Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 408: Mutual Market Supervisor

Mr. Ding has actually returned.

Qin Yao hadn’t received any news at all and was very surprised.

But even more unexpectedly, Mr. Ding, Ding Shi, and Ding Xiang, all three of them, came to Lower River Village.

When Qin Yao arrived at the doorstep, the Ding family’s entourage had just parked their carriage, Liu Ji had just politely helped Mr. Ding off the carriage, and Ding Shi and Ding Xiang had just dismounted.

The so-called second young master of the Ding family mentioned by Shunzi was actually Ding Xiang dressed as a man.

Constrained by rules and etiquette, she had unexpectedly ridden a horse all the way to Liu Family Village.

Recognizing her, Liu Ji was secretly startled.

Meanwhile, he speculated in his heart the identity Mr. Ding might have assumed on this sudden return.

Was he a scholar, or an advanced scholar, or perhaps some official?

It seemed that Mr. Ding had changed a bit after returning from the Capital City.

He no longer lectured his daughter about staying indoors, even allowing her to ride a horse here today, boldly appearing in public, making one curious about what he had experienced in the Capital City.

"Qin Yao!"

Everyone had already entered, but Ding Xiang stayed at the gate waiting.

The moment Qin Yao appeared, she immediately showed a bright smile and ran up to greet her.

The people in the courtyard stopped in their tracks upon hearing her call, and turned to look.

Qin Yao smiled and approached, while Ding Xiang eagerly shared, "I rode a horse here today!"

Pointing to the backyard, "It’s the same horse we rode together at first."

Qin Yao smiled, no wonder the sound of the hooves had seemed so familiar earlier.

"When did Mr. Ding return?" Qin Yao asked loudly with a smile as she entered the courtyard.

Ding Shi first nodded to her, then pulled Ding Xiang, who was following behind Qin Yao, to his side, signaling with his eyes to remind her not to get too carried away with excitement.

Mr. Ding laughed heartily, looking very pleased, and while following Qin Yao and her husband into the main room, said, "I returned before the new year and have been busy visiting relatives, and hadn’t had the chance to officially welcome guests."

"With the new year, the siblings were eager to come and pay their respects to the Great Scholar, and just managed to come over for a visit, hoping you won’t find them bothersome."

Liu Ji lamented, "Ah, what a pity, the teacher and senior brother have returned to the Prefecture, and I haven’t had the chance to fetch them; I’m afraid Young Master Ding and Miss Ding might be disappointed today."

Ding Shi did show a bit of disappointment in his eyes, but not Ding Xiang, who was initially here for Qin Yao anyway.

But with their father present, it was not her turn to speak.

Sure enough, Mr. Ding immediately smiled and said, "No worries, no worries, being able to meet a disciple of the scholar is already a blessing for the siblings."

Liu Ji hastily replied not to say so, grinning from ear to ear.

The intentions of the Ding family were clear, meeting the Great Scholar was just a pretext, the true purpose was to see the scholar’s disciple and Qin Yao.

Ding Shi envied Liu Ji’s happiness.

At the time, they had encountered the scholars simultaneously, the opportunity lay equally before them, yet who would have thought Liu Ji, with his thick-skinned approach, would seize such a grand opportunity.

Later, he wrote to tell his father of this regret, and his father also felt it was a great pity.

Fortunately, their family had some connections with Miss Qin, so seeking an audience with the scholar should be easier for them than it was for the scholars gathered at the ’Craftsmanship Tea House’ at the village entrance of Liu Family Village.

Ah Wang settled the Ding family’s house servants and brought in hot tea.

"Our humble abode is simple, Mr. Ding, I hope you won’t find it lacking," Qin Yao invited everyone to sit.

Inside, there were only two Taishi chairs; the rest were wooden benches and bamboo chairs commonly seen in farming families.

Mr. Ding, being the guest, naturally took the seat of honor.

For the remaining seat, Liu Ji first glanced at Qin Yao, seeing her nod, he then took the remaining Taishi chair.

Ding Shi followed Mr. Ding and sat on the wooden bench beneath his father.

Qin Yao and Ding Xiang sat next to them.

Mr. Ding intentionally glanced at her, intending for her to join them, but was intercepted by Liu Ji.

"Mr. Ding, you seem radiant with joy, is there good news yet to be shared?" Liu Ji probed.

