The Legend of the Farm Girl

After talking with Liu Zhanpeng, Li Muwen learned that Liu Zhanpeng's father was actually the county magistrate of Qihe County at the border. When he was a child, he lived with his parents in Qihe County and was very familiar with the people's livelihood at the border. However, the border was really cold and harsh and the literary culture was not popular. Liu Zhanpeng's father had no time to teach him, so he sent him back to his hometown, Yiqing County, to study.

Therefore, he was able to put forward various opinions in a practical way for the last question of the provincial examination. What surprised him was that Li Muwen, who had no family background and had never had contact with other countries, actually passed the provincial examination.

When he learned that it was Li Muwen's wife who had discussed this issue with him, he immediately became very interested in Yunfang.

When he asked about Yunfang frequently, Li Muwen's face turned black. When Liu Zhanpeng saw Li Muwen's black face, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "I've been married for a long time and have two sons. You don't have to look at me like that!"

Li Muwen suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He was indeed a little worried that someone was coveting Yunfang.

The two discussed again and decided to go together to the Lu Ming Banquet organized by the examiner, and then return to Yiqing County together.

At the agreed time in the afternoon, the two went to the mansion next to the Imperial Examination Hall. This mansion has always been the venue for the Lu Ming Banquet and is only used once every three years, but it has winding streams and flowing wine cups, and the scenery is pleasant.

The forty people sat down in order according to their ranking. Li Muwen glanced at them and found that most of them had extraordinary temperaments and came from extraordinary backgrounds. Come to think of it, if they were not children of wealthy families, how would they have the opportunity to learn about border affairs.

Li Muwen smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking that he might have the worst family background. Then he encouraged himself in his heart that since he had already achieved fame and ranked sixth, it proved that he was no worse than these rich young men. In the future, he just needed to work hard and keep his original intention.

After everyone had been sitting for a while, someone shouted loudly, "In the 13th year of Mingxiu, the chief examiner of the provincial examination in Jiangliao Province, the Minister of Personnel Yuan Shaojie, has arrived. The prefect has arrived."

Everyone was immediately cheered up. A dignified man in his forties walked in from outside the courtyard and went straight to the front of the banquet.

Everyone's eyes followed him as he walked. Apart from the sound of wind and water, the only sound at the scene was the man's footsteps.

When he sat down in his seat, he said directly: "I am the chief examiner of this provincial examination. Congratulations on your success."

After saying that, he raised his glass and toasted everyone.

Everyone complimented him, and someone actually mentioned the articles that Lord Yuan had written before. As the official said, Lord Yuan didn't like people taking shortcuts. His face darkened and he said, "Many people were eliminated from the provincial examination this time because they were trying to be smart by studying the articles I had written. How can they still be considered as scholars? I think there are still some fish that slipped through the net that I haven't discovered. They should have been eliminated directly at the beginning."

The person who just mentioned Lord Yuan's article turned pale and looked like he was about to faint. Fortunately, Lord Yuan didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Since he had already achieved fame and honor, there was no way he would let this take it away from him.

But this person's future career will definitely be difficult.

Mr. Yuan continued, "Since you are the candidates I selected, we have a half-teacher relationship. I should warn you that although you have passed this provincial examination, this is only the first step in your official career. If you want to go higher and further, you must pass the metropolitan examination and become a Jinshi. However, with all my respect, with your current level, almost none of you can pass the examination, so I think you still need to keep learning."

This statement really poured cold water on the excited new scholars, but Lord Yuan must have experience. He said they were not good enough yet, which was definitely true, but they had all become scholars, and their teachers were also scholars, so who should they find to teach them next? Everyone had questions in their minds.

Some people also asked Mr. Yuan for advice and solutions to their doubts.

Lord Yuan was patient and said, "If you are under 30, you can use your status as a juren to go to the academy in the city, where there are clerks sent by the Imperial Academy to teach you. If you are over 30, you can only work hard at home."

Half of the candidates present were over thirty years old, and some were disappointed that they might never have the chance to receive instruction from a real Jinshi.

This group of people who are not over 30 years old are very happy and can't wait to go to the Fucheng Academy to sign up.

Lord Yuan stopped talking about studying and started reciting poems and composing couplets with the scholars present. In an instant, the scene became lively and joyful.

