After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Landlord Jiang had already learned from the gatekeeper that people from the prefectural city had come, and he was extremely excited!

Haha, people from the prefectural city must be here for his eldest grandson.

He knew it! Who could resist a three-year-old prodigy!

"Greetings, Uncle. We apologize for our unannounced visit today."

"Oh dear, why are you saying that? We're all family, there's no need for hesitation. You're welcome to come anytime! Hahahaha!"

He had met these two distant cousins ​​before, since his cousin Jiang Changqing had returned to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors after passing the imperial examination, and he had brought his wife and children with him.

The heads of all branches of the Jiang clan returned to their ancestral home in Puyang. He also took fifteen-year-old Jiang Wenqing with him when he returned.

Back then, Wenhai and Wenhao were five and two years old, respectively. If they were to pass each other on the street now, they definitely wouldn't recognize each other.

Rather than calling him a "cousin uncle," it would be more appropriate to call him a "clan uncle," since they are separated by several generations of blood ties.

However, both sides wanted to appear closer, so they tacitly agreed to the terms "uncle" and "nephew."

"Uncle, we've come to your door today because of that letter from home. My father was quite surprised by what you said about Mingfei's academic potential."

If what my uncle said in his letter is true, then sending Mingfei to the clan school would be a logical step. However, we still need to test this child's academic abilities.”

"Of course, of course. Please feel free to examine them, my two nephews. The clan school is full of the clan's elite students, and we can't let them waste their resources."

Landlord Jiang certainly knew that any member of the clan who entered the clan school had to pass an entrance exam; those under ten years old had to pass the exam to enroll.

For those over ten years old, the requirements became even stricter. Basically, they all had to pass the preliminary examination for children, and the worst candidates had to pass the county examination but fail the prefectural examination.

I might be a little more lenient with my own child, but not too lenient.

For outsiders wanting to enter Chiang Kai-shek's family school, the higher tuition fees were one aspect, but the higher academic requirements were also essential.

The process of getting into a good school already filters out children who don't have much academic talent.

Landlord Jiang was naturally not worried that his grandson would fail the test. On the one hand, the child was indeed young, so you had to lower your standards in terms of the test.

We can't set difficult questions like we would for an eight or nine-year-old.

If his precious grandson performs normally, he will surpass others by a lot just in terms of age.

"Okay, Wenhao, you've been preparing all this way, you go first."

Jiang Wenhao had been thinking about how to test a three-year-old child all the way, and he was determined to lower the difficulty a bit, so he couldn't do it the same way as the older children.

But now he changed his mind. Looking at the tiny figure in front of him, who was barely taller than the tea table, calmly drinking tea and eating snacks, he didn't want to lower the difficulty.

"Okay, then I'll give you a few questions, and Mingfei can try to answer them."

"The king stood on the marsh, watching the wild geese and deer."

It comes from Mencius. Although it has nothing to do with the historical Zhou Dynasty, the textbook does not deviate from the historical track.

Jiang Xiaoqi: "Only the wise find joy in this; the unwise, though they may have this moment, find no joy in it."

Jiang Wenhao raised an eyebrow and posed another question: "As it spreads, grasses and trees grow there."

Jiang Xiaoqi: "Now, a mountain may contain many stones, but when it is vast, grass and trees grow there, birds and beasts live there, and treasures abound."

"Now, water, though only a spoonful, when its depths are unfathomable, breeds turtles, alligators, dragons, fish, and soft-shelled turtles, and from which wealth flourishes."

Jiang Xiaoqi thinks that whether it is Mencius, the Doctrine of the Mean, or anything else?

I may still have shortcomings in terms of interpretation, but if it's just memorizing, I'm not afraid!

All those questions, no matter how many they ask, ultimately just test how well you've memorized the material. All those nights and nights of studying weren't for nothing!

"Very well, continue."

"Please."

Therefore, utmost sincerity never ceases.

Jiang Xiaoqi: "If one does not cease, one will endure; if one endures, one will conquer; if one conquers, one will be far-reaching; if one is far-reaching, one will be profound; if one is profound, one will be brilliant."

It is broad and profound, so that it can bear things; it is lofty and bright, so that it can cover things; it is enduring and long-lasting, so that it can bring things to fruition.

Its vastness matches the earth, its brilliance matches the heavens, its enduring nature is boundless. Such a being, though unseen, manifests itself; though still, it changes; it achieves without action.

"Is the concept of rites and rituals merely a matter of jade and silk?" Jiang Wenhao posed another question.

