With the new ideas, all the old ideas that Wang Zhaoshi had been instilled with were completely suppressed, and the two started arguing about the fact that girls should also go to school.

The relationship between Wang Dazhou and his wife completely plummeted to its lowest point after Wang Dazhou discovered that his wife was using sanitary napkins.

Wang Dazhou racked his brains but couldn't understand why she had to spend money on something like this instead of using menstrual pads. Besides, couldn't she just endure those few days? Why was she being so delicate now? But Wang Zhaoshi rattled off a whole bunch of theories that Wang Dazhou had never heard of before.

Looking at his previously gentle wife, Wang Dazhou had only one thought in his mind—that woman named Jiang from Lujia Village was a vixen.

Not long after, the scene that Jiang Ling had witnessed earlier occurred.

Seeing that Jiang Ling remained silent, Wang Dazhou assumed that his words had refuted her and left her speechless. He looked at Jiang Ling smugly, baring his teeth, and said, "How about that? You vixen, wasn't I right?"

Jiang Ling's expression darkened, and Jiang Shan beside her secretly cried out in alarm. But thank goodness, Jiang Ling did not focus her gaze on Jiang Shan's sword this time.

She looked at Wang Dazhou and said calmly, "So, you're so angry because your wife is no longer submissive, right?"

"What do you mean by being submissive? Since ancient times, men have been the heavens and women the earth. Women should listen to men. If it were the other way around, wouldn't people laugh at us to death?" Wang Dazhou argued with Jiang Ling, his neck stiff and his attitude of not giving in to anyone.

Jiang Ling glanced helplessly at the man in front of her, knowing that she couldn't change his mind in a short time. She didn't intend to persuade such an uncultured person.

She glanced at Hu Yue'er beside her and said, "Yue'er, we've settled Wang Zhao's monthly allowance, so it'll be calculated as a whole month. Starting tomorrow, you don't need to come to work anymore. It's my fault; you two are fighting because we opened this factory!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhao's face drained of color. Trembling, she knelt on the ground, her eyes red, and said, "Jiang, please, Anren, please be magnanimous and don't hold my husband against me. He doesn't understand anything, he's just a big shot..."

"Enough! You old hag, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you've been working here for a few days! Come with me now, stop embarrassing yourself here!" With that, Wang Dazhou tried to drag Wang Zhao away from Jiang Ling's house.

Hu Yue'er couldn't stand it anymore. She rushed to Jiang Ling and said, "Big sister, Wang Zhaoshi is really efficient at her work! Are you really going to fire her?"

Jiang Ling did not answer Hu Yue'er's question, but said indifferently to the two people who were still pulling at each other, "Wang Dazhou, think carefully about what your life was like before, and what your life is like now!"

These words made Wang Dazhou, who was pulling at his wife, immediately stop. For a few seconds, the scene flashed through his mind. In fact, he was also very surprised to come here today. It seemed that both boys and girls could read books and everyone was very polite.

For a few seconds, he even wavered.

Seeing their actions, Jiang Ling knew that her words had taken effect.

All she had to do now was wait. She glanced at Hu Yue'er, who was sweating profusely from worry, and gently shook her head to signal her not to overthink it.

A few minutes later, Wang Zhaoshi was excitedly talking to Wang Dazhou, while Wang Dazhou looked apologetically at Jiang Ling from time to time.

After a while, Wang Zhaoshi pulled Wang Dazhou back over. She bowed apologetically to Jiang Ling, "I'm sorry, Madam, you must have found this amusing!"

Jiang Ling shook her head without speaking, her slightly aloof gaze falling on Wang Dazhou's face, awaiting his answer.

Wang Dazhou, no longer the unreasonable man he had been, scratched his head, a blush rising on his dark skin. He looked at Jiang Ling sheepishly and said, "I...I'm sorry, I was too impulsive, I..."

Jiang Ling didn't want to listen to Wang Dazhou's nagging, so she waved her hand to interrupt, "Since you're staying, let's all come together. Village chief, do you need any more people?"

"What?" Wang Dazhou and his wife stared wide-eyed at Jiang Ling in unison.

Jiang Ling didn't want to repeat herself, so she just glanced at the village chief. The village chief quickly walked to Wang Dazhou's side and said, "You two come with me. Remember not to cause trouble in the future! She's a noblewoman of the imperial court. If you hurt her, you couldn't afford to pay for it even if you sold yourselves!"

Wang Dazhou shrank back, looking at Jiang Ling with surprise, and whispered, "Wh...what? She's the Anren who was promoted two ranks in less than a year?"

"Aren't you going to talk nonsense?" the village chief said to Wang Dazhou in an annoyed tone.

Wang Dazhou was completely stunned. He stood there dumbfounded, not daring to speak, with beads of sweat the size of soybeans constantly appearing on his forehead.

Jiang Ling ignored them and said indifferently, "Show them out!"

The group tactfully left Jiang Ling's house.

Jiang Ling glanced at Jiang Suihe and asked, "Suihe, how's your preparation for the spring exam going?"

Jiang Suihe nervously rubbed her hands, unsure of what to say. Jiang Ling smiled faintly and said, "Don't be nervous. Your uncle passed the provincial examination with top honors, so you won't be any worse off. I've inquired with Scholar Wu, and he's always been very optimistic about you. In a few days, your mother will accompany you to Qingzhou. We'll be waiting for your good news then!"

These words made Jiang Suihe nervous again. The examinations for candidates for the lowest level of education (童生) and candidates for the highest level of education (秀才), as well as for men and women, were completely different. The examinations for female candidates for the lowest level of education (童生) and female candidates for the highest level of education (秀才) were held two months later than those for male candidates for the lowest level of education (童生) and male candidates for the highest level of education (秀才). Although it was already summer at that time, in order to maintain a unified way of speaking, it was called the spring examination.

"Mom, I...I'm a little nervous! What if...what if I don't do well on the test?" Jiang Suihe stammered, rubbing her hands together.

"Don't be afraid. If you don't do well, we can take the exam again next spring. Besides, there's no way you, a little girl, could do badly!" Jiang Ling comforted her gently.

Hearing this, Jiang Suihe's eyes lit up. She knew that after working so hard for so long, she was finally about to see the results.

Five days later, at Jiang Ling's home.

Jiang Ling loaded all the things she had packed onto the carriage, and then had Jiang Shan travel with her and her daughter.

Before leaving, Jiang Ling gave the others some detailed instructions, especially to Jiang Yaojie. She repeatedly told him to take good care of Shen Congxin and not to let Shen Congxin suffer any injustice.

Jiang Yaojie nodded, then pulled Shen Congxin along as they watched Jiang Ling and the others gradually disappear.

After nearly ten days of travel, Jiang Ling and her group finally arrived in Qingzhou.

Many female students had already arrived for the imperial examination, but Jiang Ling was lucky enough to snag one of the last two top-tier rooms.

After settling into their lodgings, Jiang Ling and Shen Congxin prepared to buy gifts and pay a visit to the prefect of Qingzhou.

As soon as she pushed open the door to the top-tier room, a piercing sound entered Jiang Ling's ears, causing her to frown.