperial examination into a set of rules and regulations? It is simply an insult to the sage.

The teacher was overjoyed. If he were younger, he might have had the same idea, but his teaching career over the years has made his mind much more open.

For the common people at the bottom, saints are not the most important thing. They only see tangible benefits.

"Jingzhi, this is the learning method you summarized yourself. Are you really willing to let the teacher teach others in the school?"

"Master, since I have brought it out, I am naturally willing." I believe that with this information, the success rate of students in your school will surely increase a lot. Then your school will become famous, and more people will rush to send their children to the school, which will also help fulfill your wish of having many students all over the world.

"Jingzhi, I was right about you. I thank you on behalf of your classmates."

The teacher wanted to stand up and thank him but An Jingzhi quickly stopped him. He said that he didn't take out this information just for these classmates. They should be glad that they were his students.