Aunt Chen is back from the world of cultivation

Before the boy who was in charge of checking the list came back, the yamen runners on horseback came with drums and gongs to announce the good news.

"Congratulations to Mr. Qiao, your teacher, for passing the provincial examination this year!"

Everyone in the Qiao family who were waiting nervously in the yard suddenly became excited, and even the neighbors came out to watch the fun.

Mother Qiao wiped away tears with red eyes: "Great! Our teacher and friend finally won!"

Father Qiao bowed reverently towards the room where the ancestral tablets were enshrined:

"May our ancestors bless us! Our Qiao family will surely regain its glory!"

Qiao Shiyou's great-grandfather once served as a prefect, but his grandfather had no talent for studying and only passed the examination for the title of scholar, but was unable to advance.

Mr. Qiao didn't even pass the exam to become a scholar.

But this did not prevent them from claiming to be descendants of officials, passing on the family tradition of farming and studying, and often telling others that Teacher and Friends Qiao wanted to restore the family.

"Husband, you are so awesome!" Qin Zhenniang was also genuinely happy for her husband.

Teacher Qiao tried hard to remember in his heart that a gentleman does not show his emotions on his face, but he still couldn't suppress the upturned corners of his mouth.

"Thank you all for making the trip! Madam, give me the reward!"

Qin Zhenniang then came to her senses and handed the red envelope to the yamen runners according to the rules.

In order to seek a good omen, every family with a scholar candidate would prepare reward money, firecrackers and other items after he passed the exam.

After sending the bailiffs away, the Qiao family immediately hung up firecrackers and set them off with a crackling sound.

Neighbors gathered around to congratulate and compliment him:

"My teacher and friend are truly amazing. They passed the exam on their second try!"

"What mentor and friend? Now he is a scholar, so from now on you have to call me Master Qiao!"

"Yes, yes, Mr. Qiao! Our Mr. Qiao is really young and promising! Old Master and Old Lady Qiao are so blessed!"

Mr. and Mrs. Qiao were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling.

Teacher Qiao also spoke a few humble words in a reserved manner.

There were also some neighbors who joked and made fun of it:

"Master Qiao, we grew up together and are close friends. Don't forget to support us when you become an official in the future!"

Teacher Qiao smiled kindly:

"What's the point of talking about whether to help or not? A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. If teachers and friends can help, I will naturally help."

Hearing everyone praising him for his kindness and righteousness, and some even saying that they wanted their grandchildren to ask him for advice in the future, Master Qiao couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

He is now a juren, and has long been distinguished from these common people in terms of status.

He was just being polite to them just for the sake of a good reputation, but there were still people who didn't know the limits and took advantage of him.

However, it will not be easy for these people to find him in the future.

Since he passed the imperial examination, naturally many common people came to him with their lands for support. Friends, relatives, and nearby wealthy businessmen and officials would also give him large gifts. Then he could legitimately ask Zhenniang to buy a house in a better location in the east of the city.

It’s no wonder that he is so complacent.

It is indeed rare to become a juren.

You know, it is not easy to pass the examination and become a scholar.

The admission rate for scholars to juren is only 30 to 400.

In many remote provinces, there are only thirty to fifty juren quotas every three years.

The North and South Zhili provinces, which had the most juren quotas, had only a little over 100.

But this doesn't mean it's easier to take the test.

On the contrary, the literary style in Southern Zhili flourished, talented people emerged in large numbers, the competition was more intense, and only one or two out of a hundred people were selected as Juren.

Many people study hard all their lives, but still cannot pass the examination to become a juren (a scholar) even when they are old and gray. There are many who fail to even pass the examination to become a scholar.

Since Qiao Shiyou was able to pass the imperial examination at the age of just over 20, he can indeed be considered a promising young man.

The reason why the Qin family took a fancy to him was because he passed the imperial examination at a young age. Although he did not get the title of a student on government stipend, his scores in the annual examination for scholars were among the best in the eastern part of the city.

Impatient to deal with his neighbors, Teacher Qiao socialized with everyone for a while and then closed the door to refuse visitors.

Qin Zhenniang was still full of excitement. She changed her polite manner when socializing with neighbors and said happily like a child:

"From now on, I will be the wife of a successful candidate in a prestigious university! My parents will definitely be very happy if they know about this!"

