Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

The village road was narrow, and Tang Chengyu and Lu Hao quickly stepped aside to make way. But before they could move aside, the father and daughter who were walking towards them suddenly knelt down with a "plop" and kowtowed to Lu Hao repeatedly.

"Young Master Lu, I can't thank you enough! Thank you so much for saving my wife's life!" The burly man, his face streaked with tears, choked back sobs as he cried, "My wife had been seriously ill for two years, and after the autumn harvest, she became critically ill. The doctors all said there was no hope. It was you who brought a renowned physician and paid for all the medicine, pulling her back from the brink of death!"

The young maid beside him also kowtowed, adding softly, "Young Master Lu, after my mother recovered, she specially sewed you bright red brocade stockings, wishing you success in your future imperial examinations and that you will pass with flying colors!"

The villagers passing by praised him, saying, "Young Master Lu is kind-hearted and capable; he will surely become the top scholar in the imperial examination and bring blessings to our people!"

Lu Hao blushed deeply, feeling extremely guilty—he knew he wasn't confident he could even pass the county-level imperial examination, let alone become the top scholar, and he was afraid of letting everyone down. He quickly helped the father and daughter up, exchanged a few polite words, and then, pulling Tang Chengyu along, hurriedly fled towards the ancestral hall.

After this incident, Lu Hao completely lost his desire to slack off. He remained quiet and well-behaved throughout the journey. Upon arriving at the ancestral hall, he obediently took out his books and diligently began to memorize them, no longer daring to dawdle.

The two had been reading under the shade of the trees outside the ancestral hall for a short while when Song Zhifeng and Jin Huihuang arrived. Song Zhifeng, holding a folding fan and appearing refined, feigned to ask for advice: "Mr. Tang, I have a policy topic I'd like to consult you on—the imperial court is currently eager for talented individuals; how should it seek them out?"

Tang Chengyu put down his book and calmly replied, "The imperial examination is the proper way for the court to select pillars of society. Those who enter officialdom based on their true talents and learning are fundamentally different from those who buy their way into office with money. They are not comparable."

Upon hearing this, Jin Huihuang interrupted disdainfully: "What right or wrong path? My eldest uncle spent 200,000 taels of silver to buy a fifth-rank official position, and he is still living a life of great prestige. He is much better than those students who study hard for ten years."

Tang Chengyu frowned and retorted seriously: "Buying an official position is merely an expedient measure by the court to solve its financial crisis, not a genuine selection of talent. Most of those who become officials through money are only after personal gain and are unlikely to achieve great things or shoulder heavy responsibilities."

Lu Hao, who was sitting to the side, noticed that Tang Chengyu was impatient and unwilling to get entangled with the two of them any longer. He took the opportunity to stand up and said, "I'm going to the restroom. You two can continue your conversation." With that, he quietly slipped away to the side.

Not long after, Yang Xiaobao rushed into the ancestral hall and immediately saw Tang Chengyu. He shouted, "Uncle Chengyu, my mother wants you to go back quickly. We need to carry firewood, and there's no one to help!"

Seeing this, Lu Hao immediately played along, saying with a smile, "That's right, Chengyu. Your family isn't well-off, so you can't neglect your chores at home. Go back quickly; it won't make a difference if you study for a little while longer."

After saying that, he pulled Tang Chengyu along and left with Yang Xiaobao.

Jin Huihuang watched the three figures leave, his face full of mockery: "What a poor fellow. The provincial examination is coming up, and they still have to do manual labor. They think they can pass the county-level examination like this? It's just wishful thinking."

A smug smile crept onto Song Zhifeng's lips as he secretly calculated: with a renowned scholar tutoring him, he could focus on his studies every day, while Tang Chengyu was bogged down in household chores and had little time to prepare for the exam. He was certain he could surpass Tang Chengyu in the provincial examination and reclaim his position as the top student in the Chongwen Hall.

The two were not willing to stay in the ancestral hall any longer, so they turned around and prepared to go to the carriage to read. The carriage was comfortable, with tea and soft cushions, much more comfortable than the ancestral hall and the village head's house.

He hadn't gone far when a young woman approached him; it was Luo Cuiju. She was beautiful and dressed smartly, and her appearance immediately caught Jin Huihuang's eye.

Upon seeing this, Luo Cuiju quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly to Song Zhifeng and Jin Huihuang, her expression shy and her tone gentle, clearly intending to curry favor: "Greetings, gentlemen. I am Luo Cuiju, the niece of Granny Zheng."

As she spoke, she squatted down, took out a clean white handkerchief from her sleeve, and carefully wiped the mud off their shoes. In just a moment, the clean white handkerchief turned black.

After wiping, she stood up and said shyly, "Gentlemen, you must not have been very comfortable at the village head's house. My aunt's house is clean, with blue brick floors and new bedding. If you don't mind, you may come to my aunt's house to rest and read."

Song Zhifeng and Jin Huihuang were already annoyed that the village head's family had a baby who cried day and night, making it impossible for them to sleep. Upon hearing this, they were immediately intrigued. They exchanged a glance and nodded, "Since the young lady has so kindly invited us, then we will go and take a look."

Just as the three were about to leave, Tang Susu, carrying the things she had just bought, happened to pass by and witnessed this scene.

She recognized Luo Cuiju at a glance and instantly sensed something was wrong—she knew that Luo Cuiju had approached Tang Chengyu intentionally or unintentionally many times before, but now that she saw that Tang Chengyu's family was of ordinary means, she immediately changed her target and tried to curry favor with Song Zhifeng and Jin Huihuang, simply because she wanted to change her fate by relying on the powerful and wealthy.

Tang Susu didn't want to meddle, but seeing that the two were still young and considering Luo Cuiju's feelings, she finally spoke up to remind them: "Young gentlemen, students should prioritize their studies and strictly adhere to the separation of men and women. The Zheng family has unmarried daughters, and as outsiders, it is inappropriate for you to visit and stay overnight, lest you cause gossip and damage your reputation."

Luo Cuiju felt a pang of guilt under Tang Susu's gaze. Her shyness vanished instantly, and she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at Tang Susu again or mention inviting the two of them to the Zheng family.