By the time the banquet was over, the moon was already high in the sky. When Li Muwen and Liu Zhanpeng returned to the courtyard of Tingfeng Academy, they found that all the students except them had gone home.

There were two unexpected people waiting for them in the yard.

These two people are their teachers at Tingfeng Academy. They arrived here this evening. They heard that the results would be announced today, and they came here to see if any of their students had passed the exam. After arriving, they were surprised to hear that each of them had a student who had passed the exam.

The two were very happy and did not leave with the other students. Instead, they stayed in the yard waiting for the two to come back.

The two of them greeted Li Muwen and Liu Zhanpeng warmly, asking about their well-being and showing great concern.

Only after making the two of them somewhat at a loss as to what to do did he let them go.

Later, when they heard that they could go to the academy in the city and be taught by the Imperial College, they were extremely excited, as if they had already seen the scene of the students they had taught becoming Jinshi.

Li Muwen asked with some doubt: "Master, didn't you go to the Fucheng Academy at that time?"

His teacher, Master Yang, sighed and said, "Master Sun and I both passed the imperial examination when we were over 30 years old. Most of those who had the opportunity to go to the academy in the prefecture city passed the imperial examination and became Jinshi or Tongjinshi. Even if they did not pass the imperial examination, they all had strong connections and used the status of a juren to truly embark on a career in officialdom."

Li Muwen nodded and asked, "Then Master, when is the best time for us to go to the Fucheng Academy?"

Master Yang thought for a moment and said, "In theory, you can take your Juren documents to register at the Fucheng Academy tomorrow, but I'm not sure exactly when you can enter the academy. Over the years, I haven't taught any students who can enter the Fucheng Academy!"

After saying that, he turned his head and looked at Master Sun. Master Sun quickly shook his head and said, "Don't look at me. I haven't taught you either."

The four of them talked for a while before going back to their rooms to rest.

Li Muwen returned to his room and lay on the bed, but he couldn't sleep at all. Everything that happened today kept appearing in his mind. He really wanted to tell Yunfang everything. He didn't know when Yunfang would receive the news that he had passed the exam. If she knew, she would definitely be very happy for him!

Yunfang had already known the news that Li Muwen had passed the imperial examination. This morning, as soon as the list was announced, officials rode at full speed to deliver the list of successful candidates to all the counties.

After receiving the list, each county sent people to the homes of the successful candidates without delay to inform them.

So just after noon, Yunfang and even the entire Li family received the good news.

The whole family was very happy and immediately decided to wait for Li Muwen to come back and hold a three-day buffet to celebrate Li Muwen's success in the imperial examination.

Li Muwen arrived home in the evening of the next day. In the morning, he and Liu Zhanpeng went to the Fucheng Academy and were told that they had to wait until October 1st for new candidates to enroll. However, their information had been recorded, so they could come to the academy directly on October 1st to study.

After receiving the news, the two did not want to stay in the city any longer, and returned to Yiqing County with their teachers.

The moment he saw Yunfang, Li Muwen's longing for Yunfang burst out like a tide. If there weren't so many people around, Li Muwen really wanted to pick up Yunfang and go back to the room to express his longing for Yunfang with his body.

But there were so many people around that he could only keep looking at Yunfang with his eyes. Yunfang looked up and looked at him, as if she was burned by his scorching eyes.

It was not until Li Muwen's grandmother and mother came forward that Li Muwen was forced to shift his attention away from Yunfang.

Grandma Li saw her grandson, who had just returned home in nearly a month, and felt that he had lost a lot of weight. She held Li Muwen in her arms and said to his mother, "My grandson must be nourished. He has lost a lot of weight in this month!"

Li Muwen's mother also nodded in agreement.

At this time, Li Muwen's eldest brother Li Muxing stepped forward and asked, "Brother, please tell us about your imperial examination. Grandma and grandpa want to hold a three-day banquet to celebrate!"

Li Muwen looked at the expectant eyes of the crowd. Although he had already told his family in the letter, he knew that they still wanted to hear him say more.

Looking at his family members who have always supported him, Li Muwen said without hesitation: "Okay, I'll tell you now. Let's go into the lobby and talk! We can't keep blocking outside the yard!"

Everyone followed Li Muwen into the yard, and Li Muwen recounted everything that had happened in the city. Even though his family members knew about it, they still listened with great interest.

