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

After the five groups of messengers who came to deliver the good news left, the first family to come and offer their congratulations was the Ouyang family.

Jiang Xiaoqi was somewhat surprised that someone as shrewd as Master Tan had fallen behind the Ouyang family.

Given Master Ouyang's family background, there was no need for him to get so close to a few tribute students who weren't even officials.

Is it really just out of consideration for the teacher-student relationship from many years ago and the old friendship from when they taught at the Chiang family school?

Although the Ouyang family only sent their steward, the congratulatory gifts they brought were far beyond what was expected.

Is such a large piece of red coral something that their small household can display?

Sigh, I still need to find an opportunity and a reason to send a gift of roughly the same value to Ouyang Qun's residence.

Landlord Jiang looked at the red coral in his courtyard with a troubled expression. It was neither edible nor wearable, and it was difficult to sell; it was truly a useless thing…

After politely seeing off the steward from Ouyang Qun's residence, the Tan family seamlessly moved in.

It seemed like they were timing it perfectly, waiting for the Ouyang family's steward to leave before the Tan family's head steward entered.

"Congratulations! Our master extends his congratulations to all the tribute students!"

The Tan family steward had gifts carried in, while he himself handed over a long list of gifts.

The three-foot-long red paper was densely covered with writing. Jiang Xiaoqi only glanced at it briefly the moment the landlord Jiang received the gift list, but he knew that the gifts from the Tan family were all extremely practical.

The contrast between the two situations makes it even clearer that the Tan family is sincere and knows how to conduct themselves.

Landlord Jiang's smile now carried a hint of genuine emotion. He said, "You've gone to so much trouble, you've gone to so much trouble," while already deciding how to divide the spoils.

The head steward of the Tan family said a string of flattering and congratulatory words, and Landlord Jiang's eyes narrowed into slits.

He personally saw the person out the door, and just as he was about to turn around, he saw a group of very well-dressed people walking towards his house.

It was the Liu family, which was somewhat expected. The Liu family's steward was also present.

When the results of the imperial examinations were released, it was unexpected that the stewards and managers of each household would be busy. These old men were going to be busy for quite some time.

Another box of congratulatory gifts arrived, no less impressive than those from the Tan family.

The Liu family is quite special in the capital. They are powerful figures within the circle of high-ranking officials, and among the few in the capital's elite circles to hold the rank of first-grade official.

A double-powered elite, possessing power, wealth, and influence.

So even though it wasn't a carefully prepared gift, it was just as thoughtful as the Tan family's gift.

Landlord Jiang exchanged pleasantries with the steward of the Liu family's outer residence, and then, together with Jiang Wenqing and Jiang Xiaoqi, saw the steward off.

The Jiang family received a series of congratulatory gifts, and neighbors from all around also peeked out to watch the excitement.

Before the Jiang family could even set off firecrackers, only a few well-informed neighbors knew that the family had produced a tribute student.

Some people wanted to go over to offer congratulations and build relationships, but they were intimidated by the first three groups of people who came to offer congratulations and gifts, realizing that their families did not have that kind of influence.

Giving gifts now would be too obvious in comparison and wouldn't look good. Let's wait until the Jiang family has some free time before doing so.

The neighbors had different thoughts. Those who could afford houses near the Imperial Examination Hall were mostly from wealthy families, but most of them had scholars in their families.

Who wouldn't want to miss the chance to build a relationship with today's tribute student and tomorrow's imperial examination graduate?

As dusk fell, the Jiang family welcomed and saw off guests, with groups of people coming and going to offer their congratulations, making the house even more lively than during the day.

Suddenly, the place became incredibly popular.

The five tribute students were surrounded by people, one asking to pat their child's head, another requesting a piece of calligraphy.

Xue Xu found it hard to bring himself to do it when he saw the "child" from his neighbor's house who was already over thirty.

If his father were still alive, he would be about this age...

However, not wanting to offend his neighbor, Xue Xu asked Landlord Jiang to do the divination on his behalf, and successfully fulfilled his neighbor's important request.

