A blessed wife leads her husband to wealth and prosperity!

Since Lin Niangzi moved to the county town, Lin He'er felt that her life had returned to what it was like when she lived in the Lin family.

Every day, someone looks after the shop, and I can sleep until I naturally wake up. After having breakfast, I walk to the Lin family's house to chat with my mother and listen to her talk about things in the village.

Sometimes we chat for so long that we end up having lunch there. Life is so peaceful and comfortable.

That day, the mother and daughter talked about Lin Dong's studies.

Mother, when I bought this house, besides considering the good living environment, I also considered my younger brother's schooling.

Further down this Green Bamboo Lane, there's a school with a very famous teacher. Now that you've settled things at home, we should get our younger brother into school as soon as possible.

Heya, your mother doesn't quite understand this either. What do we need to prepare to go to the Confucius Academy?

If the timing is right, I'll go out and inquire at the school first.

Thinking of this, Lin He'er took Li Shi out and walked into the alley.

Master Yu's house was located at the end of Cuizhu Lane. It was actually adjacent to another street, so most of the time, students from the school would take this street to attend classes at Master Yu's house.

When Lin He'er arrived at the courtyard gate, Li Shi stepped forward and knocked on the gate. An old woman came out of the courtyard to open the gate.

Li greeted the old woman: "Sister, this is Master Yu's school. My wife's younger brother wants to study here. May I ask how much tuition fee is required to come to our school?"

The old woman looked up at the two people standing in front of the door and said with a kind smile, "My husband only accepts children from around here. There happens to be a vacancy at the school. Where do you live? If it's too far, it won't work."

Auntie, we are the new neighbors who moved into the alley. We lived in the house where someone from that family was an official in a neighboring county!

Oh, I see. So it was your family that bought that house from the Feng family!

That's right. My younger brother is about to start his studies. We've heard that Master Yu's scholarship is among the best in the county, so we thought we'd come to your house to ask him to teach my brother.

It's just following the crowd; it doesn't deserve everyone's praise. When the old woman heard Lin He'er praising her husband, although she said it modestly, a smile of pride appeared on her face.

Since you live in our alley, you are welcome to come to the school. Our tuition is five taels of silver a year, including one lunch. You can give us more during holidays as you see fit.

Five taels of silver a year. Indeed, prices in the county town are incomparable to those in the town. Even with only one meal provided and no lodging, the tuition for a single child costs the equivalent of a year's living expenses for an average family.

In ancient times, studying was a high-investment endeavor with no guarantee of return.

It's no wonder there are so few educated people. Throughout history, resources have always been concentrated in the hands of a select few. Why can't the poor compete with the rich? It's not that the poor don't work hard; most of the time, it's just that they're always a step behind.

Putting aside everything else, just in terms of education alone, this is a step that is very difficult for poor people to take.

The Lin and Wen families now only hope to take the first step through Lin Dong and Wen Yuning, and gradually change their social class.

As for what I need to do, I should work hard to accumulate more wealth and provide them with as much support as possible.

After finding out about the tuition fee and making an appointment with Teacher Yu at the school, Lin He'er would send Lin Dong to the school early the day after tomorrow.

After returning to the Lin family home and telling her mother the time, Lin He'er had lunch there and then took Li Shi back to the shop.

The reason she didn't linger at the Lin family's house until evening was because Li reminded her that Wen Yuning would have a day off in the afternoon.

When the two returned to the backyard of the shop, they found that the person had already come back.

He'er, I heard that Mother and my younger brother have arrived. Let me get ready and go to pay them a visit later.

Brother Wen, please rest well. I just got back from there, so we won't go over today. I went to Teacher Yu's place earlier today to register Dongdi for school. He'll be studying under Teacher Yu the day after tomorrow.

Let's go to the Lin family again tomorrow. Dongdi has just started his studies and we don't know which books he needs. Since you're back, you can give him some advice.

My brother-in-law is about to start school, so naturally I have to help him out.

Wen Yuning returned to her room, took out the Thousand Character Classic she had used when she first started learning from the trunk, and placed it on the table.

The child is just starting school and doesn't need books; this Thousand Character Classic is enough. We'll give it to my brother-in-law when we go to the Lin family tomorrow.

Just buy some more pens, ink, and paper.

Okay, then we'll bring the things over tomorrow.

After the two finished discussing the Lin family's affairs, Wen Yuning (Lin He'er) realized that there was still good news she hadn't shared with the other person.

Brother Wen (He'er), there's something else I haven't told you yet.

Oh, Brother Wen has good news too? Tell me quickly, what is it?

It's nothing. I've been studying for more than two years. The other day, Instructor Xu contacted me and said I could try out for the preliminary examination.

I've been studying for quite a while now, and I'd like to take an exam to see how good I am!

This is really good news! I never thought Brother Wen could actually take the exam.

When does the preliminary examination for the imperial examination begin, and what else do you need to prepare for it?

There's nothing special to prepare. The preliminary examination for the imperial examinations will be held in the county town. The county association will organize the students who want to take the exams to go to the county government office together. There will be three exams in total.

It's at the end of the month.

What? It's almost the end of the month? That means there aren't many days left. Today is already past the middle of the month, less than half a month until the end of the month.

"Why haven't I heard you mention this before?" Lin He'er glared at the person opposite her, dissatisfied.

I didn't know I was going to take the exam before. Instructor Xu suddenly contacted me and said I could try out. I only received the news two days ago. I came back and told you as soon as I got back.

Wen Yuning saw his wife glaring at him and touched his nose innocently.

Okay, so are you still going back to the county school to study the day after tomorrow?

The teachers at the county school replied that the preliminary examination was just a stepping stone to the imperial examinations, and that students should just keep a normal mindset and continue studying as usual without having to do anything special.

However, since it was a serious exam, the county school allowed us to go home the day before the exam to relax.

That's right. It's the first step in the imperial examination, after all. How could you act so indifferently?

I'll go out and ask around later to find out what kind of logistical support the candidates' families need to provide during the exam. I can't help much with the exam itself, but I can handle the logistics.

Now that I've finished telling you my story, He'er, tell me your good news too?

Wen Yuning took his wife's small hand, placed it in his own, and gently squeezed it.

Lin He'er noticed his deliberate little gesture but didn't expose it. She simply replied nonchalantly:

Compared to Brother Wen's good news, my news is just icing on the cake.

Wen Yuning: Oh, then tell me about it!

The dividend I received from the Xu family was over sixty taels of silver.

In the future, in addition to the daily income from the shop, we will also receive a monthly dividend from the Xu family.

It is all thanks to you, He'er, that our family is able to live a life free from worries about food and clothing.

What you told me back then has come true so quickly.

What? Which sentence? Lin He'er was momentarily confused, wondering where this person had remembered something she had said.

We've only known each other for a year, from when we met to when we got married, and you've already forgotten the promise you made back then!

Seeing that the little girl really didn't remember what she had said, Wen Yuning had no choice but to remind her: "What did you say to me when we first met?"

Ah! Lin He'er thought of what happened back then. She was afraid of implicating Wen Yuning, and she had made a bold statement that she would take care of him in the future!

"You remember?" Wen Yuning thought, judging from his wife's expression.

Of course, I'm a man of my word. See? It hasn't been long, and you're already enjoying my good fortune. Earning money to support you is a piece of cake.

Yes, yes, thank you for taking care of me, my wife! Wen Yuning smiled and bowed to Lin He'er.

"Look at you, teasing me!" Lin He'er was so embarrassed by the man's serious yet inappropriate remarks that she wanted to scratch him.

My lady, please spare me!