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

Li Haisheng and Xue Xu were admitted to the Hanlin Academy without any surprise.

Landlord Jiang's ranking was not low, in the upper-middle of the second class. After discussing it with his grandson, he decided to take the exam for the position of Shujishi (a junior official in the Hanlin Academy).

Jiang Wenqing indeed ranked in the top three, only achieving the title of "Tongjinshi".

Dong Jin ranked last, but not in the top three; he was last in the second rank and was extremely fortunate to obtain the title of "Jinshi".

This made Jiang Wenqing, the only one among the five who was a "Tongjinshi" (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), feel somewhat embarrassed.

Only him, only him! A fellow Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), and a concubine! How can he face these younger generations?

Jiang Xiaoqi naturally noticed Jiang Wenqing's change in mind immediately, and had no choice but to ask his grandfather for help.

At this point, it was no longer a matter of him, as the son, saying a few insincere words of praise being effective; it was time for the father, Landlord Jiang, to step in.

After all, Jiang Wenqing had developed a conditioned reflex to the landlord's long-standing principle that "filial sons are raised under the feather duster."

After talking with his grandson-in-law Dong Jin, who was also from a second-class family, Landlord Jiang then summoned Jiang Wenqing.

Although Jiang Wenqing has been somewhat listless these past two days, it hasn't affected his appetite. He hasn't missed a single meal, and his food intake hasn't decreased either.

Landlord Jiang stared intently at his son, who was over forty years old. At some point, he had considered abandoning him, banishing him, and letting him drift through life.

Unexpectedly, his grandson made such a whimsical suggestion back then. Even now, when Landlord Jiang recalls it, he thinks that Jiang Xiaoqi was very daring and good at persuading people.

However, Landlord Jiang was neither angry nor regretful.

The title of Jinshi! Is this something that ordinary people dare to dream of? Even if they dare to dream of it, is it a height that ordinary people can reach?

Throughout history, only a very small minority of people have been able to become officials through the imperial examination system.

The Jiang family has two Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and three sons-in-law. How many families would envy them?

"Ah Qing, have you been feeling down these past few days?"

Ah Qing? Her father hadn't called her that in over thirty years! Had her father... eaten something wrong, cough cough... something?

"Father, I am not unhappy, just a little... a little..."

"A little embarrassed? Two of your three sons-in-law are in the top tier, and one is in the second tier. Are you afraid they'll look down on you as their father-in-law?"

You, do you even know who people in the capital envy most these days?

"I don't know, but I'm afraid you envy the top three scholars (Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, or Tanhua). After all, they can directly enter the Hanlin Academy."

Landlord Jiang shook his head. "I'm talking about who people admire most, not who people admire most for being educated."

Jiang Wenqing was puzzled. What difference did it make? Scholars are human too; they can feel envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"Do you know how many people have been asking about Runzhi and the others these past few days, inquiring about whether they are married?"

When those seeking a good son-in-law found out, after making inquiries, that all their preferred candidates were already taken, they were filled with resentment.

Jiang Wenqing then realized that all three of his sons-in-law had been chosen by high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital.

Isn't this bullying? Not to mention the second and third sons-in-law, the eldest son-in-law has been married to Xiwen for more than two years, and he already has a grandson!

These guys are dreaming!

Landlord Jiang felt the time was right and it was time to emphasize the key points.

"However, when they continued their investigation, they eventually discovered that several promising young men had already joined the Jiang family..."

They were really sarcastic about you, the "father-in-law of three Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)!" They all said you got incredibly lucky.

Otherwise, it's because you, Jiang Wenqing, are cunning and have long since identified several promising young students, using marriage arrangements to win them over to your family. Everyone says you're a sly old fox!

"The father-in-law of three Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)!" Jiang Wenqing heard the "keyword".

His eyes lit up, as if he had thought of something.

"Father, did they really say that? They said I was the father-in-law of three Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and that I was some kind of old fox?"

Oh dear, I'm not some old fox at all. These people always think so badly of others. This is just the children's own fate!

Honestly! What were you planning? It's all fate, the will of heaven! Haha, hahaha~"

Seeing his foolish son's behavior, Landlord Jiang instantly lost the will to continue speaking; he had prepared many more lines for the future.

It seems there's no need to say anything more; those one or two sentences were more than enough, even "exceeding the limit"...

"Ah, yes, of course it's fate. Xiwen's marriage was arranged by her in-laws, and Xiyue's marriage was arranged by Runzhi after he tried his best to please his mother-in-law, Yueniang."

Then there's Lan'er; the young master of the Xue family came to me himself to propose marriage. Our Jiang family has always been the one passively accepting her advances.

Landlord Jiang still added a few words as a bonus, not wanting to waste the time he had just prepared.

"Alas, although the capital city is dazzling with wealth, our sons-in-law are all men of noble character. How could they do something so treacherous just because of a few sweet words?"

Those people are just wasting their time thinking and clicking on things. Besides, our Jiang family isn't without support. Our uncle has been promoted and I heard he'll be going to Beijing to report on his duties after the New Year!

This time he's been promoted directly to the Ministry of Works, a fourth-rank Vice Minister!

Landlord Jiang was somewhat surprised; when had his son started paying attention to these kinds of news?

You should know that he only received this news in the last two days. How did Wenqing find out about it?

"Oh? Is this news accurate? It can't be a misinformation, can it?"

Upon hearing his father's words, Jiang Wenqing knew that the other party was behind on the news, and for a moment he felt a little smug.

Hehe, even Dad has times when he's out of the loop?

"Ahem, of course it's accurate. If Father doesn't believe it, he can write a letter and send it to Xinghe Prefecture to inquire."

Looking at Jiang Wenqing's arrogant demeanor, Landlord Jiang's hands involuntarily began to itch.

He endured it! He endured it!

Landlord Jiang promised his grandson to comfort his son, but seeing his son's state, he saw no need to continue "comforting" him.

"Alright, don't spread this around. There are too many gossips in the capital. Don't ruin your uncle's plans."

"Dad, I know, keep a low profile! Be humble in your personal life, but ambitious in your work. Mingfei taught me that, and I remember it all!"

"Hmm~" Landlord Jiang nodded, feeling slightly gratified to hear that his son had taken his precious grandson's words to heart.

“Mingfei has worried a lot about you as his father, so you should be more sensible and not let Mingfei keep worrying himself.”

"Yes, my son has moved in. I will definitely not let my son be so tired at such a young age in the future."

"You can't take the exam for the position of Shujishi anymore. Is there anywhere you'd like to go? Tell me, and see if we can pull some strings beforehand to get you into a better county government."

Jiang Wenqing was a little flattered today. Was this really his father? He felt that his father was a little, a little too kind.

They actually went to the trouble of pulling strings for their good-for-nothing son; that must have cost a fortune!

Or... maybe we shouldn't try to use connections. We might as well save the money and give it to him; he's pretty strapped for cash.

As for which county government he was to serve as magistrate, he didn't think it made much difference. He didn't intend to embezzle or accept bribes, so what difference did it make whether he went to a rich place or a poor place?

Why waste money on cultivating relationships? It's not worth it! It's not worth spending money on Jiang Wenqing!

It would be better to leave more for the son, or buy the wife more jewelry!