Now, he finally understands why he became an official.

"If the villagers knew that you were the one who made all this possible, they would be so proud. You are the most successful person in our Old Sow Village now."

"That's right. I used to tell my dad that I was the smartest, and he would make me eat shoe soles and call me shameless."

The clan leader bowed his head, still shameless as ever.

"You're back this time, shouldn't we celebrate?"

"We'll see. Mother isn't well, and I don't feel like making any arrangements. By the way, clan chief, our family has produced a scholar who passed the imperial examination this year, Lei Zi."

"You passed the exam? You became a Juren?"

Zhao Dawen was stunned, speechless.

That bastard passed the exam? How the hell did he pass?

Zhao Laoda was provoked again.

"Third brother, did your son-in-law really pass the imperial examination and become a scholar?"

"Yeah, would you lie about something like this?"

Zhao Dawen was heartbroken. Why had he failed the exam so many times? Why did Xiao Lei pass it at such a young age? He clearly started learning very late.

The next generation is even more disappointing. His eldest son has not yet passed the imperial examination to become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations), and his second son has not even become a Tongsheng (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

The second son has given up on his studies, while the eldest son wanted to study properly but didn't have the money. Now he's copying books to earn money while studying, so naturally his progress is much slower.

That heartless woman, Wang, wouldn't even allow him to teach his son; she made him copy books every day.

The clan chief was even more excited. Xiao Lei now belonged to the Zhao clan. They didn't know what good fortune their clan had received, as producing an official was not enough, but now they had produced a scholar who had passed the imperial examination.

Xiao Lei is still so young; he will surely be able to serve as an official for many years.

"Third brother, has Xiao Lei really become a scholar now?"

"Of course, a freshly graduated scholar."

Are you hosting a banquet?

Zhao Dashu shook his head. "Didn't I just say that Mother's health isn't good right now, so it's not suitable for a grand celebration?"

The clan chief disagreed. He had known Old Sun for decades and knew his sister-in-law very well; she wouldn't die so easily.

“Your mother is just being dramatic. I see that she’s happy when there’s a happy event in the family, so it’s nothing serious.”

"No, I also brought a doctor back this time. He said that Mother is on her last legs, her body is severely weakened, and she can't hold on any longer."

"Really?" The clan leader was shocked. He thought his younger brother and sister-in-law were faking it, just complaining about something that wasn't serious. No, it was just a minor ailment; they'd been doing it for years.

"Well, that's why I can't hold a big banquet. Let alone try to ward off bad luck, it's impossible."

Zhao Dashu may be carefree, but he's not completely clueless. Now that his mother is the most important person in the family, he's a dutiful son.

“Clan leader, Mother doesn’t know about this. You should all be careful not to talk nonsense in front of her, and don’t act like you’re very sad. She thinks she can still be saved.”

The clan chief nodded. He wasn't stupid. If he went to tell Old Sun that she was dying, he might get a severe scolding from her.

That woman is no pushover.

"So, you're just going to let this wonderful occasion go like this?"

I originally wanted to show off and make a name for myself in the village chiefs, but now it seems there's no hope.

Why did my sister-in-law fall ill at such a crucial time?

Couldn't she have endured another year or two?

"Whether we hold a banquet or not is irrelevant. Even if we don't, I will still be a nobleman, and Xiao Lei will still be a scholar."

"What you said makes some sense."

The clan chief remembered his wife's instructions, "Big Tree, why don't you come to our house for dinner tonight?"

Zhao Dawen looked at the old clan chief. Was he already starting to flatter him?