Jiang Xiaoqi: "Music, music, is it just bells and drums?"

Is this another revision of the Analects? While not as bizarre as the rumored cut-off-answer questions, it's still quite a leap in logic. Is this uncle perhaps an Aquarius?

Well, of the Four Books, only the *Great Learning*, the first of the Four Books, is missing.

“From the emperor down to the common people, everyone must regard self-cultivation as the foundation. If the foundation is disordered, the branches cannot be well-governed.”

Jiang Xiaoqi: "It is unheard of for something to be valued to be valued, and for something to be valued to be valued. This is called knowing the root, this is called the ultimate knowledge."

"To be sincere in one's intentions means not deceiving oneself. It is like hating a foul odor or loving a beautiful sight; this is called humility. Therefore, a wise man is always cautious when alone."

Sure enough, it's time for "The Great Learning". If I'm not mistaken, this should be the last question.

"Big brother, I've finished asking. It's your turn."

Jiang Wenhao's question was as refreshing as drinking an iced beverage on a hot day.

He had long felt that this child was absolutely qualified to enter the clan school, but for some reason, the more he saw how fluently the child answered questions, the more he wanted to take the exam.

Jiang Wenhai glared at his younger brother and said:

Have you studied the Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Rites, the Book of Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals?

"I've only glanced at it; I haven't mastered it yet," Jiang Xiaoqi said truthfully.

I have indeed just finished memorizing the Four Books, and I have only just begun studying the Five Classics. Last night, I memorized the contents of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

If this uncle were to test him on a large amount of content from the Five Classics, he would truly be doomed.

"Yes, not bad. To be so well-versed in the Four Books at such a young age is definitely the height of genius. Your grandfather's words in the letter were indeed true."

"Uncle, you flatter me. I still have many shortcomings. I have only just begun to practice calligraphy. If I want to write characters that are presentable, I still have a long way to go."

"Hahaha, very good, very good! At such a young age, you are not arrogant or impatient, but diligent and eager to learn. You have the spirit of a true son of the Jiang family!"

Jiang Wenhai hunched over; if the child weren't so young, he would definitely have patted him on the shoulder and given him a good encouragement.

"Nephew, what do you mean?"

"I won't set any questions. Once Mingfei enters the clan school, there will be monthly, quarterly, and annual exams. Are you worried about not having the opportunity to set questions?"

Although Jiang Wenhai and Jiang Wenhao were also studying at the clan school, they would only occasionally consult a few scholars in preparation for the provincial examination the following year.

In addition to preparing for the exams, they also had to prepare test questions for the students of the clan school, including monthly exams and other tests.

"Hahaha, so it means our Ming-ge has passed the test!"

“Of course, if such a prodigy is properly nurtured, he will surely achieve great things in the future, and may even be able to lead my entire Jiang family to prosperity.”

"Oh dear, Wenhai, from now on we'll be relying on you. You and your father are the most outstanding members of our Jiang family, the backbone of the entire clan. I'm entrusting my little grandson to you."

While overjoyed, Landlord Jiang's eyes reddened slightly. He was both happy and reluctant to part with his child, wondering if he was being too cruel by sending such a young child to study so far away.

"Uncle, please rest assured, our whole family will take good care of Mingfei, both in his studies and in his daily life."

"Alright, alright, I'm relieved to hear that. How many days will you be staying? We'd like to prepare some local products to take to our cousin Changqing."

"Oh dear, look at my brain! My parents also told us to bring a gift for our first meeting, but I was so focused on testing Mingfei that I completely forgot about it."

Jiang Wenhai was never a rude person, but today, the moment he opened the door and saw this clever little girl, he was completely captivated. How embarrassing!

"We can't stay any longer, at most three days. Mingfei should use these three days to pack his luggage properly. The city is far away, and we can't go home often. I'm afraid we won't be able to come back until the New Year."

Three days! That's so short!

"Well, well then. I suppose you all squeezed in this trip. With the provincial examination just around the corner, you should stay home and study diligently; you can't afford to waste time."

Jiang Xiaoqi frowned. She had only lived in this family for three years, and now she had to leave?

Although I'm not a three-year-old child, I still cherish the days when my family is around.

When you go to an unfamiliar environment, you have to readjust to everything.

But for my future and to gain a better foothold in this world, I have no choice but to go!

This is the best path I can take right now, a path painstakingly paved for me by my grandfather, all for the sake of reaching that distant, soaring future.