After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Time slipped by, and in the blink of an eye, it was already March, the season of warm spring and blooming flowers. One day, the Crown Prince invited Tang Wenshu to go boating on the lake, and she happily agreed. Early in the morning, the Crown Prince's carriage was already waiting outside the Duke's Mansion.

The scenery along the way was delightful and refreshing. Soon, they arrived at the legendary Jing Lake. Jing Lake was like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountains and trees. The water was crystal clear, and fish frolicked in the water. Willows swayed by the lake, and peach blossoms were in full bloom, creating a breathtaking beauty.

In stark contrast to the bustling crowds around him, a solitary scholar knelt before the lake stele, kowtowed. His movements were awkward, yet filled with reverence and awe. He kowtowed once, then muttered something, then kowtowed again. This cycle repeated, as if lost in a state of suspense.

"What is he doing?" Tang Wenshu asked curiously. Her eyes were attracted by this strange scene, and an inexplicable doubt surged in her heart.

"Let's go and take a look," Zhao Rui said, frowning. As the crown princess, she was always particularly sensitive to such unusual situations. If she encountered any injustice, she would definitely stand up and uphold justice.

In a small village in Tongluo Township, Jingzhou, lived a scholar named Chen Xiaodong. The village had a scholar who volunteered to teach the children how to read and write. Because Chen Xiaodong excelled in reading, his family exempted him from household chores and allowed him to study under the scholar, focusing on his studies.

Chen Xiaodong was a diligent and hardworking man. At the age of 15, he successfully passed the examination for the rank of Tongsheng (a student), and at the age of 20, he passed the examination for the rank of Xiucai (a scholar). However, his studies after the Xiucai stage posed a difficult situation. The village scholar could no longer provide him with guidance, and the expensive tuition fees required to attend the county private school were a heavy burden for his family. Feeling helpless, the entire village generously contributed to the tuition and sent him to Jingzhou Prefecture College for further studies.

Unfortunately, Chen Xiaodong's first attempt at the imperial examination yielded disappointing results and he failed. Feeling he had failed the villagers' expectations and support, he felt so ashamed that he dared not return to the village. However, rather than blaming him, the villagers offered their support, donating money for him to continue his studies. In that era, it was a truly remarkable achievement for a village to produce a scholar.

Time flies, and Daniel Chan is now 26 years old. His master's daughter, his childhood sweetheart, has been waiting for him for six years. This sister is not only the woman he has long admired, but also the love of his life.

However, Chen Xiaodong knew that his current situation wouldn't allow him to provide her with a better life, so he decided to wait until she finished high school before marrying her, rather than now. His sister's deep affection for him remained unwavering, having waited for him silently since she was 15, and now she was 21. In those days, a 21-year-old woman was considered "old and left alone," and staying at home would inevitably lead to gossip.

When Chen Xiaodong failed the imperial examination again, his teacher advised him, "Since that's the case, you might consider starting a family first, and then establishing a career." So, Chen Xiaodong and his junior sister got married, and they became a loving couple. After marriage, his junior sister devoted herself to managing the household, while Chen Xiaodong continued to focus on his studies.

After three years of hard work, Chen Xiaodong finally achieved his dream and passed the imperial examination. He then continued his efforts and took the imperial examination. However, his family's financial situation had long been difficult, and they were completely destitute. Chen Xiaodong could only rely on his apprentice's embroidery to support his studies.

In this era, people's lives were not rich, especially for an ordinary family. If they wanted to support one person to take the imperial examination, they would have to pay a huge price. Chen Xiaodong's new family was supported by the dowry of his junior sister.

Finally, all the villagers chipped in a little, and Chen Xiaodong's junior sister gave all her dowry, and finally they had enough money to allow Chen Xiaodong to go to Kyoto to take the imperial examination. At this time, the villagers were almost unable to come up with any money.

However, fate always seemed to play tricks on him. Chen Xiaodong entered the imperial examination with great hope, but ultimately failed. This was undoubtedly a crushing blow to him. Thirty is the prime of life, yet he had few skills or abilities other than studying. Not only had he used up all his money, he also fell into deep confusion, unsure of his future.

In despair, Chen Xiaodong contemplated suicide. He reached the lake, intending to end his life. However, as the water gradually reached his trouser legs, he suddenly became frightened. He worried that if news of his death reached his hometown, his junior sister would not be able to bear the blow and might even die. So, he returned to shore and kowtowed several times before the lakeside monument in gratitude. In that moment, he realized he couldn't give up so easily and had to keep living.

Just then, the Crown Prince and Tang Wenshu appeared. He took an interest in Chen Xiaodong and asked him some questions. After learning about Chen Xiaodong's experience, the Crown Prince, impressed by his hard work, decided to test his knowledge. If Chen Xiaodong was truly talented, he could offer him a job.

However, when faced with the Crown Prince's questioning, Chen Xiaodong seemed overwhelmed. Although he had read many books, he knew nothing about current affairs, farming, and other practical matters. He spent almost all his time on books, neglecting all kinds of knowledge in the real world.

Chen Xiaodong seemed ashamed of his performance, realizing that he still had a long way to go in terms of knowledge. He had always thought that success could be achieved just by studying, but now he understood that practical experience was equally important.

The prince looked at Chen Xiaodong with a pity. He knew that although Chen Xiaodong was diligent and eager to learn, he lacked practical experience and knowledge. So, the prince suggested, "Brother Chen, I think you could set up a small stall on the streets of the Imperial City, specializing in writing letters for people. This way you can make money and gain exposure to all kinds of people and things, broadening your horizons. Once you've made enough money, you can return home. Your status as a juren is enough to secure a position as a legal advisor."

Chen Xiaodong's eyes flickered with hope. He knew this was a viable path, one that would allow him to combine textbook knowledge with practical application. He gratefully thanked the prince and expressed his willingness to give the suggestion a try.

The princess smiled and nodded in support. She believed that Daniel Chan would overcome all difficulties and realize his dream. At the same time, she hoped that Daniel Chan would understand that while academic knowledge is important, practical experience is even more indispensable. Only by combining the two can one become a truly talented person.

"Brother Rui, why don't you just give him money and let him go back home?" Tang Wenshu blinked her big eyes and asked innocently. She really couldn't understand why Brother Rui did this.

Brother Rui smiled and explained, "Of course, the money should be used to help those who truly need it. Although Chen Xiaodong comes from a poor family, he was able to reach this point today thanks to the support and encouragement of the entire village. However, when he became successful, he never mentioned the help of the villagers and his master. This kind of mentality clearly needs to be tempered. Only through tempering can he become an outstanding talent."

Tang Wenshu listened and nodded, not quite understanding. She still didn't quite understand the deep meaning, but she believed that Brother Rui must have his reasons.

The prince continued, "In fact, it's not uncommon to find people like Chen Xiaodong who have studied hard for twenty years. Although they work hard, they come from poor backgrounds and lack resources and opportunities, so they are inferior to the children of wealthy families in many aspects. Moreover, their horizons may be limited, and they cannot compare with the children of wealthy families. Therefore, we need to give them more opportunities to train and grow, so that they can broaden their horizons and improve their abilities."