The daily life of a peasant girl taking the imperial examination

Just as Zhuge Yunshu was lost in thought, her father flicked her forehead and said, "Don't think about it so much. Hurry up and go out, or your grandma will get angry again."

When Zhuge Laifu and his family of three stepped out of the house, they were caught and scolded by Old Chen, who had been waiting for them.

Only when he was tired of cursing did he take a sip of water to moisten his throat.

If it weren't for the Zhuge family's rule that the family wouldn't separate while the parents were still alive, she would have kicked the third son's family out long ago.

What sins did she commit in her past life that God sent the third son's family to torment her?

Zhuge Yunshu was pushed forward by her father and reluctantly stepped forward, "Grandma, don't worry, I promise I will take good care of Dad this afternoon and make sure he does his job well so you won't have to worry."

Old Chen was already used to the promises made by the third son's family; they always did it, but they never kept their word.

So he ignored them and grabbed his farm tools to head out.

Anyway, she'd had enough of cursing and vented her anger.

Before leaving, he turned back to Lin and said, "Third son's wife, you must finish embroidering your handkerchief today. Wash the vegetables tonight and wait for the eldest son's wife to come back and cook."

"Mother, don't worry! Even if I don't drink water or go to the toilet, I will definitely complete the task you entrusted to me." Madam Lin softly vowed to her mother-in-law.

After giving her instructions to her troublesome third son's family, Old Chen finally left with peace of mind.

After her repeated urging, her father finally left the house.

……

It was an unbearably hot early summer afternoon. Zhuge Yunshu stood listlessly in the paddy field. She longed to rest in the shade. But seeing her four older cousins, including her fourth cousin who was a year older than her, all working so hard, she couldn't bring herself to ask to sit alone under a tree.

At this moment, her older cousin glanced at her and noticed that she was pale, so she said, "Big cousin, why don't you go and rest in the shade for a while?"

Upon hearing this, the fourth cousin quickly said, "I want to go too."

"You're the older brother, you should care about your younger sister. Can't you see that your cousin Da Hua is about to get heatstroke?"

Zhuge Yunshu was so moved by her cousin's words that she almost cried. This cousin was truly the best in the entire village.

Zhuge Yunshu believed that everyone has their own expertise, and it was best for someone like her not to hold everyone back. Farming, being a specialized task, should be left to the professionals.

She should hurry up and find a way to get a spot in the clan school exam.

After resting for a while, she quickly went back to work. She, a fake child, couldn't really bully a child.

Oh, and while you're at it, take his dad, that giant baby, with you too.

The sweltering afternoon was unbearable, but Zhuge Yunshu gritted his teeth and persevered to the end.

Later, her father, Zhuge Laifu, didn't slack off either. After all, the work in the fields was almost done, and all that was left was to carry the weeds out of the paddy fields. This kind of work was much easier than the work of the grandparents and uncles next door who were hoeing the fields on the hillside.

While picking up the fallen grass, Zhuge Yunshu negotiated with the "Serve the Country and the People" system, "Can you grant me a place in the clan school? Then I will agree to activate the system."

"I hope the host will not have any thoughts of getting something for nothing. As long as you study hard, your talent will always shine through."

"How can I study properly? If I had the resources, would I still need to ask you?" Zhuge Yunshu said expressionlessly, then continued as if he had thought of something, "You are the 'Serving the Country and the People System,' which should contain ancient books, right? If I activate the 'Serving the Country and the People System,' can I read them?"

"Yes, but it requires an equivalent exchange. When you activate the system, new players will receive a gift pack (free lottery items). What's inside is random," the system said ambiguously.

"What's the use of this system? It can't help at all," Zhuge Yunshu thought to himself: Garbage system.

"Host, please cease your system-wide attacks."

He continued, "This system has been adjusting its data for the past five years, and it has now been updated. It has changed from modern mode to ancient mode. Are you sure you don't want to activate it?"

"Does it teach people how to make money?"

"This system is for the benefit of the country and its people, focusing on changing the fate of the nation and its people through education. It is not a commercial system, and our specializations are different. Host, please do not make unreasonable demands."

"Host, according to data from several years of research by this system, scholars have a high social status in this era and it is still easy for them to make money, such as by copying books."

Zhuge Yunshu: "..."

That makes some sense. It's said that her uncle, Zhuge Laigui, bought a handwritten copy of the Three Character Classic for a string of cash, which is one tael of silver. That's quite rare.

"What features are included in the update?"

"This system is updated according to the historical context and the host's own situation. It is now an ancient version of the 'Serving the Country and the People' system. The purpose remains unchanged: to dedicate oneself to the country and the people until death."

"Get to the point." Zhuge Yunshu was speechless.

system:"......"

"Due to the host's low intelligence and talent, targeted services have been activated. The specific details will only be known after the host activates them."

Seeing that Zhuge Yunshu seemed somewhat tempted, the system pressed on, saying, "Host, your current situation is very bad. According to the system's detection, your intelligence and talent are among the lowest of the students participating in this entrance exam. Your chances of getting one of those twenty spots are zero."

“I’m an adult. Even though I’m not very smart, my learning ability is definitely better than that of the kids in the village!” Zhuge Yunshu retorted.

"I told you you're not smart, but you didn't believe me. In your Zhuge Village, the village chief's family and the clan chief's family are direct relatives of that high-ranking official who reached the fourth rank. That means you're now considered a collateral branch. Anyone with a brain can figure out that the educational resources they have are definitely the best in the village. Besides, their children are so talented that they start learning at the age of three. How old are you now, host? You haven't even seen the basic primers of this era."

"The main problem is, host, you know modern fonts, but how many traditional Chinese characters can you recognize in this era?"

Zhuge Yunshu: "..."

That's so heartbreaking! But she didn't think too much about it. Is she really that stupid?

"System, for some reason, ever since I awakened my memories at the age of six, I feel like my brain is very sluggish, not as clever as it was in my previous life. It's like I've been forcibly de-intelligentized. Why is that?"

Zhuge Yunshu found it very strange. Although she wasn't very smart in her previous life, she still managed to get into a regular undergraduate program. How come after transmigrating, besides becoming smaller, her brain seemed to be dehydrated?

"This is normal. The host didn't get enough nutrition in the womb, so his brain development is slow." The system became more and more guilty as it spoke, but it was actually its fault.

"System, I have a bold guess. Could it be that I've been hit in the head and am now acting strangely?" Zhuge Yunshu said.

After all, she was crushed to death before she transmigrated.

"Uh... well, okay, there is indeed a reason related to this system, but the main reason is still the genetic issue." It's all because it encountered an accident while traveling through the spacetime flow, causing the system's internal functions to malfunction, resulting in a fall. And coincidentally, it landed on the host it was bound to.

Zhuge Yunshu: "???"

If I understand correctly, what you're trying to say is—you smashed me to death.

For this reason as well, she became mentally challenged.

Ahhh! ! !

"Damn system, give me back my intelligence."

System: "...Host, please stop verbally attacking the system. Also, to compensate you, this system will definitely supervise you to study hard and achieve great things in the future."

Zhuge Yunshu: "..."

There's really no need for that; just give her a high-paying 9-to-5 job.

Just like her uncle who worked as an accountant in town.