The Transmigrated Farm Girl's Journey to Wealth

"Father, it really won't work. I'm not like my second or third brother, you can't fool me. The fourth brother is just a student who has passed the preliminary examination. How many years did it take him to pass the preliminary examination? And how many more years will it take him to pass the county-level examination?"

Is passing the Xiucai exam the end of the journey? No, you still have to pass the Juren exam. Countless people spend their entire lives trying to pass even the Xiucai exam. How difficult is it to become a Juren? There are countless candidates from all over the country. After passing the Juren exam, you still have to go to the capital to take the Jinshi exam. Only after passing the Jinshi exam will you be assigned an official position.

Father, I didn't study much, don't try to fool me. If it weren't for the lady from Tiezhu School telling me, I wouldn't have known that becoming an official was so difficult! It's one hurdle after another. This fourth son's education won't be a year or two, or even five or six years; it might be his whole life. I can't promise you I'll support his studies.

Does that mean I have to support him for the rest of his life just because he studies? It's not enough to sacrifice my own life, I have to sacrifice my child's too. It's not enough to support him alone, I have to support his wife and children for the rest of his life? Do I owe him something?

The higher you go, the greater the expenses. The tutors need the best, the food the best, the clothes the best. They need to study in the prefectural city, take the exams there, and then study in the capital, taking the exams there too. Father, what good is your little land enough for them? Don't count on me; I can't afford it.”

Fang Youcai said this on purpose. He knew that almost no one knew how the imperial examination was conducted. They thought it was easy to become an official. Bah! With the fourth son's character, he would be a bench for him if he could even pass the county-level examination.

His words fell silent. Fang Lao Si was furious; his elder brother had actually cursed him to study his whole life, meaning he'd never pass the imperial examinations? The others were astonished; they had no idea that becoming an official involved so many intricacies.

They thought that passing the exam would lead to officialdom, and now the fourth son wants to continue his studies because he wants to become a high-ranking official.

So, the imperial examinations were really that difficult? Well, if they were so easy, not everyone could become an official.

It's so difficult to pass the exam, and you have to take it so many times. The cost is terrifying to even hear about.

Old Master Fang wasn't really clear on the specifics of the examination process. He only knew that passing the preliminary examination made one a scholar (xiucai). He figured Fang Youcai was just trying to scare him by refusing to pay, spouting nonsense. It's just studying; how could selling land not be enough? Did he even know how much silver his family's land was worth? They'd managed all these years without selling a single plot. "Eldest son, if you don't want to pay, then don't spout nonsense. You think you know anything about the imperial examinations? Ha! Do you even know where the school gate is?"

“Dad, I really do know. You know that our daughter opened a school, and I personally asked the teacher. If you think I’m talking nonsense, here’s a ready-made answer. Why don’t you ask the fourth son?”

Fang Laosi's face was deathly pale. His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a sound. He couldn't refute it, because that bastard Fang Youcai was telling the truth. He knew all too well that he was of mediocre talent, and passing the imperial examination to become a scholar was as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Seeing him like this, everyone else felt a chill run down their spines.

The eldest brother wasn't lying; it was all true. The fourth brother might have to remember it for the rest of his life. In an instant, despair enveloped everyone.

After causing a ruckus at the old house, Fang Youcai went home smugly. Heh heh, he's practically a scholar now, look how he's intimidated those guys, even the fourth brother can't argue with him.

Hahaha……

He, Fang Youcai, is indeed as the Master said, a wise and insightful person!

"Honey, I'm home!"

"So, what did they say over there?"

"What can you say? They're just trying to take advantage. Don't worry, I caused a ruckus over there. We're building a house now, so they definitely won't cause trouble." Fang Youcai said with a sly grin, a very wicked smile.

He'd heard that the Wang family was in a real mess, all arguing about dividing the family property, and the old man wouldn't agree no matter what. The family was arguing every single day. Heh heh heh, if he went over there today, his father wouldn't have any peace, would he?

If they can't live in peace, then he can live in peace!

He is so smart!

Zhao looked at Fang Youcai as if he were crazy. "Dad, what's wrong with you? Are you having a fit?" She touched his forehead, wondering if he had just suffered a major shock at his father-in-law's place.

Fang Youcai dodged her clutches and said something unpleasant, "I caused some trouble for the fourth brother. We're building a house recently, and Dad hasn't come looking for trouble."

Trying to swindle him out of his money? In your next life! Hmph, no one but his wife and children will get a single penny from him!