"Lu Chengyu is getting married?" Lu Lin asked, somewhat surprised.
Chen Xiaocai nodded. "I heard that's how it is."
Chen Xiaomi thought to herself: Lu Lin is really slow-witted. He has to ask Xiao Cai to tell him about something like this.
Lu Chengyu and the original owner of this body, Lu Lin, were born one after the other, with Lu Chengyu being born a dozen days earlier than Lu Lin. Although it was only a dozen days earlier, the treatment they received was worlds apart. Lu Chengyu, the eldest grandson, was the apple of the eye of the Lu family's parents, while Lu Lin was more like someone who had been adopted.
"Speaking of which, did he pay taxes last year?" Lu Lin asked with a hint of schadenfreude. Chen Xiaomi nodded and said, "I think so."
Lu Chengyu is a bit older than Lu Lin. If Lu Lin hadn't married into the family last year, he would have had to pay taxes.
When Chen Xiaomi asked Lu Lin to marry into her family, she knew a lot about the Lu family. Lu Chengyu had very high standards. He considered himself a scholar and a talented person chosen by his academy tutors. He looked down on village girls from the countryside. However, good women in the city also looked down on Lu Chengyu's rural background. A mere student was already quite remarkable. But in the eyes of urban residents, a scholar who had passed the county-level imperial examination was the real academic achievement. He could not kneel before officials and, if his family owned land, could be exempt from taxes on twenty mu of land. The tax on twenty mu of land was a large sum of money.
Tang originally planned to wait until Lu Chengyu became a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations) before marrying him, so he could have a wider selection then. Becoming a Tongsheng (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations) was still a bit too low a standard.
Previously, when the authorities wanted to collect taxes, Tang had considered finding someone for Lu Chengyu as soon as possible. If all else failed, she would find someone to make do with and replace him when her son passed the high school entrance exam.
The Tang family intends to find a wife for Lu Chengyu, and matchmakers from all walks of life are very enthusiastic. The Lu family is well-off, and Lu Chengyu is a student who has passed the imperial examination. If it weren't for the current tax payment, they wouldn't be in such a hurry to find a wife.
Various matchmakers introduced Lu Chengyu to many women, and at his age, Lu Chengyu was somewhat hopeful about marriage. Initially, he was quite enthusiastic when the matchmakers came to his door. However, seeing that the women they introduced were mostly from the countryside and not particularly well-off, he lost interest.
Lu Chengyu felt that those matchmakers thought he was in a hurry to get married and avoid paying taxes, so they took the opportunity to introduce him to all sorts of undesirable women.
As a result, Lu Chengyu was very resistant to the marriage proposal.
Helpless, Madam Tang paid three taels of silver in taxes for Lu Chengyu. A few days earlier, Lu Chengyu had failed the spring examination again. Taking the imperial examination for the title of Xiucai also depended on luck. Many people could only pass the exam at the age of fifty or sixty and were still considered old students. This time, he failed the Xiucai examination and had to wait another year.
Lu Chengyu failed the exam again, which made Tang Shi feel that the marriage could not be delayed any longer. If all else failed, she would find someone with poorer conditions to make do for now, and then take the exam slowly. Eventually, he would pass the exam with flying colors.
Several villagers were studying, but they all failed the imperial examination this time.
"It's really hard to pass the imperial examination!" Chen Xiaomi said.
Lu Lin smiled and said, "Yes!"
If passing the imperial examination for the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations) wasn't difficult, then Xiucai wouldn't be so respected. Although all were scholars, students from certain aristocratic and wealthy families had a much greater advantage. Not only were their tutors highly knowledgeable, but they also had enormous financial backing, so they didn't have to worry about anything except studying.
Lu Lin stroked his chin and asked with great interest, "Lu Chengyu got married. Do you know who he married?"
Chen Xiaocai frowned and said, "I heard she's the daughter of a high-ranking official in the county."
Lu Chengyu failed the imperial examination and was often ridiculed by some of the village women.
Now that Lu Chengyu has settled down with the daughter of a high-ranking official in town, Tang Shi is getting all excited again.
"A high-ranking official?" Lu Lin frowned. "High-ranking official" was probably an exaggeration. If he really was a high-ranking official, he would have to find out more about him and make plans in advance.
After Lu Lin married into the family, he happened to run into Lu Chengyu twice. Each time, Lu Chengyu was cold and even warned him to behave himself and not to think that he could act tough just because he followed Chen Xiaomi, a scoundrel.
Chen Xiaomi glanced at Lu Lin and said, "It's probably just a rumor."
If Lu Chengyu had become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the county level), he might have been able to marry a relative of a high-ranking official. However, he is currently only a Tongsheng (a student who has passed the preliminary examinations at the county level). Besides, when the tax policy was introduced last year, most of the women with better financial conditions had already found partners.
Lu Lin rested his chin on his hand and said, "In a few days, the last batch of sweet potato wine should be ready. If you want to send it to the city, just ask Manager Wang directly." Many people discuss matters in restaurants, and the people in restaurants are usually quite well-informed.
Chen Xiaomi nodded and said, "That's fine."
A few days later, when Lu Lin and Chen Xiaomi went to the city to deliver wine, they took the opportunity to inquire about it.
