Chapter 15: The Ministry of Revenue Needs Talents Like You Who Know How to Navigate the System

After several days of preparation, he, along with Wu Jingcheng and eight other candidates who had passed the county exam, were about to head to the prefectural city to take the student exam, also known as the prefectural exam.

This was his first time going to the prefectural city since childhood. With the youngest sibling at home needing care and Li Gang on duty, there was no one to accompany him.

So Li Gang packed him three taels of silver, plus two strings of small coins for pocket money. After some thought, fearing it might not be enough, Li Gang added another tael of silver.

“As the saying goes, a poor home but a wealthy road—don’t be afraid to spend money. Our family isn’t short of a few copper coins.”

“There’s a washerwoman at the inn; just hand your clothes over to her. Don’t let trivial matters delay your studies.”

“Read your books several times before the exam; it will help you stay calm inside the exam hall.”

Li Yu was self-sufficient and not narrow-minded. Since childhood, whenever he had free time, he helped his mother and Granny Chen with household chores. He knew how to wash clothes and cook.

Though this was commendable, the upcoming exam was naturally more important.

“Son understands.”

Li Yu was very excited about advancing beyond the county level. Thinking about going to the provincial capital in August made him even happier. He lowered his head and comforted his youngest sibling, who looked up at him with wide eyes.

“Stay obedient to father, mother, and sister at home. If I see any new toys in the county I’ll bring them back for you.”

Li Lian eagerly expressed his desire for an official promotion chart, preferably one carved with floral patterns in wood, not a simple paper one. He had heard such exquisite items were only available in the prefectural city.

His schoolmate Liu Wei had bought one there and showed it off every day in front of them.

As if no one else could afford one!

“Alright.”

The request was not unreasonable, so Li Yu readily agreed.

But when he arrived in the prefectural city and inquired, he found that such a small wooden item cost five hundred wen.

Li Yu: “...”

It was just a carved piece of wood. These people really knew how to make money—good merchants indeed.

After checking several shops and encountering the same price, Li Yu wanted to compare more, but Wu Jingcheng, whose legs were nearly worn thin from walking, was ready to give up.

“It’s only five hundred wen. I’ll just buy it for my future brother-in-law.”

He reached for his money, but Li Yu called him a fool with too much money and turned to leave.

Wu Jingcheng stopped, quickly catching up and asking, “Then what do you propose? You promised them. You can’t just say you forgot, can you? A gentleman’s word must be kept, don’t you know?”

Li Yu found a skilled carpenter and had him make a better-looking one for just one hundred wen.

Then he bought some paint and carefully colored the carved figures’ clothes at the inn. All told, it cost less than two hundred wen.

Wu Jingcheng said, “...You’re definitely going to pass. Maybe you should join the Ministry of Revenue in the future. I think they need talents like you.”

Li Yu smiled but said nothing. He was determined never to work in the Ministry of Revenue!

In his previous life, his mother had persuaded him to choose the accounting department, saying it was female-dominated with many beautiful ladies pursuing the few male students.

It supposedly suited a shy boy like him who blushed when speaking to girls.

They said it was also easy to find a job, and graduates were highly sought after.

He believed it and went.

But there were no beauties chasing him, and he wasn’t sought after in society.

Instead, he became a laborer shuttling buckets in the finance department. After finally becoming finance director, thinking the hard times were over, he was suddenly handcuffed.

That job was tough.

Not only did it build his body, but he also got free room and board for three years at the state’s expense. When he performed well and was released, he was immediately struck by a carriage and thrown aside.

He made no money, failed to win a wife, bore blame for three years, and mysteriously died...

Though this was ancient times, he felt anything to do with money was dangerous.

Better not! No way! Not for him!

Suddenly, Wu Jingcheng said, “By the way, Brother Zixuan, Ning’s third son is also taking this prefectural exam. He’ll probably invite us to dinner before the exam.”

The Ning family was a prestigious literary lineage for seven generations, a well-known noble family in Shunqing Prefecture. The head of the Ning family was currently a prefectural instructor.

It was said he had seven sons and three daughters, with the eldest two sons having passed the imperial exams.

Upon hearing this, Li Yu was puzzled. “Does your family have ties or favors with theirs?”

As far as he knew, the Li and Ning families had no connection. If there was no relation, why would they invite him to dinner? It could only be the Wu family who had relations with them.

“No, no, Zixuan, how can you be so dull-witted?”

Wu Jingcheng was frustrated: “Our Shunqing Prefecture governs six counties and two states. Exactly a hundred people pass the county exam and attend the prefectural exam.”

“Such scholarly families like to associate with those pursuing official titles and honors.”

“The former prime minister Su Yunduan was first in the county exam but was so poor he couldn’t afford an inn and had to live in the inn’s storage room.”

“The prefectural instructor at that time was surnamed Chen. Upon hearing this, Instructor Chen sent his son to befriend Su and invited him to their home under the pretense of holding a literary gathering, secretly giving him money so he could maintain the dignity of a scholar.”

“Later, when the Chen family’s son got into trouble and the entire family was supposed to be exiled to southern Fujian, Su intervened and helped them. Thus, they kept their wealth and were only exiled to a place not far from home.”

Wu Jingcheng and Zixuan were first and third in the county exam, respectively.

Wu Jingcheng guessed that even if the Ning family didn’t invite everyone, they’d surely invite the top three from each county to drink tea and discuss poetry and literature.

“Zixuan, if only you could write poetry as well as you write prose, that would be perfect.”

He had heard that the Ning family had unmarried daughters who liked young scholars skilled in poetry.

If the Ning family took a liking to him, even if his future official career was uncertain, the boy would still receive excellent education.

“The Ning family’s own academy is so exclusive that even the prefect can’t enter. Only the Ning family and their relatives are allowed to study there.”

Li Yu shook his head with a smile. “You’ve only been here two days and already know so much. I think the Censorate should be the place for someone like you.”

If he spent the energy used on gossiping on studying, Wu Jingcheng would have topped the county exam.

“I think so too.”

Wu Jingcheng was shamelessly confident that he wanted to enter the Censorate.

“If you ever take bribes and break the law, I can cover for you.”

If he really became a successful imperial scholar and censor, his father would probably hold a banquet lasting ten days and nights, with firecrackers going off for ten miles.

Li Yu forced a smile, “...Then I’d better thank you.”

Bribery? Impossible!

Wu Jingcheng said magnanimously, “Don’t mention it. You’re my future brother-in-law. It’s just a small favor.”

Li Yu turned and walked away, “Not engaged yet. Who’s your brother-in-law?”

Until the marriage was confirmed, they were nothing but sworn siblings.

Wu Jingcheng cheerfully followed, “That’s only a matter of time.”

Li Yu quickened his pace.

This brother-in-law struck him as somewhat childish.