When the pears are green

Song Li, Jiang Qingzhou and Jiang Qingye also walked over. They said a few words of congratulations to Jiang Qian and left.

"I wonder how Mingde and Mr. Li did in the exam?" Song Li muttered quietly while soaking beans.

Jiang Qingzhou, who was chopping meat, paused for a moment after hearing this. He told Song Li, "I'm going to visit my parents before the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'll know then."

"I hope Mingde can pass the exam. After all, he is Yueyue's future husband. It is said that when one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit. I also want to take advantage of Mingde's help. Although Qingye and Xiaoxing are also studying, they have only been studying for half a year." Song Li couldn't help but sigh.

Jiang Qingzhou asked with a smile: "What does Xiaoli want to do with Mingde's help?"

"Of course, to get rich." Song Li answered in a resounding voice. She knew some other things, but at present, she and Jiang Qingzhou had no big support. If they were to reveal their abilities and be targeted by someone with ulterior motives, it would be more trouble than gain. It would be better for her to stay calm for now.

Jiang Qingzhou stopped talking, he picked up the knife and continued to chop the meat.

After soaking the beans, Song Li wiped her hands with her apron. She walked over, held Jiang Qingzhou's hand and said softly, "Qingzhou, you are my greatest support."

Jiang Qingzhou's dark eyes became bright, and he thought to himself that he would urge Jiang Qingye to study harder in the future.

The next day, Song Li learned the results of Wu Mingde and Li Yun'an's college entrance examination. They came to Jiangjia Village to find Jiang Qian and went to Jiang Qingzhou's house.

"Mingde, Mr. Li, it's been a long time since we last met. Yesterday, I saw the yamen runners coming to tell my second brother the good news, and I was wondering if you two had also passed the exam?" Song Li smiled and invited Wu Mingde and Li Yun'an into the yard.

Wu Mingde and Li Yun'an smiled at each other. Wu Mingde answered as he walked, "Yun'an and I are also lucky enough to be among the students. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the two of us and Jiang Qian will go to the county school to study and prepare for the provincial examination in two years."

Jiang Qingye, who was writing on the ground, hurried over to congratulate Wu Mingde and Li Yunan after hearing this.

"I remember your name is Qingye, and you write well. You will pass the imperial examinations and become a scholar, juren, or jinshi in the future." Li Yun'an patted Jiang Qingye on the shoulder after he said this. Jiang Qingye's eyes lit up when he heard it. He knew that although it was just a polite remark, he was naturally very happy to receive praise from Li Yun'an, whose handwriting was better than Yang Yu's.

Wu Mingde took out a few picture books from his bag and handed them to Jiang Qingye. He smiled and said that they were bought in Songcheng County, one set for Song Xing and one set for Jiang Qingye.

Jiang Qingye wiped his hands on his clothes first, then he took it with both hands. It was "The Story of King Wu's Conquest of King Zhou".

"Thank you, Brother Wu San. This is what I want the most." Jiang Qingye jumped up excitedly. He had always wanted to get this set of books. In the past, he could only take a few glances at it from Li Yi's place. Now that he has it himself, he can read it however he wants.

Song Li had originally planned to take Jiang Qingye to the bookstore in the county town to buy this set of picture books during the Mid-Autumn Festival. She thanked Wu Mingde and then let Jiang Qingye go back to his room to read.

"Mrs. Jiang, why don't you see Brother Jiang?" Li Yun'an asked.

Song Li quickly replied: "Qingzhou went to my uncle's house and should be back soon."

Just as Song Li finished speaking, Jiang Qingzhou walked in from outside. Song Li smiled and said to Jiang Qingzhou: "Qingzhou, today we have two scholars coming to our house, which is really a great honor."

Jiang Qingzhou hurriedly congratulated Wu Mingde and Li Yun'an, who waved their hands. Li Yun'an said self-deprecatingly, "To be honest with you, Brother Jiang and Madam Jiang, our rankings are not high, so I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to pass the provincial examination."

