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

As my mouth grew dry, I increasingly regretted my obsession with cleanliness.

If you're immune to all poisons, why would you be afraid of a tiny bit of microorganisms in raw water?

My eyes were practically doubled from staring so hard when finally two or three people came out one after another, walking slowly and unhurriedly.

Seemingly sensing a hint of resentment, the group suddenly quickened their pace and sat down at the waiting area by the door.

Jiang Xiaoqi, with her short legs, got up and counted the people again, but the yamen runners ignored her.

However, these people were momentarily stunned when they saw Jiang Xiaoqi, who was not even as tall as the table leg when he stood up (an exaggeration).

Jiang Xiaoqi grew anxious and ran up to the more amiable-looking constable, asking, "Big brother, how many more people do we have to wait before they open the gate?"

The constable also had nephews and nieces at home. Seeing Jiang Xiaoqi's earnest questioning, which he found rather endearing, he kindly told him:

"Almost there, almost there. We'll reach the minimum number of people needed to place the top-ranked prostitute in just four or five more."

Jiang Xiaoqi thanked him and had no choice but to sit back down and continue waiting.

Not long after, more people came out. Jiang Xiaoqi's eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up.

There were more people this time than before; judging by the numbers, there were definitely enough.

The yamen runners came over to double-check the number of people before opening the examination hall doors for the first time and letting out the first examinee!

Wenbin had been wandering around outside for ages; the vegetable and chicken congee was already too soft and mushy, and the tea had been changed several times.

They wanted to be able to eat and drink as soon as the young master came out of the examination hall, but they waited and waited and the young master did not come out.

Li Mo wanted to switch shifts with him, but he absolutely refused. How could that be?!

The first person the young master sees after leaving the examination hall must be his chief page!

Li Mo was speechless ヽ（?＿?；)ノ, who wanted to take it from you...

The gate opened, and Jiang Xiaoqi, with her short legs, was the first to rush out.

Wenbin, with his sharp eyes, was the first to spot his young master. He brought out meat porridge and tea and went to greet him.

"Young master, young..."

Before Wenbin could speak, Jiang Xiaoqi snatched the chrysanthemum tea and gulped down a large cup in one go.

He wasn't in a hurry to drink the chicken congee, since the effects of the fasting pill hadn't worn off yet, and he wasn't really hungry.

Jiang Xiaoqi took a breath and realized that she had walked from the desert to an oasis.

While wiping his mouth, he resumed his usual refined and scholarly demeanor.

"We've been waiting in front of the door for a long time. We can only open the door once we have enough people. You've been waiting for a long time, haven't you?"

Wenbin replied with a smile, "Young Master, we just got off the carriage and you came out just in time. The timing was perfect."

Jiang Xiaoqi could tell at a glance that Wenbin was lying; he had clearly been waiting for a very long time, but she didn't expose him.

He handed the teacup back to Wenbin before taking the still-steaming chicken porridge. He couldn't help it; the servants thought he was hungry, even if he wasn't.

Jiang Xiaoqi walked to a place a little further away from the examination hall gate, quickly drank a bowl of porridge, and then got into his own carriage.

We're not going back to the longevity village today; we'll stay at an inn in the county.

Otherwise, we'll have to go back and forth all the time. We'll have to wait until the rankings for the first round are announced before deciding whether to stay at the inn or go directly to the prefectural city.

After all, only the top twenty people pass directly; those outside the top twenty must continue taking the test. But if someone is in a relatively high position, they will continue taking the test.

After all, they still need to compete for the top spot in the county's civil service exam, right?

They traveled in silence and soon arrived at the largest inn in Changshou County.

With ample funds from home and the meticulous arrangements made by Steward Wen, Jiang Xiaoqi felt right at home upon returning to the inn.

At this moment, all the items in the inn's top-tier suite had been replaced with their own belongings.

Even the curtains were replaced with those brought by the housekeeper, not to mention necessities like pillows and blankets.

As soon as Jiang Xiaoqi got off the car, he saw a group of people standing at the entrance of the inn, and the leader of them was his grandfather, Landlord Jiang.

