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

Having gone through six monthly exams and two quarterly exams, Jiang Xiaoqi has already spent half a year at the clan school.

Fine snowflakes drifted down from the sky; it was snowing.

"Young Master, please get another coat." Wenbin grabbed a cloak and chased after him out the door.

"Okay, it's really too cold outside. You should put on another layer so you don't catch a cold."

"Yes, young master. After the annual examination, we will be preparing to return to our hometown. Is there anything else we need to buy?"

"No, what we bought in small quantities before is enough. We don't have much silver left, and we need to be prepared for any eventuality on the road."

Besides, hiring bodyguards would cost extra, so let's not buy anything else.

"Yes, young master. Uncle Datou is here to pick us up again this time. My grandfather said that the old master was worried about safety on the road, so he sent two more servants to come along."

With us making five, we really can't bring too much luggage.

Jiang Xiaoqi and Wenbin chatted as they walked toward the school.

By this time, many people had already arrived at the school, and everyone was discussing the annual examination.

"I heard that the questions in this year's exam are very difficult, and many people are worried that they will not pass."

"Yes, the last quarterly exam was already difficult, why is the annual exam going to be even more difficult? Sigh, I'm afraid we won't be able to have a good New Year. My grandfather will definitely ask about our rankings in the annual exam."

Jiang Xiaoqi listened to everyone's discussion without giving it much thought. For the past six months, he had been ranked first in Class C, and if nothing unexpected happened, he would be transferred to Class B at the beginning of the year.

The teacher of Class A shook off the falling snow as he walked into the classroom, and everyone immediately quieted down.

The annual examination was actually supervised by the teachers of Class A, whose students were all students who had passed the preliminary examinations.

Mr. Ding looked around and said, "After a year of hard study, today is the day to test your knowledge. Those who achieve excellent results in the annual exam will be promoted to Class B next spring."

After being promoted to Class B, one can begin preparing for the county and prefectural examinations.

"Jiang Lin, you'll definitely be able to go to Class B next year," Jiang Lin's friend said.

"Don't talk nonsense. I'm still far from ready. Ming Fei is definitely going to get into a good school, and so are Yun Muze and Lin Xiao. Aren't they all better than me in terms of grades?"

Although he really wanted to, he was just a little short, and he couldn't deceive himself.

"Why boost others' morale and diminish your own! You are a direct descendant of the Jiang family, and you are closer to Lord Jiang. Why do you always let someone from eight generations away steal your thunder!"

"Alright, alright, Master Ding is looking this way, stop talking!"

As soon as the exam papers were handed out, Jiang Xiaoqi buried himself in the questions, shutting out all external noise.

He was grateful to the Marrow Cleansing Pill for giving him excellent focus and stamina.

The system once tempted him to exchange 500 points for a cheat device for the annual exam, but he firmly refused.

Hmph, don't even think about tricking him. I won't buy it even for 500 points, let alone 50!

He refused to deceive himself; he would take the exam himself, he absolutely had to! It wasn't like he lacked the ability!

He found that the questions were not as difficult as others had said, but when he saw the last question, he was stunned.

This question was actually about governance. He had studied policy essays in the study room, but the problem was that he didn't understand the current court!

Alas, my energy is limited most of the time; I spend a lot of it honing my calligraphy skills and delving into the Four Books and Five Classics.

I should have asked the system to find some current government gazettes to read.

After thinking for a long time, Jiang Xiaoqi finally managed to write down some of his own insights.

This still incorporates the history he learned in his previous life, but since the historical trajectory he knew doesn't exist in this world, he can only imitate it blindly.

Hopefully, I won't make any mistakes or break any taboos.

After the exam, he and Wenbin packed their things and left the school.

After the results of the annual exams are released, we can pack up and prepare to go back to our hometown.

They look forward to returning home soon and reuniting with their families.

Jiang Family Main Courtyard

"Master, how is it?"

“Since July, we have received fifty beauty pills from the Lin family, five from the Empress in the capital, and three from your family.”

The remaining thirty were consumed by the wives of officials in our prefecture, and the remaining twelve were sent to your aunt's family's merchant guild for auction.

"It's truly fortunate that the master thought of the auction method. Now no one will complain about the lack of goods. After all, scarcity increases value, and how can beauty pills be given to ordinary people like candy?"

Mrs. Jiang felt that her husband was quite business-minded, and not rigid or pretentious; otherwise, the Liu family wouldn't have chosen him as their son-in-law.

"The money from the auction is only one aspect; what's truly valuable is letting them know about the Jiang family. I've been in Xinghe Prefecture for almost nine years now, and I can no longer rely on the Liu family to move my position."

In two years, Wenhai and Wenhao will also enter the court as officials. Our family's foundation is still too shallow. We want to get close to the Liu family, but what can we give them?

"It wasn't possible before, but it really is now, all thanks to that little beauty pill! When Mingfei goes home this time, let's double his usual allowance."

"I understand, sir. Send it over along with the previous profits. We'll keep 10% as a supplement to Mingfei's daily needs."

Thirty percent will be kept for the Liu family and the Empress's side, and the remaining sixty percent will be sent to Changshou County and given to the Lin family privately.

Madame Chiang put down the account book, rubbed her aching wrists, and began to work on the abacus.

"Yes, this arrangement is very good. We have already used their prescription to make good relations with all parties, so we must not be greedy for money."

The ladies of the prefectural city were practically being sold off, especially those whose officials held higher positions than him.

The twelve items up for auction probably won't fetch much money, since it's just the beginning and their reputation hasn't spread much yet.

"I've calculated it. The total profit from the Beauty Pill over the past few months is 150,000 taels. 10% is 15,000 taels, 30% is 45,000 taels, and 60% is 90,000 taels."

"What! Young Master Duo!? You mean Young Master Duo!?"

Jiang Changqing's eyes widened like copper bells as he grabbed the ledger and began to examine it.

"So much! It really is 150,000 taels!" He regretted what he had just said. What should he do?

As expected, everyone is greedy. Shaking his head, he said, "Ahem, wouldn't it be a bit too much for us to keep 10%?"

"These were all agreed upon with the Lin family back then. We wrote contracts, and we provided manpower and resources to develop sales channels, which incurred some labor costs. There were also expenses for bribing officials at all levels. Sir, you..."

"Alright, let's leave it at that. We've taken advantage of the Lin family. Besides Changshou County, let's also prepare a New Year's gift for Linjiang County, about 80% of the amount of the gift from Changshou County."

"It's already prepared. Why does the master need to trouble himself with this?"

"You've worked so hard, Madam. I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to get you an official title in this lifetime. I'll have to rely on your two sons."

"What do you mean by imperial title? As long as my family is doing well, that makes me happier than ten imperial titles."

Jiang Xiaoqi had no idea that he was about to become rich overnight. After all, just a moment ago he was reluctant to buy more New Year's gifts, and the next moment he became a "ten-thousand-yuan household"!