After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 248 Test Results
When Su Tai found out, she gave Xu a look of approval.

There was no imperial examination system in this dynasty, so it was very difficult for ordinary people to learn. Even if they did learn, they rarely found a way out unless they recommended themselves or had a good reputation and someone came to them. Only after obtaining an official position could they change their social standing.

But such people are extremely rare. Most scholars will become accountants, tutors like Tang Yu, or write letters for people at a stall. But no matter what they do, they will be respected by everyone.

The children in the village have learned to read for a year, which has met the expectations of many parents. After the test, a group of them should stop coming to school, or they shouldn't stay in school all day like they do now.

At most three years later, the school will definitely need to change its students. Letting the villagers see Tang Yu's teaching results now will give them a better understanding.

At the start of the test.

Tang Yu looked at his students seriously and said without a smile, "We'll see what they're made of now. Don't embarrass me."

The villagers who were watching the spectacle burst into laughter.

Shen Ying immediately retorted, "Mr. Tang, we all know that the child is hardy and doesn't have high expectations. As long as he understands half of it, that's good enough!"

“Yes, yes, yes! It’s already quite remarkable to understand even half of it!” The other villagers immediately chimed in.

Tang Yu just smiled and didn't reply.

After the test began, the villagers who had been watching the commotion fell silent, afraid of disturbing the children and distracting them.

After waiting for an hour, they had only managed to dictate a hundred words. When they learned that it would take a very long time, everyone became quite agitated.

Other villagers who didn't send their children were surprised by how quickly the children answered the questions. Seeing them diligently writing, they were tempted to send their children over next year to learn some characters.

By the time the test was over, it was almost dark, and lanterns were hung in the workshop.

The villagers, who were almost blind from staying up all night, kept rubbing their eyes and came forward to ask about the results, "Mr. Tang, how did our child do on the exam?"

"I've made up my mind. If the child doesn't do well on the exam, I'll give him a beating when we get home. If he does well, I'll give him meat to eat when we get home."

"Yes, yes, that's what I was thinking too."

Su Tai watched them mutter to themselves, amused, thinking to herself that parents from any dynasty had a remarkably consistent attitude toward their children's studies.

"Alright, everyone stop talking now. The exam just finished, and the teacher still has to grade it. It's already good enough that the results will be out tomorrow. Everyone go back first, and I'll notify each family individually when the results are out, okay?" Su Tai finally managed to persuade the villagers to leave by a combination of coaxing and cajoling.

At this moment, Su Zhan, Su Ming, and the others also came over to prepare to make guokui (a type of flatbread).

For this last batch of goods this year, major temples and merchants have increased their orders, making tonight a sleepless night.

Shen Ergou and Shen Tian hurried back to rest, as they were the main force tonight.

As soon as Su Tai finished her exams, she immediately joined the ranks of people making guokui (a type of flatbread).

While working.

Su Ming brought up the frozen well water again, "Sister, all the wells in Dongmen Village are covered with thick blankets now. The village chief makes us have to fetch water day and night, just in case the wells freeze. How is it here in your village?" Su Tai shook her head, "It's okay here. I guess it's because we're close to the Daxun River, where the groundwater flows quickly, so it's not a big problem. But the older folks in the village are worried about the abnormal weather next year. Some families are saying they'll reduce strawberry and watermelon planting next year and plant more grain, but everyone is reluctant to give up the strawberry and watermelon seedlings in the fields, so they're still worried!"

If you ask me, this family isn't short of money, they could definitely grow more grains. As for strawberries and watermelons, they could just put them in flowerpots in a wooden tub; they don't take up much space.

Su Ming and Su Zhan's eyes lit up, and they kept asking, "Sis, can you tell us in detail how to transplant this flowerpot? Will it survive?"

Su Tai nodded and gestured carefully. “Watermelon and strawberry are different from apples. They don’t have as many requirements. If you make a bigger wooden basin, you can put them on the hillside to plant. They don’t take up much space. You can plant grains in the field. I think the tax will probably have to go up again next year.”

The two brothers both looked rather serious.

With work in hand and things on my mind, time flew by, and before I knew it, it was dawn.

The arrival of merchants to pick up goods brought everyone back to their senses.

Once all the goods were delivered, the workshop officially closed, and it was almost noon.

Su Zhan and Su Ming had to rush home, while Shen Ergou and Shen Tian stayed behind to help with the cleaning.

Just as they finished tidying up, Tang Yu came over from the backyard.

"Madam Shen, the test results from yesterday are in. Seven out of ten children passed, three did not quite. The worst one only knew a little over a hundred characters, the others either couldn't write them or wrote them wrong. Another one got 180 characters right, which was also barely satisfactory. And the last one got 230 five-character words right, less than half."

I've found the papers for these three children separately. I'll have to go over to their families in a bit to talk to them. The remaining seven children have all passed.

Tang Cheng answered 420 characters correctly, which is already quite remarkable for him. Cong Rong, being younger, answered 400 characters correctly, which is also excellent. What surprised me most was Yue Zhang; she answered 480 characters correctly, the best score among all the children.

Tang Yu took out Shen Yuezhang's test paper and couldn't stop praising her, "And her handwriting is also very good. It's so neat at such a young age. She's a good prospect. It's a pity. It would be even better if she were a boy."

Su Tai smiled, "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Tang. Boys and girls are both fine. I just hope the children learn more skills so they won't be fooled in the future. As for me? How did I do on the exam? I promised the children yesterday that if they did better than me, I would give them a big red envelope."

Tang Yu was speechless. "Madam Shen, I heard that you are literate. It's a bit unfair to compare yourself to the children. You got all the words right in this dictation, but it's okay. It's already very impressive that you recognized them all."

None of the children have surpassed you.

When Shen Ergou and Shen Tian saw that Tang Yu hadn't mentioned them at all, they immediately turned pale with nervousness.

After criticizing Su Tai, Tang Yu looked at the brother and sister with admiration, "You two are not bad. You were just listening in, and you got more than 300 words right. Keep up the good work. I believe that in two or three years, you will definitely be able to remember all those words by heart. You have the same problem as Madam Shen. Your handwriting is not very good. You can practice when you have time."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" The brother and sister were overjoyed and kept bowing to express their gratitude.

Su Tai laughed and said, "Since Mr. Tang said that I am bullying the weak, then I will change the game. As long as you get more than half right, you will get a reward! It's just that you are not coming tomorrow, so I will take the reward with me today."

Su Tai got up and went to the next room, leaving the three curious people behind.

She returned in less than fifteen minutes, bringing a bunch of things with her.