Matchmaker Wang stood up and left the main house of the Gu Family, feeling like she had hit a wall at their old residence.

What a joke, the second son hasn’t even become a Scholar yet, and the whole family already thinks they’re too good for the legitimate daughter of the Lian Family.

"Mrs. Wang, please wait a moment."

Matchmaker Wang angrily stepped out of the Gu Family gate, only to be stopped by Gu Ruinian.

Matchmaker Wang looked Gu Ruinian up and down. This must be the second son of the Gu Family. Although he isn’t as handsome as Widow Tong’s son, he still looks decent.

Except for the injury on his face...

"Mrs. Wang, my family members sometimes speak thoughtlessly. If there was any offense, I hope you can understand." Gu Ruinian bowed apologetically to Matchmaker Wang.

Matchmaker Wang’s impression of Gu Ruinian suddenly improved.

This young man seemed more polite and sensible than the others at the Gu Family’s old residence.

Gu Ruinian touched his face and said, "On the day I took the cart to the examination, I rescued a child which startled the horse and caused me to be thrown off..."

Matchmaker Wang chuckled.

Gu Ruinian spoke calmly and confidently, "Mrs. Wang, I’m just a farmer’s son. Currently, I am merely taking the provincial examination and have no titles to my name. To be esteemed by the Lian Family is my honor. My grandparents and parents’ opinions are not my own. To me, I firmly believe that heroes should not be judged by their origins; whether legitimate or illegitimate, they are equal in my eyes. Please relay to the second young lady of the Lian Family that if I am fortunate enough to be esteemed by her, half of my future success as a minister would belong to her."

Matchmaker Wang was left a little stunned by Gu Ruinian’s words.

Come on, you haven’t even earned the title of Scholar yet and you dare boast like this.

However, Matchmaker Wang decided she would convey this message to the second young lady of the Lian Family, after all, if it did work out, she would receive a handsome matchmaking fee.

"Alright, I’ll definitely relay this message to the second young lady," Matchmaker Wang said.

Gu Ruinian bowed to Matchmaker Wang once more.

Watching Matchmaker Wang walk away, Gu Ruinian flashed a mysterious smile. He felt that his speech was ambitious yet flawless, confident it would pique the interest of the second young lady of the Lian Family.

In this era, daughters of affluent families were kept isolated, never hearing any man’s promises or sweet words before marriage.

His strategy was to appeal to her heart.

Gu Ruinian hoped to at least meet the second young lady of the Lian Family once.

Though he hadn’t experienced love in a past life, he figured he’d seen enough to understand; if strategies for wooing modern-day wealthy beauties could be found online, then winning over an ancient wealthy beauty would be a piece of cake.

Thus, a plan to meet the second young lady of the Lian Family began to form in his mind.

Tong Huaqiong hid behind a paulownia tree in the old residence, unable to suppress the jealousy gnawing at her.

On her way to the pig farm, she overheard Gu Ruinian’s words to Matchmaker Wang.

Fortunately, she hadn’t eaten anything, otherwise she would have vomited.

Even rescuing a child was a concocted lie.

Being fellow villagers, Tong Huaqiong saw right through Gu Ruinian’s schemes.

This guy wanted to build a harem, hoping his words would make the second young lady of the Lian Family secretly admire him.

Tong Huaqiong could already guess Gu Ruinian’s background, surely the favored son of a gender-biased family, treated like a precious golden egg.

Though his only similarity with the Phoenix Man was gender.

The borrowed prestige of being a Scholar would have to be repaid sooner or later.

...

The time for the provincial exam results had arrived.

Early in the morning, Jingzhe was ordered by Tong Huaqiong to change into custom-made new clothes.

The Gu Family Ancestral Hall was opened.

Tong Huaqiong stared at the dark gaping door, thinking to herself, knowing from past life memories of Tong Dajiao that Jingzhe would at least become a Scholar.

Why were the Gu Family members so convinced that Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian would pass the Scholar exam?

Of course, Tong Huaqiong understood, it was all under Gu Ruinian’s influence.