The joy in Teacher Qiao's heart was suddenly overshadowed.

If he had held on for another three to five years before getting married, he would never have married a merchant girl who was not presentable enough.

What made him even more embarrassed was when the servant he sent out came back.

"Master! Master! It's hit!"

The servant said happily.

Father Qiao said unhappily:

"Those who bring the good news have all come before, why do you still need to come forward now?"

The servant felt aggrieved:

"Master, I rely on my two legs. How can I compare to the speed of the yamen runners on horseback?"

Mother Qiao suddenly remembered an important matter and asked:

"Can you see clearly how many young masters there are? The yamen runner who just announced the good news didn't say it."

Teacher Qiao was more knowledgeable than Qiao's mother, and waved his hand when he heard this:

"No need to ask him, the good news will clearly state it."

The congratulatory notices delivered by the yamen runners would always state the name, native place, subject, ranking and other information of the successful candidate.

Everyone then remembered that they had forgotten to read the good news, and immediately urged Teacher Qiao to go and have a look.

When Teacher Qiao opened the good news, he immediately frowned.

"What's wrong? How many?"

"One hundred and twenty-one."

Mother Qiao said subconsciously:

"Ah, more than a hundred people have gone? How many people were admitted to this course?"

This question was asked by the servant.

The servant saw that the young master looked unhappy and began to stammer.

"You can't even speak clearly, right?" Qiao's father scolded.

The servant closed his eyes and said loudly:

"One hundred and twenty-one people, and the young master is the last one!"

Teacher Qiao's face suddenly became extremely bad.

Scholars who failed the imperial examination often said that they had fallen out of Sun Shan, and now he has become Sun Shan.

No wonder the yamen runners didn't announce his ranking in public just now. I'm afraid they also felt that his ranking was not honorable.

Thinking about what they were thinking, Teacher Qiao felt ashamed!

Qin Zhenniang saw his expression and was afraid that he would be sad, so she quickly comforted him:

"It doesn't matter, sir. If you can pass the exam, you are better than many people. No matter what your ranking is, you are still a juren, and it won't affect your participation in the imperial examination. When the time comes, sir, you will make a big splash and get the first, second or third place. Who will care about your ranking in the provincial examination?"

"Shut up, you ignorant fool!"

Teacher Qiao scolded impatiently.

What does an ignorant merchant like her know?

They thought that a juren was a very important person and that anyone in the top three could easily pass the exam.

With his rank, which nobleman would look down upon him?

Without a good teacher or guidance and support from the in-laws, the imperial examination would be extremely difficult.

Even if you pass the exam by chance, it will be difficult to get promoted quickly in your future career.

Maybe at the end of his life, he won't even be able to cross the threshold of the fifth rank.

With such a ranking, it’s better not to win!

Qin Zhenniang's eyes suddenly turned red.

Teacher Qiao left in anger.

Mr. and Mrs. Qiao couldn't help but start blaming Qin Zhenniang for her unpleasant words and making their son unhappy.

Zhenniang held the handkerchief in her hand and said nothing.

It was a happy day and the weather was nice and crisp in autumn, but she felt extremely depressed.

When the Qin family learned that Qiao Shiyou was ranked last on the list, they were no longer as happy for their son-in-law as they had been in the past.

But for Zhenniang's sake, he still asked someone to prepare an impeccable gift and send it to her.

When the Qiao family saw the gift, they couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

The Qiao family is not in the countryside, so there won’t be many farmers or landlords who will come to them with their land.

This ranking will not be as valued by wealthy businessmen as the top five.

I had originally expected the Qin family to be overjoyed and give me a generous gift, but I didn't expect the gift to be just a mere three hundred taels of silver.

Teacher Qiao became increasingly dissatisfied with the Qin family.

He thought to himself that the Qin family might also dislike his ranking!

The Yue family is so snobbish that they will never let them get any benefit when he becomes successful in the future.

Moreover, don't blame him for being unjust if they are unkind.

Before he finds a better backer, he must make full use of the Qin family to relieve the hatred in his heart.

Five days later, at the Lu Ming Banquet, he had adjusted his mentality completely and dressed up properly to attend the banquet.