When talking about yesterday's announcement of the results and attending the Lu Ming Banquet, everyone immediately perked up, and even Yun Fang pricked up her ears.

When Li Muwen talked about the surprise when the results were announced, everyone's faces were filled with joy. When he talked about the performance at the Lu Ming Banquet, everyone felt proud of it.

But when they heard the news that Li Muwen was going to the provincial capital to study on October 1st, everyone fell silent.

Li Muwen straightened his expression and said to his family, "Grandpa, grandma, dad, mom, this time I go to the city to study, it is a good opportunity. If I don't go, I will have almost no chance to go further."

Everyone nodded, acknowledging that Li Muwen was right, but they still looked embarrassed.

Grandma Li said, "Mu Wen! Are you going to the city alone or taking Yunfang with you? Is there a place to stay in the academy? If you take Yunfang with you, you won't be able to live there! How will you live then?"

Grandma Li threw a series of questions at him. Li Muwen knew what they were worried about. She had said last year that grandma would only provide him with money for one more year of study. After passing the provincial examination, he would have to be responsible for himself.

If we go to the provincial capital, we will have to pay for everything.

Li Muwen said quickly: "Fucheng Academy provides food and lodging for students. In terms of living, everyone has a separate courtyard. But I still need to discuss with Yunfang whether she will go or not."

Of course, Li Muwen really hopes that Yunfang can go with him. Having Yunfang by his side will make him feel very safe.

But he still had to ask Yunfang's opinion first. If Yunfang didn't want to go to the provincial capital, he would just rush back to see her every time he had a holiday.

Everyone immediately turned their attention to Yunfang. Yunfang stood up, walked to Li Muwen's side, and said respectfully: "Grandpa, grandma, dad, mom, I want to go to the capital with Muwen. I hope the elders will agree."

Yunfang has her own considerations. She has to stay with Li Muwen so that she can teach him all the knowledge she has learned from the system and help him pass the imperial examination as soon as possible.

Li Muwen said more than once in his correspondence with Yunfang that without Yunfang, he would not have been able to pass the imperial examination this time, and it is very likely that he would never have passed the examination in his entire life.

After hearing what Li Muwen and Yunfang said, the whole family looked at them with a smile. Grandma Li said bluntly, "It would be great if you could go with him. Muwen is not young anymore, and it's time for him to be a father. You can study, but don't let this interfere with your work."

Yunfang blushed immediately upon hearing this, but she also felt a little melancholy in her heart. Since she married Li Muwen, she had not shown any sign of pregnancy.

She recalled that because she had not conceived a child after one year of marriage, her mother and mother-in-law were very anxious and took her to see a doctor.

The doctor said that there was nothing wrong with her body, and told them that if they couldn't get pregnant, it might be a problem with the man's body.

When Li Muwen's mother heard the doctor say this, she immediately ran back home. Because of her hasty movements, the whole family thought something big had happened and asked her what was wrong.

After she told her family what the doctor said, all the Li family members went out and took Li Muwen to see the doctor who treated Yunfang.

Li Muwen, who was reviewing his homework at the time, was surrounded by his family and walked to the clinic. He was very confused when he saw Yunfang and his mother-in-law waiting for him inside.

It was not until Yunfang told him what the doctor had said that he understood what had happened, and he became worried.

When the doctor felt Li Muwen's pulse, all the people who came with him even breathed lightly, for fear of affecting the doctor's diagnosis.

Fortunately, the doctor finally concluded that there was nothing wrong with Li Muwen's body, and that the timing might just not be right for her to have a child. There was no need to worry, and there was no need to take any tonics. Just let nature take its course, and she would definitely be able to get pregnant.

At this time, Yunfang's face was red, and Li Muwen's eyes were wide open. Grandma Li shouted, "Your grandfather and I are tired. You should go back and have a rest! We can discuss it tomorrow if there is anything!"

Everyone quickly followed the two old men and left. After Li Muwen saw everyone leave, he hugged Yunfang tightly and said, "My wife, do you know how much I miss you? I don't want to be separated from you for such a long time!"

Yun Fang felt Li Muwen's passionate affection and nodded, saying, "Okay, no matter where you go in the future, I will accompany you, and we will never separate."

Li Muwen immediately held Yunfang's hands tighter, until the hug could no longer calm the surging emotions in Li Muwen's heart. He picked up Yunfang horizontally and walked quickly back to his yard.