On their way home, Jiang Shuyun and her group received good news in Jiangjia Village, Xinyuan County.

That day, the weather was clear and cloudless.

As usual, Jiang's parents tended to the flowers and plants and fed the chickens in the yard.

Since separating from Jiang Shuheng and the others, Jiang's parents have been living a carefree and easy life.

Jiang's father liked to tend to flowers and plants, but they weren't rare or expensive varieties; they were mostly wild plants from the mountains.

Jiang's mother fed a few chicks, and when she had nothing to do, she would tend the vegetable garden with Granny Xing.

"Uncle Xin, Uncle Xin..."

Jiang Shuqi jogged into the courtyard, panting heavily.

"Shuqi, what's wrong?"

"He passed! He passed! Brother Shuyun passed!"

Jiang Shuqi shouted excitedly. He had just met Shuyun's driver at the village entrance and came over to share the good news.

"Really? Who told you that?"

Jiang's father suddenly stood up and stared straight at Jiang Shuqi.

"The coachman from Shuyun's family just came to deliver good news. He said it was Shuyun's brother-in-law, the one who works at the county government. Third Grandfather is asking around at the village entrance, so I ran over to tell you the news."

Once Jiang Shuqi caught his breath, he quickly relayed the news he had heard.

"That's great, that's great..."

Jiang's father clenched his hands, muttering to himself.

"Ziwen, Ziwen, Shuyun passed the exam, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi..."

Outside the door, Third Grandfather got off the carriage and excitedly called out Jiang's father's name.

"Third Uncle, Third Uncle..."

Jiang's father came out to greet them. The two looked at each other excitedly, with a thousand words stuck in their throats.

"Master, my wife said that the messenger from the prefectural city will arrive in the next couple of days to deliver the good news, and she asked the family to prepare in advance. There is some food that my wife asked us to send over in the carriage, and this as well."

Wei San handed the money bag to Jiang's father. This was what Mu Yi'an had taken, intending to give as a reward to the person who delivered the good news.

"Okay, when is your wife coming back?"

"Madam said there are still some things to do at the estate, so she can't come back for the time being. She'll come back once she's done with them."

After Wei San finished telling Mu Yi'an what he had asked him to do, the villagers helped unload the things from the carriage.

Mu Yi'an really didn't have time; she was busy harvesting astragalus on the estate this year.

After Wei San left, Jiang's father had someone bring the things into the house so he could discuss with his third uncle what to do.

"Third Uncle, Shuyun won't be back for a while, let's get the good news first."

"Good, good, a Jinshi degree, that's wonderful. I wonder what kind of official position Shuyun can appoint?"

Third Grandfather stroked his beard, feeling an indescribable joy in his heart.

"Third Uncle, Shuyun has no intention of entering officialdom."

"If you don't go into government, then what will you do?"

Third Grandfather was dumbfounded. He passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, but he didn't become an official. What was he going to do then?

“You know Shuyun’s personality. We don’t have any connections. He plans to teach at the academy.”

Jiang Shuyun had discussed this matter with her father and also expressed her plans: if possible, she would teach at Bailu Academy.

"Oh? Going to teach at the academy! That's good too. Shuyun's consideration is also good. Although his temperament is much better than before, he's still really introverted. His wife handles a lot of social niceties."

My third grandfather was initially surprised, finding it hard to understand why someone who had passed the imperial examination would not become an official.

However, they did not have the authority to decide this matter. Since Shuyun had already made the decision, it meant that it was the result of his careful consideration.

As members of their clan, all they could do was support his decision. Regardless, their Jiang clan had produced a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), a feat unparalleled within a hundred miles.

The next day, after breakfast, Jiang's father kept looking out the door.

"Has Shuheng's father arrived?"

Jiang's mother was also looking forward to it; her son had passed the imperial examination and become a Jinshi!

No.

Jiang's father came in, picked up the watering can, and watered the flowers.

"Oh dear, Dad, you've watered too much."

As soon as Sister-in-law Jiang came out, she saw her father-in-law watering the flowers with a watering can. But why was he only watering one flower?

Jiang's father paused for a moment; he had been lost in thought.

He put down the kettle and walked towards the courtyard gate.

This was the first time Jiang's sister-in-law had ever seen her father-in-law so agitated. Well, it was true, Shuyun had passed the imperial examination and brought honor to the family!

Si Shi (9-11 AM)

A series of gong and drum sounds came from afar, accompanied by chattering voices.

"Congratulations to Mr. Jiang Shuyun for achieving the thirteenth rank in the imperial examination! Congratulations to Mr. Jiang Shuyun for achieving the thirteenth rank in the imperial examination!"

"They're here! The messenger has come with good news..."

Jiang's mother spun around excitedly a few times, then quickly calmed herself down, smoothed her hair, checked if the silver hairpin in her hair was crooked, and straightened the hem of her clothes...

Jiang's father straightened his long gown, opened the courtyard gate, and waited for the good news to arrive.

"Grandpa Jiang, congratulations! Master Jiang Shuyun has passed the imperial examination and become a Jinshi. He is the only Jinshi in Xinyuan County this year."

The county magistrate himself came to guide the messenger delivering the good news from the prefectural city.

"Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen. Please come in and rest your feet and have some hot tea."

Mr. Jiang repeatedly declined the gifts, and the people who brought the good news were also in a good mood, as this family knew how to behave properly.

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang's father stuffed the red envelope that his second daughter-in-law had prepared in advance into the hands of the person delivering the good news.

The county magistrate also said that he would send people over in the next few days to build a memorial archway for the successful candidate in the imperial examinations, and asked them to choose a location in advance.

Jiang's father readily agreed, saying that this was a matter of bringing honor to the family!

After seeing off the group who brought the good news, Jiang's father told the clan chief about the county magistrate's mention of building a monument to the successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

"Where to build it? We need to study this carefully. This not only concerns our Jiang clan, but also needs to be discussed with other people in Jiangjia Village."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!