The daily life of a peasant girl taking the imperial examination

While pretending to be asleep, Zhuge Yunshu was plotting in his mind.

Although the family she was born into in this life was poor, it was a farming family that valued both farming and scholarship.

Because Grandpa Zhuge had a second cousin who rose to the rank of Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a fourth-rank official. This second cousin was exceptionally intelligent as a child and was greatly favored by Grandpa Zhuge Fengshou. Therefore, despite everyone's objections, Grandpa Zhuge allowed his cousin to study. As a result, this cousin truly excelled, progressing from a student to a scholar, then to a provincial graduate, then a metropolitan graduate, and finally to a high-ranking official of the fourth rank. He was a legendary figure in Zhuge Village.

Finally, the family of Zhuge's cousin, who were willing to go with him, were taken to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury. The last time they returned to the village was fifteen years ago when that great-grandfather passed away, and they have never returned since.

However, before leaving, the sentimental second grandfather purchased a hundred acres of farmland in Zhuge Village for the clan members to support talented children in the clan to study for the imperial examinations.

In Zhuge Yunshu's view, her second grandfather was also making plans for the relatives he left behind, but it must be said that he had a long-term vision and knew how to invest in the family in the long run.

This was the economic prerequisite for her to dare to plan for education, even though she was a girl. Otherwise, with her family's assets of ten acres of paddy fields and five acres of dry land, wanting to study would have been a pipe dream.

However, almost everyone in Zhuge Village is from the Zhuge family. There are more than two hundred children of the same generation as Zhuge Yunshu who are between the ages of 8 and 12 and are suitable for schooling. The hundred acres of school land simply cannot support all the children in the clan to study.

This has led to fierce competition.

The clan holds an entrance exam every three years, and only 20 students are admitted.

Each household is limited to a maximum of three students participating in the entrance examination.

Three years ago, there were only two school-age children in the family, my eldest cousin and my eldest cousin, so there was no controversy and they were able to participate in the assessment smoothly.

This year, Zhuge Yunshu's family has six eligible children, three of whom are boys. The most pressing issue now is how to get the family to agree to give one of the three spots to their daughter.

Although women's status was improving throughout the dynasty, and they could take the imperial examinations and enter officialdom alongside men, deeply ingrained patriarchal ideas still existed in most villages.

Zhuge Yunshu always remembered that in the neighboring Chenjia Village, a woman had violated the clan rules by eloping with someone, and the village chief ordered her to be brought back. After being brought back, it was discovered that she was pregnant. The clan chief considered this a scandalous act and used the clan rules to have her drowned in a pig cage, thus killing both her and her unborn child.

Although she was only four years old at the time, the memory still terrifies her.

This also made her constantly remember that this was an era in which clan etiquette was greater than national law.

"Alas, life was so difficult for women in ancient times! It was even more difficult to get an education!" Zhuge Yunshu sighed.

"Does the host wish to activate the 'Serving the Country and the People' system?" As if sensing Zhuge Yunshu's strong desire to read, a cheerful electronic voice sounded in her mind.

Zhuge Yunshu heard the voice but didn't want to pay attention to the system.

At first, Zhuge Yunshu was extremely excited when he learned that he was bound to this cheat system.

After all, there were no lingering attachments from the previous life.

However, once they learned about the system's specific functions, they gave up on the idea.

For no other reason than that the system told her that their mission was to dedicate themselves to the country and the people until their dying breath.

By learning the most advanced knowledge within the system, we can benefit all mankind, make our country the world's leading power, or even the leading power in the entire interstellar space, and make people's lives more convenient and their sense of happiness stronger.

It sounds very inspiring, but don't forget that this is in feudal ancient society.

When the system learned that this was ancient times, it seemed to be stimulated. The most obvious reaction was that Zhuge Yunshu heard a buzzing sound of an electric short circuit in his head, and then nothing happened until today, when the system reappeared.

But so what!

She can't even take care of herself now, how can she serve the country and the people?

Zhuge Yunshu hadn't even had time to sleep when she was startled awake by her grandmother's knocking on the door.

However, it worked quite well, immediately energizing her.

Her parents were also awakened from their sweet dream.

It must be said that her grandmother was remarkable; through years of wit and courage, she summarized her winning experience.

Even so, Zhuge Yunshu and her parents still got out of bed slowly and leisurely.

That's why they're family; they're so lazy, practically cut from the same mold.

Zhuge Yunshu even suspected that the "Serving the Country and the People" system had short-circuited its brain, which was why it bound itself to someone as lazy as her.

(System: Do you think I wanted this? (●—●))

"Father, Mother, I don't want to do farm work anymore, it's too tiring." Zhuge Yunshu looked at them with hopeful eyes, hoping they could save their poor daughter.

“Dahua, Dad doesn’t want to go either! But if we don’t work, your grandma won’t feed us. Let’s try to persevere a little longer.” Zhuge Laifu looked troubled.

"Why don't you stay home and learn needlework with your mother, Da Hua?" Lin suggested.

Hearing her mother's words, Zhuge Yunshu felt utterly helpless; it seemed as if she was born with a natural aversion to these delicate tasks.

"My daughter wants to take the clan school exam at the beginning of July. What do you think, Father and Mother?" Zhuge Yunshu tried to discuss it with them.

"Dahua, you're much more capable than your father. You actually dared to covet those three spots," Zhuge Laifu said in surprise.

“I have no choice but to think about it. In order to ensure you have a better life in the future, I definitely have to find another way. Do you have any plans to adopt someone else and leave the family property to your cousins?”

"How could that be? Why would I let my eldest and second eldest sons benefit? Don't even think about it." Zhuge Laifu said emotionally.

Zhuge Yunshu was quite satisfied with her father's reaction. "If you still want to rely on me, you should make plans early. Are you going to count on your future son-in-law? I advise you to give up that idea. It's only been two years since the Wang family's son-in-law killed his wife. Have you already forgotten about it?"

Zhuge Laifu felt that his daughter's words made sense. As if remembering something, he frowned and said, "Don't even think about it this year. Your three cousins ​​also meet the requirements. Your grandparents will not give you a spot."

"It is said that the old man is planning to have your uncle come back for a few days at the end of the month so that he can give your three cousins ​​some early education and increase their chances of passing the exam. He has really gone to great lengths to do this."

Hearing her father's words, Zhuge Yunshu felt very uncertain, knowing that her fourth uncle's monthly allowance was one tael of silver.

The whole family worked day and night on the farm every year, and they only earned four or five taels of silver.

In ancient rural areas, farmers had very little money. Most relied on farming for their livelihood; men were responsible for planting, while women spent their free time weaving and other labor. At the end of the year, they also had to pay local taxes.

Although it was said that one-third of the grain was to be paid, it's important to note that the total number of self-cultivating farmers with land resources in ancient times was very small. The vast majority of farmers rented farmland from landlords, and at least four-quarters of the profits had to go to the large landowners.

In this way, their own gains were merely enough to support their families. Moreover, they were often forced to perform corvée labor, and if they didn't want to go, they had to spend two taels of silver to buy a spot.

Fortunately, they had their younger uncle, who worked as an accountant at a restaurant in town. After deducting living expenses, he brought in ten taels of silver a year.

Of course, this excludes the poll tax and corvée labor fees.

However, her grandfather was quite open-minded and willing to invest heavily in raising the next generation.

But will they give this opportunity to her, a girl?

Clearly, in this feudal and ancient rural area where married-out women are considered as worthless as water spilled from a cup, the hope is extremely slim!