Song Li then asked some questions about the college entrance examination. Through the answers of Wu Mingde and Li Yun'an, she learned that the number of admissions for the college entrance examination was calculated based on the county population. Linhe County was a medium-sized county. Fifteen people were admitted to the college entrance examination each year. Li Yun'an was the fifth, Wu Mingde was the seventh, and Jiang Qian was the eleventh. The provincial examination admitted one or two scholars out of every hundred who took the exam, which was harder than crossing a single-plank bridge.

"I heard that scholars can be exempted from land tax. How many acres can each scholar be exempted from?" Song Li asked the question that concerned him most.

Wu Mingde gestured with his hand and told Song Li that a scholar could be exempted from 50 acres of land tax, while a juren could be exempted from 200 acres of land tax.

"Mingde's status as a scholar not only exempts his family from the land tax on their fifty acres of land, but also exempts Uncle Wu and Brother Mingxuan from labor, and he does not have to pay the annual head tax." Li Yun'an added.

Song Li asked again uncertainly: "Does this mean that a scholar can not only be exempted from his own labor service, but also exempt the labor service of two people in his family?"

Wu Mingde and Li Yun'an nodded at the same time.

Song Li calculated in her mind that Jiang Qingzhou was sixteen years old this year, and in four years he would be of the age to serve in labor service. The last labor service was a year ago, and Jiang Qingzhou should serve his first labor service in his life when he turns twenty-one. There are still five years left. For the first time, she hoped that Jiang Qingye was a genius.

Jiang Qingzhou saw Song Li's serious expression and asked hurriedly, "Xiao Li, what's wrong?"

"It's okay. I just thought that you might have to do hard labor before Qingye passes the imperial examination. We can only earn more money and try to use it to replace the labor when the time comes." Song Li replied with a sigh.

Li Yun'an couldn't help but tease Song Li: "Mrs. Jiang really thinks long-term for Brother Jiang. Brother Jiang is so lucky to have such a wife. What more could a husband ask for!"

Jiang Qingzhou looked at Song Li affectionately. Song Li lowered her head under Jiang Qingzhou's burning gaze and said, "Mr. Li should have heard a saying, 'Planning is the key to success, while lack of planning leads to failure.' I can't just sit there and watch Qingzhou and my father go to labor camp. Last year, they were tortured beyond recognition just repairing the official road. If they were to repair the city wall or dig the canal, they could lose their lives if they weren't careful."

"Don't worry, Madam Jiang. By then, Uncle Song will be Mingde's father. If Mingde can pass the imperial examination, Uncle Song will naturally not have to do labor service. A juren can exempt more than a dozen people from labor service." Li Yun'an patted Wu Mingde on the shoulder, signaling him to study hard.

Wu Mingde looked helplessly at Li Yun'an who had dug a hole for him. He did not have much confidence in the provincial examination. After all, his ranking in the college examination was not as high as Li Yun'an's.

"Yun'an, don't always blame me. Uncle Li and Aunt Li are going to arrange for you to meet a girl in a few days. Uncle Li said that if we can't find one before the New Year, they will find one for you after the New Year. Brother Jiang and Sister Song, do you have any suitable girls? Please tell Yun'an about them so that Yun'an will have more choices." Wu Mingde thought that Li Yun'an's marriage was still unsettled, so this was a rare opportunity to tease Li Yun'an.

Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou knew that this was Wu Mingde's joke and did not take it seriously. Li Yun'an was already a scholar and ranked high in the college entrance examination, so naturally many families would take the initiative to go to the Li family to propose marriage.

The four of them chatted for a long time, and seeing that it was already noon, Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou invited Li Yunan and Wu Mingde to have lunch at home.

Wu Mingde and Li Yun'an did not refuse this time. Song Li made some sour soup dumplings, and from then on, the two of them often made appointments to come to Jiang's house for meals.