The head of the Mu family

Chapter 200 Exam Preparation

Because~

People like you two were born into good circumstances, but unfortunately, your families later suffered misfortunes.

He has experienced great events, but not great suffering.

This disaster sent you to this living hell, where you experienced it firsthand.

Calm your mind and figure out which path you should take from now on.

"I have a question that I hope the head of the family can answer. After they passed the imperial examination, they were considered to have become officials."

Why do you, patriarch, still allow them to work in the shop?

Manager Gong asked, puzzled.

Everyone had the same question in their minds.

"Because power and wealth are inseparable, they are both too easy to blind people's eyes and minds."

Cai Yuanchang was renowned for his talent in his youth, but what happened after he was ennobled and appointed prime minister?

He formed cliques for personal gain, became a notorious corrupt official in the imperial court, and was eventually executed by slow slicing.

Although he was punished, he had harmed countless ordinary people during his many years in office. Although he received his retribution, the people he harmed had all suffered in vain.

Of course, such people are a minority, but after years of hard study, their desire for power and wealth can become a reality.

They will lose their true nature because they have no other skills to earn money.

He may have a lot of knowledge, but he doesn't even have the ability to make a living.

Because of his own incompetence, he suffered greatly, yet he resented that suffering and had no empathy for the people of the world.

They only know what they want, but they don't know what the people want.

Such officials, the higher they rise in rank, the more harmful they become.

Many people lament that "a scholar is useless in every way."

Those are people who are oblivious to what's going on around them; I find them pathetic.

They read the classics, but ignored what was happening outside their windows.

They feel pity for suffering, yet stand idly by.

They can empathize with suffering, yet are powerless to help.

I can only write a few superficial articles, which I find infuriating.

What use are those tax documents to ordinary people?

Seeing that Huai Sheng had sworn in his excitement, Qian Yan quickly added:

"It's getting late. You lot who are going to take the imperial examination, come with me to the study first!"

My dear wife, shouldn't you go and draw flower patterns too?

Recently, Qingyue and Qingxue have both been busy with the imperial examinations.

With that, she took Huaisheng's hand and went to the study.

In the study, Huai Sheng held his pen, still pondering the topic he had just discussed:

Therefore, it is because all those in power in the new China, despite having powerful backgrounds, had to start as village chiefs.

Otherwise, they simply wouldn't understand what kind of life farmers lead.

Being too detached from the common people makes it impossible to formulate national policies that benefit the people's livelihood, and it will always lead to absurdities like "Why don't they eat meat porridge?"

Start from the countryside, start from the village head, and experience it at each level.

Even if those in power later return to their own class.

When promulgating new national policies, at the very least, they will make them more in line with reality, even if it's just for show.

In vanity projects, there are always some aspects that benefit ordinary people.

As long as there are even the smallest benefits, ordinary people can make a living.

They would think that the person in power is a good leader.

In fact, what ordinary people like us ask for is really simple.

They are well-fed and clothed, free from illness and disaster, and can enjoy a good meal every now and then.

Being able to sleep in until you naturally wake up when you have nothing to do, and getting yourself plump up is a blessing.

If in this lifetime one can escape natural disasters, avoid war, not encounter evil people, and not suffer from serious illnesses...

That person is already very lucky!

If the couple can still live harmoniously and work for an employer who pays wages on time.

During my time off, I would gather with a few old friends, drink and chat about everyday life.

Having a wife, children, and a warm bed—that's the greatest blessing imaginable.

The poor people cherish the present moment and are content with what they have.

Many of the Mu family's daughters took the exams, but only Qingyue and Qingxue passed and became Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

Huai Sheng gave the others a reward of two taels of silver.

Everyone was happy, whether they passed the exam or not.

Next came the provincial examination at the end of September, and Qingyue and Qingxue were also eliminated.

Huaisheng told them not to be angry:

"You can take the exam again in three years; this time the time was too short."

Let's do some handicrafts early tomorrow morning; after all, our family has produced two female scholars!

Let's all celebrate! Tomorrow, Manager Lin and Manager Gong, you two arrange the meal—we'll eat something nice!