Upon mentioning this, before Mr. Ding could express himself, Ding Xiang had already told Qin Yao that her father had passed the advanced scholar examination, and was soon to take them siblings to the Capital for his official post.

The official position Mr. Ding received was called Mutual Market Supervisor.

Seeing the doubt in Qin Yao’s eyes, Liu Ji, already forcibly enlightened by Gongliang Liao on the Sheng Country’s official system, leaned over and softly explained in her ear,

"The Mutual Market Supervisor is under the Mutual Market Supervisor of the lower Sixth Rank, a Standard Eighth Rank position, overseeing foreign trade, a small official’s post."

"But the teacher had mentioned, there’s much profit to be had, it’s a lucrative position."

"Without anyone promoting, a family like the Ding’s from a remote boorish advanced scholar, would likely have to remain at the Imperial College as students before officially being appointed, unless the trial exam is passed; if not, they’ll have to wait another three years for the exam again."

In the Sheng Country’s examination system, passing as an advanced scholar only grants the qualification for office.

Among them, the top three of the first-class advanced scholars, known to people as the Champion Scholar and the runner-up, can directly enter the Hanlin Academy for appointment.

The Champion Scholar receives a Sixth-Rank official position, and the runner-up receives either a lower Sixth or upper Seventh Rank, depending on circumstances.

The remaining first-class advanced scholars can be appointed as County Magistrates, County Magistrates, and other official positions across regions.

The second-class and below enter the Imperial College, essentially becoming reserve officials, needing to pass the trial exam for appointment.

Those with luck pass the trial exam smoothly and may secure a small Seventh or Eighth Rank post in the Capital.

Or, with connections and family influence, secure a County Magistrate post elsewhere isn’t difficult either.

Without luck, failing exams, and lacking benefactors, they’ll have to endure at the Imperial College.

Liu Ji mentioned, Qi Xian once spoke of an unlucky fellow who passed the advanced scholar exam at thirty-five and entered the Imperial College, considered a prodigy among ordinary folk; he passed the trial exam six times but at sixty-seven still waited in vain for a post.

Finally, at seventy, a dormmate suggested he write a poem to Prince Feng.

In the seventieth year, the poetic prowess culminated, perfectly exhibiting, the entire piece of twelve hundred and fifty-one words was a grand commendation, successfully grasping Prince Feng’s appreciation, thus emerging from the Imperial College.

Yet on the way to the appointment, amid cold and heavy rain, he caught a chill and died.

Upon hearing this back then, Liu Ji immediately grasped that his junior brother was subtly hinting at him.

In these times, a scholar not even counting as a humble one, the sole path was to craft an exquisite poem, then find opportune moments and suitable candidates to ferociously exalt them!

Had he not, with a mere ’Beauty Yao’, earned himself a study room?

Evidence showed this was indeed a brilliant path!

It’s a pity that unlucky fellow realized it too late, needlessly wasting decades. Liu Ji thought to himself, gloating and smug.

Back when Qi Xian heard Liu Ji’s take on it, Qin Yao remained unaware of his expression.

But presently, her temples throbbed, she just wanted to crack open this man’s head to see what rubbish lies inside!

An earnest tragic tale from Qi Xian was grotesquely twisted by Liu Ji to such an extent.

Oblivious, Liu Ji winked at Qin Yao, then turned to Mr. Ding with a "kindred spirit" enthusiasm, "Congratulations Mr. Ding, best wishes Mr. Ding!"

"Oh no!" Liu Ji lightly tapped his mouth, feigned saying, "I should now be calling you Mr. Ding! I hope Mr. Ding will remember to lend a hand in the future!"

Mr. Ding was first startled, then laughed heartily, quickly responding:

"Oh no, just a small minor official; if not for the Yue family favoring me as their son-in-law, I’d still be at the Imperial College."

"But you, Mr. Liu, are different, surrounded by influential people, and a Great Scholar’s disciple, with numerous officials in the court anticipating to recommend you, I hope you will graciously guide us."

Ding Shi and Ding Xiang, never having seen their father flatter someone so, widened their eyes in shock, realizing that’s what their father was like!

Qin Yao furrowed her brows; Mr. Ding’s ’if not for the Yue family favoring me as their son-in-law’, seemed to contain a wealth of information.