Jiang Xiaoqi stopped Li Haisheng, who was about to wield his brush, and whispered something in his ear.

Li Haisheng understood and became much more cautious when writing, only using auspicious phrases that wouldn't go wrong.

Today was the day the results were announced, not the time for a formal banquet. The neighbors, being sensible, took some wedding cakes to share in the joy and left without lingering.

"Grandpa, are you tired? It seems like all the neighbors on this street have come by!"

"That's not all! Owners from the neighboring street, the innkeepers, the restaurant owners, and the teahouse owners all came in person..."

"There are also cloth shops, pawnshops, general stores selling goods from all over the country—people from all walks of life have come!"

Landlord Jiang knew the place like the back of his hand, though he rarely left the house, he was quite familiar with the business owners in the neighborhood.

"And another thing, the head镖师 (chief镖师) of the镖局 (镖局) that escorted us all the way to the capital has also come. I still remember that person."

Xue Yu quickly added, "This镖头 (bodyguard/escort) is after their Xue family!"

Unexpectedly, this person was still in the capital, or perhaps he had just completed another escort mission and happened to be in the capital when the results of the imperial examination were announced.

"Yes, who would have thought that our family had to pay several times the price to beg this largest escort agency to provide us with a safe journey?"

The gift that Chief Escort Cen sent this time is worth far more than the value of that one escort mission.

You're saying, didn't Chief Escort Cen lose money?

Madam Xue sighed, "Running a security escort agency is also a business, so how come businessmen are doing business at a loss?"

"Where is it a losing proposition? Do you think they don't know Young Master Xue's ranking?"

If you don't curry favor with a promising future scholar now, when will you?

Once I become an official, when these businessmen come knocking on my door again, they'll probably think my gifts aren't presentable enough.

After working as a housekeeper for a while, the second son of the Wen family broadened his horizons. Today, he met so many colleagues, and every single one of them treated him with utmost courtesy.

Is it because of Wen Lao Er? Who does he think he is?

He knew his own limitations best. These people were only doing this because they saw that his family was about to rise to prominence. There were five future Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) gathered here at the same time!

"What Steward Wen said makes sense. That's exactly the point. Our area is a poor, remote place, and we don't see many scholars."

But if a family produced a scholar, even the local big landlords and gentry wouldn't dare to mess with them.

If it weren't for Haisheng passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar in time, our family wouldn't have been as stable as it is now.

Li Haisheng's elder brother, Li Chunsheng, was deeply moved, thinking that his several orphaned boys and girls had finally changed their fate thanks to his third brother.

After the third brother becomes an official, the two youngest sisters will have a strong backing, and they won't be bullied no matter who they marry.

Li Chunsheng only thought about his younger sisters, but neglected himself. He was two years older than Li Haisheng and was already twenty years old.

He's not married by the time he's twenty, which shows how carefree he is.

After the palace examination, Li Haisheng and Jiang Xiyue's marriage will be on the agenda.

Xue Xu and Jiang Lan'er also need to complete their betrothal ceremony, and will hold their wedding at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

The two sisters always have to take turns at different times, otherwise they won't be able to manage the household chores.

It's unclear who started it, but fireworks and firecrackers were going off non-stop, making the area behind the apricot-covered gate as lively as during the Lunar New Year.

"Xi Yue, let's go set off fireworks!"

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Li Haisheng moved closer to his fiancée.

"Set off fireworks? Second brother-in-law, I'm going too!" Jiang Lian'er appeared out of nowhere.

"Why does Senior Brother only ask about Second Sister? That's so biased!"

Jiang Xiaoqi had a mocking look on her face, speaking in a sarcastic tone.

Unfortunately... Li Haisheng had already developed a thick skin and remained unfazed.

Sigh, this is boring. I'd better go tease my future brother-in-law instead. (*｀へ′*)

My eldest brother-in-law and second brother-in-law are clearly seasoned veterans now!

As the fireworks faded and the hustle and bustle subsided, the future of the Jiang family will only be more splendid and enduring than the fireworks.

Dear readers, I'm here! I almost fell asleep!