After listening to Nian Jiaojiao’s words, Yu Chuan was stunned for a moment before saying:
“If Wife wants to improve herself, Yu Chuan will naturally support you. I just don’t know what Wife’s plans are for studying next?”
Nian Jiaojiao looked at Yu Chuan:
“You know what I was like before, I knew nothing about studying. If Chuan has any suggestions, you can tell me.”
Nian Jiaojiao felt a surge of emotion. What a paragon of a man! After everything she had done to him, he was immediately supportive of her ideas.
Although she didn’t know the specifics of studying here, she could imagine it would cost money.
What Nian Jiaojiao didn’t know was that when her husband heard she wanted to study, he was so happy he felt like kneeling and worshipping the star of literature.
Even if studying was expensive, it was far better than her spending money on drinking, eating, and gambling.
At this moment, Yu Chuan felt incredibly shy hearing Nian Jiaojiao call him that.
After so many years of marriage, his wife still called him by his nickname so affectionately.
Thinking this, he became even more certain that his wife truly wanted to “mend her ways.” His expression turned serious as he said,
“Wife might have forgotten, but my mother is a Xiu Cai, isn't she?”
Nian Jiaojiao was shocked. She had no memory of this… She then asked,
“Chuan, if your mother is a Xiu Cai, why did she agree to you marrying me?”
Yu Chuan’s face turned wistful, his eyelids drooping slightly:
“My biological father was just a concubine, without even a formal title. I don’t have much status in the family.”
Nian Jiaojiao gently patted Yu Chuan’s shoulder, comforting him:
“Chuan, from now on, you are the most important to me.”
Yu Chuan trembled all over, looking up at Nian Jiaojiao in disbelief. He saw that her gaze was firm and not joking. With tears in his eyes, he said,
“Hearing Wife say this, I can die without regret.”
Nian Jiaojiao frowned upon hearing this:
“Pah, pah, pah, don’t say such unlucky things. Alright, Chuan, you should help me understand this matter of studying.”
Yu Chuan nodded, wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, and his expression turned serious as he began to explain to Nian Jiaojiao.
“Studying is for the path of the imperial examinations. The saying ‘all professions are inferior, only studying is noble,’ Wife should understand this…”
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao nod, Yu Chuan continued:
“Scholars have high status, surpassing some princes and nobles, which is why everyone flocks to it.”
“However, it is very difficult to obtain the title of ‘scholar.’ After passing the imperial examinations, there are ranks like Tong Sheng, Xiu Cai, and Ju Ren. I don’t know about anything beyond that. In our entire town, only the mayor is a Ju Ren.”
“After passing as a Tong Sheng, one is not yet considered a ‘scholar’ recognized by the court. Only by passing as a Xiu Cai can one be considered a scholar recognized by the government.”
“Usually, out of a hundred candidates, only one becomes a Tong Sheng, and a Xiu Cai is even rarer, one in a thousand.”
“When it comes to taking the exam for Ju Ren, not all Xiu Cai are qualified to take it!”
“Only Xiu Cai from the ‘A’ list or those recommended by three Ju Ren are eligible to take the exam. My mother belongs to the ‘A’ list Xiu Cai.”
It was precisely for this reason that Yu Chuan’s mother, despite being just a minor Xiu Cai, held a rather high status in Shanshui Town.
“I wonder what subjects are in the imperial examinations?” Nian Jiaojiao couldn’t help but ask.
Yu Chuan shook his head:
“The subjects for obtaining Tong Sheng and Xiu Cai are different. As far as I can remember, my mother was already a Tong Sheng.”
“Then where can I get this information?”
Nian Jiaojiao was a little troubled. She had lost contact with her parents, and the original owner’s friends were all disreputable characters, completely unrelated to “studying.”
“This is what I’m about to tell Wife…”
Yu Chuan smiled slightly and continued:
“To embark on the path of a ‘scholar,’ it is a significant matter for any family. Therefore, from the time girls are old enough to understand things, the adults in the family will start discussing whether their children are exceptionally intelligent and have a talent for studying.”
“Huh, my family doesn’t seem to have that?” Nian Jiaojiao murmured.
“It should be there. Wife’s younger sister is already decided to be sent to a private school at the end of this season.”
“I remember my sister is only ten years old. Sending her quite early…”
Speaking of this, Nian Jiaojiao paused. She suddenly realized why the original owner hadn’t been sent to private school.
Regardless of the original owner’s talent, given her family’s conditions, supporting two girls to study should not have been a problem.
But the problem was that before the original owner could even start schooling, she was kicked out of the house.
Nian Jiaojiao rubbed her temples with a headache.
What a mess!
Yu Chuan evidently had also thought of something. He coughed twice and said,
“Wife’s family is well-off, so sending her is early. Ordinary families start schooling at 12 years old.”
“However, there are a few who start learning even earlier. Like my sister, my mother began teaching her after she turned eight, and only after she turned twelve did she start studying with others in private school.”
“In our dynasty, only adult women who turn 14 are allowed to participate in the imperial examinations. Wife is only 16 now, so it’s not too late.”
Nian Jiaojiao’s face turned ashen.
Is taking the exam at 14 the same concept as starting to study at 16?
This man was really good at subtly shifting the narrative.
If it were any other ordinary woman, given that it takes at least three years of study to pass, she would be almost 20 by the time she passed.
The Tong Sheng exam was held annually. If one failed to pass for three consecutive years, they were considered mediocre, and most people would give up.
Therefore, candidates still taking the Tong Sheng exam were generally under 17.
If Nian Jiaojiao took the exam next year, she would be a "third-time" candidate.
So, Nian Jiaojiao quickly asked, “Has this year’s exam time passed?”
Yu Chuan shook his head, “Not yet. The Tong Sheng exams are always held at the end of the year, and immediately after the results are posted, it’s Chinese New Year.”
“Heh, the people who set this exam date are truly talented.”
Nian Jiaojiao’s mouth twitched. The official who set this date must have been a schemer.
With a pass rate of 1% for Tong Sheng, 99 out of 100 candidates wouldn’t have a good New Year.
“What month is it now?” Nian Jiaojiao asked.
“Just entered November,” Yu Chuan replied.
That leaves about two months…
Nian Jiaojiao muttered to herself and then asked, “When is the registration for the Tong Sheng exam?”
Yu Chuan was stunned, his eyes widening in surprise, “Wife, you don’t mean…?”
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
“But the timing is a bit tight.”
Preparing for the imperial examinations in two months was something Yu Chuan had never heard of.
“Chuan, do you think very few people pass the Tong Sheng exam on their first attempt?” Nian Jiaojiao asked calmly.
Yu Chuan nodded. Even his elder sister had taken two tries.
“If I take the exam directly next year, it will be my first attempt, so the probability of passing is likely extremely low. But if next year is my second attempt, won’t my chances of passing increase significantly?”
Yu Chuan’s pupils trembled:
“I never imagined Wife would have such insight.”
It seemed the star of literature had truly blessed them.
Nian Jiaojiao pressed her advantage:
“Besides, if I participate in this year’s exam, I can experience the atmosphere of the examination hall in advance. Next time, I won’t be nervous.”
At this point, Yu Chuan was completely convinced.
Nian Jiaojiao’s cunning plan had succeeded, and she immediately extinguished the lamp to sleep.
Of course, she didn’t actually intend to just look at the exam questions and experience the atmosphere.
She was going to create a miracle by passing the Tong Sheng exam in two months!