After returning from the prefectural city, Jiang Shuyun first went to the Jiang family's old house to see her parents.
"Father and Mother, this is some wine and food brought back from the prefectural city. Please try some."
After dinner, Jiang Shuyun carried her things to the old house.
Jiang's father and the others had just finished eating and had just cleared the table.
"When did you get back? Have you eaten?" Jiang's mother asked her second son, who had been gone for several days.
"We arrived in the evening. How have you been, Father and Mother?"
"Your father and I are both in good health, so don't worry."
"That's good. Father, I have something to tell you. Let's go to the study."
Jiang Shuyun was thinking about taking the entrance exam for Bailu Academy in the second half of the year, and she couldn't keep this from her father.
Jiang's father got up, and the two of them went into the study one after the other.
Jiang's sister-in-law was tidying up in the kitchen when she heard Jiang Shuyun's words. She wondered what was going on that needed to be said in private.
“Father, Uncle An brought some good news when I went to the prefectural city. This autumn, Bailu Academy will hold an open entrance examination for students. There are limited places, and I want to try my best.”
"real?"
Jiang's father stood up abruptly, extremely excited; that was Bailu Academy.
“It’s true, my third uncle said that the matter has been settled, and the specific time will be announced later. This is the news he got from a friend. His eldest son, Yi’an’s cousin, is also a scholar and will be participating in the examination this time.”
My third uncle told me in advance that I should prepare myself, that I had six months to give it my best shot.
"You need to work hard. Opportunities are limited. Getting into Bailu Academy will benefit you in the next provincial examination."
Mr. Jiang was pleased and grateful to his second daughter-in-law's third uncle; this was a great favor. He knew that because the Mu family doted on their daughter, Shuyun had also benefited as a result.
"I know that being able to enter Bailu Academy means being surrounded by different teachers, instructors, and great scholars. I will prepare seriously this time, and spend the next six months studying hard and striving for success."
"Okay, study hard and don't get distracted by other things."
Jiang's father repeated his instructions, saying that such an opportunity was extremely rare for an ordinary family like theirs.
"I know, I will study hard."
"Father, will my eldest brother participate in the prefectural examination this year?"
"Yes, you should participate. Your elder brother has already passed the preliminary examination and can directly participate in the prefectural examination."
"I hope my eldest brother can pass the exam. This year, Yi'an's younger brother and cousin will also be taking the exam."
Thinking of Mu Ziyi and Mu Ziyu, two seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys, it's their first time on the field, and I wonder how it will turn out.
"That's good, they're all quite young, aren't they?"
"Yes, one is seventeen and the other is eighteen."
Jiang Shuyun talked to her father about some things in the prefectural city, but she didn't mention the watermelon planting.
"Alright, make your own plans and study hard. Don't spread this around, so as not to cause trouble for Uncle Yi'an."
"I understand, Dad. I'll head back now."
Fearing that Shuyun wouldn't understand the implications, Jiang's father added another instruction.
After watching Jiang Shuyun leave, Jiang's father calmed himself down. If Shuyun could get into Bailu Academy, his chances of passing the provincial examination would be much greater.
Their branch of the family used to be small, but now he has three sons and five grandsons, and there will be more in the future. Each generation is a little more progressive than the last, and one day, their branch will change its fortunes.
Jiang's father calmed down, took out his brush and ink, and began to practice calligraphy.
Brother Jiang was also studying in the study. He was going to take the prefectural examination in August. If he passed, he would become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination), and then a true scholar, comparable to his second brother.
Jiang Shuyun was unaware of his brother Jiang's thoughts. He was now determined to work even harder to get into Bailu Academy.
"Yi'an, are the children asleep?"
"They're all asleep. Have you finished talking to Dad?"
"Yes, that's all. Dad is very excited and grateful to Uncle San. Such an opportunity is too rare for ordinary families."
Jiang Shuyun changed her clothes. She didn't plan to study tonight; she wanted to talk to Yi'an about her plans for the next six months.
"Young Master, how is it? Have you realized how difficult it is for ordinary people?"
Mu Yi'an looked at Jiang Shuyun with a smile, thinking that this person must have never had such an experience before.
"Well, I've never worried about anything like this before. Back then, although my parents were often away from home, they had a certain social standing, and I had a smooth journey from elementary school to high school without ever having to worry about school."
I got into university on my own merit, and after graduation, I didn't even think about working. I spent three years traveling, covering most of the country. When I got tired of traveling, my parents arranged a job for me as a high school teacher, and I've never had to worry about money since.
Jiang Shuyun talked about her privileged past life, and sometimes she felt quite nostalgic about it.
"The past cannot be changed, but living a different life is not bad."
Mu Yi'an couldn't envy it; it was a completely different world from hers, even though they both grew up under the red flag and breathed the same air.
“Yi’an, for the next six months, I may not have time to take care of your watermelon business. I want to give it a shot. If I can get into Bailu Academy, the chances of passing the provincial examination will be greater, our social status will be higher, and we can live more peacefully in this feudal era.”
“You don’t need to worry about my affairs. Agriculture is my domain. Not to mention that I come from the mountains and have been farming with my parents since I was a child, I’ve also lived in the agricultural university for more than ten years. Some things are ingrained in my bones.”
Mu Yi'an may not be able to say about other things, but growing watermelons, herbs, and cash crops is still something he can do by hand, even without modern advanced equipment.
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