Grandma An and Grandpa An knew exactly what these people were after, that they weren't a good match. They rejected them outright, fearing they would be accused of looking down on them because of their high social status. They could only use the euphemism of their granddaughter's young age as an excuse.

Even so, many matchmakers complained about this. The people who asked them to arrange marriages were all well-known landlords in the surrounding area. They promised these matchmakers a large sum of money, but An Jiakao didn't even consider it and rejected them all, leaving them with no chance to make money and missing out on a large sum of money. They couldn't help but complain.

When Daya and Lin Dawu left, An Jingzhi and An Laosan came back. They separated at the village entrance. An Jingzhi carried his luggage home, while An Laosan stayed at the village entrance. A group of people surrounded him, wanting to hear what he had done in the provincial capital. They kept calling his father "Scholar".

This really hit the spot for An Lao San. Why had he spent so much time wandering around the city? Wasn't it to have something to talk about when he got back? As everyone praised him, he kept on talking. He described the city as a paradise on earth, like nothing in heaven or on earth.

He said that he had been standing at the entrance of the examination hall for a few days and felt that he was full of literary spirit. When these people heard it, they all praised him and asked him questions.

An Jingzhi avoided the enthusiasm of the villagers and went home with his bag. Before he could sit down, the An family members who hurried back pulled him aside to ask about his well-being and about An Laosan. The family was busy scolding An Laosan, saying that he was unreliable. He had already come to the village but didn't even send his son home first, and actually let Jingzhi take the things home alone.

Grandpa An was already thinking about giving An Lao San a few canes when he came back.

When An Laosan returned home that day, he tasted stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots, which he had not enjoyed for many years.

…

After An Jingzhi passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, the An family was exempted from labor and taxes. Grandpa An and his family made a lot of money selling preserved eggs, and used the money to buy a lot of land.

With full enthusiasm, An Jingzhi took part in the imperial examination in winter. He performed well in the examination and his essay was concise, which won the favor of the chief examiner. The examiner valued his talent and sent him some imperial examination materials after finding out his information. An Jingzhi specially visited the examiner several times to thank him.

He Changxing did not plan to continue taking the exam. Being able to pass the examination and become a scholar was already something he had not expected. He knew his own abilities and had no regrets after trying his best. He was not young anymore and after passing the examination and becoming a scholar, he would start taking over the family business. He's father also arranged a marriage for him. When An Jingzhi took the examination for a juren, it would be time for him to get married.

He Changxing was experiencing one of the two major happy events in his life, the wedding night.

An Jingzhi and An Laosan rented a small courtyard in the provincial capital, ready to wait for the results to come out.

After his son passed the imperial examination, he became even more proud in the village. Li Erhu, who had always been at odds with him, even came to him and wanted to be one of his younger brothers. He became more and more successful in the village.

An Jingzhi only calmed down after hitting him several times.

The imperial examination for the Jinshi degree would be held in the spring of next year, and An Jingzhi was lucky to have the right timing. If he could pass every exam, he could advance all the way, unlike others who had to wait for three years. This was also the reason why he didn't go home this time. He was waiting for the results to come out, and then he would immediately set off for the capital to take the Gongyuan examination. If he didn't go early from all over the world, who knew what accidents might happen along the way.

Without the He father and son, the courtyard they lived in was not big. It was a small farmyard with four rooms and a front yard. There was no pond for fishing.

When An Jingzhi was taking the examination for the rank of scholar, Lord Yang, the chief examiner, heard that he was taking the exam, he was very pessimistic about him. He thought that he had misjudged him and that he was just an arrogant person with nothing but good looks. He even refused to visit An Jingzhi after he arrived in the capital.

As an official in the prefecture, he could get news faster than those scholars. After hearing the list of successful candidates, Lord Yang was stunned, and then felt very ashamed. He had indeed made a mistake and mistook the jade for a tile.

…

"Is this the residence of Mr. An Jingzhi, the successful candidate in the imperial examination?" The festive procession with music and drums stopped at the gate of the small courtyard rented by An Jingzhi and his son.

After a flurry of activity, An Lao San was still in a daze when everyone had left.

An Jingzhi closed the gate to avoid those inquiring eyes.

"What are you doing, Dad? Not eating?"

"I am the father of the Juren master, I am the father of the Juren master, my son has passed the Juren! Jingzhi! You are the Jieyuan! And the first place again!"

"No, no, no, what else is there to eat?! Let's go out and celebrate!"

What a shame he couldn’t go back to the village right away!

It's okay. From what his son said, he will take the imperial examination next year. What is that? If you pass the exam, you can become an official!

The next day, the father and son packed their luggage and headed for the capital.

…

The An family in the village once again became the center of attention.

The man who came to announce the good news this time was the same one from last time. He even paid the money out of his own pocket on the way to the person who came with him, choosing to come alone to announce the good news. This is the family of the top scholar! This time, he didn't even ask for money, and even paid a few taels of silver himself, just to make himself familiar to this old man An! It's obvious that the An family will become a giant that petty officials like them look up to in the future. If you don't quickly establish connections now, who will know who you are in the future?

Grandpa An was so flattered by this clerk that he was about to give him five taels of silver. However, the clerk refused to accept it. Unlike last time when he refused to leave without money, he kept refusing, saying that it was his blessing to be able to report the news to the Juren Master, so how could he accept money?!

He also praised An Jingzhi in various ways, unlike the straightforward and superficial praise of the villagers. After all, the petty official had worked in officialdom and knew how to read people's expressions and what words would touch their hearts. He also quoted from classics and praised An Jingzhi as being unparalleled in the world.

The An family felt relieved and proud after hearing this. They thought the other party's words were really pleasant to the ear. Although they didn't understand some of the words, they could tell that it was a great compliment to Jingzhi. They all had a better impression of the minor official.

It was the first time the villagers had seen the officials they feared like tigers, yet they also had such a fawning side. Isn't this just like them, praising them all the time? What's so great about it?

Only Li Erhu, in the crowd, was learning the words the official was using. He'd long since given up on surpassing An Lao San, but embracing An Lao San's powerful stature wasn't easy. The competition was immense, and he needed to study hard to stand out. "That's what they were saying, right?" He'd just heard the official say this before. Wasn't that learning and applying it right away? It seemed he had considerable talent. If his father had allowed him to study as a child, perhaps he could have passed the imperial examination.

At this time, Li Erhu had long forgotten that when he was a child he didn't want to do farm work. His father sent him to school to attend classes for a few days and then he went home crying. In school, he was beaten by the teacher every day. He would rather go home to work. Anyway, if he didn't want to work, he could be lazy.

The clerk sat in An's house for a while, drank some water and left. He had already left a good impression, and this trip was worth it!

If he stayed any longer, he would have to be treated to a meal by others. This was not acceptable. How could he trouble the family of the Juren?