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

The candidates weren't fools. Those from particularly poor families would, of course, weigh the pros and cons and choose the path that was most advantageous to them.

Knowing they could never catch the eye of a noblewoman's daughter, they would naturally settle for a family with relatively more influence—a wise bird chooses a good tree to perch on.

Although she was a merchant's daughter, she brought a large dowry with her when she married into the family. Although a scholar could go to the capital to participate in the imperial examination, the journey was long and arduous, and without money, he might not even be able to reach the capital.

Especially for those who passed the imperial examinations in remote provinces, the journey was even longer, and the travel expenses were even greater. Without sufficient funds, they might not be able to make it to the provincial examination.

Moreover, the number of places available for the metropolitan examination is limited each year, and among so many successful candidates, only a very small number can become tribute students or even the highest-ranking scholars.

What about the majority of those who failed the imperial examinations but didn't pass? They simply waited to be appointed to official positions, since those who passed the imperial examinations were qualified to hold office, though it was unlikely to be any important post.

They were basically low-ranking officials of the eighth or ninth grade, but the eighth or ninth grade in a wealthy county was different from the eighth or ninth grade in a remote mountainous area. At this point, it came down to who had the most power.

If one truly puts their effort into the right thing, they might even be able to fill a vacancy as a seventh-rank county magistrate with the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). This is why some Juren are not averse to the practice of "finding a son-in-law after the results are announced."

On the contrary, many aspiring scholars, dressed impeccably, stood before the list of successful candidates, waiting for a wealthy family to take a liking to them and propose marriage.

Of course, this does not include Li Haisheng.

Oh right, that doesn't include the three generations of prospective scholars from the Jiang family either, since they're all married. Even if they're single, they won't be kidnapped, and their families aren't short of money, are they?

Since we are already wealthy, why bother finding another wealthy person and letting them take advantage of us?

For families like theirs, who are engaged in farming and studying, the best course of action is to cultivate their own virtue and remain a model of integrity.

The provincial governments release the results on the same day, unless there are any unexpected events.

So when Li Qiusheng was struggling to get to the front of the list, A Niu and Li Mo were doing the same thing.

At this time, the examination hall in Xuanzhong Province was also brightly lit, with candidates, officials, servants, pageboys, and onlookers crowding around, none willing to give way to the others.

The results for the sixth place and beyond have been announced. The messengers who came to announce the good news and the wealthy men who came to find sons-in-law all came out. Although some people left, the crowd in front of the list did not ease at all.

It seems that not only cats are liquid, but people can be liquid at certain special moments. There are also those who are staring at the last five positions. The official in charge of writing the list is not keeping people in suspense. After changing to a different brush, he continues to write from the fifth position.

Fifth place: Xue Xu from Xuangui County, Xuanzhong Prefecture.

"Xue Xu? That sickly guy?"

"Hey? Has Xue Xu come yet? Is he listed below the list?" someone shouted impatiently. Several wealthy men guarding the list stared intently, waiting for a response so they could rush over and snatch him away.

Xue Xu was physically weak, so of course he wouldn't come here to be tormented by others. If he were to be snatched away by several burly men under the list of successful candidates, he would immediately go from "Scholar Xue" to "Dead Man Xue"!

Seeing that no one answered, they knew that Xue, the scholar, was not present. However, as soon as the yamen runner who brought the good news left, several tails followed behind him.

Of course, some people are more patient and want to wait for the highest point.

Fourth place: Jiang Changshou, Changshou County, Xuanzhong Prefecture.

"Oh my god! The old master is fourth! Oh my god, I can't be seeing things, can I? Our old master, it's our old master!"

"That's right, that's right, you're not mistaken, it really is our old master!"

Ah Niu and Li Mo's voices drowned out everyone else's. Those who were thinking of finding a son-in-law through the list of successful candidates burst into joy upon hearing the words "Old Master".

Grandpa? How old is he? Probably over sixty! Oh dear, he's twenty or thirty years older than his future father-in-law, forget it!

Several people who had been considering it immediately gave up and instead looked forward to the third place winner, hoping that it would be a young scholar, not necessarily in their teens or twenties, but under thirty years old!

Third place: Meng Ziyuan

Second place: Ding Changfei

First place: ...

When the name of the top scholar was written, the entire room fell silent.

The official in charge of writing the list slowly picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and solemnly wrote down the name of the top scholar as the last lamp was lit.

The area was brightly lit, illuminating the entire area where the results were posted. The crowd was in an uproar once again. The bigwigs who had been sitting calmly on the sidelines could no longer sit still and sent their trusted men to try and snatch the top spot in this provincial examination, the title of Jieyuan!

Meanwhile, Li Qiusheng, who was ranked first in another province, also widened his eyes in surprise. His third brother! His third brother! He was the top scholar in the provincial examination! The top scholar in the provincial examination!

She covered her mouth to keep from shouting and ran all the way back to the inn, losing a pair of shoes in the process. By the time she got to the inn, the soles of her feet were bleeding.

"Brother! Brother! Hoo~ Hoo~"

Li Qiusheng forced himself to catch his breath, and Li Chunsheng quickly handed him a cup of warm tea, which Li Qiusheng took and swallowed hard.

"Don't worry, don't worry, did Third Brother pass?"

Judging from his second brother's expression, Li Chunsheng knew that his third brother hadn't failed the exam, but he still asked him according to procedure.

"Mmm!" Li Qiusheng nodded vigorously, having recovered a little, while holding up one finger.

"First place! First place! Third brother, third brother, he, he's the top scholar!"

"The top scholar! Third brother has become the top scholar!" Li Chunsheng picked at his ear, wanting his second brother to say it again.

However, Li Qiusheng didn't need to repeat himself; the ceremonial procession with its music and fanfare had already arrived at the inn's entrance—it was indeed swift.

Of course, it's inevitable that several tails will follow it.

Upon learning that the top scholar was only seventeen years old and not yet of age, the crowd became even more excited, rushing forward and ready to fight outside the inn.

No one cared about long-term partnerships, or who was the president of the chamber of commerce and who was the vice president.

At this point, you just have to let loose, ignore everyone, disregard relationships, show no courtesy, and be impolite!

There's no seniority system! Self-interest comes first!

What is a Jieyuan?! It's a "quasi-tribute student," a "quasi-imperial scholar," a "quasi-official"!