On the third day of the ninth lunar month, the provincial examination, which had lasted for several days, finally came to an end.

At the examination hall in Fucheng, a group of exhausted students walked out one after another.

Li Jiaojiao, Zhang Shuiniang, and Granny Li all stood at the entrance of the examination hall, looking around.

A short while later, Li Ziming and Li Zhiyuan walked over, their faces dark and their clothes disheveled.

"They're out! They're out!" Granny Li rushed over excitedly. "Zhiyuan, Zimo, how did the exams go?"

Li Jiaojiao and Zhang Shuiniang also came forward. Li Jiaojiao said, "Is there any need to ask? Of course it's good."

Li Ziming's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth: "We'll talk about it when we get home."

Zhang Shuiniang smiled and said, "Yes, yes. You've all worked hard these past few days. It's not too late to talk after you go home and wash up."

The group boarded the donkey cart.

Back home, Li Ziming and Li Zhiyuan didn't take a shower, but instead pulled Li Jiaojiao into the room.

As soon as the door closed, Li Ziming exploded in anger: "All the test questions you gave me were wrong!"

Li Zhiyuan also frowned and stood aside.

Li Jiaojiao was taken aback: "You mean... the question was different!"

"right."

"Impossible! Could it be... that someone discovered us? That's even more impossible!"

Although they consulted many scholars, whether it was asking for academic knowledge or predicting exam questions, it was a common occurrence.

In the prefectural city, there was also a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) who was waiting for his post at home. He was in charge of predicting and solving exam questions for people.

Anyone who comes to me for advice will be given guidance, but I will charge 300 coins per question.

So how could anyone have discovered that they stole the exam questions?

If this can be discovered, it proves that the questions were leaked by someone else long ago.

Li Jiaojiao gritted her teeth and said, "Did I see wrong?"

"This isn't the first time you've made a mistake! Last time in the city... humph!" Last time at the gambling den in the prefectural city, Li Jiaojiao made a mistake, causing them to lose five taels of silver.

Li Jiaojiao thought about what she saw with her X-ray vision. There were indeed a lot of things in that room. The exam questions were locked in a cabinet. Could it be that cabinet?

Li Jiaojiao pursed her lips: "Alright, I misread it. If it doesn't work this time, I'll take the exam again in three years."

"You make it sound so easy! You think it's like sitting comfortably at home taking the exam? Do you know how cramped those cells are? You live there for days and nights, eating, drinking, and relieving yourself all in there. You can't even stretch your legs out when you sleep. Do you know how tiring and miserable it is?"

Li Ziming unleashed a torrent of energy, then flung his sleeves away. Just the stench emanating from him was enough to tell how much suffering he had endured these past few days.

Li Jiaojiao's face darkened slightly: "Then what do you want? If you think it's too hard, then don't take the exam anymore! That way, I won't have to worry about you! All you do is complain all day long, without ever thinking about who you rely on to be able to eat and stay warm!"

Li Ziming was stunned, only then realizing the importance of Li Jiaojiao.

Without her, he even had trouble eating, let alone now that he eats lavishly every day and has even hired servants.

Li Ziming felt guilty: "I'm sorry. I was just too tired... that's why my tone was a bit rushed."

"Hmph!" Li Jiaojiao turned her head away in a huff, only to see Li Zhiyuan standing to the side looking relaxed. She asked in surprise, "Dad, what's wrong with you?"

Li Zhiyuan looked cheerful: "Although the question is wrong, I think I've got it in the bag!"

"What's safe?"

"Of course, it's this provincial examination!" Li Zhiyuan exclaimed excitedly, brimming with confidence.

"When I saw that the exam questions weren't the ones I had memorized, I was momentarily stunned, but I quickly regained my confidence and decided to do them myself!"

"I performed exceptionally well this time! For each question, I wrote a perfect essay addressing current events, all in one go! I've never been so fluent before!"

He felt he had given full play to his talents in this exam! He even exceeded his usual level!

Li Ziming said happily, "Then Father will definitely win this time."

Li Jiaojiao disagreed: "If we really pass... it's neither good nor bad, it's better not to pass at all! I'll take the test again after I get the questions next time."

Li Zhiyuan retorted angrily, "Li Jiaojiao, what do you mean? What do you mean by 'neither here nor there'? Am I, Li Zhiyuan, so worthless in your eyes? Humph, even if I don't get the top score this time, I'll still get into the top three! You just wait and see!"

Li Jiaojiao's lips twitched.

Never mind, it's too late for her to say anything now.

Li Jiaojiao then looked at Li Ziming: "What about my brother?"

Li Ziming frowned: "Well... I'll just answer randomly."

Li Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief; that was definitely not going to work. She'd wait until the next exam with the correct questions, then take the exam and become the top scholar! Only then could she finally vent her anger.

They left the room.

After washing away the sour smell, the father and son spoke to Granny Li and Zhang Shuiniang.

Li Zhiyuan said confidently, "Don't worry, I did very well on the exam. As soon as I sat down, my pen flew across the page!"

Granny Li and Zhang Shuiniang were overjoyed.

Granny Li said, "Soon I'll be the mother of a scholar who passed the imperial examination! What about Zimo?"

Li Ziming smiled helplessly: "I did well on the exam during the day, but at night... the people in the next dorm were snoring, which kept me awake all night, so I didn't do well on the exam during the day."

Zhang Shuiniang gently comforted him, "Mo'er, don't be discouraged. You're still young. You can take the exam again next time."

Li Ziming smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mother, I will definitely bring back the top scholar title next time!"

Overall, the Li family was filled with joy.

What the Li family didn't know was that in the prefectural city, two yamen runners were knocking on the door of a scholar's house.

...

On the fifth day of the ninth lunar month, Ye Caiping was at home distributing monthly allowances to her family.

Everyone gathered in the living room, including Shanzi, Yang's mother, and Xiaoyan.

Ye Jin'er took the five taels of silver from Ye Caiping, her face beaming with delight: "Your monthly allowance has increased?"

“Yes!” Ye Caiping said with a smile.

Then he gave Ye Huan'er and the old lady Ye 5 taels each.

Grandma Ye didn't say much, and accepted it with a smile.

Ye Caiping gave Old Lady Ye another 100 taels of silver: "This is for food."

When Grandma Ye saw the amount, she exclaimed in surprise, "So much!"

At first, Ye Caiping provided 10 taels of food. After buying the person, Ye Caiping raised it to 50 taels. Unexpectedly, it was raised again this time.

Ye Caiping smiled and said, "Just buy whatever the family needs so that everyone can eat well."

Grandma Ye thought for a moment and then nodded: "Okay."

They even bought servants and have a furniture workshop. Their daughter's monthly income will probably be more than two thousand taels. She'll eat all sorts of expensive things!

I can't afford to lose anything, not my daughter and granddaughter.

In addition, the weather is getting colder, so it's time to prepare winter clothes.

Ye Caiping gave Xiaoyan another 800 coins: "This is the last month's wages plus bonus."

Xiao Yan smiled and accepted it, saying, "Thank you, Auntie."

She set off for Nanwa Village on August 16th, so she only worked there for half a month.