The carriage moved slowly along the main road.

The carriage was bustling with noise, and Zhao Jinshan's mouth never stopped, completely oblivious to the world around him:

"Brother Donkey, don't you have a donkey cart? Why are you squeezing in with us?"

Ye Lu's family did indeed own a donkey cart.

Because Qinghe Village is not far from the county seat, and his parents and he were always running around there, the family bought a small donkey cart.

Ye Lu sat up straight and said in a serious tone, "My father and mother happened to be in the prefectural city on business. My second grandfather said that you have a carriage, so I had to squeeze in with you."

Ye Peng: "Oh my, today is the county examination. You didn't even ask for leave on such an important day. I'll see you into the examination hall."

Zhao Jinshan: "Are you stupid? Brother Donkey has taken the exam so many times. It's once a year, he's used to it, just like me. My parents aren't nervous at all. They're not going to pass anyway."

"Yes, yes, this is the first time my second brother and I have participated, which is why my aunt and mother sent us gifts."

Du and Wei smiled but said nothing.

Ye Lu's face darkened; he felt offended!

He gave a forced smile: "Yes, yes, starting next year, neither you nor Ye Xuan will receive any gifts."

This means that failing the exam is normal, and Ye Xuan and Ye Peng will experience countless failures as well.

Ye Peng laughed: "Hahaha, next year my mom won't be able to send me off even if she wanted to, because I'm not taking the exam anymore! I'm giving up! I'm going home to farm!"

Ye Lu's lips twitched. Although every word the other party said was the truth, admitting that he was only fit to farm, he didn't know why he was so angry!

Madam Wei glared at her: "Shut up, and don't say anything unlucky. Even if you really don't pass, you still have to take the county school exam again!"

Ye Peng leaned back in the carriage: "You're overthinking it. There's no way you can pass the exam."

Ye Lu scoffed, "Brother Peng does have some self-awareness. Our county school only admits fifty students each year, excluding those who have passed the prefectural examination!"

He said this with a hint of smugness on his face.

So what if he failed the exams for so many years? At least he passed the county school entrance exam! Apart from the students admitted through the preliminary examinations, the county school only admitted fifty students a year. And he was one of them.

As he spoke, he turned back to look at Ye Xuan: "Speaking of which, Xuan-di and Peng-di only started school last year, right? Aren't you afraid of being scared by going into the arena today?"

Ye Peng scratched his head: "I'm participating in this scientific expedition because I'm tired of studying. It's one last shot. Even if I fail, it's okay, at least I gave it my all."

“Everyone knows your situation.” Zhao Jinshan glared at him, but looked at Ye Xuan with concern: “I remember, Master Qian said you would need to grind for another three or four years before you could take the stage.”

Ye Xuan said, "My master told me to participate, and he said it would definitely work."

Zhao Jinshan nodded: "Oh, I see. You must be very capable!"

Ye Lu scoffed. "He's only been in school for less than a year. How amazing can he be? He's a disgrace!"

Du was getting a little nervous listening to this, while Wei felt that Ye Xuan was only slightly more capable than Ye Peng.

Of the four students in the carriage, if we were to say who would pass the exam, Mr. Wei felt that Ye Lu was the most likely.

Soon, the carriage stopped outside the examination hall.

The group got off the bus one by one.

Before Ye Daquan could even offer words of encouragement, he heard a familiar voice coming from not far away:

"Zimo, do your best on the exam. If you pass, our Li family will be able to bring glory to our ancestors again."

Ye Daquan turned around and saw Li Zhiyuan, Zhang Shuiniang, Li Jiaojiao and Li Ziming standing together. This time, even Granny Li had come.

A group of people were encouraging Li Ziming, who was about to enter.

"Father, Mother, Sister, Grandma, don't worry, Zimo will do his best." Li Zimo gripped the ink and brush box tightly in his hand, his hand trembling slightly, clearly nervous.

"Alright, alright." Li Zhiyuan looked at him expectantly. "Don't be afraid. Remember, I, Li Zhiyuan, am standing behind you! You have my true teachings!"

Since Zhang Shuiniang married into the family, Li Zhiyuan not only cherished the mother and daughter dearly, but also devoted himself to teaching Li Ziming.

Aside from annotating books for the bookstore and keeping Zhang Shuiniang company, he spent almost all his time on Li Ziming.

He imparted all his knowledge and insights accumulated over the past ten years to Li Ziming without reservation.

Li Zhiyuan was already a dragon among men, a famous scholar and a scholar in the surrounding area. Li Ziming, who had inherited his true teachings, would certainly not be any less talented!

Although I often fall short in my skills, these are just minor county and prefectural examinations, so I can handle them!

"Oh my, isn't this Scholar Li? Here to send your adopted son to the county examination today?" Ye Daquan led the carriage and swaggered over.

When Li Zhiyuan and his family saw Ye Daquan and the others, their faces darkened.

Granny Li said angrily, "What cheap son? My Zimo... Humph! Anyway, Zimo has a son, not a worthless girl!"

Granny Li wanted to say that Li Ziming was her own grandson! Her biological son!

But she also knew that she couldn't say such things. Otherwise, her son and daughter-in-law, and even her grandchildren's reputations would be ruined.

Li Zhiyuan looked at Ye Daquan and the others with resentment. These lowly peasants were dressed so well.

Although the clothes were made of cotton, they were very clean and bright, and you could tell at a glance that they were new.

Although his clothes were made of silk, they had been washed until they were faded. He had saved up for a long time to buy them several years ago, and he only wore them on important occasions. Even though they had changed color from washing, he couldn't bear to change them.

Li Zhiyuan, with his hands behind his back, sneered: "Heh, Ye Xuan is taking the exam too? He's only been in school for less than a year, yet he dares to take the exam. He really doesn't know his own limitations."

Du retorted angrily, "Pah! Didn't Li Ziming only study for less than a year?"

Li Jiaojiao stepped forward: "Hmph, what does Ye Xuan have to compare with my brother? My brother was already..."

She wanted to say that Li Zhiyuan had been helping them for 5 years and had been teaching Li Ziming to read.

But you can't say such things, otherwise people will say that Mother had an affair with another man before she left the Sun family.

Li Jiaojiao's eyes darted around as she said, "My brother studied when he was young... and later he even met a student who was a novice scholar, and he's been following him around doing his studies ever since!"

Li Ziming did receive an education when he was young. Although the Sun family mistreated Li Jiaojiao and Zhang Shuiniang, Li Ziming was the eldest grandson and the only boy in the Sun family, so they continued to support his education.

Li Ziming began his education at the age of 6 and continued until he was 10. At this time, his second wife gave birth to two sons, and the Sun family stopped supporting Li Ziming's education.

From then on, their family went from living in dire straits to living in hell.

Fortunately, two years later, Li Zhiyuan came to them, not only helping them out but also personally teaching Li Ziming to read.

To put it simply, Li Ziming only stopped studying for two years.

Li Zhiyuan snorted arrogantly: "Zi Mo already has a foundation, and now he is being personally taught by me, a scholar. Naturally, he is extraordinary!"

Madam Du wanted to say that her son Xuan'er also had a remarkable tutor, a retired scholar from the capital!

But Ye Xuan stopped her: "Mother, don't talk nonsense."

Du swallowed back the words she was about to say. After Ye Xuan became Ye Xuan's apprentice, Ye Caiping told them that Mr. Shen was living in seclusion and that no one could know where he came from.

Finally, Du could only snort, "What nonsense! You, a scholar of such high standing, only rode in a broken-down donkey cart? Oh, and it was rented! We rode in a horse-drawn carriage!"