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

People are in high spirits when they have a happy occasion, and with no superiors around, the newly appointed candidates became even more unrestrained, spending their time composing poems and drinking wine like water.

I can understand~ I can understand~ After all, who wouldn't tear up a few practice books to celebrate after finding out they've been accepted into a university?

The atmosphere was so lively that no one remembered that there was a top scholar who had gone to "change clothes." They weren't very familiar with each other and hadn't exchanged many words. This was something Li Haisheng had deliberately done.

He didn't want to make friends at the Deer Cry Banquet, not because he looked down on anyone, but because having acquaintances there would really make it harder to sneak away.

They traveled through the night and finally entered the city at dawn. After several more days and nights, they finally saw the Xinghe Prefecture city gate, which they had been longing to see.

After settling into an inn, they went to the largest brokerage firm. Coincidentally, the person who received Li Haisheng was an old acquaintance of Jiang Xiaoqi, a notorious broker.

The two carriages didn't look very big, but they unloaded quite a lot of things, thanks to the amazing storage skills of the Li Chunsheng brothers.

After unloading the items, they had to reorganize them. While the two were looking for a broker, they also bought several brand-new mahogany boxes to hold the betrothal gifts.

The person looking for a betrothal gift needs to temporarily hire a few people to carry the betrothal gifts. There are no other requirements, except that they should be about the same height, so that they don't slide around on the poles while carrying the boxes, which is not a good look.

Lai Yaren's efficiency was as high as ever, and he became even more attentive when he heard that it was a betrothal ceremony at the Jiang residence.

The Jiang family, ah, the Jiang family that produced three scholars in one family, no, no! Now they have three successful candidates in the imperial examinations! Although one of them isn't surnamed Jiang, but Dong, he's still a son-in-law and half a son, so they're practically two and a half successful candidates in one family!

And that young master of that family, he'll be a scholar sooner or later, then wouldn't that mean three and a half scholars from one family?! That's incredible, incredible, he even considered waiving the broker's fee.

Li Haisheng was naturally unaware of the broker's thoughts. He also didn't mention that he was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and a top scholar in the provincial examinations. If the broker knew this, he would probably think that he had stirred up trouble among successful candidates.

This new son-in-law is also a scholar who passed the imperial examinations, and is practically a son to him. The Jiang family, which already had two and a half scholars who passed the imperial examinations, has now been upgraded to a family with three scholars who passed the imperial examinations.

Yes, people with bad teeth understand the concept of "combining like terms"...

After everything was prepared, Li Haisheng stopped his two older brothers from insisting on carrying the betrothal gifts themselves. Instead, he led the twelve burly men provided by the matchmaker and carried the betrothal gifts in a grand procession toward the Jiang residence.

The Jiang family had already heard the news and had tidied up the courtyard, just waiting for the new son-in-law to arrive.

When Li Haisheng and his party arrived at the gate of the Jiang residence, the gatekeeper hurriedly went in to announce their arrival. A short while later, Steward Wen personally came out to greet them.

"Young Master Li, please come in quickly!"

"Thank you for leading the way, Butler Wen."

Although it wasn't my first time visiting, I was much more nervous this time. Last time, I was a guest as the senior apprentice of the young master of the Jiang family, but this time I was the future son-in-law of the Jiang family to present my betrothal gifts.

Li Chunsheng and Li Qiusheng were wearing their newest clothes, which their third brother had bought for his brothers and sisters when he returned home last time. They hadn't been willing to wear them until today, and now they were finally putting them to good use.

In the Jiang family's main hall, Landlord Jiang and Madam Jiang sat at the head of the table, Jiang Wenqing and Lin Yueniang sat on the left, Jiang Xiwen and Dong Jin sat on the right, and Jiang Xiaoqi stood beside her grandfather.

Jiang Xiyue and several of her close girlfriends were in the back room, not showing themselves.

Li Haisheng followed Steward Wen into the flower hall, first respectfully bowing to Landlord Jiang, Madam Jiang, and his future father-in-law and mother-in-law, and then nodding to his elder sister, brother-in-law, and future brother-in-law.

Landlord Jiang hurriedly smiled and helped the man up, saying, "Runzhi, there's no need for such formalities."

"Thank you very much, Grandpa Jiang!"

Li Haisheng then signaled his elder brother to instruct people to bring in the betrothal gifts one by one; six large boxes were packed tightly inside.

In fact, he could have bought several large wooden crates for the same items, and even if he had to disassemble them, it would have looked like a lot. But Li Haisheng felt it was unnecessary. He only had this much to offer, and there was no need to put on a show.

Jiang Xiyue peeked out from the back room and saw Li Haisheng's serious expression, so she couldn't help but smirk.

This subtle action was noticed by the maid beside her, who teased in a low voice, "Is Miss eager to see the young master?"

Jiang Xiyue blushed and slapped her maid to tell her to stop talking.

In the flower hall, Landlord Jiang said, "Runzhi, my Jiang family will accept the betrothal gifts. You must treat Xiyue well in the future."

Li Haisheng nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, Grandpa Jiang, I will definitely protect Xiyue for the rest of her life."

"Still calling him Old Master Jiang?" Landlord Jiang feigned displeasure.

"Oh, please rest assured, Grandfather, I will never fail Xiyue in this life. If I break this vow, may my career be ruined and I never be able to serve as an official!"

After she finished speaking, Madam Jiang smiled and said, "Alright, alright, don't make such a solemn vow. We don't care what you say, we only care what you do."

As the future mother-in-law, Lin Yueniang had many interactions with Li Haisheng in the south and naturally knew his character, so she always had to say a few words on his behalf.

"Today is a joyous occasion. Let's sit down and discuss the wedding date. The cooks at home have already started preparing the meal to entertain Runzhi's two elder brothers."

Everyone agreed, while the young ladies hiding in the back room looked at their elder sister with mischievous smiles.