Just like in the future when someone always reports to their family that they score first in exams; the family forms a fixed impression that they cannot fail. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The same applied to Gu Ruinian.

The Clan Leader opened the Ancestral Hall primarily for Gu Ruinian, and Jingzhe came as a bonus.

Over at the old residence, everyone changed into new clothes, each of them actively bustling around the Ancestral Hall.

Tong Huaqiong instructed Gu Dahuan to prepare celebration money, firecrackers, pastries, sunflower seeds, and tea. At this point, she wasn’t concerned whether the old residence had prepared these things.

This was her son’s grand occasion; it was not the time to quibble.

After all, she still had to witness the second house’s embarrassment.

Just wait; they would all become mere decorations for her and Jingzhe.

Gu Ruinian felt a sudden rush of fear as he donned new clothes and prepared to enter the Ancestral Hall.

Over the past few days, both the family and the clan had praised him excessively, turning the slim chance of passing into an almost perceived certainty.

But the results had to be revealed eventually, and he began to worry about the outcome.

What would he do if he didn’t pass the Scholar exam?

More troubling still, how would he face the situation if Jingzhe passed and he didn’t?

Gu Ruinian’s anxiety robbed him of his appetite, and to Tong Huaqiong, it showed in his demeanor, making him appear wilting.

"What’s wrong, Ruinian? Did you not sleep well?" Tong Huaqiong asked.

"No, I just stayed up late reading last night," Gu Ruinian replied calmly.

God knows he was feeling annoyed; he wanted to flee.

Yet the Clan Leader was enthusiastically lavishing praise upon him.

"Mother, I’m a bit nervous. What if I don’t pass the Scholar exam?" Jingzhe suddenly expressed to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong tenderly patted Jingzhe’s head and said, "You won’t fail."

Jingzhe’s eyes grew teary from his mother’s reassuring touch, feeling like crying.

With such fanfare over the opening of the Ancestral Hall, how disappointed his mother would be if he didn’t pass.

Gu Ruinian felt a surge of relief upon hearing Jingzhe voice his own fears of failing, though deep down, he truly hoped Jingzhe would fall short.

"Why hasn’t anyone come yet? Shall we send Dahuan and Da Hu to check the county?"

Mr. Gu was anxious from waiting.

Down south, when a family’s student passed the Scholar exam, the government came to deliver the good news bright and early.

Now that Qinghe Bay was far from the county, surely the congratulatory procession should have arrived by now.

Especially since the county learns the results the day before and typically delivers them to the towns and villages by early morning.

Was it possible both grandsons had failed?

Mr. Gu’s face paled at the thought; he wouldn’t be able to withstand that.

Thus, he considered sending Gu Dahuan and others to the county to find out what was happening.

"Grandfather, let’s wait a little longer." Gu Ruinian reluctantly stopped him.

At this moment, no one was more tormented than Gu Ruinian; one minute he felt confident he’d pass, the next he feared failure.

His emotions were in turmoil. He preferred learning the results later rather than sooner.

If both he and Jingzhe failed, at least the embarrassment wouldn’t be solely his.

"Then let’s wait a bit longer." Mr. Gu mumbled impatiently, gulping down a cup of tea.

"Mother, will third brother pass the Scholar exam?" Taohua asked nervously.

Tong Huaqiong nodded with calm assurance.

Taohua, Da Han, Sufen, Yue Er, and the others harbored a kind of blind faith in Tong Huaqiong; since she said they would pass, it meant they would, and their worried hearts were put at ease.

In the old residence, their trust in Gu Ruinian mirrored their confidence in Tong Huaqiong. In their minds, there was no chance Gu Ruinian would fail.

Even Mrs. Wei, who normally didn’t favor her brother-in-law, genuinely hoped Gu Ruinian would pass the Scholar exam, as it would improve the family’s livelihood.

No one was more pleased than Mrs. Jia, who was not anxious at all; when her son took the child student exam, the whole family was frantic with anticipation, yet her son passed.

So this time should be the same.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the Ancestral Hall.