"Li Fangyue?" Manager Wang was taken aback when he heard Lu Lin's question.
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yes, I heard that this Li Fangyue is the daughter of the county clerk."
Shopkeeper Wang smiled and said, "How did this rumor come about?" It's all a mess. Li Fangyue does have some connection with the Registrar's family, but it's not like this. Li Fangyue is the third daughter of the Li family, and she has an older sister who is married to the Registrar. So, the Registrar is Li Fangyue's brother-in-law. However, Li Fangyue's older sister is actually just a concubine.
Although she was only a concubine, the Li family always claimed that Li Ru was the wife of the registrar.
Li Ru is quite beautiful and is said to be favored by the registrar. Outsiders are unaware of the inside story, only knowing that the eldest daughter of the Li family married the registrar, who is also Manager Wang, and has many connections, so they know the inside story. "The eldest daughter of the Li family is beautiful, but the third daughter is much more plain-looking."
After getting a general idea from Manager Wang, Lu Lin felt more at ease.
Sitting in the car, Chen Xiaomi said, "Although he is far inferior to the daughter of the registrar, there is still some connection. If Lu Chengyu marries Li Fangyue, then the registrar will become their brother-in-law."
Lu Lin narrowed his eyes and said, "She's just a concubine."
There is a big difference between a wife and a concubine. Here, sons born out of wedlock have no right to inherit. However, if Li Ru is elevated to the status of a secondary wife, things will be different.
Chen Xiaomi tilted her head and said, "When matchmakers introduce marriages, they always say the best things and probably won't mention that Li Ru is a concubine."
Chen Xiaomi and Lu Lin later inquired further and found that the ordinary residents of the town were not very clear about Li Ru's affairs. Such private matters were difficult to find out unless one was really looking for them. In addition, Li Ru always brought large and small packages when she returned to the Li family, which made her very prestigious.
"I heard from Xiaocai that the old lady has been complaining at home about the unfairness of the exam. All the rich young men in town bribed the examiners, which is why her genius grandson failed to pass the exam, while those rich young men who only know how to eat, drink and have fun passed."
The old lady's words were probably not her own idea; they were likely said by Lu Chengyu, and the old lady believed them. It's possible that she believed the whole thing about favoritism and corruption. Of course, it's also possible that Lu Chengyu's abilities were somewhat lacking.
Lu Lin inherited the original owner's memories and had a deep impression of Lu Chengyu. In the original owner's memory, his cousin was very capable, good at studying, and had very high standards.
"Since Manager Wang said that Li Fangyue is of average appearance, then she must indeed not be very good-looking."
"Lu Chengyu is attracted to Li Fangyue because he is interested in the connections behind Li Fangyue."
"Lu Chengyu's matter should be settled more or less, and next it will be Lu Tong's turn to get married."
Lu Chengyu is already over the age limit, and Lu Tong is also of tax age. The girl originally wanted to wait until Lu Chengyu went to high school, but given the current situation, it seems they can't wait any longer.
The Lu family should be having a lot of good news lately, but this has nothing to do with him, who married into the family.
The Chen family.
"Grandson, this Wang woman is getting too cocky. Look how arrogant she's become," Li said to Chen Jingman with displeasure.
The old ladies of the Chen and Lu families had a big fight before, and that's how the feud between them started.
Before the New Year, Chen Jing passed the preliminary examination and became a student, while Lu Chengyu failed to become a scholar, which made the old lady of the Chen family very proud.
Now that the Wang family has married Li Fangyue, Old Mrs. Wang is smug again, thinking that with her grandson marrying into such a family, becoming a scholar is just around the corner.
Seeing Wang's smugness, Li naturally felt uneasy.
Chen Jing glanced at the old lady and said, "Grandma, don't listen to what that old woman is saying! I really overestimated Lu Chengyu. After all this fuss, he's just someone who wants to climb the social ladder through nepotism."
Although Chen Jing said that, he still felt a little jealous.
Which scholar doesn't hope to pass the imperial examination with flying colors and gain official rank? However, Chen Jing knew that his studies were not good, so he dared not have such hopes.
"Grandson, what's the truth about this Li Fangyue?"
Chen Jing said somewhat awkwardly, "I have heard that she has some connection with the registrar, but I have also heard that she is quite plain-looking."
The old lady felt a little uncomfortable after hearing this. In her opinion, whether someone was good-looking or not was secondary. If she could really use this to get in touch with the county magistrate and become a scholar, that would be great.
Chen Jing married Zhang Yuehong a few years ago. She was quite good-looking, but she wasn't very good at housework. Whenever the old lady said a few words to her, Zhang Yuehong would go to Chen Jing and cry. The old lady couldn't do anything about this granddaughter-in-law.
"She really is the daughter of an official!" The old lady couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable, as if she had been overshadowed. Chen Jing smiled and said, "Taking the imperial examination still depends on the individual. Even if you have connections with the county magistrate, it might not be of much use."
The old lady sighed and said, "Having a connection is better than having no connection at all!"
Chen Jing lowered his head, unable to express his feelings for a moment.
"I wonder what kind of family the Lu family wants to find for Lu Tong. It seems like no one in our village can meet that girl's standards," the old lady scoffed.
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