Yu Luo pushed the borrowed cart, which creaked and groaned, back home.
The cart was piled high with grain, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, with soap and hair ties placed beside it; they were returning home fully loaded.
As soon as the gate opened, the woman who was washing clothes in the yard froze, and the washing mallet in her hand fell to the ground with a thud.
"My God! An'er, what...you brought the grain store back?"
She rushed over in a few strides, her eyes shining as she touched the bags of grain, her joy barely concealed.
The mother and grandmother, who came out of the house upon hearing the noise, saw a completely different scene.
The mother's face turned pale instantly.
"An'er...where did you get the money to buy these?"
Her voice was trembling, clearly she was thinking of something unpleasant.
Grandmother's face also darkened, she slammed her cane on the ground, and stared intently at Yu Luo.
"An'er, come in with me!"
Yu Luo understood, patted her sister-in-law's hand reassuringly, and followed her grandmother into the inner room.
As soon as the door closed, Grandmother spoke impatiently, her voice low and angry.
"Speak! Where did the money come from? What heinous things did you do? Although our Yu family is poor, our ancestors were an honest family, and we would never do such petty theft!"
Looking at her grandmother's fingers, which had turned white with tension, Yu Luo felt a warmth in her heart and calmly replied.
“Grandmother, this was earned through my own abilities.”
"What skills do you have?" Grandmother pressed.
"The ability to change one's fate through character analysis."
Yu Luo recounted in detail how he made ten taels of silver by selling a single character "Yuan" at his street stall that afternoon, how he sold Wenchang talismans, and how he exposed the evil deeds of the Wang family pawnshop.
Grandmother was stunned, her hand loosened, and she almost lost her balance.
She gripped the edge of the table, opened her mouth, and after a long while, she finally found her voice.
"Just by writing a few words... you can earn this much money?"
"Is there really such a way to make money in this world?"
Yu Luo nodded.
"Grandmother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Once I've earned enough money for the trip to the capital for the imperial examination and for the family's living expenses, I'll stop immediately, focus on my studies, and absolutely not cause any trouble."
Grandmother fell silent.
She stared at her granddaughter, a girl who, not long ago, was wearing a veil and immersed in the pain of her brother's death, but now seemed to have been reborn.
In those eyes, there was a calmness and composure she had never seen before.
After a long while, Grandmother let out a long sigh, a sigh that carried a sense of relief and pride.
"Okay...okay!"
Her eyes reddened, and she patted Yu Luo's shoulder heavily.
"We all misjudged you, we all underestimated you! You are the true prodigy of the Yu family!"
"So what if she's a woman? Women can hold up the sky just the same!"
"Xinran, just go for it. Even if the sky falls, Grandma will be there to support you!"
Looking at the trust shining in her grandmother's eyes, Yu Luo finally revealed a genuine smile.
With her grandmother's support, Yu Luo no longer had any scruples about her actions.
She secretly started making ice at home using the saltpeter she had bought.
During the hottest days of summer, ice is an absolute rarity.
Instead of going to the market to sell her ice in a grand manner, she took the ice she had made and knocked directly on the doors of several wealthy families in the county.
The steward of the Zhang family opened the door and looked at the block of ice in the wooden basin in front of Yu Luo with a suspicious expression.
"Where did you get the ice in this sweltering heat? Is it some kind of sorcery?"
Yu Luo remained calm and composed, a mysterious smile playing on his handsome face.
"Old man, this is not a sorcery, but a technique to gather water and condense cold, taking a trace of coolness from the world."
"Used in summer, it can calm the mind and dispel the heat and irritability, and is beneficial for reading and managing affairs."
Her words were elegant and refined, yet they struck a chord deep within people's hearts.
"A small bowl of ice is inexpensive, but it can keep you cool for a few days."
The steward went in with some skepticism, and soon Master Zhang came out in person and bought the basin of ice at a high price.
Thanks to this unique business, the Yu family's coffers filled up at a visible speed.
When wealth is flaunted, it will always attract covetous eyes.
For the safety of her family, Yu Luo went to see Huang Xinyu again.
She respectfully invited a statue of the mountain god of the desolate mountain to her home, and also bought several small wooden amulets for protection.
The statue was sculpted in a simple style, yet it exuded an indescribable charm, as if it were alive.
Yu Luo distributed the wooden carvings to her family, saying they were amulets she had obtained for good luck.
As the family's life improved, the grandmother and mother believed it was due to the divine intervention of the mountain goddess and offered devout sacrifices to her every day.
Yu Luo herself, on the other hand, settled down at home and immersed herself in books.
Days passed by, and Yu County was unusually peaceful during this period.
Until one day.
The imperial edict, like a boulder thrown into water, stirred up a thousand waves throughout the entire Liang Kingdom.
"The new emperor has ascended the throne, granting a general amnesty and reopening the imperial examinations!"
"Regardless of background or academic rank, all students from across the land are welcome to take the exam! Once you pass with flying colors, even a commoner can become an official!"
When the news spread, the entire Yu County was in an uproar.
Countless students from impoverished families spread the news and wept with joy.
Grandmother was so excited that her face was flushed, and she held Yu Luo's hand, which was trembling.
"Xinran! Xinran! Your chance has come! This is a golden opportunity!"
"With the new emperor on the throne and everything in need of rebuilding, this is the perfect time to need talented people! You are sure to be able to demonstrate your abilities!"
She turned around and pulled a heavy package out from under the bed.
"Grandma has prepared your travel expenses! You can travel with An'er's classmates from when he was alive, so you can look after each other on the way! Don't worry about home!"
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