His cheap father was trailing behind, looking utterly bored. The women had already gone back, as it wasn't convenient to stay outside.

The observant servant following Landlord Jiang took the examination basket and food box from Wenbin and Li Mo.

Before the coachman drove the carriage to the backyard of the inn, she deftly unloaded the quilts and teacups from the carriage.

"Grandpa? Why didn't you go back?" Didn't we agree to leave Steward Wen and the guards behind? Why are these two still at the inn?

Landlord Jiang said with a serious face: "Oh dear, what do you mean by 'go back'?! I only said that to put your mind at ease during the exam!"

"Look at you, you're such a little one! How could your grandfather bear to leave you alone in the county!"

"Um..." Okay, I guess I do look a bit thin right now.

Landlord Jiang didn't ask his grandson how he did on the exam, so as not to affect his grandson's mood or add unnecessary pressure.

Jiang Wenqing wanted to ask, since he himself was a student who had taken the county-level exam more than ten times before finally passing, and he considered the county-level exam to be very difficult.

He didn't think his son could actually pass the exam on his first try. He was joking! Only six years old! What about him, who was over thirty and passed?

Jiang Xiaoqi: You're useless!

Jiang Wenqing pushed through the crowd and finally got close to Xiao Qi, looking down at her and asking, "Ahem, how did the first exam go? Are you confident you can get into the top twenty directly?"

Of course, he asked that on purpose because it was simply impossible to do. Top 20? He'd be impressed if they even made it past the first round!

Jiang Xiaoqi didn't have any other thoughts in mind: "Father, I performed normally in the first game and wrote everything down."

That's a perfectly correct answer; isn't everything written out?

I completed all the questions on the Four Books, the poem for the examination, and the two math problems; there wasn't a single blank.

"Oh, that's good. Victory and defeat are common in war. This time is just another time! Fighting on despite repeated defeats is also a sign of heroism!"

Jiang Wenqing passed on his own experiences and lessons to his son, and he felt that he was truly a responsible, loving, and strict good father.

Surely my son will be closer to me now?

"Alright! You're just saying things that are unpleasant to hear! If you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all. Nobody asked you to pour cold water on me! Go, go, go back to your room, and don't get in my way!"

Landlord Jiang's words showed no respect for his son, and of course, he showed no respect when eating at the Jiang family's feast.

Jiang Wenqing felt a chill run down his spine and, as if by reflex, rushed into the inn at lightning speed.

Jiang Xiaoqi: Whoa! The app crashed!

Landlord Jiang turned around and seamlessly switched to a kind face: "Come in, Mingfei. Grandpa has prepared a table full of your favorite dishes. You must be starving!"

Jiang Xiaoqi nodded obediently and followed her grandfather into the inn.

The grandfather and grandson sat down and meticulously wiped their hands with the hot towels that the waiter had specially brought.

"Grandpa, are you worried something might happen to me if you don't go back?"

"Sigh, I have to be careful. How can good luck last forever? I can only feel at ease if I keep an eye on things!"

"Alright, Grandpa's concerns are valid, but Master Lin and Master Zhao are both here this time, along with Grandpa's six guards, which should be enough to handle the situation."

Moreover, Wenbin and Li Mo were not ordinary pageboys who could not even kill a chicken. Li Mo's swordsmanship had been recognized by Master Lin.

Grandpa, don't worry, don't overwork yourself.

“My dear child, Grandpa knows that you are surrounded by capable people. I’m just here with your good-for-nothing father for some peace of mind.”

Besides, he's your own father. Even if he's ignorant, he should still do something for you. Otherwise, how can he possibly benefit from your success in the imperial examinations later?

At this moment, Jiang Xiaoqi began to understand the fatherly heart of the landlord Jiang. After all, he was his son, and he was always worrying about his future.

Even if someone is completely useless, I will only be angry at their lack of ambition, not truly let them go unchecked.

He also became part of this father-son play, but it didn't matter. Since he occupied the positions of son and grandson, he certainly didn't mind his family benefiting from it.

Everyone needs family eventually, and these families are already very good; it's much better than being all alone in my previous life.