"Alright, Master, just you wait and see!"

"Tomorrow, you will hand over the work to Yuan Su and Rong An, and go to Manager Qing Yue to collect the money."

"Make sure everything is organized properly. If you need anyone to lend a hand, just call them over."

They also invited the Lan Yaoshen family and the noblewoman's family, and also invited Shishu and Pingbo to come along.

The next day, one person spent half a day at the shop and the other half helping out at the mansion.

In the afternoon, everyone finished work early.

In the evening, both families arrived, and they enjoyed a good meal, drinks, and fun, just like during the Chinese New Year.

In fact, among the women who took the exams, half were eliminated in the first level (xiucai) and the remaining 80% were eliminated in the second level (xiangcai).

He ranked among the top ten in the county-level imperial examination and immediately won first place in the provincial-level examination.

The Marquis's mansion suddenly became famous, and so did the scholar Qianyan, who attracted many people who wanted to learn from him.

Qianyan couldn't very well say that he didn't teach, because others would say that Qianyan only taught the Marquis's household.

It's true what they say: people are afraid of becoming famous, just as pigs are afraid of getting fat.

Feeling helpless, Qianyan had no choice but to come up with a solution:

Each scientific expedition only accepts five students, with a tuition fee of one hundred gold coins per year.

There are still six months until next spring's imperial examination, which is fifty gold coins.

The other four spots were filled that day.

The burden of the family fell on Huaisheng's shoulders once again.

Fortunately, Qingyue and Qingxue came to the rescue again.

The shop also gained considerable fame for a while because it produced two female scholars.

The price of Qingxue's custom-made items has increased again:

The haute couture made by the female scholar exuded a scholarly air.

On the contrary, the supply fell even further short of demand.

Huai Sheng had been secretly refining a top-grade bewitching powder.

Shu Wu did not die, and Huai Sheng's revenge plan was beginning.

Huai Sheng also sent a congratulatory gift to Miss A Rui, and a letter was also included in the gift.

Miss Arui married the second young master of the Sword Forging Manor.

After returning from Yedu that year, we originally planned to hold the wedding in the summer, but the old master of the manor suddenly passed away from a brain disease.

Miss Arui and the Second Young Master of the Manor hurriedly bowed to Heaven and Earth.

Later, when she became pregnant and gave birth, there was no excitement.

Upon receiving the news, Huai Sheng and Lan Yaoshen sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts.

This year, the old manor lord's three-year mourning period has ended, and Ah Rui and her husband thought they should celebrate their child's second birthday.

Neither Huai Sheng nor Lan Yaoshen could go. There was still much to be done in the post-disaster reconstruction, and it was precisely the time when doctors were needed. They all had to obey the imperial court's orders.

The two families then sent gifts, but Huai Sheng also sent an extra letter.

Please help me, Miss Arui, to find two assassins with top-notch lightness skills and martial arts, and preferably someone with superhuman strength.

Money, any amount, is welcome!

The heroine, Ah Rui, was still a little puzzled; there were two more pages of letters.

In addition, the reasons behind it were explained.

After reading the letter, Miss Arui was so angry that she smashed a corner of the table.

Immediately, he threw the two pieces of paper with the reasons written on them into the fire and they turned to ashes.

He immediately summoned the Second Master of the Manor, omitted Huai Sheng, and explained the general situation.

Upon hearing this, the second master immediately sent a message by carrier pigeon.

Enraged, the couple went outside and practiced a set of boxing techniques on the plum blossom stakes.

Because Qianyan is mentoring five students for next year's spring imperial examinations, she is so busy that she is rarely seen.

After dealing with some affairs for a while, Huai Sheng discovered that there had been no news of Xuan Huo and Xuan Tu's team for a long time.

When I casually asked about the situation, the other team leaders all stammered and gave vague answers.

"what happened?"

"Young Madam, please ask the young master."

"Oh? It seems there really is something going on."

"Xuanmu, go and call Qianyan here."

Xuanmu went with a stiff upper lip.

A moment later, Qianyan arrived quickly and cleared the room as soon as she entered.